Christians

[graphicsguy]

Hi,

Would any/all of the Christians on this board mind summing up as succinctly as possible just what you personally believe?

Reading through some topics I find it very strange what some of you say (based on what I used to believe) and how much your beliefs differ from each other.

I was very evangelical (pentecostal), believed the Bible was the infallible Word directly from God, baptism in the Holy Spirit, baptism in water, eternal punishment in hell, everlasting glory in heaven, we all have a purpose to bring glory to God, etc.

[OnceConvinced]

So if a person becomes a christian and then later in life rejects christ, they still get into heaven. And all of this i can prove with scripture

If a person becomes a Christian he will never reject Christ. It is possible for a person to make a profession of being a Christian but not really repent of his sins or have true faith. He might even deceive himself and think that he is really a Christian. This type of "Christian" can later turn from the faith and deny Christ, but this rejection is evidence that he was never really saved in the first place. "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they are not of us." (1 John 2:19, ESV)

So what makes you so sure you are a Christian? You could be decieving yourself. You may not have really repented of your sins. You may not have true faith. So how do you know? How many years faithfully serving God and worshiping him do you need to go through before you can be assured you are a true Chrstian? Is 30 years enough?

I guess you don't believe Judas was a true Christian. Or that Paul was wrong when he considered even himself in danger of falling from the faith.

[scottlittlefield17]

What about the verses that say that your name can be erased from the book of life?

[elle]

What about the verses that say that your name can be erased from the book of life?

Which ones are those?

[McCulloch]

What about the verses that say that your name can be erased from the book of life?

Which ones are those?

I believe that scottlittlefield17's post was in error. I think that there is only one such verse:

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

and it's reference is weak. He is saying that he will not erase certain names. Scottlittlefield17 must imply from that that he will erase other names.

[OnceConvinced]

What about the verses that say that your name can be erased from the book of life?

Can you provide a reference for that one? I believe you are right, but would love to know the exact scripture.

[OnceConvinced]

What about the verses that say that your name can be erased from the book of life?

Which ones are those?

I believe that scottlittlefield17's post was in error. I think that there is only one such verse:

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

and it's reference is weak. He is saying that he will not erase certain names. Scottlittlefield17 must imply from that that he will erase other names.

It would seem logical to me, otherwise there would be no mention of erasing names at all.

[elena]

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
And in Jesus Christ
His only Son, Our Lord
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Born of the Virgin Mary
Suffered under Pontius Pilate
Was crucified, died and was buried.
On the third day, he rose again
He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand
of God, the Father Almighty.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the Communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.