I like the part about "murderers, whoremongers and liars".
David was all that and more but he got wrote up pretty good anyway.
You made a public accusation against me.
Then you asked a question.
I answered that with Scriptural backing.
Now it's your turn to answer mine.
"Jesus also warned about that fate more than once.
So, what's the solution?
Try harder to not sin?
Compare yourself to someone with less will power, or with those in prison and hope God grades on a curve?
What do you think?"
Not really a "public accusation", more like an observation.
Let me frame this a bit so you can understand my perspective. I was raised Baptist, not the southern fun kind, the northern non-denominational kind. Fire and brimstone, all stick no carrot.
Honestly, I think God is in heaven face-palming. (I mean no disrespect, just being illustrative) I can picture him saying, "all I require is their acknowledgment, love and faith and they had to complicate it with their rules, rituals and pioty."
To (hopefully) answer your question, everyone is a candidate. Faith is the key and Godliness is the path and I don't think you need to be a (pick a category) religion to achieve this.
Not looking for a drawn out debate, just my humble opinion.
Thanks for your answer. I appreciate a civil discussion. Like you, I've heard a variety of Baptist preaching/ teaching too.
I try to judge the merits of each individual message on the basic Bible doctrines that have been established in many books.
I agree with you that everyone starts out as a candidate for the grace of God. He died for all.
The points was trying to make is that none of us deserve anything but he'll because our sins have separated us from God. Before one can understand His grace, they must see their need for salvation. Most people are comparing themselves to others or hoping to live up to God's approval somehow.
I wrongly believed that God had scales in heaven to weigh my good and bad. Then I was shown that I was wrong.
I was trusting in my behavior and ability to live up to my personal notion of righteousness with God. I reconsidered when I was shown several profound truths.
Ephesians 2
"For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast."
-grace is the kindness that we don't earn or deserve.
-faith is believing or trust
That kindness is not offered due to works. It is solely offered through faith. It is offered as a gift from God. When we try to offer God a work (fill in the blank), then we aren't truly trusting in His only begotten Son alone as I learned from John 3:16.
You've no doubt heard this a hundred times.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Again, salvation is a gift from God...."he gave" ...
It's through His Son Who gave His life on our behalf.
The gift of everlasting life is offered by the giving of the life of the Son. It is received when we do what?
Jesus answers this two verses later.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
This is the profound simple truth that I considered.
I was already condemned for trusting in my obedience, goodness, lack of criminal activity...
I then saw that it was Christ's sacrifice alone, Who took back His life 3 days later. I realized this and decided to ask God for that gift by faith in His promises.
That is what I believe in a nutshell about salvation.
Does that make sense?