Re. Salvation -- Friends Sharing Scripture

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Subject: Re. Salvation

Author:
Sandy

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Date Posted: 16:17:00 02/06/10 Sat
In reply to: Hillbilly 's message, "Salvation" on 11:14:06 02/06/10 Sat

I do not judge anothers salvation once they have come to believe. So therefore, I agree salvation begins once we do begin to see who Christ was, believing in Him as our Lord and Savior just as you seem to be saying Hillbilly.

But I also do not believe it ends there either. meaning once we do believe we are then told to repent, repentance to me meaning to do an about face as a result of what we have come to believe.

And then once we do truly repent, we are told then to come and follow after Him also.

So therefore, I believe as we do take up our cross and begin to follow after HIM, we then should be baptized in faith, believing for God to do what He has promised to do at that time within our hearts and lives.

And the same concerning the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Those three things seeminly having to do with the foundational principles of Christ according to what it says in Acts 2:38 as well as Hebr. 6:1-2 and many other scriptures that seems to tell us this is what they did in the beginning or the church age anyway. Whether it goes into ful detail about this everywhere in that book or not. Which there does seem to be variations of what was described they did always after Acts 2:38. One still needs to continue on into what is then written in Hebr. 6:4, as God permits of course. And seeminly what is written there in verses 6:1-2 seems to consist of what needs to happen to lay the foundational principles of Christ in ones life. Whether all scripture in Acts says they did so or not, many others in that same book does say just what is written there in Hebrews.

But yes, everyone begins by believing period. And nobody can begin until they do begin to "see" who Christ was and believe. But as I said, that is only the beginning, not the end.

But whether one does do what I personally believe one should do entirely or not, concerning ones salvation in the end, is not mine to judge at all, one way or the other. Meaning what I see concerning final judgement, isn't going to make any difference on that day at all. It is what God says then that is going to make the difference entirely.

But I also believe building a solid foundation is wise too, before beginning to build a house. And since I see God doing something important when we do what He he has said to do when laying that foundation, which IMHO does consist of repentance and baptisms. It is wise we do so, so that God can continue to build the house from then as well. Saying that because I do not believe scripture tells us to do anything that God is not involved in doing something within us when we do whatever it is we are told to do. His having a purpose for everything. Whether we know or understand that purpose of not. And this include repentance, as well as the baptisms, along with everything else we do thereafter too.

But who is saved, I leave that up to the Lord entirely anymore. Didn't at one time, but since then realized what I think isn't going to matter a wit in the end at all. It is still what God says period, that is going to matter. For it is He that we will come before at whichever judgement seat we appear at finally. And what man thinks or says then will not matter a wit anymore on that day at all. So I might say to one, I do not believe your saved, and I just might be as wrong as two left feet if and when I do.

So when I share anything with believers, my thoughts are not on whether they are saved. But whether they are walking in all that God has for us to walk in right here in the here and now. Only if someone tells me they do not believe, do I concentrate on that ones salvation. Generally praying more than talking to them then. As I can tell another about Jesus Christ until I am blue in the face. But until He reveals Himself to that one, I am wasting my time according to what he said in John chapter 6 period. Meaning until that happens, that one isn't truly going to believe anyway.

That is just my two cents on this subject so far anyway. As sometimes things happen that causes me to change my mind about what I think I do know somehow it seems. Doubtful at my age, that is ever going to change either. :-) Meaning I just think I have everything all figured out, and bam, the Lord says something to me like Are you sure, and I find myself realizing I don't have everything figured out after all. :-)

Luv,

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Replies:

[> [> Subject: Sandy,

Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 16:59:18 02/06/10 Sat

I agree with what you are saying. I have addressed only salvation in this writing. I absolutely agree one should be baptized. I absolutely believe one should walk in a holy Christ centered walk. I believe in repentance and have often had to repent. Repentance is necessary for salvation but I also see that it comes naturally when you have a broken heart and contrite spirit.(Psalm 34:18, 51:17) When you desire Jesus with all your heart there is not room for worldly things to stand between you and Jesus. I believe that repentance unto salvation is to turn to Jesus leaving everything else behind. That will include sins, worldly living, and lustful desires. When a person comes to Jesus for salvation that person must desire Jesus above all. It does not mean you will never sin again. It does not mean you won't desire unholy things again. As long as we live in a house of clay we are going to be troubled by the desires and lusts of the flesh. A Christian though, by the power of Jesus can overcome all these.

There was no way I could cover all the aspects of salvation, baptism, repentance etc. in one short post. That is why I have requested as questions arise as to things or scriptures that might seem to contradict what I have said be made known. Each person has unique takes on scripture but scripture with scripture the Bible teaches only one way. Also one must correctly divide scripture so that Old Testament teachings are not mixed with New Testament teachings for things such as salvation. There are still people who believe they must keep the law in order to be saved. This is contrary to New Testament teachings. With these things in mind I have purposely kept it short and simple hoping that if a question arises we might explore that question in greater detail.

[> [> [> Subject: Hi Hillbilly and all

Author:
Sandy
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Date Posted: 23:38:18 02/06/10 Sat

Oh I was not disagreeing with you at all. Nor am I doing so now about what you have shared to me so far. Just adding to it somewhat.

So if one does come having a heart after God, the rest of those principles will follow, happening in that ones life, as you said. And even more as one does grow in Christ from then on, once they do take place.

Thanks for explaining that. I agree. I also see there are those that do turn back that have received the seed of Christ apparently, according to what I read about this in Matthew chapter 13. Meaning only that that was planted in the good ground will survive.

As there were people that scripture says they believed on him in John 8:30, yet they obviously were not one that continued on with him either, according to what is written in the following verses in that chapter there. In fact he went so far as to tell them their father was not God, but the devil. So IMHO the phrase to believe unto salvation has a much greater meaning than to simply just believe what we heard to begin with, if you undertand what I do mean. The phrase believer is a much bigger word than sometimes we take it as being.

I find it amazing Hillbilly, that amongst all the multitudes he did preach to, which was in the thousands at times. Yet on the day of Pentecost, their was only 120 left amongst all of them that had heard the gospel by Him personally. Meaning only 120 ended up being actually believing unto salvation to that point anyway.

Just some thoughts I have had about the issue of salvation itself. Because as you say, they that are serious will be the ones that do stay and obey and finish what began in the beginning unto the end. Meaning I guess believing unto salvation. Being something different even at first than to just merely believe.

And of course there was also Judas who Jesus said was a devil at the end of John chapter 6 as we all know.

But again, not disagreeing with anything you have said either. Just adding my own thoughts to what it really does mean to beleive unto salvation was all.

luv,
Sandy