It IS about JESUS!
This is really just a post-script to my previous post. After reading the comments that were left, and, by the way, I REALLY appreciate all of the comments!, I realized that I neglected to hammer on this final point:
So many people believe that 'if they are a good person and care about others', that will get them into Heaven.
Not necessarily so, my friend.
A professed faith in Christ Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
And it is that faith in Christ Jesus that leads to a Christ-like life, which, in turn, leads to a life of striving to 'be a good person and to care for others'.
Caring for our fellow mankind is the by-product of being a Christ-follower; it is not the definition of a Christ-follower.
To sum up...it is not about you. It is about Jesus.
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10 comments:
I think you could be on to a new bumper sticker slogan..."It is not about you. It is about Jesus". Tell Josh to get on that ASAP:)
Love,
yfc
I know, I knew I am hammering on the point when I wrote the post:)
But now I am off my soap box and breathing easier:)
Amy, I love that you are not afraid to shy away from tough topics! Spot-on post...
Actually, it is not faith along that saves you but rather faith and repentance together.
Something else to ponder:
Serious effort at sanctification proves the reality of your justification
Anonymous:
Thank you for commenting on my post! I only wish that you would let us know who you are!!
I have to say that I dis-agree with your assessment on repentance based on these 2 scriptures:
(If you can give scripture reference to the need of repentance with faith, that would let me continue to 'dig deep' in to God's word.)
Romans 3:22-25 says:
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[1] through faith in his blood.
And Luke 23:39 begins the story of the thief on the cross who, by Jesus' own words, would be in Heaven that day, and yet, no record of repentance from him.
39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
40But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don't you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[4]”
43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
As for your 'something else to ponder', I just don't get it. In less catchy verb-age, are you saying that working really hard to save ourselves proves that we are, in fact, saved?
Salvation of individuals is wholly carried out by God's grace, based on the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross and is in no way contributed to or accomplished by the merit or work of the individual (Eph.1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pt.1:18-19). Those who repent and put their trust in Jesus as their provision for their sinful condition (Mk.1:15; Lk.24:46-47; Ac.3:19; 11:18; 20:21) are declared righteous by God (Rom.3:21-22; 8:33). From a human perspective one is saved after hearing the message of the gospel (Rom.10:14), being convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin (Jn.16:8-9), mentally turning from sin to God (2 Cor.7:9-11), placing one's trust in Jesus as the complete and sole payment for sin (Jn.3:14-15). At this point God's Spirit indwells the individual (Rom.8:9), resulting in new birth (Jn.3:3) which is often referred to as conversion (Mt.18:3; Ac.15:3; Rom.16:5). Each step in the process of salvation is granted by God including repentance and faith (Ac.11:18; Eph.2:8). The converted individual then naturally bears fruit in keeping with the internal transformation that has taken place (2 Cor.5:17; Mt.3:8; 7:17-23; Jn.3:36).
Serious effort at sanctification proves the reality of your justification - Simply put; means that your continued grow in Christ will prove you were justified, i.e. saved.
Hi Amy I was wondering if you had a chance to look at the scriptures about faith and repentance for salvation, as mentioned above? I hope you take the time to get into God’s word regarding this subject as this is a fundamental Christian belief and not getting it right will land you in hell and separated from God forever when you die.
anonymous~
I did see you response post, and wanted to give it the time it deserved, rather than just a quick response. Again, I thank you for contributing to the conversation! Still wish we could know who you are...
As I read and re-read your response post, I do not think that you and I disagree! although, I still do not see your point that repentance is 'key'...even based on the scripture reference in Acts & Ephesians. What I read from scripture is that repentance is a gift that we are given when we have Christ living in us (Acts 5:31). That said, repentance is important, but as sinful, fallen & imperfect human beings, we sin. And sometimes without knowledge that we are sinning. So if repentance was 'key' we would fall short of the mark if we missed something for which we needed to repent. The gift is that I know that when I repent, I am then separated from that sin as far as east is from west (psalm 103:12).
I know it is my responsibility to not be a stumbling block to my fellow man (Romans 14:13) in their walk with Christ, and I also know that it is not my job to judge my fellow man in their walk with Christ. Jesus himself did not come to condemn, but to save(John 3:17). So as much as I appreciate your concern for my eternal salvation, being 'bullhorn guy' and shouting from the street corner, or the anonymous blog-0-sphere, that 'repent or be eternally separated from God' is really not your job, nor an effective way to spread Christ's message.
Hi Amy -
It is true that there are numerous Bible verses that speak of the promise of salvation, with no mention of repentance. These merely say to "believe" on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, the Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1,2). Without repentance from sin, wicked men cannot have fellowship with a holy God. We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ.
The Scriptures speak of "repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). We turn from sin to the Savior. This is why Paul preached "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). The first public word Jesus preached was "repent" (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist began his ministry the same way (Matthew 3:2). Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3).
If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert "believes" and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a "worker of iniquity." Look at the warning of Scripture: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). The Scriptures also say, "He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who "repents" (Luke 15:10). If there is no repentance, there is no joy because there is no salvation.
When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he commanded his hearers to repent "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. Peter further said, "Repent . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). We cannot be "converted" unless we repent. God Himself "commands all men everywhere [leaving no exceptions] to repent" (Acts 17:30). Peter said a similar thing at Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38).
If repentance wasn’t necessary for salvation, why then did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)? With so many Scriptures speaking of the necessity of repentance for salvation, one can only suspect that those who preach salvation without repentance are strangers to repentance themselves, and thus strangers to true conversion.
Let’s define repentance. Repentance means to turn from sin, stop doing the things that are sinful or un-Godly, see the Ten Commands if you need help defining sin. It’s not that you will never sin again after becoming a Christian but your goal or aim is to be more Christ like and grow in the knowledge of the Lord. As long as you are in your fleshly body you will sin but is should not be easy to sin, the Holy Spirit will see to that.
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