what one must believe to be saved is not taught clearly... or at all if in proper terms

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't see anything that need to be rebuttled in your first argument. What I see is you stating what you believe on the matter, thus introducing the debate. Given the fact I find nothing that needs countering, I will preceed into my first argument without addressing yours. You claim that what is necessary for salvation is not clearly taught. In a sense you are right, because going from pastor to pastor you will find many different opinions on what is the bare necessity. This is because man is not perfect. The Bible, however, IS clear on what is necessary for salvation, and whether you are Atheist, Agnostic, or Christian you canot deny it. You are entitled to believe that it means nothing, but you cannot say that the Bible is ambiguous on the matter. [The jailer] "brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:30-31) What is beliefe, though? As you said, even Satan believes in God. Belief in God is not simply accepring his existance, but it also includes his presence in your life. "The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16) The presence of the Holy Sprirt is necessary for salvation, because it is the very presence of God in our lives. The Bible is also VERY clear on the fact that you must be repentant of your sins in order to be saved. No one who has not repented has forgiveness, and without forgiveness you cannot be saved. Satan mey believe in God, but dos not have the presence of the Hole Spirit in his life, and does not seek repentance for his sins. Another necessity for salvation is making an attempt to live like Christ. We cannot do this perfectly obviously, but we are commanded to try to the best of our ability. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light (for the fruit if the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8-10) This tells us that we must seek out the way of the Lord, and live our lives as He would. It is also saying that the fruit of the spirit will be appearant in the lives of true believers. What are the fruits of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These will be visibly evident in true followers of Christ, and necessarily follow true belief in Christ. There is also the command to love God. Jesus says this is the greatest commandment, and it says "You must love the Lord you God with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." I can assure you that Satan does not love God with all his heart, and this is what he lacks for salvation. The presence of the Holy Spirit and seking after God are necessary for salvation, but they come after our love for God. So not only belief in God is required, then, but also love of Him. It is easy to say you "love God" though, and that is where the presence of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit come in. If they are not evident, then it is questionable whether or not said person is a true believer. Thank! Renzzy