An Illusion of Salvation+
It happened again.
It happened again.
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A sincere, well-meaning, zealous and utterly serious Christian brought confusion into the camp. This one has given his life over to the LORD and never denies HIM+ before men. It is his heart-felt desire to see everyone saved and walking with CHRIST JESUS in the fullness of the HOLY SPIRIT. Furthermore, he has walked with The LORD many years.
Recently, he said he led a little boy in our neighborhood to CHRIST. This is what he said (by his own retelling):
“I asked him if he knew JESUS. He said yes. I asked him, ‘Are you born again… are you saved?’ He said, ‘I don’t know.’
Recently, he said he led a little boy in our neighborhood to CHRIST. This is what he said (by his own retelling):
“I asked him if he knew JESUS. He said yes. I asked him, ‘Are you born again… are you saved?’ He said, ‘I don’t know.’
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Then I said, ‘Do you want to be saved?’
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Well, he kind of shrugged but he didn’t say no, so I pushed on ahead. I prayed with him right then and there to invite JESUS into his heart.
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Then I turned to him and said, “Now if anyone asks you ‘Are you saved’, you can say yes I was… on this date.”
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My friend then he told me that he hadn’t mentioned anything about repentance, but likely, that would come later. And of course, he did NOT mention the need for water baptism at all.
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Bless his heart and bless the heart of that dear child! My friend meant well with all his heart. Likely he would cry if he knew what he really had done: he planted a false faith in that child.
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If the child agreed in his heart with the prayer, the child simply made a request to The LORD. Although good, that is not salvation. If the youngster agreed in his heart, he may have made a silent (?) confession of faith. That also is not salvation. There is no entering into the Covenant of Salvation this way.
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The way for salvation is laid out plainly:
Bless his heart and bless the heart of that dear child! My friend meant well with all his heart. Likely he would cry if he knew what he really had done: he planted a false faith in that child.
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If the child agreed in his heart with the prayer, the child simply made a request to The LORD. Although good, that is not salvation. If the youngster agreed in his heart, he may have made a silent (?) confession of faith. That also is not salvation. There is no entering into the Covenant of Salvation this way.
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The way for salvation is laid out plainly:
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1) One repents.
2) One is converted to following JESUS CHRIST as LORD of his life.
3) One is baptized in the name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST for the washing away of the sins of the soul and spirit, as per the Word of GOD, entering into GOD'S Covenant of salvation.
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AT THAT POINT IN TIME, then, one is saved if the repentance was sincere and not similar to the doings of Ananias and Saphira, who lied to the HOLY SPIRIT.
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Other steps may be included, as led by The LORD: a profession of faith, a profession of love towards The LORD, a confession of sins, a renouncement of sins, a dedication of life to CHRIST JESUS . In the earliest years of the early church, these steps WERE included.
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But Christians, one does not enter the Covenant of Salvation… one is not born anew… one is not saved… unless there is a repentance of life and a water baptism in The name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST. To promote otherwise plants an illusion, a false faith, in the heart of the one who wants to come to CHRIST.
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The “sinner’s prayer” method of entering into the covenant of salvation is a very modern thing. There is no scripture in the New Testament for praying away one’s sins. Our Lord JESUS and His Apostles after Him taught plainly how to enter into salvation. The ancient Church and the Church in the centuries after them practiced this way.
Yes, there may be “breech” births out there. The LORD moves as HE+ wills, as HE+ did with the thief on the cross, who was still under the old covenant. But not many of us are in such dire straights as that thief.
In life’s normal circumstances, however, we follow the instructions given to us specifically regarding Salvation.The Scriptural way of entering into the Covenant of Salvation is by taking sincere steps of repentance of life and a trust that one will be accepted through the waters of baptism to receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. To teach otherwise brings confusion to the new believer and to the old, alike.
This young child will need lots of prayer to untangle the confusion if he continues on towards JESUS. He now thinks he’s “okay.” In 5 minutes of time, the well-meaning older Christian built an illusion in the child’s heart and soul that now he is “right” with GOD… an illusion which used Scripture’s terms but has no Scriptural backing and no sanction from the HOLY SPIRIT. May The LORD have mercy on them both!
.
But Christians, one does not enter the Covenant of Salvation… one is not born anew… one is not saved… unless there is a repentance of life and a water baptism in The name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST. To promote otherwise plants an illusion, a false faith, in the heart of the one who wants to come to CHRIST.
.
The “sinner’s prayer” method of entering into the covenant of salvation is a very modern thing. There is no scripture in the New Testament for praying away one’s sins. Our Lord JESUS and His Apostles after Him taught plainly how to enter into salvation. The ancient Church and the Church in the centuries after them practiced this way.
Yes, there may be “breech” births out there. The LORD moves as HE+ wills, as HE+ did with the thief on the cross, who was still under the old covenant. But not many of us are in such dire straights as that thief.
In life’s normal circumstances, however, we follow the instructions given to us specifically regarding Salvation.The Scriptural way of entering into the Covenant of Salvation is by taking sincere steps of repentance of life and a trust that one will be accepted through the waters of baptism to receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. To teach otherwise brings confusion to the new believer and to the old, alike.
This young child will need lots of prayer to untangle the confusion if he continues on towards JESUS. He now thinks he’s “okay.” In 5 minutes of time, the well-meaning older Christian built an illusion in the child’s heart and soul that now he is “right” with GOD… an illusion which used Scripture’s terms but has no Scriptural backing and no sanction from the HOLY SPIRIT. May The LORD have mercy on them both!
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O LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~
we pray for mercy. Help and bless this young child move towards THEE+ in faith and love. Put Thy+ Hand upon this young soul and guide it into the Covenant of Salvation and Ever-lasting Life. This we ask in Thy+ Name, O Gracious SAVIOR, Life-Giving LORD.
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And, O LORD, help the older Christian to stay within Thy+ bounds as established by Thy+ Holy Words in John 3 and in the Apostles’ teaching. Bring this well-meaning soul into all-truth.
And, O LORD, help the older Christian to stay within Thy+ bounds as established by Thy+ Holy Words in John 3 and in the Apostles’ teaching. Bring this well-meaning soul into all-truth.
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In Thy+ Name we pray and by Thy+ Grace we ask. Amen.
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Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized
every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive
the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart,
and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them,
Repent, and be baptized
every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive
the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.
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