Am I truly saved?

Theokayman1 said:

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I am afraid even despite that I am still not saved.

Here is finalcall07's testimony:
I was a born again Christian, not living in sin, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit. I was receiving revelation from Jesus, I experienced His guidance in my life and I was living what I thought was a good Christian life. We were reading the Bible at meal times, praying as a family. We were teaching our children about Jesus, had no television, never went to the movies or places of worldly pleasure. My children did not go to discos or hang out with friends, never slept out. My wife never worked out so the children came home from school and did their homework and their chores. They had the contract to deliver a weekly newspaper, which kept them very busy two afternoons a week and also earned them some good pocket money.
I had an executive job as general manger of a manufacturing company. I was not ashamed to testify for Jesus, and managed my business so others knew I was a Christian. I had a track record of fixing unprofitable companies turning them to productivity and profitability. I had a reputation for being a straight honest business man who did not accept half measures or poor performance, neither in my own company nor in the service we delivered to our customers.
We were financially blessed and by my understanding we were doing right in the sight of God and Jesus was pleased with us. Then I had the shock of my life, I had a heart attack, died, left my body and found myself going down a deep black hole, on my way to hell. I knew I was not coming back, it was final, my time was up. (My detailed testimony is on my website and youtube channel) I pleaded with Jesus to let me come back and warn others of the reality of hell and to prepare. Jesus did let me come back but my relationship with Jesus would never be the same after that. I had the fear of God in me and still do.
I was so sure that I was right with Jesus and then I had to find that I was on my way to hell. By all standards that I knew from reading the Bible I believed that I was doing good and I was saved. What I did not understand was that I was living for ME, not for Jesus. Until then everything had been about ME, my achievement, everything that Jesus had done for me and given me, even the baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of speaking in tongues, revelations, dreams, guidance, answering my prayers, blessing me and my family financially and in all ways, physically, with good health and prosperity. Even with all that I was going to hell.

I thank Jesus for WAKING ME UP and treating me harshly or else I would still have been in ignorance on my way to hell. What I learned is that we must APREHEND Jesus, we must go after Him with all our power. We must die to SELF and live for Him. Jesus does not accept half measures. We either live for Jesus or for ourselves. The warning written in Revelation 3: 1 -3 speaks to every follower of Jesus: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Jesus came on me like a thief and I was not ready. When Jesus calls again I want to be ready, waiting and faithfully working for His kingdom.

finalcall07 Testimonies: The shock of my life

What should I do to be saved? Am I really saved?

Click to expand...

I do not believe in near death experiences so I can not condone his experience as a visit to hell. I can say that he felt guilt in some way. It would be good to read his testimony on how this experience changed him. Hopefully it is more about LOVE and not about himself.

Theokayman1 said:

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I am afraid even despite that I am still not saved.

Here is finalcall07's testimony:
I was a born again Christian, not living in sin, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit. I was receiving revelation from Jesus, I experienced His guidance in my life and I was living what I thought was a good Christian life. We were reading the Bible at meal times, praying as a family. We were teaching our children about Jesus, had no television, never went to the movies or places of worldly pleasure. My children did not go to discos or hang out with friends, never slept out. My wife never worked out so the children came home from school and did their homework and their chores. They had the contract to deliver a weekly newspaper, which kept them very busy two afternoons a week and also earned them some good pocket money.
I had an executive job as general manger of a manufacturing company. I was not ashamed to testify for Jesus, and managed my business so others knew I was a Christian. I had a track record of fixing unprofitable companies turning them to productivity and profitability. I had a reputation for being a straight honest business man who did not accept half measures or poor performance, neither in my own company nor in the service we delivered to our customers.
We were financially blessed and by my understanding we were doing right in the sight of God and Jesus was pleased with us. Then I had the shock of my life, I had a heart attack, died, left my body and found myself going down a deep black hole, on my way to hell. I knew I was not coming back, it was final, my time was up. (My detailed testimony is on my website and youtube channel) I pleaded with Jesus to let me come back and warn others of the reality of hell and to prepare. Jesus did let me come back but my relationship with Jesus would never be the same after that. I had the fear of God in me and still do.
I was so sure that I was right with Jesus and then I had to find that I was on my way to hell. By all standards that I knew from reading the Bible I believed that I was doing good and I was saved. What I did not understand was that I was living for ME, not for Jesus. Until then everything had been about ME, my achievement, everything that Jesus had done for me and given me, even the baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of speaking in tongues, revelations, dreams, guidance, answering my prayers, blessing me and my family financially and in all ways, physically, with good health and prosperity. Even with all that I was going to hell.

I thank Jesus for WAKING ME UP and treating me harshly or else I would still have been in ignorance on my way to hell. What I learned is that we must APREHEND Jesus, we must go after Him with all our power. We must die to SELF and live for Him. Jesus does not accept half measures. We either live for Jesus or for ourselves. The warning written in Revelation 3: 1 -3 speaks to every follower of Jesus: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Jesus came on me like a thief and I was not ready. When Jesus calls again I want to be ready, waiting and faithfully working for His kingdom.

finalcall07 Testimonies: The shock of my life

What should I do to be saved? Am I really saved?

Click to expand...

Accept the sacrifice of Christ, cleanse your previous sins through baptism, receive the Holy Spirit through chrismation, and participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

Theokayman1 said:

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I am afraid even despite that I am still not saved.

Here is finalcall07's testimony:
I was a born again Christian, not living in sin, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit. I was receiving revelation from Jesus, I experienced His guidance in my life and I was living what I thought was a good Christian life. We were reading the Bible at meal times, praying as a family. We were teaching our children about Jesus, had no television, never went to the movies or places of worldly pleasure. My children did not go to discos or hang out with friends, never slept out. My wife never worked out so the children came home from school and did their homework and their chores. They had the contract to deliver a weekly newspaper, which kept them very busy two afternoons a week and also earned them some good pocket money.
I had an executive job as general manger of a manufacturing company. I was not ashamed to testify for Jesus, and managed my business so others knew I was a Christian. I had a track record of fixing unprofitable companies turning them to productivity and profitability. I had a reputation for being a straight honest business man who did not accept half measures or poor performance, neither in my own company nor in the service we delivered to our customers.
We were financially blessed and by my understanding we were doing right in the sight of God and Jesus was pleased with us. Then I had the shock of my life, I had a heart attack, died, left my body and found myself going down a deep black hole, on my way to hell. I knew I was not coming back, it was final, my time was up. (My detailed testimony is on my website and youtube channel) I pleaded with Jesus to let me come back and warn others of the reality of hell and to prepare. Jesus did let me come back but my relationship with Jesus would never be the same after that. I had the fear of God in me and still do.
I was so sure that I was right with Jesus and then I had to find that I was on my way to hell. By all standards that I knew from reading the Bible I believed that I was doing good and I was saved. What I did not understand was that I was living for ME, not for Jesus. Until then everything had been about ME, my achievement, everything that Jesus had done for me and given me, even the baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of speaking in tongues, revelations, dreams, guidance, answering my prayers, blessing me and my family financially and in all ways, physically, with good health and prosperity. Even with all that I was going to hell.

I thank Jesus for WAKING ME UP and treating me harshly or else I would still have been in ignorance on my way to hell. What I learned is that we must APREHEND Jesus, we must go after Him with all our power. We must die to SELF and live for Him. Jesus does not accept half measures. We either live for Jesus or for ourselves. The warning written in Revelation 3: 1 -3 speaks to every follower of Jesus: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Jesus came on me like a thief and I was not ready. When Jesus calls again I want to be ready, waiting and faithfully working for His kingdom.

finalcall07 Testimonies: The shock of my life

What should I do to be saved? Am I really saved?

Click to expand...

Our salvation is based on the faith of Abraham. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him by God as righteousness. This means that Abraham was saved because he believed God. He did not have to do anything else but believe God. He was not saved by anything he could have done. In other words, he was not saved by works of any kind.

It is the same with us. The Scripture says, "This is the will of God that we believe on Him whom He has sent." This means that we have righteousness credited to us by faith alone. But that faith is in the finished work of Christ. You don't have to run after Christ. All you have to do is believe that He died for you on the cross of Calvary, and that He rose from the dead to give you eternal life.

Any development in holiness or being Christlike is the result of being saved. We are saved first, then become holy after that.

The other thing that is important is that we are not saved because we have had sensory experience of any kind. If we go looking for a sensory experience on which to base our faith, the devil is always there to provide us with one.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Saviour, you are saved. You could not have come to that point unless you were chosen of God and that He gave you saving faith. No person can come to Christ except they were given to Him by the Father. The fact that you were able to understand the Gospel to the point where you saw your need to accept Christ, and then went ahead and did it, meant that God chose you, and gave you to Christ and with that the Holy Spirit gave you the faith to receive Christ as your Saviour.

But the devil doesn't want to lose people from his kingdom. He cannot destroy your salvation in Christ, but he can try and make your life a misery by telling you that you have to do more into order to have the assurance of salvation. What he wants is for you to go through life wondering and doubting whether you are saved. While you are in that state, you won't be able to have a ministry leading others to Christ, because if you are not sure of your own salvation, how can you get others to receive Christ? That's what the devil is trying to do to you - to make you powerless to do anything that might lead others to the Kingdom of God.

If the Bible says that when you accept Christ you are well and truly saved, then believe it!

Salvation is about trusting Jesus Christ first off. If you believe in your heart that Jesus lived, died on the cross, and rose again on the third day for the salvation of men, and confess his Lordship over your life, over all life, then your saved.

Then you trust in His finished work. It's not a work you do, its a work He did. There is no stairway to heaven you can build - HE is the author, and perfecter, of your salvation.

Love is what you need and if you don't have it in abundance then you ask HIM to create in you a clean heart and renew in you a right Spirit and give you that heart of love. Beg for it..

Love is the basis of everything. Any works you do is a response, in love, to His love for you... not a duty or obligation of law, but love like a new bride your tasting for the first time. You'd do anything she asked, out of deep love. That is the love God asks from us toward both Him, and one another.

And just trust. He doesn't ask that we never watch tv or live like hermits.. He actually asks so little from us it's crazy unreal. Just love for Him spilling over into love of each other.

He gave us freedom.. go, and sin no more.

(You have been baptized already right?)

If you've accepted Jesus's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your past, present and future sins, you are saved and have eternal life and are going to Heaven. Jesus's blood pays the penalty for sin.

Jesus is the bread of life. He is the bread that satisfies. Whoever eats of him, that is, eats his flesh and drinks his blood in the spiritual sense, recieves eternal life and will not come into condemnation.

Trust it, accept his grace and forgiveness, make sure you're saved, and then rejoice and do the work of God for the rest of your time here, until Christ calls you home with the family of God.

Theokayman1 said:

No I have never been baptized, I have to do that soon.

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Find a church... getting baptized is as much about joining with the Christian community as it is something you do for God. It's your public confession of faith, and when you will join a church.

So attend several churches in your area, visit them more than once and make certain of what they are teaching.

.. I'm reformed baptist but you might feel more comfortable in a Presbyterian or other denomination so I'll leave that part to your own examination..

I'll pray for you..

Theokayman1 said:

No I have never been baptized, I have to do that soon.

Click to expand...

You don't need to do anything other than accepting Christ's atoning work on the cross for all your sins, including future ones. Water baptism, good works after having faith, etc. do not save you. They are things you do after being saved.

I reccommend the website Gotquestions.org to help you understand some of the things of the Christian faith. I don't believe everything on there, but it helped me many years ago.

more of his t

Maria Billingsley said:

I do not believe in near death experiences so I can not condone his experience as a visit to hell. I can say that he felt guilt in some way. It would be good to read his testimony on how this experience changed him. Hopefully it is more about LOVE and not about himself.

Click to expand...

There is more of his testimony if you click on the link provided in the OP at the bottom of the page.

Theokayman1 said:

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I am afraid even despite that I am still not saved.

Here is finalcall07's testimony:
I was a born again Christian, not living in sin, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit. I was receiving revelation from Jesus, I experienced His guidance in my life and I was living what I thought was a good Christian life. We were reading the Bible at meal times, praying as a family. We were teaching our children about Jesus, had no television, never went to the movies or places of worldly pleasure. My children did not go to discos or hang out with friends, never slept out. My wife never worked out so the children came home from school and did their homework and their chores. They had the contract to deliver a weekly newspaper, which kept them very busy two afternoons a week and also earned them some good pocket money.
I had an executive job as general manger of a manufacturing company. I was not ashamed to testify for Jesus, and managed my business so others knew I was a Christian. I had a track record of fixing unprofitable companies turning them to productivity and profitability. I had a reputation for being a straight honest business man who did not accept half measures or poor performance, neither in my own company nor in the service we delivered to our customers.
We were financially blessed and by my understanding we were doing right in the sight of God and Jesus was pleased with us. Then I had the shock of my life, I had a heart attack, died, left my body and found myself going down a deep black hole, on my way to hell. I knew I was not coming back, it was final, my time was up. (My detailed testimony is on my website and youtube channel) I pleaded with Jesus to let me come back and warn others of the reality of hell and to prepare. Jesus did let me come back but my relationship with Jesus would never be the same after that. I had the fear of God in me and still do.
I was so sure that I was right with Jesus and then I had to find that I was on my way to hell. By all standards that I knew from reading the Bible I believed that I was doing good and I was saved. What I did not understand was that I was living for ME, not for Jesus. Until then everything had been about ME, my achievement, everything that Jesus had done for me and given me, even the baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of speaking in tongues, revelations, dreams, guidance, answering my prayers, blessing me and my family financially and in all ways, physically, with good health and prosperity. Even with all that I was going to hell.

I thank Jesus for WAKING ME UP and treating me harshly or else I would still have been in ignorance on my way to hell. What I learned is that we must APREHEND Jesus, we must go after Him with all our power. We must die to SELF and live for Him. Jesus does not accept half measures. We either live for Jesus or for ourselves. The warning written in Revelation 3: 1 -3 speaks to every follower of Jesus: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Jesus came on me like a thief and I was not ready. When Jesus calls again I want to be ready, waiting and faithfully working for His kingdom.

finalcall07 Testimonies: The shock of my life

What should I do to be saved? Am I really saved?

Click to expand...

The answer is simple. Did you sincerely tell Jesus that you repented of your sins and that you gave your life to follow him as the one true God? If you have then rest assured that you are written in the lamb's book of life and your salvation is secure with God. There will definitely be times where you might feel like your backsliding or distant from God which is very normal but no matter what he will always be there chasing after you and keeping you. Do you remember the parable of the Lost Sheep where the good Shepherd left the 99 just to save the 1? That was an allegory of how much our salvation means to God and how if we go astray he will always come running after us. Don't beat yourself up over whether or not your saved because you are.

Edit: Oh and something I should mention is that while NDE's are great testimonies of God some of them should really be read with scrutiny. After reading that NDE it makes me question its veracity because it was completely absent of the will of God and scripture declares that the only unforgivable sin is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit which is to reject Jesus or claim that he is not who he says he is. Everyone makes mistakes and that is where the grace of God comes into our lives which this person in the testimony never even received. Where sin abounds grace is always more. This doesn't mean we continue to sin but rather that we live our lives in sincere repentance with the understanding that no one is perfect even after getting saved. If God refused to forgive us every-time we made a selfish decision then all of us would be going to Hell and the sacrifice of Jesus was meaningless.

I’ve read a lot of near death experiences on nderf.org. My first thought is that maybe he was heading towards heaven but wasn’t dead long enough to realize it, but also that maybe he was heading for hell. The reason I say that is because a LOT of Ndes start in the outer darkness and the sensation of being pulled somewhere. But then after a while they will see a pin prick of light which as they move through space gets bigger and bigger until they are engulfed by it. However maybe he is right and was heading for hell. Personally I’m scared that I’m going to hell too cuz I feel there is no way for me to really know what my afterlife will be. I believe in God and that Jesus is His son and the savior but really I still live a cushy first world life and while I’ve had my struggles and I feel like I’m doing the best I can to be a good Christian but I’ve heard of other ndes where Christians have gone to hell. I just thought I’d let you know that you’re not the only one that struggles with it

sea5763 said:

I’ve read a lot of near death experiences on nderf.org. My first thought is that maybe he was heading towards heaven but wasn’t dead long enough to realize it, but also that maybe he was heading for hell. The reason I say that is because a LOT of Ndes start in the outer darkness and the sensation of being pulled somewhere. But then after a while they will see a pin prick of light which as they move through space gets bigger and bigger until they are engulfed by it. However maybe he is right and was heading for hell. Personally I’m scared that I’m going to hell too cuz I feel there is no way for me to really know what my afterlife will be. I believe in God and that Jesus is His son and the savior but really I still live a cushy first world life and while I’ve had my struggles and I feel like I’m doing the best I can to be a good Christian but I’ve heard of other ndes where Christians have gone to hell. I just thought I’d let you know that you’re not the only one that struggles with it

Click to expand...

Have you both ever taken the time to step back and think that Satan may just be putting thoughts in your head to make you doubt the promises of God?

Theokayman1 said:

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but I am afraid even despite that I am still not saved.

Here is finalcall07's testimony:
I was a born again Christian, not living in sin, baptized in water, baptized in the Holy Spirit. I was receiving revelation from Jesus, I experienced His guidance in my life and I was living what I thought was a good Christian life. We were reading the Bible at meal times, praying as a family. We were teaching our children about Jesus, had no television, never went to the movies or places of worldly pleasure. My children did not go to discos or hang out with friends, never slept out. My wife never worked out so the children came home from school and did their homework and their chores. They had the contract to deliver a weekly newspaper, which kept them very busy two afternoons a week and also earned them some good pocket money.
I had an executive job as general manger of a manufacturing company. I was not ashamed to testify for Jesus, and managed my business so others knew I was a Christian. I had a track record of fixing unprofitable companies turning them to productivity and profitability. I had a reputation for being a straight honest business man who did not accept half measures or poor performance, neither in my own company nor in the service we delivered to our customers.
We were financially blessed and by my understanding we were doing right in the sight of God and Jesus was pleased with us. Then I had the shock of my life, I had a heart attack, died, left my body and found myself going down a deep black hole, on my way to hell. I knew I was not coming back, it was final, my time was up. (My detailed testimony is on my website and youtube channel) I pleaded with Jesus to let me come back and warn others of the reality of hell and to prepare. Jesus did let me come back but my relationship with Jesus would never be the same after that. I had the fear of God in me and still do.
I was so sure that I was right with Jesus and then I had to find that I was on my way to hell. By all standards that I knew from reading the Bible I believed that I was doing good and I was saved. What I did not understand was that I was living for ME, not for Jesus. Until then everything had been about ME, my achievement, everything that Jesus had done for me and given me, even the baptism in the Holy Spirit, gift of speaking in tongues, revelations, dreams, guidance, answering my prayers, blessing me and my family financially and in all ways, physically, with good health and prosperity. Even with all that I was going to hell.

I thank Jesus for WAKING ME UP and treating me harshly or else I would still have been in ignorance on my way to hell. What I learned is that we must APREHEND Jesus, we must go after Him with all our power. We must die to SELF and live for Him. Jesus does not accept half measures. We either live for Jesus or for ourselves. The warning written in Revelation 3: 1 -3 speaks to every follower of Jesus: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Jesus came on me like a thief and I was not ready. When Jesus calls again I want to be ready, waiting and faithfully working for His kingdom.

finalcall07 Testimonies: The shock of my life

What should I do to be saved? Am I really saved?

Click to expand...

When you search the scriptures, this is what you find in order for your salvation

1. Hear the word - Romans 10:17, Matthew 7:24-27
2. Believe the word is true and believe in Jesus - Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16-15-16 (not faith only), James 2:24, John 12:42.
3. Repent of your sins and transgressions - Act 2:38, Acts 17:30-31, Luke 13:3.
4. Confess Jesus is the Son of God - Matthew 10:32-33, Acts 8:36-37.
5. Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and to place you in Christ so Jesus can add you to His church and translate you into the Kingdom of God: Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47, Colossians 1:12-14.
   • Purpose: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Acts 10:48, John 3:5; Luke 7:30. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 with Galatians 3:27.
   • Action: Romans 6:3-5, Acts 8:36-38, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23.
   • Infants need not to be baptized: Matthew 18:3, mark 10:13-15, Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 14:12.
6. Remain faithful until death - Revelation 2:10

Also, joining a bible believing, bible following church, Christs church, is a must. He only established one church, His, and it would behoove anyone to be in His church (Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12; Romans 12).

Oscarr said:

Our salvation is based on the faith of Abraham. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him by God as righteousness. This means that Abraham was saved because he believed God. He did not have to do anything else but believe God. He was not saved by anything he could have done. In other words, he was not saved by works of any kind.

Click to expand...

This is incorrect. James 2 literally ties Hebrews 11 with Abraham accounting the faith/believing as an action/work.

Also, as another example, the famous John 3:16.

The "whoeverso believe" part, that is a verb in the Greek. Requires action/obedience. It means you have to do something. Reminds me of James 1:22.

Jesus did tell us, John 14:15/John 15:14.

CodyFaith said:

Water baptism, good works after having faith, etc. do not save you. They are things you do after being saved.

Click to expand...

Yet every single conversion in Acts has those being saved after obeying being baptized.
Reminder of some, even Jesus, as God was well pleased when even Jesus was baptized....

1. Jesus' Baptism — Matthew 3:13-17
2. Day of Pentecost — Acts 2:22 and 36-47
3. Samaria — Acts 8:4-13
4. Ethiopian Eunuch — Acts 8:26-39
5. Paul(Saul) — Acts 9:1-20 and 22:6-16
6. Cornelius — Acts 101-48 and 11:1-18
7. Lydia — Acts 16:13-15
8. Many Corinthians — Acts 18:8
9. Philippian Jailer - Acts 16

Also, being baptized is the ONLY way one can receive the Holy Spirit AND the remission of sins see Acts 2:38

Being baptized is the ONLY way one can be IN Christ Galatians 3:26-27

Being baptized is the ONLY way, of one who is IN Christ, to receive spiritual blessings such as prayer for example Ephesians 1:3
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And before anyone recites the well worn out excuse to get away from baptism of Ephesians 2:8-9,

why don't you try looking at verse 10 first = For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Correct me if I am wrong, but "walking in them"(the good works that God ordained) is indeed a verb right?

Confessing Christ with our mouths is an action right?

Believing is a work right (see John 6:29)? You have to do something James 1:22

Now we can connect James 2:14 and following verses along with Hebrews 11.

You can't work your way to heaven, but by gully you DO have to do something and use your "talents" or risk being like the wicked servant with the one talent parable.

Acts2:38 said:

When you search the scriptures, this is what you find in order for your salvation

1. Hear the word - Romans 10:17, Matthew 7:24-27
2. Believe the word is true and believe in Jesus - Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16-15-16 (not faith only), James 2:24, John 12:42.
3. Repent of your sins and transgressions - Act 2:38, Acts 17:30-31, Luke 13:3.
4. Confess Jesus is the Son of God - Matthew 10:32-33, Acts 8:36-37.
5. Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and to place you in Christ so Jesus can add you to His church and translate you into the Kingdom of God: Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47, Colossians 1:12-14.
   • Purpose: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Acts 10:48, John 3:5; Luke 7:30. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 with Galatians 3:27.
   • Action: Romans 6:3-5, Acts 8:36-38, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23.
   • Infants need not to be baptized: Matthew 18:3, mark 10:13-15, Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 14:12.
6. Remain faithful until death - Revelation 2:10

Also, joining a bible believing, bible following church, Christs church, is a must. He only established one church, His, and it would behoove anyone to be in His church (Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12; Romans 12).



This is incorrect. James 2 literally ties Hebrews 11 with Abraham accounting the faith/believing as an action/work.

Also, as another example, the famous John 3:16.

The "whoeverso believe" part, that is a verb in the Greek. Requires action/obedience. It means you have to do something. Reminds me of James 1:22.

Jesus did tell us, John 14:15/John 15:14.



Yet every single conversion in Acts has those being saved after obeying being baptized.
Reminder of some, even Jesus, as God was well pleased when even Jesus was baptized....

1. Jesus' Baptism — Matthew 3:13-17
2. Day of Pentecost — Acts 2:22 and 36-47
3. Samaria — Acts 8:4-13
4. Ethiopian Eunuch — Acts 8:26-39
5. Paul(Saul) — Acts 9:1-20 and 22:6-16
6. Cornelius — Acts 101-48 and 11:1-18
7. Lydia — Acts 16:13-15
8. Many Corinthians — Acts 18:8
9. Philippian Jailer - Acts 16

Also, being baptized is the ONLY way one can receive the Holy Spirit AND the remission of sins see Acts 2:38

Being baptized is the ONLY way one can be IN Christ Galatians 3:26-27

Being baptized is the ONLY way, of one who is IN Christ, to receive spiritual blessings such as prayer for example Ephesians 1:3
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And before anyone recites the well worn out excuse to get away from baptism of Ephesians 2:8-9,

why don't you try looking at verse 10 first = For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Correct me if I am wrong, but "walking in them"(the good works that God ordained) is indeed a verb right?

Confessing Christ with our mouths is an action right?

Believing is a work right (see John 6:29)? You have to do something James 1:22

Now we can connect James 2:14 and following verses along with Hebrews 11.

You can't work your way to heaven, but by gully you DO have to do something and use your "talents" or risk being like the wicked servant with the one talent parable.

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The actual act of Baptism itself does not save you, that's Catholic theology not BIBLICAL theology. To be saved the word says it plainly:

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. —Romans 10:9-10, ESV

Justification takes place the minute someone sincerely repents of their sin and accepts Jesus. Baptism while strongly important is not necessary for salvation, the church does it in remembrance of Jesus and as a symbol of his justifying grace.

Rawtheran said:

Have you both ever taken the time to step back and think that Satan may just be putting thoughts in your head to make you doubt the promises of God?

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To be honest I’ve read the whole Bible and sometimes I feel like I still don’t get it. I know that Jesus said to love God and love people, but past that sometimes I feel like I don’t get it. Like while reading a small part here and there I feel like I get it but then when I try to answer the tough questions I feel like I’m at a loss. When I read some parts of the Bible it sounds like If you believe God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Him as your savior then you’re saved. But then Jesus says extreme things like how not everyone who calls Him Lord will go to heaven and how you must give up everything to follow Him.

sea5763 said:

To be honest I’ve read the whole Bible and sometimes I feel like I still don’t get it. I know that Jesus said to love God and love people, but past that sometimes I feel like I don’t get it. Like while reading a small part here and there I feel like I get it but then when I try to answer the tough questions I feel like I’m at a loss. When I read some parts of the Bible it sounds like If you believe God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Him as your savior then you’re saved. But then Jesus says extreme things like how not everyone who calls Him Lord will go to heaven and how you must give up everything to follow Him.

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I get what you're saying and oftentimes Jesus would say extreme things in order to get the point across the no one was perfect and it was only through God not man that one could be saved. In fact the apostles one time took Jesus aside and asked who can be saved if we all have sinned and Jesus said that with man this wasn't possible but with God all things were possible. Salvation was made possible when Jesus died on the cross and when we accept Jesus into our hearts and are born again God doesn't see us as this wretched sinner but as his sons/daughters made whole. I love how this scripture in Romans makes salvation clear:

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rawtheran said:

I get what you're saying and oftentimes Jesus would say extreme things in order to get the point across the no one was perfect and it was only through God not man that one could be saved. In fact the apostles one time took Jesus aside and asked who can be saved if we all have sinned and Jesus said that with man this wasn't possible but with God all things were possible. Salvation was made possible when Jesus died on the cross and when we accept Jesus into our hearts and are born again God doesn't see us as this wretched sinner but as his sons/daughters made whole. I love how this scripture in Romans makes salvation clear:

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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In a way what you’re saying kind of goes to what concerns me that salvation is impossible with man and only possible with God. He says He will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy. I feel like ultimately it is in God’s hands and while I should make an effort to be as good a Christian as I can I can’t force my way into Heaven. God has to let me in.

sea5763 said:

In a way what you’re saying kind of goes to what concerns me that salvation is impossible with man and only possible with God. He says He will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy. I feel like ultimately it is in God’s hands and while I should make an effort to be as good a Christian as I can I can’t force my way into Heaven. God has to let me in.

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You're right. God gives all of us the personal choice to accept him or reject him. His salvation is open to all but we have to respond to the invitation.

Since you really like NDE's check out this video on a guy who spent 23 minutes in Hell, it really helped me in faith.

Acts2:38 said:

When you search the scriptures, this is what you find in order for your salvation

1. Hear the word - Romans 10:17, Matthew 7:24-27
2. Believe the word is true and believe in Jesus - Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16-15-16 (not faith only), James 2:24, John 12:42.
3. Repent of your sins and transgressions - Act 2:38, Acts 17:30-31, Luke 13:3.
4. Confess Jesus is the Son of God - Matthew 10:32-33, Acts 8:36-37.
5. Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and to place you in Christ so Jesus can add you to His church and translate you into the Kingdom of God: Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47, Colossians 1:12-14.
   • Purpose: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Acts 10:48, John 3:5; Luke 7:30. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 with Galatians 3:27.
   • Action: Romans 6:3-5, Acts 8:36-38, Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23.
   • Infants need not to be baptized: Matthew 18:3, mark 10:13-15, Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 14:12.
6. Remain faithful until death - Revelation 2:10

Also, joining a bible believing, bible following church, Christs church, is a must. He only established one church, His, and it would behoove anyone to be in His church (Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12; Romans 12).



This is incorrect. James 2 literally ties Hebrews 11 with Abraham accounting the faith/believing as an action/work.

Also, as another example, the famous John 3:16.

The "whoeverso believe" part, that is a verb in the Greek. Requires action/obedience. It means you have to do something. Reminds me of James 1:22.

Jesus did tell us, John 14:15/John 15:14.



Yet every single conversion in Acts has those being saved after obeying being baptized.
Reminder of some, even Jesus, as God was well pleased when even Jesus was baptized....

1. Jesus' Baptism — Matthew 3:13-17
2. Day of Pentecost — Acts 2:22 and 36-47
3. Samaria — Acts 8:4-13
4. Ethiopian Eunuch — Acts 8:26-39
5. Paul(Saul) — Acts 9:1-20 and 22:6-16
6. Cornelius — Acts 101-48 and 11:1-18
7. Lydia — Acts 16:13-15
8. Many Corinthians — Acts 18:8
9. Philippian Jailer - Acts 16

Also, being baptized is the ONLY way one can receive the Holy Spirit AND the remission of sins see Acts 2:38

Being baptized is the ONLY way one can be IN Christ Galatians 3:26-27

Being baptized is the ONLY way, of one who is IN Christ, to receive spiritual blessings such as prayer for example Ephesians 1:3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And before anyone recites the well worn out excuse to get away from baptism of Ephesians 2:8-9,

why don't you try looking at verse 10 first = For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Correct me if I am wrong, but "walking in them"(the good works that God ordained) is indeed a verb right?

Confessing Christ with our mouths is an action right?

Believing is a work right (see John 6:29)? You have to do something James 1:22

Now we can connect James 2:14 and following verses along with Hebrews 11.

You can't work your way to heaven, but by gully you DO have to do something and use your "talents" or risk being like the wicked servant with the one talent parable.

Click to expand...

The point that I was making is that salvation by faith alone comes first. The Scripture says, "By grace are we save through faith NOT OF OURSELVES" but is the gift of God.

Everything else is in the area of developing sanctification which has to come as the result of being saved first. An unsaved person cannot develop sanctification. Only a saved person can. James view of works and faith are in the region of sanctification. He does not contradict Paul at all.

If we had to do something in order to be saved, then it would be wages and not a gift. A gift is given without the person receiving having to do anything to earn it. The Scripture says that the wages of sin is death. This means that the works of the flesh earns wages - which is death. Anyone who works receives payment for what he does. The second half of that verse is. "but the GIFT of God is eternal life".

The OP thinks that he is not really saved because he has not done what is necessary other than just believe in Christ and receive Him Saviour. But in reality he has received the gift of salvation. If he then tries to do good works, whatever they may be, to try and earn his salvation, then he treads Christ underfoot. The writer of the Hebrews said that in terms of those who were tempted to go back into the Law and circumcision in order to earn their salvation.

I am not denying that good works are essential to provide a good testimony to the world and to develop sanctification so a person can be used of God. Even baptism has to come after salvation. It is not a presrequisite. That is why it is called believers baptism. Only previously saved people can be baptised.

So, if you want to build your salvation on a foundation of works, then good luck to you at the Judgment!