Who Has Got the Possibility of Entering Heaven? (Latter Day Saints, Lutheran, Jacob)

[aquila]

Okay.

I don't know anything anyway, except that I don't know anything. I'm pretty stupid about religion and...well, pretty much everything. So I should stick to what I know....which is nothing....and not try to figure anything out. Trying to figure things out in my life has done nothing but make it all worse.

[firstborn888]

Originally Posted by aquila

Okay.
Trying to figure things out in my life has done nothing but make it all worse.

When you are a seeker and do not settle for the status quo it does get crazy at times but hang in there - he who seeks finds, just not instantaneously.

[beeveenh]

Originally Posted by aquila

Okay.

I don't know anything anyway, except that I don't know anything. I'm pretty stupid about religion and...well, pretty much everything. So I should stick to what I know....which is nothing....and not try to figure anything out. Trying to figure things out in my life has done nothing but make it all worse.

Oh please don't give up! I remember wishing someone could open my head and just pour in the information. It took a long time before I really understood things. AND I'm still learning! Some people on here would say that I've learned it all wrong...but you just gotta stick with it.

Sounds like you've got more on your plate than just questions about religion...Please lean on someone.

[beeveenh]

Aquila, I just reread your conversation with Firstborn888 and I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic about being "stupid about religion...not knowing anything..."

You sound very intelligent and express yourself very well.

[Bideshi]

Repent of sin*, believe on Jesus for remmision of your sins**, believe in His resurrection and Godhood, be baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as evidence of your faith***, and you are saved. You won't be living in Heaven however. God's Kingdom where Jesus will reign and the New Jerusalem will be is right here on planet Earth.

It is important what you believe about Jesus. He is God. He is not created. He always existed from before time. This is where the Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses make a fatal error. There are errors in the doctrines of all denominations that I have knowledge of, but not all errors are fatal to salvation. Believing that Jesus is not God is fatal.


*You won't be able to stop sinning but you must try. Perfection is a direction, not a destination you can arrive at in this mortal life.
** Believe that His sacrifice of His life paid the price for all of our sins; that His blood washed us clean of sin.
*** Baptism is mentioned as part of receiving salvation in some parts of the New Testament and is left out in others. It is at a minimum an important public declaration of your faith in Jesus's promise of salvation.

[aquila]

Originally Posted by beeveenh

Oh please don't give up! I remember wishing someone could open my head and just pour in the information. It took a long time before I really understood things. AND I'm still learning! Some people on here would say that I've learned it all wrong...but you just gotta stick with it.

Sounds like you've got more on your plate than just questions about religion...Please lean on someone.

There are some other issues in my life, yes.

As for giving up, why not? Nothing ever really seems to change, so why bother? The same old questions go unanswered, and as I'm getting older I find that more of my life is being completely wasted. How long do I let that go on?

Originally Posted by beeveenh

Aquila, I just reread your conversation with Firstborn888 and I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic about being "stupid about religion...not knowing anything..."

You sound very intelligent and express yourself very well.

*Aquila remembering to graciously accept compliments*

Thank you.

But...expressing myself well and actually knowing what I'm talking about are two different things. I actually do think I'm pretty stupid, and very wrong about things in life. It's been drilled into my head for a very long time so what else am I to conclude? I know I'm a pretty insignificant nobody, but sometimes I still like to find out if there is maybe some sort of "something" I can do or say to help others....some sort of "way" in which I can be of some good to others. But at the heart of it all, I know I'm pretty much a stupid useless person. And I know how very true that is. And I'm learning to accept that. I know that I don't know anything. I search for answers...for some sort of indication that what I believe is true and correct. But when I think I have an answer, I end up falling down and realizing I don't have squat. I'm just being honest. It's not sarcasm.

Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread. So you guys should carry on with the original discussion.

[aquila]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

Repent of sin*, believe on Jesus for remmision of your sins**, believe in His resurrection and Godhood, be baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost as evidence of your faith***, and you are saved. You won't be living in Heaven however. God's Kingdom where Jesus will reign and the New Jerusalem will be is right here on planet Earth.

It is important what you believe about Jesus. He is God. He is not created. He always existed from before time. This is where the Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses make a fatal error. There are errors in the doctrines of all denominations that I have knowledge of, but not all errors are fatal to salvation. Believing that Jesus is not God is fatal.


*You won't be able to stop sinning but you must try. Perfection is a direction, not a destination you can arrive at in this mortal life.
** Believe that His sacrifice of His life paid the price for all of our sins; that His blood washed us clean of sin.
*** Baptism is mentioned as part of receiving salvation in some parts of the New Testament and is left out in others. It is at a minimum an important public declaration of your faith in Jesus's promise of salvation.

From what I've read, the Catholics and Orthodox believe baptism is more than just a symbolic act. They believe it to be an essential step in being saved in that it actually washes away the old and initiates a convert into the new. Protestants believe it is nothing more than an outward expression of an inner reality. Thus, it's simply a public declaration that one has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. When I was baptized, that's how it was for me. I had no clue that it actually did something. It was just me doing what the pastor said I was supposed to do, and making the public statement that I had accepted Jesus. In retrospect, according to Catholicism/Orthodoxy my baptism could conceivably be seen as invalid. Who is right - Catholicism/Orthodoxy, or Protestantism? Does baptism actually DO something, or is it merely symbolic?

[Neil Turan]

I Think and Sorry,

Baptism:

is also to forgiveniss of sins:
Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

[Huckleberry3911948]

im not on the list.
i already got my asbestos suit on order.
i suspect by the way if the after life is anything like my time spent here
that the guardian at the gate is going to throw your list in the trash can.

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by Neil Turan

I Think and Sorry,

Baptism:

is also to forgiveniss of sins:
Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, and other places in the NT. However, in yet other places, the requirements for salvation do not mention Baptism. How do we know who is right? For me, since my sole ambition is to serve the Lord for eternity, I will gladly be baptised whether I'm absolutely sure it is required or not.