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Vital
Spiritual Information
1. We must HEAR
the
gospel.
Romans 10:17 So then faith
(persuasion) cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.
2. We must BELIEVE that
Jesus is the Son of God.
John
8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if
ye believe not that I am he,
ye shall die in your sins.
3. We must REPENT of our sins.
Act 17:30-30 And the times of
this ignorance God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every where to repent:Because
he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given
assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
4. We must
CONFESS our
faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son.
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which
is in heaven. 33 But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven.
5. We must BE BAPTIZED into Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins..
Acts 2:37 37 Now when
they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter
and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38
Then
Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our
God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his
word were baptized (immersed): and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls.
Acts
8:35
And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture,
preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on the way, they came unto
a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me
to be baptised
(immersed)?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went
down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Acts 16:31 And they
said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou
shalt be saved, thou and thy house. 32 And they spake the word of the
Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the
same hour of the night, and washed
their stripes; and was baptised
(immersed),
he
and all his,
immediately.
Acts 22:12 And one
Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by
all the Jews that dwelt there, 13 came unto me, and standing by me said
unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I
looked up on him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed
thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a
voice from his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all
men of what thou hast seen and heard.16 And now why tarriest
thou? arise,
and
be baptized, and wash
away thy
sins, calling on his
name.
6. We must BE FAITHFUL to Christ unto death.
Revelations
2:10 Fear
none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee
a crown of life.
Hello,
In Jesus' day there were two large groups, their righteousness would
not exceed to inherit eternal life. They were on the outer edges of the
narrow path, outside
the centralist group. They were the Pharisees far right and Sadducees far left.
Matthew
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his
baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you
to flee from the wrath to come?
Matthew 5:20 For
I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 16:12 Then understood
they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of
the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Just as there was in
Jesus day,
today we also have two large groups the Catholics far right and the
faith only movement the far left. If you are not alert, careful and
research, observant ready to follow the persuasion of God's word, over
the
persuasion of man, you may find yourself in among these two
groups. Giving your time, emotions, and money to a cause that will
not inherit heaven. You will be lost, in a state of unsaved.
To
put it in perspective, you can place all forms of Christianity
groups into three groups. The far left, far right and centralist
concerning the primary teaching of salvation, concerning baptism,
particularly the subject of works.
Far Left
Faith only movement
The far left, faith only movement consist of
Baptist, Methodist/Wesleyan,
Lutheran, Presbyterian, many of the Pentecostal/Charismatic,
Episcopalian/Anglican,
Assemblies of God, the
Contemporarily Evangelical
Movement (one sees mostly on TV). They have a spirit (mental
deposition) of stupor, Moses law (particularly the 600 commandments
that define sin), comes
the
knowledge of sin, not distinguishing the other part of
the law in sacrifices, combined with faith justified
men of their sin. Paul had pointed out, the old law
of Mosses (particularly commandments that define sin)
wasn't made to make men fully righteous in God's eyes, was to show men
they
are all sinners. The faith only movement in stupor latch onto this
description of the part of the law that only condemns men, and refuse
to recognize, and acknowledge the right acts in animal sacrifices
through faith (persusuasion), that justified men. The animal sacrifices,
witness of a coming of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and his teachings
of righteousness to enter into his sacrifice, his body through baptism.
The far left misguided claim baptism is liken to the
works of the old law (particularly commandments that define sin) or
another part of the Law
of the concerning the sign of circumcision. They fail to perceive,
accept, baptism is liken to the right acts in sacrifice through faith
in the working of God, that justified men.
Roms 6:4 We were
buried
therefore with him
through baptism unto death:
Roms 6:5 For
if we have become united with [him]
in the likeness of his death
Roms 6:6 knowing
this, that our old
man was crucified with [him]
Roms 6:7 for he that hath died is justified
from sin.
Colossians
2:12 having been buried
with him in baptism, wherein ye were
also raised with him through faith
(persuasion) in the working
of God,
who raised him from the dead. 13
hath he quickened
together with him,
having forgiven you all
trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Ephesians 2 10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus ....
They fail to perceive baptism is a step of faith
(persuasion). If
of persuasion of God, working in man, for particularly justifying the
man from past sins, is not credited to man as his own work, but God's
work
in man. This is keeping in the boundaries of Grace (unmeritorious right
acts) one is saved, and not of themselves. So no man may
boast in himself.
Philippians
2:12-13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to
work, for his good pleasure.
Far Right
On the opposite side, the far right are the Catholics, Also have a
spirit (mental deposition) of
stupor, who see baptism forgives, saves, but have conjured up their
own form of baptism, sprinkling, and done to infants which
can't have
faith in Christ, repent and confess his name as Lord. The fact is there
is not one child in the whole bible was baptized (immersed) or
even sprinkled. Which then is a
conjured up work of man, tradition making void the word of God.
Catholics ran out of the boundaries (authorized by Christ and his
Apostles) of the race, in sprinkling infants, claiming falsely
it's
baptism, they have created many more conjured up works, traditions
making void the word of God.
Dilemma
The dilemma, many from the
far left, faith only, were previous
Catholics, were easily deceived,
going from one extreme to another extreme. Going from being Catholics
who conjured up many works, falsely posing them as of God, then being
justifiably against such conjured up works, went to the
extreme left, unjustifiably disallowed the works of God,
particularly baptism for the purpose of justifying, forgiving sins,
saves. They been blindly lead to a conjured up work of man, referred to
as sinners prayer,
falsely claiming it saves. They have latch onto a prayer, thinking
there must be nothing wrong with a simple, seemingly innocent prayer,
to think it saves, right? Wrong, they have lean on their own
understanding, a very effective way of deceiving unstable visitors who
haven't read carefully the word God. With the large assemblies,
TV,
using a
charismatic speaker and some earlier verses of Jesus in his ministry,
ignoring Jesus' later verses, and especially his Apostles words, stirs
up the crowd into an
emotional frenzy, making them think the high feeling is of God, to
cause the visitor to make a quick snap decision using the seemingly
innocence of a prayer, to deceive them by a prayer. Who haven't
read
through carefully the words of Christ and his apostles, about baptism
and particularly about works, the three different forms described
in the NT,
to make a fully knowledgeable decision.
Centralist
Romans
11:2 God did not cast off his people
which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah?
how he pleadeth with God against Israel: 3 Lord, they have killed thy
prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and
they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have
left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to
Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant
according to the election of grace (unmeritorious provision). 6 But if
it is by grace (unmeritorious provision), it is no more of works:
otherwise grace is no more grace.
The
centralist, once refered to as
independents, separatist, baptist and churches of Christ, being part of
the
heritage in the United
States of America from the 1700's to the establishing a nation having
freedom of religion. In the early 1800's took the name disciples of
Christ,
churches of Christ, christian churches, distinguished themselves from
the
name baptist, to distinguish themselves as correctly teaching about the
forgiveness of sins in baptism. Which ironically the other remaining
baptist who kept the name baptist, continued the false man made
baptism, held on to the name baptist, to sneak under the radar of the
caution of men and woman, who assume a group called baptist, should be
able to at least discern correctly baptism. This assumption, is proven
wrong, but to the less incline to be cautious, research the word, which
many people are unfortunately not willing, are trip up and fallen to
their eternal suffering.
The
centralist are the churches of
Christ with
congregations in every state, particularly in Tennessee, Texas,
the many southern states, 13,000 congregations and the
independent Christian churches in the heart of the country, the mid
west
and simply independents, who share a common doctrine, perceive baptism,
as a work of God. God working in man to forgive sins, save, justify
man,
the grace (unmeritorious provision) of God. Following the pattern, the
spirit (mental disposition)
surrounding baptism in the new testament, particularly after
Jesus death and
resurrection when
the church,
kingdom of heaven was establish on Pentecost. Reading in the book of
Acts, and other letters of the
Apostles, contain the eye witness accounts of instituting baptism
(water immersion) in Christ, to forgive sins, saves, is justified from
sin. In other articles, the right column of this web site, explains
further the topic of baptism, how and why baptism forgives sins, saves,
is justified from sin. Especially explaining baptism is the grace
(unmeritorious provision), a work of God in man, not
man's own
work or
his own righteousness. So no man may boast, but perceives his salvation
as the mercy, grace (unmeritorious provision) of God working in him,
not due to his running or will, but election according to God's
good
pleasure, will. So everyone who is truly saved, may reach out to
others, knowing they were also unsaved, in darkness, needing the light,
grace, mercy in the word of God.
Some
famous people members, associated or influeneced
by the churches of
Christ, christian churches: James A. Garfield - U.S. President, Lyndon
Baines Johnson - U.S. President, Ronald Reagan - U.S. President (raised
in Disciples of Christ), David Lloyd George - prime minister of
Britain, Lew Wallace - Civil War general, Frances McDormand - actress
(Fargo, etc.), John Stamos - actor (Full House TV sitcom, etc.), John
Cornyn - Republican Senator from Texas (2002-present), Ted Poe - U.S.
Representative from Texas (2005-present), James Hahn - mayor of Los
Angeles, California, Byron Nelson - professional golfer, Kenny Perry -
professional golfer, Fred Thompson - former U.S. Senator (Repub.) from
Tennessee; now actor, who plays the District Attorney on the TV series
"Law and Order" (raised in CoC), Gene Tormohlen - former professional
basketball player (Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns); now chief scout for
L.A. Lakers, Dwight Yoakam - singer, songwriter, actor, Randy Travis -
country music singer, Glen Campbell - country music singer (raised
CoC), Weird Al Yankovic - comedic singer, entertainer famous for his
satirical spoofs music videos and lyrics (Vegan), Roy Orbison - country
music singer, Brandy (Norwood) - R&B singer, actress (raised CoC),
Kathryn Morris - actress best known as the star of the 2000s CBS TV
series Cold Case (raised CoC), Laurie Anderson - performance artist
(raised CoC), Kenneth Starr - lawyer, judge; chief Independent Counsel
charged with investigating Pres. Bill Clinton, leading to the
President's impeachment, William Kay Moser - author, conscientious
objector during Korean War, Gary Freeman - author of A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to Heaven, Vachel Lindsay - (1879-1931) American
poet known as the "Prairie Troubador", Steve Cropper - guitarist Blues
Bros. and Booker T., Meatloaf - singer, actor (real name Marvin Lee
Aday), Jeff Martin - TV writer for David Letterman and "The Simpsons"
(raised CoC), The Cowsills - sang "Indian Lake" and "Hair", George
Pepperdine - Western Auto, Pepperdine University, Loretta Lynn -
country singer, Sonny James - country singer, Don Williams - country
singer, Marty Roe - lead singer, Diamond Rio, Amy Grant - singer, Mark
Wills - country music singer (raised CoC), Waylon Jennings - country
music (raised CoC), Ray Walker - Jordannaires, back up for Elvis, David
Robinson - NBA, San Antonio Spurs, Clyde Lee - NBA, Fred McGriff -
baseball, Gene Stallings - Alabama football coach, Wimp Sanderson -
Alabama basketball coach, Bill Bates - Dallas Cowboys, Jim Morris -
baseball player depicted in movie "The Rookie", Rick Parros - running
back Denver, Jim Jenkins - creator of the cartoon "Doug", Lynette Cole
- 2000 Miss USA, Doug Poling - CBS newsman, Mike Adams - President U of
Ga., Joe Johnson - President of University of Tenn., Bill Banowski -
ex-president of Oklahoma U. and Gaylord Corp., Fred D. Gray - attorney
who defended Rosa Parks, A.M. Burton - Founder of Life & Casualty
Insurance Co., Bill Elliott - NASCAR driver, Montgomery Gentry -
singers; two-man country band consisting of Eddie Montgomery and Troy
Gentry, Kitty Wells - queen of country music, Ronnie Dunn - singer, of
Brooks and Dunn (former), Holly Dunn - country singer, Kenny Bill
Stinson - musician, Pat Sajak - Wheel of Fortune host, Dee Presley -
Elvis Presley's stepmother, David and Richard Stanley - step-brothers
of Elvis, Jessie Brown Pounds - (1861-1921) composer, songwriter, Dale
Clevenger - musician, Tillit S. Teddlie - (1885-1987) hymnodist, Lloyd
O. Sanderson - hymnodist, Scott Hamilton - U.S. figure skater, Olympic
gold medalist (convert)
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