Will there be fried shrimp there and fried chicken?

:laugh:

The fried chicken made by the older ladies at church is wonderful. Imagine what the fried chicken by God will taste like.

John 5:24

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.

 

John 6:40

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

John 6:47

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

 

John 11:25,26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

 

New Kings James Version

 

All quotes from Jesus. Am I missing something?

 

 

Yes, you are missing something. You are taking these verses out of context. You have to look at Scripture in its entirety.

 

Christians do not have an "absolute" assurance of salvation. Consider this warning Paul gave: "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26–29, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).

 

"Are you saved?" Here's how I reply: As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).

 

Now why in the world would Paul (or we) have to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Think about it!

True, but one can not reject going to Church their entire life (knowing that it is the right thing to do) and expect to be "saved at the last minute".

 

Yes, people can in fact be saved at the last minute. But do we ever know when the last minute will be? Is it worth taking that chance?

Yes, you are missing something. You are taking these verses out of context. You have to look at Scripture in its entirety.

 

Christians do not have an "absolute" assurance of salvation. Consider this warning Paul gave: "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26–29, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).

 

"Are you saved?" Here's how I reply: As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13).

 

Now why in the world would Paul (or we) have to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Think about it!

I believe I read somewhere once that the greek translation of "work" used here is more closely translated "to live".

In this thread a lot of us are quoting verses from the Bible and explaining what we think these verses mean. Remember that the bible tells us not to privately interpret scripture:

 

"First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Peter 1:20-21).

 

Some Christians claim, "The Bible is all I need," but this notion is not taught in the Bible itself. In fact, the Bible teaches the contrary idea (2 Pet. 1:20–21, 3:15–16).

 

The "Bible alone" theory was not believed by anyone in the early Church. It is new, having arisen only in the 1500s during the Protestant Reformation. The theory is a "tradition of men" that nullifies the Word of God, distorts the true role of the Bible, and undermines the authority of the Church Jesus established (Mark 7:1–8).

Some Christians claim, "The Bible is all I need," but this notion is not taught in the Bible itself. In fact, the Bible teaches the contrary idea (2 Pet. 1:20–21, 3:15–16).

Other Christians claim, " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me." John 14:6

This verse answers a lot of questions.

Yes, you are missing something. You are taking these verses out of context. You have to look at Scripture in its entirety.

 

Then why did Jesus say

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life.

and not

Most assuredly' date=' I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but has passed from death into life...as long as he spends his life doing good deeds and going to church too.[/quote']

?

Then why didn't Jesus say

 

and not

Again, the qualifier, believes in Him. Are you saying once you believe in Him, you don't have the choice to change your mind in a possible 70 years of your life.

 

You take him into your life and truly live for Him. And then in your early 20's, your young wife and baby is murdered and you blame it on Christ and for the next 60 years of your life, you don't study, you curse His name, you work against the church, you worship Satan. And none of that stuff the last 60 years of life counts?

 

I think it is a EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MINDSET to think once you accept him in your life that you have a free pass the rest of your life.

Then why did Jesus say

 

and not

 

?

 

 

This is a great question. And you are right that if you read that verse by itslef then you can come to a certain conclusion. But if you read other verses, you can come to other conclusions. Again, we need to read scripture in its entirety and look at the context in which Jesus is speaking (when we quote Him).

Again, the qualifier, believes in Him. Are you saying once you believe in Him, you don't have the choice to change your mind in a possible 70 years of your life.

 

You take him into your life and truly live for Him. And then in your early 20's, your young wife and baby is murdered and you blame it on Christ and for the next 60 years of your life, you don't study, you curse His name, you work against the church, you worship Satan. And none of that stuff the last 60 years of life counts?

 

I think it is a EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MINDSET to think once you accept him in your life that you have a free pass the rest of your life.

 

I think could do that if you repented before your life was over. Now, going through your life with wreckless abandon becuase you can ask for forgiveness on your death bed is probably not going to work quite as easily.

I know I am getting in on this rather late and maybe in my quick reading of the post I am missing something, but "Is going to church necessary" for what? Necessary for salvation? necessary for spiritual growth? necessary for worship?

 

I really don't understand the question I guess.

I know I am getting in on this rather late and maybe in my quick reading of the post I am missing something, but "Is going to church necessary" for what? Necessary for salvation? necessary for spiritual growth? necessary for worship?

 

I really don't understand the question I guess.

 

...

If salvation is the question then I don't think there is a clear cut answer. I have read many passages posted in this thread and many of you make excellent points. I am a "restoration" guy. Get back to how the early church handled situations. The way I read the Book of Acts, they gathered together regularly. I am not saying that one MUST be in church everytime the doors are open, although I am 99% of the time, but I can't see how one can maintain in life without gathering with others for worship, fellowship, edification. It just makes sense. If God is first in our lives, why should we not attend worship services. The worship service is not centered around us, we gain from the service, but a worship service is for God! He deserves corporate worship and praise. Yes, you can worship and praise God without being in a building, but what is it that is more important in your life on Sunday morning than gathering with fellow Christians to corporately sharing in praise and adoration to our Master?

 

Tough question to answer. Is it necessary? I would have to say no it is not necessary, but my question in many situations is not is something right or wrong, it is what is best. Is it best that I be in worship? Absolutely!

Why do we go to school as children. A new person in Christ is like a baby in the world. It has to grow and learns from people who loves it. It cannot eat solid food or walk. It has to grow. It cannot grow by it self. It needs to be taught. I could not imagine not going to church. Our nine year old can say every book in the Bible and several verses by heart. Gets in my car and turns off classic rock and turns on "Christian music", gets on me when I yell at the TV, prays in front of strangers, listens to Billy Graham on Saturday nites. I could go on and on. Is church necessary? Our 17 year old beats me in Bible Knowledge, said the prayer before every football game, helps other teens, FCA officer, FCA camp leader, Is church necessary?

 

I'm sure most of us can echo for theirselves on their own family what I have written. And I realize their Momma plays a huge role in their walk with Christ. "The existence of God isn't determined in the thoughts of man, God exists, no matter what Man thinks". Great comments by everyone and I love learning from y'all.

If salvation is the question then I don't think there is a clear cut answer. I have read many passages posted in this thread and many of you make excellent points. I am a "restoration" guy. Get back to how the early church handled situations. The way I read the Book of Acts, they gathered together regularly. I am not saying that one MUST be in church everytime the doors are open, although I am 99% of the time, but I can't see how one can maintain in life without gathering with others for worship, fellowship, edification. It just makes sense. If God is first in our lives, why should we not attend worship services. The worship service is not centered around us, we gain from the service, but a worship service is for God! He deserves corporate worship and praise. Yes, you can worship and praise God without being in a building, but what is it that is more important in your life on Sunday morning than gathering with fellow Christians to corporately sharing in praise and adoration to our Master?

 

Tough question to answer. Is it necessary? I would have to say no it is not necessary, but my question in many situations is not is something right or wrong, it is what is best. Is it best that I be in worship? Absolutely!

I don't want to put words in your mouth and based upon my reading of your post so I think you will agree with the following.

 

Church is not necessarily at the place where we go on Sunday mornings. There are many "churches" that hold Bible studies in homes of their members as the early church did. I have led one for the past 4 years at our local fast food restaurant. We have picked up people to our bible study who came to eat breakfast, asked what we were doing and decided to join us.

 

A "church" CANNOT limit their activities to having the doors open and expecting the unbelievers to come to them. I DO NOT believe the early church did that in any way, shape or form.

 

Today's "church" cannot limit themselves to a building. So when you hear/read me use the word church, I am talking about the believers sitting in the pews/seats and not the building.