2007-06-01 04:26:12 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A person can do nothing of him or herself to be saved. It is all the work of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Holy Spirit that prompts us, leads us to a point where we recognise our sinful nature and get down on our knees to ask for forgiveness. That is the point where we humble ourselves and ask Jesus into our lives, to become our Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit then continues to prompt and to lead us, to reading the Bible, to finding a Biblical, spirit-filled church where we can associate with other Christians and grow to spiritual maturity.
It is absolutely true that we must repent (first) and then be baptised. You cannot do one without the other. It is also true that our lives will be transformed, as we turn away from sin and seek to please God by following his commandments.
However, not one thing we do can earn salvation. Our "good works are like filthy rags". It is only by pleading the blood of Christ as we lay down at the foot of the cross that He can intercede for us.
I do not seek to disagree with the other fine answers already given. It's just that my experience has shown me that it is God the Father, God the risen Christ and God the Holy Spirit that does the work of salvation. And God knows all those who will come to him.
2007-06-04 06:12:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
you know what read your Bible! a lot of ppl will say to pray something with them asking God into your heart, and then your saved but thats just not it, you can't ask God to come in if you don't repent of your sins and cut off ties to the world. You have to be baptised in the water and in the spirit, you'll read about that in john where nicademus is talking to jesus asking how a man can be born again, he says you must be born again, when nicademus asks a second time cause he doesn't understand jesus tells him unless your baptised of the water and of the spirit you wont see the gates of heaven.
in Acts 2:38 it says Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus christ for the remition of your sins and ye shall recieve the gift of the holy spirit
When God comes inside you you will know he gives you the holy ghost, which you'll knwo you have when you speak in other toungues and if you don't think this is true just crack open the bible, read acts, read malichi, isaiah, jerimiah, and romans, even john they all have the way to salvation, I'll pray that God sends revelation your way:) God bless
oh and another thing when he says you have to be baptised in the water that means submerged in the water in Jesus name!
2007-06-01 11:45:01 · answer #2 · answered by L.R. 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The premise of this so-called "question" is false, in that the bible does not teach that salvation is a synonym for 'going to heaven'.
Ignoring that false premise, it can be noted that true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) understand faith to be the primary thing for a Christian, but they also understand that professed "faith" is not a license for a sinner to continue to indulge his sin.
(Matthew 7:20-23) Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize... “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.
One's faith must have SOME effect on the individual's personality and lifecourse. The Scriptures quite plainly explain that humans can disqualify themselves from receiving everlasting life; it is only the faithful COMPLETION of a life course that assures salvation.
(Zephaniah 2:3) Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. PROBABLY you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger. [emphasis added]
(Amos 5:15) Hate what is bad, and love what is good, and give justice a place in the gate. It MAY be that Jehovah the God of armies will show favor [emphasis added]
(Matthew 7:13-14) Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.
(Matthew 24:13) But he that has endured TO THE END is the one that will be saved. [emphasis added]
(Philippians 2:12) Keep WORKING OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling [emphasis added]
(Hebrews 10:26-27) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment
(Hebrews 5:9) [Jesus] became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those OBEYING him [emphasis added]
(James 2:14,17) Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? ...17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/1996021/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_15.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
2007-06-04 13:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior (in your heart), ALL your sins are WASHED away. He wont remember it at all. When u die, He will acknowedge u to The Father... when that happens, u will be with him in Heaven forever!
2007-06-01 11:35:24 · answer #4 · answered by Matthew 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To be saved a person must accept Christ as there savior. If you truly beleive that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and rose again, say a prayer admitting your sins and you will be saved and ask for forgivness. Afterwards you will feel woderful BELEIVE ME!!!! Oh and also you should go to a church to find out more about Christ and start walking with him and witnessing to others.
2007-06-01 11:32:40 · answer #5 · answered by ♥kaitlyn 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The people asked in Acts 2, Men and Brethren what must we do. Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized everyone of ye in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38
2007-06-01 11:30:37 · answer #6 · answered by Caleb's Mom 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Have to agree with mushy on this one...a wild imagination is an absolute must...
2007-06-01 16:45:44 · answer #7 · answered by Delle C. 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There was a scholar of the law 11 who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."
2007-06-01 11:31:47 · answer #8 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I thumped up the first three answers since they are all good answers make that four
2007-06-01 11:32:37 · answer #9 · answered by Boomrat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
open ur heart to God in prayer, to love Him with all ur heart
be willing (have a willing heart) and ready to serve and to listen
2007-06-01 11:35:27 · answer #10 · answered by Believer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋