quote:
Originally posted by razordu30:
I still don't get it...why is photoreading not in tune with this? Why can't photoreading the bible lead to salvation as you say? Why would PRing the bible not let someone accept Jesus Christ as their savior? I'm not necessarily taking a stand on whether or not this is true, I'm just having a difficulty grasping why if someone was looking to be saved, why PRing the bible instead of regular reading it would prevent him from doing so?-Ramon http://razor.ramon.com
Greetings again from Ok!
You caught my attention when you wrote, "
Why would PRing the bible not let someone accept Jesus Christ as their savior?" Let me ask you something and everybody who has PR the Bible. What is "salvation"? Salvation means the act of saving, right? 
Do you understand that Jesus died on the Cross, was buried, and rose again the 3rd day according to the Scriptures. If you have PhotoRead the Bible and understand that, then what does that tell you/all that you/we must do? Do you believe and understand that you MUST repent (turn away) for all willful sin? Repenting is dying to yourself. Do you understand that you must be buried (baptized) after you die (repent)? Do you believe then by faith God will revive your spirit by the Holy Spirit?
A person can become confused these days about how to be saved. It seems two of the most common verses of Scripture used in these latter days on how to be saved are the following. Ro 10:13-FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. Some preachers seem to indicate that nothing else is necessary other than saying a prayer. They seem to indicate this by saying nothing about one thing that is an absolute necessity for salvation. That absolute is "repentance." Another verse many people stand on for salvation is Acts 16:31-BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED. Again, many seem to stand on this verse alone for salvation without mentioning the necessity of repenting of sin. Ja 2:19 tells us-THOU BELIEVEST THAT THERE IS ONE GOD; THOU DOEST WELL: THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE. In Jn 12:42,43, we are shown that among the chief rulers MANY believed on Jesus, yet they were not saved. As it is written, NEVERTHELESS AMONG THE CHIEF RULERS ALSO MANY BELIEVED ON HIM; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PHARISEES THEY DID NOT CONFESS HIM, LEST THEY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE: FOR THEY LOVED THE PRAISE OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISE OF GOD. Ro 10:11-FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.
TWO ABSOLUTES YOU MUST DO
Some people may say, you have to do nothing to be saved except believe and say a sinner's prayer. This is not true. Two absolutes you must do are: repent of your sins and confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, as the only hope you have of being saved. Yes, we are to call on the name of the Lord in prayer. Yes, we are to believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God in the flesh. Yes, we are to believe that He died for our sins, and rose from the dead, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. Yes, we are to believe that Jesus Christ is the Living Word and that He came to earth to redeem men from their sins. But to say that all we are to do is call on the name of the Lord and believe on Him is not all that God’s Word requires. We must repent of our sins, forsake our sins, and even more, we must never be ashamed of Jesus. We are to be willing to stand up for Jesus and be willing to confess Him. Ro 10:9,10-THAT IF THOU SHALT CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND SHALT BELIEVE IN THINE HEART THAT GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED. FOR WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND WITH THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO SALVATION. 1 Pe 3:15 tells us very clearly-BE READY ALWAYS TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH YOU A REASON OF THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR. God’s Word is showing us clearly that to ask and believe is not all that is necessary for salvation.
REPENTANCE IS AN ABSOLUTE
This most important thing that every person "must" do or there is no hope of salvation is often ignored in many churches and by many preachers. This absolute is the very first word that Peter is recorded saying when he was asked by the people what they must do. Jesus Christ is recorded 7 times in the 4 Gospels as saying that a person must do this one thing. God’s program is centered around trying to get men to do this one thing. What is this incredibly important thing that is so often left out by so many preachers, priests, and rabbi? What is this most important thing that even some of the best of the television evangelists often seem to forget to include? Let Jesus Christ tell us from Luke’s Gospel chapter 13, verse 3 and 5-I TELL YOU, NAY: BUT EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. Again, in verse 5, Jesus repeats-I TELL YOU, NAY: BUT, EXCEPT YE REPENT, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.
John the Baptist made it very clear, as he said, REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL-Mk 1:15.
Salvation depends upon faith that involves repentance. It may be said, as a result of believing or as a result of faith, repentance takes place. When a person truly believes the Gospel in his heart, repentance is the result. Thus, to believe includes repentance. Repentance then may be said to be the evidence of turning from unbelief to belief of God's Word. John the Baptist said, PRODUCE FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE-Mt 3:8 NIV.
However, when unbelief sets in, a turning away from God occurs.
REPENTANCE MEANS STOP, TURN, AND CHANGE
Webster’s New World Dictionary tells us the word "repent" means the following: "To feel such regret over (an action, intention), as to change one's mind, etc." This is further confirmed in the Bible as we read in 2 Cor 7:10-FOR GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION. The next part of the verse states, NOT TO BE REPENTED OF. In other words, you turn away from all willful sin, and you do not go back. The next part of the verse gives us a warning: BUT THE SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH. A person’s attitude about sin changes. Before salvation, a person enjoyed sin. They were not concerned about disobeying God. Their own desires were more important to them than obeying God. But now, they begin to hate every sinful or evil way. It is written, YE THAT LOVE THE LORD, HATE EVIL-Ps 97:10. THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL-Pv 8:13.
Thus repentance (to repent), means we feel terrible about our sins. We are sorry about our sins. We deeply regret what we have done and are willing to turn from all sin. We change direction.
We are willing to change our mind about our sins. Our life style changes.
We are willing to forsake all our sins and give them up. To put it straight forward, we are willing to "stop all willful sin." We do a complete turn. This is repentance, which is an absolute condition for salvation.
Psalm 119:59,60 gives us another definition of repentance. It is written, I HAVE CONSIDERED MY WAYS AND HAVE TURNED MY STEPS TO YOUR STATUTES. I WILL HASTEN AND NOT DELAY TO OBEY YOUR COMMANDS-NIV.
Some people have stopped doing a particular sin not because of true repentance or Godly sorrow about their sin, but because of certain circumstances. One of many possible examples is a person might stop drinking or smoking for health reasons. Another example, is a person might stop having sex outside of marriage because of fear of getting AIDS. This is not repentance. "Turning over a new leaf," as some people may say, is not true repentance.
Once a person truly repents, their parents, relatives, employers, husband or wife, friends, and others may persecute them. Other things may happen. Incredible temptations may occur. Yet we are to repent no matter what the cost and not go back into willful sin.
REPENTANCE ALSO MEANS TO "START" AND "OBEY"
Not only do we stop doing those things which are wrong, but we "start" doing those things which are right, and "obey" God's Word. For the person that can read, the number one thing he begins doing is reading and studying the Bible. It is written, AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE (or crave or are starving for) THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY: IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS-1 Pe 2:2,3. It is only through God's Word that we can learn what is right and wrong in God's eyes. It is only by God's Word that we can grow in faith, because faith comes only by the Word of God (the Bible).
A person that can read and claims they are saved, yet only reads one, two, or three chapters a week, would appear to be very misled. It would appear true repentance may not have taken place. It would seem to indicate that they are not serious about God, about their salvation, and about obeying God's Word.
They may have stopped willful sin, but have not begun to FOLLOW JESUS. For Jesus would lead them to begin reading and studying HIS Word heavily. Just as a new plant in a garden needs water, so the new born-again Christian needs God's Word. If you gave a new plant in a garden only a few drops of water a week, it would soon die. If you give a new born-again Christian only one, two or three chapters a week, they will soon die, or perhaps they never were born-again to start with.
It is written, LEARN OF ME-Mt 11:29. We are to hear God's Word, study God's Word, meditate in God's Word, and read God's Word. If a person claims they are born-again, yet God's Word does not take first place in their life, then it is a good indicator that the person is not truly born-again, but only thinks they are. They are deceived.
To follow Jesus is, number one—to learn HIS Word and obey it. It is written, Mt 4:19-FOLLOW ME. Mt 8:22-FOLLOW ME. Mt 9:9-FOLLOW ME. Mt 16:24-IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. Mt 19:21-COME AND FOLLOW ME. Many more times these words appear in the Bible, also. The message is loud and clear. A person, even a preacher, even a denominational head, even someone that goes forth to evangelize, BUT does not meditate, study, read, hear, learn, and obey God's Word is not truly following Jesus. As it has already been said, a person that can read, but only reads one, two or three or even four or five chapters a week, is NOT FOLLOWING JESUS. They are not serious about God's Word, which is Jesus. They are certainly not doing God's will. Repentance may never have taken place. A fruit of repentance is doing what God's Word says. A person that does not LABOUR in God's Word or that does not dwell in God's Word cannot grow in faith, in knowledge, in wisdom, and in understanding.
The evidence of repentance is good fruit. It is written, WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM-Mt 7:20.
Practicing willful sin stops. It does not slow down. It does not get reduced. It stops.
Lying stops.
Deceitfulness stops.
Stealing stops. Restitution begins to take place.
Hatred ceases.
Forgiveness for all who have wronged us takes place.
Sex outside of a marriage recognized by God stops.
Fornication stops.
If a person is not married according to God's Word, then a separation takes place until the marriage is accomplished in accordance to God's Word. The person should also be baptized by full immersion afterwards.
Selfishness stops.
Smoking and alcohol stops.
Ancestor worship, and worshipping angels, and demons, and "so-called" saints and idols of every kind including nature, stops. Worship is reserved for the Jesus of the Bible. He is JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH-2 Jn 7.
Praying to the dead, or to, or through "so-called" saints, or Mary stops.
Astrology stops.
A person begins to fear God as the Bible says.
Studying and obeying the Bible begins.
Doing God's will begins.
Following and obeying God begins from the heart.
This is only a very small, partial list.
Some believe they can bind the devil from tempting them. Some believe that when a person sins, others should just pray for them or with them. This is not repentance. There is much deception regarding "repentance." This is all part of the Laodicean church age we now live in. Some come to churches and go to the altars time after time, but they refuse to repent.
If a person claims they have repented, but are not "following" Jesus, then it is solid evidence no repentance has taken place, or the person is backsliding. To follow Jesus is to begin to do in our daily life what Jesus would do. It is to begin to do what Jesus would do in each and every daily situation that arises. The fruits of obedience, the fruits of God’s Spirit, the fruits of God’s work should begin to manifest themselves. Many do what appears to be God’s work, but they are not following Jesus in their daily lives. God’s will does not manifest itself in many things the person does. The fruits of God’s Spirit are at best, lukewarm. God’s will is not obeyed when it is contrary to what the person’s emotions want to do. Sometimes God’s will is not sought in certain situations, because the person does not want to conform to the will of God, if it is contrary to his own will.
AFTER BELIEVING AND REPENTANCE, WATER BAPTISM IS TO TAKE PLACE
After true repentance has taken place, which is in line with God's Word, then the person is to be baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Any baptism before true repentance means absolutely nothing. We are to "first" believe, and then get baptized-ref Mk 16:16. We are to "first" repent, and then get baptized-ref Acts 2:38.
God is not willing that any should perish. God loves you so very deeply that He sent His only begotten Son to suffer a horrible death to atone for your sins. Do you love Him enough to receive this forgiveness? Do you love Him enough to say, "Thank you?" Do you love Him enough to say, "Yes, God, I love You, and will follow You and Your ways?"
If you are willing to turn from all your sins and afterward be baptized by full immersion in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and are willing to give your life totally to Jesus; then I invite you to say this prayer right now and mean it with all your heart: DEAR JESUS, I AM A SINNER. I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD AND DIED FOR MY SINS ON THE CROSS. FORGIVE ALL MY SINS. REMOVE ALL MY DOUBTS. JESUS, I ASK YOU TO COME INTO MY HEART. HELP ME TO FOLLOW AND OBEY YOUR COMMANDMENTS AND TO LIVE FOR YOU. JESUS, I GIVE YOU MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY PRAYER. THANK YOU FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE. I ASK IT IN THE NAME OF MY LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
Love in Christ, (have an exceedingly pleasing day)
Logan C. Edens
