Posted on 08/07/2010 9:06:12 AM PDT by marthemaria
When Christ was crucified, the Good Thief who was crucified at the same time, said that he, himself, was a sinner and deserved to be put to death, but that Jesus was not a thief and did not deserve to die. Jesus replied to him, “This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”
God doesn't care about the love and kindness in you...No matter how loving and kind you are, it is meaningless to God...
There is only one remedy...And that is to turn to Jesus (repent)...Acknowledge Jesus as your only remedy and as the Savior, call on Jesus and then accept His free gift of salvation...He will then put His loving kindness into your spirit...
geesh...you STILL didn’t answer my question!!!!!
Wow.
You seem fully conversant with scripture. Considering my multiple posts to this thread attempting to answer a person who appears to be struggling with Grace, I'm amazed by your post.
I would encourage you to ponder 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (Is the New American Standard translation more to your liking for accuracy?)
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
I am well aware that this passage is directed at the teaching false doctrine, but the concept of people who focus on generating controversies based on wording is what I'm concerned with.
As is generally the case on these threads, people will divert from the original question and start flaming about some minutiae.
This will be my only response to you as I refuse to engage in that sort of chaos.
Rather than accuse me of trying to 'lead people in to error' perhaps in the future you could post something helpful to the discussion and ask me to clarify what I meant.
I don’t know that comparing child rearing to God’s merciful forgiveness is quite accurate.
really.....
Reading your response post brought tears to my eyes because, I feel that I have fallen off the wagon and your kind words have given me hope.
I feel much better inside knowing this. God knows, and I know, that I do not read Gods Bible like I know that I should. Also though, God knows that I try my very best to be a good man every day. To every person I meet.
I have never thought that I have lost faith in God. Sometimes I stray. And Stray big sometimes. It seems that I stray when ‘things are going good in my life’. I guess this is one of those things God talks about in the Bible too.
Thank you again. You have inspired me to get back to reading the Word Of GOD. I'm just a poor simple man.
Had to go 19 posts till the truth of God’s forgiveness was told.
All who belong to Christ are completely forgiven, for He and He alone has paid for ours sins. A man / woman can beg God all day long for forgiveness but if he or she does not belong to Jesus Christ their sin and guilt remains. Receive Jesus Christ and His payment for your sins, PERIOD.
really.....
Yes, really.
The original poster was asking a question about whether God can forgive even the worst of sins. The answer seems to be a resounding YES!
You added that penance is also needed. I was responding to that. If you want to add works and earn your forgiveness, then go for it. It is not necessary.
Feel free to, out of a heart of gratitude for being forgiven, respond by doing something nice for someone or for God, but whether you do that or not, it is voluntary and not required.
If you would like to continue we can use freepmail, but we shouldn't continue on this for hijack purposes.
God would forgive any sinner who truly repents and asks for salvation through Jesus Christ the Savior.
I’m pretty sure that God flipped a coin on that!
this post was by saltnlemons. He was lurking....
So I really hope God will see the love and kindness I have in me.
Well, there's your problem.
Isaiah 64:6 "We are all like an unclean thing, and all our rightesousnesses are like filthy rags..."
Is there any occasion in your life that you didn't speak honestly? If so, you are a liar and condemned by sin. Have you at any time of your life taken something that wasn't yours? Is so, you are a thief and condemned to eternal damnation. Have you ever gone on a killing spree? No? Even if you did, how would the eternal consequences be any different for telling one lie? Have you ever been angry at someone without cause? For our LORD said in Matthew 5:22 that it is the same as murder.
The point being, is that the infant fresh from the womb is guilty of sin (Ps 58:3) and thus merits eternal condemnation. Even still, because of Adam's sin, the nature and the punishment are imputed to you (Ro 5:12). All of mankind is guilty before the LORD. (Ro 3:23) We are born hating God (Ro 8:7), unable and unwilling to understand the Gospel (1 Cor 2:14). Not a single person has naturally sought after the LORD (Ro 3:11). Everyone loves their sin. (Ecc 9:3; Ps 10:3)
I help this old lady I know a lot. I volunteer and help in my local community.
You are now in a very dangerous area. Let me explain.
Luke 11:24-26 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
I don't want to be dogmatic here, but my impression of this passage is a warning to those who seek after a works-righteousness paradigm to finding God's Grace. In this passage, apparently the "man" has come upon the revelation that he is doomed if he remains in his wicked ways, and thus begins, absent the Holy Spirit, to go about cleaning up his life. This feeble attempt to become self righteous must be a problem for the demon who then leaves this man to seek rest from this new attitude towards good works. Like the Prodigal Son, the demon recognizes that the "man", not having the Holy Spirit indwell, is actually not a bad place compared to the "dry places", so he returns but brings along with him seven friends who are more evil and depraved then the first demon alone. Upon returning, the person, absent the demon's affliction has "cleaned-up their life" and has swept out the remnants of their wicked past. The eight demons now overwhelm the efforts of the "man" to make himself right, and as the grim narrative concludes "he is worse than the first state".
This passage should literally scare the Hell out of you. It is an immediate cause for action because you are now at a critical junction in your life: continue on in self-righteousness and your own works, or to surrender yourself to the Holy Spirit and let the Creator God permanently evict the demons.
You will serve one of two Masters (Luke 16:13). Tomorrow is Sunday, today find a local Presbyterian (PCA, OPC, RPC) local assembly (heaven forbid a PC-USA). Tomorrow, go there and then seek one holding the office of Elder afterwards. Romans 10:17 demands "hearing" of the Gospel as a means of obtaining faith. (surfing internet websites, or reading whatever dreck I publish isn't going to do it)
(This isn't a slam against other denominations, the aforementioned assemblies of Presbyterians do a fine job policing themselves as a confessionary body of believers. If I knew of a good reformed 1689 Baptist I would recommend that, or a Thomas Acquinas Catholic parish in a pinch. The evangelical movement is largely a dice throw, with the dice loaded against the player.)
But what can i do to be saved ?
I am really trying to become a better person.
Verses 29-34
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
There isn’t a ‘worst’ sinner. Sin is not on a grading scale.
Lying is as bad as murder. Sin is Sin.
and yes he forgives through the acceptance of Jesus Christ’s death and resurection.
There’s only one unforgivable sin. Only one UNFORGIVABLE sin.
Non belief in his Word, his Son.
Forgive me for sticking my nose in but it looks like you're putting the cart before the horse. Becoming a better person isn't something we do for God so He'll save us, it's something God does through us after He saves us.
Amen
Thak you, got us all talking..
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