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I noticed the "salvation" section of the site is missing one vital element of God’s salvation plan as revealed in Scripture. There is something about saying a prayer to accept the Lord but this is found no where in the bible.
This is God’s salvation plan as outlined in the Word of God:
<a href="http://www.bebaptized.org/saved.htmhttp://www.bebaptized.org/waterandspirit.htm
The” target=”_blank”>http://www.bebaptized.org/saved.h….
http ‘sinner’s prayer’ is not found in Scripture anywhere:
<a href="http://www.bebaptized.org/InviteJesus.htm” target=”_blank”>http://www.bebaptized.org/InviteJesus.htm
I have had people say that the sinners prayer is not in the bible before. But I can guarantee that most prayers that people pray are not in the bible. Are all your prayers in the bible. If not, then does that make them invalid?
I am not sure what page you were looking at on the site, but on the Salvation page I have written the following before the suggested prayer.
“If you are willing to turn from your sin and serve the Almighty God then it really starts with a decision from you.
It's simple, you can Start by praying to the Heavenly Father in your own words, you cover the points mentioned above. Tell him that you want to turn from your sin and turn to him and do his will rather than your own. Of course you have to mean what you are about to pray. If are not sure what to pray, then you can try the prayer below. Remember that this is just the start. Your salvation depends on your ongoing faith in God.I also mention the following just before that prayer:
You are required to be obedient to God from now on. This is easy if you really love God. Being obedient includes Jesus command to be baptized in water. If you live in God's Will then you will have the victory over this wicked world and you will enter paradise when you die.
On my testimony page, where I have this suggested prayer, I have also said the following after the prayer:
“This prayer is just the beginning of your committment in God. You have exercised your free will and allowed God to become your master. Remember that God is love, and he has started a good work in you and he will complete it until perfection if you continue to allow him. Your responsibility is to seek him each day and to do his will. The scriptures tell us that we will remain forever, if we do the will of God.
If read fully it is clear that nowhere do I suggest that saying prayer gives you salvation. It is just a suggestion as a place to begin and I stress that our on-going faith and doing the will of God is what matters. It is easy to see a prayer and make a judgement, but it is wise to fully read the writing. The same with making judgements about people. Carnal men make judgements by appearances, spiritual men judge by the heart and the heart is made evident in the speech and works of a man.
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Now the reason that I have this suggested prayer on the site is in response to the following scriptures.
Hebrews 11
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.Romans 3
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Matthew 4
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”John 11
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”1 John 2
17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.James 4
2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.Rom 10
9 If You confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Is it the will of God that we pray?
Is it the will of God that we become sorry for our sins and ask him for forgiveness?
Is it the will of God that we repent?
Is it the will of God that we believe?
This prayer is just one way that we start on the journey, I even suggest praying to God in your own words and offer this prayer as a guide. Once we start talking to God and start to ask him for things pertaining to his will, do you think that God will give you a fish?
I am fully aware that people may say this prayer and not do anything about seeking God's will. But God knows their heart and he will respond or not accordingly.
BTW: This is where my journey started and God has done wonderful things in my life since that time. The moment I prayed and asked God for forgiveness of my sins, and confessed that I wanted to serve him, then everything else followed including baptism.
Would you be interested in stating your case as to why baptism is essential for salvation. If so, you can start a new topic in the Biblical Questions forum in the SCRIPTURE & DOCTRINE section
Hi immerse:
I believe that the prayer that is commonly referred as the sinners prayer is based on Romans 10:9-10 which states: “That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
Hi 94,
These spoken to had already had the foundations laid and were in Christ but needed to let the Spirit grow and live in them and this is by letting the Spirit speak through them. They had to start working out their salvation. It was not spoken to unsaved gentiles as showing another way not through the gate of Christ.
Ps 51
“Psalm 51:15
O Lord, open my lips,That my mouth may declare Your praise”
Ps 78
“Psalm 71:8
My mouth is filled with Your praiseAnd with Your glory all day long.
Is 59
“Isaiah 59:21
“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.”
Matt 12
“Matthew 12:34
” You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”
Mt 13
“Matthew 13:35
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:” I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES;I WILL UTTER THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”
Lk 6
“Luke 6:45
” The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”
1Cor 12
“1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”guys just read acts 2 verse 38 to see the method of salvation then acts 2 verse 4 to see the evedince of being filled with the Holy Ghost
Quote (Jesus name follower of Christ @ Mar. 18 2009,01:00) guys just read acts 2 verse 38 to see the method of salvation then acts 2 verse 4 to see the evedince of being filled with the Holy Ghost
Greetings…….and welcome….The term “Holy Ghost” is routed in a belief system that suggests the existence of a God that consists of three individual bodies known as the trinity…Did you mean the Holy Spirit,which is the essence of God…Hi JN,
Welcome.
Indeed the way of Jesus as demonstrated in Acts includes water baptism in the name of JesusQuote (Nick Hassan @ Nov. 02 2006,14:40) Hi 94,
These spoken to had already had the foundations laid and were in Christ but needed to let the Spirit grow and live in them and this is by letting the Spirit speak through them. They had to start working out their salvation. It was not spoken to unsaved gentiles as showing another way not through the gate of Christ.Rom 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Nick,
While I believe you are correct in pointing out that Paul was speaking to those “in Christ”, he was speaking to them about how “unsaved” Israelites might be saved.
Rom 9:31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law.
Rom 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,I believe you are correct in pointing out that, “It is not another way through the gate of Christ.” It does seem to be a critical “step” in the way through the gate, not excluding any other steps. As your post here indicated, the Churches of Christ site shows “steps” that they have identified none of which ae presumed to be omitted.
(Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Be baptizied).Just my take on it.
Blessings in your walk with the Lord,
Seeking
Hi S,
There are more steps for newborn sons.
Walk-the jewish converts wanted to go back to the babyfood.
Let the Spirit rule-man loves to maintain a semblance of control.The Galatians also were jewish converts.
Here Paul say sthe same thing in another way.Galatians 5
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Romans 10 focuses more on the tongue expressing the Spirit.
We become temples and need to fill that temple with the praises of God even outflowing through the wilful tonguenick wrote:[/quote]
Quote Hi S,
There are more steps for newborn sons.
Walk-the jewish converts wanted to go back to the babyfood.
Let the Spirit rule-man loves to maintain a semblance of control.Nick,
Sorry, I don't understand how this relates to my post at all.
What do you mean by “more steps”? More than the Church of Christ material contains or what? I expressed in my post that there would be more to a complete response to the gospel.Quote Romans 10 focuses more on the tongue expressing the Spirit. I don't follow this either. The passages I posted out of Rom.9&10 seem to indicate clearly that Paul is talking to
Gentile converts about his wishes for Jews.Can you elaborate on and/or explain you thoughts.please.
Blessings,
Seeking
Hi S,
Being reborn into Christ is not the last event.Christ must be born into us.[gal]
That process is of yelding to the Lordship of Jesus Spirit and walking in his way by grace.[gal5]
Only by that Spirit are we found useful branches in the vine not to be cut off and cast into the fire.[jn15]
Quote (Nick Hassan @ Mar. 20 2009,14:25) Hi S,
Being reborn into Christ is not the last event.Christ must be born into us.[gal]
That process is of yelding to the Lordship of Jesus Spirit and walking in his way by grace.[gal5]
Only by that Spirit are we found useful branches in the vine not to be cut off and cast into the fire.[jn15]
Nick,Thanks! I thought that was the point of the discussion; salvation and walking in the Spirit. Re-birth and regeneration.
Transformation into the likeness of Christ.The confusion must have been on my part.
Thanks for the explanation.
Blessings,
Seeking
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