Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
A man in the Greek city of Philippi asked a very similar question of Paul and Silas. We know at least three things about this man: he was a jailer, he was a pagan, and he was desperate. He had been...
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Dan Rivers
It is true that one has to "believe" in Jesus in order to be saved and have eternal life with the Lord...John 3:16, John 6:28,29, Rom 10:9,10, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Acts 16:31 So if that is ALL anyone has to do is believe in Jesus in order to be saved from damnation and to live with the Lord forever, then why wouldn't everyone just "believe"? How many people would reject a gift of a million dollars? And isn't eternal life worth much more than that? What is preventing and/or holding back unbelievers from "believing"? I believe the bible answers that question. The answer is primarily in 1 Cor 2:7-16. It basically says that the person WITHOUT the Spirit of God CAN NOT understand the Gospel of Jesus. So how can anyone believe something that they don't understand? 1Co 2:8 NIV - None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1Co 2:14 NIV - The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Isa 11:2 NIV - The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of UNDERSTANDING, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD-- Jesus said, Jhn 14:17 NLT - He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. So it proves true that salvation is of the Lord. He is the ONLY one that can save us. We can't save ourselves Eph 2:8-10 The Lord saves us by giving us his Spirit, by giving us a new life. By making us born-again. When we have understanding (Job 38:36, Ps 119:34,73,130,144,169, Prov 2:6, Prov 3:5, Acts 16:14 then and only then will we choose to believe in Jesus. Praise God!
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