Raised as a Baptist my understanding of a relationship with Jesus meant that a person became "saved". We accepted Jesus as the Son of God, believed that He had died on the cross to save us because we were sinners, and were baptised by full immersion. After my salvation and acceptance at the age of 8 I became very worried about my friends who were:Presbyterian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox. I asked them if they were "saved". They asked me, "What?" I asked the adults around me, "Will my friends go to heaven?" "They will if they are saved". That was a really fun time in my life as I tried to work out what "saved" really meant, and why my friends didn't understand what I was talking about.
Has anyone else experienced this escatological
problem? Have you resolved it in your heart? Do you have peace with this issue?
2007-08-20 02:03:26 · 19 answers · asked by fmckin1 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm Baptist as well and I know what you mean. But if a person believes in Jesus and lives their life according to His principles, they are saved. Jesus said that whoever calls upon Him shall be saved. I was a participant in a Bible study that had many different denominations also participating. I know without doubt that those women were saved, even though they were not Baptists.
2007-08-20 02:08:34 · answer #1 · answered by Sharon M 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is a great question. People often bring up the issue of "salvation", and "accepting Jesus as your personal savior", without actually defining what those terms mean. When it comes down to it, they have very subjective meanings, because each individual you talk to will come up with something extremely personal about what they think it means.
Religion is like that - it's an intensely personal thing. That's what lead me to the conclusion that faith and god is also a subjective thing. If you believe in a god/gods, then it/they exist - for you. If you do not have that faith, then they do not exist - again, for you. There is no deity outside of the structure of your belief system. Inside that structure, it may be a key component of your life, but that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.
I try to respect the belief systems of those who do find meaning in those terms, and I don't try to convert them to my way of thought. I do get extremely annoyed when someone tries to "save" me, unless I happen to be in deep water and you happen to be a lifeguard. I do not have the belief system that theists do, so I don't need or want "salvation" or a "savior", because in my belief system, the terms are meaningless. I
2007-08-20 09:43:07 · answer #2 · answered by chasm81 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's suprising how many Christians are saved but don't know it.
I was recently at a restrurant with some missionary friends. They asked our server if she was saved. She said yes. They asked how she knew. Her response was because she was a good person.
When she was told that being a good person doesn't mean she's saved, she said that she has accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior by the shedding of His blood on the cross for her...that He was raised and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
She was saved and didn't know it. How sad really, to wonder and worry when she didn't have to.
Needless to say, she was relieved and thankful that someone told her.
In Christ,
Dennis
2007-08-20 09:11:17 · answer #3 · answered by Dennis R 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of the last-name of the church (Baptist, Prebisterian, Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ, etc.) your friends visit, to get salvation they need to do what Jesus says. You have summarized very well that. If they live faithfull to the Lord and obey Him, they will be saved.
If your friends attend to a church that teaches what God says, getting saved will be easier. If their church is not good in that, then the risk of losing their salvation increases.
The church is the body of Christ, which is composed of many members. Maybe Baptists are the right arm of Jesus, maybe the Disciples of Christ are the left kidney. Not being the right arm does not mean not being part of the church, we may be different in some ways but still be part of the body of Christ.
However, been named a Baptist or Carismatic doesn't means be part to the body, to form part of the body you must be saved.
2007-08-20 09:30:35 · answer #4 · answered by Darth Eugene Vader 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i grew up catholic, i made my holy communion, my confirmation, we went to Church a lot as children, got baptised when born, i guess i grew up, thinking , i had it made?but then in middle school and high school, i learned about more region, it got me wondering and questioning my faith?by the time i was 18, i thought all i had to do, is believe in god, be a good person, and go to church every once in awhile, id be safe and happy.but if-you've read any of my reglious answers, you'd see,my whole perspective on religion has changed?i believe , that you must accept Jesus Christ as your savior, and confess your sins to him, believe in him and the father and you no matter what your religion, will have ever lasting life in god's kingdom,plus i believe little children are safe, until they-know about god and are able to choose as an adult what to believe.since my once i became saved, the old Debbie went away, never to return,now a there's a new and happy Debbie, with a great and happy life.
2007-08-20 09:29:25 · answer #5 · answered by debbie d 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes...because I've met a few who don't use "saved" or "born-again"....remember...those are labels...what they had was a profound understanding that they were sinners, that they couldn't make it up on their own, and they need a Perfect Sacrifice.
I've met a few that call themselves "servants", others "disciples", and for a few "believers."
Did they do the formal 4 line prayer? Probably not. Did they walk down an aisle while "come as you are" was playing (undoubtedly a requirement in some churches) - doubt they did.
What I do know...is their lives are gospels, and they are more than willing to point another person to the One who makes a difference.
2007-08-20 09:15:02 · answer #6 · answered by Last Stand 2010 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus says it best in Matthew 24:13 and 7:21-23 where he makes it clear only "he that has endured to the END will be saved." The end of their lives, not in the middle or beginning. Not everyone saying "LORD! LORD! will be saved or doing works in his name will be saved.
It is doing God's will throughout ones life and God will make that determination by what your heart condition is and not by outward appearance.
2007-08-20 11:01:38 · answer #7 · answered by grnlow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea,believe in the story of Jesus.The cross and the res erection.Exept it,follow it.Alot of people have a lot of different versions.Alot don't like to discuss it.You can pretty much tell by the way someone acts,talks etc.Your actions,speach say alot too.
2007-08-20 09:17:16 · answer #8 · answered by gotabedifferent 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People of any denomination can be saved.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
It's not rituals and rules that save someone, it's accepting Christ into their heart and following him.
2007-08-20 09:10:44 · answer #9 · answered by Machaira 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By your religions rules they are not saved, therefore if your religion happens to be correct over the hundreds of others, they will probably go to hell and burn for eternity. If your religion is wrong and another is right you will probably be the one burning. Enjoy your lovely sects!
2007-08-20 09:37:00 · answer #10 · answered by Michael N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋