What Do You Believe???

[Penticostal-Churchie-Gurl]

Hi. My name is Cat. I am new here... I was just wondering what each of you beleve being "saved" is. I kno what I believe, and I kno that people have MANY different beliefs on what that word actually means, so I was just wondering exaclty what each of you believe. I hope I get to know you guys.

God Bless,
-Cat

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Cat,

The answer to this question can be found in the following thread:

http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=5250.0

[Glorybound]

To me being saved was Jesus Christ stretching out his hand to grab hold of me and keep me from the eternity that I deserve.Then knowing that I would continue to sin and mess up as long as I was on this earth,promise to never leave me. Always beside me, always my comfort, always my friend.

I am so Blessed

[Jenn4God]

Being saved is asking forgiveness and repenting of your sins,asking Jesus Christ into your heart and life, followed by being baptized under water

[Len]

Being saved is asking forgiveness and repenting of your sins,asking Jesus Christ into your heart and life, followed by being baptized under water

While baptism should follow conversion (being saved), it is not necessary for salvation. I don't know if you meant to say it is necessary but I think it is important to know that salvation was finished at Calvary.

[Soldier4Christ]

While baptism should follow conversion (being saved), it is not necessary for salvation. I don't know if you meant to say it is necessary but I think it is important to know that salvation was finished at Calvary.

Amen!

[Jenn4God]

While baptism should follow conversion (being saved), it is not necessary for salvation. I don't know if you meant to say it is necessary but I think it is important to know that salvation was finished at Calvary.

That depends on your religion. I am Baptist and believe baptism is necessary. If not necessary to obtain salvation then it should still be seen as a way to become closer to God. Either way, being baptized isn't a bad thing.

[Soldier4Christ]

First I want to mention that we don't do denominations here. Christians are of the body of Christ. One body one church ..... 

Second I was raised in a Baptist church. Baptism is not a requirement of salvation. Baptism is extended to those that have already professed their salvation as an outward sign of their faith. Their are many people that have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour that are not able to be baptized due to a physical condition. We also see where Jesus told the thief on the cross that they would be together in paradise. If baptism were absolutely necessary for salvation then that would make Jesus a liar and we all know that Jesus does not lie.

[Shammu]

Christians are of the body of Christ. One body one church ..... 

Their are many people that have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour that are not able to be baptized due to a physical condition. We also see where Jesus told the thief on the cross that they would be together in paradise. If baptism were absolutely necessary for salvation then that would make Jesus a liar and we all know that Jesus does not lie.

AMEN!! Pastor Roger

[doc]

Hey, Cat,

Us old guys have to boil everything down and not waste time - it's precious to us as The End approaches.  We have already wasted too much of it.

The word believe is used in my NKJV NT 148 times - half those are in RED, and you know what that means.

I must do what The Word commands to be assured of my salvation, so every one of those "believe" commands will be followed by me as He empowers me through His Holy Spirit.

Don't ask us, Cat, read what He says and do it, and He will give you the power to do it.

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."  James 1:21-22  NKJV


Can you say AMEN?

doc

[Len]

Hey, Cat,

Us old guys have to boil everything down and not waste time - it's precious to us as The End approaches.  We have already wasted too much of it.

The word believe is used in my NKJV NT 148 times - half those are in RED, and you know what that means.

I must do what The Word commands to be assured of my salvation, so every one of those "believe" commands will be followed by me as He empowers me through His Holy Spirit.

Don't ask us, Cat, read what He says and do it, and He will give you the power to do it.

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."  James 1:21-22  NKJV


Can you say AMEN?

doc

Not to that, Doc. Ephesians 2:8,9 makes it clear that salvation comes by GRACE through faith..."

Grace, man, grace. I repeat...grace. Five little letters (in our language). Not grace and works. Not grace and deeds. Not grace and anything else. Just grace. Even the faith that brings grace is from God, not from within ourselves.

If you teach that salvation requires works/deeds for assurance, you teach heresy. This is not an opinion. It is fact drawn from the Word of God.

[Len]

That depends on your religion. I am Baptist and believe baptism is necessary. If not necessary to obtain salvation then it should still be seen as a way to become closer to God. Either way, being baptized isn't a bad thing.

Then you believe a lie. I hate yo be so blunt but truth is, by nature, offensive.

[Amorus]

(NIV) LUKE 23: 40-43
 
But the other criminal rebuked him.  "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deed deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong."  Then he said, " Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, " I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Blessings!
-Am-

[doc]

Greetings, Len,

I understand your pov re:grace, I am glad for it also.

 Luther couldn't handle James either.  He wanted to heat his home with it and stuck it as the last book before Revelations in his German translation from the Greek.

Nevertheless we must include James "Spirit Breathed" writings too.  Faith without works (read: Spirit directed works) is dead !

The Hebrew writer proved that there is such a thing as uninspired works - a huge problem among the milk Christian and the unsaved.

"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God..."    Hebrews 6:1   NKJV
This does indeed refer to the old Hebrew sacrificial practices which were merit based, but it also applies to poorly motivated works among born again Christians today.


What did James say?  "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works , is dead.   But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works ." Show me your faith without your works , and I will show you my faith by my works .  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!   But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?   
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works , and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works , and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."    James 2:17-26  NKJV


These verses have to be taught and lived out while kept in balance with Paul's teachings of "faith/grace only".  Paul is addressing the salvation process - James speaks of the Christian lifestyle and world view.

No heresy intended here, Len, simply progressive sanctification, which is expected (by God) of all of us.

In Christ,
doc

[Soldier4Christ]

The book of James is best understood by reading what Jesus had to say in Luke 6 in the parable of the fruit. A person will be known by their fruits. "Good works are not a requirement of salvation but rather a result of salvation." A statement not found directly in the Bible yet one that is there all the same. A person that is saved will have the desire to do what is good in the eyes of God and should feel remorse (guilt) in any failure to do so.