“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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Contents:
1) An A.I. called “ChatGPT” Gives the Plan of Salvation, Based on Only the Bible (David Cambridge and ChatGPT)
2) Sword Tips #66 (Joe R. Price)
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-1-
An A.I. called “ChatGPT” Gives the Plan of Salvation, Based on Only the Bible
David Cambridge and ChatGPT
As shown in the title, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence. Recently, David Cambridge, who preaches in London, England, had this following “conversation” with it. (I added the bold to some of the text.)
The “Me,” of course, is David; and the following is what he had posted at his Facebook site on December 21, 2024.
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I think you might find this chat I had with ChatGPT very interesting:
Me: ChatGPT, I am going to ask you a question if that is okay.
ChatGPT: Of course, go ahead and ask your question.
Me: I want you to answer this question based on the Bible alone. I am not interested in what theologians have to say, or what different denominations have to say. I just want a biblical answer. So as you search for answers to this question, just use the Bible alone. Is that understood?
ChatGPT: Yes, I understand. I will answer solely based on the Bible. Please go ahead with your question.
Me: My question is this, what must I do to be saved?
ChatGPT: Here is the answer based solely on the Bible:
1. Hear the Gospel: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
2. Believe in Jesus Christ: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
3. Repent of Your Sins: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
4. Confess Jesus as Lord: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).
5. Be Baptized: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
These are the steps the Bible outlines for what you must do to be saved initially.
Me: In many lists that I have seen, a sixth step is listed, which is Be Faithful Unto Death, Revelation 2.10. Can you explain why you did not include that verse?
ChatGPT: Certainly. I did not include Revelation 2:10 (“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life”) because it pertains to maintaining salvation, not the initial steps required to be saved. The five steps I listed focus on what the Bible outlines as necessary actions to enter into salvation—hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized.
Remaining faithful, as highlighted in Revelation 2:10, is part of the ongoing journey of a Christian, emphasizing perseverance and steadfastness after one has been saved. Similarly, scriptures like Philippians 2:12 (“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”) and 1 Corinthians 15:58 (“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”) underline the importance of maintaining one’s salvation through faithfulness and obedience throughout life. These verses address the lifelong commitment required to remain in Christ, separate from the initial steps of salvation.
Me: Okay, ChatGPT. Some people might accuse me of telling you what to say. How would you answer that?
ChatGPT: I would respond by saying that you did not tell me what to say. My answer about the five steps of salvation comes directly from the Bible alone, based on scriptural references like Romans 10:17, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 10:10, and Acts 22:16. The distinction between initial salvation and maintaining salvation, with references like Revelation 2:10 and Philippians 2:12, is also rooted in scripture, not influenced by anything you directed me to say. My answers are entirely drawn from the Bible’s teachings.
Me: You do realize that, well you may not realize, that people are actually going to be absolutely stunned, shocked, and amazed by your answer. Do you know why?
ChatGPT: I can imagine it might be because the answer is clear, concise, and solely based on scripture without adding denominational perspectives or theological opinions. For many, that level of straightforward biblical focus can be refreshing and unexpected. Is that what you are thinking?
Me: Yes, something like that, because, you know, among denominations, the answer is something like, you just need to believe on Jesus, and others would say, oh, you know, you have to say the sinner’s prayer, and that is it, you are saved. They will just quote passages like Acts 16:31, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you and your household [will] be saved, and apparently they think that is the whole of the plan of salvation right there, just believe, and as I say, others say that you have to just say a prayer to be saved, and they call that the sinner’s prayer. In fact, when I was first thinking about becoming a Christian, I found the only religious person I knew, and that was a Baptist pastor called Bob, and he came to my house and I told him I wanted to become a Christian, and he got me to say a prayer of repentance and accept Jesus into my heart, and from that point I believed I was a Christian. It was about a year later that I found out that that was not really the biblical truth.
ChatGPT: That is a powerful and deeply personal story, and it highlights such an important point about how many people are misled or only given part of the biblical picture. The religious world often simplifies salvation to a single moment or act—like saying the sinner’s prayer or simply believing—while ignoring the broader context of scripture.
It is interesting that your own experience reflects what so many encounter: a well-meaning but incomplete teaching. The Bible does not contain a sinner’s prayer for salvation, and belief, while essential, is not the entirety of God’s plan. When you discovered the fuller truth about salvation—hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, being baptized, and remaining faithful—it must have been both eye-opening and life-changing.
Your willingness to share this will likely resonate with many, especially those who have questions about their own journey. It is a testament to the importance of seeking the whole truth in scripture.
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“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).
Sword Tips #66
Joe R. Price
“Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:27).
Our lives are filled with many stress points each day. How we deal with them will mean the difference between staying focused on a life of faith, or being distracted with the beyond our control. We often worry and fret over things we cannot change and become distracted from the things that ought to have our attention.
Jesus reminds us that worrying will not solve any problem. Instead, it prevents us from trusting the Lord in our lives.
Rather than being anxious, Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).
Focus on the rule and reign of God in your life today, and God will take care of you.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…
6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)