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04/04/2005
The big Question of our time?
This question is a very common one, especially among european christians...
“Do you go to heaven if you are saved but not babtized?”
or: “How do you get saved?”
Prolog
First I must state sadly, Europe is the “third world” when it comes to knowing God these days…But there is hope : ) Glory to God!!!
Secondly: We are all saved in prospect on what Jesus did for us when He died for us on the cross. But that was the hard part in the saving the world process. We don’t have to go through all that suffering and pain. Our only task is to respond to what He has allready made ready for all creation… We say simply, as a welcoming respons to His awesome invitation; “Let Your will be done…” Mat. 6;10 It’s only by grace we get saved, not in our own effort in trying to be “holy” or “righteous”. Rom. 9;16 says: “Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy,”
The answer can be as simple as this: If you are saved according to Romans 10; 9 -then you are saved, and will go to heaven. This is what the bible says... lets have a look into the word of God : )
Babtizm
To be babtized is a part of a starting kit for christians if you like, called by some as “the Peter starting kit for christian life”. “Peter said, --change your life. Turn to God (the go to heaven part) and be babtized (for life here on earth), each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the holy Spirit.” Acts. 2;38
Read Acts. 2;37-47 and Rom. 10;9….
What we learn from the Word of God is that it's not the babtism that saves you from hell and into heaven. It prepares you for living a godly life on earth. You’ll get Jesus-kind-of-solution-abillity to always know what’s right and best for you. Jesus is allready in You before you are babtized (it happened when you accepted Him as your master), and He will continue to let you grow in wisdom and faith, and you will be able to draw closer to God during your life as a saved person. All this through The Holy Spirit. Reading the bible is a christians daily Spiritual food.
Salvation
Rom 10;9… says "The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God –Jesus is my Master—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. Rom 10;8-9.
In short
If you are saved and not babtized, it will only affect your life here on earth -not in heaven.You will still be a christian, saved an all that, but not be able to grow in maturity by the Holy Spirit. If you are only babtized without the Rom 10;9 part, you're likely not to go to heaven.
The Dillemma…
Some would say that; “what about those who doesn’t hear what God has done, like bushmen in Arizona etc.. (‘coz Rom. 10;17 says that faith comes by hearing). How can they be saved? Look with me to Rom. 1;19-20 that says that The basic reality of God is plain enough. “Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created….So nobody has a good excuse.” The Bible has all the nessesary answers : )
Read Rom 10;4-13 and the other scriptures I’ve used… They should be explaining, at least if you are saved your self ; ) 'coz then you will have revelation on the word of God : )
Final question… (epilog)
When you read what I just wrote…..from the Bible –Gods’ very word…..Are you saved?
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Comments
hey
thank's 4 your answer
Posted by: MIchael | 04/04/2005
in answer to a couple of the questions you raised...
can you be saved (ie. go to heaven) without being baptized? ask the criminal crucified next to Jesus when he was told he'd be in paradise (see Luke). i think he's just fine!
as for the "dilemma", leave that in God's hands... but if you must ponder it, think about from an old testament perspective. how was anyone back then "saved" (as you put it) without having known of Jesus?
to be honest with i don't think it's the right question to be asking anyway - i'll leave you to ponder what a better question might be. if you are interested further i suggest reading some brian mclaren. there's a link to him on my own blog.
all the best
hojupom
Posted by: hojupom | 06/04/2005