If you knew there was a way

ddrgkd

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Jesus Christ is the only one that gives salvation. There are no prerequisites to receiving salvation. You'll never be good enough or have the perfect intentions or motives.

ACTS 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Heaven is not a reward its a gift. For example you get a reward for doing something good. You get gift because a person loves you.

JOHN 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

You can have this security also, all you have to do is believe that Christ came here and died conquering hell and the grave for you and ask Him for forgiveness. Life everlasting is there for you to choose.

JOHN 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Only faith "full belief" in Jesus Christ can provide salvation. Ask Christ for salvation and go fellowship, Sunday school is a very good way to learn what God has for you.
 
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twin1954

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If you knew there was a way to have eternal life. would you take it?

Here is a sample prayer if you're not saved today ask God for salvation in Jesus Christ's Name. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Christ for your salvation.

The words themselves will not save you. Only faith "full belief" in Jesus Christ can provide salvation.

“Dear Heavenly father I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Christ took the punishment that I deserve, so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven?"

"Jesus Christ, with your help I place my trust in you for salvation, and I ask that you will forgive me of my sins. I thank you for your wonderful grace and forgiveness.”

Go tell a Christian church you have asked Christ for salvation and go to Sunday school you'll find fellowship and the study of the bible to be a great help as you grow as a Christian.

Who is the Jesus that you want me trust and why should I?

The only reason you give for saying this prayer is so that I might have eternal life. What you offer is a get out of Hell free card. There is no Gospel in it and no salvation through it. Actually you are trifling with the souls of men with this kind of tripe and you will have to answer to God for it.
 
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Legionwrex

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Who is the Jesus that you want me trust and why should I?

The only reason you give for saying this prayer is so that I might have eternal life. What you offer is a get out of Hell free card. There is no Gospel in it and no salvation through it. Actually you are trifling with the souls of men with this kind of tripe and you will have to answer to God for it.

Is that not a good enough reason? The Gospel is there, he tells you to trust in Christ for salvation.
 
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twin1954

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Is that not a good enough reason?
No it isn't. Everybody wants eternal life they just don't want to have it God's way. Giving them a prayer to say to get eternal life is not found anywhere in the Scriptures.
The Gospel is there, he tells you to trust in Christ for salvation.
Which Christ? The one believed on by the Muslim? Or maybe the one that the Mormons believe in? You cannot trust a Christ you have never heard of. You cannot trust Him without an understanding of who He is, what He did, who He did it for and where He is now. The Gospel isn't that Jesus died but how that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures and how that He rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures. 1Cor. 15:1-4
 
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South Bound

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If you knew there was a way to have eternal life. would you take it?

Here is a sample prayer if you're not saved today ask God for salvation in Jesus Christ's Name. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Christ for your salvation.

The words themselves will not save you. Only faith "full belief" in Jesus Christ can provide salvation.

“Dear Heavenly father I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Christ took the punishment that I deserve, so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven?"

"Jesus Christ, with your help I place my trust in you for salvation, and I ask that you will forgive me of my sins. I thank you for your wonderful grace and forgiveness.”

Go tell a Christian church you have asked Christ for salvation and go to Sunday school you'll find fellowship and the study of the bible to be a great help as you grow as a Christian.

Not to throw water on your fire, but twin1954 is right. I think you're on the right track, but you've left out several very important details.

For instance, I think it's great that you instruct people to acknowledge their sin, but that's not the same as repentance.

I also echo Twin's concerns that you seem to be offering it as a "get out of Hell free card", and not as a way to be reconciled to God, forgiven, and adopted by Him.

It also commits the Arminian error that makes the sinner responsible for the initiation of salvation.

Also, why tell a sinner to acknowledge their sin before you explain the law to them? Isn't that like a doctor who tells his patient about the cure before he tells them they have a disease?

Finally, I'm a little concerned that you offer them assurance after just saying the prayer. That's pretty dangerous because it gives people an assurance of a salvation they may not have. I "gave my heart to Jesus" virtually every week when I was young, but had I died in that state, I would have still died in a state of enmity with God and gone to Hell because I did not have a clear understanding of salvation and did not understand repentance or, really, my own sinful state before God.

The Bible tells us that there are four primary ways we can know we are saved:

1. Testimony
2. Doctrine
3. Fruit
4. Sanctification

You're pronouncing someone saved for praying a canned prayer before we've even had an opportunity to see what those four criteria look like in their life.

I appreciate your intentions, but I really think you're doing people a disservice.

A much better thing to do would be to explain the law, man's inability to keep the law, the wrath that abides on us as a result of breaking the law, God's plan to save sinners, the person and work of Jesus Christ, repentance, and faith in Christ and letting them cry out to God on their own, as led by the Holy Spirit.
 
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Legionwrex

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No it isn't. Everybody wants eternal life they just don't want to have it God's way. Giving them a prayer to say to get eternal life is not found anywhere in the Scriptures. Which Christ? The one believed on by the Muslim? Or maybe the one that the Mormons believe in? You cannot trust a Christ you have never heard of. You cannot trust Him without an understanding of who He is, what He did, who He did it for and where He is now. The Gospel isn't that Jesus died but how that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures and how that He rose again from the dead according to the Scriptures. 1Cor. 15:1-4

Really? The Bible says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. I'd say it's as good a reason as any.

And Paul quite literally sums up the Gospel when he says that Christ died on the Cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again three days later. I do agree that it has to be the right Jesus (as in that he is God, not just man), however I think that was implied in the original post.
 
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South Bound

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Is that not a good enough reason?

No. Heaven is the reward, not the reason for us to repent and receive Christ.

We're the ones who are at enmity with God because of our sin. We're the ones who have rebelled. We're the ones who have broken His laws.

If you're only saying a prayer so that you can receive a reward you didn't deserve in the first place, what part of that is supposed to demonstrate to God that you're sincere?
 
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Legionwrex

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No. Heaven is the reward, not the reason for us to repent and receive Christ.

We're the ones who are at enmity with God because of our sin. We're the ones who have rebelled. We're the ones who have broken His laws.

If you're only saying a prayer so that you can receive a reward you didn't deserve in the first place, what part of that is supposed to demonstrate to God that you're sincere?

I'd say the desiree for eternal life and fear of Hell is as valid as any reason. Again, the Bible says to works out your salvation with fear and trembling, and it also says to fear God who can cast your soul into Hell.

There are no prerequisites to receiving salvation. You'll never be good enough or have the perfect intentions or motives because you are corrupted by sin. Luckily it isn't about you.
 
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Hentenza

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I'd say the desiree for eternal life and fear of Hell is as valid as any reason.

Not really. Having the realization that one was caught in sin does not equate to repentance and love for Christ.

Again, the Bible says to works out your salvation with fear and trembling, and it also says to fear God who can cast your soul into Hell.

Fear in scripture is not about being scared or terrified but about having reverence and awe. We work out our salvation in awe and reverence of our Lord. Jesus already paid the price and that is not scary or terrifying.

There are no prerequisites to receiving salvation. You'll never be good enough or have the perfect intentions or motives because you are corrupted by sin. Luckily it isn't about you.

Faith is a prerequisite to receiving salvation but it is a free gift. You are absolutely correct that we, none of us, are good enough.:)
 
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Legionwrex

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Not really. Having the realization that one was caught in sin does not equate to repentance and love for Christ.



Fear in scripture is not about being scared or terrified but about having reverence and awe. We work out our salvation in awe and reverence of our Lord. Jesus already paid the price and that is not scary or terrifying.



Faith is a prerequisite to receiving salvation but it is a free gift. You are absolutely correct that we, none of us, are good enough.:)

Again, you can't expect someone who is unsaved to have instant Love for Christ. It is a continually growing thing that increases as you walk with the Lord. So I have a big problem when people put prerequisites on having the right feeling or motive before you can be saved, mainly because it is simply impossible for an unsaved person to have those things because of their corrupted state. Repentance quite literally means "a change of mind that results in a change of action", very simple.
 
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Hentenza

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Again, you can't expect someone who is unsaved to have instant Love for Christ. It is a continually growing thing that increases as you walk with the Lord. So I have a big problem when people put prerequisites on having the right feeling or motive before you can be saved, mainly because it is simply impossible for an unsaved person to have those things because of their corrupted state. Repentance quite literally means "a change of mind that results in a change of action", very simple.

Sure. We mature in Christ. However, faith is still necessary. No faith, no Christ.
 
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Legionwrex

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Sure. We mature in Christ. However, faith is still necessary. No faith, no Christ.

Of course. My entire point was that no matter where you are in life, or how bad you may be on the inside, nothing should stop you from believing in Jesus.
 
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Hentenza

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Of course. My entire point was that no matter where you are in life, or how bad you may be on the inside, nothing should stop you from believing in Jesus.

Agreed.:)
 
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ddrgkd

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No. Heaven is the reward, not the reason for us to repent and receive Christ.

We're the ones who are at enmity with God because of our sin. We're the ones who have rebelled. We're the ones who have broken His laws.

If you're only saying a prayer so that you can receive a reward you didn't deserve in the first place, what part of that is supposed to demonstrate to God that you're sincere?

Heaven is not a reward its a gift there is a difference.

For example you get a reward for doing something good

You get gift because a person loves you

Very similar but different

Thank you for posting
 
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South Bound

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Heaven is not a reward its a gift there is a difference.

For example you get a reward for doing something good

You get gift because a person loves you

Very similar but different

Thank you for posting

I understand your point and it's a very good one. We should be careful with our language to make sure we don't imply that it is our works that save.

However, in this case, I think "reward" is appropriate because several verses, including Colossians 3:24, Matthew 10:41, Luke 20:35, etc, all speak of Heaven as being a reward for the believer.

But that having been said, your point is well taken and I will try to watch how I say things in the future.
 
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Emmy

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Dear ddrgkd. In Luke 10: 25-28: Jesus tells a Lawyer who asked Him:
" Master what shall I do, to inherit eternal life?" Jesus told him: " you know the two Commandments: the first and great one: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus even stated this great fact, ( Matthew 22: 40)
" On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our Love, freely given and NO condition tagged on. In Luke 10 again:
after Jesus had told the Lawyer: " you know the two Commandments to Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, also to love your neighbour as yourself, DO THIS AND YE SHALL LIVE." ( HAVE ETERNAL LIFE)
In Matthew 7: 7-10: we are told to " ask and ye shall receive." Then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. We keep asking God and thanking God, then we share all Love and Joy with all around us. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve and Bless us. We might stumble or forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring.
The Bible tells us to " Repent," and to " Be Born Again," we change from being selfish and unloving, to become Loving and caring. Jesus our Saviour
will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY.
Jesus Himself told the Lawyer what to do to have eternal life, and with God on our side, Who or What could be against us? Remember: " ask and ye shall receive," then thank God and share all Love and Joy with all around us.
God is Love, and God wants Loving men and women.
I say this with love, ddrgkd. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
 
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