Posted on 01/15/2022 5:06:53 PM PST by TNoldman
“Actually we can’t witness as commanded unless we “judge “ that someone does not know the gospel.”
Knowing the gospel of Christ is different than being redeemed.
We, as witnesses, spread the good news and provide the opportunity for salvation. Yet, only God can redeem.
A person can know the gospel, even proclaim their salvation, yet not be redeemed.
We can judge a person’s works yet only God can know their heart.
Titus 3:10 Has instructions for a church to disassociate from someone not willing to receive correction for a heretical belief. But that does not say the guy is not saved.
And if that were not true, then all but probably one of the many divisions of Christianity would perish. But that would be contrary to John 3:16 which says “16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What that verse and none of the verses around it say, is that in addition to believing in Jesus, you must also have correct beliefs about Church governance and correct beliefs about matters of Christian liberty such as consumption of alcohol or how to dress or whether to dance or to go bowling or any of the stupid things that divide us.
And the people who add to that simple message of grace through faith and not of works, they are distorting the salvation message.
But Obama and Buttigieg both say they are Christians. Think they are?
Actually that's not a sin. Not if we understand what being a Christian means. I don't know, but I suspect his friend is in error, not the guys wife.
Scripture tells us. We are supposed to discern the spirits. We are supposed to confront our neighbor frankly so that we don't share in their sin. We are supposed to warn the wicked so that God doesn't hold us accountable for their blood. And to do any of that, we need to recognize sin. More importantly we need to understand salvation.
Jesus said to get the board out of your own eye so you can see clearly to help your neighbor get the splinter out of his. But he didn't say not to help your neighbor.
The judging that we are not to do is what Jonah did with Ninevah. Ninevah was wicked. Everyone knew it. Nobody sinned by saying Ninevah was wicked. Jonah sinned because he judged them as unworthy of God's love and grace. Jonah didn't want to go preach God's grace to them. He wanted Ninevah to get what was coming to them. Fortunately for Ninevah's sake God used a rather large fish to convince Jonah to be obedient and go preach to Ninevah. And Ninevah repented, which made Jonah angry. And then in the 4th chapter of the book of Jonah, God deals with Jonah's anger.
Judging people as unworthy of God's grace is a sin. Determining whether or not they have trusted in Jesus, isn't a sin. At least not if you have the facts on what the person believes.
Salvation is not that of a letter-correct form, nor of attaining salvation by being good enough, but, by the grace of God, it is that of a contrite and honest heart that wants light over darkness, (Jn. 2:19-21) and thus comes to God for mercy and believes on the Mercy of God incarnated, on the crucified and risen Lord Jesus who alone can save them on His account, by His sinless shed blood and righteousness. And who thus are baptized (if possible) and follow Him.
Who "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, (Romans 8:32)" and who Himself "loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Thanks be to God!
Thus it is up to use to respond in honest repentance and faith.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
Thanks be to God.
You’re trying to argue something rather stupid and childish versus realistic. We know Obama was a muslim, and you don’t get to judge buttplug if he claims he is a christian. What you’re childishly trying to claim is that I judge who is and therefore a husband in the story can claim his wife is not. Sorry, doesn’t wash with me. My biggest pet peeve in religion are all the Holier Than Thou types who read the most obscure thing in the Bible then hang their judgement of everyone else on it. Put 100 of these types in a room and no one is a Christian like they are a Christian. You seem like one of those annoying nerds.
Sorry, Sunshine, but holding other accountable for their acts is not the same as judging their beliefs.
A rare find, frozen chosen! What is its name (PM if you want to).
Some of what you may deem “stupid things” may in fact not be. It can fall to the point of worshiping Christ in vain (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7).
And I mentioned nothing about being saved, since that applies to those who “endure to the end” (Matthew 24:13).
That’s a good question. The answer is if they don’t accept Christ all they are doing is getting wet.
This type of question also applies to all my good Baptist friends who claim a doctrine of faith only. Faith only? You mean I don’t have to repent of my sins? That of course is a false doctrine.
What about my good Baptist friends who say salvation happens by praying the believers prayer. Really? That’s all? I don’t have to confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior? Again praying the believers prayer is a false doctrine.
And what about my good Baptist friends that say it is by grace that you’ve been saved. Well that’s absolutely true. Of course. But if you’re going to leave out the need to believe the word and be baptized, then God’s grace simply does not apply to you.
You keep proving my point each time you say Obama is a Muslim when he himself says he’s a Christian. IOW, it’s pretty reasonable to judge someone as not being a Christian if nothing in their life reflects basic Christian principles.
The points going right over your head but you are the one that was being holier than thou.
be the husband and the man, tell your friend to go fish!
.......or tell him to just go jump in the lake.
Evil monsters live among us and look like regular people. This person is not a friend.
Jesus saves.
I find it difficult to believe that a loving, New Testament, God would deny entry to Heaven to those who are of a different religion or denomination who have led honorable lives within their own religions since most religions promote similar values. History is replete with those who use religion for their own purposes to the detriment of the good name of those who choose to believe.
Your reply post was most helpful, and exactly what i needed to read, Thank you.
The Lord works in mysterious ways. All this just for me to read your post.
Thanks for asking.
Great Rock Church
Danvers, Ma.
Live services on YouTube at 9 and 11.
And 7 wed. Nite.
Here’s a link to one of the first messages I heard there and realized the pastor is special. Psalm 23.
No one but the preacher can ever be saved in a Evangelical Church! Everybody is going to hell for one reason or the other. All you have to say” by what authority in Heaven gave you this power to judge who will and will not get into Gods kingdom? I thought that was God’s call not yours?”
Not the act, but the heart-purifying faith that is behind it. For true faith effects obedience, and thus the promise can be made that if one acts according to repentant faith then they will be saved, as well as that by believing one will be saved (as in Acts 2:38, with repentance and baptism meaning believe, which word is missing in that promise). Likewise the Lord used the effect of forgiveness interchangeably with the cause, however, the effect must not be confused with the cause.
Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (Mark 2:9-11)
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10:43-45)
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)"
Faith that refuses to be baptized when knowing it is commanded is not faith, nor one who refuses to provide for his own. However, all that we do that is not consistent with faith in the Lord Jesus is sin, yet saving faith is also that which repents when convicted of sin. I have a lot of experience in that.
From your description, your friend sounds like he/she is the one with the troubled soul and needs our prayers more than your wife.
Yes, Pastor Matt, I hear him on Salem radio WEZE (but which station has become increasing liberal). Thank God for such an exception.
I have every confidence that unbaptized people are welcome in heaven.
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