How Many of You Are SAVED?

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Then I skipped to the end and realized that yes, there are smart people.

I don't think that someone is not smart or unintelligent for not believing in God or not partaking in religion. If you truly believe that these things allow you classify someone as "stupid", then (no offense), that's pretty ignorant.

But unfortunately that seems to be the stance many christians take....."I'm better than you because I choose to believe in God. You are less than me and on a lower intellect level because you don't."

But hey....whatever makes you feel better about yourself //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

You guys need Geico in your life!

 

[killcrap 10+ year member]

the only jesus i look up to is the mexican i work with at work.

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

Lol

 

[Str8Up 10+ year member]

the only jesus i look up to is the mexican i work with at work.

I want you to remember those^ words you just typed. Because in the end you WILL confess that Jesus is Lord. Whether you respect Him or not.

Philippians chapter 2

8 And being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death--even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

[Getwild2 10+ year member]

I cannot stand to read much of this post due to all of the half-hearted, thoughtless and immature replies and flaming. It's truly hurtful to see what people believe or don't believe. I will say that I am a saved, born-again Christian. As far as denomination, I am Independent Fundamental Old-Fashioned Baptist. My brother is the pastor of our church in addition to the 3 other preachers in our family. You DO NOT have to be a particular denomination to be saved, you DO NOT have to attend church to be saved, you DO NOT have to clean up your life to be saved. These are often misconceptions and I truly believe that these misconceptions often keep many people from trusting Christ.

Because I didn't read this entire post, I wanted to post this if it hasnt been posted already....

In one minute I can explain to you how you can know FOR SURE that if you died today you would go to Heaven.

All you have to believe are 4 simple things.

1] You are a sinner.

Romans 3:10; "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."

Romans 3:23; "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

2] There is a price on sin, eternal death.

Romans 6:23; "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life."

Romans 5:12; "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

3] Jesus paid that price on the cross for you and I.

Romans 5:8; "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

4] By faith in Christ we can be saved. Believing in Him and ONLY Him to get us to Heaven. Praying and asking Him to save us and take us to heaven when we die.

Romans 10:13; "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"...For I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me..."

HERE IS HOW YOU CALL UPON THE LORD

Do you admit that you are a sinner?

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?

If you are sorry for your sins and would like for God to save you, just ask Him. Pray this prayer from your heart to God's heart and mean it with all your heart.

Dear Jesus,

Please forgive me of my sins. I trust You right now JESUS, You and only You, to take me to HEAVEN when I die. I do realize that You died on the cross for my sins and that You are the ONLY way I can get to Heaven, I have NO other hope. There is nothing I can do to get myself there Jesus, I need You and only You to take me there when I die. Thank you for dying on the cross and for saving me, Jesus.

Amen.

Just as you were born to your parents, you were born into the Kingdom of God when you called on Jesus!

In all seriousness, I hope someone prayed and received Christ.

 

[Getwild2 10+ year member]

Also, one more quick thing about my refusal to read this whole thread is that noone is going to change my mind, nor am I going to change someone else's mind. With the way people's minds and opinions are constructed, it's human nature to disagree. This is why arguing does no good whatsoever. Again, you aren't going to change my mind and I'm not going to change yours. I state my beliefs, what I believe (faith) is the truth and that's it. I don't expect to "convert" someone by arguing.

Basically I can sum this thread up in one sentence when looking for those wanting & needing something more. "I am looking for the person that is looking for me". Simple as that. Not someone to argue and debate with...

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

Also, one more quick thing about my refusal to read this whole thread is that noone is going to change my mind, nor am I going to change someone else's mind. With the way people's minds and opinions are constructed, it's human nature to disagree. This is why arguing does no good whatsoever. Again, you aren't going to change my mind and I'm not going to change yours. I state my beliefs, what I believe (faith) is the truth and that's it. I don't expect to "convert" someone by arguing.
Basically I can sum this thread up in one sentence when looking for those wanting & needing something more. "I am looking for the person that is looking for me". Simple as that. Not someone to argue and debate with...

Certainly there is some immaturity in this thread, some needless arguing over beliefs, but there is a great deal more then that. This thread is filled with useful discussion, disclosure of facts that dispell common misconceptions, respectful sharing of differing beliefs...even some good comedy. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif To refuse to read it for it's bad parts is just throwing the baby out with the bath water. Not all discussion is about debating or arguing. If the next person took your stance, he/she would miss your very useful post at the bottom of the previous page. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

Something keeps making me sick (possibly God), but I'll still win in the end (I always win) ...
Remember ... Jmac > God

I'm sorry to hear that. You may be interested to know that sickness isn't something God created, it entered the world through sin. The better part of Jesus' ministry while He was on earth was healing the sick, particularly those that the world had discarded....so it is not Him who is making you sick.

What kind of sickness are you dealing with if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Getwild2 10+ year member]

Certainly there is some immaturity in this thread, some needless arguing over beliefs, but there is a great deal more then that. This thread is filled with useful discussion, disclosure of facts that dispell common misconceptions, respectful sharing of differing beliefs...even some good comedy. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif To refuse to read it for it's bad parts is just throwing the baby out with the bath water. Not all discussion is about debating or arguing. If the next person took your stance, he/she would miss your very useful post at the bottom of the previous page. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

This is true, I didnt think of it that way.

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

I don't think that someone is not smart or unintelligent for not believing in God or not partaking in religion. If you truly believe that these things allow you classify someone as "stupid", then (no offense), that's pretty ignorant.

But unfortunately that seems to be the stance many christians take....."I'm better than you because I choose to believe in God. You are less than me and on a lower intellect level because you don't."

But hey....whatever makes you feel better about yourself //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

Unfortunately, you are right. Too many Christians do come accross, whether they all mean to or not, as though they are looking down at others. This is not at all the example Christ exhibited during His time here. He was in fact ridiculed by many of the religious leaders of the day because of the company He kept. Many being uneducated, unrespected and immoral. The arrogance of the religious leaders was one of the things He called them on most, because it did not represent the one they claimed to represent! Having said that, you cannot lump all Christians into a "self-righteous" group either. Many Christians I know go out of their way to show Christ's love to everyone they meet. Though I believe in God and His Word, I recognize and respect many extremely intelligent people who do not. So, while I will always contend that faith in Jesus Christ is indeed a "smart" decision; it is not the only exhibit of smarts.

 

[Str8Up 10+ year member]

You DO NOT have to be a particular denomination to be saved, you DO NOT have to attend church to be saved, you DO NOT have to clean up your life to be saved. These are often misconceptions and I truly believe that these misconceptions often keep many people from trusting Christ. .

Wow.

Well, first off, I agree with the part where you said that you don't have to go to church to be saved, but other than that, uhhhh, let's debate.

You don't have to clean up your life to be saved? Wow, I'm sorry to hear that you believe that.

Explanation:

James 2:14- What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

 

2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

 

2:20- But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 

2:24- Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

2:26- For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Check verse number 19. The devils know that there is one God. The devils know that Jesus is Lord. Does that save them? Hell no. Satan knows and believes that Jesus is Lord, but will that save him? Hell no.

Why would you tell someone that it's ok to use Jesus like that? You didn't say it in those words, but you did say that.

Why would you believe that Jesus is Lord and not change your ways?

True, we all fall short of the glory, and we will always commit sin in this flesh, but that in NO WAY justifies you continuing to stay in your sins.

Knowing that no man is without sin, does NOT ok ANYBODY to not try their darndest to be as righteous as possible.

Yeah, I believe in Jesus, but Ima go sleep with whoever I want.

Yeah, I believe in Jesus, but Dan crossed me, so I gotta kill him.

Yeah, I believe in Jesus, but I think that my gay lifestyle is ok.

^none of that is even remotely tolerable, or ok.

1st Corinthians 6:9-10

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolatoers, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

^You can believe that Jesus is Lord and be guilty of any or every one of those. I see examples of that everyday. But will they be saved? HELL NO!

Like Paul said, BE NOT DECEIVED. Brother, going by your post, you are decieved.

The road to salvation is straight and narrow, not broad. You can't do whatever the hell you want as long as you believe that Jesus is Lord and go to heaven. It doesn't work like that.

Too many people are deceived //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

Since we're cracking open that can of worms, let's narrow things down a bit. Depending on Getwild's context he may still have a point.

You do not need to clean up your life in order to come to Christ. God does not require a person who has yet to learn Godly examples of living to act as if they have, in order to be accepted by God. If they come to Him humbly admitting both their sin and inability to save themselves and are earnestly seeking truth and to know Christ, that is all His grace requires. It is after that as a new believer has begun to learn and grow that God begins to hold him more accountable, in proportion to what he has learned. At that point, as you have pointed out, the Bible says that if you are truly a Christian it will show by your life (James 2:24-26). Those Christians that believe that Christ allowed Himself to be ridiculed, tortured and killed so that they could continue willingly and habitually sinning are dead wrong and have misunderstood the scriptures completely.

Take for instance Hebrews 10:26- 31 (NIV)...

If we diliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said "It is mine to avenge: I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

God has an immence amount of grace for all people, but as a Christian matures he/she becomes responsible for the things we have learned. To think that grace is grease and will allow you to squeeze into Heaven no matter what you do is ignorant and dangerous. God is not an idiot and as His word says, He "will not be mocked."

So far as denomination goes I agree. Where attending Church is concerned it is something we are commanded to do (Heb. 10: 24-25 is but one example). Given what the previous passage has to say about willful, habitual disobedience, and how healthy the right church is in a Christian's life....I'd be praying and searching for a quality, Bible teaching church where the people are genuine and that I felt spiritually nurished in. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

You do not need to clean up your life in order to come to Christ.

I just took a shower and had a nice shit.(I wiped too) Should I shave too?

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

Nope, just be honest and open.