beal@ttidcb.UUCP (Patrick Beal) (09/14/84)
[blank expression] With the latest discussions of "how do I choose?", "what's the difference", "how do I KNOW it's THE way?", and "I'm looking therefore I'll find it!", I would like to empasize the idea of salvation as a gift. All quotations below are from the New International Version of the Bible, unless noted otherwise. "For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 "For it is by grace [God's unmerited favor] you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." - Titus 1:11 "Jesus answered her, `If you knew the GIFT of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'" - John 4:10 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable GIFT!" - 2 Corinthians 9:15 "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect GIFT is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10 "...continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12b-13 "Salvation is found in NO ONE ELSE, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 [For those advocating an "non-restrictive" childhood upbringing:] "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." - 2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV) Patrick Beal "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;" - Romans 1:19
dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois) (09/20/84)
Patrick Beal notes that salvation is a gift.
Good point. Lots of other religions emphasize man's reaching
upward to God. Christianity emphasizes that there is no way
for man to bridge the gulf between God and himself; if God
didn't bother to reach down to man, we'd all be done for, with
no hope of reaching Him.
--
Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois
"Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein
do I delight."
Psalm 119:35