The Cross of Christ Alone Can Save - Page 27

Jeffrey · #**261** 03-31-2010, 05:28 PM

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I believe that, but I don't center on the cross alone. I just believe everything flows out from there. Many of the posts have been making it sound as though that is all we need to do - believe that He did die on a cross. There is more to believing. That's like people claiming to be Christians when they do not live a Christian life. They have no dedication to the Lord, but they are not Atheists. It doesn't add up.

That's all we need to do to accept by faith his work for us. That's it. Nada. Nothing else.

However, as a result of this faith, we believe certain things about Jesus. There is also eschatological realities that have taken place (Paul says we are "dead in sin and alive to Christ"). So none of this replaces our responsibilities as children of God. We are talking about the conversion experience only. More expanded, we could say conversion-initiation (that would help TL)

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Yes, this is true, but there are works involved - faith without works is dead. It's not the issue of who is forcing "unbiblical" works. It is about there are works to be done on our part, according to the Word of God.

We'll get to works and the challenge of "real faith." The thread subject is discussing our way in. We have to know our "way in" before we can talk about our "way around."

pelathais · #**262** 03-31-2010, 05:31 PM

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Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Strawman alert!

No one has suggested taking the cross out of Christianity. Its JESUS who saves not the cross.

Whatever he says about being saved or being a Christian would be correct. He obviously says there is more.

The apostle John made this statement:

8: And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:8

They agree to do what?

Save us. Make us a new creation.

Thanks for opening your post with an "alert" warning us about its content.

Everyone who has had trouble saying "Amen!" to the opening post is guilty of taking the cross out of Christianity.

Keep going on to 1 John 5:11, to find out what the "witnesses" are testifying to.

Since NOW mentioned it earlier as well, can anyone tell us just how the cross is NOT sufficient to save us? In other words, "What does the blood of Jesus Christ lack when it comes to paying the penalty for our sins and making the needed atonement with God?"

AND - what must we add to supply what the blood of Jesus Christ lacks?

Pressing-On · #**263** 03-31-2010, 05:39 PM

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey

That's all we need to do to accept by faith his work for us. That's it. Nada. Nothing else.

You can't word it that way when there are other commands to be obeyed to become a part of the New Covenant Church. You can't say, "That's ALL you need to do - period."

pelathais · #**264** 03-31-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

You can't word it that way when there are other commands to be obeyed to become a part of the New Covenant Church. You can't say, "That's ALL you need to do - period."

The thread is dealing with salvation. "What must we do to be saved?"

Jeffery sums it up well.

Now, "What must we do since believing on the Lord?" That's another thread.

Pressing-On · #**265** 03-31-2010, 05:52 PM

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Originally Posted by pelathais

The thread is dealing with salvation. "What must we do to be saved?"

Jeffery sums it up well.

Now, "What must we do since believing on the Lord?" That's another thread.

You can't stop at just believing. There is more involved. It sounds too much like and end all. There is action involved as well.

In Acts 2 Peter tells them to "call of the name of the Lord and they would be saved." He proceeded in that chapter to tell them everything associated with that name in order to explain what they had just seen and heard.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

Gotta run!

mfblume · #**266** 03-31-2010, 07:25 PM

Sounds like people are going to believe what they initially stated in this thread, and nothing said can change them. So why discuss it? lol

Jeffrey · #**267** 03-31-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

You can't word it that way when there are other commands to be obeyed to become a part of the New Covenant Church. You can't say, "That's ALL you need to do - period."

None of the rest is HOW nor a pre-requisite to be justified. It's not "all you need to do" unless the rest of the sentence was "to be His."

Jeffrey · #**268** 03-31-2010, 07:58 PM

Blume, same statement right back at you.

I sincerely believe people will change their mind when they see the discussion.

What a relief to realize God draws and calls us, we respond in faith by trusting and believing. That is the story throughout Scripture. God called men who were undeserving (Abraham a pagan, Moses a murderer, Noah a drunkard, Paul a murderer), chose them, they responded to his freely offered grace. To you and I we have the complete picture. The way in is still the same though. It has never changed.

What a relief to know nothing is contingent on my deeds, performance, nada. lol People hate hearing that for some reason, so I'm wanting to reiterate it again. Consider it for a moment. Your soul will feel freed.

I know, I know... I lost some of you already. You're thinking about how some will "get away" with something. HELLO! We've ALL gotten away with EVERYTHING! WHAT A GOSPEL! We want to control this thing. So as a qualifier to you -- of course, this grace has brought us not only death with Christ, but life with Him as well. In it the reign of sin in our lives is broken, so that we can resist a life identified by sin.

But gone are the days of looking over my back, like God would take me at any moment and I'd have some unconscious sin that I forgot to repent about. That's not what this relationship is all about. He's been after us since the beginning. He likes to impress and loves to hear us boast. What a spit in the face when we try claim any part in the gift he gave us.

pelathais · #**269** 03-31-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

You can't stop at just believing. There is more involved. It sounds too much like and end all. There is action involved as well.

In Acts 2 Peter tells them to "call of the name of the Lord and they would be saved." He proceeded in that chapter to tell them everything associated with that name in order to explain what they had just seen and heard.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

Gotta run!

Of course there's "action" after getting saved... that's the point of salvation. "The life I now live..." Galatians 2:20-21.

But how did we get that life? That's the point of this thread. We didn't earn it, we didn't deserve it, we didn't work really, really hard to get it... It was a free gift!

Jeffrey · #**270** 03-31-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pelathais

Of course there's "action" after getting saved... that's the point of salvation. "The life I now live..." Galatians 2:20-21.

But how did we get that life? That's the point of this thread. We didn't earn it, we didn't deserve it, we didn't work really, really hard to get it... It was a free gift!

I always said we didn't deserve it, but deep down inside I felt I was earning it. It was an "I'll pay you back" to God. I would have never articulated that, but that's how it was growing up. When it hit me that I didn't deserve, couldn't earn it, and He loved me still, I still remember how overwhelmed I was. It was even more powerful than the day I was baptized in the Spirit. My heart was anew. My relationship took on a new fervor. I was freed from chains I put on myself that He never intended.