|
loveineffable -> RE: Humbleness and Acceptance (7/13/2008 11:42:46 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: CrimsonMoon My question is based on the understanding that salvation is a 2-step process: 1) -- a humble heart that knows and admits that he has sinned and that no amount of good deeds can ever outwiegh the bad and make one worthy to stand in the presence of God or enter heaven 2) -- accept that belief in the death and ressurection of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can make one acceptable to God, that takes away thier sin, and allows them to enter heaven. So, my question is: If a person never heard of Judaism or Christianity, and looked around at creation and realized there must be a Creator and that he was part of the Creator’s creation, who realized that he was not only morally accountable to his Creator, but that he fell short of his Creator's standard, and thus lived as morally as he could, although knowing that he would never measure up. Now, using the analogy of the person who stands before God and God asks “Why should I let you in?” Most people will say "because I didn’t murder anyone", "because you are forgiving", "because I went to church", "because I did all these good things," but the Christian will say, "because I accepted the death of Jesus as the payment for my sins". But this man answers, “You should not let me in. I am not worthy.” Do you believe it is against scripture if God said: “You are correct, you are not worthy. However, my Son made a sacrifice on your behalf. Do you accept it?” Could this man be "saved" based on what knowledge he did have, (the knowledge that God puts in every man's heart) NOT becuase he lived morally but becuase he was humble, contrite, and acknowldged that he fell short of God's standard? (Based on his lack of knowledge for the second step of salvation, he could neither accept nor reject Christ) I did not know there were steps to salvation, unless we break down the word and come up with our own theologies. Oh wait we all have. I think you said it best here when you wrote. I AM NOT WORTHY. None of us are, no matter how righteous we might think we are, or are getting. God knows the heart of everyone, God is pure, perfect, good, and merciful. God will make the right judgement on everyone God judges. From what I read in the word is you beleive or you do not! Yes anyone can be saved at the judgement of God. For he can do anything he wants to. What did John the baptised say, God can turn these rocks into israelites, as he was talking to the pharisees. Show me works worthy of repentance. God saved the thief on the cross next to him the one that believed. ( no works worthy of repentance, he just believed) He was not taken off the cross and baptised, told to confess, sprinkled or any man made tradition, put upon him. He simply from his heart believed and was saved. From the scenario you gave, sounds as if he believed from his heart loveineffable
|
|
|
|