It seems that the majority of religious or denominational differences are based on non-salvation matters. When we came up with this website, our goal was to reach as many people as possible to teach them about the life of Christ. For many years, a motto in our home has been: "Is this a salvation matter?" when it comes to conflicts, stressful situations, or the everyday minor frustrations of life. In our church we really focus on the difference between salvation issues and non-salvation issues. We'd like to share some of these with you.
The issues on the left are subjects that relate directly to your salvation with Jesus Christ. The ones of the right pertain mostly to traditions in church that are not required by Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the Law of Moses died as well (including all the laws of the Jewish customs). Then, when Christ was buried and raised, the law of Love was born. The items on the right, are things that men and women over the course of time have argued about, but Christ is asking us to use Love as the law, not rules and regulations.
One thing to remember, is that if someone believes that a non-salvation issue is really linked to their salvation, then we must not cause them to stumble by encouraging them to sin and doing what they believe is wrong.
Please know, that we are not trying to intentionally hurt someone or cause them to have doubt in God, be we want you to truly search the bible, and find out what JESUS says, not what man says. How did Jesus get saved in the bible? How did Paul get saved? Nicodemus? Cornelius? Find out the answers and parallel your salvation process after theirs. You can find more about the Holy Spirit and the process of salvation by going to this link: Life of Christand following the arrows leading you in the right direction.
3. Stopping that particular sin you have recognized.
4. Make steps to put that sin to a complete hault.
Just "accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior" cannot save you. Keep reading...
...The way to obtain salvation. A man named Ulrich Zwingli was born in 1484. He was 2 months younger than Martin Luther, so they were in a sense contemporaries. Zwingli didn't introduce the "Sinner's Prayer" but he did introduce the "faith only" factor as a way to obtain salvation. He implied that using a simple prayer was the way to salvation. He could be considered the "father of the sinner's prayer" even though he did not write it himself. How did Jesus get saved? How did Paul get saved? How did Cornelius get saved? They didn't use only a prayer to become saved. Many use the verse of Romans 10:9 as a "sinner's prayer" and the only way to get saved. We're not saying that that verse isn't important, but the book of Romans was written to a group of people who were already saved. Paul was writing it to the church in Rome that he had already established.
Salvation comes when the Holy Spirit unites with our spirit. This is done by following Jesus through His death, burial & resurrection (DBR). Our baptism in water is a direct shadow of His DBR as well as His water baptism when He got the Holy Spirit when John the Baptist baptized Him at age 30. See Colossians 2:12;Luke 3:21
Was Jesus sprinkled as a baby or child? Are there any baby baptism's in the bible? Think it over. (The answer is "no").
Instruments in church-drums, guitar, etc.
Traditions in church
Only wearing dresses in church (women) (no pants)
Wearing make-up
Taking communion weekly
Contemporary music vs. traditional
Chewing gum in church
Church names
Church organizations/structures
Gifts of the Spirit
(Some churches believe that if you don't have a particular "gift" then you aren't really saved.) God has the authority and power to give each saved person the gift that they need at that time in their life, not a particular "gift" that man thinks we need.
