It is obvious that you do not UNDERSTAND evangelical THEOLOGY. Evangelicals includes most of the Baptists, Non-Denominational Bible Teaching Churches, Evangelical Free Churches, Bible Churches, Bible Fellowship Churches, Grace Brethren Churches, and several other Churches. Also I should mention, I believe in using Colors and Bold print, but it is not yelling, it is only for emphasis. I do not bow to facebook rules. No Offense Intended.
We believe that SALVATION began Before Time Began, which is when HE wrote our names in the Book of Life, and Therefore, SALVATION Was COMPLETED by CHRIST HIMSELF at the genuine Conversion of the TRUE BELIEVER, and we had nothing to do with it. Confessing HIM AS OUR PERSONAL LORD and MEANING IT WITH OUR WHOLE HEART, is NOT A WORK on our part, it is the Primary FUNCTION of the HOLY SPIRIT.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (HCSB)
3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” {as a genuine CONFESSION, which happen in your heart that is the Human Spirit} except by the Holy Spirit.
Romans 10:9-10 (HCSB)
9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
You see, WE USE A VASTLY DIFFERENT DEFINITION, for WORKS, than you do. In Our Definition it is any effort to accomplish or add to SALVATION by CHRIST ALONE. NO, we do not teach obedience as PART OF SALVATION, but we do teach Obedience is PART OF THE AGAPE LOVE HE POURED INTO OUR HEARTS, in other words our Human Spirit. EVERYTHING we do for Christ or others, after Genuine SALVATION, that happens in an instant, is PART OF OUR SANCTIFICATION PROCESS, THAT WILL TAKE A LIFETIME UP UNTIL THE RESURRECTION. Every Deed, every Kindness, every Compassion, etc. ONLY HAS VALUE TO GOD, if it is done out of GENUINE AGAPE LOVE. No other Motive will suffice, as it is Wood, Hay, or Stubble at BEST, or FILTHY RAGS AT THE WORST.
Romans 5:1-10 (HCSB)
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
5 This hope will not disappoint ⌊us⌋, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!
9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, ⌊then how⌋ much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!
I have a suggestion for you, PLEASE spend some Time reading what we are all about, and do not lash out with JUDGEMENTS, Several People have been banned from this thread. I too wanted to put Zzzzzz, it is NOT the Scripture that we find Boring, it is that SAME OLD ARGUMENTS. Most of us have been on this thread for a Couple YEARS or more, and dc has been here since 2 Jan, 1917. And I have debated non-OSAS believers on other threads or Sites, and those who think their works should count for their SALVATION, and every false Teaching in between. AND I have not heard anything NEW in AT LEAST a 1.5 YEARS at least. Everyone who wants to believe those false teachings, does not realize, we on this OSAS side of the camp, have heard it all MULTIPLES TIMES. So dc was not diminishing the Importance of the LORD's Word, but rather just letting you know we have heard that position Multiple TIMES before, and considers it a error in translation or a misunderstanding.
I want to repeat myself:
We do not consider any deeds AFTER WE FIRST genuinely Believed, to be Part of SALVATION, BUT RATHER AN ONGOING PART OF SANCTIFICATION OF THE BODY.
By the same HOLY SPIRT, we do not consider Genuine SAVING FAITH, REPENTANCE, BIRTH OF OUR ONE DEAD HUMAN SPIRIT, or RECEIVING HIM AS LORD of our LIVES was not of HUMAN EFFORT, but RATHER what the HOLY SPIRIT DOES IN THE HEART OF MAN
We are no longer searching for TRUTH, because we are totally convince by the Holy Spirit in US, that we have the TRUTH in the OSAS Doctrine. That we Genuine BELIEVE, THAT TRUTH IS WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
Titus 3:5-7 (HCSB)
5 He saved us— not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
6 He poured out this ⌊Spirit⌋ on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
2 Corinthians 3:5 (HCSB)
5 ⌊It is⌋ not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.
Ephesians 6:24 (HCSB)
24 Grace be with all who have undying {agape} love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:11-14 (HCSB)
11 We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,
12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
Romans 8:28-31 (HCSB)
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
