Please don't answer if you believe in once saved--always saved, or if you believe in salvation by works. I'm looking for an honest answer. I mean if salvation is a free gift, received by faith, then why does it seem so hard to be saved? Why do we have to "Work out our salvation with fear and trembling"? Does God want us to be so sorely afraid of him, that we serve him out of fear
for losing our salvation? Or are we supposed to believe that we're
saved as soon as we say the sinner's prayer, and continue from there? Does a person have to have a complete understanding of lordship BEFORE they can be saved? Or are we just supposed to live day by day in obedience, not really knowing what God is going to ask us to do next? I mean I know God's word is his will, but he doesn't reveal everything to us at once. Sorry, but I'm confused. Can someone help me?
2006-09-17 13:10:31 · 18 answers · asked by Road Trip 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Having looked at all your answers so far, and since there are at least 3 or 4 very good ones, I will not choose the best answer myself; I will let others choose this one.
2006-09-17 13:21:37 · update #1
Great question but you're a little confused.
God gives us "salvation through his son Christ Jesus" or "Jesus the Anointed", and it is up to us to accept it or not. YES, we do need to work to keep our salvation, as the Bible says, "faith without works is dead." So, while we "keep seeking out or salvation" on a daily basis (meaning, living day by day trying to live right and share the good news of Gods kingdom with those in the world (the works that saves us) we will then be saved.
Once saved, always saved is not accurate or you could get saved and lead a life of sin and still go to heaven so to speak.
No, you do not need a full understanding of the Lord or God before you can be saved, but you must continue to grow in knowledge to be saved. Otherwise, God will have no reason to believe you desire no more than to sit stale in knowlege of him and his son. God is knowledge and REQUIRES that we have an accurate knowledge of him. However, he doesn't expect us to have it overnite.
2006-09-17 13:21:56 · answer #1 · answered by AdamKadmon 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Salvation is a free gift, because we did nothing to deserve it. Belief that Christ died and God loved us enough to send Him is how we receive Him. Some may want to just walk away and expect to live right, or do anything and everything until it's time for the rapture, because we are flesh and blood. But the bible says that Christ was tempted in all things, but gave in to none. So that He would know what we had to go through, and to also be without sin when the time came for Him to be crucified.
The sinner's prayer is a starting point that should be feed with further study, and fellowship with other Christians, so that new believers can be built up in their faith. The parable of the sower in Matt. 13:19-23, is one to look at. If new believers just walk away to believe that once saved, always saved, the enemy will get them for sure. The word has to take root in the heart of that new believer to their understanding. This will happen with further study of who Jesus is after there is acceptance.
I hope I was helpful. You can always email me, and maybe we can discuss any more questions further.
2006-09-17 13:35:23 · answer #2 · answered by HoneySweet Minister 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. A gift is free.
2. A gift is given to another, no strings attached.
3. You receive the gift.
4. Salvation isn't a given, a gift can be lost.
If someone gave you a car as a gift, and it sat in the driveway, what worth is it? If you used the car for all your necessities, the car holds value and merit. If you used the car for illegal dealings or selfish matters, it only becomes useful for you but hold no other use or merit.
Salvation is a gift, used by grace and empowered by faith. If this gift is accepted but not used, it is vain and worthless, but only because of our own blindness. When salvation is used for its true benefit, it is eternally priceless.
a. understand why Jesus Christ gave up His heavenly kingdom, walk among us and give His life for you.
b. Know God has done everything to restore the relationship lost.
c. acknowledge that we all fall short and ALL have sinned. God's ways are perfect. This is why we need Jesus, we can't do it alone.
d. accept what Jesus has done and acknowledge His lordship and Savior in your life. Repent for the wrongdoings, confess them to God, His promise is to forgive you of your sins.
e. Ask the Holy Spirit in your life. He is the ultimate guide for our lives.
f. Work out your salvation. It is not an easy trip, Jesus never told us the journey was easy. Faith increases as you draw nearer to God.
g. Be accountable. Don't walk this alone. It's better when two agree.
Hope this helps.
2006-09-17 13:24:57 · answer #3 · answered by n9wff 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says, (Ephesians 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Salvation is not by works but works are the result of salvation in that you desire to love people, wage peace, bless others, live humbly, do the will of God, etc.
The thief on the cross next to Jesus had neither works or a complete understanding. He was never baptized, never took communion yet just believed in Jesus and entered Paradise with Christ that very day.
Isn't that wonderful?!
2006-09-17 13:16:35 · answer #4 · answered by Pearly Gator 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No God doesn't want you to be afraid of him.
Salavation is a free gift. It is mentioned referring to Jesus's death on the cross.
Salvation is free because he died for our sins.
You don't have to do anything to be saved other than accepting Christ as your savior, and ask for him to live inside your heart and try to do the best you can. Also, you need to have a relationship with God and Christ through prayer and reading the Bible. (You can't talk about something and not follow through with your actions. Then your just all talk)
He doesn't want you to fear him and you shouldn't.
The reason he doesn't reveal everything at once is an important one. He reveals things to you when you talk and pray to him.
The best way to have a relationship with God or your mom or your best friend is to talk to them. Really, its the only way. How are you gonna have a good relatioship w/ someone if you don't talk to them.
Through talking to God, he will tell you more and more, and he will lead you to scriptures which helps you understand.
And this is how you understand God. Through an everyday constant relationship. You have to culture and love the relationship, like you would any friendship/relatioship with anyone you cared about.
But the whole God talking to you, only happens through salvation, which is accepting Christ as your savior and asking the Holy Spirit to live in your heart.
Asking the Holy Spirit to live in your heart, is like giving your mind a God-conscious. It allows the Lord a little microphone in your head, and he'll be like 'Don't do that" when you shouldn't do something. Or he'll be like, "Wake up!" in the middle of the night and then he'll be like "Go read Romans 8:5-6" and there in the middle of the night, he will tell you the answer to your question you've been asking for 3 weeks.
So do not fear him, and do not do things out of fear.
Do it because walking with the Lord and having a relatioship with your creator is the reason we are on this earth.
2006-09-17 13:25:38 · answer #5 · answered by the nothing 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Salvation is certainly a free gift as the Bible says, and living as Christian is much easier when we ask for God's help as we can't do it alone. Romans 10:9-10 says who believes...and confesses...will be saved, but from there if there is not a continual hungering and thirsting for God, then it becomes much harder, cuz we then try it on our own. John 3:30 says that I would decrease, and God will increase in me; thus, it is not just me who works out my salvation, but through the Spirit of God it becomes a yearning, a desire to continually walk by faith. God says to come as you are, but He loves us way too much to leave us as we were......and it is not a fear in the sense of losing God, but in the sense of reverence and admiration,....like a Father.
2006-09-17 13:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by Joshua M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You ask numerous questions, but it sounds as if you have some knowledge of the Bible. If you are sincerely seeking truth, remember the Bible says if a man (or woman) lack wisdom, ask of God who gives wisdom.
The Bible says if we confess our sins ( are sincerely sorry we did them). and stop doing them, God is faithful and just to forgive us (didn't cost us a thing) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It also says fear God and keep His commandments. (Love Him so much you don't want to displease Him by breaking His commandments), Work out, (or study and pray to learn His will for you,) with fear and trembling..(take it seriously and prayerfully, not as a joke). God wants us to serve Him out of love. Jesus said the person who God has forgiven the most, loves (not fears) God the most. He also said Love God with all your heart , soul, and mind. Love casts out fear. If you wait until you have complete understanding of ANYTHING you will never be saved. Walk daily in His will, find it in the Bible, and know God will never ask you to do something that you can not do. He wants our trust. If you talk with you Minister ask him about your concerns. Read some books on the subject of serving God. Remember:: forgiveness IS free for US but that's because Jesus paid for it in advance by giving His life!!
Hope you find your way. The final goal is worth the effort.
2006-09-17 13:40:59 · answer #7 · answered by Dan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a free gift. It seems hard to many people, because they want to be saved on their own terms, not on God's.
Becoming a Christian is a journey - a growing time. You start at the beginning, not the end. It's one step at a time as you learn and follow God's leading. And it's not a journey of fear - God's love casts out fear.
2006-09-17 13:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by jewel_flower 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I interpret the verse "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" as meaning that we should take God seriously and respect him instead of abusing God's grace.
If we have prayed to make Christ the lord (leader) of our life, as long as we are seeking to obey God, we can always be assured that we are saved. A person just has to be willing to obey God. They may not know everything specifically God wants them to do (although God speaks through the Bible) but God will still reveal His perfect plan for their life if they seek Him and listen to His voice.
2006-09-17 13:28:59 · answer #9 · answered by openheaven 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Salvation is a free gift in the sense that we cannot and do not have to do anything to gain it. We do not deserve it. God freely gives it.
We have to "work out our salvation" because we must receive the gift and live it or it does us no good. Like a gift someone gives you that you never open or use. You might as well not have it.
But our ability to "work it out" or to understand anything is also a gift from God.
2006-09-17 13:15:57 · answer #10 · answered by jakejr6 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋