Is accepting Christ enough to be saved?
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Not at all. In His divine foreknowledge God sees the ones who are justified as also being glorified. That is the true meaning of predestination and election. This is purely (a) by His grace, (b) by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and (c) by the power of Christ to perfect and glorify the saints. This is all summed in Romans 8:29, 30.
For whom he did foreknow
he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:
and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
While sanctification is not mentioned here, it is a given. Between justification and glorification God expects and produces sanctification. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13).
For whom he did foreknow
he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:
and whom he called, them he also justified:
and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
While sanctification is not mentioned here, it is a given. Between justification and glorification God expects and produces sanctification. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13).
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op: "Accepting Christ is enough" for salvation?
No, "believing With ALL your heart," In His Death, Burial, And His Resurrection,
According To The Scriptures, is All-Sufficient Enough For God's Salvation, And
An ETERNAL Relationship With Him. However, fellowship With Him Is An
Entirely Different Matter! -=- i.e. GRACE And Peace:
The THREE Tenses Of God's ETERNAL Salvation:
"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God Which raiseth the dead: Who delivered
us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He
will yet deliver us;" (2 Corinthians 1:9-10 KJB!) =
Precious friend(s), Is not the Solution to Confusion recog-
nizing These THREE, And, Also, God's Differences Between
"HIS Relationship With us," And "our fellowship with HIM!"?
God's Will, Today, Under HIS PURE GRACE? Very Simply:
► faith ◄
1) Past Tense = "...God delivered us from so great a death...":
God Establishes HIS Eternal Relationship With
those who humbly repent and:
believe, 100% trust, place Total faith, In The LORD JESUS CHRIST,
HIS Death (Precious BLOOD), Burial, And HIS Resurrection,
According To The Scriptures!
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4; cp Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3-5 KJB!)
"GRACE Through faith" In The Merits
Of HIS ALL-Sufficient BLOOD Results:
All sins Forgiven, His Eternal Life, And, Peace With God!
(Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:1)
This Is Eternal Deliverance From the Penalty of sin,
The So Great A [Second ] Death! (Revelation 21:8) =
Justification and Spiritual Sanctification
(2 Corinthians 1:10a cp Romans 3:24)
(More Biblical Confirmation is here: God's ETERNAL Assurance!
And here:
God's OPERATION On All HIS New-born babes In CHRIST!)
► faith ◄
God's ETERNAL Justification/Relationship Is First, And, Then:
►► love ◄◄
(2) Present Tense = "...God doth deliver us...":
All believers Should do "good works" {Which will Never Equal
CHRIST's Infinite PAYMENT For the above Penalty of sin!},
for Which we Are Created In CHRIST JESUS, to perform
for Him, having "been Called into fellowship With Him!"
(Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 1:9) Amen?:
We "work out our own salvation" (Philippians 2:12). This
Should Be a lifetime of Daily submission, and renewing,
being "not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:1-2),
for Grace Deliverance From the power of sin!}
(2 Corinthians 1:10b) = personal sanctification:
(2a) Christ Living In us, To Fulfil:
All Of His Law, In "ONE Word: Love thy neighbor as thyself!"
(Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:8-10)
(2b) His Spirit Guiding and Teaching us, How To:
"Study to shew thyself Approved Unto God, work-man that
needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth!"
(2 Timothy 2:15 KJB)
Eternal Results: reward [or loss *] (1 Corinthians 3:8-15),
ruling and reigning [or not *] With CHRIST, Which Will Finally Be
At The Judgment Day!
* More study: Finishing The Race
►► love ◄◄:
►►► Blessed HOPE! ◄◄◄
(3) Future Tense = "...God Will Yet Deliver us":
CHRIST's Glorification of All "members" Of HIS Body!!
{This Is Eternal Deliverance From the Presence of sin!}
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57;
2 Corinthians 1:10c). Hallelujah! Praise HIS Excellent Name!!
----------------------------------
Conclusion:
BIG Differences Between the THREE tenses Of God's Eternal Salvation,
And Between God's Relationship And our fellowship! Correct?
No, "believing With ALL your heart," In His Death, Burial, And His Resurrection,
According To The Scriptures, is All-Sufficient Enough For God's Salvation, And
An ETERNAL Relationship With Him. However, fellowship With Him Is An
Entirely Different Matter! -=- i.e. GRACE And Peace:
The THREE Tenses Of God's ETERNAL Salvation:
"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not
trust in ourselves, but in God Which raiseth the dead: Who delivered
us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He
will yet deliver us;" (2 Corinthians 1:9-10 KJB!) =
Precious friend(s), Is not the Solution to Confusion recog-
nizing These THREE, And, Also, God's Differences Between
"HIS Relationship With us," And "our fellowship with HIM!"?
God's Will, Today, Under HIS PURE GRACE? Very Simply:
► faith ◄
1) Past Tense = "...God delivered us from so great a death...":
God Establishes HIS Eternal Relationship With
those who humbly repent and:
believe, 100% trust, place Total faith, In The LORD JESUS CHRIST,
HIS Death (Precious BLOOD), Burial, And HIS Resurrection,
According To The Scriptures!
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4; cp Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3-5 KJB!)
"GRACE Through faith" In The Merits
Of HIS ALL-Sufficient BLOOD Results:
All sins Forgiven, His Eternal Life, And, Peace With God!
(Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:1)
This Is Eternal Deliverance From the Penalty of sin,
The So Great A [Second ] Death! (Revelation 21:8) =
Justification and Spiritual Sanctification
(2 Corinthians 1:10a cp Romans 3:24)
(More Biblical Confirmation is here: God's ETERNAL Assurance!
And here:
God's OPERATION On All HIS New-born babes In CHRIST!)
► faith ◄
God's ETERNAL Justification/Relationship Is First, And, Then:
►► love ◄◄
(2) Present Tense = "...God doth deliver us...":
All believers Should do "good works" {Which will Never Equal
CHRIST's Infinite PAYMENT For the above Penalty of sin!},
for Which we Are Created In CHRIST JESUS, to perform
for Him, having "been Called into fellowship With Him!"
(Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 1:9) Amen?:
We "work out our own salvation" (Philippians 2:12). This
Should Be a lifetime of Daily submission, and renewing,
being "not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:1-2),
for Grace Deliverance From the power of sin!}
(2 Corinthians 1:10b) = personal sanctification:
(2a) Christ Living In us, To Fulfil:
All Of His Law, In "ONE Word: Love thy neighbor as thyself!"
(Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:8-10)
(2b) His Spirit Guiding and Teaching us, How To:
"Study to shew thyself Approved Unto God, work-man that
needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth!"
(2 Timothy 2:15 KJB)
Eternal Results: reward [or loss *] (1 Corinthians 3:8-15),
ruling and reigning [or not *] With CHRIST, Which Will Finally Be
At The Judgment Day!
* More study: Finishing The Race
►► love ◄◄:
►►► Blessed HOPE! ◄◄◄
(3) Future Tense = "...God Will Yet Deliver us":
CHRIST's Glorification of All "members" Of HIS Body!!
{This Is Eternal Deliverance From the Presence of sin!}
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57;
2 Corinthians 1:10c). Hallelujah! Praise HIS Excellent Name!!
----------------------------------
Conclusion:
BIG Differences Between the THREE tenses Of God's Eternal Salvation,
And Between God's Relationship And our fellowship! Correct?
No one will be justified, saved, by His own works….never…never …..not.
After saying that since i am saved by His painful sacrifice, i love Him, i WANT to obey Him. I know who He is, more than happy to serve Him, knowing His sacrifice, forgiveness, mercy, grace, kindness , gentleness…. I know He over loves me, cant wait to do me good. I thank Him for disciplining me, if He does, it proves I am His son. I can wait to be in His direct presence, now is not too soon.
What I am addressing is easy believism, which takes you to hell!
After saying that since i am saved by His painful sacrifice, i love Him, i WANT to obey Him. I know who He is, more than happy to serve Him, knowing His sacrifice, forgiveness, mercy, grace, kindness , gentleness…. I know He over loves me, cant wait to do me good. I thank Him for disciplining me, if He does, it proves I am His son. I can wait to be in His direct presence, now is not too soon.
What I am addressing is easy believism, which takes you to hell!
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Mere belief has never saved anyone?
John 3:18
The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Are you saying that anyone who calls on the name of Jesus, is not saved?
John 3:18
The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Are you saying that anyone who calls on the name of Jesus, is not saved?
I liked the way you started your post, but this part of your post is stated wrongly. Believing in spiritual things, and spiritual faith, which comes as a fruit of the Holy Spirit that is given with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which is part of the new spiritual birth.
So, spiritual faith and believing in spiritual things are products of being born again. The unregenerate person does not have these qualities.
The problem arises when we read simple verses such as the one below.
John 3:15
So that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.
John was definitely preaching that believing in Jesus will save you.
I think the problem occurs when the gospel is not correctly understood.
To believe in Jesus initiates the reception of the Holy Spirit. Once a person receives the Holy Spirit then they can generate the fruit. The primary doctrine is that easy trust, that belief in Jesus, which grants salvation. The secondary doctrine is following Jesus then means holiness and love in the Christian life.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
John 3:15
So that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.
John was definitely preaching that believing in Jesus will save you.
I think the problem occurs when the gospel is not correctly understood.
To believe in Jesus initiates the reception of the Holy Spirit. Once a person receives the Holy Spirit then they can generate the fruit. The primary doctrine is that easy trust, that belief in Jesus, which grants salvation. The secondary doctrine is following Jesus then means holiness and love in the Christian life.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mat 7:21)
"Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor 12:3)
Can anyone reconcile these two verses? Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot say Jesus is Lord. Yet, even if we call Jesus, Lord, Lord, according to Himself, we also need to do the Will of the Father. That means initial justification, when we receive the Holy Spirit for the first time, is necessary but not sufficient for salvation. We also need to persevere in Faith.
And what is the Will of God? "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thess 4:3)
So, by confessing Christ by Faith as Lord and Savior, and repenting from a contrite heart of our sins, we are immediately justified. But sanctification is necessary for Salvation, since the Bible says, the Will of God is our Sanctification, and the Lord says, we must do His Will, viz. Sanctification, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And Hebrews explicitly confirms this: "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." (Heb 12:14)
After Justification, we must Pray, for e.g. the Lord's Prayer every day and hope for the Grace of Perseverance in the Faith, and in Hope and Love, which God will give us in due time if we persist in asking for it. Some begin well, but sadly do not persevere. We see many such examples in the Bible e.g. some who deserted St. Paul the Apostle for love of money etc. But happily, by the Grace of God, the Apostles persevered and won their Crowns in Heaven, and so, by the Grace of God, can we.
God Bless.
"Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor 12:3)
Can anyone reconcile these two verses? Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot say Jesus is Lord. Yet, even if we call Jesus, Lord, Lord, according to Himself, we also need to do the Will of the Father. That means initial justification, when we receive the Holy Spirit for the first time, is necessary but not sufficient for salvation. We also need to persevere in Faith.
And what is the Will of God? "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thess 4:3)
So, by confessing Christ by Faith as Lord and Savior, and repenting from a contrite heart of our sins, we are immediately justified. But sanctification is necessary for Salvation, since the Bible says, the Will of God is our Sanctification, and the Lord says, we must do His Will, viz. Sanctification, to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And Hebrews explicitly confirms this: "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." (Heb 12:14)
After Justification, we must Pray, for e.g. the Lord's Prayer every day and hope for the Grace of Perseverance in the Faith, and in Hope and Love, which God will give us in due time if we persist in asking for it. Some begin well, but sadly do not persevere. We see many such examples in the Bible e.g. some who deserted St. Paul the Apostle for love of money etc. But happily, by the Grace of God, the Apostles persevered and won their Crowns in Heaven, and so, by the Grace of God, can we.
God Bless.
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ForestGreenCook said:
The unregenerate person cannot believe in the things of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). The only people that can believe in spiritual things are God's sheep, which are already born again (John 10:26-29)
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Correct.
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Are you saying that when the gospel is preached, the Spirit of God is incapable of convicting the lost and moving them to believe in Christ because they are not "chosen"?
John 5:25 (NASB95)
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."
God's love cannot be limited to man's understanding.
The unregenerate person cannot believe in the things of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). The only people that can believe in spiritual things are God's sheep, which are already born again (John 10:26-29)
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Correct.
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Are you saying that when the gospel is preached, the Spirit of God is incapable of convicting the lost and moving them to believe in Christ because they are not "chosen"?
John 5:25 (NASB95)
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."
God's love cannot be limited to man's understanding.
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Then you better make it RREEEALY HARD just to make sure that you get there. 😉
In the meantime I'll let folks know that it is NOT a matter of how hard or easy you work to obey God's commands. They are Supposed to offer absolutely NO EFFORT. God did the hard part when He died on the cross. We are to respond by believing in HIM with none of our own righteous deeds, whether hard or easy to add. If He told us once, He told us a hundred times in the gospel of John alone.
BELIEVING is effortless.
"“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus to a man who did Not Believe in "easy believism."
In the meantime I'll let folks know that it is NOT a matter of how hard or easy you work to obey God's commands. They are Supposed to offer absolutely NO EFFORT. God did the hard part when He died on the cross. We are to respond by believing in HIM with none of our own righteous deeds, whether hard or easy to add. If He told us once, He told us a hundred times in the gospel of John alone.
BELIEVING is effortless.
"“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus to a man who did Not Believe in "easy believism."
It still all boils down to what does it mean to believe in Jesus. Just an intellectual acceptance or believing all that He taught. And if you believe all that He taught, he did encourage us to do good works and we will be judged upon them. Familiarize yourself with the Gospel of Matthew and the 'Judgement of Nations'. Those that showed love of neighbor were simultaneously showing their love for God. And they will be awarded eternal life.
We have faith, hope, and love. Faith without love of God and neighbor is like a clanging gong, worthless. So, if you only have an 'intellectual faith' in Jesus and can't apply it to your Christian life then your definition of 'Faith in Jesus' is sadly truncated and prettty much worthless.
Faith in Jesus includes the whole package, believing in Him as Lord, God, and Savior and believing all that He taught and commanded us to do.
If you think that believing in Jesus is easy, look at all the martyrs. Even all the Apostles, except for John, gave up their lives in martyrdom. No Gospel reading ever said that being a Christian would be easy. What does 'Pick up your own cross and follow Me' mean to you? Does that sound easy?
We have faith, hope, and love. Faith without love of God and neighbor is like a clanging gong, worthless. So, if you only have an 'intellectual faith' in Jesus and can't apply it to your Christian life then your definition of 'Faith in Jesus' is sadly truncated and prettty much worthless.
Faith in Jesus includes the whole package, believing in Him as Lord, God, and Savior and believing all that He taught and commanded us to do.
If you think that believing in Jesus is easy, look at all the martyrs. Even all the Apostles, except for John, gave up their lives in martyrdom. No Gospel reading ever said that being a Christian would be easy. What does 'Pick up your own cross and follow Me' mean to you? Does that sound easy?
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Many on this forum are looking for ways to be delivered eternally, The only ones that are redeemed were those that God gave to his Son to pay for their sins. Jesus's crucifixion covered those that his Father gave him from the beginning of time to the end of time, and God looks upon them as Holy and without blame.
When those that he died for commits a sin, it does not affect their internal inheritance., even if they do not repent of the sin, because Jesus paid for "all of their sins". that they will ever commit.
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You are right!
1 John 1 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
However after we sin we ask for forgiveness right away, being contrite, never wanting to sin again.
Sin should be very rare in the life of a Christian that really loves God because they are drawn to Him and want to obey Him.
1 John 1 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
However after we sin we ask for forgiveness right away, being contrite, never wanting to sin again.
Sin should be very rare in the life of a Christian that really loves God because they are drawn to Him and want to obey Him.
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