Sat, Sep 22nd - 5:39PM
THE BIBLE FORBIDS THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION BY WATER BAPTISM ALONE OR IN ADDITION TO FAITH IN CHRIST
Did Jesus Christ teach that anyone can be saved by water baptism alone or in addition to faith in Him?
Jhn 3: 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Jesus absolutely NEVER promoted water baptism as a means of salvation nor anything else in addition to faith in Him alone. He is speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer who has believed in His Name:
Mat 3:11 - I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mar 1:8 - I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
JESUS CHRIST DID NOT NEED TO GET SAVED, WHY THEN WAS HE BAPTIZED?
Jhn 1:33 - And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
John had no clue as to who the promised Messiah would be or what he would look like. So God told John that a specific sign would identify the true Messiah. The sole purpose of the baptism of Jesus Christ was to identify, confirm and to John that Jesus Christ indeed is the Messiah promised by God.
Jesus Christ baptized people as a sign of their faith in Him. If water baptism had any power of itself to save people Jesus Christ would have had no need to go to the cross. (Jhn 4:1When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.)
Jhn 7:38 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Jhn 7:39 - (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Act 1:5 - For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 11:16 - Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Tit 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Jesus Christ absolutely never contradicts Himself for He is the sole Saviour appointed by God to save all who believe in Him alone.
Mt 3: 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
What then is the role of baptism in the life of a believer? Believers do not get water baptized to get saved. Believers get baptized in water after salvation because they are saved and show through it their public identity with Jesus Christ and His church. After salvation the obedient Christian follows the commands and standards set forth by God through the Bible correctly understood and obeyed publicly and privately.
All
have been encouraged and WARNED: Jhn 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
What should a person do if they have believed in error that they were saved through or in addition to water baptism, or saved by water baptism and faith in Jesus Christ.
Don’t leave your immortal soul in danger of hell fire!!!
Repent NOW and believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who died on the cross and rose again to save you from all your sins and He will save and baptize you with the Holy Spirit washing you from all your sins and make you a new creation in Him.
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Fri, Sep 21st - 2:00PM
FORGIVING OTHERS WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
Mat 18:21 - Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 - Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
These verses above are misinterpreted by some as stand- alone verses that falsely assert that forgiveness amongst believers is commanded by God whether the offender is repentant or not. Nothing could be further from the truth. Again, Jesus Christ said a great deal more than those verses concerning how we are instructed to forgive others or not grant it at all.
What about cases where a Christian secretly does wrong to another but is at some point caught by the one who is wronged? Here too the Bible gives Christians the right to confront and when warranted to seek restitution from the offender, with the God given authority of granting forgiveness and even forgoing seeking restitution if the offender repents.
Mt 18: 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
THE WICKED SERVANT
Mt 18 28But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
A wicked servant means one who consistently willfully serves wickedness as opposed to a good servant, one who consistently chooses to do the will of God. These are two separate kinds of servants there is no biblical combination of these two. One is either one or the other according to scripture. However, both are fully discernable by their fruit or consistent behavior and conduct.
What does the Bible teach about anyone claiming to be a Christian who knows the will of God concerning forgiving others, but unrepentantly never forgives another who repents of offenses towards them? The Bible is clear anyone who unrepentantly rejects the authority of scripture cannot be considered a Christian.
Repentance, we are commanded by God to understand, is much more than a person just saying I am sorry, but must also be shown in consistent godly behavior and conduct. Forgiveness too is much more than just saying I forgive you, but receiving the forgiven back in fellowship without continually throwing the past issue up in their faces. However, how far to trust them will be evidenced based, without condemnation, but with discernment.
Forgiveness is never to be offered to the willfully unrepentant. There is more to this issue regarding the Christian attitude on treating unbelievers who wrong them, please feel free to study this further on your own. Certainly, we bless our enemies and help them when it is wise to do so. Obviously, the non- believer who is actively acting out must be avoided, common sense would compel this. In fact, if anyone whether they are someone claiming to be a believer or not is acting out against any Christian, it must be stopped including avoiding them or if need be through the civil or criminal legal system as warranted.
No study is exhaustive, feel free to study further on your own. See Luk 18:7-8; Rom 12:19; Mat 18:7; Luk 17:1; Rom 16:17.
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Wed, Sep 19th - 12:53PM
FORGIVING
OTHERS WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
To
the young man released from prison whose family would not forgive him-first be
greatly assured that if you have believed in Jesus Christ the only Saviour all
of your sins are truly forgiven forever by God, whether or not your family
forgives you. However, before your family who knows you far better than me can
forgive you, they need assurances from you that you regret whatever pain and
difficulty you caused them and that you will show them by your changed
behavior.
Our
actions have consequences on earth. God gives the church full authority to
discipline its members and to exclude those who reject repenting of misconduct
in the church, whether it be to a brother or sister or church doctrine. No one
is above church discipline. No one is exempt from church discipline.
No
one can read our minds. If anyone believes another has offended them they have
to let the offender know:
What
does the Bible teach about cases where the offender is not made aware that they
have wronged another? The Bible gives us the steps or standards of confrontation, first go to the person privately, in love, rather
than sit around hurt and sulking or complaining to others: Mt. 18: 15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16But if he
will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he
shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect
to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18Verily I say
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This
might be something of a surprise to some but the Bible makes it clear that the
Christian and the church as a whole has God’s authority to not grant
forgiveness to anyone claiming to be a Christian who does not accept
accountability/responsibility for their offense by thoroughly repenting.
However, those who do repent in word and deed should be forgiven and welcomed
back into fellowship, without
continually throwing up the past issue in their faces.
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Wed, Sep 5th - 6:21PM
FORGIVING OTHERS WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
There was a Christian lady who was the victim of a crime. The Christian lady called the sheriff where the crime took place, asked that the perpetrator be released and all charges dropped because she forgave him. The news media got wind of this story and contacted the sheriff to see what he would do. The sheriff spoke kindly and frankly that it was mighty nice of the lady to forgive him, but he was bound by the law and the perpetrator would have to stand trial on the charges and face the penalties that the law required, case closed.
This story is unremarkable as similar stories have been broadcast in the media countless times. In the secular world this makes Christians appear to be foolish and lacking any standards for holding people responsible for the wrong things that they do no matter how terrible. This is the result of poor Bible interpretation and even a lack of Bible study for some Christians. I pray one day when the media pushes the microphone to the face of Christians demanding to know if the Christian will forgive the perpetrator that the Christian will reply that they pray the person will turn from sin to put their faith in Jesus Christ and be saved, then all their sins will be forgiven. The issue of unbelievers offending the Christian can be properly addressed whenever warranted in the civil an/or criminal arena established by God on earth for the punishment of evil doers.
The Bible makes it clear that all of our sins are forgiven forever by God when we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, the Bible also makes it clear that Christians are to live holy lives of accountability/responsibility for our conduct to God and among ourselves.
Jesus Christ addressed Mt. 6: 14-15 concerning conduct between Christians, not unbelievers. Our concern with unbelievers ought to be presenting the gospel message that they might repent of their sins and believe on the name of Jesus Christ and be saved as we ourselves have been.
Some might ask what about the example of Paul, before he became an apostle he persecuted the church. The church escaped from Paul as much as they could. There is no scripture stating that the church forgave Paul while he was an active persecutor.
However, later after Paul converted and became an apostle appointed by Jesus Christ Himself.
1 Cor. 15: 9-10 shows Paul not only repented but led a life consistent with one doing the will of God, and no longer persecuting the church. The church initially received him reluctantly, but after seeing from his consistent godly conduct that he had truly changed received him whole heartedly.
It is true the Bible records Jesus forgiving certain people-after they repented. What about Jesus forgiving others on the cross? What about Jesus Christ walking on water? These things were reserved to Jesus alone by God.
We are not Jesus Christ; therefore, He has set the standard for the church alone regarding how believers should forgive one another in specific detail and we are to obey Him, and we should not neglect witnessing to unbelievers.
No one should have to take a Christian by the collar and force them to repent or make amends for any wrong they have done to another or any wrong period.
Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. In this verse Jesus Christ shows how the offender acknowledges his wrongful conduct and takes responsibility/accountability for it in repentance to the one he has offended.
In our interactions with one another, all of us are bound to offend one another from time to time. Instead of ignoring what we have done, we all should quickly be accountable and take responsibility for it in repentance to those whom we have offended, with the expectation that we will be forgiven. We must be first to hold our own feet to the fire in self- correction/ self- discipline, in love and truth to quickly make amends to those whom we have mistreated, done wrong, offended.
This is the first step demanded by God for Christians seeking forgiveness and cannot be omitted, for no forgiveness can be offered to anyone who refuses to repent of wrong doing to another or of any conduct that violates church doctrine.
We also have to face the truth that after we have been forgiven by others there can be consequences of our actions that cannot be ignored. If we borrowed a believer’s car and wrecked it, even though we apologized and purchased them another-we should not be surprised if that person won’t lend their car to us again although they have forgiven us, they will not necessarily trust us again with their valuables.
We are accountable and responsible for our behavior before God and one another. Its long past time to put to rest the lie that the church does not hold people responsible or accountable for their behavior or conduct.
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Sun, Sep 2nd - 12:20PM
FORGIVING OTHERS WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?
The correct interpretation of scripture is the sole unifying source for all believers without exception. God has set up the church of Jesus Christ to accomplish this very thing:
Eph: 4 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That 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; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
All Christians in general are commanded by God to study the Bible:
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Children as well as adults benefit from Bible study throughout life:
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The secular world often intrudes their opinion on what the Bible does and does not say. Of course we cannot pay them any mind because without salvation through faith in Jesus Christ no one is able to understand nor to obey the scriptures. Sometimes believers misinterpret scripture, but repent and believe when they are taught the truth of scripture.
One example comes to mind a young man had been saved in prison. He was truly glad, and upon release returned home asking his family to forgive him but they refused although he showed them this scripture many times:
Mt 6: 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
It made no difference to his family and they still did not forgive him. Certainly it feels good to be forgiven, and the young man’s disappointment in his family is understandable, although he really was mistaken in his interpretation of these verses.
In the secular world how often do we see the media pushing microphones up to the faces of Christian victims of various crimes asking usually with no sympathy, “ do you forgive them?”-meaning the perpetrator(s). They expect the Christian to reply yes and if they hedge or don’t they are met with sarcasm whether spoken or implied.
There is no question that Mt. 6:14-15 is correct. However, the real question is this all that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said about how we are to forgive others? Most Christians know the answer is that Jesus said a great deal more about how we are to forgive others than the aforementioned verses. We must teach and give out the whole counsel of God.
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Name: Alex Bane
