Okay, so faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. And, faith is a gift of God. Acts 16:31 says, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. It doesn't say accept, it says believe. Given to you, you don't have to make a choice for it. So why do we have to go any further than that except by responding with a prayer of thanks rather than a prayer of acceptance, as if we were signing for a package? No need to sign, it's YOURS!
2006-09-01 08:50:41 · 15 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Tsk. No rational discussion on this so far. I was hoping for better.
2006-09-01 08:57:12 · update #1
You make an excellent point. The idea that we have to make a decision to choose Christ is a modern day false doctrine. It is called decision theology.
It is a very powerful temptation the Devil uses to pat us on the back and tell us we take credit for the first step of our salvation. To believe you choose is taking away the credit from the Holy Spirit who gave you faith.
2006-09-01 09:01:24 · answer #1 · answered by d8 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No one says that you have to accept or believe, what it says that if you do then you will be called children of God. Believing is an act of faith, a belief in things not seen.
If I choose to believe then it is my choice, If you choose not to believe then it is your choice. I by faith have made the choice to believe and confess that Jesus is the Son of God. My choice.
If I live my life by His model then what does it matter? If I help others, put others before myself and have compassion for others, then who have I hurt? It is my faith and what I choose to believe. If someone ask me about it then that door is open till they close it. That is how I handle my faith.
The thing is if I am right, then there is a promise that has been made and Heaven is where I will be. If you choose not to believe and end up being wrong, then what? That risk is too high for me.
2006-09-01 16:12:47 · answer #2 · answered by Dead Man Walking 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he is the one who give you air to breathe , your 5 sense and make the stuff around u. when u r going through the hardest time in your life and their is no one there not friends,sister,brother, uncle, aunt, of famliy member. when u just want to quit but yet u can't cause god is testing your faith to see if u will believe or obey him. also the reason why we have to accept jesus is that when something goes wrong and man can't solve the problem we need god to take control cause be made anything on earth
2006-09-01 16:01:44 · answer #3 · answered by adelaide 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder how a person, then, acquires faith without acceptance.
Also consider: the Greek word translated to "believe" is pisteuoÌ, which means...
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
2006-09-01 15:58:22 · answer #4 · answered by In God I Trust (a.k.a. infohog) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word youre looking for is CONFESS. We need to confess Jesus is the Son of God like Peter did in Matthew 16.
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. -Romans 10:9-10
Not only accepting Jesus as Lord, but also living faithfully for God alone.
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. -Luke 9:23
2006-09-01 15:57:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is saying that if a man puts his faith behind the concepts taught by Jesus then he will be saved from having to fear death and he will have hope and courage, etc...
2006-09-01 15:53:28 · answer #6 · answered by Billy! 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We don't. There are many religions in the world and they are all perfectly acceptable. Or you can choose not to belong to any religion at all. Just be a good and decent human being. How hard is that?
2006-09-01 15:52:52 · answer #7 · answered by notyou311 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Without the shedding of blood there is NO remmission of sin.
2006-09-01 17:18:10 · answer #8 · answered by wisdom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believe and except is the same thing either you do or don't.
2006-09-01 15:55:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
the bible, like all religious writings, is a piece of fiction written by man to control man. it works very well for/on some. none for me thanks i worship the almighty potato.
2006-09-01 16:06:22 · answer #10 · answered by taterboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋