What are the steps to becoming a Christian?

Arc · Jul 23, 2003

I still see the same promise applying for both (i.e. "Heavenly land" Gentiles included), but yes I agree 100% that living now in 2003 "in the year of the Lord" is more desireable than B.C. under the Law!

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Jul 25, 2003

gqaggie04 said:
Arc,

If simply receiving the word had been enough, ........ .

how do you deal with this verse

1 cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Are you saying God the Son work on the cross was not enough to save us... if so that is foolishness

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Jul 25, 2003

gqaggie04 said:
Arc,

Based on your beliefs, could you please explain why the people in Acts 2 were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, despite the fact that they had obviously already believed. Why did God not save them based on that belief?

Or to Reformationist, if after the Holy Spirit regenerated these Jews, so that they believed and wanted to know what they needed to do, why were they told to do additional things prior to the remission of sins?

Till that time GOD [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit]did not reside in the OT beleiver had the HS upon the leaders not all believers had the guiding of the Holy Spirit

As New Testament Believers we get to experience God inside of us when we are Spiritual not Carnal

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Jul 25, 2003

gqaggie04 said:
It is helpful to understand that the Jews were of a very legalistic mentality. They acted as though they could earn their salvation by keeping the old law. Look at the Pharisee's attitude in Luke 18:10-14. Paul wanted to stress the fact that keeping the old law perfectly had not been done by any of them, so they could not be saved through the works of the law.

In the new covenant, Paul wants everyone to realize that good works, or works of law, will not save anyone. If God places conditions on salvation in the new covenant, in no way does that mean meeting those conditions earns us salvation.

Belief, confession, repentance, and baptism cannot be considered as works of the law that we use to justify or save ourselves.
.

ROMANS 3:20 for by the law is the full experiencial knowledge of sin

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

aggie03 · Jul 28, 2003

We are justified by God's grace, but there are conditions on receiving that grace. This is the point that gqaggie04 was trying to make that you have misunderstood. Just because something is free, does not mean there aren't conditions to receiving it.

evangelist dare · Jul 31, 2003

In mark 1;14,15 It says that after john was put into prison that Jesus came to Galiee preaching "repent ye and believe the Gospel"...

in luke 13 the word says...I tell you nay , except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.....in 11 cor it says :

2Cr 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death

in 1 john 5:12 the word says....."He who hath the son hath life and he who hath not the son of God, hath not life.......

that sounds pretty simple to me......GOD BLESS and have a good evening......

a servant of Christ Jesus always, Evangelist dare

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Jul 31, 2003

aggie03 said:
We are justified by God's grace, but there are conditions on receiving that grace. This is the point that gqaggie04 was trying to make that you have misunderstood. Just because something is free, does not mean there aren't conditions to receiving it.

what is a gift is it something you pay for or earned I do not think so

Eph 2:8...........it is a gift from god

gift something freely given

have you read eph 2:8-9 ever thu all these post or are you blinded

1cor 2:14 natural blind
2 cor 4:3-4 satanic blind
2 cor 3:14-16 judicial blind
eph 4:17 spiritually bind
romans 11:25 jews double blind

gqaggie04 · Aug 1, 2003

Transferring a gift to an individual involves two aspects: the giving of the gift and the acceptance of the gift. Unless both of those occur, then the gift is not transferred from the giver to the recipient.

For instance, if you visit relatives at Christmas, and one of them gives you a wrapped present, you did not earn or pay for that gift. However, you must accept the gift by unwrapping it and taking it home with you. You could refuse the gift by telling your relative that you will not open it and that you are leaving it behind.

So even with Christmas presents, there are conditions involved with accepting a gift. In the same way, there are conditions involved in accepting God's gift of salvation. Meeting these conditions, such as belief, repentance, confession, and baptism, do not in any way earn or pay for the gift; they simply are the way in which God has instructed us to accept the gift.

aggie03 · Aug 1, 2003

Whoop! for gqaggie04!!!

Excellent explanation!

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Aug 1, 2003

impossible you guy's are

gqaggie04 · Aug 1, 2003

A brethren,

How many gifts have you ever benefitted from that you didn't have to accept?

Why would the gift of salvation be any different?

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Aug 1, 2003

how many gift have you not taken?

Free no I can't gotta work for it

or do to say thank you

gqaggie04 · Aug 1, 2003

So you admit that we must take a gift in order for it to do us good?

That is my point. You have to take or accept the gift in the way in which God specifies.

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Aug 1, 2003

look up holy spirit titus 3:5
Father eph 1:4
Jesus 1 cor 15:2-4

what are their parts in our salavation here is couple how about more verses to give favor and depth.

gqaggie04 · Aug 1, 2003

I agree with all of the verses that you just posted. All three parts of the Godhead had a part in our salvation, and it is true that we were saved not by our works of righteousness.

That simply means that we had to rely on God to save us; our works could not save us alone, or apart from God.

That still does not mean that we don't have to accept God's salvation in the way in which he said.

It's like unwrapping the gift. The unwrapping is not a work that earns the gift; it is simply an act of acceptance. We must accept God's gift in the way in which he has said to do so.

johnbuna · Aug 1, 2003

we are saved by God's grace, justified by faith in Jesus as Savior, baptism is a means of grace, external evidence of God's saving grace

http://www.carm.org/dialogues/baptism_salvation.htm

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Aug 1, 2003

gqaggie04 said:
I agree with all of the verses that you just posted. All three parts of the Godhead had a part in our salvation, and it is true that we were saved not by our works of righteousness.

That simply means that we had to rely on God to save us; our works could not save us alone, or apart from God.

That still does not mean that we don't have to accept God's salvation in the way in which he said.

It's like unwrapping the gift. The unwrapping is not a work that earns the gift; it is simply an act of acceptance. We must accept God's gift in the way in which he has said to do so.

So it the Holy Spirit didn't hold back the god of this world and enlightened us with God's kindness how many of us would believe ?

since with out the holy spirit works we never search for God romans 3:11

gqaggie04 · Aug 1, 2003

A Brethren IN CHRIST said:
So it the Holy Spirit didn't hold back the god of this world and enlightened us with God's kindness how many of us would believe ?

since with out the holy spirit works we never search for God romans 3:11

If the Holy Spirit didn't enlighten us, none of us would believe.

The Holy Spirit enlightens us through the word, or through the Bible. Rom. 1:16 says that the gospel is power of God unto salvation.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. KJV

Since we have been enlightened through the word of God by the Holy Spirit, we now have a choice to accept salvation or to reject it.

A Brethren IN CHRIST · Aug 1, 2003

exactly we are becomeing like minded awesome
now
why do people do not believe then is not God all powerful?

2 peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

1 tim 2:4 who [desireous]will have all men to be saved, and come unto the knowledge of the truth

1cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
[Determinive will]

gqaggie04 · Aug 2, 2003

The reason that some people choose not to believe is because of their heart. Some individuals honestly want to know the truth, and they are looking for it. When they see the message revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Bible, those individuals believe. Other individuals are closed-minded, and do not want the truth.

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. KJV

Verse 21 says that these people knew God, but they refused to recognize Him or to believe on Him. Since they refused to believe in Him, God gave them up to their evil practices and their reprobate minds. These people chose not to believe in God because they wanted to do things that were not pleasing to Him.

As you showed in the verses you posted, God certainly wants all men to repent and be saved. However, He will not force men to do so, because He wants them to love them for what He has done for them. Man must make the choice for himself.

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