Questions

[markedward]

Both Testaments equally display God's holiness/justice/grace/mercy. They're all the same thing. His mercy isn't the opposite of his justice; they're the same thing. Jesus, likewise, talked a great deal about judgment... so it's simply inaccurate to say that God shows more of (or, only) his "just and holy" side in the OT than he does in the NT, or vice versa with his "grace and mercy"... they're equally displayed in both Testaments.

And the dichotomy really shouldn't exist to begin with. Separating the Old Testament from the New Testament like we're doing here is like separating Genesis from Exodus, or 1 Kings from 2 Kings, or Romans from Galatians. You might find some emphasis on certain things between each individual book, but that doesn't mean the other things aren't there at all.

[Daisy]

I couldn't find anything that specifies spouse or children. Below is a scripture that points to Solomon's house being sanctified. I have heard it said that when a Christian resides in a house that the whole house becomes sanctified (set apart for God's use). It does stand to reason that a spouse and children living there would/could also be used by God - santified. But whether they are SAVED is between the individual and God. I believe that it requires belief to be saved unless one is innocent. As for children too young to choose between good and evil, they are innocent. They are neither good or bad. They just are. They are innocent, like Adam and Eve before the fall. Like a Dove. From what I get out of OT and NT is that when we are born again our good and bad are erased from God's judgement and we become innocent like an infant before God.

There are several points I agree with you on. All children below age of making good/bad decisions (before sin) are saved. Even though they are not born again, they have not had a chance to sin.

One place you and your friend may be confused is on the Left Behind thing. Christians will be on earth, but will be protected. The "back slid" thing sound made up.
Christians Left Behind

Hope this helps.

2 Chronicles 7:16
For I have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually.

Left Behind were my friend's words, not mine, and yes, I think when my friend brought up the back slid thing, it was either something he read somewhere, or was grasping at straws.

[Daisy]

I do appreciate everyone taking time to answer, given time restraints I don't have time to answer everyone but I did read everyone's replies.

Given that, I did not ask these questions to spark a debate, or have things put forth as I'm right, your wrong kind of thing.

I DO believe in once saved, always saved, I do not believe that God will take one's Free Gift of Salvation from someone as long as they believe, that would then negate what Christ did on the cross.

I take John 3:16 to heart.

It's ok if someone disagrees with my belief, but after being a Christian for over 35 years, growing up in the church, Bible studies, reading and praying, this is my belief. If I am wrong, then that's between me and God, and I am sure I am not alone in this belief.

No, I don't know everything there is to know about the Bible, but I do know what I believe. And I also know when you have a forum like this there will be many different beliefs and perspectives.

If someone does convey a difference of opinion, I listen, and pray that if what they say is true then I will have a clear understanding.

My belief is that God loves us so much, that even in our sin He still loves us, after all He loved us so much that He died for us.

What I realize is that I don't need a big theological debate, the only thing I need is God's Holy Spirit dwelling within me.

I would rather love God as a child then get caught up in how all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted in the Bible. I enjoy the Bible as God's Holy Word, as He reveals himself to me through His word.

I think people make it so much more complicated than it really is.

[TomH]

Left Behind were my friend's words, not mine, and yes, I think when my friend brought up the back slid thing, it was either something he read somewhere, or was grasping at straws.

Back slid or Back slide has been around for years. Falling away, is more appropriate, sinning is even better.

I've always seen it in this context.

A person who smokes and quits repents of that sin. If at some point in the future, he should light up, he has backslid.

Nothing at all wrong with using the term in the context it was originally meant for.

[Athanasius]

I do appreciate everyone taking time to answer, given time restraints I don't have time to answer everyone but I did read everyone's replies.

Given that, I did not ask these questions to spark a debate, or have things put forth as I'm right, your wrong kind of thing.

I DO believe in once saved, always saved, I do not believe that God will take one's Free Gift of Salvation from someone as long as they believe, that would then negate what Christ did on the cross.

I take John 3:16 to heart.

It's ok if someone disagrees with my belief, but after being a Christian for over 35 years, growing up in the church, Bible studies, reading and praying, this is my belief. If I am wrong, then that's between me and God, and I am sure I am not alone in this belief.

No, I don't know everything there is to know about the Bible, but I do know what I believe. And I also know when you have a forum like this there will be many different beliefs and perspectives.

If someone does convey a difference of opinion, I listen, and pray that if what they say is true then I will have a clear understanding.

My belief is that God loves us so much, that even in our sin He still loves us, after all He loved us so much that He died for us.

What I realize is that I don't need a big theological debate, the only thing I need is God's Holy Spirit dwelling within me.

I would rather love God as a child then get caught up in how all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted in the Bible. I enjoy the Bible as God's Holy Word, as He reveals himself to me through His word.

I think people make it so much more complicated than it really is.

If I may suggest - at the risk of being rude - those people who "make things more complicated" (and these people aren't making things more complicted by the way, if my opinion may be so biased as I am often labeled one such person) do so because they tend to think of their faith in terms of "how will I relate to other people because of 'X' belief" ('X' can be any belief) or "does 'X' belief make sense? It is true?". Perhaps I make an error in generalizing from a specific (i.e. people like me tend to think like me), but from what I've seen of others like me, I don't think so. That is to say that what you've said above is filled with a lot of "I's", and the idea that your beliefs aren't significant to your immediate surroundings, relationships, etc. ("between me and God") The 'fact' that you may be among a multitude who hold a certain belief also doesn't make it true, consensus tends to be tricky that way (as an example, it's very often said that people used to believe in a flat earth... Yet almost no one did - this is a myth of modern revisionist history). And just to say, a lot of what you address above hasn't been said by anyone but yourself. Remember, you're asking in the 'Apologetics and Evangelism' forum. The assumption is that your beliefs, as stated in this and other threads, willl inform how you evangelize. If there is an error in some of those beliefs (e.g., the OT / NT discussion), they absolutely need correcting.

I mean, it doesn't matter how long you've ben a Christian, there is always room for growing. And again I don't say this to be rude, but it appears as if you take a very short-sighted view of your faith and its implications. Hmm, let the firestorm begin...