Christ Alone is the Only Way of Salvation

Reformed Bibliophile ^ | September 11, 2011 | J.C. Ryle

[ReformationFan]

John 14:6

‘Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=JOHN+14%3A6&version=MEV

[Mark17]

You can follow a FReeper, or an apostle of Christ. You have to decide.

You mean there isn't a third choice? I would have hoped there might be another choice, like following Christ. That might be the safest choice. Mom, it looks like you might have a cult following here, just don't let it go to your head. 🙀😼😇

[Mark17]

WOW, you were baptized Catholic twice....congratulations!!! (You can't be baptized anything else......and the first one was really enough for all eternity)

There you go mind reading again, thinking you know why I got baptised again. I thought you were not supposed to read minds. 🙈🙉🙉 Actually, I used to be a member of some religion, it has been so long since I dumped it, that I can't even remember what it was called. It was a salvation by works type religion, but now, I joined the the one true church, you know, the 24th New Testament church of the 1933 version of the Idaho ANG of the Lord Jesus, no longer on the cross church. The only true church. I had to renounce my first baptism, as I finally figured out it was meaningless. I am comfortable with that. Sorry that you have to work your way to Heaven. See you at the Pearly Gates, maybe. I will put in a good word for you with St Peter. He always agrees with me anyway. 😟😦😧😇😏😑

[LearsFool]

You mean there isn't a third choice? I would have hoped there might be another choice, like following Christ. That might be the safest choice.

Didn't you know that Christ said this to His apostles?...

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."

And this?...

"And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

Better to stick with the apostles of Jesus Christ, and leave the followers of men to their own inventions.

[Mark17]

Better to stick with the apostles of Jesus Christ, and leave the followers of men to their own inventions.

If it's all the same to you, I think I will just follow Jesus Christ.

[LearsFool]

As Jesus told His apostles, the preaching of the gospel will sort people into two groups. You must make the decision which group you'll be in.

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." - Mark 16:15-16

[Mark17]

As Jesus told His apostles, the preaching of the gospel will sort people into two groups. You must make the decision which group you'll be in.

Jesus said that? Can you show me where? He may very well have said that, but can you show me where it is recorded? I hate to keep sounding like a broken record, but if it's all the same to you, I think I will just follow Jesus.

[lupie]

We’ll be having a great FReunion for sure.

Amen!!!

[stonehouse01]

“...and...”

This is a key point. In defending the the Catholic Churchs correct interpretations of the bible vs. the protestant erroneous interpretations of sacred scripture, again and again it becomes apparent that protestants pick and isolate a verse and then never mention the verses that “appear” to say the opposite. Of course the bible never contradicts itself, so both/and interpretations of the Scriptures are always correct, not whatever (doctrine under discussion) alone and by itself. This is the Catholic Church’s approach.

The Catholic Church’s position ALWAYS incorporates all the scriptures using the both/and applications.

We are entirely scriptural - we just use all scripture, not taking a verse, saying it is scripture alone, interpreting the isolated verse on our own opinion, then conveniently ignoring any verse that appears to say the opposite. This effectively leaves out the scriptures supporting the correct, literal and Catholic meaning of the bible, and then feeling smug, superior and saved regarding the false opinion arrived at!

There is a book out there that addresses the issue; 95 verses that protestants ignore.

At any rate, just posting to let you know that you are on to the root problem here; not just the surface endless posting of scripture.

As you point out, there is always an implied “and”.

[Resettozero]

Although that instrumental version on the organ is better, I still like to hear the lyrics sung, no matter the quality:

'In Christ Alone' Recorded at the Royal Albert Hall

[Resettozero]

1 Corinthians 10
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea;
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 and all ate the same spiritual food;…

I believe that being baptized is much more than merely immersion in water or sprinkled by it. Yet, I have been baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a cold mountain river on a November Sunday and am glad for it.

[Mark17]

I have been baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in a cold mountain river on a November Sunday and am glad for it.

A cold stream in November? Double ouch. Mine was in a warm pool in Vietnam. That was, of course, after I left that other religion, that I can't even remember the name of anymore. 😇😬😮😏😑

[Resettozero]

In defending the the Catholic Churchs correct interpretations of the bible vs. the protestant erroneous interpretations of sacred scripture, again and again it becomes apparent that protestants pick and isolate a verse and then never mention the verses that “appear” to say the opposite. Of course the bible never contradicts itself, so both/and interpretations of the Scriptures are always correct, not whatever (doctrine under discussion) alone and by itself. This is the Catholic Church’s approach.

More accurately, this is your understanding of the Catholic church's approach.

The RCC approach is all over the board (confused and confusing) and is frequently in blatant opposition to the totality of the Holy Bible, the written Word of God.

Just because a FReeper's belief does not correspond to RCC doctrine/teachings, does not necessarily mean he is "feeling smug, superior and saved regarding the false opinion arrived at." Neither does it mean his opinion is false.

[LearsFool]

I believe that being baptized is much more than merely immersion in water or sprinkled by it.

Yes, it's much more than just getting wet, if that's what you mean. It's an act of obedient faith. It's where the slave to sin is killed and buried, and the free man is raised up (Rom. 6). It's where the saving heart operation is performed by Christ (Col. 2). It's how those whom Christ wishes to be added to His church are cleansed and made presentable (Eph. 5). And so on.

So yes, it's more than just "a dip in the crick". :-)

Without the command of God, would dipping in the Jordan have cleansed Naaman's leprosy (I Kings 5)? Without the command of God, will being immersed in water cleanse our iniquities?

("The washing of water with the word" is critical. For instance, what happens to lepers who dip in the Jordan today?)

[Resettozero]

So yes, it's more than just "a dip in the crick". :-)

I bet you were thinking of O Brother, Where Art Thou?

[Resettozero]

A cold stream in November?

The edge of a cold Appalachian river, with rapids, strong currents, and a wind that subsided long enough for all the candidates to be baptized.

A life jacket might have been in order, except that would run counter to the whole idea of death to sin and new life in Christ. Also would have made the dunking more difficult.

O Happy Day!

[LearsFool]

Ha! Good movie! But no, I was thinking of Huck Finn going swimming.

Sometimes people are baptized “into the Southside Baptist Church” or “into the First Methodist Church of Smallville”, etc. Other people are baptized “as a public demonstration” of sorts.

But is that what you see when you read the Bible? Or do you find people being baptized “into Christ”, “into remission of sins”, etc? Without the instructions from God, does baptism do anything except get you wet?

[Resettozero]

Without the instructions from God, does baptism do anything except get you wet?

Not sure what you mean "Without the instructions from God" so I cannot say Amen or Nay.

[LearsFool]

Let me try to explain with a question: If Naaman had dipped in the Jordan because his clothes were dirty, or because his wife told him he needed a bath, would his leprosy have been cured?

[Resettozero]

Let me try to explain with a question: If Naaman had dipped in the Jordan because his clothes were dirty, or because his wife told him he needed a bath, would his leprosy have been cured?

This point is not under contention. How it relates to a Christian wanting to be baptized still is not clear, although I got your message that some folks are baptized primarily to join a local church organization and don't have full understanding of all the ramifications.

Still, are you leading down a rabbit trail unintentionally?