How much time do we have?

[stanleyg]

If we as Christians are to hold our doctrine of eternal life vs. eternal damnation as being a true phenomenon, then how much time do we have to save a human soul?

There isn't any rehearsal. We don't get a second life to come back and try it again. It's one life, one shot to get it right the first time. We don't have time to play around or argue with each other. Instead, our ordinance is to work together as one body of Christ.

Apostle Paul has introduced us as Gentiles to the healing power of the gospel to save souls from pain and suffering. All we have to do is to bring our brothers and sisters, who are thirsting for spiritual understanding, to the fountain of life to drink the water of Christ.

How much faith does it require for us to preach the gospel in exchange for our eternal salvation?

Amen!

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

If we as Christians are to hold our doctrine of eternal life vs. eternal damnation as being a true phenomenon, then how much time do we have to save a human soul?

It is God who will save his elect, not us. We are commanded to preach the Word and teach them to obey all things which Christ has commanded us. If a person dies without Christ, they will spend eternity in Hell. Nobody knows how long that could be. Could be years...could be seconds.

Apostle Paul has introduced us as Gentiles to the healing power of the gospel to save souls from pain and suffering. All we have to do is to bring our brothers and sisters, who are thirsting for spiritual understanding, to the fountain of life to drink the water of Christ.

The lost are not our brothers and sisters, and they are not seeking God. They are enemies of Christ and spiritually dead in their sins until God, through his sovereign power and choice, regenerates them and gives them new life in Christ.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[Bro Tony]

I'm still wondering when stanley will join in discussions on his own posts. [snipped - the poster is very new with only 4 posts]
Bro Tony

 

[gekko]

he's only posted 3 times... give him a break. gosh.

 

[stanleyg]

Totally disagree

It is God who will save his elect, not us. We are commanded to preach the Word and teach them to obey all things which Christ has commanded us. If a person dies without Christ, they will spend eternity in Hell. Nobody knows how long that could be. Could be years...could be seconds.



The lost are not our brothers and sisters, and they are not seeking God. They are enemies of Christ and spiritually dead in their sins until God, through his sovereign power and choice, regenerates them and gives them new life in Christ.

Joseph Botwinick

I totally disagree with your reply. God is each of our Father. The fact that a child becomes lost doesn't change the father's love. Recall the parable of the prodigal son. The father had to love him even more.

 

[gekko]

i think what joseph was trying to say was that the unsaved are not our brothers and sisters. and that they dont seek God.

but the unsaved are also referred to as "lost" - Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.

the unsaved (lost) are children of wrath - sons of perdition i think the scriptures put it... please correct me if im wrong.

 

[John of Japan]

If this is simply stanleyg asking for advice and fellowship about witnessing, I'd love to participate and fellowship. If he means it to be a debate (as I already see happening) about the fatherhood of God and other matters such as C vs A , I sincerely hope a moderator will transfer it to a debate forum instead of this fellowship forum.

I am always humbled and thrilled when I think of the awesome privilege I have of being a missionary, and "I magnify my office" as the Apostle Paul did. Therefore, this fellowship forum is a major source of joy for me, and often a refuge from the stress of the debate forums (which of course I participate in from time to time).

God bless.

John

 

[gekko]

sorry JoJ - i did kind of bite the proverbial carrot and got lured into a bit of a debate...
---

how much time do we have? who knows. but with what time we have today - may we go serve our King.

who do we know who isn't saved?
---

prayer request: in september, Lord willing - I'll be starting an Evangelism Bible Study at our church - I dont know if i'll be in town to be able to do that - its complicated - im not in my home town right now - so please pray that the Lord's will be done - I long to start this bible study - because the church knows they have to get out there and evangelize - but they dont know how - even the Pastor doesn't know how to approach people properly - so keep that in prayer.

God bless.

 

[Tom Butler]

How much faith does it require for us to preach the gospel in exchange for our eternal salvation?

I realize that this is a fellowship forum and not for debate but our brother Stanley's post cries out for correction, witness the above quote.

I for one admire his zeal to see the lost witnessed to and saved and recognize my own zeal is not what it ought to be. God bless him.

Maybe a thread on the subject in the General Debate Forum would be appropriate.

 

[John of Japan]

sorry JoJ - i did kind of bite the proverbial carrot and got lured into a bit of a debate...

No problem. Hopefully the bud is nipped. :thumbs:

how much time do we have? who knows. but with what time we have today - may we go serve our King.

who do we know who isn't saved?

I think Jesus covered stanleyg's OP when He said, "I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4). If we don't do it now for the Lord, we won't do it tomorrow!

prayer request: in september, Lord willing - I'll be starting an Evangelism Bible Study at our church - I dont know if i'll be in town to be able to do that - its complicated - im not in my home town right now - so please pray that the Lord's will be done - I long to start this bible study - because the church knows they have to get out there and evangelize - but they dont know how - even the Pastor doesn't know how to approach people properly - so keep that in prayer.

Amen. Go for it. Sounds like a great need. May the Lord revive His church.

 

[John of Japan]

I realize that this is a fellowship forum and not for debate but our brother Stanley's post cries out for correction, witness the above quote.

I for one admire his zeal to see the lost witnessed to and saved and recognize my own zeal is not what it ought to be. God bless him.

Maybe a thread on the subject in the General Debate Forum would be appropriate.

:thumbs: Go for it!

 

[John of Japan]

If we as Christians are to hold our doctrine of eternal life vs. eternal damnation as being a true phenomenon, then how much time do we have to save a human soul?

There isn't any rehearsal. We don't get a second life to come back and try it again. It's one life, one shot to get it right the first time. We don't have time to play around or argue with each other. Instead, our ordinance is to work together as one body of Christ.

Apostle Paul has introduced us as Gentiles to the healing power of the gospel to save souls from pain and suffering. All we have to do is to bring our brothers and sisters, who are thirsting for spiritual understanding, to the fountain of life to drink the water of Christ.

How much faith does it require for us to preach the gospel in exchange for our eternal salvation?

Amen!

And now, back to your regularly scheduled OP!

I know where you are coming from here. Of course, on many mission fields (and in some cases in the homeland) we must often simply be content with planting the seed and waiting for the Holy Spirit to germinate it. My wife and I have Japanese friends who are not in the slightest interested in the Lord, but we maintain the friendship, witnessing when we can, hoping for that day when they are open to the Gospel.

 

[genesis12]

because the church knows they have to get out there and evangelize - but they dont know how - even the Pastor doesn't know how to approach people properly

That is true of soooooooo many churches, including my own. Two or three individuals here and there simply can't carry the entire load! My prayer is that God will open up the windows of Heaven, pouring out understanding, stripping away hesitation, shyness, fear, filling us with faith, hope, confidence, boldness. How much time? Enough, IF we go to work! Amen! raying:

 

[Tom Butler]

After reading Stanleyg's OP I think we can cut him some slack for being imprecise in his comments. I think I know what he's trying to say, but I forget that he's a newby, and not yet used to people jumping in with both feet at what appears to be a mid-statement. His heart is certainly in the right place.

For instance

...how much time do we have to save a human soul?

This is what I meant by imprecise. I don't think for a minute that he believes we humans save any soul.

All we have to do is to bring our brothers and sisters, who are thirsting for spiritual understanding, to the fountain of life to drink the water of Christ.

Joseph Botwinick reflect my views on this statement. But it's consistent with a non-Calvinist view of evangelism.

How much faith does it require for us to preach the gospel in exchange for our eternal salvation?

The sentence suggests that we can earn our salvation by preaching the gospel. But I don't think that's what he really means to say. Stanleyg can clarify for himself, but what I think he's saying is, is it too much to ask for believers to carry the gospel because they have received eternal salvation.

Brother Stanley, I look forward to your reply as to whether I'm right or wrong.

 

[stanleyg]

After reading Stanleyg's OP I think we can cut him some slack for being imprecise in his comments. I think I know what he's trying to say, but I forget that he's a newby, and not yet used to people jumping in with both feet at what appears to be a mid-statement. His heart is certainly in the right place.

For instance



This is what I meant by imprecise. I don't think for a minute that he believes we humans save any soul.




Joseph Botwinick reflect my views on this statement. But it's consistent with a non-Calvinist view of evangelism.



The sentence suggests that we can earn our salvation by preaching the gospel. But I don't think that's what he really means to say. Stanleyg can clarify for himself, but what I think he's saying is, is it too much to ask for believers to carry the gospel because they have received eternal salvation.

Brother Stanley, I look forward to your reply as to whether I'm right or wrong.

The majority of Christians have been misled to believe that we are already saved. This isn't true. If we believe in our hearts that we are already saved, then we give up our hope of glory.

Col1
[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
[23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

 

[John of Japan]

The majority of Christians have been misled to believe that we are already saved. This isn't true. If we believe in our hearts that we are already saved, then we give up our hope of glory.

Col1
[5] For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
[23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
[27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Huh???? What does this mean and what does it have to do with the OP??

 

[Tom Butler]

Oops, maybe I cut Stanlyg too much slack. Maybe he's saying exactly what he means.

 

[BobRyan]

The majority of Christians have been misled to believe that we are already saved. This isn't true. If we believe in our hearts that we are already saved, then we give up our hope of glory.

Are you familiar with the John 3 concept of "Born again" And the 2Cor 5 concept of the "new creation"??

Are you aware of the fact of Romans 3 and the depravity of the sinful nature?

When one is born again - do you consider them to be lost while in that state?

 

[John of Japan]

Oops, maybe I cut Stanlyg too much slack. Maybe he's saying exactly what he means.

I'd love him to explain what he means. As for me, I am evidently one of the majority of Christians misled to believe I'm already saved--through the precious blood of Jesus, thank God!! :saint:

 

[genesis12]

Uh .. Stanley .. try this:

Col1
[5] For the calm, confident assurance already yours in Heaven, which you previously learned, in the Word of Truth, the Good News.

[23] Since you will continue in the faith grounded and settled, steadfast in the calm, confident assurance of the Good News, which you have had preached to you, the same being preached among the many, whereof I, Paul, have been named a Minister.

[27] To whom God made known the deep riches of the church among the Gentiles: Christ in you, your calm, confident assurance of salvation.