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Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?

 
Rising Son
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Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
I recently had a very good conversation with another Christian in another thread regarding what we thought was necessary as Christians for salvation. Suffice it to say, we were not able to come to an agreement based on our differing understanding of one particular concept: repentance.

The other person regarded repentance, as relating to the Greek translation, as "a change of mind" - in that you must turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to experience salvation. I regarded repentance as both a turning away from sin as well as asking God to forgive you of your sins in order to experience salvation.

I guess the question I have for all of you is do you believe that Jesus Christ literally died for our sins, in that we do not need to ask for forgiveness, we just need to believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe as I do that the purpose for the death of Jesus Christ was to demonstrate His resurrection, as well as show the immense amount of love God has for us?

I have an open mind, and if you can explain to me your viewpoint and are able to persuade me, then I will change my mind. My thought is this: Jesus Himself told us to repent - "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." This implies that repentance is necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of God, ergo salvation. What does repentance mean? I point you to the bible passage 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I don't believe repentance alone implies belief in Jesus Christ, but I also don't believe that belief in Jesus Christ implies repentance. If you simply need to turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved, a "change of mind" would only need to happen once. However, we continue to sin because we are sinners, and we are imperfect. So in that sense, a change of mind in the sense of turning from sin is impossible, because you know you will sin again. It is inevitable.

Further, why are we compelled by instinct to confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Why is that a natural response if it was not meant to be?

Please, only serious responses - if you are here to ridicule me, neither one of us gain anything from that.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Truth needs no validation because it is self-evident and undeniable. Therefore, anything that requires validation to be realized or justified as truth must contain at least some degree of falsehood.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

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Facts
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11/01/2012 08:34 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Repentance is a change of mind about sin. Salvation is to understand you are a sinner and the penalty for sin is hell. Jesus (god in the flesh) died upon the cross for your sins. If you believe you are a sinner and worthy of hell then ask him for forgiveness and he is just and sure to forgive, he is the only payment for sin. (kinsman redeemer). Believe he was raised from the dead and lives.

Believe on the one he (GOD) has sent (Jesus).
abeliever
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
What is necessary for salvation?

Simple...

A belief that Jesus Christ is the son of God.
Jesus was the only acceptable sacrifice to wash away all sin.
Jesus died for us, and defeated death by rising from the dead.
Only through belief in Jesus can we find salvation.

hf
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11/01/2012 08:39 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Repentance for good.
teacup

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11/01/2012 08:45 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Dying on the cross was for the benefit of humans, not for God. It was to demonstrate to humans love as you say, and also, so that we would not feel that we had to make sacrifices all the time for our own sins and to please God, as Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice.

To be a christian is to choose a christian path. You dont have to be baptised and you don't have to attend church. Its just to try your hardest at being good, to understand your previous mistakes and try to avoid them. To value love and kindness. Of course we will fail but its about the intentions.

I know there is a notion that you have to ask Jesus into your heart and ask forgiveness for your sins, however something about this doesn't feel accurate to me. To much talk, not enough action I think.
teacup

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11/01/2012 08:48 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Even satan believes in Jesus.

Also, I don't believe in hell. Why would a God that loves us so much, allow such a thing to happen? No, if you fail to learn then you are simply sent back to try again.
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11/01/2012 08:51 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Even satan believes in Jesus.

Also, I don't believe in hell. Why would a God that loves us so much, allow such a thing to happen? No, if you fail to learn then you are simply sent back to try again.
 Quoting: teacup


Hebrews 10:26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”d and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”e 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,"
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11/01/2012 08:52 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
I recently had a very good conversation with another Christian in another thread regarding what we thought was necessary as Christians for salvation. Suffice it to say, we were not able to come to an agreement based on our differing understanding of one particular concept: repentance.

The other person regarded repentance, as relating to the Greek translation, as "a change of mind" - in that you must turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to experience salvation. I regarded repentance as both a turning away from sin as well as asking God to forgive you of your sins in order to experience salvation.

I guess the question I have for all of you is do you believe that Jesus Christ literally died for our sins, in that we do not need to ask for forgiveness, we just need to believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe as I do that the purpose for the death of Jesus Christ was to demonstrate His resurrection, as well as show the immense amount of love God has for us?

I have an open mind, and if you can explain to me your viewpoint and are able to persuade me, then I will change my mind. My thought is this: Jesus Himself told us to repent - "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." This implies that repentance is necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of God, ergo salvation. What does repentance mean? I point you to the bible passage 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I don't believe repentance alone implies belief in Jesus Christ, but I also don't believe that belief in Jesus Christ implies repentance. If you simply need to turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved, a "change of mind" would only need to happen once. However, we continue to sin because we are sinners, and we are imperfect. So in that sense, a change of mind in the sense of turning from sin is impossible, because you know you will sin again. It is inevitable.

Further, why are we compelled by instinct to confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Why is that a natural response if it was not meant to be?

Please, only serious responses - if you are here to ridicule me, neither one of us gain anything from that.
 Quoting: Rising Son


You're both right OP. It is a change of mind, and asking forgiveness. Repentance is a matter of the heart, not just a matter of saying words. Changing your life and putting on the new personality in Christ is the evidence that your repentance was real and not merely empty words and lip service.

God reads the heart.

hf
teacup

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11/01/2012 08:56 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Even satan believes in Jesus.

Also, I don't believe in hell. Why would a God that loves us so much, allow such a thing to happen? No, if you fail to learn then you are simply sent back to try again.
 Quoting: teacup


Hebrews 10:26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”d and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”e 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,"
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 18972829


I know a lot of christians will disagree with this, but I personally read the bible with an open mind, preferring to get to know God is myself through personal experience. Can you tell me who said the above?
God Loves ALL

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11/01/2012 08:57 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
what is necessary to anyone's salvation, Christianity has jack shit to do with it, If the sincere desire for eternal life and to learn and serve the will of the Father. NOTHING ELSE.

You are already eternal beings unless you reject eternal life. Period. Life is in the spirit, not the body. Your mind is your soul and not your brain. You will over time as you seek and grow be converted to a spirit being requiring no body or brain.

As a group consciousness you who label yourselves Christian have brought great harm to the work of the Father on this planet. You have hugely created to its unbalance in your unknowing and ignorance of God and Nature. I can't speak fro Islam having little experience with it, but these group religions on this planet have to balance out, and become creative instead of destruction to man, the planet and the soul. PERIOD. The concepts of God are appalling on this world.

Last Edited by God Loves ALL on 11/01/2012 09:00 AM
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
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11/01/2012 08:58 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
The most utilitarian aspect of Christianity is Empathy and forgiveness.

Oh also believing the son of God died for our petty sins cuz' he's cool like that.
Rising Son  (OP)

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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
Repentance is a change of mind about sin. Salvation is to understand you are a sinner and the penalty for sin is hell. Jesus (god in the flesh) died upon the cross for your sins. If you believe you are a sinner and worthy of hell then ask him for forgiveness and he is just and sure to forgive, he is the only payment for sin. (kinsman redeemer). Believe he was raised from the dead and lives.

Believe on the one he (GOD) has sent (Jesus).
 Quoting: Facts 21646349


Just to be clear - you are stating that to be saved from hell due to the fact that we are sinners, we must ask God/Jesus Christ for forgiveness? I just want to ensure I understand what you are saying.
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Truth needs no validation because it is self-evident and undeniable. Therefore, anything that requires validation to be realized or justified as truth must contain at least some degree of falsehood.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]
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11/01/2012 09:01 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
There must be a conversion experience. Belief and repentance. Salvation by grace will always remain a mystery to us in the 3D existence. Your spirit cannot sin after such a thing being real. Your flesh will always continue to desire to sin. This is the rub. Also it is not just a confession based on an emotion. You WILL be changed and changing the rest of you life no matter how long or short. When someone declares ..speak these words and your are magically saved..it is just that ..MAJIK. So the proof is in the pudding..."How then should and will we live?" If you continue in your sin just unabated and it does not bother you until you have a dire consequence..you paid lip service and were not really His. I think the verses referring to the "Lord, Lord" bunch are really the most telling. He says..get away basically, you were not and are not mine or of me.
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
what is necessary to anyone's salvation, Christianity has jack shit to do with is, If the sincere desire for eternal life and to learn and serve the will of the Father. NOTHING ELSE.

You are already eternal beings unless you reject eternal life. Period. Life is in the spirit, not the body. Your mind is your soul and not your brain. You will over time as you seek and grow be converted to a spirit being requiring no body or brain.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


You deny the real identity of God, candace. You're main goal is to try and steer as many people away from the salvation of Jesus as possible.

You deny all that is Holy and True. You are a deceiver. I do hope tho that someday soon you will seek out the truth and stop playing with demons.

bsflag
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
The most utilitarian aspect of Christianity is Empathy and forgiveness.

Oh also believing the son of God died for our petty sins cuz' he's cool like that.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
what is necessary to anyone's salvation, Christianity has jack shit to do with is, If the sincere desire for eternal life and to learn and serve the will of the Father. NOTHING ELSE.

You are already eternal beings unless you reject eternal life. Period. Life is in the spirit, not the body. Your mind is your soul and not your brain. You will over time as you seek and grow be converted to a spirit being requiring no body or brain.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


You deny the real identity of God, candace. You're main goal is to try and steer as many people away from the salvation of Jesus as possible.

You deny all that is Holy and True. You are a deceiver. I do hope tho that someday soon you will seek out the truth and stop playing with demons.

bsflag
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


I know God Lisa, you do not. You have done some terribly ingnorant teaching on this board like dishing Kundalini, which is that very fire of ascension and goodness, the linking of the next 10 strands of DNA.

Last Edited by God Loves ALL on 11/01/2012 09:07 AM
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
To be honest with yourself and others. There are no sins. Just big and small mistakes. The ones that you can correct, are the small. There is no heaven or hell. All you take with you when you die is the "emotion" that you had when you were alive. If you have no regrets about your life and you were a good human, you will find peace.
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11/01/2012 09:05 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
To be honest with yourself and others. There are no sins. Just big and small mistakes. The ones that you can correct, are the small. There is no heaven or hell. All you take with you when you die is the "emotion" that you had when you were alive. If you have no regrets about your life and you were a good human, you will find peace.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26775931


A well known Russian author made a book named Crime and Punishment that details that feeling.
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


It is satanic.
God Loves ALL

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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


You go answer to what you wrote, you have written something I can't even discern what you meant. There is nothing satanic in what I wrote. Are you that bad off?
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
God Loves ALL

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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


It is satanic.
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


No Lisa it is not satanic and that simple truth is right in your bible. Now die to your Sin and acquire KNOWLEDGE.
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
To be honest with yourself and others. There are no sins. Just big and small mistakes. The ones that you can correct, are the small. There is no heaven or hell. All you take with you when you die is the "emotion" that you had when you were alive. If you have no regrets about your life and you were a good human, you will find peace.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26775931


A well known Russian author made a book named Crime and Punishment that details that feeling.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


I know this book but I haven't read it. This is my feeling though. I don't believe in green valleys or in pots on fire. I just believe in the piece (or not) of the soul.
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
To be honest with yourself and others. There are no sins. Just big and small mistakes. The ones that you can correct, are the small. There is no heaven or hell. All you take with you when you die is the "emotion" that you had when you were alive. If you have no regrets about your life and you were a good human, you will find peace.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26775931


A well known Russian author made a book named Crime and Punishment that details that feeling.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


I know this book but I haven't read it. This is my feeling though. I don't believe in green valleys or in pots on fire. I just believe in the piece (or not) of the soul.
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26775931


*peace
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


You go answer to what you wrote, you have written something I can't even discern what you meant. There is nothing satanic in what I wrote. Are you that bad off?
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


To be a Satan worshipper is to look to one's self as the cause of salvation; you control your afterlife and that life is meaningless. That God is what you perceive of him rather than the entity of your creation.

What you believe to be the true path is what I believe is Satanic.
We are nothing but blobs of biology without an omniscience, something that we're incapable of. We're imperfect beings incapable of perfection.

We cannot atone for sins. We are not gods. We cannot bring back the dead.
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
the son of God cannot die for any of your "sins", only you can die your errors out of your soul/mind, by correcting your concepts of God and choosing to become like the Father. Christianity is destructive. Jesus did not start it, Jesus is not happy with it. You ones do not generally as a group energy serve God at all.

Jesus taught that the Father/Heaven is WITHIN YOU and that religion is your personal relationship with the Divine.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


That sounds rather Satanic to me.
Ugh.
Why would I go out of my way to be a Narcissistic asswhipe to mortals just to ascend to godhood?
What the f*ck would make me worthy?
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


It is satanic.
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


Now die to your Sin and acquire KNOWLEDGE.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


Sure Candace, that's exactly what satan told adam and eve in the garden. "Go ahead, eat from the tree of knowledge, you won't die.".......same old story still today.

It's obvious to me which "team" you're on.

But, you refuse to look at it honestly and repent from your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior. You refuse. May God have mercy on your soul. I mean that, I don't wish anything bad for you. You're not my enemy, satan is. You are a victim of his tho and I wish you could see that.
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
I recently had a very good conversation with another Christian in another thread regarding what we thought was necessary as Christians for salvation. Suffice it to say, we were not able to come to an agreement based on our differing understanding of one particular concept: repentance.

The other person regarded repentance, as relating to the Greek translation, as "a change of mind" - in that you must turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to experience salvation. I regarded repentance as both a turning away from sin as well as asking God to forgive you of your sins in order to experience salvation.

I guess the question I have for all of you is do you believe that Jesus Christ literally died for our sins, in that we do not need to ask for forgiveness, we just need to believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe as I do that the purpose for the death of Jesus Christ was to demonstrate His resurrection, as well as show the immense amount of love God has for us?

I have an open mind, and if you can explain to me your viewpoint and are able to persuade me, then I will change my mind. My thought is this: Jesus Himself told us to repent - "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." This implies that repentance is necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of God, ergo salvation. What does repentance mean? I point you to the bible passage 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I don't believe repentance alone implies belief in Jesus Christ, but I also don't believe that belief in Jesus Christ implies repentance. If you simply need to turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved, a "change of mind" would only need to happen once. However, we continue to sin because we are sinners, and we are imperfect. So in that sense, a change of mind in the sense of turning from sin is impossible, because you know you will sin again. It is inevitable.

Further, why are we compelled by instinct to confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Why is that a natural response if it was not meant to be?

Please, only serious responses - if you are here to ridicule me, neither one of us gain anything from that.
 Quoting: Rising Son


The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

There is one thing you have to learn, my dear brothers and sisters, and that is not to be in a hurry. Instead of waiting impatiently for these few minutes of meditation to end, you must learn to remain in silence for longer and longer. I have often told you that the thing that causes your brain to seize up and prevents the full flowering of your spiritual faculties is this deplorable habit you have of always being in a hurry. Of course, I do not deny that rapidity, activity, and dynamic energy are very desirable qualities, but you must not concentrate on them to the exclusion of others which, on the contrary, have to be developed through patience and greater inwardness and receptivity. When you achieve this inner state of peace and harmony, you will sense that forces, powers, and entities are beginning to work within you, and what they accomplish is so prodigious that most of it cannot be seen or understood; it surpasses all imagination. Of course, this reality has many different degrees, but even if what you experience is no more than the first, the lowest degree, you can already sense that an unknown, inner force is beginning to forge something within you, and if only for a few minutes, you rise above the commotion and worries that restrict you and enter into that 'secret place' that Jesus talks about.

It is important to understand these two aspects within every human being: the mortal being, who is subject to so many limitations, and the immortal, eternal being, who is free of all limitations. One of these aspects has to retreat and diminish so that the other may grow and flourish. This is exactly what St. John the Baptist said with reference to Jesus: 'He must increase but I must decrease.' Yes, these words are symbolic. When you are here in the Brotherhood, you must detach yourselves from the habits of your everyday life. What is all the hurry about? You have not got to go and type letters in an office, or collect taxes, or plead a case in court, so why not tell yourselves that for a little while at least you are finally going to come face to face with eternity, with the sun, with nature, with a multitude of luminous beings—face to face with yourself. Those who manage to change their attitude will, at last, feel divine forces awakening and dwelling within them in order to transform them.

Many people have told me, 'I want to concentrate, I want to pray, but I can never do it.' They do not see that they fail because they set about it the wrong way; they are too tense. They keep thinking that they have not got much time because they have so many other things to do. In these conditions concentration is impossible. There is an obstacle in their unconscious or subconscious mind, some element in their habits, that prevents them from meditating, and it is worth looking into this and trying to analyse it. I know that they will object that it is life that dictates the situation, that when you have to work and provide for others you cannot waste time. Yet if they could get into the habit of not being in a hurry—if only for half an hour or an hour a day—they would soon see that everything would go ten times, a hundred times better once they got back to work.

There is a time and a place for everything. While you meditate you must not think of anything else; there will always be time to take care of other things afterwards. But what usually happens is this: while you are here listening to a lecture or praying and meditating, in reality you are somewhere else. And when you are somewhere else, instead of concentrating on what you are doing you think, 'I should be meditating or praying.' This is why nothing really works. It is not while you are preparing a meal, washing the dishes, or driving the car that you should be thinking about meditating. You must be present at what you are doing at each moment, for there is a right time for everything. Otherwise, there will never be time for anything; your mind will always be somewhere else. How true this is. When you are here you are still at home—or goodness knows where—and when you are somewhere else, you are here. Finally, you are never wholly anywhere, and that is very bad.

How many bad habits still need to be corrected. Yes, very, very bad habits. The first thing you have to learn in our teaching is just this, to correct your bad habits. Once you have done this you can go much further and much faster. You will say that now that I have explained it, you understand. Perhaps, but I think that without any explanations at all, simply by sitting in silence, you would have understood better still. Believe me, if you were not always so engrossed elsewhere, you would understand a million times more from that silence than from my explanations.

Words are not really so important. It is because you have not managed to establish close contact with heaven that you need words. The day you truly know how to meditate and contemplate the splendours of heaven, I shall continue to speak to you, but in silence. Already, during our moments of silence, I continually talk to you, but what I tell you is of a different nature; it belongs to a different dimension. Does this astonish you? Even during the night I continue to speak to you. In fact, this is why you sometimes experience a sudden illumination; it comes from something you have heard during the night several months or even years before, and it is beginning at last to filter through into your brain.

You will perhaps ask, 'But why does it all take so long? It is very discouraging.' It does take a long time, that is true. It is the same for everybody. A great deal of patient, persevering work is necessary before human beings finally begin to understand. But think how many billions of years it takes for stones to become plants; how many millions of years it takes for plants to become animals; and how many millions more for animals to become human beings. Of course, as you go up the scale from one kingdom of nature to the next, the tempo increases. Stones need a stupendous amount of time; plants need a little less; animals need less still—and even less time is needed for human beings to become superhumans or angels. This is because, with each step upwards, the potential is greater. But even so, even if human beings evolve more rapidly, it still takes them hundreds of thousands of years to reach the level of evolution of the angels.

There, that was just a few remarks about the attitude you should have while you are here. It is always one's attitude that needs to be improved. A few minutes ago I mentioned the 'secret place' that Jesus spoke about. This is a magnificent and very profound symbol, and it was certainly known long before Jesus. Every initiate knows that one has to enter this place in order to pray, for if your prayer does not come from there, heaven cannot hear it. Why not? Well, it is as though you were out in the street and you wanted to talk to a friend in another town: you can only do so by going into a telephone booth and dialling his number, and then the telephone will put you in touch with your friend. If you like, you can stay in the street and shout and scream for all you are worth, but your friend will not hear you. Similarly, if you want heaven to hear you, you must go into that secret place that Jesus talked about, for it is equipped with a 'telephone' by means of which you can communicate with the higher worlds. Then there is another similarity: when you go into a telephone booth in a busy street, you close the door because you need silence in order to hear and be heard. This secret place must also be quiet; no inner work can take place in the midst of noise.

It is important to understand that you have this secret, silent place within you and that you must go in and shut the door firmly behind you. To shut the door means to shut out all other thoughts and desires, otherwise they will interfere with your communication with heaven and you will not get an answer. It is only if you are in this secret chamber that your call can go through correctly, that you can hear and be heard, that you can ask heaven for something and get an answer. If heaven's answer does not come through clearly, it is because you have forgotten to close the door. The secret place, therefore, is linked to the idea of silence, of secrecy. You must not let anyone else hear what you say, how you say it, or to whom you say it. Naturally, you cannot always be sure that someone will not see that you are praying, but the less obvious it is the better. The Gospels speak of the Pharisee who prayed ostentatiously in the Temple, and this is a good example of the exact opposite of the secret place.

You could say that this secret place is the heart, the silence of the heart. If you are still unable to attain true silence it means that you have not succeeded in reaching this room. There are so many 'rooms' in man, and very few human beings have ever discovered which of them is the one that loves silence. Most people stray into other rooms and try to pray in them, but as those rooms are not equipped with the proper instruments, heaven cannot hear their thoughts and prayers. If you want your prayer to be heard, you have to respect certain conditions.

Why, for example, did the initiates of the past teach people to join their hands when they prayed? The gesture is symbolic. True prayer is a joining of the two principles, heart and intellect. If your heart is alone in what it asks for and your intellect refuses to join in, your prayer will not be heard. If you want your prayer to be heard, it must come from both heart and intellect, from both thought and feelings; that is, from the masculine and feminine principles. We have all seen innumerable paintings that show people—even children—with their hands joined in prayer, but people have never understood the profound significance of this gesture. I am not saying that you must necessarily join your hands physically when you pray, for it is not the physical gesture that counts; it is the inner attitude that is important. It is the soul and the spirit, the heart and the intellect that have to be joined, for this is the union that gives prayer its power and enables you to project something truly potent. You give and receive at the same time; you are both active and receptive.

Christians still have a great many misconceptions about prayer. They imagine that what counts are the words they use. No, words often fall short of the mark; they never manage to get up to heaven. A person may recite words, but he is not really praying if nothing vibrates within him. Of course, as I have often told you, it is important for the realization of your prayer to put it into words. Yes, but your words will be effective only if your desire and your thought are already powerful on the spiritual plane. Then your words will act as a signature which releases the higher forces and sets them in motion.

If you want to awaken sentiments of love for God in yourself, for instance, you can do so simply through the strength of your desire. In this case words are unnecessary, because feelings are a purely psychic reality. If you want to obtain something on the physical, material plane, on the other hand, the spoken word is necessary, but even so, it is the intensity of your thoughts and feelings that is the essence of prayer. Without that intensity, you could recite words for hours on end, but you would not get any results; your prayer would not be answered. As a matter of fact, it is possible to feel whether a prayer has been heard or not. There are days when you experience such a sense of strength and fulfilment that you know that heaven has heard you at last. This does not mean that you will see immediate results on the physical plane. No, the realization will not be immediate, but your prayer has been heard, your request has been noted. And that is what counts: to know that your prayer has been heard.

Everything depends on the intensity of your prayer, therefore, and this intensity is linked to the ability to disengage your thoughts and feelings from every preoccupation that is foreign to your prayer. This is why you have to learn to leave everything else to one side and immerse yourself in intense spiritual work. Only on this condition will heaven answer your prayer.

But I know what you are thinking. You are wondering whether I, who teach you these things, receive what I ask for in my prayers. Yes, I get what I ask for because my requests are more unlike yours than you could possibly imagine. My requests are always granted. Perhaps you are also wondering why, since heaven always gives me what I ask for, I do not ask for a lot of money, for instance. I will tell you: because it is not worth asking for. What are a few billion dollars? If I shared them out among you, none of you would get very much. No, no, you cannot begin to imagine what I ask for. And, as I say, my requests are always granted. I am always astonished to see the kind of requests human beings pester heaven with. How can they waste their time on such nonsense? I assure you, it really is a waste of time—and all for what? The day I saw that there was only one booth in heaven without a queue of people waiting in front of it, I decided that that was the place for me. Nobody else wants to hand in their requests at that booth, so that is where you will find me every day. More and more often, in fact.

Now it is up to you to discover what I ask for. In any case, I can tell you that it is neither houses, nor money, nor worldly glory, nor a wife and children. This is why my prayer is always heard. Yes, always, without exception. Since what I ask for is not for myself, I receive it at once. If you ask for something for yourself, you will be told, 'You will have to wait. We have to study your file. Where are you from? What is your father's name? Do you think you deserve what you are asking for?' and so on and so forth; there is no end to the questions. Whereas I am given what I ask for immediately. You will say, 'But you possess no more now than you have ever had.' Exactly, because possessions are not what I ask for. And I am not going to tell you what I do ask for; all that takes place in my 'secret chamber'. It is none of your business. It is my secret.
You must never tell anyone what you ask for, but if your request is the same as mine, it too will be granted immediately, because it is no longer a question of knowing whether you deserve it or not; it is not a question of merit or superiority. The only consideration is the nature of your request. Even if it were made by a child or a drunkard, it would be granted. You will say, 'But does this mean that all our prayers are granted?' Yes, if your prayer is sincere, intense, and disinterested, it will be granted, but it will be granted progressively. It is an ongoing process which expands and develops with time, for you are asking for something that cannot be achieved in a day. So the seed is sown and begins to grow; the ultimate fulfilment of your prayer is already assured, but it takes time for it to be complete. It takes time for a seed to reach the stature of a tree, but as soon as it germinates and begins to grow, it means that your prayer is answered. If you ask for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, you cannot expect it to materialize the same day. The kingdom of God is a gigantic tree; it is impossible for it to reach its full stature all at once. But it is planted. The seed is planted, and the tree is growing. 'But I cannot see it.' you complain. No, if you are short-sighted, of course you cannot expect to see it. But I can see it, and I assure you, it is growing.

When I say that my prayers are always answered, it is not because I think that I am such an exalted being that the whole of heaven is at my elbow, ready and waiting to serve me. Not at all. As I have already said, if your prayer is the same as mine, whoever you may be, it will be granted immediately, because there is a special reception desk, a special department in heaven, to deal with requests of this kind. And as God himself has decreed that those who ask for such things shall be given what they ask for, nobody questions you about who you are or where you come from. They do not even ask the permission of the Twenty-four Elders before granting your request, for this kind of thing is no longer within the jurisdiction of the Twenty-four Elders. It has to be referred to a higher authority, one that is very close to God; and this authority is love. The Twenty-four Elders are the Lords of destiny, and their mission is to apply the laws of justice. But a prayer for the establishment of the kingdom of God does not come within their jurisdiction; it is beyond the reach of the laws of karma, the laws of justice. There is no cause for astonishment in this. If you are capable of making such a request, it means that you have risen above the regions ruled by the laws of karma and that they have no more power over you.

There you are then, the one prayer that is so sublime that heaven is always ready to grant it is the prayer for the establishment of the kingdom of God. 'Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,' said Jesus, and not only will the kingdom of God come, but in addition, 'all these things shall be added to you.' Yes, if you are generous enough to ask for nothing for yourself, you will be given something more; you will be given all you need. Since you are not thinking of your own interest, others will think of it for you. Not only will your prayer for the collectivity, for the whole of humanity be granted, but you yourself will not be forgotten. This is the law decreed by God himself. The more people there are in the world who ask for this, the better it will be; the kingdom of God will come all the sooner and all the more effectively. What else can I say? Ask for the coming of the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

You will say, 'All right, so this is what you ask for, the kingdom of God, and you say that your prayer is always granted, but there is no sign of it.' Well, that is where you are wrong. I think that my prayer is answered, and if you do not think so too, it is because you do not know how these things work. The kingdom of God cannot be established on the physical plane until it exists on the intellectual plane, on the plane of thought. From there it has to descend to the heart, the level of feelings, and finally to the level of actions. This is the path that has to be followed before the kingdom of God can become a tangible reality. First and foremost, it has to reign in our ideas, our thoughts, and it is on that level that I can already see it. It is beginning. We are not the only ones who think and feel as we do; thousands of people in the world—many more than you imagine—share our ideas and desires. The kingdom of God is already finding its way into the minds and hearts, and even into the behaviour, the way of life, of many; for the kingdom of God is an attitude, a state of consciousness, and a way of living and working.

Of course, the kingdom of God has not yet come for the whole of humanity, but it will, for it is contagious. This is what Jesus was saying in the parable about the leaven in the dough. Alchemists say that if all the oceans of the world were molten metal they would need only a few grams of the powder they call the philosophers' stone to turn it all into gold. Yes, because there are rules, apparently, for increasing the power of that powder. But human beings too can be a leaven in the mass. If we are truly a spiritual leaven, the whole of humanity will be influenced simply by our presence, by contact with us. It depends on the intensity of our light, the intensity of our love, and the strength of the life we live. But in order to achieve this, of course, we need a teaching, a system, and methods. This is the crux of the matter: we must learn to live a new life with a new understanding based on and nourished by a new, intense love. In this new life everything becomes easier; everything can be brought into harmony, and we can become a beneficial, constructive factor for the whole of humanity.

There, I shall now wish you all a very good morning... and remember, never be in a hurry when you are here. It is not worth coming here if you are always tense and restless. Before coming here, organize your affairs so as not to be in a hurry. In this way you will get a great deal more out of your stay and will be the happiest of men and women.

Sevres, April 24, 1963

Continue to read:
[link to www.godlikeproductions.com]

hf
Anonymous Coward
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11/01/2012 09:17 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
May God have mercy on your soul. I mean that, I don't wish anything bad for you. You're not my enemy, satan is. You are a victim of his tho and I wish you could see that.
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


No Lisa it is not satanic and that simple truth is right in your bible. Now die to your Sin and acquire KNOWLEDGE.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


Good God, what the f*ck sort of Thiests are you?!
You're draconic with beliefs! What Bible did you read?!
William Taft

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11/01/2012 09:21 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
May God have mercy on your soul. I mean that, I don't wish anything bad for you. You're not my enemy, satan is. You are a victim of his tho and I wish you could see that.
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


No Lisa it is not satanic and that simple truth is right in your bible. Now die to your Sin and acquire KNOWLEDGE.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


Good God, what the f*ck sort of Thiests are you?!
You're draconic with beliefs! What Bible did you read?!
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


jihad
God Loves ALL

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11/01/2012 09:31 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
May God have mercy on your soul. I mean that, I don't wish anything bad for you. You're not my enemy, satan is. You are a victim of his tho and I wish you could see that.
 Quoting: Lisa*Lisa


No Lisa it is not satanic and that simple truth is right in your bible. Now die to your Sin and acquire KNOWLEDGE.
 Quoting: God Loves ALL


Good God, what the f*ck sort of Thiests are you?!
You're draconic with beliefs! What Bible did you read?!
 Quoting: Anonymous Coward 26773433


me? I read the whole thing in depth, it has bits and pieces of truth about God and most of that is distorted by the religious leaders.

What I posted in this thread is fact about God. People have almost no knowledge of God on this world and the bible is a terrible reference. Worse than any other of the religious texts I have examined. God sent messengers to all cultures, according to their needs, and most others must have been in a better condition to hear than that sad deceived area jesus tried to lighten up.

They so misunderstood him, they attempted to murder him. He did not die on the cross and even the bible says so, but the delusion doesn't allow ones who read it to see that. He was only in a comma and his friends the apostles knew that, which is behind the story of the doubting Thomas, who had to feel his wounds to be sure he had truly only been in a coma and was not a ghost. Its right there folks.

These bodies do no go to heaven,they are meat suits for the journey of the soul He did not ascend to heaven in his body. He boarded a craft and this was SEEN and went to Damascus where he met Saul 2 years later.

Most looking for salvation are the fallen thugs imprisoned on this world, their salvation in order that they can return to their former estate is fully in their hands.

Last Edited by God Loves ALL on 11/01/2012 09:32 AM
The actual Lord's Prayer Given by Jesus 2000 years ago.

"MY SPIRIT, YOU ARE OMNIPOTENT. YOUR NAME IS HOLY. MAY YOUR REALM BE INCARNATE IN ME. MAY YOUR POWER REVEAL ITSELF WITHIN ME, ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVEN. GIVE ME TODAY MY DAILY BREAD, AND THUS, LET ME RECOGNIZE MY TRANSGRESSIONS AND ERRORS, AND I SHALL RECOGNIZE THE TRUTH. AND DO NOT LEAD ME INTO TEMPTATION AND CONFUSION, BUT DELIVER ME FROM ERROR. FOR YOURS IS THE REALM WITHIN ME AND THE POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE FOREVER,
AMEN.

Nice video: [link to www.youtube.com] Make this World a Better One

Thread: Walter Russell Quotes Walter Russell thread
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11/01/2012 09:35 AM
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Re: Christians - What Do You Believe Is Necessary For Salvation?
I recently had a very good conversation with another Christian in another thread regarding what we thought was necessary as Christians for salvation. Suffice it to say, we were not able to come to an agreement based on our differing understanding of one particular concept: repentance.

The other person regarded repentance, as relating to the Greek translation, as "a change of mind" - in that you must turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to experience salvation. I regarded repentance as both a turning away from sin as well as asking God to forgive you of your sins in order to experience salvation.

I guess the question I have for all of you is do you believe that Jesus Christ literally died for our sins, in that we do not need to ask for forgiveness, we just need to believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe as I do that the purpose for the death of Jesus Christ was to demonstrate His resurrection, as well as show the immense amount of love God has for us?

I have an open mind, and if you can explain to me your viewpoint and are able to persuade me, then I will change my mind. My thought is this: Jesus Himself told us to repent - "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." This implies that repentance is necessary for entrance into the Kingdom of God, ergo salvation. What does repentance mean? I point you to the bible passage 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I don't believe repentance alone implies belief in Jesus Christ, but I also don't believe that belief in Jesus Christ implies repentance. If you simply need to turn from sin through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved, a "change of mind" would only need to happen once. However, we continue to sin because we are sinners, and we are imperfect. So in that sense, a change of mind in the sense of turning from sin is impossible, because you know you will sin again. It is inevitable.

Further, why are we compelled by instinct to confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Why is that a natural response if it was not meant to be?

Please, only serious responses - if you are here to ridicule me, neither one of us gain anything from that.
 Quoting: Rising Son


Repentance is NOT a work, repentance is a GIFT from God!
Salvation is a GIFT from God!
If indeed SALVATION is a GIFT then why are you in LABOR to do your own works?

"LET GO AND LET GOD"





GLP