What comes First

[mike2]

Is your salvation the only reason to become a Christian.

As a non believer would you think it is kind of shallow to believe in God just to save your butt.

I saw in a thread just the other day someone that would not accept God for that excuse, because, obviously, all they know of God is if you dont believe in Him you go to hell.

With that in mind, believing in God for that reason, is, rightly, hypocritical.

Why should we accept God other than for our salvation and should we be using those examples and reasons when we witness?

[Marnie]

You wrote:

As a non believer would you think it is kind of shallow to believe in God just to save your butt.

My response:

Not necessarily. I think people come to know Christ as their Savior for a variety of reasons, some out of love for Him, some out of fear of Hell. Who is to say which is the more correct motive? I think both are valid reasons. Not everybody responds to the "love message." The important thing is that each grow in the Faith.

[tah]

Fire insurance is not a bad thing...

it IS necessary..

for whatever reason a person comes to Jesus our God is well able to build on that first step..

but if they never take the first step they will go to hell...

the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom not the end of it...

[cymba22]

What comes First, Salvation or a Christian Life

Salvation...you cannot have a christian life without it...its a contridiction in terms.

Is your salvation the only reason to become a Christian.

As a non believer would you think it is kind of shallow to believe in God just to save your butt.

I saw in a thread just the other day someone that would not accept God for that excuse, because, obviously, all they know of God is if you dont believe in Him you go to hell.

With that in mind, believing in God for that reason, is, rightly, hypocritical.

Why should we accept God other than for our salvation and should we be using those examples and reasons when we witness?

No

put that way...yes

if you believe in him your saved, (thats what my Bible tells me).

only hypocritical if you say you believe in him and dont walk the walk.

you only used two reasons..lets look at the second one you wrote...salvation...your being saved from what? eternal damnation...so the second one differs from the first...how?

Personally I chose Christ not for an excape route...or salvation...I chose him because he loved me enough before I was even thought of to die for something I had not yet done.

[apothanein kerdos]

Before we can lead a Christian life, we have to be saved. We accept Christ to save us...that is the entire purpose. Not just from hell, but to restore us to what He intended us to be. That is the purpose of salvation. I do'nt see why accepting Christ on those premises would be wrong.

Now you are correct that if we only believe for beliefs sake and show nothing of this belief in our daily lives, then yeah, it's a sorry excuse. I think that's the point you're trying to make?

[Ryan Dillard]

Hey Kerdos just wanted to say that I know people that have accepted God out of fear of going to hell, and that they are really good christians now and are really living for him. So I would have to say I am just happy they made that decision and it isin't really important why they made it, just that they did!

[apothanein kerdos]

Hey Kerdos just wanted to say that I know people that have accepted God out of fear of going to hell, and that they are really good christians now and are really living for him. So I would have to say I am just happy they made that decision and it isin't really important why they made it, just that they did!

I should probably differentiate between what I mean. Obviously when we accept Christ, there is some fear of hell. However, people who merely accept Christ for what we call "fire insurance" probably are not saved. We need to understand why Christ is saving us, and that answer goes much deeper than "from hell." That is part of the growing that occurs after one has become a Christian.

[nanasimmons]

Most people I know, including myself, didn't truly see themselves as wicked and hell bound, until after they got saved.

I did all my verbal repenting in the months following as I learned through the Word, how sinful sin really was.

Jesus said ,no one comes to Him, unless the Father draws them. God knows everyone and He knows How and when to call them to Himself. He's never too early or late, but right on time.

When I pray for my unsaved family, I ask Him just to spare their lives, because I know some people take the long, hard road. I am willing to trust God that whatever it takes to save them, He will bring it to pass.

[David from New Bern]

I think the real issue is separation from God. The gain is the peace of being in right fellowship with our Creator. Of course heaven will be the permanent installation of that communion with God. I believe in a literal Lake of Fire, but regardless of that fact permanent from God would be miserable even without the torture of prophecy.

[Giaour]

For me, I was called first.

Like I was driven by an uncontrollable force to investigate this Jesus thing.

Then I was saved.

Then I was just as compelled to live the Christian life.

I fail miserably sometimes but I keep picking myself up and trying again.