What is the true path to salvation?

[wwjdn]

I would like to encourage Christians in a discussion, if you are an atheist then please go to another post.

As a Christian I wanted to discuss what I now consider false teachings that I have heard in my own churches over the past forty years. I have been in a Christian family since birth and it has been a great experience. Please know that I am learning more each day about God and I am but his humble servant trying to spread his word.

Unfortunately today churches are becoming more and more politically correct (PC) which is denying God his authority. He has been very specific in the path to redemption.

Here is the path to heaven “as I see it” in the New Testament:

Salvation: John 3:16- 18. 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

So salvation comes only from belief in the Son of God, Jesus

Then comes baptism: John 3:3-7 ; 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.'

Therefore, you must be born again of water and spirit.

Then comes the harder part, living for God in his body (works). Luke 9:23-26 - 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 14:26-27 - "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:38-42 - 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Mark 8:33-38 - 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

So it would seem to me that following God's will and taking up the cross is also necessary.

I have always been taught that salvation was accepting Jesus and baptism, and yet these scriptures appear to me to state an entirely different path.

I have been a Christian most of my life and until recently I cannot say that I have been in the presence of God. The difference is following God, obediently and faithfully. To do his works, to let him work through me has been a blessing. The verse John 14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. speaks to me and lets me know that anything I accomplish is God working through me, not me by myself.

So I ask that you pray diligently and faithfully to seek God’s wisdom before you fall into today’s “feel good religions”. If you truly have God in your heart, you will be lifted up on angel’s wings. On the other hand if you go to church to feel good, then Satan is knocking on your door.

[wwjdn]

Excellent site, thanks.

[f.Christian]

The wages of (religion-works)sin is death(futility) vs. life everlasting(Gospel--Evangelical Christianity)!

Good News For The Day

Look back to the cross of our Messiah and King - that brings the faith that justifies. Look forward to the Second Coming which will consummate the everlasting righteousness already legally achieved - that brings the hope that sanctifies. Look upward to the throne where Christ ministers as our High Priest in the holy of holies, the anointed sanctuary - that brings the love that satisfies. Dr. Desmond Ford---Daniel and the Coming King Page 138

[LTCJ]

Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work of the Holy Spirit. Like works, it is the natural response to the saving, and completely sufficient, grace of God. It is not the water nor the cross that saves, but the work of the Lamb upon the cross that saves us. Out of obedience to Him I entered the water, showing the world a picture of His death, burial, and resurrection. Out of response to His love for me and my walk with Him, I do good works. It is not my mortal self, it is the Christ in me that takes me into the fields.

There is not the slightest drop nor ocean full of water sufficient to take the place of, or add to, the grace of Christ Jesus. Neither is there any work, great or small, that I need add to His finished work. If it were so, it would confess His insufficiency; it would make a lie of His cry on the cross, "Tetelestai"!

[wwjdn]

Parables were using in the Bible to teach Godly lessons to common people. They are in a simple language so that believers can understand, they were simple illustrations of Godly ideals.

"Jesus taught the people by telling stories told parables, using familair scenes to teach spritual truth. This method of teaching compells the listener to think. It conceals the truth from those who are too stuborn and prejudiced to hear what is being taught. Most parables have one main point, so we must be careful not to go beyond what Jesus intended to teach." (Mark 4:2 Study note in a study Bible)

Parables are simple to understand, unless you don't want to understand. Anyone that tells you that no one should ever explain a parable is hiding the truth of the Bible.

[CapandBall]

Who is qualified to interpret the Bible for you? Anyone who has the audacity to claim superior knowledge to interpret a parable, or any verse of the Bible, is just a spinning hypocrite. The truth is so simple a child can understand.

Matthew 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

[wwjdn]

I quote a study Bible and you call me a "spinning hypocrite"?

Wow, the Bible must really scare you. I am trying get get people to think about their eternal souls and you are flaming me.

Sorry you are barking up the wrong tree.

[Jn316]

I hear you my Brother and i'm not a Bible Scholar by any means...That's what I love about the thief on the cross.

You can argue 'til you're blue in the face about different denominations (see FreeRepulic.com ;-) Wesley, Luther etc...but the thief on the cross breaks it all down...

God Bless You! and have a great Thanksgiving.

[wwjdn]

Thanks. I hope you also have a happy Thanksgiving.

God Bless.

[BigBlueJon]

1. Review of Plan of Salvation

A. Hear - Romans 10:17
B. Believe - Hebrews 11:6
C. Repent - Luke 13:3
D. Confess - Romans 10:9, 1 Timothy 6:12
E. Baptized - Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21

[InvisibleChurch]

ACTS 16 : 31

It's all very simple , actually.

[joathome]

"I used to believe in salvation by faith alone, but I can no longer believe that this is true."

Then, I suppose it would be pointless to bring anyone to Christ on their deathbed, heh?

[TexanaRED]

Pray and ask God to lead you to a church. He will.

[Coleus]

First you must become Catholic.

[CapandBall]

Sorry to give you the wrong impression wwjdn. I would consider the author of the study to be the spinning hypocrite, not you.

I love the Bible and have read it read it daily for over 30 years. I am irked at those who set themselves up as authorities to mediate or dictate it's meaning to me or others. It says what it says. Intermediaries just add an unnecessary level of complexity.

Again, I didnt mean to cause you to feel flamed. I endevor to cause people to think about their eternal souls as well.

Good luck in your quest, the answer (re:What is the true path to salvation?) lies within you.

Peace & Happy Thanksgiving.

[birddog]

Check to see if you have a Presbyterian (PCA) church in town. It is very conservative compared to the USA main branch. We believe in that the Bible IS the work of good and complete.

Good luck!

[dixiemelody]

Our preacher told us that believe in Hebrew meant more than just the thought process of believing. It had action to it. I'm not saying that we must do works to get to Heaven, but I think that along with believing has to come living your life for Jesus. I mean, Satan knows and believes in Jesus, but he certainly isn't saved.

[oldpath]

"Hmm...this is a relatively small town and I'm not sure there are any. If so, you're right, that's probably the best thing to do."

Can I suggest that you just simply pray and ask the Lord to show you.
He speaks to us through His Word today. Read the book of John and as you do,ask God to show you through His Word. When you pray to him ,ask Him to send someone your way and show you more. God will see your Sincerity and He will answer your prayer!

There is a story in the book of Acts where the Holy Spirit sends Philip to an ethiopian eunich. The man was reading in the book of Isaiah about Jesus and he was sincerily asking God for answers and God sent Philip to show him the way!

Your town is not to small for God to find you. His love for you is without measure! When I came to Him, I thought that I was searching for Him. But in all reality, He was searching and calling for me!! I was the one who was lost. The Son of God came to seek and to save that which was lost. I am so glad that He found me and I will be praying that when he calls for you, that you will answer Him.

God Bless

[oldpath]

"So explain how one of the 12 disciples of Jesus who was clearly saved by faith is now waiting to go to the devil?

Where does it clearly state that Judas was saved by faith?

[RaceBannon]

The Bible mentions nothing about a denomination.

[wwjdn]

See post #60...of course there is.