What Christians must do to inherit eternal life

evangelist-7

I would love to see the personal list of things you do in order to inherit salvation.

Be explicit

Here's my list
#1....I asked for fogiveness...and I recieved it..............we are good to go

RANDOR said:

Here's my list
#1....I asked for fogiveness...and I recieved it..............we are good to go

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You've got everything you need Randor ... bless 'ya

Same thing happened to me: I asked for forgiveness and I received it. Alleluiah!

Evangelist-7 said: "And some specifically deal with how eternal life can be LOST"

I am not sure what this means. Do I lose eternal life before it was given to me or afterwards? If I lose it before I ever had it, then I didn't lose it, because it was never mine to lose. But if I lose it after I got it, then how is that possible? If it is eternal then it can't be lost, otherwise it wasn't eternal only temporary. Which brings us back to the part that I must have only had temporary life, therefore I still didn't lose eternal life, because it was never mine to lose. So, temporary life can be lost, be eternal life cannot. I know you believe that you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. Or is it?

Thank you folks for caring!

Only a head's up - Jn.3:16 is a summation where John assumes one was "born again" waaay back in Jn.3:3, 5 God's way. Throw in a little contrition (repentance) in, ie, "faith" effected through repentance then we're on our Lord's way. It does pain me to have to throw in the mix Jn.15:6 where one may not awake in the place their Pastor promised??? I hope that Pastor can find a good hiding place in hell??? Other's will be looking for him for sure, ie, plenty of time.

Old Jack

What Christians must do to inherit eternal life, is ENDURE.

evangelist-7 said:

[SIZE=10pt]These are the 31 Scriptures referred to above.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]Some specifically deal with how eternal life can NOT be gained.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]And some specifically deal with how eternal life can be LOST.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10pt]All of them apply to Christians just as well as anyone else![/SIZE]

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Your absolutely right, your salvation is all your own work.

Im mean after all even though Christ died on our behalf to free us from the law of sin and death and then God said "whoever believes in my Son shall not die"

God gave us another law just as un doable as the first Law and said if you cant follow this then your back to Sin and death.

hmmmm I wonder who God will send to free us from this Law then?

Endure? A Christian isn't here to Endure - Christ came that we may have life to the full! Have life in abundance!

If you think being saved is about endurance then you've missunderstood the grace that comes with forgiveness!

JayP said:

Endure? A Christian isn't here to Endure - Christ came that we may have life to the full! Have life in abundance!

If you think being saved is about endurance then you've missunderstood the grace that comes with forgiveness!

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If your new here, It would be a good idea to first get a little feel for the Characters of the guys your speaking too who have been here in our little community long before you.

Stanj is probably referring the many perseverance discourses and references,

Perseverance is the same as endure.

For example:

Matthew 24:12-14
12"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. 13"But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Colossians 1:23 (ESV)
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV)
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Madad21 said:

If your new here, It would be a good idea to first get a little feel for the Characters of the guys your speaking too who have been here in our little community long before you.

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Personally I think the best way to do that would be to talk to them (I'm not gonna spend an hour or two looking back over their posting history before replying to someone), If they then respond to me to clarify what they meant then good on them. If they take it as a personal attack and don't want me to be able to air my views then maybe they need to rethink the purpose of a message board like this.

evangelist-7 said:

You are ignoring dozens of Scriptures which warn ...
BACs must co-operate with God the Holy Spirit to finally receive eternal life.

It must become obvious to everyone that salvation is a lifelong process ...
do not listen to the false churches who preach only on the popular verses!
One of the reasons: so you'll stay and keep tithing.

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I'm fully aware that the bible states that the Christian life isn't easy (you don't even need to go beyond the 5th chapter in Matthew's gospel to discover Jesus talking about how life won't be easy - but in the very next breath he does talk about the blessings that come alongside suffering (though clearly not all of them will be received on this side of his return).

The thing is my salvation is nothing to do with me, there is nothing I can do to make God love me any more than he already does. Conversely there is nothing I can do to make him love me any less. As soon as you think salvation is about you and how you live and how you pray and how you preach then you've missed the point. Salvation is all about Christ and all about how he lived and about how he died.

I cannot save myself - that is why I need Christ. I endure not in my own strength but in the strength of him who saved me and sustains me.

evangelist-7 said:

He has already been sent, and you have already received Him ... the Holy Spirit.

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Dang!!....my Bible must be broken because it says that Christ did his work on the cross just the one time in human history.

evangelist-7 said:

Only one of those dozens is about enduring/persevering.

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Then try holding your bible the right way up.


Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Colossians 1:11-12 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6:11-15 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
Perseverance Serving and Spreading the Word
Matthew 10:16-22 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved… “
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Ephesians 6:16-19 (KJV) In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Perseverance Through Testing and Trials
Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
2 Corinthians 6:3-10 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Perseverance Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Well I count 20 about endurance and perseverance *HIGH FIVE*!!!


But the question is now Should these be ignored

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see a perfect work of harmony


Faith and love for Christ is to follow Christ (well daa...right?)

Because we follow we hunger and thirst for righteousness and ultimately freedom from sin.

Christ provides what we desire, but only Christ could live it.

We conform to his image
Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

This is were your criteria comes in, but this is peppered with grace, because although our desire is for righteousness we are still under the the other law of sin.
Paul talks about this at great length
Romans 7:23
"but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me."

This is were we need endurance or perseverance.

Yes you are right we have the Holy Spirit and he guides us and rebukes us over all matters,
But It was Christs work on the Cross that set us free. The Holy Spirit is the seal of that promise in all men who hunger and thirst for righteousness in the name of Christ who gives life, welling up to everlasting life!

Without the acknowledgement of our need to endure you make your criteria a new death sentence even for those who have accepted Christ and so Gods promise becomes conditional by works and not by gift.

Do you see how this works?

Your not wrong in what you have said but you need to see the human fallibility side and the ultimate reconciliation done by the work of Christ alone.

Combine the two and you have the attitude of a true Christian in Christ, making tons of mistakes but getting back up again because of the assurance we have in the hope thats been given. This hope is incredibly important, its the glue that holds it all together.

A good question to ask yourself and a study I did recently is "What is Christian Hope"

Christ did not free us from one oppression to plop us straight into a new one, this is something that JW's fail to recognize.
Its a manifest reaction to a denial of the free gift of salvation. if we truly accept Christ we truly accept the freedom that he brought for us through the shedding of his blood. To adhere to a new law is a rejection of that work, but if we embrace a life perusing Christ regardless of our dispositions, we can have in our hearts the assurance of that promise and hope. And we can be of use in our commission to spread the gospel message of the coming kingdom as we teach freedom in the name of Christ!!

Peace

JayP said:

Personally I think the best way to do that would be to talk to them (I'm not gonna spend an hour or two looking back over their posting history before replying to someone), If they then respond to me to clarify what they meant then good on them. If they take it as a personal attack and don't want me to be able to air my views then maybe they need to rethink the purpose of a message board like this.

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Welcome to the Forums

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I have never been against Christians living good and decent lives or following the "commandments" as best we can .. It only makes sense that we do

But here is my point .... every time some Legalist prints out an endless list of commands .... they do so because they think we should follow them

I always ask them to list all those rules they themselves follow and obey

And I ask them to give actual examples from their daily lives

And they never do.

evangelist-7 said:

I said there were one dozen verses teaching that ...
one must endure with his faith until his life ends to keep his salvation.
Some of your verses do NOT say anything about eternal life, salvation, etc.
What the writer wishes, desires, etc. is not what we're talking about.
We're talking about direct serious obvious threats about losing salvation.

Beyond that, you are espousing correct saving faith ...
whereas the OP verses are warning people who do NOT have such saving faith.

People can be BACs who do not endure to the end with this saving faith that you are talking about.
BACs can, and do, walk away from the faith, fall from grace, return to the sinning lifestyle, etc.

The warnings are NOT directed at successful BACs, but at unsuccessful ones!

I am endeavoring to be as tactful as I can about these rather difficult issues.

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I have no argument with this and I appreciate your tactfulness

But the argument you opposed and the one that I gave answer to was this statement by Stanj "What Christians must do to inherit eternal life, is ENDURE."

Which was not an incorrect statement especially in light of your first argument and then you said "Why accept one Scriptural criteria and ignore several others which are every bit as clear?"

I fail to see how there was any ignorance of the former in his statement.
I gave you all the verses on endurance and perseverance I could find, and they are all addressed to believers, you cant just pick out the ones that don't mention the loss or keeping of ones salvation and say that these do not apply, that's ludicrous! they are all relative to the same subject.

For example
James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

What if we dont do what James is suggesting here? what if we let ourselves be bogged down with trials and we give into our weaknesses and not follow the commandments of Jesus Christ.
What if we are not steadfast as James says, of course we fall away just as Jesus and all the apostles point out.

If you look at each one of the verses I put up and did the opposite to what they say you have the same deal you, this plain as day.

You the only one here ignoring several others not Stan and not me.

Keeping the commands of Christ IS endurance in the word. and the holding on of his promise.

That fact is you cant have one without the other, The person who loves Jesus is automatically driven to adhere to his commands, different people at different rates, but eventually Gods work is accomplished in that person.

Its not the adherence to it that ensures a mans salvation, its love for Christ. There is not one without the other.

evangelist-7 said:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven (*)
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven … I will declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” (Matt 7:21-23)
We see from the passage above:
• those who do the will of Father God shall enter the kingdom of heaven (*)
• those who refuse to do the will of Father God are practicing lawlessness
(*) Note-A substantiates that Matt 7:21-23 is talking about eternal life!

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Here is the error you make:

Jesus was not talking about his christian believers losing salvation , he was warning his christian believers about false prophets Matthew 7:15

Those false prophets will be the ones Jesus says ... " depart , I never knew you" Matthew 7:21-23

Someone like Islam's prophet Mohammed would be a good example of that

Anti-Christ cults like the JW's would be another.

Pretender pentecostal prophets and healers would be another



..

evangelist-7 said:

Many people say ALL of my verses are ludicrous when it comes to losing salvation!

That's why I only focus on the best verses ... and some of yours just are not in the best group.

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Not in the best group??,
Even if that were so splitting hairs like that doesnt nullify my point

If you look at each one of the verses I put up and did the opposite to what they say you have the same deal, lack of faith and a moving away from God.
if you end up completely moving away then of course you loose your salvation and only someone who never really beleived in Christ would do that. this is as plain as day. and I think this may have been the point you might have been trying to make (forgive me if Im wrong)

That fact is you cant have one without the other, The person who loves Jesus is automatically driven to adhere to his commands, different people at different rates no matter how terrible they are at it all loving Jesus and holding his hope in their hearts. but eventually Gods work is accomplished in that person.

Its not the adherence to the commands that ensures a mans salvation, its love for Christ. There is not one without the other. (I know your not arguing this purposely but thats what your title post implies)

If we love Jesus we keep his commands, its not if we want salvation we keep his commands.

Do you see what Im saying.