I read on the forum where many of you think praying to receive Christ is a "man-made" doctrine. I simply answer you with Romans 10:13, "For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Take it for what it's worth, look it up. It's there in black and white. And in regards to Baptism, Baptists do believe in Baptism. However, we are Baptized because we are saved, not saved because we are baptized. Yet, Baptism is indeed an essential part of salvation. Look at it this way. In the Old Testemant, God once commanded that all who bow to a snake on a poll would have their life spared. All who didn't would die. Did the snake posess special saving power in and of itself? Of course not! The people were saved because they OBEYED God's command. It's the same way with Baptism. If one has truly made Christ their Saviour, then they will automatically want to be Baptized. Those who say, I'm not going to be Baptized simply were not genuine in their decision to accept Christ. Look at the thief on the cross. You'd better believe he would have been baptized if he were able. I believe to argue that he may have been baptized earlier in life contradicts itself. If that were true, infant baptism would be something we should do. Yes, we should be baptized. But baptism without first accepting Christ is a meaningless act.

Hello mvw and welcome to the forum!

(All emphasis by me.)

If salvation depended on us praying to receive Christ, why is it that no one in the Bible was ever saved as a result of praying to receive Christ?

Take for example, Paul prayed and fasted for three days prior to going to see Ananias, but his sins were not washed away at that time. No, Jesus specifically told Paul what he had to do... go and find Ananias and Ananias would tell Paul what he had to do. When Paul did find Ananias... what did Ananias tell Paul to do... did he tell him to pray to receive Christ? Nope! Here is what Ananias told Paul:

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

You see... "It's there in black and white." In order to have his sins washed away... Paul was not instructed to pray to receive Christ, he was instructed to be baptized. Notice what Ananias stated Paul was doing... "calling on the name of the Lord." As the evidence shows, calling on the name of the Lord includes baptism to have our sins washed away.

Another example we have of someone praying in the Bible is of Cornelius... the centurion. I refer you to Acts chapter 10. Yes... Cornelius prayed daily... but he did not pray to receive Christ into his heart or into his life. Read the story and chapters following for the recaps and notice that in order for Cornelius and his family to be saved, they had to hear the word of God from Peter... ("the words by which you and your family will be saved") and they were baptized. Very interesting story.

Peter also teaches us all how we are to call on the name of the Lord. Recall the day of Pentecost? Luke recounts the story of Jesus commanding the apostles to go to Jerusalem and preach repentance and remission of sins...

Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

They obeyed. Beginning in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost we read that Peter preached...

Acts 2:16-21 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Let's answer two questions:

1. How did Peter preach repentance and remission of sins?

2. How did Peter tell these people to call on the name of the Lord?

For the answers, we simply go to the Scriptures following:

First, Peter preached the gospel to the people...

Acts 2:22-36 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The people heard the message and were pricked to the heart... they wanted to know what they had to do to call on the name of the Lord...

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter preaches repentance and remission of sins just like Jesus commanded and tells them exactly how to call on the name of the Lord...

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

You see... calling on the name of the Lord is not referring to praying to receive Christ... it is referring to obeying what God has commanded in order to be saved. This is how we call on God.

We must be baptized for what? For the remission of sins!

Jesus said to do what? Preach "repentance and remission of sins". What did Peter preach? "Repent, and be baptized... for the remission of sins..." Peter obeyed Jesus. Notice how the sins are forgiven, via baptism... not prayer. Peter did not tell them to pray to receive Christ... NOPE! Crystal clear!

The story you refer to about the snake on a poll is indeed a good example of the fact that we must obey what God tells us to do in order to have life. Of course this particular instance with Moses was only for those who had been snake bitten.

Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Similarly God tells those who are lost (snake bitten and dying so to speak) that they must be baptized to live, therefore we must be baptized. No one here is claiming the water has any special power, nor does the Bible claim it has any special power, but we are commanded to be baptized to have our sins washed away. Baptism is how we come in contact with the blood of Christ. We are buried with Him...

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Romans 6:3-5 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

As you so very well state... God does command us to obey Him... He commands us to be baptized for the remission of our sins, but no where does He command us to pray to be received.

Now you gave us one passage and misinterpreted its true meaning in order to support a man-made doctrine of prayer for salvation, which we have clearly shown and proven with multiple Scriptures is absolutely false teaching.

Next you claim baptism is something we do after we are saved, but you fail to offer any supporting Scripture for your claim. I suspect that is because it is not taught any where in the Bible.

Then you state that baptism is a meaningless act without first accepting Christ, but you offer no Scriptural support for your claim. Furthermore the Bible clearly disagrees with your claim.

Surely you see the truth now. I feel confident that you believe and have faith... understanding that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Most likely you have repented for most of your sinful ways. Now you should repent of worshiping in vain and turn to the truth... worshiping in spirit and in truth...

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We must repent or Jesus explained we will surely perish...

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

God also commands us to repent... not to pray to receive Christ, but to repent...

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Jesus says we must confess Him before other men...

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Therefore you should make sure you confess Jesus, just as the Ethiopian Eunuch did...

Acts 8:36-38 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Then right there in your Bible... possibly in black and white, but most likely in red and white... Jesus said,

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

He that believes and is baptized will be saved! Amen!

So I ask you mvw... why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:


Now on to the thief on the cross... such a mis-used aid for false teachers who claim baptism is not necessary for salvation.

The thief was not commanded by Jesus to be baptized... it would have been impossible for the thief to obey the gospel because the gospel (the death, burial and resurrection of Christ) had not been consummated at the point that Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross. The thief lived under the old law... we live under the new law. Jesus had all authority to do as He pleased while He was on this earth... He could forgive sins on the spot and did in many instances, just as He did with the thief. Jesus gave the command of baptism after He rose from the grave... it is part of the new law... the new covenant. For a complete overview on the thief... see this article... What About The Thief On The Cross?



Not only is praying to receive Christ a "man-made" doctrine...

It is nowhere found in the Bible...

No one ever prayed to receive Christ in the Bible...

Every example of salvation under the New Testament, the covenant under which we live, includes baptism...

Praying to receive Christ is a false teaching that Satan wants everyone to believe is true... and it is one of the major reasons Jesus said "many" will follow the broad path to destruction and "few" will find eternal life... (Matthew 7:13, 14)

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

But "praying to receive Christ" also includes confessing your sins to God. All you are essentially doing is acknowledging to God that you believe that He sent His Son to die on the cross to save you from your sins and also ask forgiveness for your sinful ways. You also thank Him for this wonderful gift of eternal life. What's so bad about simply praying that? You can even do it silently. Since God can read our thoughts, isn't that essentially what you are doing anyway? I just don't see why Satan would like that type of teaching. Someone could repent from their sinful ways and possibly even be baptized without ever acknowledging the Lord's gift of Salvation through Jesus.

With all due respect and out of love for your soul... you are obviously ignoring much of what the Bible says... I encourage you for your own souls sake to read again what is written above with particular attention to the Scriptures quoted.

You are offering not one word of Scriptural support for what you are writing.

Please show me the Scripture that commands an unsaved sinner to pray to receive Christ.

Please show me the Scripture that commands an unsaved sinner to confess sins to God.

Please show me the Scripture that commands an unsaved sinner to pray for forgiveness of sins.


To clarify... when someone obeys God and does the following, they are "acknowledging the Lord's gift of Salvation through Jesus."

1. Hear the word of God...

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

2. Believe and have faith...

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Hebrew 11:6 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.

3. Repent of their sinful ways and turn to God...

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

4. Confess Jesus is Lord, the Son of God...

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

5. Be baptized into Christ...

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

6. Remains faithful unto death...

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Now... there is no doubt that once a person has obeyed what is taught in the Bible to be saved that surely they will also want to begin communicating with God through prayer. I would suggest that they would indeed pray a prayer to God and thank Him for loving us enough to give His only Son so that we can accept the gift of eternal life.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

You ask me to show you from scripture where anyone "prayed to receive Christ." Let me ask you this. Where in the Bible does it specifically say we are not to use musical instruments in worship? Not that there is anything wrong with not using musical instruments (I personally actually prefer a capella music in Church myself). And that's really not even the point of me bringing it up. My point is that there are some things in which the Bible does not give a specific example on, but we draw conclusions based on our conscious or from other scriptures we have read. As the music example would state, you guys do it, too. You say that to be saved, a person must basically repent, confessed, and be baptised. Prayer is simply an affirmation to God that we have accepted these truths. When we say "praying to receive Christ", that is simply telling God "I accept your gift." Also, doesn't the Bible teach that we should confess our sins in order to be forgiven (I John 1:9)?

You are attempting to spin in a NO SPIN zone!

To understand why we should not use mechanical instruments in worship service it helps tremendously to understand the authority of the Scriptures. There is no authority for use of mechanical instruments in the church worship under the new covenant. In the same way there is no authority for us praying to receive Christ under any covenant. By authority we are commanded to "sing", which does not include mechanical instruments. By authority we are commanded to hear, believe, repent, confess Jesus is Lord, be baptized into Christ, and remain faithful unto death, in order to be saved.

If you pray to receive Christ, not only will you not be saved, you will be doing something that is not authorized in the Scriptures. If you use mechanical instruments, same thing. You are putting yourself in the shoes of Nadab and Abihu... in the shoes of Saul. God commanded a certain kind of fire be offered before Him... Nadab and Abihu offered "strange fire" that God did not command (Leviticus 10). They were destroyed by God. He did not have to tell them what not to do, He expected them to do no more or less than exactly what He commanded. In 1 Samuel 15 we read that Saul was instructed by God to completely and utterly destroy Amalek, all they had, everything... spare no one or nothing. Saul thought he would be wise and save Agag, and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them because he thought surely God would be pleased with him saving the best to offer as a sacrifice to God. Instead of God being pleased, He was angry. Saul realized that he had sinned and not obeyed what God had commanded. Saul tried to add to what God commanded because he thought it would be pleasing to God, but it wasn't. In the same way, if we try to add to what God has commanded, God will not be pleased with us.

This is how we should all use the Bible to learn the truth of a matter. In NO WAY are we to consider our "conscience" and/or draw conclusions from our conscience. Our conscience will get us in deep trouble if we are not careful. Consider Paul... he himself claimed to be the chief among sinners and he stated that all that he did... all the persecuting Christians he did, was all done in good conscience. (Acts 23:1) Just because our conscience tells us something does not make it right.

Now you say that "there are some things that the Bible does not give a specific example on"... well... the Bible is extremely specific about how to be saved. The Bible clearly teaches hearing, believing, repenting, confessing (not sins), being baptized and remaining faithful unto death. I have proven this with Scripture. Why are you denying Jesus? Why is it that you would not want to do what the Bible so clearly tells us we must do? Your conscience should be telling you to obey God!!!

When we do the things that God has commanded is when we say to God, "God, I accept your gift." We do not accept it until we do those things though.

As far as 1 John 1:9... John is writing to Christians, not unsaved sinners. If you will study all of 1 John you will clearly see that John is writing to those who are already saved. He is not telling the unsaved how to be saved. Even a Baptist theologian will confirm this for you. When a Christian sins we must repent, confess those sins and ask God for forgiveness... He is faithful and will forgive us and the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us.


mvw... please, for you own soul's sake... and in obedience to God, do what He has commanded of you to do. Stop trying to find a way around it... it is so vividly explained in detail that anyone should be able to see the truth. I pray for you right now.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

So you're basically saying:
repent + confess + baptized= saved
repent + pray (acknowledgement to God) + confess + baptized= lost
Also, you used Saul as an example. Isn't that OLD TESTEMENT?

I take it you don't feel comfortable answering my question.

I apologize mvw... for some reason I was not notified of your response and have failed to visit the forum for the last few days.

The Bible says (and I agree with it) in order for a person to be saved that we must hear the Word of God, believe, repent, confess Jesus is the Son of God, be baptized into Christ and live faithfully unto death. I would not want to be the one to tell someone they should add to or take away from what God has commanded to be saved.

I made reference to Saul and the example of how he tried to add to what God commanded of him. It is indeed of the Old Testament.

Keep in mind that: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

reply to mvw from Aug 6th post,

you quoted Romans 10:13, but Jesus also said, not everyone who call on the Lord will be saved, but those who DO the will of my father. It is more than mere mental assent, it is an ACTIVE faith that saves you.

One point I would make to those who go directly to Romans chapter 10, is that you had to go past chapter 6 to get there. The 2 chapters have to be taken together with the understanding that the writer is of the same mind in both. If you take only what is said in chapter 10 you miss the point.

The book of Romans begins and ends with the call to obedience. 1:5, and 16:26. Again, much more than a prayer or mental ascent to a doctrine or set of beliefs. Obedience is required, Hebrews 5:9.

Also, it doesn't say, whoever calls on the name of the Lord IS saved, it says whoever calls on His name WILL be saved. (future tense) Salvation isn't a onetime event, it is a lifetime event. Col. 1:23, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Matthew 24:13 "he who stands firm to the end WILL be saved."

Arrow1

I don't see how we can get past Acts 22:16 which clearly indicates that being baptized to have our sins washed away is included in calling on the name of the Lord.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

ELDV: Then you admit that the Scriptures never say to "pray Jesus into your heart" or to pray a "sinner's prayer" to be saved. You are "drawing conclusions" when the Bible, in black and white, tells you precisely what is necessary.

God is not going to be vague about what is needed to be saved.

In Acts 2, people asked Peter what was necessary (v. 37). He said to repent and be baptized (v. 38).
In Acts 10, when Cornelius received the Spirit, Peter's automatic impulse was to have him baptized (Acts 10:47-48).
In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer, when desiring to be saved, was baptized (Acts 16:31-33).
In Acts 19, the disciples of John, were baptized (Acts 19:1-9).

Therefore, plenty of examples exist for persons being immersed in water for the remission of their sins, having believed in Jesus, confessed Him as Lord, and repenting of their sins. Romans 6:3-7 provides the understanding of the efficacy of baptism and how it represents our own means of dying and being raised again with Christ. The message of regeneration is everywhere present with baptism-- yet, as you say, for the sinner's prayer, it is based on "drawing conclusions". I know where I will take my stand.

The "confession" under discussion is a confession by mouth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Romans 10:9). Confession of sin happens after one is baptized and is in a covenant relationship with God so that one's sins that one continually commits may be forgiven.

ELDV

__________________
Ethan R. Longhenry / deusvitae@hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
Homepage

I once belonged to denominations because I felt I had been jilted by my local congregation because of the lack of interest I recieved from the preacher when trying to discuss becoming a Christian with someone who I knew who went to a penecostal church and that person's freind. The response I got from the minister, "well, let's not sit both of these fellas down to talk about the Bible because I've found that when you have more than one person in the room for a bible study it degernerates into an arguement." This happened at an early age of 18, and as a result I felt pressured from this penecostal freind and the guy he hung around with to listen to them and did not feel I could go to anyone at the congregation I attended to help me. I didn't feel I had the support so caved into the penecostal doctrine and became a part of the denominational world to make freinds. Now that I'm older and rededicated my life back to the Church, I am taking the time to search the scripture with more earnest and am amazed at where I was and what I was duped into. I want to share some excerpts from a local weekly news forum in my hometown which is predominately penecostal when the subject of "How do I get to Heaven?" came up in the religous section section of the forum. Truely amazing because I too had been duped into believing like they had, but the difference was i was not so inbedded with thier doctrine so it didn't take long for me to return to the Church after paing attention, and ACTUALLY looking at God's word and what it says about salvation. During my younger years when I sought approval to gain freinds in these denominations, I just went by what was told to me and never really sought scriptures out for myself. man, what a difference becoming a student of the bible has made for me. Check out these qoutes....

Retroman (my qoute) TT made an interesting statement in another thread.
Quote
It is more than being a good human. Excepting him as your personal savior is the only thing it says you must do. That is the key, and that is what one must do to get into those pearly gates.


Is there more to this or is that it?


forum member TT---To accept Jesus Christ as your savior, and being a good human being is what it takes to get into heaven. I mean what else could you possibly do? I do think thats it ,and its simple, and so many people want to make it so complicated.



check this one out True Native American---- The Bibles says, "... The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).

There is not one thing you can do to earn a place in Heaven. It is free! You can do nothing to earn eternal life. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone that will get you to Heaven.

Sure You are Going to Heaven
As a teenager, I thought I was going to heaven. After all, I joined the church, believed in God, believed Jesus was the Son of God, believed Jesus died for my sins, and tried to live a good life. All the while, I was maybe 80% sure I would go to heaven when I died.
Then one day a preacher asked me if I knew for sure I was going to heaven. I didn’t know anyone could KNOW FOR SURE.

Then he showed me a verse I don’t ever remember seeing before. It was I 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 he have eternal life.” I didn’t know I had eternal life, so I listened intently. It went something like this:

There are four things you need to know to realize you are going to heaven:

1. You must realize you are a sinner. Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God.” That was an easy one. I knew I had lied, stolen and had bad thoughts – and had done worse things as I got older.

2. You must realize there is a penalty on your account because of your sins. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…” That was easy. I had been punished a number of times as a child when I got in trouble. It made sense that God would have a punishment. Bt I didn’t realize that God could not let me into heaven even if I had done relatively small sins (Psalm 5:4), and I especially didn’t want to admit that I was deserving of hell.

3. You must realize that Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, died on the cross to pay for your sins. Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I had heard that ever since I was a kid. That was easy.

4. You must receive the gift of free salvation the Bible way. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” I remembered that I had called on Jesus two and a half years prior one night during a seminar on biblical principles.

How about you? Has there ever been a time you called on Jesus Christ for salvation? I’m not talking about just believing that he existed, walked on the earth, and died on the cross. The devil believes that. Yet the devil is not going to heaven (he was, on the contrary, booted out of heaven under the name Lucifer). I am not talking about praying to Jesus. Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 prayed to God always. He made me look sick by comparison because I don’t always pray to God. Yet he was on his way to hell because he had not received Jesus to get his sins wiped away. He had to pray again – this time his prayer was one of receiving Christ as his personal Saviour. This time he was going to heaven when he died.

If you believe what the Bible says about Jesus, and believe you are a sinner in need of a Saviour, then why not trust Christ now? It’s so simple, a six year old can do it. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Here’s how. Just pray this simple prayer and mean it:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I’ve sinned many times. I realize I am going to die one day and I don’t want to pay for my sins in hell forever. I believe you died on the cross to pay for MY sins. Right now Jesus, the best I know how, I’m asking you to forgive me of all my sins. Please come into my heart and save me. Thank you Jesus for saving me.”

Did you pray that prayer and mean it? If so, then Jesus has something for you. This verse was a great help to me after talking with the preacher, because it ties salvation with eternal life with Christ. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Once you trust in Christ by receiving Him as your Saviour, he tells us that at that moment we have everlasting life. Also, we will not be condemned or judged for our sins, and have a life that goes on forever. How long is forever? No end, right? That’s how we can know 100% for sure that we are going to heaven. When you receive Christ as your Saviour, you have done all that God ever requires to get you into heaven.

I called on Christ to save me at age 23. I remember where it was, when it was, and even the promise from God's Word that I have everlasting life. Those three things give me an assurance that if I died in my sleep tonight, I would be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever more.

I am going to heaven because I did what the Bible says - no more - no less. How about you?

Well this has went on for a few days now and after presenting the plan of salvation I get these kind of responses:
forum member Linda: If Baptism with water were a certain mandatory then the thief on the cross wouldn't have made it to paradise? Or is it that God made that "one" exception for that "one" time in history to confound us all? I reckon that counts out parapelegics (spelling), from heaven. Not to mention those in hospitals, prisons, deathbeds, etc. that decide to ask for forgiveness. I can hear God now on judgment day, "Oopsie, your heart was right but you just didn't take time to schedule a baptism and you know how I am about symbolism"

Sometimes I don't think that that those verses mean water baptism at all. I think they might mean Holy Ghost Baptism. They don't say either or or ? I do believe the thief is in paradise. And the boyfriend surely wasn't baptized while hanging on a cross in a crowd of folks there for the sport of watching people die???
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Luke, 3:16


from The Pale Horse (he attends the same congration I attend and contributes to the forum too): The thief on the cross died under the old law. Baptism in the name of Christ falls under the new law. That new law/New Testament(last will and testament of Christ) did not go into effect until after the death of Christ. Paul parallels baptism to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ in Romas 6:3-6.

Well, currently I am accused of discrediting True native American and condemning others to hell to which I have made the response:


I just present scripture and have compared it to what has been said by others. If that gives one the impression I despise or hate someone them I am sorry that that is the impression that is given. If something taught does not agree with scripture and if I'm wrong I want to be sure and study more and search the scriptures. People have their own views about how to get to heaven and most base it on what they hear, but not what they read. The problem comes about "well my pastor says this" or "my deacon says this" and so on. People have to search the scripture themself. I can't say that I'm totally right, search the scripture yourself. See what it says. It's the word og God that really matters not my opinion. What I've experienced and what I hope to pass along is a challenge to others to really rely on scripture more than what some minister, pastor, reverend, or even preist says. What is said concerning scripture helps me to study more and seek the truth. I don't know everything the Bible says or where all scripture is located, but i am a student of the Bible and plan to be until I die. I can't condemn anyone to hell wheather if be a pastor, or someone who identifies with a specific denomination or sect. All I can do is present scripture concerning certain subjects. I can only show where it is, but I can't say that "yse, so and so is going to hell because they aren't/are doing this." I'm sorry if it appears if I am being the judge where they spend eternity. I'm not. I'm only pointing out what the scripture says concerning these matters.

I am studying more and praying that I have the patience to deal with these attitudes. It seems that denominational people have been programmed into what to believe, take it as fact, not question it, and when scripture is presented they really become flustered and want to through up humanistic responses and accusations. It seems they tend to veer away from scripture and base things on how they feel or what "their conviction is". I don't put myself above these people, but what I do know is that if I had continued down that road I would probably be inclined to think the same way they do. These are intelligent human beings, but they have been misinformed and misguided for so long the truth appears foreign to them and they get very emotional when told something contrary than what they grew up believing.

2Ti 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie