Interesting topic. I am aware of many disagreements on this subject. Let's see if I can offer a summary of the arguments that come up.
We have become a party to a covenant - and agreement between Yahweh and each of us individually. A covenant (a contract) between two parties saying essentially "I will do this and you agree to do that."
Each covenant had promises. Often the "ceremony" of agreement required blood. Either a dissected ram, sheep, birds, etc. It symbolized the effect of breaking the contract. It was serious business.
People in this world have two three choices. Either they ignore Yahweh completely, or they are under the old covenant saying that they will obey the laws given to the people of Israel (and gentiles who believe in Yahweh) given by Yahweh and His prophets, or they will obey the commands given by Yeshua which came from His Father Yahweh.
I do not know of any other options.
For those who submit themselves to the New Covenant and are Baptized into the Spirt of Yahweh with a clean conscience free of all past sins to lives as given by God through His Son.
The affect of becoming a child of Yahweh and a brother to His Son Yeshua has a requirement to follow the agreement we made when we were baptized into a new creature and new life. (Of course, this takes time and effort, and our successes are demonstrated by our obedient acts which people call "works." This is the opposite of being "saved by works."
By our fruits we are known.
For a child of Yahweh, salvation (a slippery word in today's churches), we must be born again. Think of it as rising from the baptismal waters as a "new Creature in Christ." Scripture tells us this in Titus 3:5, Acts 2:38, and 1st Peter 3:21.
Tt 3:3–7 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Ac 2:37–38. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Pe 3:18–22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
I have often been accused of gross error for believing that these verses are true. Some of these accusations have been very insulting as if I "don't understand." Well, I understand that the bible contains truth, and many claim to believe that also, but they don't believe these verses.
What they also tell me is that, at baptism, we are justified - without sin. But, brothers and sisters, that is where our infancy as children of Yahweh begins. Sanctification comes after that. That is not "works," that is obedience.
Colossians 2:8-15 contains Paul's instructions for those who are starting the journey after the "circumcision."
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Sadly, so many have placed their beliefs in the devious words of man instead of the words of Yahweh, His Son, and the Apostles.
