Have a Baptist Question...

[NFLHITMAN]

My wife and I are debating some scriptures and I would like your view on it.

I told my wife that a man can be saved through his fear of GOD.

She says that is not true.

I told her that I was brought up Baptist and was saved as a young man and was baptized. I told her that when I was a youth that the WHOLE REASON I did not Drink, Do Drugs, Smoke or have fun with girls is because I was afraid of GOD punishing me.

That reason in it self as a personal experience is reason enough for me to believe that the Fear of GOD can keep people from sinning. She told me that GOD does not punish his children and I told her she was wrong simply because in Acts I remember a couple having there breath taken away from tempting GOD with there tithing.

Can anyone elaborate either way on this.

Thanks for your time

 

[Allen1901]

Are You thinking of Phil 2:12b ?

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"

God Bless!

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

A person is saved by trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Fear can lead a person to this point. Just fearing God and not trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior won't save a soul. We need to be born again. Also I believe even once we are saved there are consequences for sin.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 

[NFLHITMAN]

Thanks for the responses...

I know that you need to be born again as a believer but when she said that you won't get punished by committing sinful acts I thought was foolish. My wife said that Jesus took all our punishment on the cross with him and I know what he did but to say that you don't have to be concerned with how GOD will punish/discipline for your sinful act is not the right mind set.

My wife also told me that going around and telling people of the Gospel is what Calvinist call Car Sales Man preaching. I asked her how would Calvinist do it than. Wife replied that you befriend them and than let them know of GOD. I told her that GOD said to go to the ends of the earth and preach the gospel to every nation and I thought there thinking was wrong. I think because Calvinist believe that because GOD chooses who he will save there is no need to spread the Gospel.

I could be wrong in what I interpret from her but that is what I am getting from her.

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Thanks for the responses...

I know that you need to be born again as a believer but when she said that you won't get punished by committing sinful acts I thought was foolish. My wife said that Jesus took all our punishment on the cross with him and I know what he did but to say that you don't have to be concerned with how GOD will punish/discipline for your sinful act is not the right mind set.

My wife also told me that going around and telling people of the Gospel is what Calvinist call Car Sales Man preaching. I asked her how would Calvinist do it than. Wife replied that you befriend them and than let them know of GOD. I told her that GOD said to go to the ends of the earth and preach the gospel to every nation and I thought there thinking was wrong. I think because Calvinist believe that because GOD chooses who he will save there is no need to spread the Gospel.

I could be wrong in what I interpret from her but that is what I am getting from her.

I guess it really depends on what you mean by punishment. If you believe that in the after life there is punishment then I would disagree. There is no evidence in the Bible of purgatory or anything like that after we die. I believe God can punish us for our sins while we are still alive and also that there can be natural punishments for our sins while we live. In the after life we are given rewards. Your actions while here on Earth will determine your rewards in Heaven.

As for Calvinism there are a large number here that can reply to you. I'm not a Calvinist (or an Arminian) but I would like to respond. Most Calvinists do believe in proactively sharing the gospel. Most when asked why if God choses will say it is because it is a command from God. Also, they'll say God will use us to do his will so that is another reason it needs to be done. I question how much your wife really knows about Calvinism.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

[Setfree2day]

HI, this is NFLHITMAN'S wife.

1.Car sales man approach-- I didn't not say that is what "Calvinist say". I have heard about the "car sales man approach" from a non Calvinist. Just wanted to get that clear. And I have heard other another one say it as well.

2.I am not a hyper!-- I do to believe we need to spread the gospel to people. (other wise how can the gospel be spread?) But what I disagree with is how a person is approached. As an x Arminiast- (which by the way I had no idea I was one) we would approach people without even knowing their name, and just start treating that person as if he was an unbeliever..instead asking him questions in what he believed. I think that is wrong. Now to make something very clear...My husband as made it clear that he did not approach people the way I did. So I give him that..that is great.. but many of the Arminist do and I am guilty of this.

3.Ananias and Sappira -Acts chapter 5~~~ I believe these two were not real believers because of vrs 3--But Peter said,"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit....And you know the rest of the Story God took thier breath away./ And that could be punishment IF they were unbelievers. which is a 2nd reason I believe they were unbelievrs.

4. Punishment- I believe the wrath of God was satisfied when He Crushed his son - that Jesus took on the punishement of what was meant for me and you (his sheep). And that now we(believers) are credited his perfect life.(Doctrine of Justification) But I do believe God Disciplines and chastises, his children. And of Course there is also consquences for sin.

So this is my take

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Thank you NFLHITMAN'S wife for joining the conversation. It is always best to get information directly from the person.

1. Good to know.

2. I know some Calvinists that approach strangers with the gospel. So I don't think that is a Calvinist vs Arminian thing.

3. Agree with you there.

4. I believe we see eye to eye here. You believe God chastises his believers and that there can be consequences for sin.

 

[student ad x]

My wife and I are debating some scriptures and I would like your view on it.

I told my wife that a man can be saved through his fear of GOD.

She says that is not true.

I told her that I was brought up Baptist and was saved as a young man and was baptized. I told her that when I was a youth that the WHOLE REASON I did not Drink, Do Drugs, Smoke or have fun with girls is because I was afraid of GOD punishing me.

That reason in it self as a personal experience is reason enough for me to believe that the Fear of GOD can keep people from sinning. She told me that GOD does not punish his children and I told her she was wrong simply because in Acts I remember a couple having there breath taken away from tempting GOD with there tithing.

Can anyone elaborate either way on this.

Thanks for your time

Hello NFLHitman & setfree2day,

I would say the unbelieving world does not care about what God commands men to do or His pending wrath on fallen man's account. I would think the fear of God is when a person, with a heart regenerated of the Holy Spirit, understands he/she is a totally depraved in the eyes of a Just God. It is in this brokenness of self in need of a Redeemer, that faith in the crosswork of Jesus follows; bringing about repentance, reconcilliation & peace.

 

[GrampaJeff]

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

[98cwitr]

My wife and I are debating some scriptures and I would like your view on it.

I told my wife that a man can be saved through his fear of GOD.

She says that is not true.

I told her that I was brought up Baptist and was saved as a young man and was baptized. I told her that when I was a youth that the WHOLE REASON I did not Drink, Do Drugs, Smoke or have fun with girls is because I was afraid of GOD punishing me.

That reason in it self as a personal experience is reason enough for me to believe that the Fear of GOD can keep people from sinning. She told me that GOD does not punish his children and I told her she was wrong simply because in Acts I remember a couple having there breath taken away from tempting GOD with there tithing.

Can anyone elaborate either way on this.

Thanks for your time

Our only salvation is through Christ...you are not saved via any other methodology or belief (this includes fear). Doing bad things can ultimately lead to unfavorable consequences in this life and after. If the fear if God brings you to Christ that's great, but how much better is it that you are brought to Christ through your LOVE for God and His works?

 

[Ringo84]

Fear may be one aspect of salvation, but I don't believe it should be the central reason for salvation.
Ringo