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I find it extremely sad that in the "Christianity" forum this poll even gets discussed. Yes. He's the only way.
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Originally Posted by Alpha8207
That's just a label over the door here. There's a LOT (maybe even most!) of non-Christian ideas held forth as truth here.
That is YOUR view of what Christian ideas ARE, Alpha. Unfortunately, far too many Christians possess a similar hubris about THEIR views of Christian ideas. What is Christian is determined by Christ and Christ alone . . . NOT any particular participants in this forum.
It is NOT a choice, jimmie. There is no conceivable way to CHOOSE to believe anything. You believe what you believe and there is no choosing about it. What IS in your control is following Christ's commands to "love God and each other" daily and repent when you don't. That is how HE SAID His disciples could be known. You rely on your way . . . I will rely on what Christ said about His disciples and followers.
I believe some who are not Christian per-se will be saved,
even if they don't "technically" believe in Jesus consciously,
but that would only be because He cut them some slack.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Salvation is a gift which is appropriated through faith alone in Christ alone. The offer of salvation is made possible by the redemptive work of Christ on the cross which propitiated the demands of the Father's holiness.
The greatest decision that anyone will ever make is the decision to respond to the gospel by coming to Christ for eternal life. God invites those who are thirsty to come and take the water of life without cost which is synonymous with believing on Christ.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Isaiah 55:1 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.
The choice is to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit...
John 16:8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10] and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11] and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
or to resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit...
Acts 7:51 "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
What must you do to be saved?
Acts 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31] They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household " (Each member of the jailer's houshold heard the gospel and believed, and was saved; Acts 16:32-33)
This is the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
It is NOT a choice, jimmie. There is no conceivable way to CHOOSE to believe anything. You believe what you believe and there is no choosing about it. What IS in your control is following Christ's commands to "love God and each other" daily and repent when you don't. That is how HE SAID His disciples could be known. You rely on your way . . . I will rely on what Christ said about His disciples and followers.
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Originally Posted by twin.spin
John 3:16 speaks to belief, not being responsible for sanctification.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmiej
John 3:16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike555
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The phrase that has been translated as "believe in" is pisteuo eis . . . it is used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul. This is what Paul referred to as the "law written in the hearts" even of unbelievers . . . who are a law unto themselves. As Paul states it in Romans 2:14
. . . When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them, even when conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them.
No one says God doesn't hold us accountable for our un-love . . . but having what you consider the wrong belief is not subject to accountability. God has no ego needs that must be assuaged by our fawning over Him or His Son. "Belief on/into" His Son is an inner conviction to Christ-like attitudes toward all human beings that results when we listen to Jesus' Holy Spirit within guiding us to what God has "written in our hearts." It is when we DO what Christ commands and "love God and each other" daily and repent when we don't. THAT is the "believe on" Jesus that matters . . . not what you proclaim to believe in. Belief is an inner conviction that guides what we do . . . it is NOT a CHOICE. It is what it is.
The phrase that has been translated as "believe in" is pisteuo eis . . . it is used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul. This is what Paul referred to as the "law written in the hearts" even of unbelievers . . . who are a law unto themselves. As Paul states it in Romans 2:14
. . . When the Gentiles who have no law do by nature what the law prescribes, these having no law are a law unto themselves. They show the work of the law written in their hearts. Their conscience bears witness to them, even when conflicting thoughts accuse or defend them.
No one says God doesn't hold us accountable for our un-love . . . but having what you consider the wrong belief is not subject to accountability. God has no ego needs that must be assuaged by our fawning over Him or His Son. "Belief on/into" His Son is an inner conviction to Christ-like attitudes toward all human beings that results when we listen to Jesus' Holy Spirit within guiding us to what God has "written in our hearts." It is when we DO what Christ commands and "love God and each other" daily and repent when we don't. THAT is the "believe on" Jesus that matters . . . not what you proclaim to believe in. Belief is an inner conviction that guides what we do . . . it is NOT a CHOICE. It is what it is.
You're talking about sanctification. John 3:16 is about salvation.
You're talking about sanctification. John 3:16 is about salvation.
AND WE have nothing to do with our salvation! Christ alone did that for us. The idea that we have to do something to be saved is a "precept and doctrine of men" that misrepresents what Christ already DID. We only have to be sanctified under Christ's love for us all by following His commands to be His disciple. THAT we can CHOOSE to DO . . . we cannot choose to believe anything. Beliefs either make sense to us or they don't. True belief just EXISTS . . . it cannot be CHOSEN.
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