Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ

[memberofthebride]

Salvation and eternal life cannot be EARNED because they are priceless. Only the blood of the eternal Son is precious enough to motivate the Father to give us salvation and eternal life. Jesus described this transaction as a sort of exchange - my life for His.
This is not at all an EQUITABLE exchange. In fact, in comparison to what He gave up for us what we offer Him is negligible.
Even so, the Father God invites us to enter into covenant by relinquishing the ownership of our souls to Him:

This is how Jesus put it: 25 For whoever wants to save his life [or who "clings to his life"] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25)
The word translated "life" is (pseuche or soul) which refers to our mind, will and emotions. In order to enter into covenant with Messiah the life of our soul which comprises our identity in this world, must be surrendered to Him.

When I was first saved it did not at the time seem to be empowering. It seemed more like a time of weakness when I realized I could no longer manage my life

I think agree we have to be drawn but many of those who have been invited to come will not unless they lay aside their own priorities and respond to the call.

I was not searching for God, no desire to go to church, in fact I had a negative desire LOL.
I still do not know how or why I ended up being baptized -but I am very very thankful now.

"relinquishing the ownership of our souls to Him"" the WORD says it this way . "give your life as a living sacrifice."
and what that means; The Father's WILL not our own. and for a human being without the Father Spirit in them that is utterly impossible. proof; 40 years in the wilderness, still could not obey.

 

[JimiSurvivor]

it is not wise for a major doctrine to be founded on one or two scriptures.. all scriptures that shed light on the subject are needed

those that endure until the end shall be saved
those that overcome
those the bring forth fruit
on and on

Read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the 7 churches -- these folks are "Christians" and Christ is not happy with them.
they are in the Church the Father founded on Pentecost, they all had to "believe on him" at some point in time. and Christ is ready to take their names out of the book of life.

Believing is only a beginning step, a first step

If that is not enough then read Matthew 25 and the 10 virgins --HALF --half are told I never knew you,
I must believe to be one of the 10 they first had to believe.
if your minister is telling you all one must do is believe --change churches.

Our first step of faith - repenting of our sin and believing in the one who saves- is just the beginning of what must become a walk of faith. Using another metaphor, there is a point in time when we are grafted into the Vine. After that we must abide, remain, continue in in the life He gave us all the way until the end.

 

[memberofthebride]

Our first step of faith - repenting of our sin and believing in the one who saves- is just the beginning of what must become a walk of faith. Using another metaphor, there is a point in time when we are grafted into the Vine. After that we must abide, remain, continue in in the life He gave us all the way until the end.

Jim, more is required then simple Belief.

Christ spoke of believing HIM, believing what He taught and then acting on that belief -- Christ wants action -- doing what HE tells us to DO.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I am teaching you now --- to do the Commandments even as I, my self, do, keep, obey all 10 Commandments

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 

[wattie]

Jim, more is required then simple Belief.

Christ spoke of believing HIM, believing what He taught and then acting on that belief -- Christ wants action -- doing what HE tells us to DO.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I am teaching you now --- to do the Commandments even as I, my self, do, keep, obey all 10 Commandments

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

If you don't succeed in keeping the commandments, as we all sometimes fail to.. even as believers, is your sin covered by Jesus's payment for your sin?

 

[memberofthebride]

If you don't succeed in keeping the commandments, as we all sometimes fail to.. even as believers, is your sin covered by Jesus's payment for your sin?

Remember what Jesus Christ told the 12? they asked how many times must we forgive 7?
Christ's answer , 70 time 7
Honest repentance is what is required and a mind set to never commit the sin again.
the shed blood of Christ pays for our sins when they are repented of.

 

[Cameron143]

Remember what Jesus Christ told the 12? they asked how many times must we forgive 7?
Christ's answer , 70 time 7
Honest repentance is what is required and a mind set to never commit the sin again.
the shed blood of Christ pays for our sins when they are repented of.

Have you confessed every sin you have ever committed? If not, are those sins paid for?

 

[memberofthebride]

Have you confessed every sin you have ever committed? If not, are those sins paid for?

No, not sure I could ever remember them all -- there are too many.
but you are missing the main point, when its time to be baptized we are to repent of all our sins, all up to that moment, and commit to sin no more.
Baptism is joining in death with Christ, as we rise out of the water we are at that moment sinless, all sins are paid for by Christ .
we are a new person, sinless. the old sinful self is dead.

 

[Cameron143]

No, not sure I could ever remember them all -- there are too many.
but you are missing the main point, when its time to be baptized we are to repent of all our sins, all up to that moment, and commit to sin no more.
Baptism is joining in death with Christ, as we rise out of the water we are at that moment sinless, all sins are paid for by Christ .
we are a new person, sinless. the old sinful self is dead.

You missed my point: if forgiveness of sin is predicated on the confession of them, we all have sins that haven't been forgiven.

 

[memberofthebride]

You missed my point: if forgiveness of sin is predicated on the confession of them, we all have sins that haven't been forgiven.

Is your question regarding sin we are not aware of?
It is up to the Father as to "if" and when He shows us the sins we are not aware of.
If He jumped on us each and every time, we would become discouraged fast.
God is look for a person to become meek, humble not pushing the envelope so to speak, not trying to see what they can get away with.
I do not believe God has a board where all our unrepentant sins are listed

 

[Cameron143]

Is your question regarding sin we are not aware of?
It is up to the Father as to "if" and when He shows us the sins we are not aware of.
If He jumped on us each and every time, we would become discouraged fast.
God is look for a person to become meek, humble not pushing the envelope so to speak, not trying to see what they can get away with.
I do not believe God has a board where all our unrepentant sins are listed

Either our sin is forgiven by the blood of Christ or not. Either our sin is forgiven because we confess it or not. First one has to determine what is true, then form the correct doctrine. It will never work to determine doctrine then form truth.

 

[memberofthebride]

Either our sin is forgiven by the blood of Christ or not. Either our sin is forgiven because we confess it or not. First one has to determine what is true, then form the correct doctrine. It will never work to determine doctrine then form truth.

this is not a math problem

What is God doing with humans, removing their carnal human nature and forming in them His Righteous Divine Nature.
the salvation process is different with each individual, each human is a one of a kind. God does not make mass produced widgets
the Father's process of salvation is different for each individual, The Father is not keeping score.
Some like Stephen, the process did not take long, some like me a long life time.
Christ statement in this regard, "the righteous shall scarcely be saved"

you are trying to figure how to score, just turn over your life as a living sacrifice and let our Father do the rest.

 

[Cameron143]

this is not a math problem

What is God doing with humans, removing their carnal human nature and forming in them His Righteous Divine Nature.
the salvation process is different with each individual, each human is a one of a kind. God does not make mass produced widgets
the Father's process of salvation is different for each individual, The Father is not keeping score.
Some like Stephen, the process did not take long, some like me a long life time.
Christ statement in this regard, "the righteous shall scarcely be saved"

you are trying to figure how to score, just turn over your life as a living sacrifice and let our Father do the rest.

None of this has anything to do with forgiveness and its cause and reality.

 

[memberofthebride]

None of this has anything to do with forgiveness and its cause and reality.

There is no "forgiveness" for spiritual sin.

if spiritual sin could be forgiven, Christ did not need to die
All spiritual sin demands the penalty of death, no pardon, no forgiveness.
Transgressions of any of the 10 Commandments -- penalty of death and that includes the Sabbath.

Physical sin can be forgiven, does not carry the penalty of death.
eating pork is physical, sin, but no death penalty, punishment is physical.
the healing Christ did was physical, no one, unless they were later baptized, will be in the first resurrection.
physical sin is punished physically

Can't think of one at the moment but there maybe something physical that is punished by death

The physical will fade away
The spiritual is eternal

 

[Cameron143]

There is no "forgiveness" for spiritual sin.

if spiritual sin could be forgiven, Christ did not need to die
All spiritual sin demands the penalty of death, no pardon, no forgiveness.
Transgressions of any of the 10 Commandments -- penalty of death and that includes the Sabbath.

Physical sin can be forgiven, does not carry the penalty of death.
eating pork is physical, sin, but no death penalty, punishment is physical.
the healing Christ did was physical, no one, unless they were later baptized, will be in the first resurrection.
physical sin is punished physically

Can't think of one at the moment but there maybe something physical that is punished by death

The physical will fade away
The spiritual is eternal

I haven't delineated sin into classes. Simply, on what basis does God forgive sin?

 

[memberofthebride]

I haven't delineated sin into classes. Simply, on what basis does God forgive sin?

When Christ healed, forgave, a great number of physical problems during His 3 1/2 years of confirming the Covenant, those that sought Him were healed. Example the fellow that was let down through the roof. those that stood back were not.

The physical penalties for Physical sin can be forgiven. trust/faith is required.

"By His stripes we are healed" Christ was beaten half to death. Why? to pay the physical penalty for our physical sin.
It does not say by His Stripes we are given eternal life,

Spiritual sin must be paid for by a death, ours or Christ --- no exceptions.
Spiritual sin can not be forgiven.

the women caught in adultery, Christ did not forgive her, adultery is a death penalty, He simply said And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Christ came to save spiritual sinners not to condemn them.. the time is coming when unrepentant sinners will be put to death in the lake of fire

 

[mailmandan]

Here is an awesome response to God to be saved:

Luke 18:13 KJV
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

In contrast with those who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others/view others with contempt/looked down on everyone else. (Luke 18:9)

 

[mailmandan]

You missed my point: if forgiveness of sin is predicated on the confession of them, we all have sins that haven't been forgiven.

In regard to 1 John 1:9, notice that - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) is in contrast to - If we say that we have no sin, (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (past tense) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)

I've heard certain people interpret verse 9 to mean that we "must confess each and every sin that we commit as we commit them" (keep a specific inventory of every sin we have ever committed) as an "additional requirement" to "remain cleansed" and "if we forget a sin we are toast!" Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17)

Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

In regard to 1 John 1:9, notice that - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) is in contrast to - If we say that we have no sin, (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (past tense) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)

I've heard certain people interpret verse 9 to mean that we "must confess each and every sin that we commit as we commit them" (keep a specific inventory of every sin we have ever committed) as an "additional requirement" to "remain cleansed" and "if we forget a sin we are toast!" Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17)

Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)

The key to these verses is that they are addressed to those who are Heaven bound brethren in Christ.
Forgiveness is in regards to ongoing fellowship with the Father.

 

[memberofthebride]

The key to these verses is that they are addressed to those who are Heaven bound brethren in Christ.
Forgiveness is in regards to ongoing fellowship with the Father.

I am not "heaven bound".
after 60 years I still can not find one clear scripture stating that even one has or will assent to the 3rd heaven

Do you know of a scripture?

something like "when we get to heaven" or I will be with you in heaven or our reward is living in heaven? or better yet something explaining what there is to DO in Heaven, what is the purpose?

I do find those in the First Resurrection will rule with Christ on His Throne here on earth

not attacking just asking if you know where this comes from? I do not see it.

 

[JimiSurvivor]

Jim, more is required then simple Belief.

Christ spoke of believing HIM, believing what He taught and then acting on that belief -- Christ wants action -- doing what HE tells us to DO.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I am teaching you now --- to do the Commandments even as I, my self, do, keep, obey all 10 Commandments

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Are you trying to say that keeping Shabbat is necessary for salvation in addition to REPENTANCE and FAITH?