Why so much confusion about salvation?

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SaintMichaels

Active member
Jun 6, 2018
156
107
28
#82
I believe most of us would agree that there is a great deal of confusion about salvation, even though God has made it very simple.

The primary reason for all this confusion is the enmity of Satan and his evil angels against God and against humanity. The Devil desires all human being to go to Hell, since he knows it was created for him and his angels.

There is really no need to be confused when we take the total Gospel message and simply believe it. When someone comes along with another gospel, we should ask them a few questions, to which all the answers are "Yes" (according to Scripture):

1. Did Christ die for the sins of the whole world?

2. Does God desire the salvation of all humanity?

3. Are repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ sufficient to be saved?

4. Is water baptism only for believers and is it a command to every Christian?

5. Does baptism signify that the sinner has died to self and sin, and is totally submitted to God?

6. Is eternal life God's gift to the one who believes?

7. Is the Holy Spirit God's gift to the one who believes?

8. Does salvation include the New Birth, which means that the individual is a new creature in Christ?

10. Are believers predestined and elected to be perfected and glorified?

11. Does that mean that Christians must forsake the ways of the world, and walk in the Spirit by faith?

12. Does salvation include justification, sanctification, and glorification, and are Christians kept by the power of God unto the completion of this salvation?
It all started when a church was formed and lifted people onto platforms of sainthood so as to create idols of dead mortals, and then the facade of the dead church made itself something to believe in or else its authority would murder those opposed. When man could write what they labeled the word of God, the breath of God's actual spirit in the oral ministry that was delivered by first Jesus and then his appointed Apostles was corrupted.
The spirit within us is what leads us to all truth. Human ego's characteristics are many and yet one of those is that of possession. Let a human think they can play God and watch out. Or watch the news and see how that works out.
But let a human's ego be allowed to control mind, body, and spirit, and watch the world splinter into divisions wherein people are led to believe a church. Or they are led to be the church.

Jesus died to keep it simple.
Humans muck that up playing God.
 

SaintMichaels

Active member
Jun 6, 2018
156
107
28
#83
We are also required to have faith which leads us to bearing fruit.

John 15:4-6
We are not required to have faith. That verse does not state that either.
That we come into the faith of Jesus Christ and repent of our sins and are washed clean of them by his atoning sacrifice is all an act of faith. And God knows the genuineness of that because he calls us by name into his free gift of grace that is irrevocable. When we are in that covenant that is when we bear fruit. Because we have reconciled ourselves with the Kingdom that is within, as Jesus told us and where to find that. And we are then led by the spirit of all truth, God's Holy Spirit, to do His work, the work of God. We do not work for God because God and Jesus did that. We do the work of God on earth and that is what bears fruit. Because we are laying seeds down that are nourished through God's Holy Spirit to prosper and blossom into the good, Godly, works of God.

We do the work of God because we are saved eternally. Not to guarantee we are saved eternally.
 
C

claysmithr

Guest
#86
We are not required to have faith. That verse does not state that either.
That we come into the faith of Jesus Christ and repent of our sins and are washed clean of them by his atoning sacrifice is all an act of faith. And God knows the genuineness of that because he calls us by name into his free gift of grace that is irrevocable. When we are in that covenant that is when we bear fruit. Because we have reconciled ourselves with the Kingdom that is within, as Jesus told us and where to find that. And we are then led by the spirit of all truth, God's Holy Spirit, to do His work, the work of God. We do not work for God because God and Jesus did that. We do the work of God on earth and that is what bears fruit. Because we are laying seeds down that are nourished through God's Holy Spirit to prosper and blossom into the good, Godly, works of God.

We do the work of God because we are saved eternally. Not to guarantee we are saved eternally.
Romans 3:28 and Ephesians 2:8-9 and the Gospel and the rest of the bible disagree.
 
Oct 31, 2015
2,290
588
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#87
Because people don't understand what salvation is.... Some how they feel they have to work for it, get rid of their sins, get clean before they can come to God. It's hard to believe that something as precious as salvation is a FREE GIFT that has been given to us by God himself....

It's free - you don't have to do anything to earn it because there is NOTHING you can do to earn it. You will never be good enough, clean enough or work hard enough to earn your salvation.

There is only one who could fit the bill and that is JESUS. He died and paid the price for all of our sins and there is nothing you can do except to accept this free gift. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and give you the ability to repent and ask for forgiveness then give your heart to Jesus/God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and then you will have a new life and a new heart the former things pass away and you can reach out and take hold of the GIFT of salvation....

Exactly.


So now, after a person is saved, [regenerated; Born Again], by grace through faith, and has a new nature that is empowered by the Spirit, that person now has a choice: To live according to the flesh, and practice the works of the flesh, or to live according to the Spirit, and practice righteousness.


  • For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:8


Paul explains -

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:12-16


Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey:

  • whether of sin leading to death
  • or of obedience leading to righteousness


Remember, Paul explained which Christians would receive eternal life at the outset of his letter to the Romans -


  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;


5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:5-11


God who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
  • but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,



JPT
 

SaintMichaels

Active member
Jun 6, 2018
156
107
28
#88
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#89
This is one of those tertiary things, I think. Some people believe repentence comes before salvation, others believe repentence comes after salvation. I am a person who believes it comes after, and sometimes very gradually.
how can it come after. since we can not have true faith until we repent, and we are not saved apart from true saving faith?
 

SaintMichaels

Active member
Jun 6, 2018
156
107
28
#90
Exactly.


So now, after a person is saved, [regenerated; Born Again], by grace through faith, and has a new nature that is empowered by the Spirit, that person now has a choice: To live according to the flesh, and practice the works of the flesh, or to live according to the Spirit, and practice righteousness.


  • For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:8


Paul explains -

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:12-16


Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey:

  • whether of sin leading to death
  • or of obedience leading to righteousness


Remember, Paul explained which Christians would receive eternal life at the outset of his letter to the Romans -


  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;


5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:5-11


God who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
  • but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,



JPT
You're avowing the law and works to be saved? To receive the reward promised as eternal life?
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#91
It also costs us everything in this world, we must forsake this world to receive eternal life. We must lose our lives to gain them and take up our cross and follow Christ
it cost me nothing, It cost Christ his life and the shame of the cross.

Now my sanctification? Thats costs me my flesh, as I sacrifice my needs foe the needs of others.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#92
Initial salvation is a gift...but entering the kingdom costs everything you are and have. God sees deeply into our souls and demands all.

You cannot be a disciple of the real Jesus unless you forsake all. Surely you have at least read about it.
Hope your perfect. if not, you have not met Gods standard, Let alone your own standard.
 

SaintMichaels

Active member
Jun 6, 2018
156
107
28
#93
how can it come after. since we can not have true faith until we repent, and we are not saved apart from true saving faith?
One cannot truly believe unless he repents, and one cannot truly repent unless he believes. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin (but they are not synonymous terms). Acts 11:18 and 2 Peter 3:9 are two of the many verses that teach that repentance is necessary for salvation. Perhaps 2 Timothy 2:25 best sums up the relationship between repentance and saving faith when it speaks of "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (see also Acts 20:21).
What is repentance and how does it relate to salvation?
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#94
Folks don't like to be reminded of that, in our day and age. They want all the blessing but they don't like the cost. That's why the prosperity preaches are raking in huge sums of money, they are tickling the ears of luke warm Christians
You can not pay enough to pay for one sin, let alone all the many sins you have sinned. So not sure what cost your speaking of.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#95
True, Jesus purchased our salvation but he demands everything from us in return, including our money, our family, our friends and every other thing you can think of. So salvation was given to us freely but we must give Him our lives in return
so we must give all of this in order to be saved?

I do not know anyone who has been saved then, and I have been going to churches all over my country for 40 years.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#96
Some people think you can go to heaven without obeying God. Ignorance truly is bliss, well at least until judgement day, when we will be judged according to our deeds. (Revelation 20:12).
who thinks this? I have never met one person who believes this.. Who are these imaginary people you keep fighting?
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
#97
Perfect love drives out fear. So what does God consider love to be? "If you love Me you will obey My commands." Who here loves God so perfectly that they obey Him perfectly? Sure, if I were as innocent as Christ on my own, I would have no reason to fear. But that is not the case- which is why God says each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Why? To stay in Christ, because if you sin willingly, purposely, without goal or effort to stop, There no longer remains Christ's sacrifice on your behalf. But if you fear to disobey God it is impossible to live in sin.
God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of sound mind, and a father who we can call Abba.

Why would you preach fear?

Fear does not cause us to obey anyone, if it did there would be no prisons. because peopel would be to afraid of prison to do anythign which would get them there.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#98
One cannot truly believe unless he repents, and one cannot truly repent unless he believes. Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin (but they are not synonymous terms). Acts 11:18 and 2 Peter 3:9 are two of the many verses that teach that repentance is necessary for salvation. Perhaps 2 Timothy 2:25 best sums up the relationship between repentance and saving faith when it speaks of "repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (see also Acts 20:21).
What is repentance and how does it relate to salvation?
if we have not repented. we are still in self, and still in denial of the gospel truth. We have to repent first, then God can take that repentance and prove he is trustworthy, so we can come to trust him (yes God does all the work as he said in John 6) and call out on his name to be saved as the tax collector does.
 

Latour

Active member
Jun 11, 2018
437
255
43
#99
Hope your perfect. if not, you have not met Gods standard, Let alone your own standard.
My perfection is in Christ. In Him there is no sin. As I enter into Him...aka put on the new man...aka put on the armour of light, I walk just as Jesus walked since I am IN Christ. The same works for every one who abides in Christ. This is the race of faith...to win Christ as Paul states. Do you understand what Paul was running after?
 
C

claysmithr

Guest
No it doesn't actually. You're misunderstanding what is being said there about faith. . Hebrews 11:1 teaches, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Romans 3:22–23
Hrm.. let's see what the scripture you quoted says...

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
So tell me how we are saved again, if it's not through faith in Jesus Christ?