Hi Doves,
 
A couple of days ago, I posed a question, 'Do gay Christians go to heaven?'. I was hoping that the question would help you realize that something is not right with the doctrine, 'Salvation by Faith only' or 'Salvation by Grace only'.
 
A couple of doves carefully suggested that the Gay Christians with weakness toward the particular sin of homosexuality should be saved by faith in Jesus, just the same as most other Christians with weakness to other sins; based on the fact that they all believe Jesus Christ as Savior.
 
All other doves who replied, answered with conviction that repentance is absolutely required for salvation, which was quite surprising but wonderful to see. I praise the Lord in allowing the truth to so many (more than I imagined) in this day of stressing only grace! and faith!
 
Although this group (forgive me for grouping) of believers look like they advocate Salvation by Faith only, it's not really the same, because without repentance, one is not saved anyways so it's not really 'Salvation by Faith only' but in essence it's actually 'Salvation by Faith and Repentance'.
 
 
However, the question was more directed to the group representing the overwhelming majority of Christians, today; those who believe in the Salvation by Faith only doctrine but who will hesitate to suggest that Homosexuals are saved, too.
 
I mean if your pastor preached that Homosexuals are saved, too, wouldn't you be alarmed, thinking if you are attending a wrong church?
 
But, Salvation by Faith only doctrine teaches that although someone might have a hard time overcoming a sin, he is still saved as long as he accepted Jesus as Savior and confesses him as Lord, because, there is not a single righteous man on earth.
 
For this group of believers, the question poses a dilemma. When asked, they can't really establish the notion that one is saved by faith in Jesus alone regardless of his works or condition, unless they admit that Gay Christians must be saved, too! It's logically impossible.
 
I once asked a Christians friend I know, and he ended up arguing that Gay Christians are saved, too.
 
 
Which is why maybe, there wasn't a single post defending the 'Salvation by Faith only' and at the same time say that Gay Christians are not saved, as a conservative Christian (which represents the majority group) should.
 
 
Now, I'm not saying all this to win against the 'Salvation by Faith only' camp or to win an argument. I'm trying to make people see the fallacy in the doctrine, so that they can repent and be saved.
 
If you ask me, I'm very emotional against this doctrine. Because, it's sending many of my friends, in my church, along the path toward the unthinkable.
 
Even in my worship team that I'm in, in my church, many of them confess that they have hard time winning against sin and hesitate to give their life to Jesus, staying in the sin of disobedience. Maybe, they don't feel the urgency to get rid of sins or dedicate their lives to Jesus, because, they think it is not absolutely needed for salvation.
 
 
If you think of it, this matter is really of gigantic proportion. Because of this faulty belief, probably 90% of all Christians are hesitating to repent of their sins and to give their lives to Jesus.
 
Someone might ask "What does giving life to Jesus have to do with salvation?" Giving life to Jesus means to decide to obey him in life. Deciding to do what God wants us to do in our lives and to follow him in obedience, every step of the way. Not deciding to do that, is disobedience because God has a plan for every Christian in their lives to work for him and his kingdom. And, disobedience is sin (As Paul N.F says in his posts. You guys probably already have figured out why the owner of this website puts his posts on top of the list everyday). As a matter of fact, disobedience is the beginning of all sins. And, 90% of Christians (maybe more) are not repenting from this sin of disobedience. Jesus said only a few will enter the narrow gate. He said it 2,000 years ago, and it's the reality today.
 
The main cause? I believe, it's the doctrine of Salvation by Faith only. One is not saved by depending on Jesus only. He has to also decide to obey him and repent. Then, he will be born again as a son of God with new godly characters and be saved. Endure to the end; he will enter the Kingdom of God.
 
 
Eddie Sohn
 
esohn@rogers.com
 
p.s, I'm sorry if I caused a confusion; some of you might have thought that I was a Gay Christian. I guess I didn't make my position as clear as I should.