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All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

It's my thoughts that not as many Christians are truly saved as every one thinks there is. In fact even some that say there a Christian might not be. The facts is that every person on earth sins daily, and that would mean you would need to ask daily for Jesus to forgive your sins. Do you die to sin daily? This is one thing that true Christian persons do.
And your life is always changing if your a true Christian person. And how is God able to change your life daily? If you don't every day of your Christian life renew your mind in his word? So yet one more thing we are told as Christian people to do.
Now there is people out there that say once saved always saved. But backside daily. What may I ask does the son of God say about them? He says anyone that put his hand to the pow and turns back is not fit to enter the kingdom of God. So how many backsliders is there that think there going to heaven.
The Bible tells us to be perfect as God in heaven is perfect. Can people be perfect if Jesus is not asked into your heart daily? Remember it's only by grace that we are saved.
Don't think that God has not made a way for you, but think if your on the way he truly made for you.

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I am afraid you are mistaken. We are born into sin (a fallen world as fallen people) and have the sinful nature whether we hear of Jesus or not. Without coming to Jesus all are lost, because lost is the default position and new life is the gift offered. Romans 10 speaks clearly to this.

It might be gracious of me, but I don't concede points just to be gracious if they don't line up with what I believe and read in scripture.  I don't take one verse and apply it to everything.  I take the whole of scripture.  And Jesus said forgive them, but He also said you must accept Him in order to receive the gift of eternal life.  And we're told if you refuse to forgive your brother or sister, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you.  There's no contradiction.  Just because Jesus asked God to forgive them for what they were doing at that moment, didn't mean they were forgiven of all their sins.  Nor did it guarantee them heaven.

Eric,

Just to clarify, ...are you saying that everyone will be saved, including people who have not repented and asked for forgiveness?

Blessings, Carla

Eric,

Again, you are in error. To play the fair card is to use human logic and attempt to put God into our box. Fair on God's part would have been to destroy Adam and Eve, but by His grace He has given man an opportunity. All of humanity and creation have been affected by the fall and condemned (Rom. 8). Man's actions affect every part of creation, because it is man that God created for His God pleasure. So, to say that it would be unfair is not even a logical answer when we look at the crime. That is why we see in Scripture that we have been bought at a price. We all deserve death (separation from God for eternity), that is fair, but God  has extended grace and mercy in His Son.

 

Regarding God being love, there are also at least 15 other attributes of God found in Scripture (i.e. Holy, Just, Righteous, etc). None of His attributes work independently of the others, they work in harmony all the time. His love is guided by His justice and His justice by His love, etc.

 

We are born into a sinful world and born with the sin nature. We are born blind, deaf and lost. Romans 1 is not talking about a saving knowledge of God, but that man has certain inert attributes because original man was created in God's image, but that image has been tainted to the point where we are spiritually dead.

 

Regarding the "good in one's heart": Isaiah says our righteousness is like filthy rags. Jeremiah 17:9 says that our hearts are deceitful above all things and beyond cure. God does not just fix our hearts, He changes them (2 Cor. 5:17)

 

Regarding your point of love for neighbor and the good woman: The gospel would not just make the woman better. That is a great deception of our time. God does not come alongside us an make us better ... He transforms us, brings us from death to life, from lost and hopeless to being a child of God and co-heir with Christ. Without the gospel message people remain in their default state ... lost and headed to hades (Lake of Fire to be specific) for eternity. Yes, for eternity, as John 5:28-29 tell us that both the righteous and unrighteous will be raised and why, which is also explained in Revelation. One receives eternal condemnation and the other eternal reward. Love is not the only mark, as the world has a type of love that it demonstrates. We tend to love our mom and dad, some would argue that this is because we are blood. We tend to love our spouse (not blood, I hope).

 

The bottom line is this: The Bible teaches that man is lost and without hope, except through Jesus Christ. If one does not hear the gospel and respond (we can debate what responds means) they remain lost (Romans 10). It is not enough to know about God or worship a different God and say that I was ignorant, because the default state is lost (separated from God). I repeat, if God were fair as applied by man He would have destroyed man in the garden, but because of His love, grace and longsuffering He provided away for man to be saved. The way paid the penalty for all who believe (John 3:16). Thus, sin did not and cannot go unpunished, but one must enter into a living relationship with Jesus Christ for the sacrifice to be applied to them otherwise they remain lost and destined to the Lake of Fire for eternity.

 

Lord Bless,

LT 

I was catching up on emails & ran across several of these replies. I take it Eric left. LOLOLOL or else he deleted his posts.

He left.

It is important that we examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

The book of 1 John helps us do that.  We are not to judge someone else's salvation, but to examine our own.

 

Blessings, Carla

Carla,

Good word.  The gospel writer John tells us that we need to examine two aspects of our faith: 1) content or object (what we believe in) and 2) the kind of faith we have (how it is manifested in our day-to-day lives).  In other words, what do we believe, and how has it changed (and continues to change) our lives (fruit)?  That is how we can know if our faith is the kind that saves; such faith is  God's free gift to us.

  • "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God" (1 Jn 4:15, NIV).
  • "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, andeveryone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him" (1 Jn 5:1, ESV).
  • "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death" (1 Jn 3:14, NASB).
  • "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God" (1 Jn 4:7, NLT).
  • "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him,“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (Jn 8:31, NKJV).
Grace and peace be with you,

Colby

I'd like to add the whole of Romans 8 to that list
I feel like you that a majority of folk who say their saved are not , however a lot goes into play with that statement . First we are living in the last days and Satan is working overtime. He has infilterated the church world so much, there is hardly a distinction . It"s going to take a real revival in the church world to shine a light on this. As for once saved always saved , a man can only be born one time in the flesh, so like wise in the spirit. once you are a child of God that settles it. When you have a child you only have. him one time. If one has been born again, the seed of God is in him. I am confident that if he backslides , the loving heavenly Father will draw him back. What parent that really loved their child wouldn't ? How much more then would God. ? We might fall into sin, but thank God for his love. God bless !

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What of the innocent ones ?

The way you are answering this question is setting the stage for all other wrong conclusions you are drawing from wrong assumptions through deductive reasoning. Who is innocent? Some may say children are innocent and we could discuss an age of accountability, however, the Scriptures are not clear about such an age.

Check out this article and tell me what you think.

Question: "Where do I find the age of accountability in the Bible? What happens to babies and young children when they die?"

Answer:
The concept of the "age of accountability" is that children are not held accountable by God for their sins until they reach a certain age, and that if a child dies before reaching the "age of accountability,' that child will, by the grace and mercy of God, be granted entrance into Heaven. Is the concept of an age of accountability biblical? Is there such a thing as an "age of innocence"?

Frequently lost in the discussion regarding the age of accountability is the fact that children, no matter how young, are not “innocent” in the sense of being sinless. The Bible tells us that even if an infant or child has not committed personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents. In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” David recognized that even at conception, he was a sinner. The very sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin, since physical and spiritual death were the results of Adam's original sin.

Each person, infant or adult, stands guilty before God; each person has offended the holiness of God. The only way God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ. Christ is the only way. John 14:6 records what Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through Me.” Also, Peter states in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Salvation is an individual choice.

What about babies and young children who never reach the ability to make this individual choice? The age of accountability is a concept that teaches those who die before reaching the age of accountability are automatically saved, by God’s grace and mercy. The age of accountability is a belief that God saves all those who die before reaching the ability to make a decision for or against Christ. Thirteen is the most common number given for the age of accountability, based on the Jewish custom that a child becomes an adult at the age of 13. However, the Bible gives no direct support to the age of 13 always being the age of accountability. It likely varies from child to child. A child has passed the age of accountability once he or she is capable of making a faith decision for or against Christ.

With the above in mind, also consider this: Christ's death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. First John 2:2 says Jesus is “the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” This verse is clear that Jesus' death was sufficient for all sins, not just the sins of those who specifically have come to Him in faith. The fact that Christ's death was sufficient for all sin would allow the possibility of God’s that payment to those who were never capable of believing.

The one passage that seems to identify with this topic more than any other is 2 Samuel 12:21-23. The context of these verses is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that because of his sin, the Lord would take the child in death. David responded to this by grieving, mourning, and the child. But once the child was taken, David's mourning ended. David's servants were surprised to hear this. They said to King David, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” David's response was, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” David's response indicates that those who cannot believe are safe in the Lord. David said that he could go to the child, but that he could not bring the child back to him. Also, and just as important, David seemed to be comforted over this. In other words, David seemed to be saying that he would see the child (in heaven), though he could not bring him back.

Although it is possible that God applies Christ's payment for sin to those who cannot believe, the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be adamant or dogmatic. God’s applying Christ’s death to those who cannot believe would seem consistent with His love and mercy. It is our position that God applies Christ's payment for sin to young children and those who are mentally handicapped, since they were not mentally capable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior, but again we cannot be dogmatic. Of this we are certain: God is loving, holy, merciful, just, and gracious. Whatever He does is always right and good.

Recommended Resources: Safe in the Arms of God: Words from Heaven About the Death of a Chi... and Logos Bible Software.


Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/age-of-accountability.html#ixzz2mclrW85k

I believe age of accountability isn't a number as a mindset.  What about the child with autism, those who will never understand?  Jesus said to come to Him as a little child.  He said not to hinder the children to come to Him.  And with the scripture about knowing God through nature, etc., I believe there comes a time when the knowing kicks in, which can be a different age for everyone.  And some may never know it, such as those born unable to or those who die as infants.

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