Numerous people believe in God, attend church, and are convinced that they will someday go to heaven. But of these, far too many are misinformed about salvation.
Some believe that a person’s eternal destiny depends solely on how much good he accomplishes in his lifetime. Others accept that Jesus died for us but think we have to contribute toward salvation through works. Both views are incorrect. Scripture clearly teaches that we are saved only through a personal faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9).
What He did—namely, living a perfect life and dying for our sins—is what makes us right with God. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His completed work is credited to our account. Our sin-debt is paid by His blood, and His righteousness is applied to us. Remember, we are saved not by what we do but by whom we trust—we can’t add to or take away from Christ’s finished work on the cross (John 19:30; Acts 4:12).
There is another common area of misinformation: many are convinced that belonging to a church, reading the Bible, and praying are evidences of being a Christian. These are important, but they’re not what establishes us as God’s children. We are adopted into His family when we acknowledge the insufficiency of our own efforts and embrace what Christ did for us. At that moment, we are set apart for the Lord and belong to Him.
It is essential that our faith be grounded in biblical truth. Receiving forgiveness of our sins, belonging to God’s family, and dwelling with Him forever depend on it. Do your beliefs agree with Scripture?
But sin is so much fun. I’d rather rule in hell.
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I can not deny sin can bring pleasure.. been there – done that. The world offers many pleasures…. but nothing like what I have now.
I hate bursting your bubble, but hell has a ruler already.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you.
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I’ll be damned my spot is occupied? 😉 I am happy too. And all i needed to do was be myself. Thanks for the blessings, though i don’t need em,and good luck to you too.
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Lol! Yes, I am sorry to report the position has been filled.
Everyone deserves to be happy. Some find great joy in being themselves; some find joy in serving others; while others find peace and joy in their personal relationships.
You’re welcome. It never does harm to have a few blessings, as well as, a lot of luck (if that is how one believes. In either case I too wish you the very best life has to offer.
Yours through Christ;
Michael
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It is not unreasonable to hold that the position of “forgive and do not forget” can be presumed. Jesus said “go and sin no more” which at least implies that a person need to remember in order not to repeat the sinful behavior. Remembering thus serves us well for education .
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A very good and stable point…. Thank you.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and keep you.
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“We are adopted into His family when we acknowledge the insufficiency of our own efforts and embrace what Christ did for us.”
How do we embrace what Christ did for us? Would you agree we need to cooperate with God’s grace?
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What do you mean by “co-operate with God’s grace?”
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Truly accept him with a *living* faith that produces good works.
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Good works? Or good fruit? smiling. And no they are not the same. Lol!
God bless you and yours always.
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I think it means the works referred to in James. Feeding the hungry giving to the poor etc.
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
The thing is I think most protestants and Catholics believe pretty much the same things and are quibbling on semantics. I say “most” because I think some of the early reformers like Martin Luther really did reject James. I can tell from another post of yours you too reject Martin Luther’s view of salvation because you seem to agree we can cooperate in God’s Grace by accepting Jesus. Martin Luther thought we had no free will in our salvation at all. These are unbiblical teachings that the Catholic Church rejects.
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What do you mean by co-operate with God’s grace?
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“There is another common area of misinformation: many are convinced that belonging to a church, reading the Bible, and praying are evidences of being a Christian.”
“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
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So very true.
God bless you.
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