I never understood the concept of being
Heard this too many times to count. Explain please, and the concept of
2007-09-16 13:03:19 · 11 answers · asked by Moonlit Hemlock 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The concept of salvation is key to most christian doctrine. The theory has it that we are all born with original sin inheriting the sin that Adam and Eve committed. And god, reincarnating himself as Jesus Christ, gets himself crucified to allegedly sacrifice himself to atone for our collective sins. Yet, god being god, cannot die, and thus resurrects himself in a few days and ascends to heaven where he sits in judgment of potential candidates for heaven or hell when we die. In order to pass to heaven, we have to at a minimum accept this Jesus Christ as lord and savior, and repent our sins. Some sects of christianity also include the need to be baptized. Most christian sects represent this as a "free gift" even though they realize that there are requirements to receive this alleged reward. But be assured, it is no free gift. It is an offer.
Yet some of these same christians claim that it is our choice to accept this offer or choose eternal damnation in a fiery lake called hell.
I hope I have answered your question regarding the concept of salvation.
2007-09-16 13:14:16 · answer #1 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The concept of "Saved" in a Christian context is best understood with a synonym -- rescued....
When they say that they are "Saved" they mean that they believe that Jesus has Rescued them from their "sinful nature" and their sins.
The concept of being "Born Again" is a little more complicated. It refers to a SPIRITUAL rebirth, but the behavior of many people who make that claim leaves a lot to be desired as they feel that they need make little effort to remain "saved"
As a Hellenic Polytheist, I do not hold with the concept of being "Saved" although there is precedent for a concept of spiritual rebirth in the Hellenic religion.... The Eleusian Mysteries contained elements of this according to what little historical evidence has been found.
2007-09-16 20:12:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anne Hatzakis 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Saved - in Christianity, each person is considered to be sinful and thus unable to have a relationship with God. Sin is literally 'missing the mark', or falling short of perfection. Since God is holy, without sin, He cannot stand to be in the presence of sin (it's like we can't bear the thought of certain sins, like hurting a child, etc., but magnified because God is infinite).
Since God loves each and everyone of his people, He did not want to leave it like that. He took the sins of every person on Himself and paid the price for sin Himself through His death on the cross and subsequent victory over death in His resurrection. He then freely gives this gift to whomever will accept it. This is often referred to as 'saved'.
Born again is the moment in which one is saved - a person is born into the family of God - born into a new being, the old one having passed away (spiritually).
I hope that helps.
2007-09-16 20:13:41 · answer #3 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Saved from our sins. The Bible tells us that "be sure your sin will find you out". Meaning that we will have to stand and give account for every sin. Unless... Jesus is our mediator and paid the penalty that we owe. To be born-again (or born from above) is to be taken from our sinful state and to be declared justified by God (because of what Christ has done for us). This act of being born-again happens sometime during the life of a Christian, where God turns a light switch on in our hearts and we begin to understand the henousness of our sins, and the glory of our God. No more does the born-again Christian want to live in sin - but wants to live their life to God's glory.
2007-09-16 20:06:19 · answer #4 · answered by Brian 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of saved is...A person was so sick of sin and what it was doing to there lives that they began to seek something better for there lives and they seek their God, and prey for forgivness of past sins, When God forgives them of all sin (because his son died to cover our sins),we as humans stop sinning and turn away from our old ways and begin to serve God, we go to church where we serve God and others and prey with each other/for each other.
Being born again simply means you have chosen to live your life with God by his teachings (the 10 commandments), that through thoughts and preyers you know that if you were to die that God will accept you into his kingdom.
I hop this kinda helps you to understand, I tried to make the explaination simple, with out preaching my belief to you and Good luck in your quest
2007-09-16 20:37:05 · answer #5 · answered by kathy h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of it like this: you have a (humanly) incurable disease, but you don't know you have it. As far as you know, life is fine. Your lack of knowledge doesn't change the reality of your true condition. If you continue on as you have been, one day you will die in a way you didn't expect.
Now imagine some one has a miraculous wonder drug that can save your life. They suffered a great deal to obtain it for you, but because they love you, they're willing to give it to you for absolutely free. They just want you to take the pill so you will live and not die, because they care about you.
This is an analogy for the human condition and God's provision. Every person is dead in their spirit because of sin. Sin is disobedience to God. When a person's body dies, if their spirit has not been made alive, or "born again," then that person will exist forever in a state of eternal death apart from God. If a person has been saved from death by being made alive in their spirit, then after that person's body dies here on earth, he or she will live forever with God in heaven.
The cure is available for everyone, but only those who accept it and personally "take" it for themselves will be saved from eternal death and born again into eternal life.
Our "illness" is the sinful condition of each one of our hearts. The cure is accepting relationship with Jesus by accepting His gift of payment for our sins on the cross. Jesus took upon Himself the death that was due to each one of us because of our sins. Because Jesus was both fully God and fully man, and lived a perfect, sin-free life, He is an acceptable substitute for us in the eyes of God the Father.
You can learn more about salvation at these sites:
http://www.livingwaters.com/good/
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/webintro.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-life.html
P.S. In contrast to what CC said, God did not "reincarnate" Himself as Jesus. God exists as one God who is a Trinity, three persons in one: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus, who existed eternally before and after His time physically here on earth), and God the Holy Spirit.
2007-09-16 20:28:39 · answer #6 · answered by Rella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the bible, read in the book of John chapter 3: verse 3, Jesus says that unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven, To be saved is to be reborn spiritually. In the book of Romans 10:9, the bible says 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 thalt be saved,verse 10, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with thy mouth confession is made unto salvation. The bible says we are all sinners, Jesus was a perfect sacrifice for our sins, he died on the cross and arose from the grave forever washing away our sins if we believe in him, The bible says for by grace are ye saved thru faith and not works lest anyman should boast. Its by mercy that we are saved, his grace. Remember John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that who soever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. If you would like to be saved right now you can, just say the sinners prayer believing, Dear Jesus, I know and confess that I am sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died on a cross at calvery and arose from the grave to wash away my sins, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me, I pray this Prayer believing in the name of Jesus Amen. If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart you are now a child of God, rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of Life. If you have any questions just send me an email, God Bless YOU!!
2007-09-16 20:20:13 · answer #7 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The wages of sin is death. When Jesus died and resurrected He gave us a gift, the gift of salvation. If we accept this gift we are saved from our sins(thru asking God for forgiveness)and from the lake of fire.
2007-09-16 20:09:35 · answer #8 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means that in Christian mythology you are born to go to Hell and Jesus is the only way that you can avoid that.
Pretty silly, eh?
2007-09-16 20:07:34 · answer #9 · answered by Samurai Jack 6 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Hmmm... let me see... well around when I was 5 and drowning a life guard saved me...
2007-09-16 20:09:46 · answer #10 · answered by Highlander 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋