Posted on 02/25/2002 11:01:41 PM PST by fortheDeclaration
So now you know how you truly mean it.
But isn't it the arminian position which claims, "Free at first, free at first, thank God Almighty I'm free at first."?
(I don't think this is saying, "Free at the last moments of my life, free at the last moments of my life..." I think it is saying, we were not free until the Lord regenerated us)
Jean
Of course I know how I meant it; God placed a longing for her in my heart. So I pursued her! I know how I meant it when I cried to God; God placed a longing for Him in my heart. While I was dead God made me alive with Christ. When I saw what He had done for me, the longing in my heart was kindled for Him.
So, if anyone in the last moments of his life simply says: "I accept Christ into my heart" is he saved?
John 3:16-17 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
The Bible does not say there, "The few elect." It says the world, or all people.
In 1 Timothy 2:3-4, it states that "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."
Nor does the Bible say there, "The few elect."
As for the Calvinist belief that once people are saved, they stay always saved, that is not true either. In the Bible it says in the beginning that Saul had the Spirit of God within him and it also says that he fell away. Take also for the example, that of King Joash in 2 Chronicles, that is a similiar story there.
Freedom how does one will that? How does one become a whosoever?
Get a grip. Christ died for all sins of all men. He was the Sacrifice for us to erase our sins before God. However, we must accept that sacrifice, and adopt the necessary attitude towards it--else it does no good whatsoever.
The OT concept of sacrifice was to kill an animal and offer it to God--symbolizing the killing of our sins toward Him. The reason people sacrificed their bast animals (or should have) was to show God that we were giving our best towards Him. However, killing animals was never a good enough sacrifice for all our sins--it just pushed them back a little.
Christ changed that. He became our sacrifice for all time. A perfect, blameless sacrifice that would mean we never have to perform sacrifices of animals to God again. However, without belief, without the acceptance of what that sacrifice means, it does nothing. It would be just as if the shepard killed a lamb out of hunger, rather than on an altar. Then same thing is accomplished (killing of the lamb), but the results are vastly different--because of the attitude of the shepard.
That is the meaning of sacrifice, and why we must take the attitude of acceptance towards His sacrifice--otherwise a lamb is just killed, with no meaning behind it.
You're not listening. If anyone, in the last moments of life, truly repents, and accepts Christ as his Saviour, then he will be saved. If he merely utters the words, without conviction, then he is not saved.
How is it then that the world has more non Christans ,and more unsaved than saved..where is the "all"
To call His elect!
Freedom in Jesus Christ means freedom from the bondages of slavery to sin. That is true freedom and is even better than political freedom.
So, are you saying that in Christ Jesus we have freedom, but without Christ Jesus we have the bondage of sin? How can one under the bondage of sin become free on his own merit?
In 1 Timothy 2:3-4, it states that "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."
BTW, if you read this verse that Jesus wants all men without exception to be saved, then this verse, in its proper context, must also teach that we are to pray for the very overthrow of the PROPHECIES of the book of Revelation.
Nor does the Bible say there, "The few elect."
Correct, my Bible say THE elect. My NIV, which I don't really like much, even has the word Predestination. I guess that means you have false beliefs contrary to even your Bible. What do you plan to do about this?
No, I'm reading what you post and asking you questions: How does one truly repent and accept Christ? How does one, on his own get convicted? I already said "I accept Christ"! What more is required?
Shadow each man had to raise or purchase his own animal, bring it to the temple and offer it himself...it was never a general redemption
Isn't the refusal to accept that Sacrifice a sin?
Are you asking me whether we can make the decision to truly mean it, or are you saying that God puts that conviction in us (thus Him choosing us)?
God chooses all of us. If you don't believe you have the ability to make a simple decision, then I can't help you with your question.
Are you suggesting that making the decision is "really meaning it?" Well, I decided to say it, isn't that enough?
Do you really mean this Shadow? I would say the problem with many is they THINK it is a simple decision..and they THINK they are saved..neithor is true
Is there any Arminian who can explain how I can be saved?
ShadowAce: You're not listening. If anyone, in the last moments of life, truly repents, and accepts Christ as his Saviour, then he will be saved. If he merely utters the words, without conviction, then he is not saved."
While I agree with ShadowAce, I don't know of too many people on their death beds who are merely uttering such words without conviction. Usually, when people are about to die, if they are thinking about Jesus, they mean it.
I think they sincerely mean that they do not want to go to hell and this might do it..not that they truly mean that Jesus is Lord
So, are you saying that I cannot simply say "I accept Jesus into my heart" and I will be saved. How does one "mean it?"
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