Hello brother Darryl,
I enjoyed reading your post. There are a couple things that you wrote I would enjoy clarification on if you don't mind?
Let me begin with this sentence you wrote:
"It is my understanding that we MUST ask God to forgive us, in the name of His Son, and accept the awesome gift of salvation..."
Darryl, about 150 times in what is referred to as the NT it is states salvation comes by "believing." Actually 135 times it reads believing and 35 times it states salvation comes by faith.
Believe or having faith in what? The Gospel of Grace, that is believing (relying on, trusting in) Jesus died on the cross paying our sin debt in full, was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day. (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rom 4:25)
I don't recall off hand, without doing some research, that Paul taught salvation comes from asking God to forgive us. Do you have any scriptural evidence for this belief, Darryl? I am not saying there isn't any but I just don't recall it. But being I am 65 years old now, my memory sure isn't what is use to be. I may well be wrong.
When I made the statement "I believe when a person remains impenitent and an unbeliever, he is still pardoned by God ''objectively'' and really -- but he does not benefit from that awesome truth." Darryl, in this statement I was referring to a lost person, not a person who is saved and sins.
And then you stated "I believe that you are mistaken about this, and that this statement actually borders into the false belief that is taught in the UU churches; i.e., that everyone is saved."
Salvation is not merely getting one's sins forgiven (as important and necessary as forgiveness is) as the bible teaches the punish for sin is death (spiritual and physical.) and that the "gift" of God is eternal life. What is a dead man's greatest need........life, spiritual life.
So there is a huge difference in believing Christ died on the cross 2000 years ago forgiving mankind sins and universal salvation that teaches everyone has eternal life and their final destination is heaven.
Well, it past my bed time so I will close for now. Hope to hear from you soon Darryl.
Your friend in Christ,
Jimmy
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