Posted: 2/20/2012 6:49:33 AM EDT
| If someone says they were saved when they heard the gospel, what one are they referring to? |
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I think the most accurate answer is that there is only one Gospel and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is after all, the "Good News" about His life, death, and resurrection. Yes, there are numerous Gospel books, but only one Gospel message. If someone is claiming that he was saved by hearing the Gospel, then I would have to say he is referring to the Gospel message of the life of Christ Jesus and not referring to any one specific book. |
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1 Corinthians 15
Jesus said to "repent and believe." Mark 1:15 It isn't just belief in the Gospel, as the devils believe too, and they tremble. It is a continuous act of repentance for our lives through Jesus Christ. The scriptures tell us to examine ourselves constantly. Repent, and believe. |
| Salvation is by the grace of God alone whereby one is justified through faith alone; God however uses means through witness of Christ and truth of the Scriptures, this we call the "Gospel" which means "good news." Scripture records this both in promise and in fact by numerous authors both Old and New Testament, for example, Paul tells us the gospel was preached unto Abraham saying "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." Gal. 3:9 A statement like you mention is generally a generic statement similar to Gal 3:9 and it means that the individual came to a saving knowledge of faith once regenerated by the Holy Spirit and recognizing the truth of the witness of Christ, however or through whomever God chose him to receive it. |
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Well, I look to the actions of the Savior upon this Earth as the Path to Salvation.
1. Recognize your faults 2. Confess your sins. 3. Make reparations to others for your actions 4. Do no more sin 5. Be baptized for the remission of sins (He said it was required of him by His Father in Heaven when he went before John the Baptist even though John said He was without sin) 6. Accept the Holy Spirit into your life as guidance (Acts II in which the Apostles did just that) Proclaim the Gospel to others. |
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If they meant that when they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and made a decision to ask for redemption of their sins... Even if they just said "Save me Lord" or called on the Lord to be with them...
People think there is a recipe for salvation but there isn't.. Repent of your sins (ask God to forgive them) tell God you will turn from your sinful ways... Let God know you Love Him... believe His words.. have Faith in Him, and will try with all your heart to LIVE by His words... MEAN IT... Salvation comes by Grace not by works lest any man boast but You will know them by their works, so be good to others as Jesus was... A prayer of salvation was never included in the Bible but there is nothing wrong with saying a deliberate prayer with honest intentions to our Lord in Jesus name... God knows our hearts.. our every thought.. He is the alpha and the omega.. The beginning and the end.. He has every hair on your head counted meaning he knows absolutely everything about you that you don't even know... Another thing .. I have never met a Christian who did NOT have something happen when they were changed, when they were accepted into the fold.. You'll know as Jesus is more real than anything else you've ever known.. He makes himself Known to you in no Uncertain terms. God wants your Heart AND your Mind meaning keep your thoughts on Him and meditate on His words... Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God... so I guess to answer your question is it possible that someone was saved after Hearing the Gospel? ......Romans 10:17 |
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I would only add to Shooters statements so that misunderstanding isn't developed from the first half, as the way it is worded can lead one to conclude that faith is a work. It's not really explained.
When Scripture speaks of Salvation by Grace, that is what it means. Christ is the Savior, He made atonement for sin, He redeems. It is monergistic, meaning an Divine Act of God alone. Man doesn't cooperate with God and earn salvation through any means, not even faith. Exercising faith, the act of believing, is not a meritorious element whereby one is awarded forgiveness of sin and receives salvation as a reward. Rather, it is a free gift (Romans 5:16-18), Ephesians 2:8-9 is very clear: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Faith is the conduit God has chosen to impute justification, but all the saving is His alone, all of the forgiveness is His alone; it's not something we merit, faith itself being a gift of Grace. These things are active, salvation is by grace alone, but it produces faith; justification is by faith alone, but it produces good works; Atonement is by Christ alone, but He redeems sinners, the Scripture is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice, but it teaches doctrines. Man doesn't reach up into heaven and lay hold onto God, rather God reaches down from heaven and lays hold on men. |
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Quoted:
If someone says they were saved when they heard the gospel, what one are they referring to? I don't know. Maybe you should ask them. But seriously, what are you getting at here? It's obvious that there is some (poorly) hidden meaning to your question besides what it asks in the explicit. |
| "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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10 9-10 |