I prayed to accept Christ as Savior today

We cannot dismiss New Testament witnesses whereas an individual was able to persuade another of truth. Whilst it is all of grace, God has chosen to use godly men, women and even children to direct others to Jesus Christ in Salvation.

Preaching is but one method used by God.

Cheers,

Jim

 

In other words, preaching.

 

I think preaching is a special commission. Not all forthtelling is preaching, and it may be a simple witness by life.

But I won't argue the fine points.

Cheers,

Jim

 

John Gilmore,

Huh? If someone has been born again they will know and understand that the question is not for them but for a lost person. Any time I am in a church and someone presents the gospel to the lost it doesnt make me think I am lost at all.

On the other hand, how many "churchgoers" who dont know the Lord at all will discern that still small voice of God as they are asked that question?

I believe the communication card in question is just fine.

Ummm...if the person has been there for the entire service they have more than likely heard the preaching of the word.

You'll never hear me argue with that, thats for sure.

Grace and peace,

Mike

 

D28guy,

If someone has been born again they will know and understand that the question is not for them but for a lost person.

If a person is lost, he will not be saved by encouraging him to pray, do penance, perform the sacrifice of the mass, or any other work. Only when a person despairs of his own efforts is he prepared to receive the grace of God in Christ.

On the other hand, this communication card encourages the believer to doubt his faith. The blood of Christ is not really sufficient, "I must add my prayers until an inner voice within me tells me I am saved."

how many "churchgoers" who dont know the Lord at all will discern that still small voice of God as they are asked that question?

That is voice of Satan saying, "Did God really say 'faith cometh by hearing'? Satan tries to lead the unbeliever away from the outward Word to trust in an inner voice that saves no one.

The commuination card should have two places to check:

1. I believe that Jesus Christ, true God and true man, has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. I wish to grow in the grace I have received.
2. I am not a believer but I wish to learn more of Jesus Christ.

 

John Gilmore,

I believed every word of that from about 1st grade(1962) all the way until february of 1982. I was no more saved than satan himself. We are not saved by believing correct facts. We are saved by entering into relationship with Christ....

"In that day you will know that I am in my Father, the Father is in me, and I in you."

"If any man be in Christ they are a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, all things have become new."

You are correct that we are not saved by praying a prayer. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. I have known people who "prayed a prayer" many times for any number of reasons, but they were not saved. Praying a prayer is only a reflection of someones heart attitude. You dont necesarrilly have a pray a prayer, but there is nothing in the world wrong with communicating with God concerning your hearts desire for Christ. Its a good thing, and does not in the least mean one is "peforming works" in order to earn salvation.

Nothing wrong with that.

Nothing wrong with that, either.

God bless you,

Mike

 

John Gilmore,

I said...

And you said...

If someone is "trusting in an inner voice" they are no more saved than I was when I intellectually believed all of this...

We are not saved by believing correct facts about Jesus Christ, and we are not saved by believing an inner voice, being water baptised, going through infant baptism, confirmation, going forward to eat Jesus every Sunday, "Going forward" to shake a pastors hand, praying a prayer, or any other thing we attempt to substitute for Gods saving gospel.

We are saved by entering into relationship with Christ, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

And if someone wants to communicate with God about that heart desire of theirs there is nothing in the world wrong with that.

It is all of Christ, and none of us.

God bless,

Mike

 

D28guy,

I believed every word of that from about 1st grade(1962) all the way until february of 1982. I was no more saved than satan himself. We are not saved by believing correct facts. We are saved by entering into relationship with Christ....

There is a difference between faith and intellectual assent. However, if you believed "Jesus Christ, true God and true man, has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.", you were saved from 62-82. God does not lie: John 3:16, Mark 16:16, etc. Our assurance of salvation is not based on inner feelings (which is Satan tempting us to doubt God and trust his lies) but on God's inerrant Word.


You are correct that we are not saved by praying a prayer. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Through the outward Word alone not our inner feelings.

 

John Gilmore,

I said...

And you said...

Brother, trust me...TRUST ME...I know when I was a lost believer in facts about Jesus, and I know the precise moment in time in February of 1982 when I was born again of the Spirit of God.

I was there when it happend!

From the time as a young boy when I believed facts about Jesus Christ until 1982 there was no evidence, no fruit, no changed life, no "all things have become new", no witness at all that I was born again.

The scriptures teach that there will necesarrily be fruit when someone is born of the Spirit. That fruit began immedietly in February of 1982.

You and I probably agree on lots of things, brother. I would venture to guess that you are a calvinist. I too am a calvinist. But I know when I was born again.

God bless,

Mike

 

OK. Good works are necessary since they invariably follow faith. A person who has heard the gospel gives a false testimony when he say, "I believe..." and no works follow.

On the other hand, the statement, "I believe", gives the believer an opportunity to give a true testimony (a good work). But, believer or unbeliever gives a false testimony when he states that by his prayers he can accept Christ.

I am Lutheran but I think Calvinists agree with our confession, "the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith; where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ's sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ's sake. They condemn the Anabaptists and others who think that the Holy Ghost comes to men without the external Word, through their own preparations and works." Augsburg Confession, Art. IV

 

Acts 2:21 "All that call on the name of the Lord shall be saved".

That is the thing, calling on God for Salvation, that is where it all starts, and a card like the above is a great opportunity for someone to be encouraged to do that.