If our very lives depended on doing a certain regimen-- would we not get with the program to get things straight and in order?? Let it be known to all--- the BIBLE is my ONLY guide! Not any church or organization nor group, clique, body of men or current breeze of consensus! I don't know of any better way to understand the Bible than to pick it up and READ it. Period. Spiritually mature men who have the HOLY SPIRIT do take the lead in helping us understand what the Bible says, and I am thankful for that-- but once we get to a certain plateau of learning-- we actually 'feed ourselves!' And why can't any mature human being with a good heart who accepts Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior become a master in learning the Bible after years of reading and study??
After some 40 years of serious bible study I know a lot, but I still don't know everything--- and we suppose that it will be many years in heaven when we know most of the Bible, IMO. But if this is the code that we live by-- why not steep ourselves in the Word of God so we can become closer to the Lord-- especially in these precarious hard times right before the Rapture and Tribulation time? And remember, please, Proverbs 27:17: "Iron sharpenth iron; so a man sharpenth the countenance of his friend." True Christian friends can, do and should sharpen us and encourage us.
Please check out my friend, Carolyn's latest Blog post: http://no-apologies-round2.blogspot.com/2011/01/too-bad-to-be-saved.html
Tom Schuckman
Saved But Not Born Again?
Q. I was reading one of your articles and you indicated that Christians who believe they will be saved have to be Born Again. I was under the impression that all Christians who call upon the name of Jesus will be saved. But it seems the article indicated that Christians can be Christian in name only. Does this mean that they will not have eternal life.? My understanding, in the article, they will be left behind at the Rapture.
I am a Catholic, from a child on and believe the Lord Jesus died for our sins. I have since been Born Again, but would I have been saved without coming to the Born Again status?
A. If you believe Jesus died for your sins, saving you from the death penalty that was due you, and have asked Him for salvation, you are by definition born again. John 1:12 says belief in Jesus gives us the authority to become a child of God. This makes us children born not of natural descent or human decision, or a husband’s will (physical or first birth) but born of God (Spiritual or second birth).
In John 3:3 Jesus said no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he or she is born again. In John 3:6 He explained what this meant, saying, “Flesh gives birth to flesh but spirit gives birth to Spirit.” Everyone is born of the flesh (physical birth) but only those who believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose again are born of the Spirit. In 2 Cor. 5:17 Paul wrote, Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has gone the new has come. From God’s perspective the old person we once were has died and we have been born again as a new creation.
Some liberal Christian groups deny this teaching. They believe that membership in a church or living a good life will save them so they never ask the Lord to be their Savior. But His words are clear. Unless we are born again we cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Tags: Salvation
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Not only must people READ their Bibles, they must BELIEVE it to be the WORD of God! Too many people, whether they read or not, don't believe it as God's Word anymore. I'm afraid there will be many people who thought they were Christians left wondering after the rapture. I pray they will diligently seek Him now while there's time, but if not, I pray their hearts will not be hardened when they are left behind.
Right now, I am a meat and potatoes kind of girl- I need to be fed real, wholesome and grown up Bible, which I thank God I am getting at my church I go to now. That said, I agree that as we read, more and more the Lord shows us things that we don't need to be taught by pastors either. I like my new Church Tom, as they teach from the King James, and our wednesday night Bible study, we are going literally word by word. It sure takes a long time to get through the chapters, but WOW it's amazing at how rich and meaningful every jot and tittle is!
God Bless you brother, and great post again!
I've posted one too- if you want to check it out,
http://no-apologies-round2.blogspot.com/2011/01/too-bad-to-be-saved.html
Have a Blessed rest of the week TOm.
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