Posted on 04/18/2014 6:24:00 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Amen to your post # 36.
That is true...Problem is many are taught that getting baptized is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that eating the Eucharistic wafer is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that doing good works is accepting Jesus...And many are taught that just by being a member of the club is accepting Jesus...
And Ive realized that in our disagreements we are not helping Him with the mission He entrusted to us as his disciples.
Yes we are...
Yes we are...Those of us who read and believe what God told us to do are doing just that...
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti_4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
While we, here in this physical realm, disagree over doctrine, as long as we dedicate ourselves to Him and follow his teachings, we will go home to Him. We are all Christians, and if He has the grace to forgive us our sins, then I suspect that he will forgive us of our doctrinal differences.
Why would you think that??? That's not at all what Jesus tells us...
1Ti_1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Rom_16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Eph_4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1Ti_1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1Ti_4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Doctrine is ever so important...If we are not united in doctrine, we are not united...
I believe that all of us who accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, will be welcomed by Him into heaven.
Joh 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is a doctrine...This is the correct doctrine...
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem;
Creatorem caeli et terrae.
Et in Jesum Christum,
Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui conceptus est
de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria virgine;
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus;
descendit ad inferos;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad caelos;
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est
iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanctum;
sanctam ecclesiam catholicam;
sanctorum communionem;
remissionem peccatorum;
carnis resurrectionem;
vitam aeternam. Amen.
In English:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
he will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
They pre-dated the Catholic church...
Ed
As are Christians in Red China, Africa and Muslim countries.
The Church, everywhere, consisting of Believers, is being persecuted.
Ed
We need to concentrate on what unites us in following Jesus. In this world, Christianity is under attack from all sides, we cannot focus on debating the equivalent of how many angels can sit on the head of a pin” amongst ourselves while ignoring the assault of secular humanism, Islam and the realm of evil.
I have had people on FR tell me that I am ‘damned to hell’ because I do not believe exactly as their minister and congregation believe, because “it is the only correct interpretation of Jesus’ words.” That is what I see as destructive to Christian unity.
Should we as Christians focus on denominationalism and the separation it brings or do we focus on what unites us? I think it is what unites us.
Whether I am right or wrong, will be up to Jesus to decide.
The non-Catholic born again believers on FR focus on what unites us and that's salvation by grace through faith in Christ.
I don't have a clue where most of the other born again believers I know best go to church, nor do I care.
The primary ones who make it about church affiliation are the Catholics with their (for the most part) bragging about their church and constant harping trying to find out the denominational affiliation of anyone not Catholic.
Unfortunately, those whom I’m referring to as ‘my congregation/minister only’ have been Protestant. There are those on both sides, Protestant and Catholic, who say ‘our way is only way’.
I figure that you and I shall continue to our “separate” focus on the unity of all who follow Jesus.
In closing, I quote Thomas Campbell: “. . .the church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things. . .”
“In essentials of [Christianity], Unity; In non-essentials, Liberty; and in all things, Charity.”
I don't have a problem with that definition.
Since I was saved, I never held to any other.
I wonder if the evidence of the fragment being a composition mechanically and not very grammatically bringing different sources together to create a composite meaning, -- was addressed by the recent evaluation.
Amen.
“Or to say it another way, Gods purpose throughout history was to marry his people...Its evident in the erotic poetry of the Old Testament Song of Songs.”
Gee, Father, do you think you could *get* more homoerotic?
Amen and Amen! Those who put their faith in some church will be sorely disappointed.
Without Christ’s death on Good Friday, there could be no resurrection on Sunday. Have a Blessed Easter.
And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:3)
Come hither, I will show thee the Lamb's wife. And carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,descending out of heaven from God. (Revelation 21:9)
And the spirit and bride say, Come. And let him that hearth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
The bride of Christ is the heavenly City Jerusalem. That is who the Bible says the bride is. It is not "the Church". The wedding hasn't even taken place yet (Revelation 19). The Catholic "Church" wants us to believe that she is the bride. See Revelation 17 for who she is, drunken with the blood of the saints.
For the most part my observations as well. Have a joyful Resurrection Day!
Nothing has changed.
Agrred...
Almost.
.. wherever the C church resides.
Stated it perfectly!
There's no accounting for taste.
1 Corinthians 11:17-19
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
It was addressed LONG ago...
Other translation place a difference word here:
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