Gambling With Eternity

  • 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.
justpassinthrough said:
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:21-23
Click to expand...


I was a bit hasty, in asking for a scripture from you, that I now realise that you have given. Colossians 1:21-23- is referencing the church.

A person has to have been born again (Eph 2:1-5) before he can hear, to understand, the gospel.
 
ForestGreenCook said:
With all do respect, and in harmony with other scriptures, I believe this verse is in reference to the born again, servants of the Lord ( Isaiah 54:17). Hearing the truth gives life to the born again person as he lives here on earth.
Click to expand...

All “due “ respect ?

yes , I understand your beliefs I’ve read the same devotional and books and heard the exact same arguments you think your making I remember when it became popular in the u.s. To reinvent things which never change and call it “ grace “ and “ dividing the word of truth “
 
GRACE_ambassador said:
"The Gambler

There are so many ways to gamble these days! Casinos that used to be found
only in Las Vegas now seem to be everywhere. People gamble on sporting
events, at racetracks, and in state lotteries. Others risk their hard-earned
money in the stock market, which is always a gamble! But even if you have
never placed a bet, if you are not saved, you are gambling with eternity.

You might be thinking, “I don’t use that word saved,” but I wonder if at
some time in your life you’ve sung that most beloved of all Christian hymns,
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” You may
have sung the song, but are you saved? We call the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior;
well, the purpose of a Savior is to save people! Has He saved you?

The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”
(Acts 16:31). Now, if you are wondering what it is specifically that you have
to believe about Christ to be saved, the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians,

“I declare unto you The Gospel Which I preached unto you...by which ​
also ye are saved...how that Christ died for our sins According To The ​
Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day” ​
(I Corinthians 15:1-4).​

Here the Bible clearly says that the way to be saved from your sins is to believe
that Christ died to pay for your sins. So the only question now is, do you believe
God when He says your sins are paid for? Do you trust Him when He says that?
If you do, the Bible says that you are saved!

If you are not sure what I’m trying to say, suppose for a moment that you have
a serious gambling problem, and that you have racked up a million dollars in
gambling debts. One day some very bad men threaten to kill you unless you
pay your debt. Naturally, you are very afraid, because you don’t have the money.
But just then a friend emails you to say, “I heard about your problem, and I paid
your debt.”

Now you have to ask yourself, “Do I really believe my friend when he says he paid
my debt? Do I trust him when he says my debt is paid?” If you don’t believe him,
you’ll have to keep trying to pay your debt on your own. But if you do trust your
friend when he says he paid your debt, you’ll thank him for it, and simply rest in
what he did for you.

That’s all God asks of you to be saved from your sins. Believe that Christ paid
for your sins, and rest in what He did for you. If you’ll do that, the Bible says
you are saved. If you won’t, well, you’ll just have to go on trying to pay for your
sins in your own way, by being good, by not being bad, or by being religious—
something the Bible says you can never do:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that Justifieth​
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).​
​
“For By Grace are ye Saved Through faith; and that not of yourselves: ​
It Is The Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”​
(Ephesians 2:8,9).​
​
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but According​
To His Mercy He Saved us” (Titus 3:5).​

If you are still not sure what I am trying to say, I have a little exercise for you.
Later today, or perhaps tomorrow, you are going to do some good thing, or
avoid doing some sinful thing. At that moment, you will be tempted to think,
“I just helped pay my way to heaven.” When that happens, stop yourself, and
say,

“No, the Bible says that the only way I can get to heaven is by believing that
Christ died for my sins.” Just keep that up, and eventually you’ll learn to trust
what Christ did on the cross of Calvary to pay for your sins, and rest completely
in what He did for you.

They say life is a gamble, and I suppose in many ways it is. But don’t gamble
with eternal life. The stakes are much too high. I promise you this: A thousand
years from this moment, you will remember this moment. And whether you
remember it with joy or eternal regret depends on the decision you must make
right now to trust Christ as your Savior.
"
(R Kurth) 'link'
------------
Grace, Peace, And JOY!
Click to expand...
I remember when Gods grace finally hit me, it was like being run over by a freight train. I went from a babe in Christ to being complete in Christ.
Keep these encouraging post coming brother.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp and Snacks
ForestGreenCook said:
You might have the problem of being indoctrinated by what you have been listening to.
Click to expand...
I hope so.

"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

John 7
 
Pilgrimshope said:
right it’s a big gamble to reject Gods offer of eternal Life and claim some other form of salvation

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:22, 24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But sadly your going to hear about “ Paul’s gospel of grace “ which is some other gospel where you don’t need to hear what Jesus said about salvstion “ your saved regardless of what Jesus said “ is the subtle message
Click to expand...


There is only one Gospel, the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.


If it doesn’t have the word repent in it, it’s not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


Obeying the Gospel, means we obey the command to repent, which means “turn to God”.


We must all come to the understanding of obeying the truth;

His Gospel
His Commandments
His Doctrine



JPT
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
ForestGreenCook said:
The gospel tells us how that all of those that God gave to Jesus were eternally saved on the cross, but the gospel is not the cause of our eternal salvation.
Click to expand...


Again, do you believe a person must obey the truth, to be saved?


God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, Romans 2:6-8



Here are the two choices each person must make:


  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
  • but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,



JPT
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
ForestGreenCook said:
A person has to have been born again (Eph 2:1-5) before he can hear, to understand, the gospel.
Click to expand...


The way to be saved is by hearing and believing the Gospel message of salvation.


How can a person become saved, without hearing and believing the message of salvation; salvation through Jesus Christ.



  • how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?


How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14





JPT
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
ForestGreenCook said:
To help me understand your stand on this statement, can you supply me a scripture?
Click to expand...

Here is one of the scriptures that refer to obeying the Gospel.


But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” Romans 10:16


Here is some context —



that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:9-17


JPT
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
God's Mercy to Us.

Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus, calling himself a “bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:1).

Titus 3 : 3 - 8 KJV

3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

"These things are good and profitable unto men"

good and profitable
 
justpassinthrough said:
Again, do you believe a person must obey the truth, to be saved?


God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, Romans 2:6-8



Here are the two choices each person must make:


  • eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
  • but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,



JPT
Click to expand...


Neither one of these choices pertain to our eternal inheritance; Those that God gave to Jesus to die for were given the promise of an eternal inheritance by Jesus death.

Those that he died for experience an abundant and joyful life here on earth, which is a part of their eternal inheritance, by patient continuance in doing good and following God's commandments.

But to those, who have the promise of an eternal inheritance, and are self-seeking, and do not follow God's commandments, will suffer a separation from God's fellowship, temporary, until they repent, but they will not lose their eternal inheritance.
 
justpassinthrough said:
Again, do you believe a person must obey the truth, to be saved
Click to expand...


I believe that the scriptures teach, that if a born again child of God obeys God commandments as he lives here on earth, that he will be delivered (saved) from losing his fellowship, temporary, until he repents,
 
justpassinthrough said:
The way to be saved is by hearing and believing the Gospel message of salvation.


How can a person become saved, without hearing and believing the message of salvation; salvation through Jesus Christ.



  • how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?


How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14





JPT
Click to expand...


The key to understanding the truths contained in the scriptures, is to know how to rightly divide the salvation scriptures. to include the revelation by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation=deliverance, saved=delivered, and save=deliver, according to the Greek interpretation.

We are delivered one time at the cross, and those that were delivered at the cross, are delivered manh times, as they sojourn here in this world.


The failure to divide the salvation scriptures leads most, of God's born again children, to believe eternal deliverance is gained by doing good works, when in actuality, there is a deliverance in doing good works, but it is not eternal deliverance.

Hearing and believing leads to deliverances here in this world.
 
jamesp said:
God's Mercy to Us.

Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus, calling himself a “bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Titus 1:1).

Titus 3 : 3 - 8 KJV

3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

"These things are good and profitable unto men"

good and profitable
Click to expand...


They are good and profitable for the child of God as he sojourns here in this world, but do not cause him to be delivered eternally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
GRACE_ambassador said:
"The Gambler

There are so many ways to gamble these days! Casinos that used to be found
only in Las Vegas now seem to be everywhere. People gamble on sporting
events, at racetracks, and in state lotteries. Others risk their hard-earned
money in the stock market, which is always a gamble! But even if you have
never placed a bet, if you are not saved, you are gambling with eternity.

You might be thinking, “I don’t use that word saved,” but I wonder if at
some time in your life you’ve sung that most beloved of all Christian hymns,
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” You may
have sung the song, but are you saved? We call the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior;
well, the purpose of a Savior is to save people! Has He saved you?

The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”
(Acts 16:31). Now, if you are wondering what it is specifically that you have
to believe about Christ to be saved, the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians,

“I declare unto you The Gospel Which I preached unto you...by which ​
also ye are saved...how that Christ died for our sins According To The ​
Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day” ​
(I Corinthians 15:1-4).​

Here the Bible clearly says that the way to be saved from your sins is to believe
that Christ died to pay for your sins. So the only question now is, do you believe
God when He says your sins are paid for? Do you trust Him when He says that?
If you do, the Bible says that you are saved!

If you are not sure what I’m trying to say, suppose for a moment that you have
a serious gambling problem, and that you have racked up a million dollars in
gambling debts. One day some very bad men threaten to kill you unless you
pay your debt. Naturally, you are very afraid, because you don’t have the money.
But just then a friend emails you to say, “I heard about your problem, and I paid
your debt.”

Now you have to ask yourself, “Do I really believe my friend when he says he paid
my debt? Do I trust him when he says my debt is paid?” If you don’t believe him,
you’ll have to keep trying to pay your debt on your own. But if you do trust your
friend when he says he paid your debt, you’ll thank him for it, and simply rest in
what he did for you.

That’s all God asks of you to be saved from your sins. Believe that Christ paid
for your sins, and rest in what He did for you. If you’ll do that, the Bible says
you are saved. If you won’t, well, you’ll just have to go on trying to pay for your
sins in your own way, by being good, by not being bad, or by being religious—
something the Bible says you can never do:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that Justifieth​
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).​
​
“For By Grace are ye Saved Through faith; and that not of yourselves: ​
It Is The Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”​
(Ephesians 2:8,9).​
​
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but According​
To His Mercy He Saved us” (Titus 3:5).​

If you are still not sure what I am trying to say, I have a little exercise for you.
Later today, or perhaps tomorrow, you are going to do some good thing, or
avoid doing some sinful thing. At that moment, you will be tempted to think,
“I just helped pay my way to heaven.” When that happens, stop yourself, and
say,

“No, the Bible says that the only way I can get to heaven is by believing that
Christ died for my sins.” Just keep that up, and eventually you’ll learn to trust
what Christ did on the cross of Calvary to pay for your sins, and rest completely
in what He did for you.

They say life is a gamble, and I suppose in many ways it is. But don’t gamble
with eternal life. The stakes are much too high. I promise you this: A thousand
years from this moment, you will remember this moment. And whether you
remember it with joy or eternal regret depends on the decision you must make
right now to trust Christ as your Savior.
"
(R Kurth) 'link'
------------
Grace, Peace, And JOY!
Click to expand...

Amen! You really nailed it! :)(y)

Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Jesus has paid the price in full with His blood. Invite Him into your heart right now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamesp
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back