Bible Question (short): Who can refute reasoning? |
Question (full): People have been responding on this forum with what they think is within the responsibility of those that believe, in order to be saved; the options are varied. The big ones are baptism, communion, speaking with tongues and faith with works. All of these can be eliminated by one verse or another when one uses the Scripture as the final authority. I would like to ask if there is any way to eliminate what I have to suggest, that comes from Isaiah. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The one thing that cannot be eliminated from the process of salvation that is found in Isaiah, is REASON! We all know that God has provided salvation to all through His Son. John wrote his portion of the gospel so that we might have life by believing in Jesus. John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. The only thing that one must include in order to have salvation is the ability to think, or as God said through Isaiah, the ability to reason. The process of reasoning is none meritorious action on the part of the one doing the thinking and the Holy Spirit guides the thought process. As long as a person has the ability to reason they can be saved. The ability to do anything but reason it excluded and that takes care of all the other scenarios otherwise God is a respecter of persons, which we know is false. Reasoning is the only possible option for the thief on the cross because he can do nothing, other then think. A person could be buried hundreds of feet under ground in a mine and unable to talk to anyone, be baptized, speak in tongues or anything else, but if they can still reason, God is able to save their soul, if they are willing to believe in Jesus Christ and trust in Him for their eternal future. Can anyone refute this with Scripture? CDBJ |