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A Skeptic's Conversation
With a Christian - Part 3
(Skeptic) What about wanting to believe? Don't I have to accept Jesus into my heart? Or ask him to save me?
(Christian) Nope. If you had to accept Jesus, or ask him to save you, then you'd be contributing to your own salvation. That sounds nice on the surface, but it's a dangerous trap. If you "contribute" to your salvation, then that means Jesus couldn't do everything for you, you had to kick in something. That would mean PAID IN FULL actually meant: PAID - Pretty Much, in a kinda complete way (void where prohibited). Which would you rather have; "Partnership Salvation", where you and God join together to save your butt, or "Guaranteed Salvation", where God does ALL the work, even to the point of giving you faith in Christ? Doesn't matter what we think or want: God chooses to do everything. He says:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV)
God loves us so much that he's not even giving us the chance to muff up our salvation - which we would - by taking part in its earning. God the Father gives us the promise, God the Son (Jesus) delivers on that promise, and God the Holy Spirit gives us the faith to rely on that promise. All done up in one, neat, tidy, loving package.
(Skeptic) So I can go on sinning? Even increase my sinning? It's all PAID FOR, after all.
(Christian) Which kinda misses the point, doesn't it? If you're relying on God to save you, it's because you want to spend eternity with him, right? But remember what sinning is? Sin is anything contrary to God. This is the same God who promised and then delivered eternal salvation. Why in the world would you want to tick him off?
What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
"...In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1;11 NIV)"
(Skeptic) Hmm... good point. All right then! I'm ready to hear more. What now?
(Christian) Well, you'd want to go to a reliable source to hear more. The best, and only, source is the Bible. But while studying the Bible by yourself is useful, it is always better to study and explore the wonder of God's plan of salvation with other believers. Jesus even says,
"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20 NIV)
So you'll need to find a reliable group to go with your reliable Bible. If that group teaches the things that I have discussed with you today, then you have found that group.
So you'll need to find a reliable group to go with your reliable Bible. I would recommend (obviously) a WELS church in your area. There are over 1,200 in the United States and Canada alone, and we have missions and sister congregations in 38 countries around the world. To find the one nearest you, go to the WELS Directory. If you happen to live in the Northeast San Antonio metropolitan area, then we'd be that congregation.
SIX-POINT LAW/GOSPEL WITNESS
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