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Agreed. But how did you come to God if the Bible has no instruction on being saved for the sinner?
From what book did you receive the true message of salvation?
Or perhaps it was an oral tradition that was passed down?Or maybe that message came from the scriptures itself, the ones that were written for the saved?
t8,
Where is it written that salvation is a free gift?
Does that idea fit with Jesus’ words that strive to enter the narrow gate in Luke 13:24?
Do you not know that we have been purchased for a price that is life for life. Salvation is a gift, you cannot earn salvation because the soul that sins will die. Even if you didn’t sin starting from today, you still have sinned in your life and that needs to be dealt with.
When someone makes a purchase for you, that means you do not have the pay the price yourself. Surely you know this.
So what about the narrow door you mention. Kerwin that gate would not exist if God did not make that way for you.
Yes we need to enter the narrow door just the same as we need to accept a gift if we want it. Not all will accept it though because they are being offered other things in its place and it is hard for them to say ‘no’. Worldly honour, riches, unlawful sexual pleasures etc, many choose instead. These block the way, but repentance is part of the key in accepting salvation. In short you have to die to accept life.
The flesh or the spirit. While the spirit is given freely, so it is that we may live in such a way as to disqualify ourselves from it. We indeed need to strive because to not strive means the world will have its way with us because we are born of the flesh. We all know how hard it is living in a world of temptation and having to contend not only with the enemy of our soul, but the flesh as well as the world itself. While we are in it, we need to strive to not be part of it, rather part of God’s Kingdom. It is not an easy ride into the Kingdom, it comes with much hardship, persecution, and patience.
But know this, salvation is a gift of God. There is nothing you can do to save yourself, you can only accept it. God made the way. He sent his son to die for you. But you need to accept it. You will be tried to see what manner of man you are. A tare or wheat. If you accept, you will sell all else for this great pearl.
Free gifts still have conditions. You might be confused with ‘no strings attached’.
Hi t8
Rom 1.16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe..
Hi t8,
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
The letters of the brothers are not that gospel but explanations of how to live that life.
Check the addresses at the start of these books.
But you seem to assert that all messages in scripture about being saved is written to the saved. So how do we determine the message to the unsaved if that is true?
Hi t8,
You misquote me.
It is the letters that are for the saved.
Your do not think God has made the message clear? Your argument is with God, not me.
Nick you consistently make the point that when it talks about salvation in scripture, you say that is for the saved. My question is a logical one based on that. Here are some verses that deal with salvation. I won’t quote the context because that would be too long, but you can read the context if you want.
- “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God …
- made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. …
- for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” …
- hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. …
- They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household
Do you believe these? No one here is denying that you should believe and take part in the new birth Nick, but you seem to argue about salvation as if you were the only saved here. You come across as arrogant on that point. I think I speak for others when I say this. Correct me if I am wrong (others). Further, you argue against most of the scriptures above or have nothing good to say about them from what I have experienced. Instead you brush them off and always point to water baptism. However, the reality is if you really have been born again, then there would be the fruit of love. No love, no God. Simple as that. While we cannot see if a man is born-again, we can see fruit and experience love. A good tree has good fruit.
As Believers we should make every effort to keep the unity. But what I see mostly from some here is some making every effort to divide over every small iota and stroke. I do not see this as evidence of God’s Spirit at work. Quite the opposite IMO.
I think we should make our point, but if two disagree over the colour of Jesus hair or , there is no point in arguing about that. Save such vigorous debate for what really matters and always in the love of God. God doesn’t want us to be nasty to our brothers.
Hi t8,
Would it be loving to agree with those who do not believe it is the Spirit speaking through Jesus?
Would it be loving to agree with those who would deny the gospel and misapply verses?
Love makes every effort to keep the unity. It isn’t about agreeing on every single point, but certainly if a brother is teaching something that is not true, or is affected by the traditions of men, then in love we should pray and help such people.
So far this sums up this thread. I post a video about Ray Comfort condemning Bono, then yourself and Kerwin make posts to condemn Ray Comfort, all the while Nick and Kerwin debate with each other accusing the other as teaching wrong doctrine and not having good fruit.
Any outsider coming here would see the same and leave due to religious nuttery IMO.
Love doesn’t work like that IMO.
Yes we should challenge lies and preach truth. But here is the thing, I am not going around saying Ray Comfort has no fruits for eternal life, yet I disagree with his stance on Jesus being God. Instead of condemning the man, I want to help him with this because Jesus died for him.
The fruit of love is not a bunch of people condemning each other. But love for the truth will challenge lies when God’s people are blinded by it. They can condemn us for exposing the lie and often do, but I don’t believe in condemning them.
If everyone is condemning everyone, then statistically who is right? No one or only one person and all believe they are that one person. It is funny when you analyse it, but of course it is a serious situation. People often can’t see the forest for the trees.
I don’t consider myself that one person, rather I am about condemning and encouraging teaching, not people. If I do a good job at that, then anyone under the influence might be set free in that area. If I am corrected, then I happily accept that because I have been set free in that area. The spirit of God makes men act in a certain way right? And this we can see.
Hi t8,
Can there be unity between Christ and Belial?
The attempts to unify truth with deception are dangerous.
Test all things and hold fast to what is good.
t8.
Love without the Spirit is imperfect and so of the flesh.
There is one way to get the Spirit and that is through faith in the non-flawed word of God.I have condemned Comfort’s heresy. That is not the same as condemning him. Scripture is less gentile than I am.
Comfort does the same thing in his video about different Jesuses. His argument is in error only because he believes Jesus is God.
If men judge me for what I wrote then so will they judge Scripture for what is written in there.
Such an individual would find the words “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8) and other passages offensive.
Hi,
Plenty of folk who believe they are saved offer themselves as guides for others.
But if they have taken a wrong path they can instead be stumbling blocks.
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