>>9178753Not him, but my response would be a resolute "yes". Either Jesus is saving you because you're a hopeless sinner who comes short of the glory of God, or you're saving yourself, full stop. I know saved heroine addicts whos lives are a complete trainwreck but they can give you crystal clear testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ, and I've met scores of straight laced "church people" who are dropping straight into hell when they die because at the end of the day they're trusting in their obedience to save them, and scoff at the idea of saved heroine addicts, "sinners", etc. because they can't stand the idea that
>those kinds of peopleget to go to heaven when they die just as much as they do, so they have to add in a bunch of works/obedience requirements to salvation to show that only the "church people" types are actually going to make it.
I'm not directing this at you, but the people who look down on others as "sinners" (as opposed to themselves who are such good little Catholics/Protestants/Orthodox/whatevers) and declare that if you commit X sins or are a "degenerate" then you aren't really saved are all hypocrites and overwhelmingly unsaved themselves. Jesus specifically preached on this subject.
Luke 18:10-14
>Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.>The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.>I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.>And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.>I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Jesus Christ preached once saved always saved, and I have no shame in standing on that.
