Question: Why Isn't Salvation Intuitive?

[StillStanding]

Every human is in need of salvation. Why has God made it so hard to figure it out without a diploma in theology from one of the Apostolic bible schools? It seems that there is a multitude of rules that must be followed, "t"s to be crossed and "i"s to be dotted before we are saved. No grey areas. The list is so long and demanding that the average person just gives up.

Shouldn't it be so easy so that anyone, even with a low IQ, could figure it out just by reading a few verses the bible? Shouldn't salvation be easy to comprehend and then to implement?

Shouldn't we use the Occam's Razor principal? The easiest explanation is probably the correct explanation?

[Praxeas]

It is easy and no I dont have a diploma from an Apostolic school.

[Amanah]

We are born with a fallen nature and a mind that is contrary to the word of God.

Romans 8:6-8 King James Version (KJV)
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

It is by the Spirit of God that we are regenerated and then taught by God to know and understand the things of God.

It's not by human reasoning.

[KWSS1976]

This is my take on it, if you have to go through 3 or 4 or 5 steps the first time to be saved, then how come when you sin and you will cause man is not perfect, all it takes is repentence to get back right, how come repentance works after you completed the 20 step salvation method the first time. In my mind if you go throught the 20 steps the first time then after you sin,you would need to do the 20 steps over again..

[Timmy]

It is easy and no I dont have a diploma from an Apostolic school.

Yes it is. All you have to do is read. In fact, you will find many ways to be saved. Here are just a few:

Acts 16:30-31 (That one is, I believe, the only place where how to get saved is specifically asked and answered. Which is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Matthew 25. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in strangers, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and prisoners.

Luke 18:18-22. Sell everything and give the money to the poor, then follow Jesus. (May have been specific only to this one fellow, but there has to be something to learn from this incident. Right?)

Luke 14:33. Forsake all you have. (More of a prerequisite than a complete "how to".)

Matthew 19:29. Forsake your house or family or land. In return, you will have eternal life. (Not to mention "hundredfold" in this time-- though not sure I'd really want 400 children! :lol)

John 15:16. Be chosen.

To name a few. :winkgrin

[Praxeas]

Except for the Acts verse, none of the others was about becoming saved

[StillStanding]

I hope everyone realizes I was just being silly about the bible school diploma. I actually was going to say that one needed a degree, but I realized that almost all Apostolic bible schools aren't accredited by a reputable agency.

My reason for starting this thread is because this is the question I've been asked by others not familiar with our Apostolic beliefs, rituals and standards. It's an honest question! There are a thousand "recipes" out there for salvation, and OURS is he only true recipe? Maybe the actual recipe is simple and we add ingredients to give it our own special flavor or identity.

[Praxeas]

Don't THEY also say theirs is the only true recipe?

[StillStanding]

Don't THEY also say theirs is the only true recipe?

True! A thousand different recipes and each thinks its the only true recipe. There's an ingredient of truth in each recipe. My point is that maybe the real true recipe is part of the vast majority of recipes. Maybe it's mistaken for an ingredient when it's actually the recipe!

[ILG]

Every human is in need of salvation. Why has God made it so hard to figure it out without a diploma in theology from one of the Apostolic bible schools? It seems that there is a multitude of rules that must be followed, "t"s to be crossed and "i"s to be dotted before we are saved. No grey areas. The list is so long and demanding that the average person just gives up.

Shouldn't it be so easy so that anyone, even with a low IQ, could figure it out just by reading a few verses the bible? Shouldn't salvation be easy to comprehend and then to implement?

Shouldn't we use the Occam's Razor principal? The easiest explanation is probably the correct explanation?

I think it is easy. All it takes is faith. That's it. Just follow as you are shown.

[StillStanding]

I think it is easy. All it takes is faith. That's it. Just follow as you are shown.

:thumbsup Obtaining salvation, and then continuing to walk in the faith of Jesus Christ are two separate things. Thank God for his perfect patience with all of us!

[Timmy]

Except for the Acts verse, none of the others was about becoming saved

:blink

Matthew 25 is about how Jesus decides who gets eternal life and who gets everlasting fire.

Luke 18 is how the fellow could have received eternal life.

Luke 14 is a prerequisite, as I said. Don't do this, and you can't be a disciple. Would you say that does not pertain to salvation?

Matthew 19 is a way to be rewarded with eternal life.

[RandyWayne]

True! A thousand different recipes and each thinks its the only true recipe. There's an ingredient of truth in each recipe. My point is that maybe the real true recipe is part of the vast majority of recipes. Maybe it's mistaken for an ingredient when it's actually the recipe!

To make matters worse, there are hundreds of views just on what ONENESS is -and many believe THEIR view of "oneness" is a requirement to enter the pearly gates.

Shoot, discussing Dialectical-Materialism analogies discovered in obscure pointillism artwork of artist Thaddeus Welch and how it relates to modern societal movements toward collectivism in a post-communist industrial economic systems, makes more sense to me than some of these "oneness" discussions!

[Timmy]

To make matters worse, there are hundreds of views just on what ONENESS is -and many believe THEIR view of "oneness" is a requirement to enter the pearly gates. ...

All ya have to do is guess right! :thumbsup

[MarcBee]

All ya have to do is guess right! :thumbsup

That is SO unfair, Timmy! Rather, all ya have to do is to guess right (or more accurately, to correctly interpret) AND have a scripture or two or three to plausibly back up your "correct" interpretation. And everyone should realize how difficult a thing that is to accomplish.
:dogpat

[Praxeas]

To make matters worse, there are hundreds of views just on what ONENESS is -and many believe THEIR view of "oneness" is a requirement to enter the pearly gates.

Shoot, discussing Dialectical-Materialism analogies discovered in obscure pointillism artwork of artist Thaddeus Welch and how it relates to modern societal movements toward collectivism in a post-communist industrial economic systems, makes more sense to me than some of these "oneness" discussions!

I don't think there are hundreds. And what many fail to realize is having a different explanation for HOW something is is not a variation on the theology but HOW to explain the theology.

[crakjak]

Simple: God created man.
Man sinned.
God had a solution, He sent Jesus, as the Savior of the whole world.
Man doesn't believe it, and continues in fear and unbelief.
God will reveal the truth to all men, some in this life, most in the next.
Man will believe, for "...when we see Him, we will be made like Him..."

Because man doesn't believe He continues to strive for ways to earn his own salvation, when he simply needs to enter into what God has already completed, thru faith in God. "...eternal life is to know Jesus Christ and the Father who sent Him..." Seek to know Him as He really is, and you will find peace.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Simple: God created man.
Man sinned.
God had a solution, He sent Jesus, as the Savior of the whole world.
Man doesn't believe it, and continues in fear and unbelief.
God will reveal the truth to all men, some in this life, most in the next.
Man will believe, for "...when we see Him, we will be made like Him..."

Because man doesn't believe He continues to strive for ways to earn his own salvation, when he simply needs to enter into what God has already completed, thru faith in God. "...eternal life is to know Jesus Christ and the Father who sent Him..." Seek to know Him as He really is, and you will find peace.

Sounds kind of Hindi to me. :heeheehee

Jai Sri Ram!

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