Not By Works

  • 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.

VCO

Senior Member
Oct 14, 2013
11,995
4,615
113
WOW, I am watching today's sermon online.

Hebrews 3:6 (NASB)
6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

If you BEGIN the WALK in FAITH with TRUE CONFIDENCE, you will have the KIND OF CONFIDENCE that will be FIRM UNTIL THE END. Truly Born again Christian will be those who remain FIRM until the end. Falling away only confirms their Faith was like the type DEMONS have in their intellect, instead of in the HEART (Human Spirit). They fell away, because their Starting Point was WRONG.
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
I hear you. There are some who believe no matter how one lives, if they punched their ticket once, they're "going to heaven when they die." This even in the face of Scripture that shows those living in sin are to be warned about being deceived.

Some will even go as far as to defend them in their sin. This is the error of Zane Hodges and others. Yes, I agree this is wrong, and also believe it shows a lack of true conversion when there is no transformation and living in and practicing sin. Therefore I don't see it as a loss of salvation.
At this time in the church I think the vast majority of those who 'fall away' were never transformed to begin with. People are taught about salvation in a way that makes it a free ticket out of jail (which it is), not a transformation of life. People are coming to Christ in these churches in the hope of not going to hell and to have the $benefits$ of salvation in this life, not to also be changed people.

The person who does not weight the costs of discipleship is the one who will not be able to finish building, or defeat the larger army coming against him (Luke 18:25-35).
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,140
29,452
113
At this time in the church I think the vast majority of those who 'fall away' were never transformed to begin with. People are taught about salvation in a way that makes it a free ticket out of jail (which it is), not a transformation of life. People are coming to Christ in these churches in the hope of not going to hell and to have the $benefits$ of salvation in this life, not to also be changed people.
Sounds like a mental assent of sorts (shallow soil) without believing in their hearts.



Romans 10:9
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
At this time in the church I think the vast majority of those who 'fall away' were never transformed to begin with. People are taught about salvation in a way that makes it a free ticket out of jail (which it is), not a transformation of life. People are coming to Christ in these churches in the hope of not going to hell and to have the $benefits$ of salvation in this life, not to also be changed people.
The lost man can have a desire to escape hell. Just because a person has that desire doesn't mean they've been converted. Some believe that desire must mean they are saved.

I asked a woman when witnessing to her what Jesus saved her from. She said "From hell!!!!!!"

She had a crystal on her coffee table she consults.

She was into pornography and sexual immorality.

Problem is they don't understand Jesus came to save us from our sins. This is the result of those who deny evidence of conversion. Some would tell her it's OK, you punched your ticket.
 
May 23, 2020
1,558
313
83
Whichever way, if one follows the other, it is not exactly simultaneous. They do happen together. :)
I suspect it is not the same for everyone. I remember once discussing the baptism of the Holy Spirit and she insisted it always came after after water baptism. The experience of Peter in the house of Cornelius came to mind and I asked her about that one. There God did not honor the "rule" of water baptism first. I am Pretty careful to pinpoint what order is what needs to happen first.
 
May 23, 2020
1,558
313
83
The lost man can have a desire to escape hell. Just because a person has that desire doesn't mean they've been converted. Some believe that desire must mean they are saved.

I asked a woman when witnessing to her what Jesus saved her from. She said "From hell!!!!!!"

She had a crystal on her coffee table she consults.

She was into pornography and sexual immorality.

Problem is they don't understand Jesus came to save us from our sins. This is the result of those who deny evidence of conversion. Some would tell her it's OK, you punched your ticket.
I wonder if the preaching of asking Jesus into your heart is a reason. Repentance of sin is not preached and people are not convicted of sin. Just an idea.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,140
29,452
113
The lost man can have a desire to escape hell. Just because a person has that desire doesn't mean they've been converted. Some believe that desire must mean they are saved.
I asked a woman when witnessing to her what Jesus saved her from. She said "From hell!!!!!!"
She had a crystal on her coffee table she consults.
She was into pornography and sexual immorality.

Problem is they don't understand Jesus came to save us from our sins. This is the result of those who deny evidence of conversion. Some would tell her it's OK, you punched your ticket.
Jesus came to save us from the consequence of sin, which is death (the second death, since all die the first).

"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from
this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour."
John 12:27

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.
Romans 6:23
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
I suspect it is not the same for everyone. I remember once discussing the baptism of the Holy Spirit and she insisted it always came after after water baptism. The experience of Peter in the house of Cornelius came to mind and I asked her about that one. There God did not honor the "rule" of water baptism first. I am Pretty careful to pinpoint what order is what needs to happen first.
I was saved the same way the Tax Collector was in Luke 18:13, then the Spirit entered into me immediately. And being as it was 10:00 or 11:00 at night in the dead of winter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan I had to wait until March to get baptized in the YMCA pool. But I will say, I became bold in my witness after I was water baptized. Pretty consistent with scripture, it turns out.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
I wonder if the preaching of asking Jesus into your heart is a reason. Repentance of sin is not preached and people are not convicted of sin. Just an idea.
Of course, because if a person asks Jesus into their heart, no matter what, they're going to heaven. They are even guaranteed they are going. They guarantee them that they will go from point A to point Z and the in between is of no matter. I see people nonchalantly just tell them "Well, you'll just lose rewards."

Carnal man loves this, they see they can live like hell because someone told them they're going to heaven.

This is the truncated "gospel" we are seeing today. Alice in Chains even sang a song mocking this system and the song is pure evil.
 
May 23, 2020
1,558
313
83
Of course, because if a person asks Jesus into their heart, no matter what, they're going to heaven. They are even guaranteed they are going. They guarantee them that they will go from point A to point Z and the in between is of no matter. I see people nonchalantly just tell them "Well, you'll just lose rewards."

Carnal man loves this, they see they can live like hell because someone told them they're going to heaven.

This is the truncated "gospel" we are seeing today. Alice in Chains even sang a song mocking this system and the song is pure evil.
This is true and I find it to be a very grieving matter. How many will have been told they are not going to Heaven after asking Jesus into their heart and Nothing else is required of them...no repentance of sin...no confession of sin...no committment to Christ...just avoid hell by "praying These words after me."
 
E

EleventhHour

Guest
Yes, there is intercourse. God plants his seed in us the prostitute and we become his and bear fruit in his image.
Read the story of Judah and Tamar, the gospel story in disguise in Genesis 38:15-30.

I can hear the shrieks and gasps now, lol. :)

No shrieks or gasps ...but I do think it is not analogous.
 

preacher4truth

Senior Member
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
This is true and I find it to be a very grieving matter. How many will have been told they are not going to Heaven after asking Jesus into their heart and Nothing else is required of them...no repentance of sin...no confession of sin...no committment to Christ...just avoid hell by "praying These words after me."
The devil loves everything false. False gospels, false conversions, false faith.

Some professing believers hate the things we preach, like evidence of conversion, unconditional election (meritless grace) that repentance is both necessary and is turning from sin (Revelation shows this to be true.)

You'll get mocked and ridiculed for it, get told it is old. But they believe myths and fables, and look for others to preach this to them. Though they say the true gospel is old, and believe what we are showing them is "old" Paul says preach it anyhow even when it is "out of season."
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
At this time in the church I think the vast majority of those who 'fall away' were never transformed to begin with. People are taught about salvation in a way that makes it a free ticket out of jail (which it is), not a transformation of life. People are coming to Christ in these churches in the hope of not going to hell and to have the $benefits$ of salvation in this life, not to also be changed people.

The person who does not weight the costs of discipleship is the one who will not be able to finish building, or defeat the larger army coming against him (Luke 18:25-35).

Really now...I suggest you believe OSAS is alive and well...yes?
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
This is true and I find it to be a very grieving matter. How many will have been told they are not going to Heaven after asking Jesus into their heart and Nothing else is required of them...no repentance of sin...no confession of sin...no committment to Christ...just avoid hell by "praying These words after me."
Even though this is the modus operandi of the church today (for the most part) I think God does honor to some extent the person who has called on his name in this limited way. I think they comprise the people who say they've been a Christian all their life but who then enter into a truly spiritual relationship with God later in life, usually after a severe trial of life. It's the difference between being a 'water only' believer, and a 'water and Spirit' believer (John 3:5-6, Galatians 4:29). Lot's of water only salvations out there. God is busy bringing them into the Spiritual part of salvation.