Author	Thread: What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Admin	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 12:36 PM In Reformed Theology, this must be a bummer of a question if asked of them by an unbeliever. After all, the doctrine of Total Depravity would render this question as impossible to answer because man is so totally depraved he can't see past his sin, doesn't have the ability to even consider God, is without hope, and there is absolutely nothing he can do to be saved, much less ask how to be saved. So why did the unbelieving keeper of the prison ask Paul and Silas, "what must I do to be saved?" And why did they answer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"? Where in the question is Total Depravity? Where in the answer is Irresistible Grace? What, Dear Reformed Theologist, must I do to be saved? Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 01:17 PM You must not understand Total depravity if you think a question like "What must i do to be saved?" bothers a reformed Christian. They can simply tell the person by placing their faith in Jesus. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 01:44 PM Zaohagios, Based on the definition of Total Depravity, man being so depraved he can't respond to the Gospel, how can the Reformist tell a nonbeliever [who is totally depraved] to place their faith in Jesus? Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:01 PM Basically, the doctrine of total depravity says... "that man is so corrupted by sin, that he is utterly unable to contribute anything to his regeneration, even the simplest act of seeking God, believing in him, or coming to him." Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:27 PM How can he not tell him? We are called to spread the Gospel to everyone. If they believe or not, it is in the hands of God. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:42 PM Total Depravity also means that man does not want to reconcile his relationship with God. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:42 PM Total Depravity also means that man does not want to reconcile his relationship with God. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:54 PM Zaohagios, Agreed. We are instructed to preach to Gospel to the lost. But this is a different scenario here. One that goes against the beliefs of Reformed Theology. This is a non-believing man approaching a Believer, asking him what he must do to be saved. Reformed Theology [RT] teaches that man is unable to seek God, believe in Him, or come to him. Man is totally depraved in those areas. Therefore, how can a nonbeliever even approach the RT if he is so pathetically depraved? According to RT, he can't. According to Scripture, he can. The jailor proves this when he asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved. His answer was simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and he would be saved. This puts him, the non-believing prison keeper, in the position of either believing this shared Word or not. His decision. This is what he needed to do in order to be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 02:58 PM "Total Depravity also means that man does not want to reconcile his relationship with God." I've not heard that definition before. I don't think our Resident RT has mentioned it either. In any event, I don't think it's the norm for the definition of "total depravity" though. Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 06:58 PM 71 said: "Total Depravity also means that man does not want to reconcile his relationship with God." I've not heard that definition before. I don't think our Resident RT has mentioned it either. In any event, I don't think it's the norm for the definition of "total depravity" though. James replies: Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Man does not want to reconcile His relationship with God. In Romans 1:18 Paul says that natural man actually "Represses the knowledge of God" Meaning fallen mankind uses FORCE to push back the knowledge of God. So, again Mankind does NOT want to reconcile himself with God. In Christ, James Post Reply
View Profile History	What Must I Do To Be Saved? Posted : 31 May, 2011 07:11 PM 71 said: So why did the unbelieving keeper of the prison ask Paul and Silas, "what must I do to be saved?" And why did they answer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"? James replies: Two possibilities..... 1. the Holy Spirit had made this man come alive Spiritually, and the man was just doing what is normal for his new heart. 2. He was just a lost man, inquiring about a belief that he had heard about. As far as their answer, there is no other answer, so why would you ask that? You actually expected them to launch into an extended teaching of the fallenness of man? The Gospel first, and then for those who accept it, Milk, then later..... MEAT. In Christ, James Post Reply

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