Recent content by Chester

Is there Scripture that says this? Or is this a man-made doctrine based on someone's interpretation of Scripture?

Hence there is no way for me to conscientiously answer the poll with any of your answers . . .

People might put me in either the Arminian or the Molinism camp, though I claim affinity with neither one of those. I think it best not to claim affinity with any manmade doctrinal position. For example, I would say that I definitely believe in the Trinity, but I will not sign my name to some...

There have been a lot of good answers given here: I think one of the core requirements is realizing our need for a Redeemer, for a Friend, and for Master who loves us deeply. Our Western mindset tends to be very individualistic; then then results in personal pride. God resists the proud but...

John 1:12 says - "But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." The phrase "received him" is sometimes taken as a passive reception of Jesus. In actuality, the Greek verb is in the active voice, and I would suggest that we...

Now that is a good question! Biblical belief is not mere intellectual activity - surely it involves the mind and likely starts here, but it needs to go deep into the heart and the desires of the person. I am going to start a separate thread with your question.

Salvation is not based on sins or how much or how little one is sinning. Paul very clearly says it is "not by works." Salvation is by grace through faith. Hence I don't know how/why a graph of different types of sins would be helpful or needed. When one is a believer in Jesus Christ, every...

You seem to be saying that I believe "one must continue in efforts to earn and retain salvation." I am not sure what you mean here . . .? If you mean that I believe that one must do works to stay saved, then I will just clarify that is not what I believe. I believe salvation is clearly and...

I have a brother-in-law who clearly professed faith in Jesus Christ, and his life/living seemed to verify that he was a believer. Now he outrightly denies Jesus and has no interest in Him. I conclude that the basis of my brother-in-law's salvation is not if/when he had faith (I do not need to...

I care little about systematic theology and what it says about Scripture. I do care deeply about what the text itself says, and I care even more/most about Jesus Christ and having a deep personal relationship with Him: living in joy, peace, and power over sin in daily life! I look for what...

So do you believe then that the person who has truly been born again and has believed -- is then able to go back into unbelief, and even outrightly deny God, and (if he wants to) can curse and swear at God, and say that he does not want into God's heaven -- but that in the end God will still...

I would suggest the question you ask can simply lead to all kinds of fears, doubts, and theological quagmires. Instead, I think the issue is quite simple: Do you (I) today believe in Jesus Christ as our atoning sacrifice? Yes = heaven No = hell Deep Holy Spirit assurance results from true...

I guess you can accuse me of whatever you want. My concern is that we rightly divide the Word of God. I want as many as possible to have eternal life by finding a deeply rooted faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I would suggest we need to be a bit careful about pulling phrases and ideas from one verse into another unrelated verse and making a conclusion. In other words, I do not think that one can take a phrase from Ephesians 2:8 - "it (salvation) is the gift of God" and then insert it in another...

What do I think? I think that it is quite obvious that mankind today does not know for sure what Ezekiel meant. Just look at the different ideas already presented in this thread. My opinion is that there is likely going to sometime in the future be a Temple built in Jerusalem that matches or...