A question.

[Colabomb]

I agree 100% that God does all the work for our Salvation. The Cross Bought our Salvation and I can never be Holy or Righteous on my own.

But I don't believe that He knocks down our door and forces Salvation on us.

I believe He knocks and offers us the Salvation that He Worked for and gives us a choice.

Would this be considered heretical in Lutheranism?

IN Christ!

Your Brother!
John ><>

[lakesidelady]

Genesis 6:5 says: Genesis 6:5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.When we hear the Gospel, the only action we can take is to stop rejecting.

Everything necessary for salvation, God has already accomplished ("It is finished"). Rom. 10:6-8 says: 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,"[ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

I cannot accept Christ's offer. I can only stop rejecting it.

[RedneckAnglican]

I cannot accept Christ's offer. I can only stop rejecting it.

that's the way I see it...It's taking my wife a bit longer (she grew up Southern Baptist)...

anyway...we do not "accept" CHRIST...we confess CHRIST...that only comes through the works of the Spirit, not the flesh...

[Colabomb]

that's the way I see it...It's taking my wife a bit longer (she grew up Southern Baptist)...

anyway...we do not "accept" CHRIST...we confess CHRIST...that only comes through the works of the Spirit, not the flesh...
An interesting way of viewing it. And it makes some sense.

I believe that He gives us an option to continue in our ways which are evil despicable and destructive, or to go to His Way which is Life.

Salvation is still bought on Calvary, His Work is what Redeems me and 0 NOTHING I can do can save me yet by His grace He lets me choose Him.

In other words... He lets me decide, He gives me the Grace to decide, if I want Him to Save me. He still does all the work, but He doesn't force it on me.

This making sense? Does it fit at all with what you are saying?

[ByzantineDixie]

I agree 100% that God does all the work for our Salvation. The Cross Bought our Salvation and I can never be Holy or Righteous on my own.

But I don't believe that He knocks down our door and forces Salvation on us.

I believe He knocks and offers us the Salvation that He Worked for and gives us a choice.

Would this be considered heretical in Lutheranism?

IN Christ!

Your Brother!
John ><>

I don't consider this heretical in the least! You are absolutely right. God does not force us against our will. Rather, He gives us His grace which enables us to accept the gift of Salvation. The capacity to accept comes with the gift itself.

[KagomeShuko]

Basically, the option is yeah, we're saved or to reject Christ. . so, one might say the first is "accepting" while Lutherans probably don't really see it as "accepting."

It's more of a wording issue than anything. If we can't be saved apart from Christ (what he did and does) is your belief, there's nothing heretical.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Colabomb]

Basically, the option is yeah, we're saved or to reject Christ. . so, one might say the first is "accepting" while Lutherans probably don't really see it as "accepting."

It's more of a wording issue than anything. If we can't be saved apart from Christ (what he did and does) is your belief, there's nothing heretical.

Stein Auf!
Bridget
We absolutely cannot be saved without Christ! :)

It's Grace is it not? :)

Thank you and God Bless you Brothers and sisters!

John ><>

[Protoevangel]

Here’s an analogy. Admittedly a bad one, but here goes anyway.

You are shipwrecked, at sea. You are dead. A ship pulls you out of the water, and through some miraculous new technology, they revive you. You had no part in saving yourself, how could you? You were dead.

This of course, once you have been revived, does not "force" you from jumping off the ship into the sea again, however.

[C.F.W. Walther]

Good analogy dan:amen: :amen: :amen: :amen:

[Jim47]

Here’s an analogy. Admittedly a bad one, but here goes anyway.

You are shipwrecked, at sea. You are dead. A ship pulls you out of the water, and through some miraculous new technology, they revive you. You had no part in saving yourself, how could you? You were dead.

This of course, once you have been revived, does not "force" you from jumping off the ship into the sea again, however.

I like it too Dan. Tried to rep Ya, but I keep forgetting to spread it around, guess I'm getten old :priest:

[LilLamb219]

Dead men can't "accept" but they can "receive". Acceptance as in you have to make a decision for Christ is NOT Lutheran and is not biblical. Jesus even said that he is the one doing the choosing...uhh, I forget the verse, sorry.

Either salvation is 100% God's doing (which means we cannot take even a tiny part like making a decision) or it's God plus man which means that what happened on the cross really didn't mean as much :(

The verse in Revelations about knocking on the door wasn't about non-believers.