A question for Christians

[salmoneous]

We must have different bibles then because mine says:

Romans 10:9-10

9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Telling one group of people how to be saved, doesn't limit God to only using that method.

 

[helenabear]

If there is a God??

I'm willing to admit that I am not perfect and could be wrong about many things... maybe it is just me, but I would never claim to know everything when I barely have a clue about what this world is really all about.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Telling one group of people how to be saved, doesn't limit God to only using that method.

I agree. That would limit God, and God has no limitations. I believe that God alone decides who enters and who doesn't and all I can do is the best that I can with the gifts He has given me.

 

[Angelhalo]

God doesn't choose. We choose if we want to go to heaven -- by accepting and confessing the gift of Salvation -- the death of His Son on the cross for all sin.

Just saw this, have to agree 100%.

Ok now I'm gone! LOL!

 

[kbkids]

Just wanted to add something I saw once and it sure makes sense to me. "If we could earn it, why did He have to die?" That being said, I also believe the Bible also says, "Faith without works is dead." I don't believe just being good is going to get you there, but I'd have doubts if someone talked the talk but didn't walk the walk - just if they were really sincere when they "confessed with their mouth."

 

[crzyred]

I don't believe you get to heaven on good deeds alone. Yes it's important to do good things. However what about the serial rapist/muderer that on his death bed repents. Does he get in for his "good deeds"?

I believe that you must seek forgiveness for being made human ( a condition that is out of our control). You have to have faith that God sent His only Son for us.

I believe we all get the chance at heaven. However it is up to the individual person if they choose to accept the things that God has done for them or not.

 

[bluefairy13]

I think we tend to limit God all the time, mostly because we are human and can't imagine His power.

You need good works because without them you can say that you are saved but must not really have accepted God or you'd be doing them.

LOL I don't even know if that made sense. I mean, if you go around saying you believe and are saved but aren't backing it up with good works, then you probably are a little full of it and maybe not as close to God as you think.

And remember what Jesus told us about the prodigal son - we might be surprised who God joyfully welcomes! And frankly, it really isn't our business!


EDITED TO ADD - I just saw kbkid's post! You said it better than me!

 

[mallcat]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16.

I believe Jesus died for my sins. Confess. Repent. Believe. And live a life according to His Word.

 

[Golf4food]

I will not make this a debate; if someone else wants to, I'll join in. I'm curious how other Christians will answer.

If you were standing before God & He were to ask you, "Why should I let you into My heaven?", what would you say?

I will wait to post my answer until later.

You shouldn't - I'm not worthy. But Jesus died so that you would let me in if I only believe in Him, and I do.

 

[Art Vandalay]

I guess a lot of this thread is precisely the problem I have with organized religion. I don't have all the answers. But I do know that no God I'll ever believe in would deny someone who is good of heart. My personal belief, take it for whatever it's worth.

 

[live4christp1]

Romans 3:23 - For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9 - That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 - For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:38 & 39 - For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 & 9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Exodus 20:3 - 5 - You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any graven image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

He wouldn't have to ask, he would know from the way I lived my life.

So true.

I wiish I knew all the answers for sure. FWIW, the Bible even states good works are necessary.

My religions isn't near as black and white. If there is a God only he can decide who belongs. Nothing I could say would be convincing enough. All I can say is I did my best and followed what my heart told me to do.

Very true.

I agree. That would limit God, and God has no limitations. I believe that God alone decides who enters and who doesn't and all I can do is the best that I can with the gifts He has given me.

I believe that you must seek forgiveness for being made human ( a condition that is out of our control). You have to have faith that God sent His only Son for us.

Why do we have to be forgiven for being made by Him? He made us human. And God is supposed to be infallible. So are you saying that He made a mistake by making us human? Why should a person seek to be forgiven for being made a certain way? Does that mean that a person who was born deaf should ask for forgiveness for being made deaf? Or a person who was born without legs?

I guess a lot of this thread is precisely the problem I have with organized religion. I don't have all the answers. But I do know that no God I'll ever believe in would deny someone who is good of heart. My personal belief, take it for whatever it's worth.

I believe the same way.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

Can't get there by being judgemental either!

SNAP!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I'm glad God grades on a curve.

 

[lovetomow]

Why do we have to be forgiven for being made by Him? He made us human. And God is supposed to be infallible. So are you saying that He made a mistake by making us human? Why should a person seek to be forgiven for being made a certain way? Does that mean that a person who was born deaf should ask for forgiveness for being made deaf? Or a person who was born without legs?

I think the poster was trying to get across is we were made in God's image by him, but he gave us free will to do as we please. Some choose to do good and some to do bad (really all humans do bad some of the time). That is why we need his forgiveness and why he sent his son to pay the price for our bad deeds (aka sin)!

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I guess a lot of this thread is precisely the problem I have with organized religion. I don't have all the answers. But I do know that no God I'll ever believe in would deny someone who is good of heart. My personal belief, take it for whatever it's worth.

Amazing how quickly one will tell you that your beliefs are wrong. They'll all try to "save" you.

~Amanda

 

[nuke]

Amazing how quickly one will tell you that your beliefs are wrong. They'll all try to "save" you.

~Amanda

All while saying they are not judgemental.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

The bashers have arrived.

 

[CathrynRose]

He wouldn't have to ask, he would know from the way I lived my life.

Im not a Christian - and this is also how I feel.

I dont have to assign myself to a religion to know that if indeed the afterlife involves a "God" - then I need to live my life knowing I will experience all the pain, as well as the joy - I give to others.