Cheap Grace

I think I do preach a kind of antinomianism, at least in so far as I don't believe in keeping commandments to be saved. I don't believe the goal of a Christian is to earn eternal salvation and/or keep salvation through keeping commandments. The goal of a Christian is to win a crown, to reign with Christ in His coming kingdom. Becoming like Christ must happen after becoming born again, and being born again is a requirement for entering the kingdom of God.

Traditionally, most of Christianity seems to be on either side of the truth, teaching either that one must be good to be saved or that our works have no effect on our standing with God. Both are true in their proper context. As an unsaved sinner, one must believe on Christ alone to be saved. It is not of works, but is a free gift. Once a person is saved, now you are entered into the race and God does require us to run. If we do not, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. But we are still saved, with a promise to be raised up on the last day.

 

I want a preacher who will follow Paul's example and preach repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

yea, me too. Search on.

 

Personally, I wouldn't go back to that church if it was me. That kind of attitude means that you can live as you please because God doesn't care.

 

Sounds like a "Grace only" Calvinist church to me. One in which being born again is immaterial and you don't even have to know if you've been saved. Any change in your life after salvation is counted as salvation by works. In short, entirely of Satan.

 

Keep searching...

Unfortunately, finding a church that preaches the bible can be hard to find. I searched for months here in MA. Finally, settled on a SBC church, but I have to drive 37 mins to get there.

Suggestion - Go over to SBC.net and plug your address into the church search engine and it will give you list of SBC churches in your area.

 

Why does it need to be a "Grace Only" Calvinist church and not an antinomian Arminian church where his salvation happens because he knew about it and he and not Christ did something about it and not because God decided on it ?

 

Yeah.......... all those satanic calvinists. How dare them say that one does not have to be born again.............:laugh:

Is there one (smiley) for rolling on the floor laughing?

I pray everyone has a super great day in the Lord. We all need a good laugh at times. :godisgood:

 

Remove the *

 

"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
Galatians 5:24,25

 

Thank you brother. Good to see you back. Nice talking with you and your wife the other day. We are keeping you guys in prayer.

 

You made my day when you called and pleased my family also. We all thank you very much for your prayers and caring. I went to Wal-Mart today for a little while.

 

Now that is exercise........lol. You have to stay on your toes to keep from being run over in Wal Mart around here. You are a brave man brother. :laugh:

 

I would not say that a life of sin is normative to the Christian Life of the Spirit. But I would say that very few saved folks are living that Christian Life of the Spirit. Every child of God has the grace available to walk in the Spirit, it has already been given to them and all they need to do is avail themselves of it. But that doesn't mean they will. Does that mean they have a license to sin? Not if my view is correct. The bible tells me that a man reaps what he sows, and saved people are no exception. A man may be saved on the last day, based on faith in Jesus Christ, and yet reap corruption at the judgment seat of Christ because he sowed to the flesh.

Intimacy with God comes from walking with Him in obedience to His word.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Believers who never experience this intimacy with Jesus will not inherit the kingdom of God, but the eternal benefit of Christ's death is extended even to those lukewarm believers.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Reigning with Christ during the kingdom is a reward for faithful service. Being raised up on the last day is a free gift to any who will believe. We make a mess of grace and works when we fail to resolve the distinction between the free gift and the reward. God is able to preserve His grace without diminishing His holiness and justice. He is able to kill a man and raise him back up again.

 

I'm not much into feel-good preaching either. Preachers should be challenging us to continually examine ourselves for ways to draw nearer to Christ, to purge the sin from our lives. We should remember that we are not so much going to be judged on what we did for Jesus, but what we could have done. I think of the words of Paul:
Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Christ did something for all of our salvations. Noone knows about it in advance. They are saved because they accept Christ as their Savior. The result of their salvation is always a changed life or it was not genuine.

 

So you're claiming that salvation can be achieved without being born again (changing one's life)?