Does one get saved by??

[Dave M]

Does one get saved by simply responding to a alter call at a church?? or saying a prayer ????

 

[Dave L]

Does one get saved by simply responding to a alter call at a church?? or saying a prayer ????

Actually, they are saved before they do this. Jesus says whoever believes has eternal life. They would not "go forward" if they didn't believe in him. I think that alter calls deceive many into thinking they saved themselves by works. Instead, the "preacher" should follow scripture and tell all who believe to be baptized and repent from their sins.

 

[Dave M]

Actually, they are saved before they do this. Jesus says whoever believes has eternal life.

what if I say with my mouth I believe yet live a life of habitual sin??

 

[Dave L]

what if I say with my mouth I believe yet live a life of habitual sin??

Ultimately you will overcome it if you are truly saved. Here's the dilemma. Salvation consists of believing God saved you. You cannot have saving faith if you think you can be lost.

 

[Dave M]

That's my point if they're living in habitual sin and have not overcome it I'd be very concerned about their salvation both are truly seeking the Lord they will overcome it too many people pray a prayer for fire insurance instead of being in love with the Lord Jesus

 

[Ivan Chamurliev]

Does one get saved by simply responding to a alter call at a church?? or saying a prayer ????

I believe that those who really do it by faith and answer that call really believing and repenting from their sins, then yes, persons can be saved by answering to an altar call.
What happens is that many persons can do it, without applying faith and thus they deceive themselves, thinking that just by doing that or other things, they are saved.

The same can apply on repeating the Saviour's prayer, and following certain "instructions" on how can someone be saved. If it is done without faith, then it won't happen.
The mistake that someone can do is to assure another person that he is already saved.

 

[Dave L]

That's my point if they're living in habitual sin and have not overcome it I'd be very concerned about their salvation both are truly seeking the Lord they will overcome it too many people pray a prayer for fire insurance instead of being in love with the Lord Jesus

Ultimately, the saved overcome. But some suffer great bouts with sin. David and Bathsheba for example. I know I cannot live a sinful lifestyle because of God's chastisement. I experienced it once and it has serious effects that remain.

 

[Dave M]

To go a little further the bible is very clear about some sins if not repented from will send you to hell very fast. What does repentance mean, the bet definition I have herd is to STOP sinning, a lot of people think it is confession and that is wrong. So if we are living a life style of the things listed we can from the word of GOd be very worried that we are not saved and born again. Born again people are not going to be heading to the bar for drinks with the boys, or sitting around talking dirty jokes, or cheating on the wives, or for that matter even imaging things of sexual desires.

NOw from my experience You may get born again and struggle in some of these sins just like others have said in this thread, but after a certain amount of time if you have not conquered the sin can you claim to be born again???? I think according to the scripture below if after so many years you have not allowed Jesus to set you free from these sins, I would be very concerned for your salvation.

1. Being a drunk
2. Sexually in-moral
3. Drug abuse
4. Homosexuality
5. Greed
6. Idoltry
7. Drug abuse

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[judge not]

Jesus said if you want eternal life keep the Commandments. So there is more than just believing and faith.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Does one get saved by simply responding to a alter call at a church?? or saying a prayer ????

Being saved by an altar call is not scriptural...Praying the 'sinners prayer' is not scriptural. One is saved by believing in Jesus.

John 3:14-16 King James Version (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


John 12:46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.


Acts 10:43

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

and several more

 

[judge not]

Belief is crucial but just acknowledging the Lord is not enough - Matt 7:21. James 2:19 tells us belief is pointless without obedience - even the demons believe in Jesus. Belief without works is dead, by works faith is made perfect -James 2:20-22. There are prerequisites for salvation - belief, repentance, baptism, laying on of hands, and obedience AND he who endures to the end will be saved -Matt 10:22. SALVATION is a lifelong process.

 

[Brightfame52]

Does one get saved by simply responding to a alter call at a church?? or saying a prayer ????

No, One must get saved by the Grace of God. Man by nature is dead to God and the spiritual things of God, they are foolishness to him and he cant know/understand them 1 Cor 2:14

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

So quite frankly an by nature can only respond negatively to the things of God which evidence his spiritual dead state.

 

[Dave L]

I believe that those who really do it by faith and answer that call really believing and repenting from their sins, then yes, persons can be saved by answering to an altar call.
What happens is that many persons can do it, without applying faith and thus they deceive themselves, thinking that just by doing that or other things, they are saved.

The same can apply on repeating the Saviour's prayer, and following certain "instructions" on how can someone be saved. If it is done without faith, then it won't happen.
The mistake that someone can do is to assure another person that he is already saved.

The problem is they end up trusting in the alter call instead of Christ. They think he owes them salvation because they did this. If the preacher knew the truth he would tell any who believed it is proof God saved them. And then follow up by having them be baptized and repent from their sins.

 

[B-A-C]

Ultimately you will overcome it if you are truly saved. Here's the dilemma. Salvation consists of believing God saved you. You cannot have saving faith if you think you can be lost.

There are many people living in habitual sin, who are absolutely convinced they are saved without a doubt. Faith alone doesn't save you.

Jas 2:24; You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Jas 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Obviously these people believed they were saved... they believed in Jesus.

Matt 7:21; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

 

[Dave L]

There are many people living in habitual sin, who are absolutely convinced they are saved without a doubt. Faith alone doesn't save you.

Jas 2:24; You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Jas 2:19; You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

Obviously these people believed they were saved... they believed in Jesus.

Matt 7:21; "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

David and Bathsheba are an example of saved people not overcoming for a brief period. Here's the catch. We are saved by believing God has saved us. If you think you can be lost, You cannot believe he saved you.

 

[B-A-C]

David and Bathsheba are an example of saved people not overcoming for a brief period. Here's the catch. We are saved by believing God has saved us.

David repented. (Psalms 51) So must we.

Luke 13:3; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

 

[Dave L]

David repented. (Psalms 51) So must we.

Luke 13:3; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

“correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth” 2 Timothy 2:25 (NET)

 

[judge not]

Nobody is currently saved. You hear people say I'm saved. Salvation is your goal in life but it's not something that happens in our lifetime. It happens when you are spared from eternal death after the resurrection. That is what you are saved from - Gehennna fire, the lake of fire, eternal death. The Bible is very clear about that. Don't let false teachers mislead you into believing you are saved now.

 

[twcstp111]

Nobody is currently saved. You hear people say I'm saved. Salvation is your goal in life but it's not something that happens in our lifetime. It happens when you are spared from eternal death after the resurrection. That is what you are saved from - Gehennna fire, the lake of fire, eternal death. The Bible is very clear about that. Don't let false teachers mislead you into believing you are saved now.

Do explain how a person is saved.

 

[Hekuran]

Nobody is currently saved. You hear people say I'm saved. Salvation is your goal in life but it's not something that happens in our lifetime. It happens when you are spared from eternal death after the resurrection. That is what you are saved from - Gehennna fire, the lake of fire, eternal death. The Bible is very clear about that. Don't let false teachers mislead you into believing you are saved now.

Imagine you are lost at sea out of sight of land and clinging onto a piece of wood.

Suddenly a helicopter appears over the horizon, you wave your arms and it heads towards you. It hovers overhead, drops a winch and pulls you out of the sea. The crew put you in an exposure bag and fly directly to hospital where you are treated for hyperthermia before sending you home.

At what point is it legitimate to say to yourself 'I'm saved!' Only when you are completely removed from danger in hospital or at home - or at them point when your safety is guaranteed, when the helicopter crew starts the rescue mission.

Or maybe you can truthfully say while being winched up. 'I am saved' and 'I am being saved' and 'I will be saved.' The Bible uses all three modes.