Thoughts on Salvation?

[Saxsoon]

I think it is a two way street. In my Methodist church, obviously acceptance of Christ comes first before anything else, but one can still mess it up. One should try to lead a Christlike life and help people out. The song Deeds by Sanctus Real comes to mind. One can sit in a church pew and do nothing at all and is just going through the motions. Doing just good deeds isn't enough either. You need both as you can't have one without the other.

Obviously I don't know how God thinks, but I would like to think this way. He knows how one truly feels, and knows the reasons for why they believe what they believe. If you did it just to escape Hellfire, and keep on living your life like nothing happened, well, I think you get the picture.

What do people think if they were to leave Christianity. Are they still saved?


Also, I have seen a thread like this turn into a hot debate on the subject, so maybe we should tread lightly. On that debate though, I thought quite a bit about the matter. It was being used as a way for some people to say that God is either extremely weak or extremely cruel. I figured that just because God knows what is going to happen to us, it doesn't mean He made us do it. We chose to follow him, and he just knows how it will turn out. It would be the equivalent of Biff taking the Almanac in BttF. He knew the outcome, but he didn't influence it.

 

[LuvDuke]

I don't believe in it at all, but that's just me. I believe that if you lead a good life you're going to be okay no matter what actually happens.

I'm with you. Although if I'm wrong, I'll be saving seats at the bar in Purgatory.

 

[singingpixie]

I mostly fall into the Arminian category. I don't believe that someone can be saved at age 12 (or whatever) and then fall into an "unchristian" (whatever that means) lifestyle for the majority of their adult lives, but go on to heaven because of what they believed as a young person. I believe that salvation comes from accepting Christ in your heart, and that isn't just a one-time decision. There is often a first time that you accept Him (thought of by many as being "born again" or "saved") but you have to continue choosing to have Him in your life for the rest of your time on earth. By continuting to choose to have Christ in your life, Christians are led to lead generally "good" lives, but of course, as human beings, we still sin. I guess basically what I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that salvation is linked with sin or lack thereof; rather it is associated with belief in one's heart. It is this belief that leads our actions.

 

[Saxsoon]

I mostly fall into the Arminian category. I don't believe that someone can be saved at age 12 (or whatever) and then fall into an "unchristian" (whatever that means) lifestyle for the majority of their adult lives, but go on to heaven because of what they believed as a young person. I believe that salvation comes from accepting Christ in your heart, and that isn't just a one-time decision. There is often a first time that you accept Him (thought of by many as being "born again" or "saved") but you have to continue choosing to have Him in your life for the rest of your time on earth. By continuting to choose to have Christ in your life, Christians are led to lead generally "good" lives, but of course, as human beings, we still sin. I guess basically what I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that salvation is linked with sin or lack thereof; rather it is associated with belief in one's heart. It is this belief that leads our actions.

That is a much better way of putting it than I could have.

 

[ford family]

I'm with you. Although if I'm wrong, I'll be saving seats at the bar in Purgatory.

Save one for me. What's the betting they only take the "Discover" card?

ford family

 

[jimmalru80]

Not going there. Thank you.

 

[JoyG]

I believe once saved always saved but only God truly knows the heart. I know there have been periods in my life that people could look at me on the outside and never in a million years pick me out as a christian...but during those times, in my heart I knew my Father was waiting for me to come home. I was saved even during the backslidden times and God eventually led me back to Him.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think it is so in our egotistical natures to want salvation to center on us and our behavior, it is an illusion of importance to think that how i life my life is the deciding factor for salvation.
When in fact salvation is all about God and his choice to extend grace to us and justify us from the penalty of our sins. Since it is not in His nature to quit loving us(although we can cause Him great pain), I believe that this salvation is secure for all time.
This is just a point of doctrine that my brothers and sisters in Christ can disagree upon.We can meet up in heaven someday and see who was closer in their interpetation !

 

[Judy from Boise]

Also when i ever start to feel like someone who made a sincere decision for Christ, but did not live a "good" life, does not "deserve" salvation I read the parable of the vineyard owner who paid the same wages to workers who worked anywhere from all day, to one hour.

 

[LuvDuke]

Save one for me. What's the betting they only take the "Discover" card?

ford family

I hope they take credit because if they ask for cash, I'm screwed.

 

[CEDmom]

I voted other because I honestly don't spend time much time thinking about it. I just try my best to be a good person and therefore a good Christian. I believe the rest is out of my hands.

 

[ead79]

I believe in secure salvation. I believe that a Christian's change of heart when he/she comes to Christ will be reflected in his/her works, but that salvation is a gift of God, not a result of our good deeds. I do not believe that we can be holy enough for God through our own efforts, but rather that Jesus' sacrifice enabled us to have the opportunity to be made holy if we accept the gift of salvation through Him. I think that a Christian can backslide, but that they are still saved during those times. While I do believe that God knows who will accept salvation through Christ, I do not believe that our choice has been made for us. I believe we have the free will to choose whether or not we will accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.

 

[MassJester]

So, yes, by grace are we saved, and not of 'works' (good deeds, etc...) lest any man should boast. But, as children of Christ, if Christ truly dwells within us, then we are compelled to 'do good'. Because, faith, without works, is dead.

I must say this is a beautiful post. I don't know if I believe in precisely the same way, but it was inspiring reading.

Thank you.

 

[MassJester]

I ...

Now that is a lot of cats.

 

[jimmiej]

I believe "once saved, always saved." The New Testament teaches us that works are a reflection of what has transpired in our lives (salvation). I serve God because He saved me through the death, burial, & resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

I also believe in "pre-destination."

 

[diznygirl]

I believe that once saved - once you accept Jesus as your saviour, then he is always your saviour. But it's an ongoing process to guarantee your place in Heaven. Not exactly either/or, but I'm guessing much closer to the truth.

 

[maddiemouse]

I read a book a couple of years ago, If Grace Is True, Why God Will Save Every Person, by Phillip Gulley. It so completely echoed what I had already believed in my heart.
I believe that we are saved by the grace of God, not by our actions, or words(we don't have to DECLARE that Jesus is our Saviour) or by anything we do or don't do.
I don't believe that only Christians are saved.
I believe that the love of the Supreme Being that created us is so beyond our comprehension, that, well, it's beyond our comprehension.
I think that the most horrible person that ever lived, will feel the pain that they have caused others, and understand what they have done, and that will create in them the ability to love without fear, and THAT is salvation.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I voted for other.

I believe the only way to loose your salvation is to stop believing that Jesus came, died and was burried to save us from our sins.

 

[aquinas]

First & foremost, i worship a sovereign Lord. Sovereign in ALL things. Therefore, since God is sovereign, He is in control of ALL things. From before the beginning of time until the end of time. He has predestined and had foreknowlegde of every person on this Earth.

I do not see how you can read Romans 8 & 9, and come away with not believing in predestination.

As far as losing one's salvation, How can we lose something that we had nothing to do with earning? Through God's grace through faith we are called unto Him and are saved. If we could lose our salvation then we are saying that through OUR works we keep our salvation. "No one is righteous". We can never be good enough to keep much less earn our salvation. Being a "good" person never works because when we compare ourselves vertically instead of horizontally, we ALL fall short.

 

[goofygirl]

"Being saved" is not really stressed in my faith like it is in other denominations. I think once you are saved (i.e., declare yourself a follower of Christ) you are saved. Of course, you can go astray, but you can come back.

I found this about the Episcopal church, which I belong to:


"We believe there is One God who creates all things, redeems us from sin and death, and renews us as the Children of God. As Episcopalians we promise to follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of our church is restoration of all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. We are enriched by your presence with us."