A rich young man asked Jesus how he could have eternal life. Jesus recited some of the commandments to him and he said he had done all those things, but something was lacking, what else could he do? Jesus told him to sell everything he had, take up the cross, and follow Him (Mark 10:21). Jesus didn't mind that the young man had money, but he knew that the money had the young man in bondage, it was an obstacle to what he really needed to do which was to follow Christ (be obedient to Him in every way). Mark 8:34-38 Jesus tells the people He is speaking to and His disciples and tells them that they must deny themselves (their old bound up cursed lives with it's affections and lusts) and take up their cross (their death to sin) and follow Him, because nothing we have here is worth our eternal souls or spirits. God blesses His children with good things to enjoy in this life, but we are not to be in bondage to these things. Obedience to Jesus Christ is to be the first and formost concern of people who have become the children of God through him.
Read 2 Cor. 5:14-21
In Romans 10:9-10, when it says to be saved we must confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, for with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, you are doing much more than just repeating a prayer someone asks you to pray to "get saved", you are making a total life commitment. Confessing Jesus as Lord means that from now on obedience to Him and following His will for your life is your first priority and believing that God has raised him from the dead means that you understand that everything necessary for your salvation was accomplished in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. In death he took your place so you wouldn't have to die in your sins, he became your sacrifice; during His burial period He went into Paradise where all the righteous dead had gone, (Jesus told one of the thieves who was crucified with Him, and had acknowledged belief in Him, that he would be with Him is Paradise that day - Luke 23:39-43) but Jesus didn't stay there and no longer would they, He brought them out and took them to Heaven with Him (Eph. 4:8-10 and Matthew 27:52 and 53 states that after the resurrection of Jesus the graves of many saints were opened and they that slept arose, came out of their graves, went into the holy city, and appeared to many; in His resurrection He broke free and set all who recieve His salvation free from every sin and bondage.
We are made righteous when we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts God raised Him from the dead, but we are spiritual babies who make mistakes, and our Father, God, has given us God the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us so we can learn and grow into perfection.
This is a link to a site where you can look up scripture references in many different versions of the bible: http://www.biblegateway.com/
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