I just got saved today and I want to start my life with the lord. Are there any suggestions on how to more better my relationship?
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I just got saved today and I want to start my life with the lord. Are there any suggestions on how to more better my relationship?
Treat others the way you would want them to treat you.
Okay thank u :)
Good advice. I do that and I'm not even a christian.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wondergirl
Pretty,
I suggest you really learn and understand the GRACE of the Lord Jesus. Christianity is so not about do's and don't's... it is about what has been DONE through Jesus Christ and being transformed to His image.
Other than the Bible, I would suggest reading, or listening to Pastor Joseph Prince. He points you to the Lord Jesus and his wonderful Grace, he makes it easy to understand. That is what I would have LOVE to have been told when I was saved.
I quite agree. And get connected with other believers who understand this.Quote:
Originally Posted by classyT
Tried to give a greenie but AMHD thinks I need to spread the rep. Great minds think alike dude! We agree quite a bit... are you officially frightened? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by dwashbur
How do you know that it's for real ? What evidence do you have that you're not just deluding yourself ?
Many people claim to be true born again Christians. In fact millions believe they're saved. But the Bible warns that many will be deceived. So again, what makes you sure ?
Of course you owe me nothing, not even an explanation. But really, I am trying to be helpful and give a real answer to your question.
Head.. Congratulation on you taking a strong step by accepting the Lord. I was watching Charles Stanley on TV the other day and he has a New Believers guide. Check that out.
What verse are you quoting... that many will be deceived about their salvation? There is a verse in Mathew that I will paraphrase.. the Lord says many will come to him in that day ( the day of Judgement) and say Lord, Lord haven't we done wonderful works in your name and the Lord says... depart from me you workers of inquity.. I NEVER knew you.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
He says to them.. ".i NEVER knew you"... not" I knew you once but i kicked you out because you left me..or you did this or that wrong". Notice that these people don't know the Lord Jesus.. they doing good works in his name but do NOT have a relationship...
I will be more than happy to answer your question...
I know I am saved because the bible says clearly:
If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead... THOU SHALT BE SAVED. Romans 10:9
I have confessed and I do believe and therefore I am saved!
Ephesians 1:13 says I was sealed with the Holy spirit when I believed the gospel check it out... In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Hebrews 13: 5 says that the Lord himself has promised this to us... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
That is how I KNOW I am real and... just for grins... Romans 8:16 says:
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.
I'm not working for my salvation, I'm not striving for it... I believe. GRACE! Understanding his wonderful Grace. That is the best advice I could ever give a new believer...
Sorryyyy... My mistake. I apologies. I addressed Prettypenguin as Head. I just realized my mistake. Sorry Prettypeg..!
Quoting classyT:
"What verse are you quoting...that many will be deceived about their salvation ?"
Actually there are a number of verses that address your question.
[1]Matthew 24:24 "...insomuch that if (it were) possible they shall deceive the very elect."
[2]Matthew 24:5 "... saying I am Christ and shall deceive many."
[3]Mark 13:6 "... saying I am (Christ) and shall deceive many."
[4]Luke 21:8 "Take heed that ye be not deceived. For many shall come in my name, saying..."
[5]2 Corinth.11:13 "...deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ."
Also 1 Thessalonians 1:3 says "... your work of faith... " and 2 Thessalonians 1:11 says "... the work of faith with power." These verses and others show that believing IS work. So much for doing no work to become saved.
"By grace are you saved, through faith. It is a gift of God, not works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8,9.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Headstrong,Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Put the verses in context... Jesus is speaking of people who say they ARE the Christ and come to decieve... He has come already, died, rose again. You wanted to know how she knew she wasn't being deceived. If she is believeing the Bible... and the JESUS of the Bible... she isn't being deceived. Neither am I. Are you?
For without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith ( or believing) plus nothing. Wondergirl said it all with her verse.
I still don't get your point.
Quoting classyT:
I still don't bet your point.
Ah. But I do get YOUR point ! I understand that the doctrines you espouse are more or less what the mainstream churches teach. And the fact is that they do NOT follow the WHOLE Bible. Only some verses here and there that their theologians have interpreted to suit their limited understanding. Hence the salvation plan you follow is patently FALSE.
If you claim to be saved BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED, THEN you're trusting your faith as having made some contribution to being saved. That concept is entirely DISOBEDIENT to God's actual plan. But I understand WHY you think that. It's because it's what the churches taught. The few verses you've quoted must be understood in light of the whole Bible. And you are CHOOSING to look at them as if they are CRYSTAL CLEAR as they stand. They are NOT. It's a trap. Consider for example Exodus 31:13. And Numbers 15:33-36. Do you suppose for one minute that the salvation of the Old Testament is one whit different from the salvation of the New ?
In 25 words or less (in your own words, with no proof passages), what is the salvation plan YOU follow?Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
You are saved by accepting Christ as your saviour, You do this though faith, but not because of your faith, but with faith. If and when you are saved, you will want to do good works, but the good works will never save you. There are plenty of non saved that run great charities, that do all sorts of wonderful things, but the works do not save.
Jesus died on the Cross to be the final sacrifice for our sin, his death paid that final price so that none have to.
Quoting Wondergirl:
"Using 25 words or less...etc."
There is no salvation other than from the Bible. Therefore your generous offer of "25 words or less" is in effect saying that you don't wish to READ anything further I might have to say. OK !
Quoting Fr_Chuck:
"You do this through faith, but not because of your faith, etc."
I understand the fine distinction you've drawn quite clearly. Thank you. But my point is that it is still YOU who is doing it. My understanding of the scriptures is that God Himself does it ALL. And further we can "ACCEPT" Jesus every day and twice on Sunday, but that does NOT get us saved. He is the one who must accept us OR NOT.
I guess one could look at a person accepting Christ as a work, it is something you have to do, make a commitment, but the bible is clear that you must accept Christ as your savior and very clear that works can not save you.
A person who of course claims to be saved and does not work, while it is not our place to judge, but if there is no works, have they really accepted? Not my place to say, but they have to do the acceptance, that is salvation, the works is our duty as a chrsitian
I'm sure I've spent more time reading the Bible than you have (and yes, merely reading the Bible doesn't save). I've read every single word you've written on this site, but still don't know exactly what you believe about salvation.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
So, you're saying you cannot encapsulate salvation? I can. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit's working faith in us. I stand by Ephesians 2:8,9 as a great summary of God's work of salvation in me.
Wondergirl, I see your encapsulation of salvation by the use of Ephesians 2:8,9 as an extreme OVERSIMPLIFICATION. After all it took God the entire Bible to present the Gospel to the world.
And yes I can give a summation that includes one very important aspect you seem to have excluded from your "encapsulation." That is the aspect of judgment and the coming Judgment Day on the unsaved of the world. Matthew 5:13 speaks about salt having lost its savour. Salt being a symbol God uses for judgment.
A much more balanced picture of the WHOLE GOSPEL is given by 2 Corinthians 2:15 and 16. And you could throw in verse 17 for good measure. Happy reading !
I asked you for a summary only of salvation, not of damnation.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
But that is the trouble, Salvation is simple, people were being saved after Christs death with no bible, just the very simple story of Jesus death and raising from the dead.
Trying to make it complicated is the real problem, Peter when he talked and converted and saved people after Christ death had no writings from Paul, and neither did Mathew or any of the other churches,
In fact even up to the Catholic Church deciding what books made up the bible, not all churches even had all of the books. And since they were hand written, it was most likely years and years before they had all of the writings.
Salvation is simple, until man confuses it with religion
John 6:37, 40. The Father calls, but we are required to respond. And anyone who responds, Jesus won't drive them away.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
It sounds to me like you want to absolve yourself of any responsibility in your own salvation; "God accepts me so it doesn't matter if I've ever responded or not." There's a fine balance between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. The biggest errors come when people lean too far in one direction or the other. The Bible teaches both. Get used to it.
I wonder why HSB thinks Jesus "accepts them or not"? Why would Jesus not accept someone?Quote:
Originally Posted by dwashbur
Bad breath? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Wondergirl
Quoting Fr_Chuck:
"...the Catholic Church deciding what books made up the bible."
It is true that the Catholic Church has added some books to ITS version of the Bible called "The Apocrypha." However those books do not really belong there, in my opinion and in the opinion of some others. Also I believe that God alone decided what books should be included in the Bible, and which ones should not be included. Because God is the actual author of the Bible, and the various names given to the various books are only the names of people that God used as scribes that took His dictation.
It is also true that many people were saved without having access to the complete Bible as we do today. But the fact remains that WE DO HAVE ACCESS to the complete Bible. And it is a wonderful blessing from God. And He expects His people to appreciate it, and to respect it, and to make EVERY EFFORT to keep learning more and more truth from His word. And the plain fact is that the Bible is NOT a SIMPLE BOOK. So to try and simplify God's message by ignoring the Bible is NOT the best approach to understanding salvation.
Your opinion and the opinion of "others" may very well be incorrect. Certainly the Catholic Church disagrees with you.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Please quote from the Bible God's list of accepted books.Quote:
Also I believe that God alone decided what books should be included in the Bible, and which ones should not be included.
I'll let dwashbur respond to this one, if he wishes to. He has taken far more theology courses than I have.Quote:
Because God is the actual author of the Bible, and the various names given to the various books are only the names of people that God used as scribes that took His dictation.
The salvation message in the Bible is actually very simple. Old Testament SOS = Show's Oyour Sin. New Testament SOS = Show's Oyour Savior. Amen.Quote:
So to try and simplify God's message by ignoring the Bible is NOT the best approach to understanding salvation.
Quoting Wondergirl:
"Why would Jesus not accept someone?"
The answer is that Jesus is God. And God works and CAN work ONLY ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LAW. His law states that "The soul that sinneth it shall die." Therefore the death penalty MUST BE PAID for every sinful soul that is chosen to be saved. The fact is that Jesus MADE PAYMENT ONLY FOR S-O-M-E. NOT for all human beings that ever lived. Therefore God must reject those that Jesus has NOT MADE PAYMENT FOR.
Jesus died for all.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Quoting dwashbur:
"Bad Breath?"
And the mockery continues.
Quoting Wondergirl:
"Jesus died for all."
Please quote from the Bible where it says that Jesus died for the sins of all humanity that ever lived on Earth.
That's why we read the entire Bible, to find that out.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
1 John 2:2, "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 Tim. 2:6, "[Jesus] gave Himself a ransom for all."
Heb. 2:9, "But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone."
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life."
Wondergirl, you very conveniently omitted Ephesians 1:4,5, and 11. Are you saying that God chose ALL (us) to "be holy and without blame." That is He made payment for all, and chose all. BUT some of those He chose would not actually be saved ? That would be a contradiction of John 6:39. "That all of which He hath given me I should lose nothing..."
You SAY that "we read the entire Bible." But you do not actually APPLY the light of the whole Bible to every verse. Otherwise there COULD BE NO CONTRADICTION, as I have indicated.
I'm saying (the NT says) Jesus died for all.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Are you a Calvinist?
Quoting Wondergirl:
"I'm saying...etc."
No, the way you read the NT, it says that.
Taking into account the verses I have quoted it says something altogether different.
Then, one of us may be wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadStrongBoy
Quoting Wondergirl:
Then, one or both...etc.
I agree. Very democratic of you to say so.
But... how many logical positions on this issue are there ?
[1]He died for all of humanity.
[2]He died for only the elect. (Some of humanity) A remnant.
[3]Other ? (Unknown)
1. Christ died for some of the sins of all humanity.
2. Christ died for all the sins of some of humanity.
3. Christ died for all the sins of all humanity.
I vote for #3.
Clearly you're free to vote all you want. But my point is that we need to base doctrine on a careful evaluation of the Bible. And not permit it to degenerate to a mere expression of my opinion versus the opinions of others.
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