Can you only be saved in the right denomination?

[twinserk]

Can you only be saved if you pick the right denomination? Or can be people be saved in any Christian denomination, as long as they believe in Jesus?

Once someone told me that everyone in a denomination of Christianity was going to Hell, unless they went to the original Church of Christ? But which one is that? Is it even still here today?

What do you think?

The Messiah told us who would get in, and who wouldn't.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

 

[WilliamBo]

''Not all who say to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who actually DO the will of my Father in heaven''

Simple belief is not enough... we must actually DO what God wants us to do. Denominations are man-made and kind of from the devil in my opinion. You have to KNOW God and he has to have a REAL relationship with you, just like we have relationships with other people

 

[Galatea]

''Not all who say to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who actually DO the will of my Father in heaven''

Simple belief is not enough... we must actually DO what God wants us to do. Denominations are man-made and kind of from the devil in my opinion. You have to KNOW God and he has to have a REAL relationship with you, just like we have relationships with other people

You know, this verse is misapplied ALL the time. What in context is Jesus condemning? Is He condemning people who believe? No- in no wise. He is condemning people who DO! People who point to their works as a sign that they know Him. Jesus does not say "Depart from me, ye believers." He says "Depart from me, ye WORKERS of iniquity."

This verse is often used against salvation by grace through faith.

What is God's will according to Christ Jesus?

John 6:28-54

"Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that YE BELIEVE on Him whom He hath sent."

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH on me shall never thirst."

"But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

"For I came down from Heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

"And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on Him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me hath everlasting life."

 

[Neogaia777]

You know, this verse is misapplied ALL the time. What in context is Jesus condemning? Is He condemning people who believe? No- in no wise. He is condemning people who DO! People who point to their works as a sign that they know Him. Jesus does not say "Depart from me, ye believers." He says "Depart from me, ye WORKERS of iniquity."

This verse is often used against salvation by grace through faith.

What is God's will according to Christ Jesus?

John 6:28-54

"Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that YE BELIEVE on Him whom He hath sent."

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that BELIEVETH on me shall never thirst."

"But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

"For I came down from Heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

"And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH on Him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on me hath everlasting life."

I was gonna say how commonly half that verse is only quoted, and point out how and why, but then just kinda thought "why bother" and I do not think it was all works, but specifically miraculous ones in nature or supernatural ones...

But can't recall for sure...?

Oh, yes, I think it is:

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

I think supernatural...

But works based righteousness, is no longer the way also, which is a good point to make...

God Bless!

 

[Galatea]

I was gonna say how commonly half that verse is only quoted, and point out how and why, but then just kinda thought "why bother" and I do not think it was all works, but specifically miraculous ones in nature or supernatural ones...

But can't recall for sure...?

Oh, yes, I think it is:

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

I think supernatural...

But works based righteousness, is no longer the way also, which is a good point to make...

God Bless!

I think many people who believe they are kept by works, focus on the "does the will of my Father" without knowing what Christ actually said was the will of His Father. The disciples asked, and He told them.

 

[friend of]

Fantastic poll results

 

[Neogaia777]

I think many people who believe they are kept by works, focus on the "does the will of my Father" without knowing what Christ actually said was the will of His Father. The disciples asked, and He told them.

i forgot the answer, was it Love, the will of the Father...?

God Bless!

 

[WilliamBo]

This verse is often used against salvation by grace through faith.

Listen, no one is SAVED until they get to heaven. The Bible says

''work out your salvation with fear and trembling''
''many are called, few are chosen,''
''always pray that you are counted worthy to stand before the Lamb,''
''seek with diligence that your calling and election is sure''
''The road that leads to life is VERY NARROW, and the road to destruction is very broad for the many who choose that path''

We are to seek to be counted worthy, not pray a prayer and your saved... it doesn't work like that. I don't know about you but those verses SCARE me. The devil wants you to think you are always saved so that you sear your conscience and no longer fear the Lord and no longer pursue absolute righteousness and holiness which is what we are supposed to do. Churches today are leading people astray because they aren't telling people these hard truths. REAL Christianity is TOUGH and the truths in the scriptures are VERY hard. When I read the scriptures I start to tremble because it frightens me so bad sometimes.




edit- also, in that verse, they are saying ''Lord didn't we do all these mighty things in your name?''- he's talking about Christians who THINK they are saved but never really were. Can we heal people and cast out demons and not be saved? Oh yea, and churches today aren't even doing that.

We have to become a ''good tree.'' We are not saved by WORKS per-se but if we are born of God we WILL eventually do good works. Cold religion works are what the catholic church does and are exactly the opposite of doing works out of real love from God- we are supposed to be a ''joyful giver'' and do works led by the Spirit... not with our own strength, with His strength... The good works are a by-product of BEING a good tree, walking in righteousness, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I'm not perfect yet but I press on toward the prize

 

[Daniel9v9]

The Pharisees were zealous for the Law and tradition. They honoured tradition and mysticism, providing it didn't go against their understanding of the Law and Prophets. Some of their ideas, traditions and rites may come from their time in Babylonian captivity.

The Sadducees were zealous for the Law alone and largely rejected tradition, but as part of this, they also rejected divine mysteries that didn't sit well with their ability to reason. e.g., their rejection of life after death.

So, one party stood by the Law and tradition, while the other by the Law alone, but both in error. When Christ appeared, no one was any better off. I think this is very interesting and humbling in view of the landscape of our church today.

Though I feel like perhaps some branches of our faith have a more accurate teaching than others, I don't think any one denomination can claim to be the one exclusively true church. Basically, whoever believes and is baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. These believers make up the true and invisible catholic church.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

The wind blows where it will.

There are those religious sects that people are saved out of though..

 

[Neogaia777]

Listen, no one is SAVED until they get to heaven. The Bible says

''work out your salvation with fear and trembling''
''many are called, few are chosen,''
''always pray that you are counted worthy to stand before the Lamb,''
''seek with diligence that your calling and election is sure''
''The road that leads to life is VERY NARROW, and the road to destruction is very broad for the many who choose that path''

We are to seek to be counted worthy, not pray a prayer and your saved... it doesn't work like that. I don't know about you but those verses SCARE me. The devil wants you to think you are always saved so that you sear your conscience and no longer fear the Lord and no longer pursue absolute righteousness and holiness which is what we are supposed to do. Churches today are leading people astray because they aren't telling people these hard truths. REAL Christianity is TOUGH and the truths in the scriptures are VERY hard. When I read the scriptures I start to tremble because it frightens me so bad sometimes.




edit- also, in that verse, they are saying ''Lord didn't we do all these mighty things in your name?''- he's talking about Christians who THINK they are saved but never really were. Can we heal people and cast out demons and not be saved? Oh yea, and churches today aren't even doing that.

We have to become a ''good tree.'' We are not saved by WORKS per-se but if we are born of God we WILL eventually do good works. Cold religion works are what the catholic church does and are exactly the opposite of doing works out of real love from God- we are supposed to be a ''joyful giver'' and do works led by the Spirit... not with our own strength, with His strength... The good works are a by-product of BEING a good tree, walking in righteousness, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I'm not perfect yet but I press on toward the prize

Fear is supposed to be a tutor, until you no longer need it, but in certain stages of your walk, you actually do, and should be in and get familiar with the fear of God, before and until Love is perfected in you... Then you have to or you will learn how to, "be", righteous, in the right way, without it being proud...

The Lord told me one time, when i said it was hard, it's too hard, he told me it was only that way cause that is what I believed it to be, I think it is hard cause I think it is hard, and so, it is hard, he said if I'd just banish that kind of thinking...? He said it is what you believe it to be...

It was like a Matrix moment when Neo was breathing hard fighting Morpheous, and Neo said Morpheous was just to fast, when he asked Neo if he thought that was "air" he was breathing now...?

It was like an "ah, ha!" moment when Neo got back his zen and stopped breathing hard and thinking that Morpheous was just "too fast" for him (Neo) and then beat him... (we think things are just to hard, when really, we are the ones that determine that...)

God Bless!

 

[AlexDTX]

There are so many denominations.. why can't we all come together as one in the name of Christ, the name above all names.

Because denominations are business franchises, and these organizations are still businesses for men's livelihood.

 

[CrystalDragon]

I think in the 1900's, I'm not sure if they exist, they tried to do that in Canada. What happens is one guy is right here, and another disagrees, so to compromise, they water down the scripture further until there is no power or authority to the scripture - they form a consensus, rather than accepting the scripture for how the Lord taught it. We see this dangerously happening all over today where people are going to die in Hell because of a compromise on God's Word.
I don't believe there is a perfect church. You just find the one you feel represents Christ best, I guess.

Why do people need to die in Hell at all?

 

[AlexDTX]

Why do people need to die in Hell at all?

It is their choice in rejecting the salvation of Christ. Hell is not the Lake of Fire. It is jail where people are held until the White Throne Judgement.

 

[Albion]

Really? I thought there was only "One Bread, One Body - Catholic" forum. Is there a separate forum for "Trads" "Liberals" or whatever?

Exactly.

Trads and Liberals. I see that bbbbbbb has already directed you to them.

 

[CrystalDragon]

It is their choice in rejecting the salvation of Christ. Hell is not the Lake of Fire. It is jail where people are held until the White Throne Judgement.

Then why do people act like Hell is an eternal cruel fiery torture?

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

So please, make sure you understand what I write before going and making a fool of yourself.

I beg your pardon, but I've never seen Albion make a fool of himself.

 

[Original Happy Camper]

The wind blows where it will.

There are those religious sects that people are saved out of though..

Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Question who is the "her" of this verse? The answer to that question is required for salvation. So you all better get it right.

 

[Neogaia777]

Then why do people act like Hell is an eternal cruel fiery torture?

Cause they take it literally...

 

[Albion]

Then why do people act like Hell is an eternal cruel fiery torture?

Because that's the imagery used in the Bible. However, I suspect that most people believe that it's a place or state where there is some sort of punishment and pain, whether that's literal burning or estrangement from God when the lost souls realize what they've forfeited, or some other kind of torment.