Replies

Thanks for the post. I have long believed that the "Billy Graham" conversion experience can be very misleading, especially when you consider that most evangelicals believe in eternal security--"once saved, always saved." Many professing Christians believe that going forward at a Billy Graham crusade, Bible camp, or church service when they were five years old is enough, even when their lives do not reflect the change one would expect to see in a true convert. There are also many Christians who believe that in order to be saved, one MUST go through a "conversion experience" (usually an emotional one), though that isn't backed up with Scripture. Combine that with eternal security and you have a dangerous combination--people begin to assume that their eternal destiny is based solely on that emotional "conversion experience" they had way back when, and not on a true faith in Christ.

Puritan author John Bunyan's (1628-1688) popular book Pilgrim's Progress, (http://www.ccel.org/b/bunyan/progress/title.html) was the believer's bedside companion to the Bible in early American life at least until the frontiers had been settled. Salvation was seen by Bunyan as a perilous journey, but "he who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

Bunyan was a Calvinist.

Now, did he believe that 'he who endures to the end will be saved' or one who endures to the end knows that he is saved!

The difference is important, since the Calvinist view of 'eternal security' is finding out if one is really the elect or not and that is what 'perserverance' is suppose to reveal to them.

Thus, the Calvinist produce fruits to show they are saved, the Arminian produces fruit to stay saved, the believer in eternal security produces fruit because he is saved.

This made me think of a Radio show in our area..Last night show made me LOL

The name of the show is "Talk from the Heart" it is pop psy mixed with Jesus show

The caller was lamenting her difficut life (typical) I missed the early part but where I came in it seems this woman had several children with different men...( I do not know if she had married any of them). One had just walked out . I think she wanted him back , at least that was the "drift" I got. She was worried because of her loss of security..she wanted ideas and reassurance..

So the hostess kept asking her if she wanted to "ask Christ into her life"

The honest if immoral woman kept saying things like if it will give me security . That is why I called"

The hostess kept trying to get her to say she wanted Jesus ..finally they had some kind of meeting of the minds (I did not hear the woman say clearly that she was desiring God)

So the sinners prayer began

A paraphrase here

"Father I thank you for loving me. I am sorry I made mistakes and I ask you to forgive me and come into my life. ..etc etc...

Yep no one sins anymore..they just make "mistakes"

Now I can not read that womans heart..but I did not hear a repentant heart .I did not hear a submissive heart..I heard some one that needs Gods help right now and the magic prayer just might do it

How different from Peters call to conversion

Act 3:17   And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers.
Act 3:18   But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Act 3:19   Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
   Act 3:20   And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 4:9   If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
   Act 4:10   Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11   This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Repent and Believe

No "mistakes" for Peter