1. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)

2.  Hiscox' Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, says: "Baptism is not essential to salvation, … but it is essential to obedience, since Christ has commanded it" (via Handbook of Religious Quotations p. 21).  An article reprinted in Pulpit Helps (7/84) tells this story: "A small boy asked the preacher, 'Sir, What can I do to be saved?' The preacher replied, 'Son, you're too late.' 'What!' exclaimed the boy, 'too late to be saved?' 'No,' said the preacher, 'too late to do anything. You see, son, Jesus already did it all two thousand years ago." (via The Christian Chapel Bulletin, 1/92).

3.  Luke 6:46 - "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  Matthew 7:21-27 - To enter the kingdom of heaven, it is not enough to call Jesus "Lord, Lord." One must DO the will of the Father (v 21).  Hebrews 5:9 - He is author (source) of salvation to all that obey Him. To accept His salvation, you must obey. If you don't believe you must obey, then you haven't accepted the Savior in the way the Bible says you must to be saved eternally.  Romans 6:17,18  1 Peter 1:22,23  James 1:21-25  Acts 9:6; 22:10, 16

4.  Matthew 22:36-39 - The two greatest commands are to love God and love your neighbor. Hence, when you love God and man, you are obeying God's commands.  John 13:34; 15:12 - "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you."  John 14:15,21-24 - "If ye love me, ye will keep my commands." One who loves Jesus is one who keeps his commands (v21 & 23). One who doesn't love, doesn't keep His commands (v24). Conclusion: the person who says obedience is not essential, is saying you can please God and be saved without loving Him!

5.  Galatians 5:6 - What avails in Christ is faith working through love.  James 2:14-26 - Faith without works is dead like the body without a spirit. But works are necessary to complete faith (make it perfect). Without obedience, faith is dead and incomplete. The faith that justifies is the faith that leads to works.  Hebrews 10:39; 11:8,30, etc. - Here are examples of the kind of faith we must have to save our souls. All examples show that men received the blessings of God only after their faith led them to obey His commands. Faith that does not obey is faith that cannot save. [v7,33,4,17,24f]

6.  John 5:28,29 - All people are raised to life or condemnation depending on whether they did good or did evil.  1 John 2:17 - "He that doeth the will of God abideth forever."  2 Thessalonians 1:8,9 - Those who obey not the gospel receive vengeance in flaming fire. They are punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.  Romans 2:7 - Eternal life is for those who are patient in well-doing  Hebrews 5:9

7.  ONE CANNOT BE MADE FREE FROM SIN... Rom. 6:17,18  ONE CANNOT HAVE A PURIFIED SOUL... 1 Pet`. 1:22  ONE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN... Matt. 7:21  ONE CANNOT EXPECT GOD TO ANSWER PRAYER... 1 John 3:22  ONE CANNOT HAVE ETERNAL SALVATION... Heb. 5:8,9  ONE CANNOT KNOW GOD... 1 John 2:2-3  ONE DOES NOT AND CANNOT LOVE GOD... 1 John 5:3; John 14:15  ONE RENDERS FAITH BARREN OR DEAD... Jas. 2:17,20,24  ONE SHALL RECEIVE WRATH AND INDIGNATION... Rom. 2:8-9  ONE SHALL SUFFER PUNISHMENT, EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION...... 2 Thess. 1:7-9 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 NKJV)

8. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NKJV) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9 NKJV)

9.  Salvation (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)  Remission of sins (Acts 2:38)  Washing away of sins (Acts 22:16)  Newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4)  Putting on Christ (Gal. 3:26- 27)  Putting off the body of the flesh (Col. 2:11-13)  Salvation (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)  Remission of sins (Acts 2:38)  Washing away of sins (Acts 22:16)  Newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4)  Putting on Christ (Gal. 3:26- 27)  Putting off the body of the flesh (Col. 2:11-13) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 NKJV)

10.  The Place of Obedience by Jim Deason  Is Obedience Essential to Salvation - (C) Copyright 2002, David E. Pratte(C) Copyright 2002, David E. Pratte