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How do I ACTUALLY be saved?

Shempster

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We obey the commands of Jesus because He has saved us and we love Him for it; not in order to be saved.
Are you certain about that?
Look up a list of Jesus commands, that is the ones he himself spoke. Then look at the context in each passage. To me it is clear that he seems to make them mandatory.
 
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justbyfaith

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Are you certain about that?
Look up a list of Jesus commands, that is the ones he himself spoke. Then look at the context in each passage. To me it is clear that he seems to make them mandatory.

I'm not sure what scriptures you are talking about. Give me chapter and verse and I will check them out.
 
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ubicaritas

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One of my favorite verses right now for all sorts of things. You are a Lutheran, so believe God's promises. God doesn't lie. Put your salvation entirely in God's hands and trust that Christ's work is sufficient for you. The gift God gave you in baptism is always yours
 
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ladodgers6

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Are you certain about that?
Look up a list of Jesus commands, that is the ones he himself spoke. Then look at the context in each passage. To me it is clear that he seems to make them mandatory.
He makes them mandatory for what reason?
 
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Shempster

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He makes them mandatory for what reason?
Because they reflect his character and nature which happens to be the exact reflection of God the father.
And we are to also be like him. It's not that he just has a list of stuff he hates and expects us to follow a rigid religion, but rather that we can experience abundant life led by his truth and his light.
 
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ladodgers6

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But you said mandatory. Mandatory for what reason? Justification?
 
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justbyfaith

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justbyfaith

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To enter the Kingdom of God, I suppose.

There are two different ways prescribed in the word of God for us to be able to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

1) through believing in Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, John 3:16).

2) through keeping the law.

In 2), the stipulations are such that no one can enter in that way. God requires perfection in your life from conception into eternity (Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48). The problem with this is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

In 1), it is by simply believing that you are a sinner in need of God's mercy through the Cross; placing your trust in his act of propitiation for your sins. God is both just and merciful; but He cannot be both merciful and just in His dealings with us, because justice requires that we get the due penalty for our ungodly behaviour; while mercy desires that we get less than what we deserve. So God executed justice, so that He could exhibit mercy, by coming to earth and taking the due penalty for our sins upon Himself, so that He could exhibit mercy to us and still continue to be just in that our sin is punished in Jesus on the Cross. He even forgives us through the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross. Now we do not have to live a perfect life in order to be saved; because His perfect life is applied to our account, in that He lived a perfect life and then died to take the penalty for our sin. Justice and mercy meet at the Cross.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand. --an old and precious hymn.
 
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Shempster

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Can you explain how any of those scriptures teach that we must obey their commandments in order to be saved; and deny that we would keep them as the result of being saved?

Well that could be a huge undertaking and I don't have time, but here are a few:
(keep in mind, I am not referring to Torah here)


* In Matthew 19:16, Jesus was asked what must be done to inherit eternal life. His answer: “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments”

* Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I say?

* The apostle John said: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:3-6).

* Paul said, “The law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12) and, “I delight in the law of God” (Romans 7:22). Indeed, he said that “keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Corinthians 7:19).

So yes, it could be true that simply attempting to obey the commandments will not SAVE anyone if the motive comes from a bad heart, but we are expected to keep them in the sense that obedience comes from a clean heart.
Does that make sense?

BTW, THANK YOU for your calm and sensible demeanor in chatting here. Far too often, I avoid the back and forth discussions because they turn to flaming and name calling.
 
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ladodgers6

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I also want to thank you for being very respectful in this discussion. I agree with you about people who just are very mean, when talking about God's word. May I ask you what religion do you believe in?
 
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justbyfaith

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1 John 2:3-6 and Luke 6:46 can both mean that we keep His commandments as the result of believing in Jesus; and that we are saved, not by the keeping of God's commandments (Ephesians 2:9 and context); but rather we are saved through faith in the finished work of the Cross (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Because of God's grace I labour more abundantly than they all (1 Corinthians 15:10); but it is not the labouring that saves me (while it may save others, which is the goal), but the grace of God in my life (unmerited favour towards an undeserving sinner) that saves. Make sense?

PS You are welcome. I make it my aim to try and bear good fruit in my dealings with other people, and not to bear briers or thorns. I have grown in my ability to keep calm in my postings over a period of time; and it is not because of anything I have done, but it is Christ in me who has done this work.
 
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Shempster

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I also want to thank you for very respectful in this discussion. I agree with you about people who just are very mean, when talking about God's word. May I ask you what religion do you believe in?
I follow Jesus. I have observed and studied many religions including numerous protestant variants.
I will say I attended several for many years and I have learned a lot for doing so. But I always got into trouble in small group discussions for asking questions. The bible reads differently to me...I can't help it.
 
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ladodgers6

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Thanks for sharing. So you are a lone wolf or do you go to a specific church?
 
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Shempster

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Thanks for sharing. So you are a lone wolf or do you go to a specific church?
Haha. I love that question. I am a lone wolf, but not because I want to be. I just never fit in because I could not avoid asking questions. I grew up a Catholic and I used to question stuff all the time, even as early as 6th grade. I just say I am inquisitive. Actually I do go to a very conservative church a couple times a month. It's ok.
I get along with church folks but I feel like whenever I get into a group setting, people will ask me questions to see if I am fitting into "the truth" as they call it. Of course, they don't realize that I know and also get that from people of other denominations which can make for a real mess.
I feel like I am on a witch trial or something. It's not just religious stuff, it is also politics. I am expected to fit into every nuance of the Conservative Republican Christian image and I can't do that.
I don't follow politics and frankly areas of my lifestyle appear to be very liberal (Like I am a vegetarian) and all I get is squawks about it. Not sure why. I don't ask others what they eat. That's weird.

Thanks for letting me vent.
 
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justbyfaith

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Mark 7:1-2, The came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

Kind of like that?

At Calvary Chapel we try to keep the main thing the main thing. It is all about Jesus.

And while I believe that concerning doctrine, we ought to try to get it right in even the minor issues (Luke 16:10), if someone has it wrong in a minor issue, we don't divide over it, but understand that the person who disagrees is still our brother in Christ because he has it right in the essentials
 
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Hethatreadethit

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Alice: "I just wanted to ask which way I ought to go."

Cheshire Cat: "Well that depends on where you want to get to."

Alice: "Oh, it really doesn't matter as long as I-"

Cheshire Cat: "Then it really doesn't matter which way you go."

If God is calling you to Christ? Has he caused you to hear His Word? If not, then you will take advice from the multitude of deceivers just waiting to mislead you into their web of deceit.

Do this:
Pray to God for crucifying His Son through your sins, and ask for His guidance in your death (because of sin), for the wages of sin are death, ask for understanding, be patient, and stay clear of those who say their Christians. Christ has already appeared to redeem sinners, and He shall return to destroy sin, the enemies of righteousness. Pray for the restoration of God's people. Those who say that Christ died in their stead are the anti-Christ. All Christians must overcome sin, but deceivers have destroyed the true gospel. Questions? Please ask.
 
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Hethatreadethit

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And what leads you to repentance? Understanding that you crucified Christ through your sins.
Also know that corruption cannot inherit incorruption. You must overcome if you have the faith and power to do so. Who really believes that Christ was resurrected from the dead? Those who know God. Where is this knowledge, that one may see, know, and believe. It is written according to the law and the prophets. But where?
 
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justbyfaith

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Then apostles Paul and Peter were the anti-Christ. For they wrote Romans 3:21-26, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18.
 
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