Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

You can receive the gift of eternal life by asking for, beleiving in, [/b]and ecepting the gift of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.

[/b]
Just admit three things:

[/b][/size]1. I am a sinner. [/b][/color] (Romans 3:23) King James Version
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

[/color][/b]2. I am doomed to die. [/color][/b](Romans 6:23)
King James Version
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

[/b][/color]3. I cannot save myself [/color][/b] (john 15:5) King James Version
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."


[/size][/b][/color]Then, believe three things:[/align][/b][/size][/color]

[/b]1. He died for me [/color][/b](Hebrews chapter 2:9)
King James Version
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

[/color][/b]2. He forgives me [/color][/b](1 John chapter 1:9)
King James Version
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

[/b][/color]3. He saves me. [/b][/color](John chapter 6:47)
King James Version
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me
hath everlasting life."

You forgot repentance and being born again and the resurrection.

Salvation isn't "making a decision for Christ". It isn't "praying the prayer" or any of these other "Christan" cliches.

Salvation is forever tied up with the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. He gives us spiritual life. He opens our spiritual eyes. We are given a new nature and a new heart. We are granted the gifts of faith and repentance. We are completely changed from the inside out by the miraculous hand of Almighty God.

Any discussion about salvation that forgets the work of the Spirit is akin to asking a dead man to go for a walk. Dead men need to be resurrected, and it is the Son of God who resurrects the dead.

Also, it does nothing to say "He died for you", if you never mention the resurrection. Scripture says that He was raised for a justification. Without the resurrection on the third day we are left with a dead carpenter, and no savior at all. Every time the Gospel is preached in scripture, the resurrection is mentioned.

All the faith in the world won't help you with out repentance. The Bible repeatedly says, "Repent and believe the Gospel." If you don't turn from sin in repentance, you can't turn to Christ in faith."


Matt

I do appreciate the correction, and I did title that Jesus died for us. I want to apologize for no being thorough, and I will be more careful from now on. Thank You

Hey, your response is very refreshing. All we can ask for is that people be as willing to be corrected as you are. The Lord knows that I have to work on that too. I don't know if I'd be able to respond like you just did. You have greatly humbled me.

When it comes to the gospel, I like to be thorough because literally lives are at stake. Also, there are many abuses and distortions of the gospel in the world today so being thorough helps to preserve the gospel from distortion by false teachers. If we preach the gospel message without editing and reduction, we bring God glory, lives might be saved, and revival might break out.

You may also want to check out the thread on Justification. I'd be interested in getting your thoughts. I think it's either under the New Covenant or Building a Spiritual Foundation sections.

May God bless you as you seek to bring others to the knowledge of the Savior.

Matt