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originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: intrptr
That is not the same thing at all. More correctly, Christian salvation is an act of grace. It's God's decision, not Man's, to make. Belief is necessary but all that exhibitionistic palaver they put people through in born-again churches is just theatrics. No human act or sacrament, not even baptism, guarantees salvation.
And that right there is the biggest failing in Christian Dogma. If salvation is only my grace and not based on acts then followers have no responsibility for their actions whatsoever. That makes them dangerous to society in my opinion.
If salvation is only my grace and not based on acts then followers have no responsibility for their actions whatsoever.
If someone has gospel references that salvation is only through grace, I'd like to hear them
"...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen. "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all (kinds of) unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, implacable, unmerciful. Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them." (Romans 1:18-32)
originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: FyreByrd
If salvation is only my grace and not based on acts then followers have no responsibility for their actions whatsoever.
No, that's rubbish. Salvation is guaranteed to no-one. The Gospels and Epistles make it perfectly clear that belief in Christ, as well as wanting and trying to make yourself worthy of salvation, are preconditions for receiving it.
If someone has gospel references that salvation is only through grace, I'd like to hear them
Acts 4:12
Ephesians 2:8
Romans 9:14-16
Titus 2:11
Quite a few more where those came from.
originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: FyreByrd
And why do you privilege the Gospels over the rest of the New Testament?
Christianity wasn't invented by Christ, you know.
Because the gospels are the only books that purport to give us Christ's actual teachings