Posted on 08/05/2013 10:31:02 AM PDT by Gamecock
Question:
Does the OPC use the crucifix in the church? If not, are they opposed to it?
Answer:
Thank you for your question. The answer is, so far as I know, the crucifix is not used in OPC churches, and here is why:
1.The Second Commandment (Ex. 20:4-6 and Deut. 5:8-10) forbids any picture or image of God, and that would include the Son of God, even as man. At any rate we do not know what Jesus looked like as there is no physical description of him.
2.The crucifix will always end up being an object of worship—regarded as holy. History teaches as much. The bronze serpent Moses made became an object of worship and was not destroyed till King Hezekiah did it (Numbers 21:9; 2 Kings 18:1-5). Roman Catholics have worshipped it, kissed it and held it to have mystical powers.
3.Christ did not remain on the Cross. In the Roman Church Christ is said to be resacrificed each time the Mass is celebrated. This is heresy; he died once for all—Hebrews 9:25-28.
We in the OPC have learned not to trust our idolatry prone hearts not to do the same as others have in the past. Hence, no crucifixes are used. So, yes, we are opposed to it.
So that explains why Catholics think they can behave however they want to, and still be called a Child of God.
Because they are told they can do whatever they want. You are not under the law of the commandments? wow.. You never have to correct your behavior, you can sin as much as you please?
And you still go to Heaven? Free salvation?
That is incredible.
yes, free salvation!!!
but i wrote Christians are under the law of love, i suggest reading Luke 10:25-28.
Well, good luck to you. I don’t think your free and no strings attached salvation is going to give you any victory over the darkness.
And if salvation so uncomplicated and free, then everyone is saved, and there is no need for any thought about anything.
It is all just sort of an entertainment to go to church. Ok
I got it.
Thank you. That is the way I see it as well. Partaking of the bread and cup in an "unworthy" manner relates both to our recognition of what these elements represent and our receiving of them showing our faith in Christ's sacrifice for us as well as acknowledging the relationship we have with each other as the body of Christ. Paul said we were to examine ourselves before we participate so that we do not bring the Lord's discipline upon ourselves and that we properly reverence His gift of grace for us as well as each other.
Nope, I don't agree with you. These answers "hold true" for ALL those who share the Christian faith as taught in Holy Scripture. Using the adjective "catholic" as if it was always the proper name of the church of Jesus Christ is disingenuous. When it first started being used (late first century) it was simply to describe the universal Christian faith as announced by Jesus Christ and taught by His disciples and Apostles. EVERYTHING that belongs to this rule of faith is found in the Bible. On some of these tenets, even the Roman Catholic Church of today has held to and taught as articles of the faith. Were I living back in that time, I would certainly be part of one of the same churches as the Apostles established and the catholicity of my faith would contain the same doctrines I believe are eternal to this day. They are the ones that do not change because they are THE truth.
On this, I agree with you completely. When I mentioned Dr. Paine and his commitment to the NIV concept, it was not with approval. In fact, again let me again recommend the two books I mentioned on that post. Salliby compares NIV with KJV head-to-head, and shows just how compromised the NIV is.
This is a mistranslation. There is no pronoun in the Greek text, no "their" which would have to be genitive. The word is the definite article, and it is in the dative case, as is the word "dogs." The correct phrase is "τοις κυναριοις" = "to the dogs." And actually, it is not "dogs," it is "puppies."
No.
I was posting the FACT that Jesus called some group dogs, while someone in this thread is being chastised for calling someone a dog.
HMMMmmm...
1 John 3:21-24
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
The only limit I can find is SELF imposed.
Philippians 2:7-9
…7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,…
He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit and has all the attributes and power that they have.
John 14:28
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
That's what the Jews were told to; but they are STILL upset over the practice.
Is PROXY praying for someone 'silly'; for it takes a LOT more effort and dedication to get yourself WET for another.
If it's not 'silly', then WHY not?
And, more importantly, SABBATH keeping is part of the LAW - the CONTRACT (covenant) GOD made with ONE specific group of people, the Chosen Ones - the Jews.
You'll find NO mention of it at all in the letter sent to the Gentiles described in Acts chapter fifteen.
Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
..or that MARY is somehow in Heaven; working 24/7/365/1000 to get Jesus' attention for us poor souls.
Sorry Jesus; but your words in John 6:29 seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Then you, also, should be able to provide some PROOF that the 'NIV group is the least reliable, and the most deeply and deliberately corrupted' - RIGHT??
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
What an impressive spokesman you have! :o/
That’s between you and Jesus, my dear.
This statement is disingenuous. History teaches us that while the writings for the Bible existed at the end of the first century there were also numerous heretical writings that were being accepted. It was up to the successors of the apostles to examine and discern which ones were apostolic in nature and exclude those that were not.
From post 900
Justin Martyr, Apology, I.66-67, 2nd century: Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ It is allowed to no one else to participate in that food which we call Eucharist except the one who believes that the things taught by us are true, who has been cleansed in the washing unto rebirth and the forgiveness of sins and who is living according to the way Christ handed on to us. For we do not take these things as ordinary bread or ordinary drink. Just as our Savior Jesus Christ was made flesh by the word of God and took on flesh and blood for our salvation, so also were we taught that the food, for which thanksgiving has been made through the word of prayer instituted by him, and from which our blood and flesh are nourished after the change, is the flesh of that Jesus who was made flesh. Indeed, the Apostles, in the records left by them which are called gospels, handed on that it was commanded to them in this manner: Jesus, having taken bread and given thanks said, ``Do this in memory of me, this is my body.’’ Likewise, having taken the cup and given thanks, he said, ``This is my blood’’, and he gave it to them alone
Were I living back in that time, I would certainly be part of one of the same churches as the Apostles established and the catholicity of my faith would contain the same doctrines I believe are eternal to this day. They are the ones that do not change because they are THE truth.
If you refuse to accept the teaching that the Eucharist is actually/literally the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus you would not have been able to then, and can't now.
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