How Can I Be Saved?

[EricH]

You are right we can not know what is in a mans heart.  But just so  I can get some understanding of what you are saying.  For the purpose of discussion lets say the man was saved.  Gods Graces was given to him, he acdepted it, he was transformed and born again. 

#1 I can see two possibilities from your prespective.  If a person is committing grevious sins (child molesting) there is no way they could have been truley saved in the first place therefore not saved, no Grace.  Therefore anyone who is committing terrible sins was never truley saved in the first place.  OR

#2 They were truley saved in the first place and a saved Child molester (molesting children after being saved) will go to heaven anyway?  If you can't agree with this than #1 has to be true.

Is there another posibility?

Thanks:

Kansas Dad

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If someone was saved in God's eyes, they are saved. So 1 and 2 are the possibilities. I can't know which it is. The problem with this line of questioning is that it assumes that there are a list of sins that are more serious than others in terms of our salvation. There are Christians who struggle with lieing, gossip, anger, materialism, pride and gluttony (placing things before God) for their whole lives. But for some reason, in these type of discussions, they are never mentioned. It is always the child molester or murder.

We have a hard time getting past the point that Christ dies for all sins, even the ones we find the most personally offensive. We also are willing to overlook the more socially acceptable sins as part of the sancitification process, and insist that others must be totally absent post-salvation.

In your example, my guess is that the chold molesting is an acting out of a much deeper sin issue. Most molesters don't just wake up one day and decide to molest kids. So assuming he was truly saved and began acting out the molestation subsequent to salvation, why would that be any different than a believer who was addicted to cocaine who has a relapse subsequent to salvation, or a gossip who continues to struggle after salvation.

Sanctification is a process not an event (like justification). We have the new nature, but it struggles with the old sin nature that continues to be present.

[Kansasdad]

Ok just so I am clear (sorry thick headed)

A truly saved child molester goes to heaven just as a truly saved gossip goes to heaven.

Correct?

Kansasdad

I will post again, But I will need to spend some time with it.

[EricH]

Ok just so I am clear  (sorry thick headed)

A truly saved child molester goes to heaven just as a truly saved gossip goes to heaven.

Correct?

Kansasdad

I will post again, But I will need to spend some time with it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have answered the same question several times. I am done now

[jc49]

I often times hear my friends say, "I'm saved."  What does this mean and how can I be saved?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dear Pax,

the greatest authority to tell us what it means to be saved and how to be saved is THE SAVIOUR HIMSELF,so I'll let HIM tell us from HIS OWN WORDS,ok?

Lets turn to the Gospel of John,chapter 3,ok?

Chapter 3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Well Pax...here The Lord Jesus tells us that we are all LOST in SIN and that THE ONLY WAY to BE FORGIVEN and HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE is by BELIEVING IN HIM!

I know that it sounds too good to be true,I know that goes against all that we have been taught since childhood,i.e. that if we are good,but really good,we will deserve a good reward...GOOD WORKS= REWARD...but actually JESUS HIMSELF tells us that UNLESS we are BORN AGAIN we cannot SEE the KINGDOM of GOD neither ENTER in THE KINGDOM.

JESUS says that WE MUST be born again and that unless we BELIEVE in HIM we stay LOST in SIN and so we will be eternally separated from GOD in a place very very horrible,called THE LAKE OF FIRE....FOR EVER....

Now JESUS says: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD,JESUS,WILL NOT PERISH...but...but...HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE!

This is WONDERFUL,just like JESUS,HE IS WONDERFUL...and He adds that THE FATHER (GOD) SENT HIM ( JESUS) TO SAVE US ( the world)!!!!

IT IS ASTOUNDING,MARVELLOUS,BUT>>>>TRUE!!!!!

Now,BELIEVING IN JESUS means....BELIEVING IN JESUS! how can we add anything to HIS OWN WORDS ?

Well JESUS also said in Matthew 9

10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Hos 6:1 5:13 7:1

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Hos 6:6

SINNERS? ARE WE SINNERS? YES,YES we are sinners and as such already dead,separated by GOD WHO is HOLY and WE NEED JESUS,by BELIEVING in HIM HE RECEIVES US and SAVES US ETERNALLY....what a GIFT!!!!

John tells us in chapter 1:

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him

WOW.....BY BELIEVING IN HIM AND RECEIVING HIM as OUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOUR GOD GIVES US THE POWER TO BECOME HIS CHILDREN!!!!!

Read prayerfully the above SCRIPTURES ....

and also the Apostle PAUL tells us in the Book of Romans:ch 6:

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE WAGES of SIN= DEATH

THE GIFT of GOD= ETERNAL LIFE through JESUS(I am the Lord The SAVIOUR) CHRIST( the annointed one,the sent one) our Lord!!!!

WOW ....ETERNAL LIFE IS THE GIFT,JESUS IS ETERNAL LIFE,HE IS GOD'S GIFT to ME,TO YOU,TO US.....

and Paul adds:

Romans 10:

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

5

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Lev 18:5 Gal 3:12

6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

Deut 30:12

7

Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)

Deut 30:13

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Deut 30:14

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Isa 28:16

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Joel 2:32

PAX,I love the Word of God,don't you? GOOD NEWS......if you confess( in latin confiteor means= TO SAY,TO PROCLAIM,TO AFFIRM) with YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS and BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART that GOD RAISED HIM from THE DEAD ,YOU SHALL BE SAVED

BELIEVE IN JESUS then and GET SAVED ETERNALLY

Acts 16:

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

NO WORKS but childlike FAITH IN JESUS

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Paul said that:

be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

BELIEVE IN JESUS,RECEIVE HIM,TALK TO HIM in SPIRIT and TRUTH HE WILL SAVE YOU and YOU WILL KNOW ,not when you die but EVEN NOW.

GOD BLESS YOU PAX