Does God need to be number 1 to be saved?

[JohnClay]

From my sisters' pastor:

If I have faith in God but God is not number one in my life will I go to heaven? If I have faith but God's not number one but I actually really believe will I still go to heaven? The answer is you will not - only those who have God as number one in their life go to heaven. If God is number two in your life you will not go to heaven though you believe. If he's number three or four you will not go to heaven though you believe.

What do Christians think?

 

[d taylor]

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Did not watch the video, because The Bible plainly states that to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life (salvation) and become a permanent born again child of God.

The only condition that is required by God is to believe in Jesus, that is to believe Jesus is who He says He is. The resurrection and the life, *the promised Messiah from the prophecies of The Tanakh/The only begotten Son of God.

*Messiah and Son of God are the saying the same title about Jesus, they are not two seperate titles a person has to believe.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

From my sisters' pastor:

What do Christians think?

Assuming that the quote (or even the whole of the video) you've provided from your sister's pastor is representative of his overall message, I'd say his way of stating the problem is a bit on the superficial side of things and fails to offer a clear and distinct explanation as to "how" God needs to be a priority in our lives in relation to our salvation.

 

[d taylor]

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Maybe the preacher has never read The Gospel of John.

 

[JohnClay]

Assuming that the quote (or even the whole of the video) you've provided from your sister's pastor is representative of his overall message, I'd say his way of stating the problem is a bit on the superficial side of things and fails to offer a clear and distinct explanation as to "how" God needs to be a priority in our lives in relation to our salvation.

Yeah his answers are quite brief (his whole YouTube channel is short answers to questions). I guess someone putting God first would do things like read the Bible, go to church, tithe, tell lots of people about Jesus, pray and only give other things a priority if they think God wants them to do it.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Yeah his answers are quite brief (his whole YouTube channel is short answers to questions). I guess someone putting God first would do things like read the Bible, go to church, tithe, tell lots of people about Jesus, pray and only give other things a priority if they think God wants them to do it.

Those things in and of themselves aren't bad, obviously, but I think the greater part of the Christian faith ultimately boils down to showing one's love for the Lord by 1) doing one's best to love other people (even our enemies, if possible), and 2) resisting becoming entangled in the corruption of the world.

I'm guessing your sister's pastor was attempting, in his own "1920's" preaching style, to insist on the second point above in some way. It's just that the sermon he gives in the OP video seems to me to be along the lines of being offered a bowl of oatmeal at breakfast rather than given the wider compliment of coffee, eggs, bacon, fruit, juice and a pastry.

However, I'm sure that in his own way he means well, and it's not as if he's exactly wrong about all that he said in the video.

Anyway, thanks for asking, John!

 

[Solo81]

From my sisters' pastor:

What do Christians think?

God wants to be no.1 but i don't think He'll reject those who don't say that God is no.1.

 

[BeyondET]

God wants to be no.1 but i don't think He'll reject those who don't say that God is no.1.

That's satan, God doesn't want or desire to be number 1.

 

[JohnClay]

That's satan, God doesn't want or desire to be number 1.

Though the OT says to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is also repeated in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27.

 

[BeyondET]

Though the OT says to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is also repeated in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27.

Indeed though God doesn't want to be something He knows He already is, the creator of everything.

 

[Neostarwcc]

If a person is truly regenerated than there would be a natural desire to follow God and to do HIS will and NOT our own. God being #1 would be completely natural to such a person. It's not necessarily a "requirement" of salvation more than its a natural desire in the regenerated heart which IS required for salvation no Holy Spirit = no salvation. Placing idols as first priority in your life is evidence of living in the flesh as Paul describes in Romans 8. The natural desire to please and live for God that flows through a natural born again Christian is living in the spirit and this produces, life.

 

[TruthInLight]

That's satan, God doesn't want or desire to be number 1.

But God does want a person to make him their number 1 over everything else. God will see who is real and who is not. All who come to the faith will have a Jesus Christ priority.

 

[Neogaia777]

What do you need to do, or have, or believe, in order to be saved?

I just right now told the preacher I was listening to this, as I do quite often with a lot of them, etc.

He was talking the same old, same old, that I'm really quite sure that a lot of people are sick to death of by now, because it always presents an obvious contradiction that they always seem to immediately recognize but many of these so-called Christian or religious teachers do not ever, etc.

He got onto the salvation issue and started talking about "repentance", and how you needed to repent to be saved, etc. And not giving any kind of explanation or elaboration about it either, etc. And the obvious contradiction that some listeners immediately recognize, but the rest of these pastors/preachers/teachers do not, is that they immediately recognize that nobody except Jesus can be 100% perfect, or be 100% sin free at any point in their life, etc, and this includes even after being "saved", etc.

What I said was, I don't think God is going to expect 100% sinless perfection from anybody, etc, but that any and all sin, of any kind, can be a risk, etc. Can be anyway, etc.

And also what I pointed out was ones attitude at the Judgement, etc.

Because I believe ones attitude and the Judgement is going to be what separates the truly wicked, from the truly righteous, etc. And if your trusting in your own works, or are making laws and rules about sin for yourself (intentional, deliberate, and not, etc) (as one example, etc) in order for you to pass, but others to fail, etc, I think you are going to be in for a huge shock, etc, as God is going to bring up some of your sins anyway and/or regardless, etc. And if you try to make some of those distinctions, in order to justify yourself, and dang or darn others, etc, then I think God is still going to say "Well, what about this, etc?" And your answer, and your attitude in the way you answer, is going to be "a very, very big "tell" bigtime", etc. And many of those who maybe considered them no longer guilty of any kind of sin anymore, are going to be in for a really, really big, huge, huge shock I think, etc. God is going to back these people into a corner that they can't get out of, and their attitudes and answers are going to be very, very telling, for it will fully reveal them for what they really and truly are, etc.

I still have a couple of sins still, and yes, I do them on purpose and/or deliberately, etc. And some of my answer is going to go something like this: I tried, or at least I think I tried, to do away with some or all of those sins, I think anyway, maybe I just didn't try hard enough, I don't know, but I think I tried kind of or pretty hard to do away with them anyway. And I also couldn't seem to find the strength or power in either you, or Jesus Christ to do away with them either, and for that, I am truly, truly sorry, etc. I did change some of my behavior or sins or ways, and did do away with some of them from my youth, although I don't think I did it alone, etc, and for that I give thanks, etc, but I just couldn't seem to be able to find a way to do away with absolutely all of them completely, and for that I am very, very sorry, etc.

Anyway, my point is "attitude", and maybe also "honesty", etc. Because if those things are good and right and true? Anyway, like I said, I think that, above all else, is what is going to, for one, truly separate the truly righteous from the truly wicked, and then for another, determine which way you're going to go at or after the Judgement, etc.

And that's the truth about sin, salvation, going to Heaven or Hell, and/or being truly saved, etc.

And of course you have to believe in God and also in Jesus Christ as your only Lord and Savior, but I thought that was a given, etc.

God Bless.

 

[Neogaia777]

Does God have to always be number one?

All sin can be a risk, etc.

God Bless.

 

[Neogaia777]

What do you need to do, or have, or believe, in order to be saved?

I just right now told the preacher I was listening to this, as I do quite often with a lot of them, etc.

He was talking the same old, same old, that I'm really quite sure that a lot of people are sick to death of by now, because it always presents an obvious contradiction that they always seem to immediately recognize but many of these so-called Christian or religious teachers do not ever, etc.

He got onto the salvation issue and started talking about "repentance", and how you needed to repent to be saved, etc. And not giving any kind of explanation or elaboration about it either, etc. And the obvious contradiction that some listeners immediately recognize, but the rest of these pastors/preachers/teachers do not, is that they immediately recognize that nobody except Jesus can be 100% perfect, or be 100% sin free at any point in their life, etc, and this includes even after being "saved", etc.

What I said was, I don't think God is going to expect 100% sinless perfection from anybody, etc, but that any and all sin, of any kind, can be a risk, etc. Can be anyway, etc.

And also what I pointed out was ones attitude at the Judgement, etc.

Because I believe ones attitude and the Judgement is going to be what separates the truly wicked, from the truly righteous, etc. And if your trusting in your own works, or are making laws and rules about sin for yourself (intentional, deliberate, and not, etc) (as one example, etc) in order for you to pass, but others to fail, etc, I think you are going to be in for a huge shock, etc, as God is going to bring up some of your sins anyway and/or regardless, etc. And if you try to make some of those distinctions, in order to justify yourself, and dang or darn others, etc, then I think God is still going to say "Well, what about this, etc?" And your answer, and your attitude in the way you answer, is going to be "a very, very big "tell" bigtime", etc. And many of those who maybe considered them no longer guilty of any kind of sin anymore, are going to be in for a really, really big, huge, huge shock I think, etc. God is going to back these people into a corner that they can't get out of, and their attitudes and answers are going to be very, very telling, for it will fully reveal them for what they really and truly are, etc.

I still have a couple of sins still, and yes, I do them on purpose and/or deliberately, etc. And some of my answer is going to go something like this: I tried, or at least I think I tried, to do away with some or all of those sins, I think anyway, maybe I just didn't try hard enough, I don't know, but I think I tried kind of or pretty hard to do away with them anyway. And I also couldn't seem to find the strength or power in either you, or Jesus Christ to do away with them either, and for that, I am truly, truly sorry, etc. I did change some of my behavior or sins or ways, and did do away with some of them from my youth, although I don't think I did it alone, etc, and for that I give thanks, etc, but I just couldn't seem to be able to find a way to do away with absolutely all of them completely, and for that I am very, very sorry, etc.

Anyway, my point is "attitude", and maybe also "honesty", etc. Because if those things are good and right and true? Anyway, like I said, I think that, above all else, is what is going to, for one, truly separate the truly righteous from the truly wicked, and then for another, determine which way you're going to go at or after the Judgement, etc.

And that's the truth about sin, salvation, going to Heaven or Hell, and/or being truly saved, etc.

And of course you have to believe in God and also in Jesus Christ as your only Lord and Savior, but I thought that was a given, etc.

God Bless.

The entire purpose of the Judgement, and us all observing it, is strictly for the "telling", etc, for it will fully reveal each individual person for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc.

After that we all know know every single person's heart for what it is, and when it is all done, will know all people's hearts just like God does after that, etc, for we will all see each and every single individual one for what they really truly are, or actually is, with the kinds of questions God is going to ask them, etc. And we will all fully accept God's judgements of each individual one after that, because we will then fully know each individual heart just like God does, and will fully see/know each one for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc. Or IOW's, we will all know the truly righteous, from the truly wicked basically, and will all fully agree with God on it, etc, when we see or know each individual person/heart for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc.

We will also know true good from true evil at that time, and will agree with God on all of that, because we will see each individual one for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc. And after that some of us will go to Heaven, and some of us to the other place, and we will all fully agree with it, etc.

The purpose of the Judgement is strictly for the telling, etc.

And much of it is really, really going to surprise a lot of us at first, but not when it is all said and done, or is all actually over with, etc.

God Bless.

 

[Neogaia777]

The entire purpose of the Judgement, and us all observing it, is strictly for the "telling", etc, for it will fully reveal each individual person for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc.

After that we all know know every single person's heart for what it is, and when it is all done, will know all people's hearts just like God does after that, etc, for we will all see each and every single individual one for what they really truly are, or actually is, with the kinds of questions God is going to ask them, etc. And we will all fully accept God's judgements of each individual one after that, because we will then fully know each individual heart just like God does, and will fully see/know each one for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc. Or IOW's, we will all know the truly righteous, from the truly wicked basically, and will all fully agree with God on it, etc, when we see or know each individual person/heart for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc.

We will also know true good from true evil at that time, and will agree with God on all of that, because we will see each individual one for what they really truly are, or actually is, etc. And after that some of us will go to Heaven, and some of us to the other place, and we will all fully agree with it, etc.

The purpose of the Judgement is strictly for the telling, etc.

And much of it is really, really going to surprise a lot of us at first, but not when it is all said and done, or is all actually over with, etc.

God Bless.

It is not at all for God, but is for each one of us, etc.

So we will see everything the way God sees them/it before we can get/go into eternity, etc.

It's not to be feared if you are among the truly righteous, etc.

But the haughty or proud or arrogant, or those who deny/suppress the truth, probably should fear, because they are going to be in for a big surprise, etc.

And this might be irregardless of whatever they call themselves, or say they are with their lips, etc.

God Bless.

 

[BeyondET]

But God does want a person to make him their number 1 over everything else. God will see who is real and who is not. All who come to the faith will have a Jesus Christ priority.

Yes, though like I said God doesn't want to be number 1, and that's the point I was making.

 

[Neogaia777]

Yes, though like I said God doesn't want to be number 1, and that's the point I was making.

God doesn't need to have that personally, but we should need to have that for our own good in our lives.

Otherwise we are not going to be living our best lives that we can have here, etc, but will probably still be/staying miserable in this life, etc.

There is no comparing a life with God being one of the highest priorities in your life vs not having Him as one of the highest priorities in your life, etc.

God Bless.

 

[ozso]

If God isn't number one, then heaven isn't going to be enjoyable because it's full of the presence of God 24/7 there.

 

[Neogaia777]

Does God have to always be number one?

All sin can be a risk, etc.

God Bless.

Rethinking this (above) in light of what I just now said in my post/reply in post #18 above this, etc.

I still stand by "all sin can be a risk", etc, and not trying to have God as a very high priority or number one in your life is still a sin in this life, etc, but I just don't know if it will affect your salvation in the next life or not, as long as you are still saying/professing/believing that you still believe in/upon Him in this life, etc, but you will probably just be missing out on the best life you can have right now in the here and now in this life, etc.

But any and all sin can still maybe sometimes be a risk sometimes, to either your salvation, or loss of rewards, both in this life, and maybe in the next life, etc.

God Bless.