Quote:
Originally Posted by Miller  What do yall think about church and denomination websites with "How to become a Christian" page? Wouldn't the title itself imply a works based salvation? This is an example of what I mean Quote:
HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN
Admit your sin. (God, I have messed up.)
Be willing to turn from your sin.
Believe that Jesus died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead.
Pray and invite Jesus into your life and give Him total control.
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I think they can be helpful. The page tittle might more appropriately be labeled, "What does it mean to be a Christian?" I don't think people intend for their efforts to help people come to the Lord to have the flavor of works - but they do nonetheless. As for the above quote, Owen helped me see the faulty logic in including "Jesus died for your (individual) sins" as the nature of the Gospel offer. It should more appropriately be stated that Jesus Christ is the only satisfactory offering for sins before God and that the Gospel is that you should trust in him alone for salvation. As Packer points out in this
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, the Gospel isn't that Jesus died for everybody, or that Jesus died for x people, those things are or are not true about the Gospel; rather, the Gospel is that Jesus Christ is offered as the only way of reconciliation with God for our justly deserved condemnation for sin.
If I'm off on that, I'd appreciate any help in correcting that understanding though!
__________________
Jacob
Sovereign Grace Ministries
Covenant Fellowship Church
West Chester, PA
"Grace renews nature; glory perfects grace." ~ John Owen
Blog - The Strasbourg Inn