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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
A man in the Greek city of Philippi asked a very similar question of Paul and Silas. We know at least three things about this man: he was a jailer, he was a pagan, and he was desperate. He had been...
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Dan Rivers
Supporter
It is true that one has to "believe" in Jesus in order to be saved and have eternal life with the Lord...John 3:16, John 6:28,29, Rom 10:9,10, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Acts 16:31 So if that is ALL anyone has to do is believe in Jesus in order to be saved from damnation and to live with the Lord forever, then why wouldn't everyone just "believe"? How many people would reject a gift of a million dollars? And isn't eternal life worth much more than that? What is preventing and/or holding back unbelievers from "believing"? I believe the bible answers that question. The answer is primarily in 1 Cor 2:7-16. It basically says that the person WITHOUT the Spirit of God CAN NOT understand the Gospel of Jesus. So how can anyone believe something that they don't understand? 1Co 2:8 NIV - None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1Co 2:14 NIV - The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Isa 11:2 NIV - The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of UNDERSTANDING, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD-- Jesus said, Jhn 14:17 NLT - He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. So it proves true that salvation is of the Lord. He is the ONLY one that can save us. We can't save ourselves Eph 2:8-10 The Lord saves us by giving us his Spirit, by giving us a new life. By making us born-again. When we have understanding (Job 38:36, Ps 119:34,73,130,144,169, Prov 2:6, Prov 3:5, Acts 16:14 then and only then will we choose to believe in Jesus. Praise God!
James Kraft
Supporter
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the ungdodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth righteousness apart from works. Blessed is the man whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. The thief on the cross repented, he changed his mind and believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. He was saved the instant he believed it. All he said was, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” So we are saved by a one time faith alone in Jesus alone apart from any works. Romans 6:23: For the penalty for sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. First John 2:2: And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. First Corinthians 1:18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness, but unto us who are saved, it is the POWER of God. First Corinthians 1:21: For after that, by the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Acts 16:31: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved from hell forever. John 10:28-29. Our assurance of salvation. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. And My Father who is greater than all, no one can pluck them out of His hand. First John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. We know that we know we have eternal life. Gods word, and He cannot lie. John 3:16-18. John 6:47.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Because "the wages of sin is death" (and we're all sinners, Romans 3:23), God has a problem. He created us all and yet we have all gone bad. He loves us still. He has said, "Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked," declares the sovereign Lord? "Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?" So He sent His only Son to live with good conduct, never sinning, to take that death penalty for us. May I be personal for a moment? The Bible says, "God proved his love for ____________ (put your own name in here), in that while ___________ (your name) was still a sinner, Christ died for ___________ (your name)." He requires perfect conduct for entrance into His heaven (Matthew 5:28; 1 Peter 1:15-16). If we get converted (Romans 10:9), He will let us in. May I be personal again? This verse tells us that if __________ (put your name in there) confesses that Jesus is Lord and [if] ______________ (put your name in here again) believes in his or her heart that God raised Him from the dead _________ (your name again) will be saved."
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