Let's get something straight

[Gideon300]

Some posters have no idea what it means to be forgiven as a Christian. They should try reading the Bible, what it says rather than interpret according to their own preconceptions. Christians are forgiven. I knew that I was forgiven the moment I received Jesus. A weight of guilt lifted off me that was tangible. I did not confess all my sins. I hardly knew what they were. What I did know was that I was not perfect and that God would not accept me as I was. Then I was told that Jesus paid for all my sins. That was good enough for me. I gladly, with great relief, accepted Jesus and His forgiveness.

I knew nothing of God, His ways or His Word. That has changed over the last 50+ years. Some people seem to think that we can't get into heaven if we have unconfessed sin. This is absurd. On that basis, who can enter heaven?

What does God's word have to say?

Colossians 1: 13 & 14: "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace"

Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Colossians 3:3 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Salvation, forgiveness, redemption, righteousness and holiness are gifts, not obtained by works. They are found only in Christ. If we seek to establish our own righteousness, we will fail. Sin breaks fellowship. It does not change relationship. A Christian may lose all appearances of being saved, yet God still acknowledges him as a Son. It is God who puts us into Christ. Who can take us out?

This does not mean that we can sin without consequences. People mostly focus on how mad God gets at sin. God looks at what sin does to us. It is destructive and harmful to ourselves and anyone in our family, where we work and our friends. It hinders the work of the Kingdom of God. Yet it does not affect our relationship with God. The parable of the Prodigal is not so much about the son as the father. He did not rebuke the wayward son. He welcomed him and restored to him the finery of sonship. He held a great party to celebrate. It was the self righteous brother who had no joy in the Prodigal's return.

We should check ourselves out from time to time? Are like the Prodigal, a privileged son yet living in squalor? Don't imagine that God has forsaken you. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. Are you like the elder brother, self righteous yet not enjoying the blessings of sonship? God has far more for you than you are willing to receive. And sitting on judgement on those who fall puts you at risk of incurring God's judgement on you.

 

[wattie]

Some posters have no idea what it means to be forgiven as a Christian. They should try reading the Bible, what it says rather than interpret according to their own preconceptions. Christians are forgiven. I knew that I was forgiven the moment I received Jesus. A weight of guilt lifted off me that was tangible. I did not confess all my sins. I hardly knew what they were. What I did know was that I was not perfect and that God would not accept me as I was. Then I was told that Jesus paid for all my sins. That was good enough for me. I gladly, with great relief, accepted Jesus and His forgiveness.

I knew nothing of God, His ways or His Word. That has changed over the last 50+ years. Some people seem to think that we can't get into heaven if we have unconfessed sin. This is absurd. On that basis, who can enter heaven?

What does God's word have to say?

Colossians 1: 13 & 14: "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace"

Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Colossians 3:3 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Salvation, forgiveness, redemption, righteousness and holiness are gifts, not obtained by works. They are found only in Christ. If we seek to establish our own righteousness, we will fail. Sin breaks fellowship. It does not change relationship. A Christian may lose all appearances of being saved, yet God still acknowledges him as a Son. It is God who puts us into Christ. Who can take us out?

This does not mean that we can sin without consequences. People mostly focus on how mad God gets at sin. God looks at what sin does to us. It is destructive and harmful to ourselves and anyone in our family, where we work and our friends. It hinders the work of the Kingdom of God. Yet it does not affect our relationship with God. The parable of the Prodigal is not so much about the son as the father. He did not rebuke the wayward son. He welcomed him and restored to him the finery of sonship. He held a great party to celebrate. It was the self righteous brother who had no joy in the Prodigal's return.

We should check ourselves out from time to time? Are like the Prodigal, a privileged son yet living in squalor? Don't imagine that God has forsaken you. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. Are you like the elder brother, self righteous yet not enjoying the blessings of sonship? God has far more for you than you are willing to receive. And sitting on judgement on those who fall puts you at risk of incurring God's judgement on you.

Yeah, substitutionary atonement, forgiveness of sins, justification.. they are completely central.. but get a 'yes, but' from many. It's as if the full strength of what Jesus has done and is doing is too much for them.. it's too hot! It's as if they have to put their arm out and distance it a bit so they are 'safe'.

 

[Gideon300]

Yeah, substitutionary atonement, forgiveness of sins, justification.. they are completely central.. but get a 'yes, but' from many. It's as if the full strength of what Jesus has done and is doing is too much for them.. it's too hot! It's as if they have to put their arm out and distance it a bit so they are 'safe'.

Yes, like the Israelites in the desert, some prefer to keep God at arm's length. If only they knew what they were missing...........

 

[selahsays]

Hi, Gideon…

Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

- Luke 24:44-47

 

[The_Watchers_2017]

Some posters have no idea what it means to be forgiven as a Christian.

they probably follow the same rule as this guy:

Donald Trump talked about his Christian faith Saturday, but said he's never sought forgiveness for his sins.
And made the claim he is God's "Chosen One."

never sought forgiveness + chosen one = his god must be Satan??

 

[NightTwister]

they probably follow the same rule as this guy:

Donald Trump talked about his Christian faith Saturday, but said he's never sought forgiveness for his sins.
And made the claim he is God's "Chosen One."

never sought forgiveness + chosen one = his god must be Satan??

Clarifying his comments on forgiveness, Trump declared, "I go to communion and that's asking forgiveness, you know, it's a form of asking forgiveness." During the interview the current GOP frontrunner stressed that he "likes to work where he doesn't have to ask forgiveness."

 

[The_Watchers_2017]

Clarifying his comments on forgiveness, Trump declared, "I go to communion and that's asking forgiveness, you know, it's a form of asking forgiveness." During the interview the current GOP frontrunner stressed that he "likes to work where he doesn't have to ask forgiveness."

interesting!

Trump is Catholic!
they think standing in line, getting a wafer chip, sipping some grape juice = sins forgiven

lol, well, that still [is not] accurate.
so, by Biblical explanation versus Catholic Dogma, he's still unrepented and not covered by the Blood.

...which is sad...to live life thinking you're Saved, but had never actually had the true experience with God.

 

[Dino246]

Some posters have no idea what it means to be forgiven as a Christian. They should try reading the Bible, what it says rather than interpret according to their own preconceptions. Christians are forgiven. I knew that I was forgiven the moment I received Jesus. A weight of guilt lifted off me that was tangible. I did not confess all my sins. I hardly knew what they were. What I did know was that I was not perfect and that God would not accept me as I was. Then I was told that Jesus paid for all my sins. That was good enough for me. I gladly, with great relief, accepted Jesus and His forgiveness.

I knew nothing of God, His ways or His Word. That has changed over the last 50+ years. Some people seem to think that we can't get into heaven if we have unconfessed sin. This is absurd. On that basis, who can enter heaven?

What does God's word have to say?

Colossians 1: 13 & 14: "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace"

Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Colossians 3:3 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

One verse to add...

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

It doesn't say, "all confessed sin".

 

[Magenta]

Hi, Gideon…

Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, "and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

- Luke 24:44-47

Luke 24:27 + 31

 

[Gideon300]

Luke 24:27 + 31

And that is eternal life. A number of contributors to this forum seem to know about Jesus, but do not not know Him in reality. They also need their eyes opened.

 

[Gideon300]

they probably follow the same rule as this guy:

Donald Trump talked about his Christian faith Saturday, but said he's never sought forgiveness for his sins.
And made the claim he is God's "Chosen One."

never sought forgiveness + chosen one = his god must be Satan??

Satan is the god of this world. Satan is therefore the god of all who are not born again.

 

[Magenta]

And that is eternal life. A number of contributors to this forum seem to know about
Jesus, but do not not know Him in reality. They also need their eyes opened.

John 17:2-3~ You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.

 

[Braweh]

Some posters have no idea what it means to be forgiven as a Christian. They should try reading the Bible, what it says rather than interpret according to their own preconceptions. Christians are forgiven. I knew that I was forgiven the moment I received Jesus. A weight of guilt lifted off me that was tangible. I did not confess all my sins. I hardly knew what they were. What I did know was that I was not perfect and that God would not accept me as I was. Then I was told that Jesus paid for all my sins. That was good enough for me. I gladly, with great relief, accepted Jesus and His forgiveness.

I knew nothing of God, His ways or His Word. That has changed over the last 50+ years. Some people seem to think that we can't get into heaven if we have unconfessed sin. This is absurd. On that basis, who can enter heaven?

What does God's word have to say?

Colossians 1: 13 & 14: "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace"

Romans 3:24 "and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Colossians 3:3 "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

Salvation, forgiveness, redemption, righteousness and holiness are gifts, not obtained by works. They are found only in Christ. If we seek to establish our own righteousness, we will fail. Sin breaks fellowship. It does not change relationship. A Christian may lose all appearances of being saved, yet God still acknowledges him as a Son. It is God who puts us into Christ. Who can take us out?

This does not mean that we can sin without consequences. People mostly focus on how mad God gets at sin. God looks at what sin does to us. It is destructive and harmful to ourselves and anyone in our family, where we work and our friends. It hinders the work of the Kingdom of God. Yet it does not affect our relationship with God. The parable of the Prodigal is not so much about the son as the father. He did not rebuke the wayward son. He welcomed him and restored to him the finery of sonship. He held a great party to celebrate. It was the self righteous brother who had no joy in the Prodigal's return.

We should check ourselves out from time to time? Are like the Prodigal, a privileged son yet living in squalor? Don't imagine that God has forsaken you. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. Are you like the elder brother, self righteous yet not enjoying the blessings of sonship? God has far more for you than you are willing to receive. And sitting on judgement on those who fall puts you at risk of incurring God's judgement on you.

This is the most common teaching on every Christian discussion forum I have been on.

Sadly, it is terribly inaccurate.

Nobody saves themselves and nobody simply wakes up one day, after a life of woeful sin, and decides for themselves that they will now go to Heaven. Not a chance. That is God's department. It is a very well known Scripture that nobody can come to Christ unless and until they are called by God - John 6:44.

Faith is a gift, not a decision one makes when they've decided they've had enough fun in life.
Eph. 2:8
Rom. 12:3
1 Pet. 1:21
Phil. 1:29
Jude 1:3
1 Cor. 12:9

The notion that man can simply speak a two or three sentence "Sinner's Prayer" and get baptized and go to church once or twice and he will then have an irrevocable ticket to Heaven is so far from anything that the Bible teaches that it's staggering that so many have been led to believe this absolute nonsense.

We are forgiven our sins when we accept Christ and begin to follow His ways and get baptized, etc. The idea that nothing we do from that moment forth will effect our relationship with God is absolute poppy-cock.

John 15:1-6 makes that crystal clear.
Rev. 14:12 makes that crystal clear.
Matt. 7:21-23 makes that crystal clear.
Luke 12:41-48 makes that crystal clear.
Luke 13:24 makes that crystal clear.

It is absolute heresy to teach that nothing we do after we profess to be Christians can keep us from being raised to Heaven to live with the holiest beings that have ever existed ... forever.

Anybody who embraces this absolute lie is very sorely mistaken and lost.

 

[Nehemiah6]

so, by Biblical explanation versus Catholic Dogma, he's still unrepented and not covered by the Blood.

Only God Himself can make this judgment. You would be wise to simply shut up at this point since you do not know Trump's heart. And he is not a Catholic either. “I now consider myself to be a non-denominational Christian,” Trump said in the statement.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/n...tional-presbyterian-religious-eisenhower.html

 

[Nehemiah6]

Nobody saves themselves and nobody simply wakes up one day, after a life of woeful sin, and decides for themselves that they will now go to Heaven. Not a chance. That is God's department. It is a very well known Scripture that nobody can come to Christ unless and until they are called by God - John 6:44.

You are simply misrepresenting many things here. But since God offers salvation to all mankind, ALL are called by God to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is repeated many times in Scripture.

JOHN 3: "THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED"
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

While all may not do so, all can certainly be saved if they will obey the Gospel. And in order to obey the Gospel, sinners must do something: 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In view of these Scriptures, you should retract what you have said, and go strictly by what is in the Bible. Also, you have failed to recognize many other Gospel truths, such as the New Birth and everything else related to salvation. So in fact you are trying to mislead others.

 

[Braweh]

You are simply misrepresenting many things here. But since God offers salvation to all mankind, ALL are called by God to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is repeated many times in Scripture.

JOHN 3: "THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED"
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

While all may not do so, all can certainly be saved if they will obey the Gospel. And in order to obey the Gospel, sinners must do something: 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In view of these Scriptures, you should retract what you have said, and go strictly by what is in the Bible. Also, you have failed to recognize many other Gospel truths, such as the New Birth and everything else related to salvation. So in fact you are trying to mislead others.

If all were called by God, John 6:44 would not exist in Scripture.

You declare that all are called and the Bible declares it many times and then for your proof texts you show TWO examples that speak of those who believe.

Faith is a gift as I have already shown, spoken of here in all these verses:
Eph. 2:8
Rom. 12:3
1 Pet. 1:21
Phil. 1:29
Jude 1:3
1 Cor. 12:9

If all were to be called and all were to be saved, Jesus' life and sacrifice was for nothing.

 

[Gideon300]

"The notion that man can simply speak a two or three sentence "Sinner's Prayer" and get baptized and go to church once or twice and he will then have an irrevocable ticket to Heaven is so far from anything that the Bible teaches that it's staggering that so many have been led to believe this absolute nonsense."

Your reasoning is specious. Many profess to be Christians when they are not. God does not recognise them if they are not born again. What you describe is a fake conversion. I'm referring to those who are born again by the Spirit of God. Even if the fake Christian lives an ideal life, he is not going to be found in heaven.

Tell me which part of eternal life is not eternal? Tell me how someone can be unborn again? Tell me how Jesus can fail to keep His promise that none can pluck us out of His hand? It is of God that we are in Christ Jesus. If God put us into Christ, who can take us out of Him? How can the old, dead spirit of man that is crucfied with Christ be made alive once more? How can Christ die afresh? Christ is my life. That's how I know that I cannot lose my salvation.

I don't have a ticket to heaven. I am seated there with Christ. To pull me down you will have to pull Jesus down. You limit the power of God to save to what we can do. Wrong. It all depends on what Jesus has already done. You can spend your life wondering if you are going to make it and judging everyone else. I wrestled with that issue for way too long. When you see the perfection of God's salvation and that it does not depend on you in the slightest, you will come to the rest that Christians should enjoy.

 

[Lucy-Pevensie]

interesting!

Trump is Catholic!
they think standing in line, getting a wafer chip, sipping some grape juice = sins forgiven

lol, well, that still [is not] accurate.
so, by Biblical explanation versus Catholic Dogma, he's still unrepented and not covered by the Blood.

...which is sad...to live life thinking you're Saved, but had never actually had the true experience with God.

"they think"

It's amazing how many people who visit this site think they speak for Catholics.
There are millions of them and most of them are in The Kingdom of Heaven because of their faith in Jesus.

 

[Nehemiah6]

You declare that all are called and the Bible declares it many times and then for your proof texts you show TWO examples that speak of those who believe.

Even ONE Scripture would suffice for those who know the full Gospel truth.

And since God wants all men to be saved, He would give the gift of faith to everyone. But as a matter of fact He has given mankind the Gospel and Christ said that the Gospel must be preached "to every creature". Now if God did not want every person to be saved, Christ would not have said that. And as a matter of fact there are many verses which tell us clearly that God will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED AND COME UNTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. That contradicts your warped theology.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (the Gospel). And as we see below "WHOSOEVER" is repeated twice, so that no one may say that God does not want anyone and everyone to be saved. "But they have not ALL obeyed the Gospel" means that God wanted them all to obey the Gospel and be saved, but all did not do so.

ROMANS 10: THE GOSPEL IS FOR ALL TO OBEY AND ALL TO BE SAVED
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14How 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?
15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

 

[Braweh]

What does it mean to be in-Christ, Gideon?