| As one should be able to tell from my home page, I am an evangelical Christian, doctrinally holding to the basic truths thereof, primarily that the one true God that creation and Scripture testifies to (the latter being the supreme transcendent standard for obedience and establishing truth claims in word and in power, as is abundantly evidenced therein) is absolutely holy and perfectly just, and sacrificially merciful and gracious. (Dt. 32:4; 1Jn. 4:10) And that (in contrast) man is a sinner in nature and in heart and deed, and is damned for his sins and destitute of any merit or means of his own, or that of his church etc., to escape his just and eternal punishment in Hell-fire or to earn eternal life with God. And thus he desperately needs salvation, and for which he must turn in faith to the risen Divine Son of God, sent by the Father to be the Savior of the world, casting all his faith in the Lord Jesus to save Him by His sinless shed blood, out of a poor and contrite heart, which God has regard to. (Jn. 1:1-3,14; 20:28; Rm. 3:25-5:1; 1Jn. 4:14; Col. 1:14; Rm. 10:9,10,13; Ps. 34:18) And that such are forgiven and born again by the Divine Spirit of God, sent by the Father through the Son, and which faith decision is shown in baptism and in characteristic obedience toward the Object of said repentant faith. (Jn. 3:3; 10:27-29; 14:16,26; 16:7; Acts 2:38; 10:43-47; 15:8,9; Heb. 5:9; 6:9) And which includes repentance when convicted of not doing so. (1Jn. 1:8,9; 2Cor. 7:9-11) Thus damnation is what is earned by our works, while salvation is a gift (Rm. 6:23) given on God's blood-expense and righteousness, and is all of grace, as the Lord draws all to Himself, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32) convicting souls of sin, righteousness and judgment, (Jn. 16:9), and opens hearts, (Acts 16:14) and gives faith, (Eph. 2:8,9), so that man does what he could not and otherwise would not do. And as it is by faith, and believers are kept by faith, (1Pt. 1:5) those who are of Christ’s “house” are those who “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end,” (Heb. 3:6) and which faith hath great recompense of reward, (Heb. 10:35) versus drawing “back unto perdition” in unbelief, (Heb. 10:38,39) having “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God,” against which apostasy they are warned. (Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39; Gal. 5:1-5) For they are stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1Pt. 4:10) And thus God chastens wayward believers in working to bring them to repentance, “that we should not be condemned with the world.” (1Cor. 11:32). For Jesus “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25) May we always be “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; " (Ephesians 5:20) But, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3) More at home page: http://www.peacebyjesus.com and if that is not working see http://www.peacebyjesus.net Bless the Lord, o my soul, for He is good. And while i seek to serve the Lord and be holy, i have far to go in heart, and in deed, yet trust that the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” (Ps. 138:8) .
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