- Jul 22, 2014
- 41,562
- 7,869
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Married
Well, I will ultimately leave that up to God to decide. But a believer is told that they can have an assurance in knowing the Lord if they find that they are keeping His commandments (See 1 John 2:3). The person who has the Son, has life, and the person who does not have the Son, does not have life (1 John 5:12).Do you believe if Christ came today you'll be saved?
I ask the question because recently it came to my mind. I've heard a number of times when I ask people the question they will say I need to work on x or y. However, doesn't that line of thinking mean that subconsciously you believe in meriting salvation to an extent?
More like maintaining salvation. We are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace, but God's grace does not teach us to minimize sin and or to not worry about it. Titus 2:11-12 says God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world. This is what God's grace teaches us (Which is contrary to the popular view of Christianity).
You said:If Jesus came today and you think you won't go to heaven because you're smoker,
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:17).
You said:addicted to pornography,
28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:28-30).
have an issue with your temper, etc.
There is a righteous anger (like when Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers), and there is an unrighteous anger or hate.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galatians 5:19-21).
If that's the case, I believe that deep down you don't believe in salvation by faith alone (I am not knocking on those who don't affirm that).
I am glad, because the Bible does not teach that.
"You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24).
Oh, and by the way: Ephesians 2:8-9 is referring to "Initial Salvation" because we have been quickened one time (Ephesians 2:1), and gifts are received one time (Ephesians 2:8). Also, Ephesians 2:8-9 is also referring to "Man Directed Works Alone Salvationism" (without God's grace) because verse 9 is the kind of work that a man would boast in over God's grace through faith in Christ. They are boasting in themselves by what they are doing. This is a man directed work. But verse 10 switches gears and talks about a completely different kind of work. It is a God directed work done through the believer (just like James 2:24 is referring to). For verse 10 refers to the kind of work that we are created in Christ Jesus to do and that we must walk in them. These are the kinds of works we are justified by. It is the Lord working through us. For Jesus says we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5).
You said:...nor am I saying you can live as you want.
Then why suggest the porn addict, the smoker, and the person with a temper (or hate) is saved by a belief alone in Jesus?
Upvote
0