the book of james-say,s 'confess your fault,s to one another.[not your sins]FAULT,S=weak-area,s.WHO has -no fault,s???who doesn,t have a 'blind-side??if as st.paul said->we wrestle-not-against-flesh & blood.but against pricipalities & power,s-&- wickedness in high-places!could it be[that the enemy-ain,t US?] MAYBE WE,RE NOT AS STRONG AS WE THINK-WE ARE?are we being used-at-times??weak-are--open to evil??what set of circumstances-would trigger,the fault[earthquake] to kick in??

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 07, 2000

Answers

The Way of Salvation

1. The Need Of Mankind. The Bible teaches that all men are born in Adam, and under the condemnation of his sin (Ro. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22). Because all men are born with a sin nature (Ps. 51:5), all have sinned against God (Ro. 3:10,23), and the wages of sin is death (Ro. 6:23). The penalty of Adam's sin is first, spiritual death (Gen. 2:17; Ro.5:12), followed by physical death. Because we are born in Adam, we are born under condemnation from God.

2. The Provision Of God's Love. As Creator, God loves His creation. However, His love cannot overrule His Righteousness and Justice (Ps. 89:14). Therefore, God, in love, sent His Son Jesus Christ to take our place and be judged on the cross, to remove the penalty for our sins (Jo. 3:16; Eph. 2:4-8; Ro. 5:8). On the Cross, Jesus became our substitute, bore our penalty, and removed our condemnation (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pt. 2:24; Is. 53:4-6). When the penalty for our sins was paid, He cried out, "It is finished!" (Jo. 19:13). He had satisfied God's Righteousness in His life (Mt. 5:17) and His Justice in His death (Ro. 8:33-35).

3. The Gift Must Be Received. The Bible clearly stresses that salvation cannot be earned or worked for (Ro. 4:4,5; Ro. 11:6; Tit. 3:5). Eternal life is a gift of God to all who will receive it (Jo. 10:28,29; Ro. 3:24; Eph. 2:8,9). The only way this gift can be received is by faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of men (Acts 16:31; Jo. 1:12; 3:16-19,36; Ro. 4:3,23,24; 5:1). Any attempt to work for or earn salvation is incompatible with God's gracious gift and a denial of the all-sufficiency of the work of Christ on the cross.

4.The Assurance Of Eternal Security. The work of salvation is a "once-for-all" gift. Jesus said that once we are cleansed before God, we need not repeat it (Jo. 13:10). We are kept by His power ( 1 Pt. 1:5), not our own, and nothing can snatch us from Him (Jo. 10:28,29), nor sever us from His love (Ro. 8:31-39). Our assurance of spending eternity in heaven is an absolute certainty, based on the Word of God ( 1 Jo. 5:10-13). We are in fact already seated with Christ in heaven in God's eyes. ( Col. 3:1-4).

5. The New Creature In Christ. At the moment of salvation, we become a "new creature" in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). There are five Divine works that achieve this. The Baptism of the Spirit ( 1 Cor. 12:13), Regeneration (Tit. 3:5), The Indwelling of the Spirit (Ro. 8:9), Spiritual Gifting ( 1 Cor. 12:7), and the Sealing ministry of God's Spirit (Eph. 1:13,14;4:30).

The Simplicity of Salvation

The greatest stumbling block to men entering eternal life is the simplicity of salvation. Men want to "do" something to earn salvation, but God says it is a gift, because Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross. He bought eternal life for every man. However, the gift must be received by faith. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" To which they answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved" (Acts 16:30,31).

Salvation's Simplicity

1. As simple as coming when called. Mt. 11:28

2. As simple as drinking water. Jo. 4:14; 7:37b,38

3. As simple as eating bread. Jo. 6:35

4. As simple as entering a door. Jo. 10:9a

5. As simple as receiving a gift. Ro.6:23

6. As simple as calling for help. Ro. 10:13

7. As simple as the trust of a child. Mt. 18:2,3

8. As simple as believing in Jesus Christ. Jo. 6:47; 11:25,26

Each of the examples and illustrations is designed to show the simplicity of faith. The scripture says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." Ro. 10:17. Faith is trusting what the Word of God says. In the final analysis, it all comes down to the question in the above passage, "Do you believe this?" Your response will determine your eternal destiny (Jo. 3:18); either heaven or hell. Don't stumble over the simplicity of the Gospel!

-- praying for you all (bygrace@thru.faith), July 08, 2000.

wheww, this is what i,ve been-TRYING,to say-all along!can you imagine- some will refuse to be saved!!send,s shudders thru my soul! man-CHOOSES-his OWN-eternal-destiny!!!!!!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

BY-GRACE-[THRU]-FAITH. that,s the whole of it!!no need for all the RELIGIOUS-gooblygook!!how much-damage,has RELIGION done????? the LOVE-OF-GOD-is not-for-sale!!BELIEVE-&-RECIEVE!! like JESUS said->''IT-IS-FINISHED''

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

what is this SHORT-LIFE??nothing but a flower ,that fades-blown away- by the wind!!!FOCUS is everything-focus on =ETERNITY!!! it,s a CHOICE!! with=consequences!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

Some us us just understand eternity differantly.The nothingness-birth- life-death-reincarnation in heaven/hell model of existance seems to make sence only on a leap of blind faith.Impermanance is the observable nature of the universe.Beginningless and endless change.Physics teaches us this.Your lemming like, unthinking faith certainly makes an ideal christian,so don't worry.If your cosmic puppeteer god with the happy jesus face is pulling all the strings,don't worry,jehova hardened pharoah's heart, n'est-ce pas?If your one true all powerful god is the only path to your eternal party heaven,then don't worry,since he obviously wants to exclude free thinkers.Quit chafing against HIS plan.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

free?-thinker,s?--yah well,satan think,s he,s right-but he,s doomed! EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW-SOONER,OR LATER!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

is YOUR-heart ,hardened oh wise -one??PRIDE-BEFORE-DESTRUCTION! RAVE ON,THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

Pride and attachment to the notion of a separate self causes suffering in the here and now,we need not wait to be punished,its suffering is manifest.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

The clock is ticking,al,don't wast your life longing for the afterlife,WAKE UP!!Human life is precious!!Just because you feel saved is no excuse to ignore your development this very life!!!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

zoob,zoob,you never quit!this life,has no guarantee,s.yes i enjoy some thing,s-BUT, i know this is temporary!there is a KING--& A KINGDOM!---and i don,t live in fear--i live in awe!!to think the LORD would reveal himself to such AS ME!I,M blown away--every-day!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

al-d you are a good man. I'm sure it's obvious I need spiritual help. My faults are many and my NEED is extreme.

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), July 08, 2000.

cpr,we ALL have-fault,s[weak-area,s]let-go-&-let GOD! WHERE IS YOUR-FOCUS??read psalm 103.GOD know,s we are ALL -flesh & blood!dump your load on HIM!!JESUS said''come unto me'all ye that are heavy laden,and i [he] will give you[us] REST!

-- al-d. (dogs@zianet.com), July 08, 2000.

Thanks, al-d. Sometimes I try not to be a butt head. But I just can't control it. I think you understand.

-- cpr (buytexas@swbell.net), July 08, 2000.

al-d, FYI, that's not cpr, thats an imposter. My guess is the poor fool has a small weener and therefore must pretend to be something he is not....

-- FactFinder (FactFinder@bzn.com), July 08, 2000.

Here's a FACT for you to FIND...YOU don't have a clue!! Back off NOW!

-- Friday (Friday@gilligansIsle.org), July 09, 2000.