When a person believes in Christ, then they are permanently a believer in Christ.
I asked if the teaching pastor believes in faith alone and he said that he does. This is good. He said that faith is not just a prayer, I agree with that. Faith is a person’s belief, it’s not specifically “The Sinner’s Prayer” that saves us, but rather, our faith alone in Christ.
In terms of the Bible tracts themselves, he did not give a specific reply. Still, I believe they are useful, so I will continue spreading them, I will not stop.
The teaching pastor mentioned how it’s hard to get the whole Gospel story to fit on one paper. Like how Jesus died by crucifixion on the cross, was buried and bodily resurrected 3 days later.
The pastor says that the Bible emphasizes discipleship and I agree, however, discipleship is associated with good works, which comes after salvation, the fruit. It is not the requirement before, that is faith alone in Christ. A person may lose the rewards from their good works, but they will never lose their salvation! So, I told the pastor I believe in OSAS. He did not say his point of view. So I decided to research for some speculation here. It says they are a “Mennonite Brethren Church”
About TMP – The Meeting Place Church Winnipeg
Eternal security - Wikipedia
start quote “though most of the groups currently identified as Anabaptists, such as the Mennonites and Hutterites, embrace the insecurity doctrine.” end quote.
Salvation is instantaneous, meaning, as soon as a person believes in Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit and are permanently saved. They cannot lose their salvation! Thus, salvation is not a “reward” from work, but rather, a free gift, grace through faith.
Discipleship, on the other hand, it’s rewards can be lost, depending on
2 John 1:8 ESV Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Everyone will eventually believe in Christ and thus obtain the free gift of salvation. Everyone will be equally free of suffering, free of pain, filled with happiness. However, people will receive different rewards, such as that of the prophet or that of a righteous person.
Matthew 10:41 ESV The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.
So just because a person receives a prophets reward and another person does not receive a prophets reward, does not make one have “less suffering” then the other, as for all people, their suffering will be zero! No more suffering!
So, we won’t feel any pain or sorrow because one person has a prophet’s reward or another person has a righteous person’s reward.
Still, the motivation to do good works, for rewards, is because it’s good and because, well, what else is there to do while we wait for paradise? For those of us who are already saved. It’s good to convert people to Christianity, and the way I see it, our rewards are the relationships we form with people on Earth, for they will carry over to Heaven. That person you brought to Christ, who you told the god news to, who you saved, surely they will remember you In paradise.
He referenced to me something like this scripture:
Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
He said that it’s best to have dialogue over monologue, discussion over solitary speech. I agree, conversation is preferred. Many people think that I’m a robot, some sort of ChatGPT program, even though I type this with my human fingers. Therefore, I participate in chats in order to prove my humanity.
He said that posting a Bible verse assumes one knows the Bible. That’s why I post not just the Book Name, Chapter Number, Verse Number, but the actual verse. Like, let’s write more than just (John 3:16) by itself lol.
At the same time, he said as an individual I can only do so much. This is true. Whether a person desires to believe in Christ, it depends on God when to open their heart to the Gospel. The LORD decides when the time is right for someone to be saved, like how the LORD hardened the heart of the pharaoh.
Exodus 4:21 ESV And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
Exodus 7:3 ESV But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
Exodus 10:20 ESV But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
Exodus 9:12 ESV But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
I asked if the teaching pastor believes in faith alone and he said that he does. This is good. He said that faith is not just a prayer, I agree with that. Faith is a person’s belief, it’s not specifically “The Sinner’s Prayer” that saves us, but rather, our faith alone in Christ.
In terms of the Bible tracts themselves, he did not give a specific reply. Still, I believe they are useful, so I will continue spreading them, I will not stop.
The teaching pastor mentioned how it’s hard to get the whole Gospel story to fit on one paper. Like how Jesus died by crucifixion on the cross, was buried and bodily resurrected 3 days later.
The pastor says that the Bible emphasizes discipleship and I agree, however, discipleship is associated with good works, which comes after salvation, the fruit. It is not the requirement before, that is faith alone in Christ. A person may lose the rewards from their good works, but they will never lose their salvation! So, I told the pastor I believe in OSAS. He did not say his point of view. So I decided to research for some speculation here. It says they are a “Mennonite Brethren Church”
About TMP – The Meeting Place Church Winnipeg
Eternal security - Wikipedia
start quote “though most of the groups currently identified as Anabaptists, such as the Mennonites and Hutterites, embrace the insecurity doctrine.” end quote.
Salvation is instantaneous, meaning, as soon as a person believes in Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit and are permanently saved. They cannot lose their salvation! Thus, salvation is not a “reward” from work, but rather, a free gift, grace through faith.
Discipleship, on the other hand, it’s rewards can be lost, depending on
2 John 1:8 ESV Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Everyone will eventually believe in Christ and thus obtain the free gift of salvation. Everyone will be equally free of suffering, free of pain, filled with happiness. However, people will receive different rewards, such as that of the prophet or that of a righteous person.
Matthew 10:41 ESV The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.
So just because a person receives a prophets reward and another person does not receive a prophets reward, does not make one have “less suffering” then the other, as for all people, their suffering will be zero! No more suffering!
So, we won’t feel any pain or sorrow because one person has a prophet’s reward or another person has a righteous person’s reward.
Still, the motivation to do good works, for rewards, is because it’s good and because, well, what else is there to do while we wait for paradise? For those of us who are already saved. It’s good to convert people to Christianity, and the way I see it, our rewards are the relationships we form with people on Earth, for they will carry over to Heaven. That person you brought to Christ, who you told the god news to, who you saved, surely they will remember you In paradise.
He referenced to me something like this scripture:
Romans 10:15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
He said that it’s best to have dialogue over monologue, discussion over solitary speech. I agree, conversation is preferred. Many people think that I’m a robot, some sort of ChatGPT program, even though I type this with my human fingers. Therefore, I participate in chats in order to prove my humanity.
He said that posting a Bible verse assumes one knows the Bible. That’s why I post not just the Book Name, Chapter Number, Verse Number, but the actual verse. Like, let’s write more than just (John 3:16) by itself lol.
At the same time, he said as an individual I can only do so much. This is true. Whether a person desires to believe in Christ, it depends on God when to open their heart to the Gospel. The LORD decides when the time is right for someone to be saved, like how the LORD hardened the heart of the pharaoh.
Exodus 4:21 ESV And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
Exodus 7:3 ESV But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt,
Exodus 10:20 ESV But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go.
Exodus 9:12 ESV But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as the Lord had spoken to Moses.
