What must one do to be saved.
I believe God decides who will be saved and who won't.
There are many scriptures which support the view that we don't decide to believe in Christ, but faith in Christ is a gift that God gives only to His elect.
Most folks don't agree with the doctrine of predestination/election, because many other scriptures say things like you must obey and remain faithful to the end etc...
These two opposing views have been debated for centuries, so today we have the benefit of many good good books on the subject but have we arrived at a consensus in the Church.
I would love to see the Church unite and resolve this dividing issue. But I fear that it will continue to be an enigma for the Church. Why can't we let the Bible be the final authority and accept what it really says and unite in the truth.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world, not just the elect, of sin, righteousness and judgement. (john 16: 7- 11)
Those who are so convicted are drawn to Jesus, not irresistibly and invincibly, but by the loving kindness, hope, truth and invitation revealed in the gospel, to come to Him. (Jer. 31: 3)
What must one do to be saved.
I believe God decides who will be saved and who won't.
There are many scriptures which support the view that we don't decide to believe in Christ, but faith in Christ is a gift that God gives only to His elect.
Most folks don't agree with the doctrine of predestination/election, because many other scriptures say things like you must obey and remain faithful to the end etc...
These two opposing views have been debated for centuries, so today we have the benefit of many good good books on the subject but have we arrived at a consensus in the Church.
I would love to see the Church unite and resolve this dividing issue. But I fear that it will continue to be an enigma for the Church. Why can't we let the Bible be the final authority and accept what it really says and unite in the truth.
To: Mark Williams, #1
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to convict the world, not just the elect, of sin, righteousness and judgment, through the gospel, the word of truth. (John 16: 7- 11)
Those who are so convicted, are drawn to Jesus, not irresistibly and invincibly, but by the loving kindness of God, the hope, the truth and the invitation of our Lord to come to Him. (Jer. 31: 3)
“IF ANYONE WISHES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. (Matt 16: 24)
Please note this is to “anyone.”
Second, the coming is a choice on the part of man.
Third, the first requirement in coming after Jesus is to deny self, to surrender his life to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Those who deny themselves are begotten by God, as His creation, to faith, hope, love, obedience, holiness, overcoming the world and not sinning. (1 John 2: 29; 3: 9; 4: 7; 5: 1, 4, 18; 1Peter 1: 3; John 1: 12, 13) Faith is a work of God (John 6: 29), and is received as a gift by grace, by our heart upon hearing the word of God. (Rom 10: 10, 17)
When we are called, God opens our hearts to respond accordingly. (Acts 16: 14)
At Pentecost those who believed were told to call upon the name of the Lord for forgiveness of sin by repentance and being baptized in the name of Christ. (Acts 2: 21, 37-39, 41; 22: 16)
These people and all that God calls to Himself were promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to regenerate, renew, give a new heart and spirit and to seal them as children of God.
When Cornelius and his household received the gift of the Holy Spirit, they were baptized with the Spirit. (Acts 10: 44- 48; 11: 16; 1 Cor. 12: 13)
As they come forth from the one baptism, they are born of water and the Spirit; they are children of God. (John 3: 3, 5)
God bless.