So near....

[yomotalking]

If a person was considering being a Christian, and was seeking God, and they were killed before the person prayed the Prayer Of Repentence......would they make it???

My friends are seeking God.........

Would they go to Heaven if they died before saying the ACTUAL prayer....

OH I hope NOt.......

Yomo

[DaBronx]

I don't believe God would allow you to die until you have had a chance to repent...

BUT

God looks at your heart, so...even if you didn't say it out loud and you felt it in your heart (maybe said a silent prayer just before your last breath) then, yes I believe you would be saved.

[Leonard]

Well, if you could show me a copy of that 'sinners prayer' in the Bible, then I'd say they HAVE to say it. But since it's not in the Bible AT ALL........

[Gerioke]

Well, if you could show me a copy of that 'sinners prayer' in the Bible, then I'd say they HAVE to say it.  But since it's not in the Bible AT ALL........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was just an example of how to pray

[yomotalking]

I don't mean there's a prayer.

I once had a friend say to me....which was really sad...

"I thought that God had saved me....but now I realised He hadn't."

I was hit by an unexplainable feeling.

She continued. "I pray to God all the time, but I know I'm not one....(a Christian)......

"Oh......E-------..............!"

I thought, as I listened.

As I came home, I suddenly thought...."wait a mo........if she reads her Bible...(which she said she does)...

and prays as much as she says she does....then....I believe she is a Christian......

I said to her, "Have you ever considered being a Christian?"

She said "I'd love to be one....."

I felt like saying to her....."if you do all that.....(truthfully) then you're saved.

(I didn't say this though....)

Sooooo

Is my good friend saved??

Yomo

[other one]

Yomo, if she believes in her heart that the Father raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with her mouth that Jesus is "her" Lord, the book of Romans says that she is saved. Neither of us will ever know that for sure, only her and the Lord.....

You must have actually made Jesus your Lord to confess it, and if he is your Lord you will follow His instructions of which being baptized is one.

So, if she is truly saved then Jesus would be her Lord and as soon as possible she will feel the need to be baptized and will love God with all her heart and love her neighbor as her self........ and the rest will work itself out.

[yomotalking]

So if someone NEVER made an actual "Confession Of Sin" prayeer, (asking God to come in.......)

But prayed and believed in Christ IN HER HEART......would she make it to Heaven?

Yomo

[Leonard]

I think you're splitting hairs here; 'bare minimum' Christianity still saves, but if someone deliberately goes looking for those 'bare minimums' their heart attitude is not right with God, and they are not interested in Him.

On the other hand, the devil's first and best trick is to convince saved folks that for some reason 'God rejected me....I'm too sinful, God can't forgive me.......I don't know why, but God won't save me.....' and so forth. Well, the devil is a LIAR. I would not believe the feelings of condemnation he plants!

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

The "bare minimum Christian" is shown in the Bible as the "thief on the cross" that asked the Lord to "remember me when you come into your Kingdom". But he was dying and had no time to waste. His confession of Christ was to the other thief when he rebuked him for making fun of our Lord.

If your friend's heart is motivated to honor Christ, and it MUST be Christ, not just God, or A god, then she CAN be assured that she is saved. You might want to remind her of this verse:

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Pipit]

It is a difficult topic to discuss or assure ourselves about-- that of the salvation of someone else, especially when they are unsure or seem uncommital in their commitment to Christ. We cannot see the motivation of the heart, or if any true confession and move to repentence has been made.

We also need to be careful in telling someone they can be assured of their own salvation on the basis of motivation. Well I do agree with what Dad Ernie says about how our motivation to honor Christ is important, the idea of honor has been warped in todays language, and motivation to honor may not be a sign of true repentence (many people feel motivated to honor God and Christ, but that motivation to honor them may not produce genuine repentence or service to Christ. Consider how many people 'practice religion' in belief they are honoring God and gaining brownie points that will get them into heaven).

I am using the word Repentance alot because it is central to salvation. Mere belief is not enough. The theif on the cross confessed that he deserved his punishment of death, admited he was a sinner, and threw his hope of salvation on Christ. This selection is from the Evidence Bible on repentece, and hopefully, Yomo, you can use it to show your friend what it means to trust in Christ and walk with Him:

It is true that there are numerous Bible verses that speak of the promise of salvation, with no mention of repentance. These merely say to "believe" on Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). However, the Bible makes it clear that God is holy and man is sinful, and that sin makes a separation between the two (Isaiah 59:1,2). Without repentance from sin, wicked men cannot have fellowship with a holy God. We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and until we forsake them through repentance, we cannot be made alive in Christ.

The Scriptures speak of "repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). We turn from sin to the Savior. This is why Paul preached "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). The first public word Jesus preached was "repent" (Matthew 4:17). John the Baptist began his ministry the same way (Matthew 3:2). Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3).

If belief is all that is necessary for salvation, then the logical conclusion is that one need never repent. However, the Bible tells us that a false convert "believes" and yet is not saved (Luke 8:13); he remains a "worker of iniquity." Look at the warning of Scripture: "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1 John 1:6). The Scriptures also say, "He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesses and forsakes them [repentance] shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who "repents" (Luke 15:10). If there is no repentance, there is no joy because there is no salvation.

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, he commanded his hearers to repent "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. Peter further said, "Repent . . . and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). We cannot be "converted" unless we repent. God Himself "commands all men everywhere [leaving no exceptions] to repent" (Acts 17:30). Peter said a similar thing at Pentecost: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38).

If repentance wasn

Edited July 16, 2005 by Pipit