...if someone came up to you and asked "How do I become a Christian? What must I do to be saved?" Assume the enquirer is ignorant of theological language and is only saying 'saved' because s/he heard it somewhere.
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What would your answer be...
- Thread starter Matt Black
- Start date
Believe on Christ
Meaning what, exactly?
Here is how I would answer the question. To become a saved Christian is to have God choose you for salvation by transferring you out of the realm of darkness and death where you are now, and into the spiritual kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. God does this when He accepts your faith in Christ, which saves you from the penalty of your sin which you deserve.
If you do not believe from your heart in God, you cannot be saved.
If you do not believe you are a wretched sinner, guilty of choosing to sin and treat God and others unjustly, you cannot be saved.
Become a disciple of Christ, and learn about God, Jesus, the Prophets, Apostles, and those who did their best to become Christ-like. The life of a Christian is not easy, you will be ridiculed, disparaged and persecuted for your confession before men of your devotion to Christ.
If you do not believe from your heart in God, you cannot be saved.
If you do not believe you are a wretched sinner, guilty of choosing to sin and treat God and others unjustly, you cannot be saved.
Become a disciple of Christ, and learn about God, Jesus, the Prophets, Apostles, and those who did their best to become Christ-like. The life of a Christian is not easy, you will be ridiculed, disparaged and persecuted for your confession before men of your devotion to Christ.
Couple of points arising from that: firstly, how does one become a 'disciple of Christ' and what exactly does that term mean? Secondly, there doesn't seem to be any mention of the Cross in your answer, although I'm sure that was an oversight!:smilewinkgrin:
Well, first I would explain that we are "saved" from our sins. I would explain;
#1 That all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
#2 That the wages of sin is death, that is, to be separated from God forever in the lake of fire.
#3 That while we were yet sinners, God loved us and sent his Son Jesus Christ who became flesh and lived as a man under the law, how that Jesus never sinned and died for our sins on the cross and then rose from the dead.
# That if we believe on Jesus the word of God says our sins will be forgiven and we will be saved. To believe means to depend or rely upon Jesus only to save us, that if we come to Jesus in our heart and call upon him we will be saved.
OK your going to make me spell it out, right! :smilewinkgrin:Very well, I would first explain that salvation is by grace from beginning to end. Therefore Salvation is a gift, Gods gift to undeserving sinners who cannot be redeemed apart from Gods saving Grace.
Then I would explain that when God provides this gift, He effectively places it in the hands of his child, and once it is received, it can never be lost.
I would steer clear of anything else, & I would not attempt to confuse anyone with varied theological positions at that juncture.
That certainly would bring up a ton of other questions but thats OK.....thats my beginning point.
Then I would explain that when God provides this gift, He effectively places it in the hands of his child, and once it is received, it can never be lost.
I would steer clear of anything else, & I would not attempt to confuse anyone with varied theological positions at that juncture.
That certainly would bring up a ton of other questions but thats OK.....thats my beginning point.
Admit that you are a sinner, compare yourself to the 10 Commandments for your behaviour, and trust in jesus death as the way to get saved!
Receive him by faith!
Why wouldn't you start with the good news "Jesus Christ is able to save all who come to God through Him in faith"
Well, when that question was put to Paul and Silas they said "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" and then they further explained the gospel to them. So that is what i would say and do. That would be the Armenian answer I guess, so it would be hard to keep theology out of an invitation to receive Christ.
Person needs to see his sinfullness before seeing need for a saviour!
A penitent sinner yes....but that is not the question that Matt is asking. If I understand it correctly (& correct me if I'm wrong) Matt might have a individual who is curious to what a Christian does to get saved....if this is just a question to elicit a response, why would you start with calling anyone a sinner? Couldn't a person consider that a personal affront?
If however the person is feeling / has been made to recognize the depth of his or her sin, then yes I agree that needs to be discussed....thats another level & if I may..... I would hit the individual with the most heinous of sins....that is "the Sin of Unbelief". Then they would be forced to confront that they never really did "Ever" believe ....& thats horrifying (and shameful)!
Matt Black
I would explain that a person does not become a christian.Instead God saves sinners and makes them a new creation in Christ.
...God is Holy....all sin will be punished, in the sinner ,or the Divine substitute.
1]All men sinned and died in Adam...we are guilty at birth
2]All men are responsible to keep the ten commandments perfectly at the judgement...we cannot do this
3] God came to earth as a man to die for every sinner that will ever believe on Him savingly.
4] God the Father accepts the perfect life and obedience of the Son,even to Him dying as the God given substitute as payment for the penalty of the broken law.
5]all those sinners who trust that His blood paid the penalty of the broken law of God,everyone that believes will be saved.
Again ,once the facts are established...the sinner is told that he only need to trust the promises of God. believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.:thumbsup: You can show how in scripture everyone that repented of sin,and believed the gospel did so because God worked in them ,enabling them to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
I would explain that a person does not become a christian.Instead God saves sinners and makes them a new creation in Christ.
...God is Holy....all sin will be punished, in the sinner ,or the Divine substitute.
1]All men sinned and died in Adam...we are guilty at birth
2]All men are responsible to keep the ten commandments perfectly at the judgement...we cannot do this
3] God came to earth as a man to die for every sinner that will ever believe on Him savingly.
4] God the Father accepts the perfect life and obedience of the Son,even to Him dying as the God given substitute as payment for the penalty of the broken law.
5]all those sinners who trust that His blood paid the penalty of the broken law of God,everyone that believes will be saved.
"
Again ,once the facts are established...the sinner is told that he only need to trust the promises of God. believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.:thumbsup: You can show how in scripture everyone that repented of sin,and believed the gospel did so because God worked in them ,enabling them to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
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And you forgot to add that it would be necessary that you tell them that there is a chance, at least 50/50, that God created them for the sole purpose of being damned and spend eternity in hell with no opportunity for grace so that God can get glory out of their life. So good luck!
Isn't that what you would need to tell them if you were up front and honest?
Perhaps you and others believe this unscriptural caricature of what is and what is not the gospel.
I have no trouble explaining any part of the scripture to unsaved persons.
Matt asked a question.....the "person" he described was not much with theological terms and teaching.....he described two questions.
Your response posted here demonstrates a distorted view of the gospel of God's grace.I will be glad to show you how here online...or in person next time I pass through by Jamestown. I will go with you to the Res, the hospital , the nursing home, door to door...whatever you want.
here online-
The two questions do not make your idea necessary.
1]In explaining the Fall into sin and death.....it should be pointed out that all men everywhere are already condemned in Adam,and unless God saves them they will remain in a state of death,going into the second death.
the OP did not give a time frame....
2] I do not speak of....a chance.....I do not believe in chance.I believe in God's revealed covenant, His eternal purpose made known to the church.
3] I believe everyone I speak to is a sinner...so 100% I can speak of the cross and Jesus dying for sinners to every person I have an opportunity to speak with.
4] Christians are not told to speculate on God's truth ,but rather to be faithful to proclaim it...all of it if needs be.
5] A little child at 4-5 years old might ask where babies come from...do you whip out a college level anatomy book ,and speak about foreplay, and the reproductive cycle and who does what to who...or give a truthful but age appropriate response, saying God has a special way that he has planned for mommys and daddys to be able to have a family?
So a sinner with no backround as per the OP...does not need to hear my eschatolgical views, or debate infra/supralapsarianism while he is without the Kingdom
I do not blame God for mans sin and the consequences of that sin. Any such question is addressed clearly by Romans one.
If questions by the unsaved person go in that direction ,,,I will explain those answers as need be truthfully and fully....In fact i have done so multitudes of times and have no problem with it ,,,as you seem to by what you posted.
If God has contained these truths in scripture,and He has...they are there for a purpose. To shrink back from these truths would be sinful if these questions are openly asked.
Who are you to judge the word of God....cherry picking...nice love verses..and set aside the concept of the righteous judgement of God upon the unsaved.....
There is no luck...there is Divine providence, and good works that God has ordained that believers walk in them. If you studied some cathechisms and some systematic theology instead of demeaning them, you would be more biblical in your posting and critical thoughts.
A biblical Calvinist deals with the sin question ..with sinners. The teaching of God's grace in Covenant salvation, and all the systematic teaching strengthens a believer the way a craftsmen uses tools to produce a finished product. You might be aware of the tools, or you might not.
If someone asks theological questions we can go there with theological answers.....If someone is unchurched, we communicate the very same theology in terms he can grasp[without quotes from the systematic theology].....why speak over him..that would be pointless and in fact sinful if done intentionally.
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So tell me what is "distorted" about it. What is distorted about the fact that you believe God absolutely refuses to give grace to some people? It is an evil doctrine, not found in scripture to be sure. It is based on a perverted view of God's Sovereignty. I know full well what you believe. And I reject your personal caricature of God.
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Revmitchell
What is distorted is exactly how you wrote it.
you wrote this:
The teaching of God's grace....UNDESERVED MERCY IN THE PLACE OF DESERVED WRATH is a biblical doctrine . This can be seen in scripture and taught in so many ways it would be more than another thread.
Suffice it to say......God has not planned to save everyone at all. That was not God's plan and purpose or all would be saved. Anyone who says it was, or is God's plan is biblically mistaken. To even get that idea going you must pervert a multitude of scriptures.
Many have lived and died dead in Adam, living sinful selfish lives without ever hearing the gospel and they will go to the judgement, the saints in heaven did not have any difficulty praising God for His righteous judgement.
The fact that God saves anyone is a great mercy. The fact that He has covenanted to save a multitude of sinners in Christ is an unspeakable mercy.
This again is an unbiblical concept, speaking of God as if he was a man,and a miser. God is not playing a cat and mouse game. In a positive way he establishes both His grace and mercy, and His holy justice. It is not an evil and dark concept as you and others would propose...
Do you believe this verse and others like it? how about this one?
the heathen are described here as dead as the idols they make....multitudes have lived and died in this condition.....where do you see saving grace having been given to them???
What is distorted is exactly how you wrote it.
you wrote this:
The teaching of God's grace....UNDESERVED MERCY IN THE PLACE OF DESERVED WRATH is a biblical doctrine . This can be seen in scripture and taught in so many ways it would be more than another thread.
Suffice it to say......God has not planned to save everyone at all. That was not God's plan and purpose or all would be saved. Anyone who says it was, or is God's plan is biblically mistaken. To even get that idea going you must pervert a multitude of scriptures.
Many have lived and died dead in Adam, living sinful selfish lives without ever hearing the gospel and they will go to the judgement, the saints in heaven did not have any difficulty praising God for His righteous judgement.
The fact that God saves anyone is a great mercy. The fact that He has covenanted to save a multitude of sinners in Christ is an unspeakable mercy.
This again is an unbiblical concept, speaking of God as if he was a man,and a miser. God is not playing a cat and mouse game. In a positive way he establishes both His grace and mercy, and His holy justice. It is not an evil and dark concept as you and others would propose...
Do you believe this verse and others like it? how about this one?
the heathen are described here as dead as the idols they make....multitudes have lived and died in this condition.....where do you see saving grace having been given to them???
Thanks Tony...I love that you can defend the faith so completely. But where bo you get the resolve?:thumbsup:
Thanks for all the replies so far. Whilst I agree with the 'numbered stages' posts, I'm interested in 'drilling down' further with regard to the ultimate numbered stage in each case: you (pl.) use terms such as 'faith', 'believe in', 'trust in', etc - practically speaking, what do these terms actually mean?
With all due respect...you do understand that ypur insighting a riot. By discussng this you open up different system's that are opposed to each other. If you were to say id like to know what the Calvinist thinks I could tell you...right from the cross...but understand we teach a different gospel ... its the reformed gospel