The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

I accept Jesus Christ as my savior.

I just hope that if there is a god that he is as forgiving as people say becouse he will know that I cant believ no matter how hard I try. I honestly think my disbelief happened around the time I found out santa wasnt real as silly as that may soun

Try Jesus. If you don't like Him, the devil will always take you back.

Jesus is not something you try,

T, here are a couple of thoughts:

First, the "Sinner's Prayer" cannot accomplish salvation. Salvation is first and last a gift of God, given freely, by grace through faith. (Romans 3:21-28, Eph 2:8-9) But faith, also, is a gift of God. No man can believe unless first drawn to faith by the Holy Spirit. (John 6:44) Jesus told the same thing to Nicodemus in John 3 when He said to him "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." All men are born spiritually blind, fully dead in their trespasses and sin, incapable of believing or of any truly good works (Eph 2:1-2).

But that won't get your friend off the hook. Romans 1:18-21 tells us that all men know of God, but reject Him. He seems to be relying, or at least hoping, that God is merciful and loving, and will overlook his sinfulness and his sinful thoughts, words and deeds, neglecting the fact that the Scriptures also tell us that He is rightous and just. His justice cannot allow sin to go unpunished. And the picture of God's wrath against His enemies that is given in Scripture is a frightening picture. God's wrath is as terrible as His love is good, make no mistake. Your friend needs to be reminded of this. For until one knows the bad news of what a terrible sinner he is and what a horrible fate awaits him because of his sin, he cannot truly understand the good news of the gospel. How can it be good news if it delivers us from nothing?

Where, then does faith come from? How do I get it? Paul tells us in Romans 10:


Advise your friend to begin a serious study of God's Word. For it is God's written Word and the preaching of the gospel that are the means by which God grants the gift of faith. And remind your friend that it is not a large quantity of faith that is required. Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient to move a mountain. Faith that size is also sufficient to bring salvation.

And finally, pray for your friend. He lives in darkness, blinded to the truth of the gospel by the prince of the power of this age. Only the Holy Spirit can work faith in his heart. Your smooth words and his working hard at it cannot produce faith. But God can, because He is in the business of saving sinners like you and me.

Regards.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day

Rom 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.