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Re: Deathbed Salvation
No I left the conversation b/c they started with the whole, "You have to believe A238 to be on this forum, so unless you're willing to keep your anti-Apostolic views to yourself, you need to do the honorable thing and leave this forum." So since I want to remain on that forum, I told them Id take the conversation here.
You make some interesting points. Ultimately God's mercy is greater than man's. It seems unjust that someone who lived like the devil can slip in the eleventh hour and get saved. But as was mentioned before in Matt 20 God says "what business is it of yours? Its my money and I can pay whatever I want to whomever I want!" I contend that a dying soul can cry out to God and God would respomd with love and mercy. The argument was made on the other forum that Matt 20 wasn't referring to salvation. Of course.
As far as the theif on the cross is concerned, when one makes the argument that he was saved under OT Law, then they're saying that it was easier to acquire grace and mercy in the OT than it is in the NT. Its a nonsense argument. The man could not do anything but exercise faith in Jesus, which he did, and as a result Christ told him he was saved. A perfect picture of grace.
Legalists have to create all sorts of crazy interpretations of scripture because the theology is flawed and inconsistent with the whole of scripture. Cherry pick your favorite passages, only refer to them and then dance around the problematic scriptures with cop outs.
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When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
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