Poll: What Causes Someone to Become a Child of God?

[Vine Abider]

"I came that they might have life" "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" 

[AnOrangeCat]

14 hours ago, Cyoder said:

I think it's love.  Love of God and others. It's so simple and yet so difficult to do.  If you Love Jesus, you must believe in him.  If you love everyone, you will obey the commandments.  So many people are difficult to love.

I feel similarly. There's an initial call that we respond to or reject, but so much flows from the love for God and humanity in general. Looking at the parable of the soils I feel like this sort of love is what separates real Christians from those who rejoice and seem receptive for a time from those who fall away for various reasons and end up in the "Lord, Lord" crowd.

[enoob57]

I noticed someone voted for works... all I ask is how could this happen?
Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

[25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

The question may arise isn't God omniscience? Here's how this works:
These people were basing their salvation on what they do or their works and there is only one place where works are judged for salvation. It is the Great White Throne of God-
Revelation 20:11 (KJV)

[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Here is where God burns up all of first creation

[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Now God has already told us this-

Titus 3:5 (KJV)

[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So, we know not even one here will make it by their works or that would make God a liar and we know-

Hebrews 6:18 (KJV)

[18] That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Here is the criteria to be saved

Revelation 20:15 (KJV)

[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

To answer why God does not retain them in memory is after this above God removes all memory of the first creation
 

Knowledge will cease by removal:

1Cor 13:8

Rev 21:1-5

Isa 65:17

 

Some contend that the earth will be renovated but according to God's Word 'all things will be made new' ... God is going to make all things new 

1.            new things, Isa 42:9   Isaiah 48:6

2.            new song, Isa 42:10 (cf. Rev 5:9; 14:3

3.            something new, Isa 43:19 (cf. Rev 3:12)

4.            new name, Isa 62:2, Rev 3:12 (cf. Isa 56:5)

5.            new heavens and a new earth, Isa 65:17

Isa 66:22 (cf. 2 Peter 3:13)

 

The "new" day (cf. Rev 21:5) was, in reality, the day that God always wanted for humans, but

the Fall in Gen 3 caused a terrible disruption! It is surely possible that the Bible's imagery of heaven is a restored Garden of Eden (cf. Rev 21:2).

To answer this succinctly->And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  -> God was speaking from His present in the eternal state...

[Vine Abider]

2 hours ago, enoob57 said:

I noticed someone voted for works... all I ask is how could this happen?

Specifically they voted for this choice, as to what makes them a child of God:  "Keeping God's Commandments - Obey Him & His Word."  That is good, of course, but all of the choices listed are things that are the result and outflow of His life in us.  Only His life in us makes us His children.

[Dennis1209]

It should be a lively conversation based on the survey responses. The survey's responses are all works based or a response (question 7) of genuine faith and Salvation (a child of God). Being regenerated is the work of the Holy Spirit after Salvation. All the questions asked are the results, or fruit of conversion and freely given eternal life, just for the asking. The standard to become a child of God (or son of God) has never changed since Adam. Adam was a son of God (Luke 3:38); like Adam, a direct creation, we have the power to become the sons (and daughters) of God [John 1:12]. What does that entail? Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The word of God is chock-full of how we become a child of God, with the following nowhere close to all-inclusive:

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [James 2:23; Gal. 3:6]. The right standing before God and in His will.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. [2:20; 2:26 ­ questionnaire]

John 1:12 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:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  [faith, not any works we do].

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

And, of course, the most beloved verse in the Bible: John 3:16 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.

Faith + Belief + Trust = A child of God

[Cyoder]

"Faith without works is dead"

[enoob57]

It is specifically focused on what we rely upon to be saved- ourselves or Christ... as it cannot be both!

3 minutes ago, Cyoder said:

"Faith without works is dead"

This is what James is saying 'proof is in the reality of Christ in us' or John in this way

1 John 1:6 (KJV)

[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

[Vine Abider]

2 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

Faith + Belief + Trust = A child of God

And that results in Christ coming to live in a person - His life in us makes us His children.

7 minutes ago, Cyoder said:

"Faith without works is dead"

So true - the life of Christ in a believer should accordingly produce good works.  If not, their faith is dead, but they are still a child of God with His life in them.  There is just no outward evidence of their faith.

[enoob57]

14 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

And that results in Christ coming to live in a person - His life in us makes us His children.

So true - the life of Christ in a believer should accordingly produce good works.  If not, their faith is dead, but they are still a child of God with His life in them.  There is just no outward evidence of their faith.

I believe the proof of this is found at the judgment seat of Christ
1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV)

[15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
It certainly divides out works and salvation... one can be without the other...

It is interesting how God tries that which is being kept by fire.... all first creation will be removed by fire so only that which will remain is that which the fire will not remove ... so reliance on anything of now will be lost in the fire but that which is relying upon that which will be but is not as yet will not burn up... 
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

[11:1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How perfect God has divided out body reliance from Spiritual reliance...

[Cyoder]

19 hours ago, enoob57 said:

It is specifically focused on what we rely upon to be saved- ourselves or Christ... as it cannot be both!

This is what James is saying 'proof is in the reality of Christ in us' or John in this way

1 John 1:6 (KJV)

[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

 

You have to try.  You can't just pray and think everything will be taken care of.  If you don't believe that, quit working, quit trying and just pray for everything and see what happens.  Trying is works.  It's the same when people say they leave everything up to God.  You can't.  Leaving everything up to God would look something like walking out into the woods naked, sitting on a stump and just praying for food, shelter and water.  You would be dead within a few days.  We have to contribute.  I'm an alcoholic.  God saved me from alcohol, but I still have to try not to drink. We have free will.  I do understand that salvation cannot be somehow earned.  We don't earn salvation by works but we are expected to do the best that we can with our own free will.  It's for God to judge.