Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: bgsuvax!kutz@cis.ohio-state.edu (Kenneth J. Kutz) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: at the last moment Message-ID: Date: 5 Apr 91 08:54:51 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh. Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , MAS139@psuvm.psu.edu writes: > I have always wondered about the passage concerning the robber > on the cross who was saved right before he died. If this is > possible, why should anyone be "saved" before the last moment? > What I mean is, what is the incentive to be true to the Word if > salvation can come at the last moment of life? The book of Romans teaches that a person can only have one of two masters, sin or Christ. It is an illusion to believe that before one submits to the Lordship of Christ, he or she is free. That person is in bondage to sin. Everything that person does has a selfish motive. Oh, you may have to dig deep to find it, but it's there. If someone does something to be a "good person", that's pride, and pride is a sin. After coming to Christ, we are freed from that bondage of sin and FREE to obey. This is newfound freedom never before experienced. You become alive to God, forever able and willing to obey the one who made us to serve Him. There is unspeakable JOY that comes from obedience to the Lord. This joy cannot be generated from sin. ROM 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. ROM 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ROM 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ROM 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -- Kenneth J. Kutz Internet kutz@andy.bgsu.edu Systems Programmer BITNET KUTZ@ANDY University Computer Services UUCP ...!osu-cis!bgsuvax!kutz Bowling Green State Univ. US Mail 238 Math Science, BG OH 43403