Something to think about

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

So you're saying that if the head of household gets saved their children WILL be saved?

Do you know of any families where the parents got the HolyGhost and the kids never did?

Many promises go unfulfilled because of a lack of faith.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Was the statement "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" a universal promise given to all believers everywhere? Or was it a specific, prophetic promise to one man, in that, God was showing Paul that if this one man submitted himself to the Gospel, in His infinite foreknowledge, God knew everyone else in his "house" would follow suit?

If it's not a promise to us, then we have no more reason to expect our children to be saved than we have for any stranger. God made numerous promises regarding the families of His people under the old covenant. It would be strange that we would have less assurance and a lesser hope under the new covenant...

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by jfrog

Maybe I'm off but I've always read that verse to be indicating that the promise of Salvation by believing on Jesus Christ was available to the head of the house as well as all the people in his house (including his servants).

In those days, the "head of the house" position actually meant something. They were much more obligated to follow the "head of the house" and if he believed, his household too, following his leadership, would also receive the Grace to believe.

However, I don't believe this scripture is talking about a "head of household" with people who choose to not follow his example. With the counsel of all the other doctrinal scriptures, this Promise of salvation is for individuals who receive the Grace to believe.

This scripture does not establish a situation where everyone in a "household" or family unit etc is saved just because the "head" of that unit believes.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Was the statement "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" a universal promise given to all believers everywhere? Or was it a specific, prophetic promise to one man, in that, God was showing Paul that if this one man submitted himself to the Gospel, in His infinite foreknowledge, God knew everyone else in his "house" would follow suit?

I believe it is a Universal Promise given to all human beings who receive the Grace to believe in the first place.

The reason I believe this is this scripture stands in agreement with numerous other scriptures that establish the BIBLICAL DOCTRINE of salvation by the Grace of God, through the faith of individuals in the Gospel of Christ.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Many promises go unfulfilled because of a lack of faith.

Did the verse in question stipulate that lack of faith rendered the promise void?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Did the verse in question stipulate that lack of faith rendered the promise void?

The condition is "believe on the Lord Jesus". Obviously, failure to do that renders the promise inapplicable.

[BrainWashed]

Originally Posted by Esaias

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” My dear Christian friend, because God put that promise in your Bible, I believe there is only one reason that a member of your house will perish in Hell. You yourself will have to fail that beloved family member in order for them to perish. You do not want that to happen. You do not want to find yourself standing near them with their blood on your hands when they stand before the Great White Throne Judgment condemned to Hell. How tragic it would be to have them look upon you and your bloody hands and sob to you in their hopelessness, “You failed me. You did not believe God’s promise to save your house. As a Christian, you lived in pleasure instead of entering into the toil and travail with Christ to see your family brought safely into the Ark of Salvation. I hope you enjoy eternity in Heaven while I am tormented in flames forever.” You do not want to experience that. Whatever you do in this life, believe on and act upon this wonderful promise. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
“Pass the time of your sojourning here with fear”

(just something I read, which has given me cause to pause, think, and consider)

Esaias,

Good post.

[Dordrecht]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Do you don't believe that everybody is responsible for their own sin?

Some preachers and pastors will have blood on their hands.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Dordrecht

Some preachers and pastors will have blood on their hands.

Some people in the pews will be covered in blood from head to foot.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” My dear Christian friend, because God put that promise in your Bible, I believe there is only one reason that a member of your house will perish in Hell. You yourself will have to fail that beloved family member in order for them to perish. You do not want that to happen. You do not want to find yourself standing near them with their blood on your hands when they stand before the Great White Throne Judgment condemned to Hell. How tragic it would be to have them look upon you and your bloody hands and sob to you in their hopelessness, “You failed me. You did not believe God’s promise to save your house. As a Christian, you lived in pleasure instead of entering into the toil and travail with Christ to see your family brought safely into the Ark of Salvation. I hope you enjoy eternity in Heaven while I am tormented in flames forever.” You do not want to experience that. Whatever you do in this life, believe on and act upon this wonderful promise. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
“Pass the time of your sojourning here with fear”

(just something I read, which has given me cause to pause, think, and consider)

If someone in a family is lost it is by their own free will to reject the moving power of Jesus Christ. The message to the jailer was automatically saved through his salvation. Just like all Israel will be saved means every single Israeli no matter what. The all is always qualified by the holistic approach to the Bible. Bible is pretty easy to understand when we accept that it isn't fractured scriptures but it must be understood all together.