Decision-- and more more decisions

I "went forward" several hundred times.
I counseled with others.
I've been a counselor for over 36 years.

 

I think, many times, the Holy Spirit is working in a person's life to convict them of sin and sometimes that person takes it to mean they need to make another decision. They DO, but not for salvation.

As far as "every decision or direction". I think we SHOULD pray and get God's will for these things.

We cannot know another person's heart or mind. It doesn't bother me how many times people go to the altar. I can think of worse places they could be going...

Blessings,
§ue

 

Just read these messages on decisions for Christ.
Surely the whole question should be "is it scriptural?" The Word does say "Come unto me all yet that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." but is that for salvation?
Salvation is of the LORD, and the Father has already done the choosing before the foundation of the world. His people are already chosen and God, in His mercy and grace, brings us to a place where we have such a burden of sin, know we have broken God's commandments, and plead for repentance before a Holy God. We are brought to know that Christ is the only Lord and Saviour and only His precious blood on the cross can wash away that sin, past, present and future.
Alan Cairns gave such a wonderful sermon on Matthew 26 v. 13-16 - Jesus asked his disciples "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." This is the whole crux of the Christian gospel, whether or not we know in our heart, not just words, that He the Lord Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Would be pleased to read any replies. Yours, By His grace, Rose

 

Ahhh, a rose which is indeed a rose.

 

Why do we sometimes think that if its emotional it can't be too sincere? Is that because we are afraid of the over-emotionalism found in charismatic churches? I can understand that.

I've found that often at camp the decisions made are emotional, but the emotions are sincere. The decisions are sincere. If they fade later it is not because of the inadequacy of the invitation, or the sermon, or the sincerity, it is because of the pull of the world that the person is put back into after a week of isolation.

If our committment fades its because we are human and we need to be reminded often of what we have decided to do. I don't think that that invalidates the prior decisions, or lessens their worth.

 

Amen, Sister Baptistgal -- Preach it!

 

a committment doesnt save and a decision doesnt save but faith in Christ does. decisionism is an excuse and altar call events are harmful not helpful. I do not like when a preacher ask people to make a decision for Christ. why dont they ask people to believe on Christ.

 

I respectfully agree: committment doesn't save.
I respectfully agree: a decision doesn't save.
I respectfully disagree: your faith
in Christ does NOT save you. Jesus saves you.
I will admit, i'm SURE that only those
who faith that God raised Jesus from the
dead and who claim Jesus as Lord will
be saved BY JESUS.

 

That is true and semantics can go to extreme but i was clear and the point was made that decisions and commitments do not equate belief and trust, which is the effect of God giving man the ears to hear and the ability to have faith in Christ is all of grace.
so you would be in agreement that it is all of grace as most reformers agree and the doctrine is biblical as the apostle Paul intended correct?

 

by Ed Edwards

 

Actually you were agreeing with me.
I was NOT trying to define, specify,
and deleniate all circumstances under
which one might get saved. I
mentioned only one way to get saved,
the one that i am SURE of.

I hear an idea called UNIVERSALISM
where everybody gets saved sometime,
somehow, somewhere That was what i was
trying to preclude from my statement.
It might be true, it might not be true.
I am SURE that only those
who believe that God raised Jesus from the
dead and who claim Jesus as Lord will
be saved BY JESUS.

Again, this is a quick and dirty statement
not a defination, specification,
and deleniation of all circumstances under
which God might save someone, somewhere,
somewhen.

Pino: "Such a belief system will necessarily have to create the inconsistent doctrine that God will save babies and those with mental inabilities and disabilities in his own way, therefore creating two ways of salvation, one for the mentally competent and the other for the mentally challenged."

If respectfully disagree. such doctrines
are NOT inconsistent with the nature
of God. God can have as many plans of
salvation as He chooses. Remember the
Sovereignty of God doctrine?

However I suggest there is one and only
one "plan of Salvation" for the participants
(writers and readers) of this Topic.
That method is:

Romans 10:9 (nKJV):
" ... if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Yes, God will save the unborn infants and
small children (both mental and physical).
And if He needs 15 plans of salvation to
do that, you will not find me quibbling
with Him.

God is good, all the time.
All the time, God is good

If this is NOT your montra, then
you are not on the same page that
the rest of us here are on.

 

Massdak: "... i was clear and the point was made
that decisions and commitments do not equate belief and trust ..."

What part of "decision + committment"
does NOT equate to "belief + trust".
Thank you for you thoughtful consideration.

 

first could answer my first response to you regarding this>>>>>
that decisions and commitments do not equate belief and trust, which is the effect of God giving man the ears to hear and the ability to have faith in Christ is all of grace.
so you would be in agreement that it is all of grace as most reformers agree and the doctrine is biblical as the apostle Paul intended correct?

somehow ed after reading some of your post that you would seem more comfortable sitting under robert schullers doctrine other then john macarther. i could be wrong but some of your statements lead me to believe your path is broader then what is biblically sound.

 

Massdak: "first could answer my first response to you regarding this>>>>>
that decisions and commitments do not equate belief and trust, which is the effect of God giving man the ears to hear and the ability to have faith in Christ is all of grace.
so you would be in agreement that it is all of grace as most reformers agree and the doctrine is biblical as the apostle Paul intended correct?"

No. I won't answer you question
because i do not understand your question.
Somehow it seems to me that you
mean one thing by "decisions and commitments"
and i mean something else.
I am wondering if you believe one thing
by "belief and trust" and i mean something
else.

Writing your statement in English using
the rules of grammar and punctuation would
probably help. Thank you.

What do you think the preachers
who use "decision and committment"
are talking about?

 

professions of faith even with the greatest sincerity and desire to be saved is not saving faith. a prayer to ask for salvation is one thing but it does not mean that a person has trusted Christ in the eternal care of their soul. some people do not have assurance of salvation, many volumes of books and guidance to help give people assurance in their professions are available but true assurance only comes for God. my answer is, saying a prescribed sinners prayer and professions if they lack Gods drawing power will succeed in nothing of value.
the people that you have stated must have not depended on their first or many professions and were apparently granted repentance and now have saving faith.

 

ed spouts this>>>

i have no idea what some preachers mean when they use "decision or commitment" do you believe they all mean to have faith in Christ?
you know many false preachers may equate faith as a works type of salvation. it is very common.
but in a big tent type of religion what i say must sound very narrow.