What Say Ye of Salvation By Grace.

[prisonchaplain]

Just got settled in from work and running.

The more I talk to people the more I realize how shielded I have been.

I am 24, and I grew up in a devout Pentecostal home, we've been to a plethora of meetings of all branches, Assemblies of God, Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy, from the normal sunday service to the "Signs and Wonders Campmeeting" of the mid 1990s with Rodney Browne. I've watched Copeland, Hinn, Duplantis, Crouch, Roberts and all the like growing up. It wasn't until about I was 20ish I started talking to the Churches of Christ at work, what an experience, it was like someone through water in my face. They don't believe in instrumental worship, the gifts of the spirit, basically NOTHING like we did. Of course this threw me into the whole "Joseph Smith" mode of thinking, then ended up with me in the LDS church. So if I am not as well traveled as most, I do apologize. I know that a lot of baptists teach eternal security, but seeing as we didn't really go to many baptist meetings, I am not well versed in their doctrine, or others who profess such things.

So you thought you could escape by coming to LDS.net, and instead you find a pentecostal prisonchaplain to guide you through the stormy waters of Baptist theology???

[CommanderSouth]

So you thought you could escape by coming to LDS.net, and instead you find a pentecostal prisonchaplain to guide you through the stormy waters of Baptist theology???

Sounds Ironic... :)

[Justice]

Being that none is perfect, we are all living in sin, are we not?

I don't think that's the point. The point is to overcome sin. We can, through the grace of Christ, learn to not sin anymore, but the consequences for sin remain. This is where we need Christ.

We cannot be saved in our sin, but from our sin. As long as we choose sin, we cannot be saved. Repentance is what leads us away from sin. Sin separates us from God; not just that one sin we committed after we were baptized, but any and all sin. The point of this life is to be reclaimed spiritually before we are reclaimed physically.

Repentance is not an option to receiving the atonement of Christ, is is a prerequisite; a necessity.

We can spend our entire lives repenting. We may never rid ourselves from sin during our mortal probation. But, as we repent we realize we must separate ourselves from sin, and become a spiritual person. It must be our ultimate goal, either for now or for eternity.

[Nikkie85]

So if it's once saved always saved and you ran off to join the Mormons, are you still saved by the Southern Baptist standard?

If so, you are covered on 2 fronts! :)

I have always had a rocky relationship with my father who is southern baptist. Before I even thought about joining the Church he told me that I needed to get baptized in his church. I did not really want to do it and now I honestly really regret it. I thought that if I did get baptized in his church then it would bring us closer and he would be the dad I always wanted him to be. I was about 20 at this time and thinking about getting married and I really wanted him to be there. Things did not turn out the way I wanted with my father but my baptism made him feel better. When I decided to become a member of the LDS church my father said it didn't matter because I was "saved". He believes that one most be baptized and accept Jesus to go to heaven. If you do not do these things then you are damned to an eternal hell. I once asked him about people in other countries who might dies without hearing of Christ. With a straight face he said "they burn in hell"

I think this is so sad that someone would feel this way.

The concept of being "saved" blows my mind. I really don't understand it or the thought process behind it. I am so blessed to know the truth and fullness of the gospel.

[JohnnyRudick]

I have always had a rocky relationship with my father who is southern baptist. Before I even thought about joining the Church he told me that I needed to get baptized in his church. I did not really want to do it and now I honestly really regret it. I thought that if I did get baptized in his church then it would bring us closer and he would be the dad I always wanted him to be. I was about 20 at this time and thinking about getting married and I really wanted him to be there. Things did not turn out the way I wanted with my father but my baptism made him feel better. When I decided to become a member of the LDS church my father said it didn't matter because I was "saved". He believes that one most be baptized and accept Jesus to go to heaven. If you do not do these things then you are damned to an eternal hell. I once asked him about people in other countries who might dies without hearing of Christ. With a straight face he said "they burn in hell"

I think this is so sad that someone would feel this way.

The concept of being "saved" blows my mind. I really don't understand it or the thought process behind it. I am so blessed to know the truth and fullness of the gospel.

I am not sure what it hurt.

Maybe doing religious things in vain might be a problem if that was the case but. . .

Do you think that your baptism in his church hindered him in any way of listening to the Gospel?

If not, I would not feel any regret of the baptism if I were you.

At least he felt better.

Maybe it even gave him enough peace that he could listen better later.

[Nikkie85]

I am not sure what it hurt.

Maybe doing religious things in vain might be a problem if that was the case but. . .

Do you think that your baptism in his church hindered him in any way of listening to the Gospel?

If not, I would not feel any regret of the baptism if I were you.

At least he felt better.

Maybe it even gave him enough peace that he could listen better later.

I regret it because I did it for someone else and not myself. He is totally against the church and doesn't really accept my membership. He thinks it is a phase.

[JohnnyRudick]

I regret it because I did it for someone else and not myself. He is totally against the church and doesn't really accept my membership. He thinks it is a phase.

Well, at least he knows your safe (for what ever reasons:mellow:)

and maybe that will relax him enough to where sometime along the way

some truth will resonate with him:rolleyes:

[Nikkie85]

Well, at least he knows your safe (for what ever reasons:mellow:)

and maybe that will relax him enough to where sometime along the way

some truth will resonate with him:rolleyes:

Maybe so...

[JudoMinja]

One thing I noticed nobody has brought up on here is a clear definition of "salvation". When thinking of salvation by grace, it is important to know just what salvation means. To be "saved" is to go to heaven, yes? So if salvation means going to heaven, then everyone IS saved (excepting the very few who commit the unforgivable sins).

I think this is where the LDS faith has fully clarified what has become a misunderstanding in other faiths. We are ALL saved by the grace of God, through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We will all be resurrected and return to heaven. Even the most deprave murderer will make it back to heaven.

BUT- such a person will not make it fully back into God's presence, to fully experience the glory of eternal salvation. Heaven is not one big open conglomeration to which everyone will return, it is divided into degrees. We will return to the degree where our spirit will feel the most comfortable. So, if all you care about is making it back to heaven- period, thats it, all is said and done- then the "born again" concept is perfectly fitting. Technically, you don't even have to accept Jesus into your life. You are saved. Thats it. You don't have to DO anything.

The telestial kingdom is heaven, just as the celestial kingdom is heaven. But it is only those who make it to the celestial kingdom who will feel the full presense of God, who will receive all his blessings, inherit His glory, etc, etc. To get here works are most certainly necessary. It involves acting on the knowledge of truth you've received, following in the path of righteousness, and putting forth your best effort to better yourself every day. It involves accepting the gospel and making the conscious, physical commitment to declare yourself a follower of Christ, then following through with that commitment.

We cannot save ourselves. It is God's grace through the atonement of Christ that saves us. But it is our works that will determine our place in heaven. No one will be placed in a position they did not work for.

[marts1]

I refer to heaven as a place where God dwells myself.