I believe in TESTING ALL THINGS......through reason and logic. (1 Thess. 5:21) Believing is not enough ".......demons believe and tremble....." (James 2:19).
As based upon the New Testament record.......belief is simply 1 of several steps necessary to salvation. "If you love Me......you will keep My commandments...." (John 14:15)
Jesus was establishing commandments...i.e, doctrine for the church/kingdom as described in Matthew 16.......even after His death and ascension, as He promised His Apostles to lead them into all truth with the power to deliver that truth through the Holy Spirit -- Acts. 1:7-8 (doctrine from heaven.......as Peter had the authority through his revelation to establish doctrine, his words bound in heaven what he bound on earth (Matthew 16:19) Jesus stated that He would deliver power unto the Apostles in order to establish doctrine for the New Testament Church...i.e, the last covenant between man and God (Acts), Peter ushered in the Last Days of Mankind on Pentecost day after the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven to set on the throne of David as promised in prophecy....as both Lord and Christ....i.e, Ruler and Savior (Acts 2:36).......Peter let the Jews know exactly who was to blame for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ...........
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, WHOM YE HAVE CRCUIFIED........both Lord and Christ" -- Acts 2:36 There was no gentiles gathered on that day.........only Jews from all over the then known Hebrew world. (Acts 2:5)
The steps to salvation are explicitly defined in the New Testament. There are 3 steps to salvation. 1. Faith 2. Repentance 3. Water Baptism. These things are required of man in his part of the covenant. There is not one example of anyone entering the Kingdom/Church of Christ without water baptism being required........Just as Peter bound with His first gospel sermon on Pentecost day, (Acts 2:38) Repent and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
There are 3 things that God provides on this path to salvation. 1. God remits sin 2. God provides the "gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)....not the Holy Spirit but the gift of the Spirit....a gift, that is something given to someone, what is that gift that still exists today? The truth as revealed through the Holy Spirit of God.......the Holy Scriptures, that are all inspired of God and these scriptures establish truthful doctrine, correction....in order to make the man of God perfect in knowing righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
3. Eternal fellowship of God.....
God would have all men saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:4) Its TRUTH that saves...........the whole truth. The truth from heaven states there are 3 steps to salvation. Faith, Repentance, and the Gift of the Spirit. Faith alone without works is dead........such as the act of water baptism (James 2:17) Jesus commanded water baptism, as the message given to the Apostles of Christ were messages from the Christ, just as He promised.......the Spirit as directed by Jesus would lead the Apostles into ALL TRUTH. (John 16:13). Water baptism is one of the truths. (Acts 2:38, Acts 10)........Water baptism was still required when the 1st gentile household was saved (Acts 10

48) 10 years after Peter's first gospel sermon when he used the keys to the kingdom given to him by the Christ (Matthew 16)