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Vital Christian Information

Luke 4:4 “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”

Jesus Christ's Primary Teaching, Warns Tradition Becomes an Obstacle to God's Will.

Mark 7:6 Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. 7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men. 8 Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.

Mark: 7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.

I Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:

hypocrites

honoreth me with their lips

their heart is far from me

in vain do they worship me

making void the word of God by your tradition

the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God

He that taketh the wise in their craftiness

I would suggest if your new to the bible, never read it, to first read through the new testament, to get some perspective, what is actually said and is not said in the bible. I then would suggest reading the new testament again, but much slower, stopping at Jesus parables and spending some time on each, figuring out the principles, to prepare the foundation of discerning the larger, more complex principles by Jesus and later his apostles writings.
You will find in reading the bible there are many teachings among Catholic and Protestant, that have no biblical support, authorization. One should endeavor to read the bible, as if with a blank mindset, not with preconceive notions, from perhaps growing up so called Christian, such as Catholic and Protestant. Even if not grow up in any particular group of so called Christianity, one is likely influence, and retained notions, false assumptions of what is Christian, such as Catholic and Protestant influence upon them. One must put every notion, thought of earlier childhood indoctrination aside, place on the back burner. Where later once you read particularly the new testament carefully for some time, one can go back to the notions, indoctrination of earlier childhood, and slowly discern if they were teachings, only tradition, only man made, or supported and authorized by God's word. If found they were man made, only traditions, made to make void the word, will of God, they must be throw off, discarded as rubbish. The notions, indoctrination, that have support, authorization, can be saved, added to the many more precious truths from having read the new testament.

The Great Commission

(Mark 16:14-16) 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

We must HEAR the gospel.

Romans 10:17 So then faith (persuasion) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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.

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.

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.

We must BE BAPTIZED into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..

Acts 2: 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 Spirit.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized (immersed): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

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.

Paul says himself and these Romans, all we who were immersed (water), were immersed into his death, buried with Jesus in the likeness of his death. Knowing this, our old man was crucified (death, died, shed blood) with Christ, for he that hath died, is justified (just, innocent, righteous) from sin.

Romans 6:7 for he that hath died is justified from sin. (one of the most important verses in the new testament, revealing those who were baptized, died with Christ, justified from sin)

The King James version Bible, in Rom 6:7 have used the word "freed', however the the Strong's concordance number is #1344:

Strongs Concordance #1344 (show or regard) just or innocent, justify, be righteous.
37 times #1344 is used in the NT it's render just (show or regard) just or innocent, justify, be righteous.

KJV Roms 6:7 they rendered it as freed (mistranslating the word). In other versions you will find the correct translation "justified".

American Standard Version, For he that hath died is justified from sin.
Darby's english translation, For he that has died is justified from sin.
Douay Rheims, For he that is dead is justified from sin.
Greek interlinear by Alfred Marshall, also has the word justified, the word Paul did pen.

Everyone should be knowledgeable of this particular mistranslation in the KJV, because its very assuring to know the word Paul by the Holy Spirit did penned "justified". Paul wanted everyone to know when exactly one is justified from sin, at the moment of their immersion (water). If you have been justified from sin, you can conclude as a result, Paul further writes expectations, exhortations you are to be freed from sin, however to remove Paul's penned word justified, and place the word "freed" would be extremely down playing, denying Paul's use of the word justified, and as many have done denying the justification from sin, which happens at the moment of immersion.
Paul could of used the word "freed" if that was all he intended, instead he used the particular word justified. To give men assurance of how God's grace (an unmeritorious provision of righteousness) abound exceedingly, reign through righteousness, all we who were immersed into death, hath died, is justified from sin. No other grace will abound if they continued to sin. This grace (unmerited provision of righteousness) in the form of water immersion, justified them from sin and suppose to result, in not sinning anymore.

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 ....

Step of faith (persuasion). 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.

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.

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, members or rasied, churches of Christ, christian churches:

Alexander Campbell
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
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
Kathryn Morris - actress best known as the star of the 2000s CBS TV series Cold Case (raised CoC)
Robert Rauschenberg - painter, sculptor, and graphic artist known for helping to redefine American art in the 1950s and '60s (raised CoC)
Sidney Rigdon - early preacher/leader in "Campbellite Church" (1818-1930), until conversion to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), where he became a major LDS theologian and leader
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)
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
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.
Gwen Shamblin - founder of Weigh Down Workshop; founder of The Remnant Church (former)
Bill Elliott - NASCAR driver
Montgomery Gentry - singers; two-man country band consisting of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry
Kitty Wells - queen of country music
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)