Ephesians 2:4-9, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
I recently posted this intriguing picture below on Facebook. A sincere guest commented that they weren't sure if this message was Biblically accurate. She used the illustration of a sweet elderly woman who trusts Christ, but she also asks God to forgive her sins. Here is what she wrote about the message in the picture below:
So, if a little old lady who can't get to church due to ill health, asked Jesus to be her Saviour (after hearing and believing gospel on the radio ) would go to hell, if she asked God to forgive her sins?
I kindly posted this Biblical reply to help her understand:
Please understand that the preceding post is not criticizing "asking" God to forgive your sins. Albeit, Scripturally we don't need to "ask" God to save us, because He is already freely offering every human being eternal life as a gift (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:15-18). God will not penalize someone for ignorantly asking to be saved, but it is important to understand that you don't need to ask or pray to be saved. The Bible says to just BELIEVE (John 3:16).
The preceding quote is refuting the demonic heresy that says you must forsake your sinful bad habits to be saved. This is a popular false teaching in many churches today. So even if a sweet old lady partially trusts Christ, but she also trusts in her effort to avoid sinning, she will go to Hell forever. That is what the Bible teaches (Galatians 3:1-3; Revelation 20:12-15).We must not ADD anything to our faith, or else it is not faith at all. Romans 11:6, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Salvation cannot be by both grace and works, it can only be one or the other.So, kindly said, anybody who ADDS water baptism, turning away from sin, running the Christian race, counting the cost and paying the price, exchanging all that I am for all that Christ is, following Jesus as "Lord," or anything else other than resting in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. We need GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Matthew 6:33; Romans 10:3-4; Philippians 3:9) which is imputed (credited) to us by faith alone (Romans 4:4-7). God bless you my friend and kindest regards.
Matthew 7:21-23, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Romans 10:13-17, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
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