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Where will you spend eternity?

Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by SavedByTheLord, Sep 10, 2023.

  1. SavedByTheLord

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    Where will you spend eternity? This is the most important question that you will ever consider. What will happen when you die? Would you go to heaven? Are you saved? If you have never believed that you are saved forever through faith alone in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ or have trusted in something else, you are not saved.

    1. To understand this good news (the gospel) you must understand the bad news:

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)

    Sin is breaking God’s law. If you have ever lied, slandered anyone, borne false witness against anyone, stolen anything, cheated someone, hated anyone, disobeyed your parents, believed or supported the lie of evolution, had an abortion, supported abortion, coveted someone’s spouse, are married and lusted after someone not your spouse, committed adultery, fornication or murder, you have sinned. Every thought, word, and deed that breaks God’s law is sin.

    God is holy and will punish sin by everlasting separation from God in the lake of fire.
    For the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)
    it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement (Heb 9:27)
    from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female (Mark 10:6)
    … unbelieving … idolaters ... all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire (Rev 21:8)

    Until all your sins are forgiven by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you are under God’s damnation.

    2. The good news (the gospel) is that Jesus Christ loved us so much that He was crucified to pay for all our sins by His shed blood on the cross. He then rose from the dead. Here is t the gospel of Christ declared

    I declare unto you the gospel … By which also ye are saved … how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-4)

    Christ is our substitute who bore our sins. The shed blood of Jesus Christ is the atonement for our sins.
    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin (2 Cor 5:21)
    without shedding of blood is no remission (Heb 9:22)
    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8)
    In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7)
    Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood (Rom 3:25)
    Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Rev 1:5)
    the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:17)

    You must believe that Jesus Christ is God Almighty, the Creator of all things, the Son of God. Referring to Jesus Christ, the word of God says:
    Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God (John 20:28)
    God was manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16)
    by him were all things created (Col 1:16)
    the Almighty (Rev 1:8)
    Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31)
    Jesus is the Lord (1 Cor 12:3)
    the Saviour (Phil 3:20)
    Jesus said, if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)

    You must believe that you have sinned and can never be good enough or do anything to earn salvation.
    There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom 3:10)
    there is none good but one, that is, God (Mark 10:18)
    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation (2 Cor 7:10)

    Salvation is a gift given freely by the grace of God through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot earn or work for a gift else it is not a gift. Good works, sacraments, observing days, church membership or attendance, baptism, religious rituals will not help you. You must repent from trusting in these or any other works. Trust only in the Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood as the complete, finished and only payment for all your sins. Then God will forgive all your sins.
    Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe (Rom 3:22)

    But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness (Rom 4:5)
    the foundation of repentance from dead works (Heb 6:1)
    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works (Eph 2:8-9)
    the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23)
    But if it be of works, then it is no more grace (Rom 11:6)

    You must repent of belief in any other God, gods, idols and false religions.
    God … commandeth all men every where to repent (Acts 17:30)

    You must believe that there is no other way to salvation.
    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
    Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6)
    And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins (Heb 10:11)
    But Jesus Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Heb 10:12)

    The only way to be saved is to believe that you are saved forever just through faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood as the complete payment for all your sins.
    Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31)
    whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:15)
    the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom 1:16)

    Jesus, who never sinned, was beaten, mocked, spat upon, and the hairs of His beard pulled out. They put a crown of thorns on Him and beat it onto His head. His back was scourged repeatedly, tearing open His flesh. He carried a rough wooden cross to Calvary. They drove metal spikes into both of Christ’s hands and feet, crushing bone and into nerve tissue. Jesus then hung on that torturous cross for six hours. Our sins cost Christ that punishment. Yet Jesus endured all that unto death to shed His blood as payment for all your sins because of how much He loves you. Any attempt is to reject Christ crucified. Now just believe and be saved. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves His sacrifice was accepted by God.

    he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities (Isa 53:5)
    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (Heb 12:2)

    Any attempt to earn salvation through works or merit is to mock and despise His great sacrifice.
    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him (Titus 1:16)

    As Christ died on the cross He declared to the world and for all time, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Noting can be added to the finished work of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross.

    Salvation is guaranteed forever the moment you trust in Christ, nothing can take it away.
    Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (2 Cor 2:9)

    The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news ever and it is about the greatest love ever.
    to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge (Eph 3:19)

    Salvation is a one-time event received through faith alone in the risen Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins.
    Jesus said, Ye must be born again (John 3:7)

    3. To be saved, believe that you have sinned and are justly under God’s damnation (ungodly). Until you believe you are damned and need Christ as your Saviour, you cannot be saved. Do not trust in any merit of your own, works, or any other way. Now just believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone as your Saviour. Believe in who He is – God Almighty, the Son of God, and the only Saviour. Believe in what Christ did for you - completely paid for all your sins by shedding His holy blood on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. Now believe and trust in what Jesus has promised you – everlasting life guaranteed forever through faith in Him.
    Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47)


    If you have believed in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ and trusted in His total payment for all your sins by His shed blood, you are saved forever and cannot lose your salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is God and the Almighty Saviour, never lost anyone who trusted in Him, and would never lie.
    him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37)
    I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish (John 10:28)
    In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14)
    having forgiven you all trespasses (Col 2:13)
    I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Heb 13:5)

    Tell others the gospel of Christ so that they too can be saved (Rom 1:16, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Acts 16:30-31, Rom 3:25, Eph 1:13, 2:8-9).
    Read the Holy Bible as often as possible. It is the word of God. Concentrate on the Gospel of John, the later part of the Acts of the apostles (9-28) and especially Paul’s letters (Romans through Philemon). Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom 11:13) and his letters preach, declare and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:15-16, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Phil 1:17, Rom 15:16, 2 Tim 4:17). Paul’s letters are the key to understanding the rest of scripture (2 Tim 2:7, 2 Peter 3:15-16). All scripture is from the King James Bible – the word of God in English.
     
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  2. Alan Gross

    Alan Gross Well-Known Member

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    The entire thing is the best posting I have seen yet.

    I want to copy the whole thing and just post it again right here!

    Great one to save.
     
  3. SavedByTheLord

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    Thanks. Feel free to use.
     
  4. Dave G

    Dave G Well-Known Member

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    Amen.
    "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. " ( Romans 5:10 ).

    " 3 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
    14 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
    ( Colossians 2:13-14 ).
     
    #4 Dave G, Oct 7, 2023
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2023
  5. Dave G

    Dave G Well-Known Member

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    Looks to me as if you've just told us how to earn it.
    Please carefully re-read what you've posted, and examine it in the light of Romans 11:5-6:

    " Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
    6 And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
    "

    God's election is of grace, not of works...lest any man should boast.
    If one has to do something to gain salvation, then it is no more of grace... but of works my friend.
     
  6. SavedByTheLord

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    I have not said how to earn. Believing is not works. Anything else is works.
     
  7. Dave G

    Dave G Well-Known Member

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    Friend, look at what you've said above:

    "You cannot earn or work for a gift else it is not a gift."

    If belief is how one is saved ( what the Lord regards as pleasing to Him in order for Him to bestow His gift of salvation upon someone ), then that is what it takes to earn ( satisfy God's requirement for ) salvation, isn't it?

    earn
    ûrn
    transitive verb
    1. To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work.
    2. To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action.
    3. To yield as return or profit.
    Synonyms: deserve, merit, rate, win
    "These verbs mean to gain as a result of one's behavior or effort: earns a large salary; deserves our thanks; a suggestion that merits consideration; an event that rates a mention in the news; a candidate who won wide support."

    Salvation and eternal life are not part of a market deal that the Lord has initiated with men...
    It is His divine accomplishment through the life, death, burial and resurrection of His Son for those whom He has given to the Lord Jesus to save ( John 17:2 ).

    I urge you to re-read Romans 8, Romans 9, Romans 10, Romans 11, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2.


    May He bless you richly in your studies.
     
    #7 Dave G, Oct 9, 2023
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2023
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Your error here is two-fold. First taking definitions of our day and applying them to not only God but scripture back then.

    Also, works in scripture is always a reference to OT law. It cannot be applied to just any way we wish.
     
  9. CJP69

    CJP69 Active Member

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    This thinking has always baffled me! It just does not make any sense. It comes off to me sounding like something some desperate lawyer would say when he has no case and is forced to resort to parsing individual words. You know you're on shaky ground when you have to get out a dictionary in reference to super common concepts such as "gift" and "earn", that even children understand intuitively. It means you've left the realm of common sense and reason and are, instead, trying to force a concept to fit within your doctrine.

    When you give a gift to your children on Christmas morning and they happily accept it, do you count their acceptance of your gift as having done something to earn it? Is it now no longer a free gift by virtue of their having accepted it? When you are given a gift by your spouse because she loves you, do you turn it into a payment by the act of accepting the gift? If she failed to give you a gift, would you feel stolen from by virtue of the fact that you are willing to accept a gift from her?

    If those questions do not answer themselves, then it means you've turned off your mind. The concept of a gift and the receiving of it is so simple and intuitive that it is not possible to misunderstand it, except on purpose.

    I have not done anything to earn my salvation, nor could I do so. The gospel was presented to me by God through the preaching of His word and my acceptance of His offer of salvation cannot, in any way that is remotely reasonable, be construed as my having earned it.
     
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  10. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

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    And that was completed before John 19:28, as it was said, ". . . Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, . . ." . . . τετέλεσται . . . . ". . . paid in full . . . ."
     
  11. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    @Dave G you seem to have overlooked these inspired texts. Did the Holy Spirit get it wrong?

    Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,

    Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    Heb 11:6
    But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

    Gal 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
     
  12. Silverhair

    Silverhair Well-Known Member

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    Dave you are correct, salvation is not a market deal, but it is conditional. Those that freely trust in the risen Christ will be saved those that reject Him will be lost.

    It seems you have not read all that Christ prayed, you focus on John 17:2 but should have continued on in your reading. Christ has not limited who could be saved but has set the condition of who will be saved. Joh 17:20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
     
  13. SavedByTheLord

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    Great insight
     
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