You wrote:
“So now you presume to know my heart and what I’m thinking?”
Nope. You’re writing is clear enough.
“I tell you there is only One God, and it’s not you.”
Thanks for the update, but that was always known.
“Does that please you?”
No. Does it please you?
“Where in John 3:16 does it say we must be baptized?”
It doesn’t. But go to John 3:3 and 3:5. And don’t forget the greater context of the chapter: 3:22-24; chapter 4:1-3. Baptism, baptism, baptism. And after that? The woman at the...wait for it, wait for it...the WELL.
“Are you trying to diminish the power of this verse?”
Not at all. I’m showing you its real power.
“Most of the disciples were Jews.”
All actually.
“In their ministry they were converted Jews, but still Jews.”
A converted Jew is no longer a Jew in the sense that the pre-converted Jew did not recognize who Jesus was. If a Jew converted, what pray tell, did he convert TO? Isn’t Christianity that he converted TO? And what do we call people who follow Christ? Acts 11 says “Christians”. If it’s good enough for the Bible, why is it such a problem for you?
“Even though they followed Christ, they still observed Jewish customs and laws.”
True enough, but much of that was not part of God’s plan as shown with the conversion of Cornelius and Peter’s vision in Acts.
“I’m curious, do you believe that the Jews are God’s Chosen People?”
In a sense, yes. But I believe what the Bible said: the Bride of Christ is THE CHURCH, not a nation of Jews. I also do not think that being Jewish is better than being a Christian. Christ came to reveal Himself to all mankind. For someone to not discover that in their lifetime is a great loss whether they are Jewish or something else.
“But it’s just a feeling? I don’t think so. Knowing that some people are crass and shallow and egotisical, that’s a feeling. I believe with my whole being that Christ saved me, and how do I know? The Word of God tells me. You might try reading it instead of what someone else (Pope) tells you it says.”
Wow. Coming from you that is incredibly...well, somewhere in between funny and hypocritical. I posted verses that you could not deal with. You were UNABLE to respond to them in any effective manner whatsoever. I read the Bible quite often, almost every single day and it is very rare that I ever miss a day. The word of God NOWHERE tells anyone that his or her feelings are a barometer of justification, sanctification or salvation. That is a purely Protestant viewpoint that has developed only since 1517 or so. A person can feel saved, and in itself there is nothing wrong with that, but it is a feeling and people can fool themselves.
“Now I have to put myself in another timeout...thank you very much.”
You’re doing it to yourself. I’m not even helping you get there at this point. Maybe you should ask yourself why this is so hard for you when you read the Bible often and are convinced of your salvation. Why would talking to me be so upsetting when you think you have it all worked out?
You’ve got no idea of the power of John 3:16. You’re showing me nothing. If you did, you wouldn’t have to work for your salvation. Christ dying wasn’t enough for you.
Rom 11:6 “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”
John 3:3 I know you have be born again (i.e. spiritual birth) as opposed to a physical birth.
You have to understand Christ had not sacrificed Himself for us on the Cross yet. Baptism was followed by repentence. And baptism was a form of purification.
And, no, not all the disciples were Jews. Luke supposedly was a Gentile. And it helped that most were Jews so they could deal with the Jewish converts. And this was all part of God’s plan. You think He (God) made a mistake?
In a sense they’re God’s chosen people? Either they are or they aren’t. I made no implication that they were better than anyone else.
I did deal with verses. You chose to discount my response because it didn’t fall into line with your way of thinking.
And I never implied that I “felt” saved. I base my salvation on faith. You may or may not “feel” saved. For me emotion doesn’t dictate what I believe.
I agree. The Bride of Christ is the Church. The True Church of Christ, which is the whole body of believers.
Again, the dig at Protestants. Because they didn’t want to subject themselves to human traditions in the Catholic church? They wanted the scriptures to be the basis for their belief? That doesn’t sound so awful, does it?
I agree with you again. People can fool themselves.
I will leave you with this:
“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will
never count against him.”