God is not a respecter or persons and we shouldn't be either. That list of men that you went to the same college with or believed just alike means nothing if what they say doesn't add up to the Word of God.

Just know that Jesus taught biblical repentance just as John the Baptist and Paul. Meaning repenting of your unbelief to having faith alone on Jesus and his finished works. That is how a person is saved. So when you do die don't act like no one told you.

Here is Jesus's words, although I'm sure you will find a problem with that too.

Matthew 7:13-23 KJV
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

And here is Jesus telling you and everyone else what the work of God is

John 6:29,39-40,47 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

[39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
[40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

[47] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.



It doesn't get any clearer than that, believe what you want.

I'm just glad I don't have to bring the names of dead heretics as evidence of what I believe. I got the Bible

Coyote Clayton hit on it with his reference to the law. Salvation sounds simple. It is, and it isn't. God uses the law as a harsh taskmaster to drive us to Christ, to show us our need for him. It's not merely about mouthing a prayer or raising your hand in a church service. A sinner will feel the full weight of their sin before God grants the graces of repentance and faith. It's the weight of our sin that causes us to cry out for mercy.

No it's not. It's about truly believing in your heart. The alter calls don't save anyone. The law doesn't save anyone, being guilty of sin doesn't save anyone, feeling like you want to repent of your sins because you have a full weight of sin doesn't save anyone. Crying out to God doesn't save anyone. Prayer doesn't save anyone
Only believing on Jesus Christ can save you, and that's not knowing he exists or that he was God in the flesh, it only comes by putting ALL of you faith on Jesus and his perfect, finished works. You can't add to it nor take away from it and you sure as heck can't repent of enough sin to match it.


And still no one can find one verse that says you need to repent "of sin" to be saved, because the Bible doesn't say it one time. JS

Ken, if it’s not the weight of our sins that cause us to cry out and ask for forgiveness, because we recognize our shortcomings and unworthiness before a perfect God, then what is it?

I do agree that religion is nothing more than man’s attempt to reconcile himself with a Holy and perfect God. Jesus already did that for us on the cross; anything we try to do other than that may very well be blasphemous, as Jesus already did it.

For me, self reflection in regard to Jesus’ Gospel put me on my knees.

For me I like the way Ken puts it down, bare bones, rubber meeting the road, just the word that is not put to light, darkness or influenced. There are differences in opinion, perhaps some are just semantics.

I will say this. Since this thread started it has lead me to research, open minded thinking and if any thread causes us to open the Bible, it's a good thread.

One of the best threads ever. Lots of people I respect dearly even though I haven’t met them all giving wholehearted and sincere thoughts.

X2

Luke 18:13

Here are the scriptures that would make you realize you're a sinner. It's not some emotional alter call or scolding from the pulpit. It's just the word of God. When someone is preaching the gospel these are the most common scriptures used to convict a person that they are a sinner.now I agree that a person had to understand they are a sinner before they can be saved, but that's because Jesus came to call sinner to repentance. Not those that are perfect. Of course that is a jab as no one is perfect except for Jesus himself.

Romans 3:10 KJV
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

When reading Romans 3:23 to someone it is important to touch on verses 22 and 24 as these clearly teach salvation without works, and how we are freely justified by God's grace.

Romans 3:22,24 KJV
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Then one should move to Romans 6 to teach that we all deserve the punishment of our sins, because we are all sinners which is already established in chapter 3 verse 10.

Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And after we knock it out of the park with Revelation 21:8 which teaches that all men deserve H3|| even the least of sinners i.e. liars

Revelation 21:8 KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.


This is how you use scripture to convict a person of sin. It's simple and effective and you don't need a college degree to figure it out. A child easily can understand it

Yes every one that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted

The tax collector was a model of a truly repentant man. If you've never felt that you had better seek it or you will be one who will answer for their empty profession of Lord, Lord.

There is people that will talk and beg people to an altar but wouldn't Roman 7 convict the conscience?

Romans 7: 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

There you have the law work.

2 Corinthians 7:10

This is an excellent verse and could be used in conjunction with the above Verses I shared. Just realize that in the second letter to the Corinthians Paul in this chapter is apologizing for scolding them so hard for allowing fornication in the church and not having the gaul to judge the matter and remove the members out of the church. He is saying he is sorry for the latter that made them sorrowful, but he is glad they repented because of the latter he sent. Read the context it makes perfect sense. This isn't talking about the salvation of a persons soul by faith in Jesus he is discussing the fact that the church is saved from judgement on earth for allowing fornication to run rampant in the church.

2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Great verse tho

Romans 7 could easily help a person understand conviction. Really the entire Bible could, but it is a hard saying. Paul talking about how the inward man is of the spirit but the body is still flesh. I especially like the verse where he says this

Romans 7:18-23 KJV
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

In the flesh is no good thing.

Romans 8:7-9
Sinners don't overcome that in the flesh, God conquers the sinner with His Holy Spirit.

I love these verses and many more. I love the Bible and what is says, how it cuts to the quick and leaves nothing hanging. I love the doctrines of the Bible, but I cannot stand the false doctrines of man, nor the wisdom of man. All of this is from the flesh and in the flesh dwelleth not good thing

Hebrews 4:12 KJV
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is why you must compare the Bible with the Bible and leave man's wisdom in the dirt where it belongs