Christian Salvation 101

[John1084]

Most professing Christians generally believe that mankind has a need to be reconciled to God, thereby avoiding Hell and acquiring Heaven in the hereafter. This reconciliation is referred to as salvation.

God has a plan for reconciliation that He has laid out for us in His Word.

Mankind has thousands of his own plans to reconcile himself with God, called religions. The Christian religion has numerous subgroups called denominations. They all have varying plans of salvation and the requirements can be anything their promoters choose to include.

Salvation is the most basic aspect of religion, yet few preachers agree on what is necessary to attain it. Surprisingly, that is of no consequence to most people. We've grown accustomed to seeing a myriad of churches in our cities ranging from unattached garages to magnificent cathedrals and they all claim to be speaking for God while teaching everything under the sun.

Some preachers teach that there is no Hell and there is no need to be saved from it (Unitarian Universalists). God loves everybody and a loving God wouldn't send anyone to such a terrible place.

Other preachers teach that we must obey the Ten Commandments and strive to maintain righteousness in our daily lives if we are to have any hope of avoiding Hell. (Church of Christ) God loves everybody but only the righteous who have no unconfessed sins will enter the gates of Heaven.

Other preachers teach that the divine spark of salvation was lost with the death of the last of the twelve apostles. God then restored salvation to the earth through the power of a latter day apostle, Joseph Smith. (Mormon) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is therefore the only church having the power of salvation today and all others are doomed.

Other preachers teach that there is only one true church recognized by God and that His representative is the divine authority on earth, having the power to bless or to condemn. (Catholic) Only a Catholic priest or representative can absolve the sins of a man to make him blameless before God.

Other preachers teach that God determined in the very beginning, which He would choose to love and those He would choose to hate. Only the people that God has chosen to receive His love have an opportunity to be saved from Hell. (Calvinists) The remainder of the people have evil hearts and will join the ranks with Pharaoh and Judas when they die.

These are only a few of the preachers of "Christian

[HRoberson]

1. I'm not sure your characterization of Church of Christ belief is correct.
2. What's the will of God?