[bremenboy]

.

After careful thought and consideration on what the Baptist teach concerning being saved by faith + Noting or saved by Faith + Prayer. I am left puzzled

I find a great problem. If the Baptist teach Faith only, No works == salvation, then to add Prayer before salvation would be a work that you must do. A true Baptist must deny this . However if put after salvation then not necessary to be saved. Since all the baptist Web sights and all the Baptist I have ever heard including Bill Graham(http://bgea.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp) tell everyone to pray and ask Jesus into their Heart then one of the Following must be true

1. That you can be saved without Jesus in your Heart

2.The Baptist say Faith only but don’t believe it

3. That Jesus is already in their heart and you are asking Jesus to do that which he has all ready done. That would make no sense and would show a lack of faith that he was truly in your heart

when one goes down the road of false Doctrine one will hit a dead end

[Larry Lucido]

Bremenboy, I think the way is straight and narrow, but I don’t think it is deliberately peppered with doctrinal landmines. I really don’t think there is an “entrance exam” whereby you need to correctly answer questions about methods of baptism, young earth/old earth, limited or unlimited atonement, etc. If you accept Jesus as your Savior, you’re in.

[hocndoc]

you’re just being contentious, now. God bless you and keep you.

[WKB]

After careful thought and consideration on what you
have written I think you need to seek professional help.

[pjr12345]

If salvation is by "faith" only, what is "faith"? Most people equate faith with "belief". But then "belief" itself is a work:

John 6:29 -- Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

So faith must be something other than, or more than "belief".

I submit that the idea of faith by the "faith only" world is ill-defined, even misunderstood.

[Iscool]

then to add Prayer before salvation would be a work that you must do.

Not even close...You ask Jesus to do something...To perform a work in you...Not the other way around...

[HarleyD]

After careful thought and consideration on what the Baptist teach concerning being saved by faith + Noting or saved by Faith + Prayer. I am left puzzled. If the Baptist teach Faith only, No works == salvation, then to add Prayer before salvation would be a work that you must do.

Ah, now you've hit the nail on the head but you're wrong to believe this to be strictly a Baptist problem. This is precisely the error that is taught today that most refuse to acknowledge. How can you pray if you can do nothing good, doesn't faith come from God, and isn't prayer in itself a good work? How could all this happen BEFORE one is made capable and equiped to do these good deeds?

There are only two schools of thought; 1) either God instills in you faith and gives you the desire and ability to ask forgiveness BEFORE you prayer, or 2) you generated it on your own behalf. This isn't just a Baptist issue but a fundamental Christian issue. Most people today are in the #2 camp.

I would agree that "when one goes down the road of false Doctrine one will hit a dead end" but I would suggest #2 is the dead end.