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Featured What does the altar call mean to you?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by joe77, May 11, 2019.

  1. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    Happens naturally when born again.
     
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  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Uh no, that is your standard not God's.

    Unfortunately you are conflating God's choice to save with man's choice to repent and call out to God.
     
  3. 1689Dave

    1689Dave Well-Known Member

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    God creates a new nature (person) designed to love him and repent in the new birth.
     
  4. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    FYI, it's not a 'one time do' formula, it's a way of life. You don't confess Jesus just one time and it's done, you confess Jesus and believe in Jesus for the rest of your life. Salvation is not a one time event, it's ongoing throughout our lives.

    Regeneration, i.e., the birth from above, the effectual call IS a one time event.
     
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  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Yep. We should wear out the path to repentance and belief.
     
  6. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I never said it happens unnaturally.

    The point is it happens and should not merely be dismissed as not belonging.
     
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  7. Danthemailman

    Danthemailman Active Member

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    I've heard people interpret Romans 10:9,10 in such a way that means we can believe unto righteousness today, but are still lost until we confess Christ, which may be next week and then we are finally saved next week, but is that what Paul is talking about here? I don't believe so. Also, someone who is moot (unable to speak) would remain lost according to that interpretation of Romans 10:9,10 for failing to verbally confess with their mouth. What about the numerous verses in the Bible that teach we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications" and don't mention "confession?" (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 3:22-28; 4:5-6; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9 etc..). Are these verses incomplete, inaccurate statements?

    Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. Romans 10:8 - But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart" (TOGETHER) that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (notice the reverse order from verse 9-10) - that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Confess/believe; believe/confess.

    1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except BY the Holy Spirit. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep personal conviction that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior. So simply believing in our head (and not in our heart) that God raised Him from the dead does not result in righteousness and simply giving "lip service" to the words "Jesus is Lord" not by the Holy Spirit is not unto salvation.
     
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  8. GoodTidings

    GoodTidings Well-Known Member

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    The alter call, to me is simply a point of contact. It is not for God's benefit but ours. For example when we have an alter call for people to be saved, it is not coming to the alter and uttering a prayer that saves us. It is Jesus who saves. The public act of coming to the alter is really more about us having a point in time that we can point to when we were saved. It is important to know when we were saved because the enemy will come and try to get us to question if we are really saved or not.

    The same applies to other reasons we come to the alter. It is point of contact for us a point of remembrance that we have come to the Lord with some burden or care and we left it there at His feet and he removed that burden from our hearts. It is important to remember and remind ourselves that we gave that burden to the Lord whenever the thought arises in our hearts. We need to remind ourselves that we don't bear it anymore and not take it up again.
     
  9. MB

    MB Well-Known Member

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    I have experienced both of what you have described. The alter call to me is an opportunity for Prayer and Salvation. We all need prayer. I'm always in need of it because frankly I'm not perfect either. I don't know of anyone who is. I do not think anyone can grow with out the prayers of others. We all need combined strength, divided we can fall. This is why we are not to forsake the gathering of our selves together. I'll pray for you.
    MB
     
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  10. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    And at my age you get all the free coffee you can drink....thanks Ronald :Coffee
     
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  11. Christian Baptist

    Christian Baptist New Member

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    I think that our discussion should start with a question. Is there biblical precedent or principle which supports the alter call? Your opinions.
     
  12. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    No
     
  13. GaoLu

    GaoLu Member

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    The question you raise for discussion is a rhetorical argument from silence. Any conclusion from Ex silentio (argument from silence) is a logical fallacy. Any such argument would be very weak and probably would add little value for discussion.

    For example, the Bible offers no precedent or principle for eating sour gummy worms. I cannot logically conclude from that silence that one ought not eat gummy worms or that eating such worms is forbidden.

    Altar calls have pitfalls. They have strengths.
     
    #93 GaoLu, Jun 5, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2019
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