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Hezzer · 04-21-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgmac

I am curious as to what denomination of Christianity you are.

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgmac

Because I know my father is a Baptist, and he believes that you only need to accept Jesus in your heart to be a Christian.

My mother-in-law was Baptist up to her death and my brother-in-law is a Baptist minister, so I've been asked many times if I've been saved or if I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior in my heart. Have I accepted him? Yes. Am I saved? I really hope so. But the concept has too many holes in it for me.

Does that mean that we have to have faith in God and genuinely belief in his Son, Jesus and accept him as the Messiah? If that were really enough, then Satan and his demons would be saved. They know quite well who Jesus is and that he is in fact the son of God and our savior. Jesus said in James 2:18 "You believe there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder."

In her ministry, my mother spoke with a Baptism man who said he was saved. He said that he could commit any sin he wanted. He could even kill her right there on the spot and it wouldn't jeopardize his salvation because he had been saved.

I was a little taken aback. I think it's presumptious on the part of any human to just assume that they've been saved. We can work really hard to conform to God's standards as much as our sinful state allows, but ultimately, that's a decison for God to make. I mean Zephaniah 2:3 says "Seek God, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably you may be concealed in the day of God's anger. "

I've known many who have said "I've accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior", yet I see by the way that they live their life in contrast with the Bible's teaching that they're really not living up to that. Our faith and acceptance of Jesus moves us to prove it through works, action, and the way the we live our life. We have to conform to his standards of conduct and morality. If that is not maintained, then I do not believe a person can truly expect to be saved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgmac

Personally, from reading the Bible, I believe you should "try" to live Christ-like life, and not sin.

I wholeheartedly agree with that. We need to do the very best that we can despite our imperfect state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgmac

I personally believe that as a Christian it is not for me to judge others as to their faith. The only person who knows who the true Christians are and who are not is God. It is not for us to judge what is in people's hearts.

I agree with that too. Only God knows what is in each of our hearts, and there are plenty of people who put on a good show when they're really just big hypocrites.