How are you saved?

[Thatgirloncfforums]

Yes you can confess directly to God but confession comes from Scripture in John 20:23 and James 5:16 so many liturgical Christians go to confession. I hope I am being clear
.....
On this I disagree, I am not OSAS or evangelical

Perhaps we are forever a child of God but a prodigal? Baptism does seal us with an indelible mark that can't be removed.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

Isn't that the same thing? Our forgiveness is derivative. For example, if someone wrongs me, I have the ability to forgive them not only bc of the grace within me but because Christ has extended his own forgiveness to them through me (and apart from me). Christ's forgiveness and mine are the same.

John 20:23 is often misunderstood. 'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

This verse does not give authority to Christians to forgive sins, only God can do that.
Jesus was saying that the believer can boldly declare the certainty of a sinner’s forgiveness by the Father because of the work of His son if that sinner has repented and believed the gospel.

The believer with certainty can also tell those who do not respond to the message of God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ that their sins, as a result, are not forgiven.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Perhaps we are forever a child of God but a Prodigal. Baptism does seal us with an indelible mark that can't be removed.

Where does that Bible say that? You are saved by grace alone, not by some deed you do or not do. The Holy Spirit acts as a seal, and the Holy Spirits seals who He wants as stated in John 3.

Baptism by water is the same as circumcision in OT. Many Israelites thought just because they are circumcised, they are saved. But they were wrong because they had no faith. Abraham was justified when he believed God's promise, not when he was circumcised.

You have to be born again of the Holy Spirit. That's it. When Jesus said, it is finished on the cross, He meant fully, and not only partially, He did not say it is partly finished and you also must do this and this and this and this in order to be saved.

 

[Taodeching]

John 20:23 is often misunderstood. 'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

This verse does not give authority to Christians to forgive sins, only God can do that.
Jesus was saying that the believer can boldly declare the certainty of a sinner’s forgiveness by the Father because of the work of His son if that sinner has repented and believed the gospel.

The believer with certainty can also tell those who do not respond to the message of God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ that their sins, as a result, are not forgiven.

Still will never agree with you. Been there, done that have the t-shirt

 

[Taodeching]

Perhaps we are forever a child of God but a prodigal? Baptism does seal us with an indelible mark that can't be removed.

True, but we can reject the gift. There are some prodigals that will never come back unfortunately through there own choice

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

Going to church and walking ten feet to the baptismal font is hardly a deed.
Look at this way: If Christ, your salvation were sitting in the midst of a crowd, would you walk to him or would you say from a few ft away, 'No. I am good. I can believe in him from here'?

Where does that Bible say that? You are saved by grace alone, not by some deed you do or not do. The Holy Spirit acts as a seal, and the Holy Spirits seals who He wants as stated in John 3.

Baptism by water is the same as circumcision in OT. Many Israelites thought just because they are circumcised, they are saved. But they were wrong because they had no faith. Abraham was justified when he believed God's promise, not when he was circumcised.

You have to be born again of the Holy Spirit. That's it. When Jesus said, it is finished on the cross, He meant fully, and not only partially, He did not say it is partly finished and you also must do this and this and this and this in order to be saved.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

True, but we can reject the gift. There are some prodigals that will never come back unfortunately through there own choice

That's true

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Recently I learned about the Catholic meaning of born again - being baptized. There seems to be verses in the Bible that agree with this. I studied it a little bit more, and - correct me if I’m wrong - it seems like Catholics also think that there are certain sins that you can’t commit or else you don’t go to heaven? I’ve only ever heard that you have to believe in Jesus, and then you are saved, and I never thought that anyone could think differently. Now I understand that people DO think differently, so I was wondering- according to your denomination, what must you do to be saved? What Bible verses back up your viewpoint? I’m specifically asking because I have younger siblings that my parents won’t let get baptized until they act more like Christians. Would they make it into Heaven?

You need the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ of Nazareth makes His home in us only if we deny ourselves.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

 

[d taylor]

I’ve tried to read articles about mortal sin, but it confuses me, too.

Mortal sin is a human created idea. Sin is not an issue concerning a person and them receiving God's free gift of eternal Life.

Jesus took away the sin of the world for all time (believers and unbelievers)

Sin has a place in a person life in that in a believer, as they sin in their lives. They can confess these sins for forgiveness, not to receive salvation or to stay saved. But to keep in a right relationship with God. Now for a sin that is a daily or continuous sin, the believer will need to not only confess the sin or sins but repent of the sin or sins.

 

[sandman]

I’ve tried to read articles about mortal sin, but it confuses me, too.

Religion and society put degrees on sin …God does not. …………Sin is sin…. it’s broken fellowship with the Father….which is easily rectifiable.

Sonship is not the same as Fellowship.

Sonship is your standing….. Fellowship is your state.

Once you are born again by confessing Rom 10:9 &10 You have the seed of God within you, that never changes 1Pe 1:23 …it cannot be lost …ever! ….that is your standing with God and you have eternal life as His daughter or son

Your State (fellowship) can be broken by sinning, but we have an advocate with the Father 1Jo 2:1…. By confessing your sins 1Jo 1:9 to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us ….and we are back in fellowship with him.

Think in terms of your earthly Dad …you have his seed (DNA) within you …that cannot be changed no matter what you do. But if you are disobedient, it might cause you to be in broken fellowship with your dad…but when you ask for forgiveness ….and he forgives you….. you are back in good graces with him.

 

[Thatgirloncfforums]

What about Jn 19:11?
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Mortal sin is a human created idea. Sin is not an issue concerning a person and them receiving God's free gift of eternal Life.

Jesus took away the sin of the world for all time (believers and unbelievers)

Sin has a place in a person life in that in a believer, as they sin in their lives. They can confess these sins for forgiveness, not to receive salvation or to stay saved. But to keep in a right relationship with God. Now for a sin that is a daily or continuous sin, the believer will need to not only confess the sin or sins but repent of the sin or sins.

 

[BobRyan]

Recently I learned about the Catholic meaning of born again - being baptized. There seems to be verses in the Bible that agree with this. I studied it a little bit more, and - correct me if I’m wrong - it seems like Catholics also think that there are certain sins that you can’t commit or else you don’t go to heaven? I’ve only ever heard that you have to believe in Jesus, and then you are saved, and I never thought that anyone could think differently. Now I understand that people DO think differently, so I was wondering- according to your denomination, what must you do to be saved? What Bible verses back up your viewpoint? I’m specifically asking because I have younger siblings that my parents won’t let get baptized until they act more like Christians. Would they make it into Heaven?

I , like many other Christians on this board, am not Catholic - but I know what the Bible says on this topic.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

It is the "appeal to God for a clean conscience" aspect that saves. Baptism is one of the first outward actions of obedience, of the already saved person.

How then were they saved to then do that outward act?

Rom 10:9 if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

 

[d taylor]

What about Jn 19:11?
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

That was Jesus speaking before He took away the sin of the world.

I am not saying sin does not exist. It is like this, an unbeliever will be at the great white throne judgment and will be judged on their works good or bad. But what is never seen is any kind of judgment on sin at the great white throne. Why because Jesus took away the sin of the world at the cross.

But again unbelievers will die in their sins as the Bible says, that means the unbeliever will remain a sinner for eternity or be tempted by sin. But their sins are not why they are in the lake of fire. They are in the lake of fire because they never received God's free gift of eternal Life. That is why the book of life was opened.

For the believer we will eventually be cleansed from sin and will not have that weight upon ourselves on the new heaven and earth.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

Going to church and walking ten feet to the baptismal font is hardly a deed.
Look at this way: If Christ, your salvation were sitting in the midst of a crowd, would you walk to him or would you say from a few ft away, 'No. I am good. I can believe in him from here'?

I don't understand the point you are making. Why would I stay 10 feet away from Christ?

Being a Christian is like a new bride. The bride says yes and goes to everyone and tells them about their upcoming wedding, she is full of love, does everything to prepare for the wedding, she grows more and more in love with the groom, always trying to please him. What bride does nothing but stays at home and not prepare? Christians are just like that, they behave exactly the same way. But they are saved from the moment they say yes to Jesus, but it is Jesus who comes to them, in His grace.

The first Church in the book of revelation, Ephesus, did many things well. Jesus praised them for their good deeds, hard work and patience. The people in that Church seems to be working for the Lord, they remained faithful to the Lord and Word, but Jesus tells them they need to repent, otherwise judgement will fall onto them, why? Because they didn't love Jesus first, and there is no substitute for loving Jesus. No matter how many good works, no matter what you do in life, if you do not love Jesus with your whole life, you will not enter into Heaven.

It was pointless for this Church to do all these good works when their love for Jesus was cold. But human heart is evil, no capable of loving Christ like we are commanded. Therefore God by His grace must rip away the sinful heart, and replace it with a new loving heart with all God's laws written in it, and this heart is capable to love Jesus first. This is done by God alone because we don't deserve it. This is why Christians are never just sitting around but are full of love and spreading God's Word around. But they are saved already. The moment they are born again they are saved, even if they did nothing for the rest of their life, but that wouldn't happen, not with an heart that loves God so much.

 

[A_Thinker]

Recently I learned about the Catholic meaning of born again - being baptized. There seems to be verses in the Bible that agree with this. I studied it a little bit more, and - correct me if I’m wrong - it seems like Catholics also think that there are certain sins that you can’t commit or else you don’t go to heaven? I’ve only ever heard that you have to believe in Jesus, and then you are saved, and I never thought that anyone could think differently. Now I understand that people DO think differently, so I was wondering- according to your denomination, what must you do to be saved? What Bible verses back up your viewpoint? I’m specifically asking because I have younger siblings that my parents won’t let get baptized until they act more like Christians. Would they make it into Heaven?

If you trust Jesus to save you, He will save you. He doesn't wait for you to do anything other than to take His hand.

It is God the Father's will that you be saved. If you come to Jesus, ... He will perform His Father's will.

John 6

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Luke 23

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

[A_Thinker]

Even the demons believed in Jesus.

Good point!

The difference is that demons don't desire to live in God's kingdom. No demon will submit to have God save them.

 

[Torah Keeper]

James 2:14-17
New King James Version

Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.


John 3:16 is true, but faith is more than belief. It is not my place to say who is saved and who is not. "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Lots of people think they are saved. Not all of them are.

Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

 

[A_Thinker]

Recently I learned about the Catholic meaning of born again - being baptized. There seems to be verses in the Bible that agree with this. I studied it a little bit more, and - correct me if I’m wrong - it seems like Catholics also think that there are certain sins that you can’t commit or else you don’t go to heaven? I’ve only ever heard that you have to believe in Jesus, and then you are saved, and I never thought that anyone could think differently. Now I understand that people DO think differently, so I was wondering- according to your denomination, what must you do to be saved? What Bible verses back up your viewpoint? I’m specifically asking because I have younger siblings that my parents won’t let get baptized until they act more like Christians. Would they make it into Heaven?

A point about baptism.

There are a couple types of baptism in scripture.

One is in water, ... and the other is of the spirit.

Jesus baptizes us with the baptism of the Holy Ghost ... baptism in water can be a preamble to that ...

Matthew 3

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

...

11 I (John) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

 

[A_Thinker]

Titus 3:5-8 "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Bears repeating ...

 

[A_Thinker]

To be saved we must run the race, fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7). We begin our journey but don't complete it until the end of life. When we sin we can go to confession and be restored to Christ. Salvation is a life long journey not a one time event. I hope I have given an adequate answer

On edit: I found this How Are We Saved? hope it helps

Paul said that he was confident that God will finish ... the process He has started in us (believers) ...

Philippians 1:6 God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.

We (believers) are God's workmanship ...

Ephesians 2

8 For it is by (God's) grace you have been saved, through (your) faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — 9 not by (any) works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.