I read that when he was young he was a strong christian, but then when he started doubting the book of Genesis his faith slowly declined. I read in the book ETERNAL SECURITY by Charles Stanley that if you say the sinner's prayer in your life  and you mean it with all your heart then you are saved at that moment even if you dont remain faithful God will because he cant deny himself. The person will go to heaven because the person at 1 time in life asked Jesus for forgiveness, but the person wont get any rewards in heaven.
213621
Well if you believe in god, then yes i think he should have done (if he was a good person of course). But not for the reason you state.\n\nHe interpreted gods greater book, NATURE!  Why go to hell for that?\n\nWhy believe the manual over the product!  Sorry but if parts of it don't match what we see and observe for ourselves then the book is wrong.\n\nGo here...\nhttp://www.talkorigins.org/\nhttp://www.talkorigins.org/origins/outline.html
28487
A good place to see how God both protects and yet allows testing is to read the book of Job. There are of course many other verses to prove this also but Job is almost completely about just that. God chastens those He loves and test us often. He never tempts us to sin however and always gives us a way out. Only through trials can a Christian grow and become refined. We are all as Christians to emulate Christ and His whole ministry was temptations overcome without sin, trials and tribulations and so on. He said if they do this to the master will they not also do likewise to you so do not be surprised. The most important thing is that it builds our faith on almighty God and when the next trial comes we are stronger not because of ourselves but because we have seen God bring us through a previous hard time with awesome results if we just hung in there. As far as death no one dies a moment before God allows it unless of course we chose to play god ourselves and hurry the process. I hope all this helps if you need more help just email me....
285782
First of all, I apologize on behalf of Donald Shaw.  I thought his response to your question was absolutely terrible, and very un-Christian.  \n\nI was dismayed that, instead of sharing his faith with you and trying to bring Christ to you, he chose words that would serve no other purpose than to alientate you and push you away.   Trust me, not all of us Christians are like that.\n\nNow, in response to your question:\n\nGod can (and does) effect His forgiveness in any way He wishes.  He's God.  He can do whatever He wants.\n\nSo why did He have His Son suffer and die for our sins?  \n\nOne reason is that this was predicted in the Old Testament.  The OT speaks of a "suffering servant," a human Lamb of God who -- like the lamb sacrificed each year by the ancient Jews on the Day of Atonement -- would die for us and take our sins with Him. \n\nSecond, human nature being what it is, it's not enough for us to read something (like "your sins are forgiven") and then believe it.  We human beings need visuals.  We need proof.  For us, seeing is truly believing.  \n\nAnd seeing Christ suffer and die the worst form of execution in the history of capital punishment -- for us! -- is truly believing.  \n\nWhy else would anyone, let alone the Son of God, willingly put Himself through that?   He certainly didn't do it for nothing.  He definitely didn't do it for Himself.  \n\nHe did it to conquer sin and death.  And for those who believe in Him, that's what He accomplished.
434446
Yes indeed.I was studying these issues myself.Here's my conviction.Justification is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and it is once and for all.Let God be true and man a liar.The transaction is done once and for all.The seal is done and no one can steal it from Christ.However,if you read the book of Revelation along with Daniel you will see that in the white throne judgement the believers in Christ and those who have rejected Christ will be separated by Christ himself like sheep is separated from goats.Which is a very sad thing and that is the reason why we Christians are supposed to be the salt of  the earth and light.So we (The believers in Christ )escape the final judgement.But all is not over.Now starts the judgement of the believers---do we enter heaven with honour or in dishonour?That is question we all need to ask now.Imagine living the rest of our lives in dishonour.Do we have any crowns to lay at His feet as our worship in eternity or not ,or shall we go empty handed standing before the Lord,with our heads hanging in shame???That is why Paul refers our life on earth like that of an athelete---breasting the tape alone will not determine our award but whether we are following the rules applicable;if an athelete does not follow rules of the race then imagine after running the race and comming 1st only to be told publicly he is disqualified for the award.That is very sad indeed!!!There are many more illustrations from every day life given in the Bible from which we all can understand simply.I believe God did not give His Word to us to keep it as a secret,his love for mankind was made a public spectacle when Christ gave his life on the cross willingly (and yet the world rejects it so much tragecally!!)so that you and I and all those who believe may not perish but have everlasting life.We are now co-heirs with Christ, therefore we inherit the Kingdom of heaven, not because of our deeds but by the act of Christ on the Cross.He gave us the authority to His children therefore we will live with him in heaven after our life on earth is over.Capture the image of the scene of the rupture!!!Oh! Death where is your sting!!!It is so powerful.He loves people His creation that he does not want even one to perish but it is we who reject His salvation for mankind.Jesus is a thorough gentleman, he never forces His way into anyone's life.His love is for the asking only.His heart is to preserve. I love The Word of God because it is so alive and speaking to me even in this decade.I also trust that  even as you seek the many question if you seek with all your heart He shall reveal it and The Truth shall set you free indeed.So the bottom line is whether we will enter heaven in honour or in shame?Amen.
503368
Salvation is a gift, but we must hold onto it and persevere in our faith, not just pray a prayer one time and then live any way we want. I hope the first link below will be helpful for you. Feel free to e-mail me at chad@jesusfreak.com if I can help.
596581
Yes I'm a Christian.  A person gets into Heaven by trusting in Jesus as their savior and lord.  "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  (Romans 10:9)\n\nHow to be right with God:\n\n1)  Understand that, as a citizen of the human race, you are sinful (because of Adam's "original sin").  We are fallen creatures and nobody can attain to God's standard by works.  We're just not good enough for His holiness because we'll always be marred by that original sin.\n\n2)  Confess that sin to God.  Acknowledge that you know you've done wrong things in your life and that you can never attain to God's perfect standard on your own merit.\n\n3)  Repent of your sins.  This means to turn from doing wrong.  It's like doing a 180 from your natural inclinations.  When you know something is wrong, you don't do it.  (But if you do, just keep confessing it to God.  It's not easy to control the sin nature, but eventually you start to change from the inside out.  You start to no longer *want* to do those things that displease God.)\n\n4)  Accept Jesus into your life and let him be your Lord.  This means to learn how he lived and to pattern your life after his.  He is the perfect role model.  \n\nThe beauty of this process is that, even though we are still sinners (that is, we commit bad acts everyday), the Sin (Adam's original mark upon us) that once defined us before God is no longer seen because the blood that Jesus shed on the cross covered over that Sin and erased it from God's view.  When you trust and accept Jesus, God sees the perfect sacrifice of His only son upon your life.  And *that* is all that is required for entry to Heaven...Jesus' "bloodprint" on your life.  \n\nPeople get hung up on "the rules."  To be sure, God wants us to live righteous lives (marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control), but He's first and foremost interested in a relationship with you.  He created all of us and just wants to be in relationship with His creation.  All the other stuff will follow...and we have the rest of our lives to conform to the image of Christ.  <<<  this just means patterning our lives after Christ's example.  We'll never get it all down overnight.  But God is loving and patient.  :)
69591
U bet! All he has to do is repent!  God loves his prodigal children who come back to Him in remourse.  Check this out:\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_son\n\nAlso, we are all sinners but are saved by the Blood of the Lamb!  God loved us so much that He gave us His only Son that whomever believes Jesus is the Son who died for humanity IS saved.  \n\nThe Bible talks about forgivness; and Jesus was seen dining with sinners and publicans.  He told the Pharisees that He came to Save Sinners and of his role as Servant to those who needs to be Saved.
34002
Wow, that's probably the most blatant blasphemy I've ever heard. The reason God turned his back on His Son for that brief moment was because Jesus was carrying sins of the world (past, present, and future - yours included!) on Himself, and God cannot be in the presence of sin - it's contrary to His perfect nature. Yes, it's a mystery that I won't understand completely until I get to heaven, but it's also what makes the plan of salvation so beautiful. Jesus was willing to momentarily sacrifice his relationship with His own father so that we could have eternal life. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, making us perfect in the sight of God if we accept His sacrifice and put our faith in Him. The agony of Jesus's separation from His Father was what prompted Him to cry out "Father, why have you forsaken Me?" Jesus already knew the answer - it was rhetorical.
227461
For by grace are we saved through faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of GOD not of works lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)\n  Paul coming out of law probably understood the danger's of mixing law and grace better than anyone else. Paul speaks more on the subject of grace vs the law than anything else that he talked about. GOD must do all the work within us... anyone who trust's in their own works to make them righteous will only become frustrated at best...\n  The central theme contained in the epistle to the Galatians was a stern warning not to mix law and grace. \nFor we through the SPIRIT wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.(Gal 5:5) Anyone who trusts in his or her works to make them righteous in addition to what CHRIST has already done on the cross will stay in spiritual kindergarten the duration of their walk... For I have been crucified with CHRIST, it is no longer I who live but CHRIST lives in me; the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the SON OF GOD who loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not frustrate the grace of GOD for if righteousness comes by the law then CHRIST is dead in vain. (Gal 2:20-21) ~GOD BLESS YOU WITH ALL INSIGHT INTO HIMSELF~
311636
That line, 'once saved always saved' is an incorrect teaching. One can lose their salvation by turning away from God and denying Him, which many people who have tasted both baptisms of fire and water have done because the occult draws them back to their old behaviors. But one does not have to be in the occult to have this experience. If you look at the parable of the five soils, it demonstrates how the word of God flourishes or not in the Christian. It depends on how one is cultivated and nurtured with the things of God. Comes down to obedience. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and not sit back and believe that one is safe completely without further growth. A tree must grow and bear fruit so must a Christian.
638749
You've just pointed out the biggest contradiction in a belief in god.  Religious people answer this (it isn't really an answer) by usually saying, "we can't understand god's will" or some such response.  But the truth is, it's contradictory and illogical.  Same thing for prayer -- if god's got a plan and it's already all laid out, why bother to pray to him for anything, since he's apparently already decided if you'll get it or not? \n\nAnd, apparently, if god has a plan, then me not believing in him is all part of his plan, and I'm just fulfilling his wishes by not believing in him -- so christians, stop trying to convert me!\n\n:)
307960
As I read the word of God, it says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God (The Father). If we have acknowledged Christ when we are here on earth, have trusted that he died on the cross to forgive us of our sins,and that he rose from the dead for our justification then we have already "bowed the knee" to him and when we die we will be "absent from the body but present with the Lord." We are saved because of what Christ has done, not anything we can do. \n\nThis question became very popular in the 70's. It was a way of getting people to think about eternity and where they will spend it. I think that many people today don't really think about where they will go, or they don't care. We all can decide for ourselves, that is the reality of having a free will. If we don't want to go to heaven, we won't. if we do, then we will, but it is under God's terms, not our own. Even here there are differing beliefs as to what is the way to heaven. \n\nAs a Christian, I choose to place my faith and my hope only in what Jesus Christ has done. He himself said that he is the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father accept through him. I choose to believe this. But others may choose not to. Again, this is the reality of having a free will.
72998
I am a member of Christian of Texas. I enjoy reading the daily digest that is sent to me. My 360 link is http://360.yahoo.com/brickcollecter and my favorite scripture is John 3:16 because it explains our entire plan of salvation in one, simple verse. Too many think that it has to be hard to be saved, that you have to prove something. You don't, it's a gift from God, you only have to accept it and declare it! God bless you.
295775
me and i'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy you made the decision. to love and trust him.  now, if you haven't, why don't you take that extra step and believe your a sinner, he died on the cross for you and he rose again, then descended into heaven and now sits on the right hand of his father, God, and someday he will come again! then you will be saved and can go to heaven!
64657
sorry i didn't get back to you.  this was not saying that God was a liar for we know God can never lie.  His promises are yeah and amen and also He is not slack concerning His promises.  What He says he will do he will do.  God can NEVER lie.  It is not possible for him to sin because He is Holy and Pure.  This particular passage of scripture was about a spirit(angel) that told God he would go and cause one of Ahab's prophets to lie to him and cause him to go into battle where he would ultimately be killed.  All things serve the Lord and even with deceipt, God can use these situations to serve His purposes.  We can see this in our own lives when things aren't going good or seem out of control, but we know God is on the throne and He is in control.  He can take any problem and make it a blessing for us if we will just wait for Him to shine through.  Keep studying his word and asking these questions.  It's how you will learn. And ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study His word.
216257
I believe you are very right in alot of new or unfed Christian hearts. We get complacent and don't read The Bible and get refreshed on what EVERY follower of God had to go through! Paul had the thorn in his side, Stephen got killed, all were mocked! Look at poor Job, what a price to pay! When we really start to follow The Good Shepherd's voice just know that He's going to lead you into "The valley of the shadow of death" at some point in your life to test your faith in Him(with good right!). Good question and point to make, friend! I hope that helps you. God bless.
61215
SQL,\n\nI think where most folks get confused is the covenant, whereby all sins will be forgiven if one gives his heart and life over to Jesus, repent for his sins, admit that they are imperfect sinners unworthy of his grace, entry into heaven is a given, right?\n\nHaving money to do good works in the name of God does not a true Christian make, especially if this person commits a heinous sin again and again, and asks forgiveness for them with knowlege in his heart that he's going to do the same thing again.\n\nGod's smarter than that.  He can see what's in people's hearts...if He sees someone asking forgiveness with deceit in his heart, do you think that forgiveness will be granted?\n\nI think not.