Not By Works

The poor man had to know of God in order to call out to Him. Someone at some point in his life told him about God.

Why are you so defensive? If you’re being honest then obviously Jesus Christ knows this but for some reason you’re seeking human approval. And don’t proclaim that you’re not seeking human approval because you most certainly are seeking it.

I will defend my faith Dusky...I will not stand by and have a few members step all over my belief...you wrap it up in your own words as much as you like.

He accused me of not hearing the word he twists my posts...I will not tolerate it and will take a stand...

Don’t falsely accuse me...then I will leave you alone...you falsely accuse me I will not let it go.
This is not aimed at you Dusky.
They know who they are.

Once they leave me alone I will leave them alone.

Before I knew anything about God’s word firsthand, one day I was driving alone in my car; for reasons I cannot remember I turned down the radio and said, “God, if you’re real, do something, show me something.” This was around 1993. Nothing happened so I turned the radio volume back and went on about my business.

Then trying times came in 2004. I was in a desperate situation. I exposed myself to sin deeper than ever after experiencing a betrayal of epic proportions (for me).

It wasn’t until 2007, after finding no satisfaction in the world, that a thought entered my mind to purchase a Holy Bible. After reading the entire volume in about eight (8) months, and having begun to read it again, in 2008 I had a repentance experience that truly converted me. Belief alone did not do this. It was just as the scripture said; repent and believe the gospel.

Anyway, the point I am making is this: God lead me to his word, which lead to belief, which lead to repentance, which lead to salvation.

2 Corinthians 7:10
[10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

I believe that God will make the word known to anyone anywhere by whatever means God chooses. Because by the word of God one can fulfill this scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

That’s correct Dusky and at some point in my life...someone told me all about Jesus...in secondary school.

I pray you mature in the faith whereby you no longer care what other people think of you. That said, the people you have a problem with actually have your best interest at heart.

Unfortunately you take issue with their direct, no nonsense approach, when in fact their convictions regarding the defense of the Gospel is in your best interest.

so Why haven’t you matured in that area Dusky....instead of taking offence at some members posts...that you have addressed..I can quote some if you like.

You also take things personally...so I find that a bit rich coming from you.....but thanks for praying for me.

I do not have full track of everything that was said here and originally, I am sure there are more statements that are being contested. There are many pages...
But I have to agree that sometimes a person only knows general story about Jesus, and they in some moment repent and surrender their life to Jesus but they haven't read the Bible yet. And they are then led to read and study the Bible after they get saved.
This isn't unbiblical, imo.

I was 6 years old, never read the Bible. Other children my age prayed for me - told me I needed Jesus so I would not go to hell.

I cried like a baby and received salvation with NO BIBLE AND NO BIBLE KNOWLEDGE.

Next day, I was glued to my mother’s Bible. I got paper and pen - started writing EVERY WORD - I just loved writing it - couldn’t even read!

And that’s just how it was for me SoulWeaver......Praise God!...he filled my spirit to overflowing with his Love.

Praise God...His Love shines out of you like a beacon...I can also see it in your smile!

I read only Matthew before being saved. It was a small book that a priest sent me as a gift, back in high school when my dad was visiting our cousins. I got saved about 10 years later. From that book. I carried it with me wherever I moved.
But I am certain that a lot of people come to Jesus first based on the little they heard about Jesus, and then the Spirit draws them to read. The Spirit actually had to fight me to read the Bible, because I was convinced that evil people corrupted it, they just couldn't completely destroy the main story arc. Then for a while God was giving me strange dreams with specifics from the Bible that were unknown to me, because I haven't previously read it. And husband, who was patient with me on this issue, would then tell me, that's from the Bible. After a while it got through my little blue hat that if God was able to do transmit this to me without errors, He was also able to preserve the Bible.

Interesting discussion

I believe I was saved by Jesus Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit at 6 years old but, it wasn’t till I was 25 years old when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit -started speaking in tongues, incredible depth of understanding scripture- the Bible just opened up - dreams, visions, supernatural encounters.

Yet, still got to tame that flesh with self control, submit in humility to God’s sovereignty over us and love God’s correction as a loving Father.

There’s no place I’d rather be, ONLY in God’s Presence - this world has nothing for me.

Beautiful...I can so recognise the spirit of God in you....a big Amen to wanting to be only in his presence!......

I was saved at about 8 yrs in my Methodist church's Sunday School. Which means I will celebrate 50 years as a Christian this yr.

In Christ....Bereshith
"Always Remember: God loves you enough to take you just as you are but He loves you too much to leave you that way."

I knew all about Jesus from childhood ... but I was not SAVED until I understood His complete propitiating death for me on the

cross whereby I could receive the gift of salvation........................ His Righteousness for my Filthy Rags.

I wrote this last night for Dorothy.

Self examining has its purpose at all stages of walk, but at a certain point, you are grown and mature enough to know very well that neither you nor God aren't going anywhere, and from then on the reasons you examine yourself change.

There are two purposes of warnings. One is for are those who aren't yet certain who they are in Jesus, or their faith hasn't grown strong yet. They examine themselves until they have firm faith in their heart that they are justified in Jesus and that His Spirit lives in them. This took me first several years as a believer, to really get rooted.

Then after we know this, we are examining ourselves because we love Him, it is unthinkable for a born again person to abuse God's grace. Self examining comes from the place of agape love. Not from place of fear. Apostle John wrote that "perfect love casts out fear" and "whoever fears" is "not being made perfect in love". So that was one of the biggest influences for me to decide to trust Jesus when it comes to salvation security. He doesn't want me to be distracted with constant checking if I am still saved because that is me focusing on MYSELF, but our God is a jealous God and wants my undivided attention.

(And I guarantee you, He especially does NOT want people who are prone to anxiety to constantly wonder in their mind if they are still okay with Him, or maybe they have messed up God does not like or want such.
Just believe me on that one...)

I used to think that I would please God better that way (minding salvation loss) and I was very afraid to let go of that control. This didn't help me be more godly. The disturbance that I still stumbled at times was constantly gnawing at me, I was distressed and agonizing about it daily. From a young believer bursting in praise, when I gave my life to Jesus, I gradually became very depressed. I had no hope to continue another day. I would only get some relief reading Psalms, just enough to fall asleep. It was like a balm to hear them. But I still doubted so much about my safety with God. It was so odd, that this David could find refuge in God and that God would endure forever in mercy for him, but somehow it did not apply to me, I could lose salvation. Why did I struggle so much receiving this? What was this iron grip, this fear that held me back and pulled me down? An elder sister in Christ started reading Psalms to me one day, to make me understand, simply saying my name wherever God said "you" in Psalms. I broke down weeping.

The more I read, the more I was realizing the safety was in God's very character. God can be trusted and depended upon and taken refuge in because He cannot lie or take His word back. David leaned in absolute faith on God's promises and magnified God, there was distress when he stumbled and sinned, but he never thought thoughts such as, God might let me go, or I might be unsaved, or God is our refuge but we can't be 100% sure we have refuge until we are dead, there's none of that...

David asks God to examine him for one reason: because he looks forward to being with God and wants to please God and be ready in clean robes. Not because he is afraid that him or God will leave. Same thing as in John.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," this is the Scripture that pulled me out of the hellhole, in combination with Psalms. I did not defeat doubt by myself, it was the Word of God taking effect in my life and destroying the enemy. Jesus was always the one who delivered me.

That's my testimony on salvation loss theology and how unprofitable and fruitless it was in my life...

No E is not correct. I am here to exchange with my brothers and sisters and learn.

As for a legalistic gospel, if E thinks the commandments to love God and love man are being legalistic, then that is true.