Christ takes you to heaven on one confession

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#1
Imagine your theology says, one confession of faith, that is enough to be born again.

The thief on the cross.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Now in this one case this declaration was enough for salvation.

So how much of a belief or confession does it take to enter heaven?
And once spoken are you seal forever?

If this is true, we could do a universal sales drive, getting people to believe and
say the words, and hay, fill heaven with eternal saved people.

Or is it more than just a confession?

I ask this because it strikes me some would have us believe, one statement is
enough.

I hold that our hearts need to be open, and accept Christ in with all we are.
This will show itself with words and statements, and if this position is kept
abiding in fellowship and faith with our Lord, then salvation is real today.
 

DaveTheRave

Senior Member
May 28, 2014
125
8
18
25
#2
I ask this because it strikes me some would have us believe, one statement is
enough.
It seems Paul is among those who believe this:

'If you declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved' [Romans 10:9]

It clearly has more to do with just the words you say but it seems pretty clear to me. :)
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#3
It seems Paul is among those who believe this:

'If you declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved' [Romans 10:9]

It clearly has more to do with just the words you say but it seems pretty clear to me. :)
And this:

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee[SUP]d[/SUP] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[SUP]e[/SUP] to the praise of his glory.

Hmmm. Unto the praise of His glory. Now, some will have none of that, and will tell us about the praise of their glory, their humility, love, self-righteousness, and, of course how others are lost.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
24,999
13,008
113
58
#4
It seems Paul is among those who believe this:

'If you declare with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved' [Romans 10:9]

It clearly has more to do with just the words you say but it seems pretty clear to me. :)
Amen! 1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except BY the Holy Spirit. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep personal conviction, without reservation, that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior. :)
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#5
The dilemma is there are many who say these words, even repeat them in
churches but do not believe them or have faith in them.

There are also atheists who once said these words but would now deny them.

Are they lost or just temporally deranged?

And I have sincerely said all these things, yet people has disowned me from
knowing Christ at all.

I find it slightly amusing when someone with an almost identical theology says
the words I speak must be wrong, but if I change this one concept then I will
be saved, but otherwise I am doomed.

One guy even went as far as saying I could not pray to Christ, because I
obviously did not follow Him.

So words, ideas, our hearts, the Holy Spirit are all involved.
It strikes me the apostles took the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a sign of
Gods sealing the peoples experience and acceptance into the Kingdom.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#6
True biblical belief is of the heart - not in the head or mind. God looks on the heart - man looks on the outward appearance.

Getting "saved" is simple.

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

The process is simple too.

1) we hear the message of Christ - the gospel of our salvation in Him

2) we believe the message from our hearts

3) we were sealed with the Holy

( Jesus said in John 14:16 that the Holy Spirit will be with us and in us forever - now was Jesus lying or is he like a "bait and switch" car salesman that has "fine print" which He doesn't talk about )

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, = 1)

the gospel of your salvationhaving also believed, = 2)

you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, =
3)


you were sealed =
aorist indicative tense / passive voice = a one time event in the past.

Passive voice = the sealing was not done by us but by an outside force - the Holy Spirit Himself.

 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#7
True biblical belief is of the heart - not in the head or mind. God looks on the heart - man looks on the outward appearance.

Getting "saved" is simple.

Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
[SUP]9 [/SUP] that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

[SUP]10 [/SUP] for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

The process is simple too.

1) we hear the message of Christ - the gospel of our salvation in Him

2) we believe the message from our hearts

3) we were sealed with the Holy

( Jesus said in John 14:16 that the Holy Spirit will be with us and in us forever - now was Jesus lying or is he like a "bait and switch" car salesman that has "fine print" which He doesn't talk about )

Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, = 1)

the gospel of your salvationhaving also believed, = 2)

you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, =
3)


you were sealed =
aorist indicative tense / passive voice = a one time event in the past.

Passive voice = the sealing was not done by us but by an outside force - the Holy Spirit Himself.

It's only 'simple' because God did all the work (but I wouldn't use that word in describing it personally). We only believe by the power that raised Christ from the dead; Ephesians 1:19. :)
 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#8
Imagine your theology says, one confession of faith, that is enough to be born again.

The thief on the cross.
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Now in this one case this declaration was enough for salvation.

So how much of a belief or confession does it take to enter heaven?
And once spoken are you seal forever?

If this is true, we could do a universal sales drive, getting people to believe and
say the words, and hay, fill heaven with eternal saved people.

Or is it more than just a confession?

I ask this because it strikes me some would have us believe, one statement is
enough.

I hold that our hearts need to be open, and accept Christ in with all we are.
This will show itself with words and statements, and if this position is kept
abiding in fellowship and faith with our Lord, then salvation is real today.
Romans 10 is sufficient
The TRUTH is that it is GOD who opens (the eyes and ears of ) the heart to THE TRITH of THE GOSPEL

Our work was simply to be a witness and a voice to THE TRUTH
 

DaveTheRave

Senior Member
May 28, 2014
125
8
18
25
#9
Ultimately it is for God to be the final judge of our hearts and decide whether we are saved or not. Thankfully! :)
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#10
It's only 'simple' because God did all the work (but I wouldn't use that word in describing it personally). We only believe by the power that raised Christ from the dead; Ephesians 1:19. :)

I agree...when I used the term "simple" - my purpose was in stating that we don't have to do a bunch of things in order to be saved, to become the righteousness of God in Christ which is by grace through faith in Christ's work alone.

I believe we haven't even scratched the surface of knowing what the love of God in Christ has done for us in His great majestic work. Throughout eternity we will be seeing new wonders of Him as they are unfolded to us and we will be standing in total amazement of Him.

I once heard a minister say this: If you are not in total constant amazement of the gospel of the grace of God in Christ and in what He has done - you have not had the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ yet like we should and will have when we see Him for who He truly is.
 
Last edited:
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#11

I agree...when I used the term "simple" - my purpose was in stating that we don't have to do a bunch of things in order to be saved, to become the righteousness of God in Christ which is by grace through faith in Christ's work alone.

I believe we haven't even scratched the surface of knowing what the love of God in Christ has done for us in His great majestic work. Throughout eternity we will be seeing new wonders of Him as they are unfolded to us and we will be standing in total amazement of Him.
I understand, but am cautious to avoid the error of easy-believe-ism(if you do this, say this, the you're guaranteed heaven. We, of course, are not Apostles, so we cannot write Ephesians 1:13-14 and ascribe it to anyone - we don't have those keys and authority, and the proof is in the pudding.

As we know, multitudes have been deceived, being told that for saying a prayer they're on their way to heaven. They buy this, hook, line, sinker and never darken the church door, and have no interest in God, Christ, Scripture at all. They've "punched their ticket", a preacher told them so. Since there is no evidence, there was no conversion, 2 Corinthians 3:17ff.
 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#12
The dilemma is there are many who say these words, even repeat them in
churches but do not believe them or have faith in them.

There are also atheists who once said these words but would now deny them.

Are they lost or just temporally deranged?

And I have sincerely said all these things, yet people has disowned me from
knowing Christ at all.

I find it slightly amusing when someone with an almost identical theology says
the words I speak must be wrong, but if I change this one concept then I will
be saved, but otherwise I am doomed.

One guy even went as far as saying I could not pray to Christ, because I
obviously did not follow Him.

So words, ideas, our hearts, the Holy Spirit are all involved.
It strikes me the apostles took the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a sign of
Gods sealing the peoples experience and acceptance into the Kingdom.
What is hidden from men is not hidden from GOD
HE's not fooled by false confessions
Read Romans 10

One can confess with their mouth, the Lord Jesus Christ, but if in their hearts they really don't believe , GOD sees and knows
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#13
I understand, but am cautious to avoid the error of easy-believe-ism(if you do this, say this, the you're guaranteed heaven. We, of course, are not Apostles, so we cannot write Ephesians 1:13-14 and ascribe it to anyone - we don't have those keys and authority, and the proof is in the pudding.

As we know, multitudes have been deceived, being told that for saying a prayer they're on their way to heaven. They buy this, hook, line, sinker and never darken the church door, and have no interest in God, Christ, Scripture at all. They've "punched their ticket", a preacher told them so. Since there is no evidence, there was no conversion, 2 Corinthians 3:17ff.
Jesus did say that there would be tares in with the wheat and to leave them alone and let the angels separate them out at the end of things. True biblical faith is a matter of the heart responding to the message of Christ. Those truly born again when they hear the message of Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

I don't believe in easy believism in the way you described it - just say something and that's it. We are missing the responding of the heart to the message of Christ. I do however believe that it is an easy believism when you respond from your heart when hearing of Christ. There are two sides to that sword.

I also believe that those truly who have received the message of Christ will have some sort of fruit from His life being in them now. How that fruit manifests itself can be different in different people. Sometimes "fruit inspectors" want what they consider to be fruit before they say they are born-again.

As I said - only the Lord who knows the hearts of the people can make that determination but in the meantime we preach and teach the grace of God in Christ and persuade all men to know Him.

 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#14
So you have managed to say, an unbeliever can go from being not in the Kingdom
into the Kingdom by one statement of faith, and believing what?
That Jesus was risen from the dead? Nothing more, just this.

And Jesus could be Jesus who lives down the road from me, or Jesus who
was a friend to that guy, long time ago, messiah or something.
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#15
So I am Gengis Khan. I have just butched half a village.
I am about to set off and butcher another load of people.

I make the declaration of faith and off I go.
What is stopping me from just doing what I have always been doing?
He really believes Christ was a good guy, the Messiah, has saved His soul.

What more is there to it?
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#16
We do have word for word accounts of the real gospel being preached by Peter to Gentiles and by Paul to the Jews.

The message is exactly the same with Peter and Paul and I believe we will find it different then some teach in our modern day evangelical belief system concerning the gospel of the grace of God in Christ.

Acts 10:34-44 is Peter speaking and the operative words that brought the confirmation by the Holy Spirit is verse 43,44. God who knows the hearts responded to that heart.

Acts 10:43-44 (NASB)
[SUP]43 [/SUP] "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

[SUP]44 [/SUP] While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.

Here is what Peter said concerning this time with Cornelius and his household. This is where God "cleansed their hearts by faith". Now they have a new heart with new desires where Christ lives as one spirit with us forever.

Acts 15:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

[SUP]9 [/SUP] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Here is Paul's word for word account of the gospel. Paul is longer because he has to talk about Moses to the Jews because they do have some religious background to be applied to their understanding of the gospel. Acts 13:16-41. The operative words again are in verse 37-39.

Acts 13:37-39 (NASB)
[SUP]37 [/SUP] but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.

[SUP]38 [/SUP] "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

[SUP]39 [/SUP] and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

It is in the "proclaiming" of the forgiveness of sins because Christ died and rose again and has taken all sin away. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.



 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#17
So I am Gengis Khan. I have just butched half a village.
I am about to set off and butcher another load of people.

I make the declaration of faith and off I go.
What is stopping me from just doing what I have always been doing?
He really believes Christ was a good guy, the Messiah, has saved His soul.

What more is there to it?
Not misrepresenting/ blaspheming HIS SPIRIT which is what by your words are suggesting that it is "okay" to do
 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#18
So I am Gengis Khan. I have just butched half a village.
I am about to set off and butcher another load of people.

I make the declaration of faith and off I go.
What is stopping me from just doing what I have always been doing?
He really believes Christ was a good guy, the Messiah, has saved His soul.

What more is there to it?
Not by power or by might, sayeth THE LORD
But by HIS SPIRIT

There are those who know of whose SPIRIT they are of
and then there are those who don't know GOD and take matters into their own hands and "go out" from HIM

In the end, they will be made manifest those who knew GOD and those who simply did lip service to THE NAME
 
Feb 24, 2015
13,204
168
0
#19
So someone comes to faith in a guy Jesus.
Is this like a mascot you hang around your neck, or a talisman to ward off evil spirits?

Get a cross and hang it round you neck and say a few words everytime you are worried.
Maybe you should get the priest to spinkle you with holy water or go into a special
church with incense burning, and get the vibes.

Maybe listen to a really spiritual preacher and just do everything they tell you.

Or maybe go on your way and never think about God again.
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
113
#20
So I am Gengis Khan. I have just butched half a village.
I am about to set off and butcher another load of people.

I make the declaration of faith and off I go.
What is stopping me from just doing what I have always been doing?
He really believes Christ was a good guy, the Messiah, has saved His soul.

What more is there to it?
He would go to the same hot tormenting hell as those who think they are saved by their works and goodness.