The Free ride of some Christians to Heaven

[Ivan Chamurliev]

Why do some Christians in this day and time, who are able body readers, don’t have to read their bibles, even college educated people who are well off. Only thing they have to do is say I love God or I love Jesus. I believe in God, I am a good person, I believe Jesus is the Son of God.
And when anybody dies, either their friends, family members are always looking down over them, from Heaven! The church is full of this! And when some one gets murdered. Stories are told in church how they are in Heaven, and sometimes the person do not even believe in Jesus Christ! And most of these churches are backing them up! In United States of America’ everybody go to Heaven, just believe have faith you will go there, just go to a funeral, the church will tell you we are having a home going!

The church is leading the way on this path. And some say; the church is a place to find the “Truth” and to hear the “Truth”! Somebody is lying! This belief has arisen from inside the “institutionalize church” and not from the streets of “Baghdad”, and have spread out, into the “7 Continents of the World” that had risen and sits upon the waters.

I agree with you. Probably the church in general is like this. I just think that there are still some good churches around. It is a question of denomination, but not only. It is a question as well of that church to be guided by the Holy Spirit. That the supreme authority of God can be upon that church. We can see the description of some churches in the first chapters in the book of Revelation. Some of them fell in idol worshiping, some of them left Jesus out of the church and He was knocking on their door to enter. Revelation 3:20 That statement can be seen as something personal in our life and can be speaking generally to the whole group as a church. Or perhaps the leaders of that church were living that. We don't know. However only two of the seven churches in Revelation were praised by Jesus. And this can be compared to the churches today. I also think that the Holy Spirit can give us wisdom to have understanding which is the sound one. This is a tricky one, because as it happens people change church sometimes because they don't like something or are not comfortable with something. Leaders in church aswell are just people too and will do some mistakes, but we need to see their attitude.

 

[Andyindauk]

Might I suggest a really interesting exercise for you? Google 'Jesus said I am'. Read all the passages, pray about them and ask the Holy Spirit to explain what God's telling you and I think you'll find it quite illuminating.

Best wishes, Andy

 

[Sue D.]

The title of this thread -- there's no such thing as a 'free ride' to heaven for Anyone. Well -- salvation is the free gift from God through Jesus Christ. But the Christian life is no picnic especially when a person is trying to Live it.
There seems to be a concept that OSAS is a Bad thing. Sort of a licence To sin. That a person can do Anything they want and not loose their salvation. We Do have 'liberty' in Christ. But a born again believer Does have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. He changes our inner desires. We won't Want to do the bad things, but we find ourselves doing things we know we shouldn't. But we don't have inner peace when we Do those things - once in a while. The Christian life Will have Lots of trials / tribulations. We will be laughed at / ridiculed when we Do take a stand for God's Word. And we Do need to take a stand For God's Word.

 

[B-A-C]

There seems to be a concept that OSAS is a Bad thing. Sort of a licence To sin. That a person can do Anything they want and not loose their salvation. We Do have 'liberty' in Christ. But a born again believer Does have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. He changes our inner desires. We won't Want to do the bad things

Maybe OSAS isn't meant to be taken that way. But it usually is.
I recently posted a message in the "The Buzz/Newstand" Forum about several Baptist preachers now supporting abortion/pro-choice.
(It was even given recognition by a southern Baptist convention)

Both these Pastors stated in other interviews, that neither believed abortion was OK for many years (decades).
They have "come to realize God loves us, no matter what decisions we make" - I actually agree with that, the way that sentence is worded.
I'm paraphrasing the quotes below from memory. But I think I'm pretty close.
One of the Pastors was a predestinationist -- "God wouldn't have let me make these statement, if He didn't want me to. The Holy Spirit is in me
controlling my thoughts, words and actions". His church has a regular attendance of about 10,000.
The other Pastor is hard core OSAS. -- "If I'm wrong, it's not big of a deal, it's not like I can lose my salvation". (Interestingly, he is currently running as a Democrat
Senator in Georgia) A small minority of his congregation have left his church. But they still have two services with close to 1700 members every Sunday.

I will find the links to those interviews and post them.

 

[Sue D.]

Those pastors -- well -- yes, God Does love us to matter what decisions we make as believers -- but we still have the consequences of bad choices.

The other pastor -- everything a person does is predestined by God -- so we have no Choice ?! That is -- don't know how to spell it -- bologne. Passing the buck to the Holy Spirit. That's a new one. Blame 'it' on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

L O L -- running as a Democrat Senator. Somehow it seems fitting.

Kind of taking the responsibility Off the person. Of Course it's popular. Also rather sad.

 

[B-A-C]

Here is the link to my original post.

I can't help but think God is separating the wheat and the chaff for some reason.

 

[Reba1]

Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.


Not saying there is not forgiveness , It is not the sin that is in hell it is the sinner

 

[Curtis]

"God wouldn't have let me make these statement, if He didn't want me to. The Holy Spirit is in me

Kinda sounds like blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit made me say it.

 

[Curtis]

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is a thing that Jesus Hates and appears to be a tier system of men that separated lay from clergy then got worse by adding more and more layers of clergy between the people and the Lord.

The word "Nicolaitans" comes from the word "Nicolaos" which means victor of the people and the word "Balaam" means devourer of the people, the two in symbolic unity signify religious seducers of the people.

It is interesting that the "Nike" shoe company gets their name from this word which to them means "conquer"

Many a Church leader wants to keep their flock in subjection to themselves.

 

[Sue D.]

Maybe OSAS isn't meant to be taken that way. But it usually is.
I recently posted a message in the "The Buzz/Newstand" Forum about several Baptist preachers now supporting abortion/pro-choice.
(It was even given recognition by a southern Baptist convention)

Both these Pastors stated in other interviews, that neither believed abortion was OK for many years (decades).
They have "come to realize God loves us, no matter what decisions we make" - I actually agree with that, the way that sentence is worded.
I'm paraphrasing the quotes below from memory. But I think I'm pretty close.
One of the Pastors was a predestinationist -- "God wouldn't have let me make these statement, if He didn't want me to. The Holy Spirit is in me
controlling my thoughts, words and actions". His church has a regular attendance of about 10,000.
The other Pastor is hard core OSAS. -- "If I'm wrong, it's not big of a deal, it's not like I can lose my salvation". (Interestingly, he is currently running as a Democrat
Senator in Georgia) A small minority of his congregation have left his church. But they still have two services with close to 1700 members every Sunday.

I will find the links to those interviews and post them.

Sounds like he's not taking responsibility for his own actions.

 

[Curtis]

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

Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

[Sue D.]

It IS a Free Gift of God -- there is nothing any one can do to Earn his way to heaven. Jesus Christ has already done everything necessary to take care of our sins. We need to acknowledge our own need and accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God / His death, burial and bodily resurrection the 3rd day.

 

[twcstp111]

There are no free rides to heaven. It cost the Savior dearly to ensure our ticket to heaven was secure. That is why his love constrains us to live for Him. Thank you Jesus for your unspeakable gift!

Thank you for speaking the truth in a thread that shouldn't even be here.

 

[mmcent]

2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

 

[Sue D.]

@mmcent -- yes, that Is happening more and more these days. Which is a Good reason to be in God's Word ourselves == what does it Really say. What are we Supposed to be doing and how are we Supposed to be acting.

 

[gideonawesomeness51]

Why do some Christians in this day and time, who are able body readers, don’t have to read their bibles, even college educated people who are well off. Only thing they have to do is say I love God or I love Jesus. I believe in God, I am a good person, I believe Jesus is the Son of God.
And when anybody dies, either their friends, family members are always looking down over them, from Heaven! The church is full of this! And when some one gets murdered. Stories are told in church how they are in Heaven, and sometimes the person do not even believe in Jesus Christ! And most of these churches are backing them up! In United States of America’ everybody go to Heaven, just believe have faith you will go there, just go to a funeral, the church will tell you we are having a home going!

The church is leading the way on this path. And some say; the church is a place to find the “Truth” and to hear the “Truth”! Somebody is lying! This belief has arisen from inside the “institutionalize church” and not from the streets of “Baghdad”, and have spread out, into the “7 Continents of the World” that had risen and sits upon the waters.

I can understand this perspective for sure even when you look at the Bible , today we have it very easy and the truth is even God knows that there is such a thing as a goat like believer and a sheep like believer. When one reads the teachings of Jesus , one can see this acknowledgement in Mt 7 when Jesus says why do you call me lord lord and not do as I say. I do think it calls for self reflection on how one is carrying out a life of faith. If we don't look at ourselves first, then we may be those lacking.