Works
- Thread starter Blik
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
A person is powerfully convicted of their sin before God. They get down on their knees, tears streaming down down their cheeks and ask God to forgive them for their sins. They ask Christ into their life as their Lord and Saviour. How will God respond? Will He say:
'I will forgive you, but not yet, only when you have been baptised.'
Doesn't sound right to me
'I will forgive you, but not yet, only when you have been baptised.'
Doesn't sound right to me
The way of the Lord is simple and it is very clear. It is a matter of all or nothing at all like a song Frank Sinatra sang.
When you go to Christ and trust Him you give him your life, all of it. Scripture such as the sermon on the mount becomes your life force, it leads every thought and action. There then is no wondering if it is works or not, and wondering what works means to the Lord, no wondering if it is you are self directing you or Christ directing, your entire will is given over to Christ.
You immediately run into a huge stumbling block--you are a human and you can't carry out your will to never sin. Christ in his glory takes care of that. Christ tells us we can want to not sin and he will count it as not sinning, God calls it repentance.
To me, it is so simple, so complete, there is nothing to discuss.
When you go to Christ and trust Him you give him your life, all of it. Scripture such as the sermon on the mount becomes your life force, it leads every thought and action. There then is no wondering if it is works or not, and wondering what works means to the Lord, no wondering if it is you are self directing you or Christ directing, your entire will is given over to Christ.
You immediately run into a huge stumbling block--you are a human and you can't carry out your will to never sin. Christ in his glory takes care of that. Christ tells us we can want to not sin and he will count it as not sinning, God calls it repentance.
To me, it is so simple, so complete, there is nothing to discuss.
Question for you. I will not debate your answer, just want to understand your position.
In August of 1988, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit and repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He radically transformed my heart in an instant. It was in my bedroom in the middle of the night. I did not call a preacher to baptize me that night, but starting the next day, I made arrangements to get into my mother's church and arranged for my baptism asap because I wanted to follow my Saviour's teachings and example. Was I saved that night in my bedroom, or was I saved when I was baptized? Was I justified that night, or when I was baptized? Was I indwelt with the Spirit that night or when I was baptized? If i had died before I was baptized, would I have perished? So you can say either a. saved and right with God that night I believed or b. Not saved until baptized. Thanks in advance.
In August of 1988, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit and repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He radically transformed my heart in an instant. It was in my bedroom in the middle of the night. I did not call a preacher to baptize me that night, but starting the next day, I made arrangements to get into my mother's church and arranged for my baptism asap because I wanted to follow my Saviour's teachings and example. Was I saved that night in my bedroom, or was I saved when I was baptized? Was I justified that night, or when I was baptized? Was I indwelt with the Spirit that night or when I was baptized? If i had died before I was baptized, would I have perished? So you can say either a. saved and right with God that night I believed or b. Not saved until baptized. Thanks in advance.
-
2
- Show all
Act 13:48, And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
There is no mention in Acts of these believers ever being baptized; which is not to say that they were never baptized.
If they believed and were ordained to eternal life as the result, might being baptized later be a part of that ordination?
Of course, the Philippian jailer was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house; was baptized almost immediately after.
Not sure I have the answer to your question, just wanted to add these thoughts.
There is no mention in Acts of these believers ever being baptized; which is not to say that they were never baptized.
If they believed and were ordained to eternal life as the result, might being baptized later be a part of that ordination?
Of course, the Philippian jailer was told, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house; was baptized almost immediately after.
Not sure I have the answer to your question, just wanted to add these thoughts.
-
1
- Show all