Quiestion about salvation

shardy53 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:32 am Post subject: Quiestion about salvation

About the question of Muslims being children of God in another thread. I don't see how any muslim who was brought up with that religion could ever convert and accept Jesus. For that matter, the same goes for devout jews or serious adherants of any other religion. I myself was brought up in the Catholic faith, which is in my opinion a semi-Christian church so I should have been an easy convert. This was not the case though. The Catachism and teachings of the church were embedded in me from an early age and the fear of eternal damnation for leaving the church was a a real barrier between myself and salvation. It seems like it would have to be a case of the Holy Spirit entering the individual without their consent and showing them the way. Why else would they even consider the change? What about the people who never heard the word of our God in the first place? Are they lost too? That really bothers me, because it just doesn't seem right.

Steve

ACfixer · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:44 am Post subject:

There is no other name which can save man but Jesus Christ. God is a fair God and will judge accordingly. Our concern is our own salvation and from that point on our mission is to share the Gospel with others. We cannot see what God sees and we cannot comprehend what He does so we are in no position to judge what is fair.

The Bible is clear, we cannot enter the kingdom of God without Jesus...

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus said it, I don't see any room for interpretation, you either believe it or you don't... and if you don't you must then question everything Jesus said. As the author Josh McDowell said, "Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic". Based on what Jesus said and what was written about Him, there are no other options.

Don't think you are the only person who has ever struggled with this issue Shardy, I did for awhile and so has almost everyone I have ever met. When I brought the issues to a pastor years ago saying that there were so many people brought up without hearing about Jesus... To that he opened the Bible to Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. and said to me "Well Lance, than I guess you better get going, you have a lot of work to do!"

Carlos · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 10:24 am Post subject:

Preach on brother!

As to the earlier question about whether it was possible for Musilims to accept Jesus, all things are possible. I have prayed with muslims to receive Jesus. John 3:16 is true, as is John 14:6 that Ac quoted, for everybody!
Carlos

markm2553 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:08 am Post subject:

Steve, I agree with AC, this is something I think all Christians have thought about. And I hope prayed about. Just think about what some people must give up to come to Christ. I have read that in some musilim countries if you except Christ, you will be kicked out of your family, your own parents may place your obituary in the paper. Telling the world they consider you dead. Their very life is at risk.
God is reaching these people, musilims are converted every day. If we look into our Bible, we will see that the Church grows fastest and furthest during a time of trouble. Pray for these people that have been called just to minister in these areas. I have seen it written in several places that there where more people killed for their faith in the last 100 years, that in the previous 1900 years. Check out Voice of the martyrs to learn more.
We all know someone that needs Christ, we should all be able to present the Gospel to someone. We should Pray and study the Word and ask God to point us to someone that needs to hear it. Then be ready to open your Bible and show them what God has to say about salvation.

Carlos · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject:

You are the best expert on what Jesus means to you and what he has done for you!