Posted on 01/15/2022 5:06:53 PM PST by TNoldman
My Wife and I are Christians who have been Baptized. I attend an Evangelical Church on a regular basis - my Wife attends a local Methodist Church occasionally. My Wife is very knowledgeable about the Bible and most always looks and finds very positive guides in the Bible. We discuss the Bible together.
We love God and Pray often.
Our Friend worries that my Wife will go to Hell and talks fearfully that she is not SAVED.
We know we are flawed but we have declared our love for God and Jesus publicly thru Adult Baptism. We know we are a work in progress!!!!
Comments invited.
If the relationship of you and your wife with Christ is strong, then who cares what your “friend” says? If he persists, maybe you need to review the wisdom of keeping that friendship.
These two core doctrines are what unites most Christian denominations in accepting each other as Christian. And it's what is used by the mainstream churches to determine when a group crosses the line and ceases to be "Christian".
The plan of salvation is pretty simple.
If you get those two core doctrines right, you can have all sorts of heretical beliefs and still be Christian.
Methodists don't teach anything different regarding those two doctrines. So assuming your wife's faith is in Jesus. Then I would be examining your friend's faith. What does he think salvation requires. And is he adding to faith in Jesus, requirements that are not scriptural.
“Neither one of the individuals you described is good enough to get into heaven.”
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone.”
None of us are ‘good’. That’s a simple fact. Ask Jesus. He is the one who said so.
I would hit ‘em with:
“Judge not lest ye be judged” and
“ If there any among you who are without sin, then throw the first stone…”
Judging the faith and salvation status of others is a sure sign that this person does not have a firm grasp of biblical teachings. Kind of like the The Dunning-Kruger effect on Christian faith.
Baptism doesn’t save you.
———————————————
That’s a flat out lie. 1st Peter 3:21 and many more verses tell us baptism is essential unto salvation. And don’t bring up the thief on the cross. You know better than that.
A good friend cares about the salvation of their friends.
So no you don’t need better friends.
We all need to trust in Christ for our salvation. This is evidenced by many things. Worship. Obedience. Without that fruit you might wonder is the trust there?
Does she acknowledge that she is a sinner? Does she believe that Jesus paid for her sin? Does she trust him alone for her salvation? These are not small questions.
The United Methodists deny the authority of scripture. They allow for things like the abomination of homosexuality and support abortionists and “missionaries” that teach a good works salvation. Perhaps your wife does not. But if not why be affiliated with them? I’d have concerns, too.
Your "friend" is way, way out of line.
And, also, very weird.
I'd distance myself from this friendship right quick.
Actually we can’t witness as commanded unless we “judge “ that someone does not know the gospel.
That’s a flat out lie. 1st Peter 3:21 and many more verses tell us baptism is essential unto salvation. And don’t bring up the thief on the cross. You know better than that.
Don’t confuse the two......................
Why are you letting this “friend” insert themselves into your marriage?
And why do you take their fearful yapping seriously?
Man up and tell them to mind their own business.
Only the grace of God gets one across into the pearly gates.
***************************************************
And Jesus died to forgive all the sins and sinners. God’s grace is a gift that can’t be earned, it’s an inheritance bestowed on mankind by a loving, forgiving God. To believe that you have to say the right words, attend the right church, forgive all your enemies only then will you make it into heaven. If not, God is going to throw you into a fiery pit for eternity because you just didn’t get it right. Does that about sum up the gospel of our loving God spewed by our modern-day church?
The phrase Born Again and what it means, and to what degree causes a great deal of consternation among Christians in my opinion. It even goes to the extent that some Catholics belief the members of the other Christian churches will burn and likewise many, particularly evangelical followers believe that no Catholic will be saved as they had not been, Born Again.
I think it is mostly semantics and like others here pray and trust what you feel and believe.
If you believe in the risen Lord isn’t that the point?
There’s no confusion on my part. Water baptism is as necessary as repenting, believing and confessing in order to gain salvation.
It’s the folks who point to the thief on the cross, or the folks who prayed the believers prayer, or the folks who made a gospel call, or nonsense like that who are confused.
Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus.
Binge Archbishop Fulton John Sheen of immense fame on radio and the small screen.
Study the Church Fathers.
Watch The Song of Bernadette.
Study Our Lady of Fatima and the Miracle of the Sun.
“O Seculo” was no Catholic house organ.
Thermodynamics has no answer for where all of that moisture went.
Heretical beliefs?
Titus 3:10 says something different about that.
“Talks fearfully that she has not been saved”. You have to be kidding? Is your wife a good person and do you love your wife? If this is a yes, defend your wife, your oath to her and dump these “friends” immediately, they are evil. Ask yourself what kind of people attempt to turn a man against his wife because she chooses her own form of Christian worship?
“the devil comes in many forms and guises.. Be aware be very aware”
There is certainly not enough information to draw conclusions. I would ask the friend specifically why they believe as they do. The Bible does talks about the potential need to confront fellow Christians at times and when necessary and how to handle.
I do have a couple of general observations based on what you wrote.
Hillary Clinton claims to be a Methodist. There are better Methodists and worse Methodists. Same can be said for members of most denominations. Someone claiming to be an ABC doesn’t necessarily mean a lot.
As you likely know, the Bible contains scripture that is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training. Many people, and sometimes whole churches, focus on just the positive motivational verses to the exclusion of others. That is not wise.
I will say a prayer for you tonight.
Dear Abby responds: “Your friend is creepy. Put some distance between your friend and your life. If your wife is happier by the distancing, you will both be better off. If your wife isn’t happier, then it’s a more serious problem”.
Hell in terms of Gehenna is only for the most depraved and unrepentant, who deliberately and knowingly fight against God. Look up the unpardonable sin.
And since Jesus said that it is he who endures to the end who shall be saved, don’t we all still have a long way to go?
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