Is belief in jesus necessary for salvation ?

Obama contends belief in Jesus Christ is not necessary for Salvation - Agree or Disagree ?

Irrelevant to politics! Who cares what religious belief a politician has, as long as they act morally and are smart. Oh, and believing in God doesn't mean you'd make a good President either. Bush who is "religious" killed how many people for no reason?

Disagree. Bible states that belief in Jesus is the only way.

Depends - what kind of Christian are you?

From what I've read here on FA - if you don't know Jesus because you never heard of Jesus, then you're not automatically going to hell...because, those who've never had a chance at hearing the good news wouldn't be put in pergatory, because your God isn't that kind of jerk.

However, given the translation issues (there are many) and the questionable way in which the bible was assembled at the council of Carthage, and the time lapse between Jesus death & the first book in the new testament (20+ years for the first writing in 50 AD then another 220 ish for the council where they assembled the bible)...well, it's ODD don't you think that modern Christianity insists you thump the book that you COULDN'T have owned 1000 years ago, and visit a building which DIDN'T exist until recently, to be saved?

It's odd, to me, that this is the case. However, I agree with Obama's assessment, it sounds like he's a lot smarter than most give him credit for.

Certainly the Bible doesn't say you have to visit a church (which was not a building, but an assembly of believers in houses at the beginning of Christianity), but it does say you have to enter a relationship. The texts say "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" not "thump a book and go to church."

Since the question asks do you need to believe in Jesus, then answer is "yes". The other stuff is purely catholic heresy and dogma attached to give them power.

"The texts say 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved' not 'thump a book and go to church.'"

I think his point was that the vast majority of Christians 1000 years ago lived under very different circumstances than those today could even imagine. For example, they couldn't read the Bible and wouldn't know what the texts say.

Even the earliest Christians would disagree that belief in Jesus was enough for salvation. Clement, Origen, Justin Martyr, and Hermas were the leading Christian thinkers of their day, and all believed that Christianity was something you practice, not something you believe in. Good works, fasting, and abstaining from sin all led to salvation in their view. Even Paul writes extensively in the Bible about the necessity of good works.

The belief in the sacrifice of Jesus as being one's only requirement for salvation is something that has emerged very recently in Christian history, largely in the Post-Reformation.

Definitely what I believe:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

What a stupid question ! Assuming there were a God,which there obviously isn't, would he condemn to eternal damnation the poor sods who have never heard of the fictional Jesus Christ ?
It is highly amusing to aetheists like myself to see that even in the 21st Century people will actually take all this religious superstitious mumbo-jumbo SERIOUSLY !Can they not think for themselves ?

Jesus answered this way:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

amblessed, you posted John 14:6 on this thread already.

I think you meant to post it here:
http://www.funadvice.com/q/...

the ONLY way to enter heaven is believing that jesus is the only way to get in...you have to believe that only through him and by his taking on our sins, we are able to have our sins washed away. we are undeserving wretches who deserve hell and eternal damnation, but through God's grace those who believe will be forgiven. =)

I disagree. You already stated the verse

Thanks semi1900 ! - my mistake.

I disagree. How else are you going to get salvation but through Jesus? I think it is necessary.

DAMN THAT OBAMA - HE DOESN'T WANT TO CONDEMN US ALL TO HELL!

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Senator Barack Obama has told an audience that although he believes Christ died for his sins, those who reject that teaching can also be children of God.
During a campaign stop yesterday in Greensboro, North Carolina, Senator Obama told the audience that he believes he "can have everlasting life" because Jesus Christ died for his sins. But he then told a questioner that he believes Jews and Muslims who live moral lives are just as much "children of God" as he is.
Obama clearly invokes core Christian principles and beliefs, from original sin to God’s grace. “Perfection” was his refrain – he invoked the word nine times – yet he did not use it to describe a teleological achievement, but rather a continuous mission of going on to perfection.
Salvation, in this view, is an ongoing process, not an outcome; a constant exercise of choice rather than a final destination. Known as “Christian perfectionism,” this idea is a cornerstone to the theology of John Wesley, a leader of the Methodist movement. Interestingly, the most powerful Methodist today – George W. Bush – appears to profess a very different view of perfection, one that involves accomplishing specific goals based on knowledge about God’s plan for the world:
The cause we serve is right, because it is the cause of all mankind. The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable–and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can trust in that greater power who guides the unfolding of the years. And in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true.
Bush professes a theology of certainty: God’s will can be known — indeed, it has been revealed to us — and our task on earth is to realize it. By contrast, Obama offers a theology grounded in a process, not an outcome: to work out salvation with fear and trembling.

BUSH WOULD BE FINE WITH US ALL BURNING, AS LONG AS HE AND HIS BUDDIES SUPPLIED THE FUEL!

well, im not religious, however I study a lot of it, all types
and from what I've learned, Jesus excepted everyone, even people who were against him
he loved everyone and thats why people believe he is so great
he hung out with lepers, sick people, people of the lower class
and he loved people who didn't believe in him

so from what I've learned, belief in him up to your personal choice
but he'll save you no matter what because he loves you no matter what

thats what I've learned from studying religion, I could be wrong though

From a Christian perspective, there is no consensus. The Bible seems to be confused on this point as well:

Salvation is just for Jews?
Luke 1:69 "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David"

Salvation for all?
Luke 3:6 "And all mankind will see God's salvation."

...oh wait, now it's just for those who believe, they can be Jews or gentiles:
Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."

...scratch that, it's for everyone again:
Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."

...no, just for those who obey him:
Hebrews 5:9 "and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him"

...nevermind, salvation is just for god himself (and for the lamb, who apparently is not also god since he is mentioned separately)!
Revelation 7:10 "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Yep, it's just for god:
Revelation 19:1 ""Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,"

"Irrelevant to politics! Who cares what religious belief a politician has, as long as they act morally and are smart."

I disagree. If a politician will allow his religion to affect his decisions (and I'd argue that inevitably, every religion has issues that will be problematic), then knowing what they believe and what it implies is important.

Obama has the brain of an ant. . . . Of course it is. . . . .

To leogee: Regardless of weither or not you believe in god, jesus christ was a real person. He lived and died, just like the other people in the bible. Saying that he is fake would be the same as saying that the Holocaust never occured or that Julius Caesar never lived.

I have just seen miomios assertion that Jesus Christ was a real person. So far as I am aware there is no proof in fact that he ever did exist. We know of Julius Caesar and the Holocaust because of contemporary writings and living people who can bear witness and other things which can be cross-referenced. None of the writings about Jesus were made at the alleged time of his life, nor have any contemporary Roman records of his life and death been found although he was supposed to have had thousands of followers in Israel. His life and miracles (?) are to say the least, extremely doubtful. I do believe researchers though who have made a serious study of writings of the time and who aver there were several preachers roaming the Holy Land at the time all giving similar messages to the alleged Jesus. In a hundred years time maybe people will be worshipping Harry Potter- his miracles have been well-documented and the millions of books about him which have been sold show he MUST be a real person!

The evidence that Jesus Christ lived is more prevalent than that proving that Plato, Socrates or Homer existed. There is more documentary evidence for the New Testament than any other work of ancient literature by far. And the documentary evidence points to authorship well within the time range of the life of Christ, despite what the skeptics say as they try to create self-fulfilling tests.