Research: Majority of Americans Believe Works Are the Key to Salvation

  • 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.
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
You are free to say what ever you want. Talk are free but Jesus gospel that say no fruit trown into fire will not change
Jesus never lie, and up to you to change the gospel and up to me to believe Jesus gospel
Since Jesus SAID PLAINLY that recipients of eternal life SHALL NEVER PERISH, it should be obvious to everyone that you have completely FAILED to understand John 15.

So, please quit quoting or citing what Jesus said WHEN you KEEP rejecting what He said in John 10:28.

WHEN a person believes, they POSSESS eternal life, and therefore, SHALL NEVER PERISH. That's what Jesus said.

But you don't believe Him.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
I looked for many years...trying to discover where the church ran off the rails.
My findings.....
Men have created doctrines from the bible, using their own understanding. The Bible is a book...and only a book, if you don't learn the Truth written in it from the Holy Spirit.
Proof?
Look at the many doctrines we have to choose from. Does the Holy Spirit teach many truths...or is there only one Truth? The Holy Spirit teaches one Truth....One way. People have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and no ever uses it. They have put their trust in the teachings of men, and because of this, they have no reason to seek the Truth from God.

Can you learn the Truth by using the bible, without the Holy Spirit?
I really don't know, I wasn't using a Bible when I was born of God. And the evidence found in the many doctrines would seem to be against the idea....since all of them had to have come solely from a study of the Bible ...without Spiritual instruction.

The Holy Spirit taught me for approximately 6 months, and it then....it just happened. I didn't even know what happened, I just knew I was not the same guy that had come to the Lord on my knees six months earlier. Full of Joy and a Love for people, a love I had never known. I was not seeking salvation, I was seeking truth.

My parents made me go to church as a child, but when I left home...I stopped going to Church. I still believed in God, but the teachings in church simply made no sense to me. Then at 41 I got on my knees and asked God to make me understand. From that very moment my depression disappeared, chased out by being filled with Joy. The Holy Spirit began teaching me, giving me simple instruction, and through that instruction I learned why the teachings in church made no sense.
It was because they were teaching....nonsense.
My experience with church was something like yours in the fact that the church I was going to did ultimately drive me away. There were quite strict about wearing dress clothes. For about two years I wore dress clothes then I realized God doesn't really care about that. So I showed up to church in something casual and they refused to allow me to eat the Lord's supper and treated me coldly.

I was quite young at the time so I lost a lot of respect for the church right then and there. Now that I look back it, I should have just lost all respect for the elders and deacons at that particular church. Oh well, hopefully they learned from their mistake and repented, but you never really know. They probably thought they were in the right to deny me access to communion based on the clothes I was wearing.

I didn't return to church for probably 10 years or so, but not until I had what I believe was a divine encounter with God or an angel who preached the gospel to me and asked me to serve the "Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit" again. That was life-changing for me especially since I had become somewhat atheistic-agnostic during those 10 years. I tested God a lot during that time and I feel like His way of conquoring me was ultimately making me His property.

Christianity wasn't just a bunch of stuff in a book like Harry Potter anymore. It was out of the armchair and into the real world where I could experience it just like the stories in the Bible. I had my proverbial 40 days in the wilderness like Jesus, tested and tempted by Satan himself, and afterward I became a prophet. In my experience, God uses messengers a lot. I have been given personal prophecies that have come true repeatedly and one time I transcribed part of the book of Genesis all through direct revelation. I have many many many more stories and I get new stories all the time, but that's for another thread.

I just felt inspired to share with you my experiences. Where I was and how I am where I am now. Christianity it real. I only wish all people could experience it like I do.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Since Jesus SAID PLAINLY that recipients of eternal life SHALL NEVER PERISH, it should be obvious to everyone that you have completely FAILED to understand John 15.

So, please quit quoting or citing what Jesus said WHEN you KEEP rejecting what He said in John 10:28.

WHEN a person believes, they POSSESS eternal life, and therefore, SHALL NEVER PERISH. That's what Jesus said.

But you don't believe Him.
Matt 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Please stop accused me not agree with Jesus, that accusation should apply to yourself
Read what Jesus say

Inherit the kingdom /save because helping the needy?
I bed you will accused Jesus saved base on work dont you?
Read the entire chapter
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
You can have a dead faith but works cannot save you.

Mwhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Who said they could?....
Dead faith is dead faith.
Stop the transference with God's word.

Faith without works is dead....That means that we have work to do for Christ.
I don't need a further response from new age religion thinking.
Bless you.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
Perhaps you need to reread your Bible...

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
(Rom 4:5)
Has nothing to do with ...faith without works is dead.
Pray for God's blessing for understanding and spend more time in studying His Holy word.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
Has nothing to do with ...faith without works is dead.
Many people miss the..."will be"...part of this statement. Many believe this proves instant salvation, salvation which requires nothing from the believer. Folks like Billy Graham, fooled millions into believing they were saved by doing this very thing.

"Will Be",....does this denote a future event, or a current one?
Many people, like Billy Graham, when reading this verse, read it as if it were written in this way...
"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead....you are saved.

But it doesn't say that,...does it?
The other problem with using the verse in this manner, is this. If we were saved, when We, call upon the name of the Lord, We could save ourselves, since We are the ones,....calling on the name of the Lord.
So what does Paul mean when he says this?
He means, Everyone who calls Jesus, 'Lord, will be saved.

But there is more to this verse, the back story, a back story Billy didn't give, because he didn't found his salvation teachings on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
. ....“And why call ye Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?
(Luke 6:46)
So,....according to Jesus Christ...Only those who do what he says...what he commands them to do,...can call him 'Lord.

So who do you believe, Jesus or Billy?

You are so right...many miss use...saved.

If we prepare our hearts to be right with God and maintain righteousness until the end ...we will be saved.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
Has nothing to do with ...faith without works is dead.
Pray for God's blessing for understanding and spend more time in studying His Holy word.
I was talking to Jackson123 about the 'DoMore Treadmill' and you come barging in with a quote from James, "faith without works is dead".
So your "faith without works is dead" comment has absolutely nothing to do with the DoMore Treadmill and if you think it does then answer a similar question I asked Jackson..."How many works must one do before they know they are justified (declared righteous and accepted) by God?

I'll just ignore your last condescending sentence.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
I was talking to Jackson123 about the 'DoMore Treadmill' and you come barging in with a quote from James, "faith without works is dead".
So your "faith without works is dead" comment has absolutely nothing to do with the DoMore Treadmill and if you think it does then answer a similar question I asked Jackson..."How many works must one do before they know they are justified (declared righteous and accepted) by God?

I'll just ignore your last condescending sentence.
That was purposely entered. I thought we were talking God here!!!...NO?

How do you know when you have asked sufficiently for help from God in prayer?
My suggestion...never stop in quality, quantity or substance.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
That was purposely entered. I thought we were talking God here!!!...NO?
Yes, but which God? The one who like Allah, demands obedience, leaving his adherents in doubt of their future
or the God of the Bible who promises salvation on account of His Son's obedience?

How do you know when you have asked sufficiently for help from God in prayer?
My suggestion...never stop in quality, quantity or substance.
lol, I asked first, when you answer mine I'll answer yours...

"How many works must one do before they know they are justified (declared righteous and accepted) by God?

This was in response to your James quote, "Faith without works is dead".
 
Jan 31, 2021
8,658
1,064
113
FreeGrace2 said:
Since Jesus SAID PLAINLY that recipients of eternal life SHALL NEVER PERISH, it should be obvious to everyone that you have completely FAILED to understand John 15.

So, please quit quoting or citing what Jesus said WHEN you KEEP rejecting what He said in John 10:28.

WHEN a person believes, they POSSESS eternal life, and therefore, SHALL NEVER PERISH. That's what Jesus said.

But you don't believe Him.
Matt 25
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Please stop accused me not agree with Jesus, that accusation should apply to yourself
I will NOT stop until you realize that John 10:28 is about eternal security.

Read what Jesus say
I've shown you what Jesus SAID. And you don't believe what He said. Or you simply reject it.

Inherit the kingdom /save because helping the needy?
I bed you will accused Jesus saved base on work dont you?
Read the entire chapter
wrong on all accounts. In the context of helping the needy, one WILL inherit reward IN the kingdom. That's not about salvation.

Your second sentence is quite bizarre given that I've shown you verses that clearly state that salvation is by grace through faith.

I not only "read the chapter", I read all of the NT monthly. Have been doing that for about 2 decades.

You have built a doctrine on a few wrongly understood verses and completely ignore or reject the verses that PLAINLY refute your doctrine.

This indicates that you mind is closed to truth.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,860
845
113
I believe you. I believe people can be miraculously converted, possibly even against their will, to be believers in the gospel. For me, though, I don't think that was the case. I had to forget a lot of what I thought I knew in order to assimilate the gospel into my already-established belief system.

If I may ask, were you a child when you first started getting introduced to the gospel and the Bible in general or did you come to it as an adult?
I was approaching thirty years old. I did not have a Christian background at all. Started from scratch.

The initial Christian journey was difficult. I struggled from the start, took a good three to four years to settle into church. Took about the same time to understand the New Testament, at a primitive level.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
I was approaching thirty years old. I did not have a Christian background at all. Started from scratch.

The initial Christian journey was difficult. I struggled from the start, took a good three to four years to settle into church. Took about the same time to understand the New Testament, at a primitive level.
I had a similar experience and timing (25yo), no Church or Bible etc., just drugs and the occult etc..
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,860
845
113
I had a similar experience and timing (25yo), no Church or Bible etc., just drugs and the occult etc..
Not easy was it.

Everyone in church seemed so holy, I knew nothing about Christianity. I had nothing much in common with anyone. It was another world, a strange world. It's as if they spoke another language.

Bible study on a Wednesday night was much better, I found that very interesting.

Everything takes time in Christianity. I do believe Jesus tailors the instruction, somewhat, according to each individual.

I would not trade that knowledge of Jesus Christ, that I had received for anything.

If I had my life over again, I would live it exactly the same way, so that I could hear the gospel again.
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
Yes, but which God? The one who like Allah, demands obedience, leaving his adherents in doubt of their future
or the God of the Bible who promises salvation on account of His Son's obedience?


lol, I asked first, when you answer mine I'll answer yours...

"How many works must one do before they know they are justified (declared righteous and accepted) by God?

This was in response to your James quote, "Faith without works is dead".

Which God?...there is more than one?

No need to respond.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Depart from Jesus go to eternal fire because not helping the poor?
Not only losing reward?

Hmm

jesus make another mistake

This is work salvation

You only need to believe the death and Jesus resurection
Murder robing only losing reward not go to eternal fire

We need remind Jesus to correct His teaching
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Why in Matt 25 : 41-46 by mistake Jesus teach people that not help the poor go to eternal phunisment
Eternal hell

Not still go to heaven only Lose reward?

Son always son

Adam was son

All Adam offspring must God son

No body go to hell, only losing reward
Jesus contradict Himself by saying only Whosoever believe save

Must be only whosoever believe not losing reward

Unbeliever still go to heaven, only lising reward

Let correct jesus
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
If eternal fire in Matt 25 mean only losing reward but still go to heaven than

1. I don't want lising reward
2. Some part of heaven is hot like fire

It doesn't matter eternal fire in Matt 25 mean only losing reward but still heaven or mean hell
I don't and nobody want going there
 

BroTan

Active member
Sep 16, 2021
898
161
43
Are you teaching Jesus plus the law?
Absolutely, because Jesus warned us that the road to salvation is straight and narrow and that only a few of us will find it. Many are traveling down the wrong road, which leads to destruction. This is because many of us have heard about salvation but few of us want to do what is necessary to get salvation (many are called but few are chosen). (Matthew 7:13, 14) Many contend that Jesus did it all and now all we have to do is have faith.

The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).