What is a church?
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No denomination. I'm a Christian. And the reason I said that about Baptists should be evident. They don't believe baptism is necessary for salvation which contradicts many scriptures. Most Baptists say it's only for an outward affirmation to others of your belief or something like that, a outward sign to others, which is nowhere to be found in scripture nor do scriptures insinuatethst as the reason. The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized in the middle of nowhere with no audience other than Philip, so he wasn't proclaiming anything to anyone, he was simply being obedient. And it was quite obvious that Philip's teaching of the gospel included the subject of baptism and its need relative to salvation, since his verbal inquiry about baptism and water clearly indicates so.
Both baptismal regeneration and baptismal remission are false doctrines. In regard to Titus 3:5, the washing of regeneration is not accomplished by water baptism. The word "washing" in the Strong's Greek Concordance with Vine's Number 3067 - (Loutron) "a bath, a laver" is used *metaphorically of the Word of God, as the instrument of spiritual cleansing,* (Ephesians 5:26; and Titus 3:5), of the "washing of regeneration."
Washing refers to spiritual washing or purification of the soul, accomplished by the word of God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
Water baptism is the picture but is not the reality. The washing of regeneration is signified but not procured in water baptism. Also, in Matthew 3:13-15, we see that baptism is a work of righteousness so it's your doctrine that is in conflict with Titus 3:5.
Washing refers to spiritual washing or purification of the soul, accomplished by the word of God through the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
Water baptism is the picture but is not the reality. The washing of regeneration is signified but not procured in water baptism. Also, in Matthew 3:13-15, we see that baptism is a work of righteousness so it's your doctrine that is in conflict with Titus 3:5.
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I totally agree that the law of Moses was not for gentiles. Deuteronomy 5:2-3 Moses plainly says that the law that God gave them on mount Sinai was only for those who were alive at that time (Israel). It was not given to their “fathers” Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, but to them—the nation of Israel. Then he immediately goes into the 10 commandments. This law was not binding on gentiles unless they converted to Judaism. Christ’s law replaced the law of Moses. Read Hebrews 9:16-17. Christ is the testator and the New Testament is his last will and testament. It came into effect when Jesus died on the cross. Christians are not required to keep any part of that old Jewish law given by Moses. Only what Jesus says in HIS LAW. Jesus plainly teaches that we are not to kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, covet, worship idols,; we are to honor our parents (Eph 6), love God, and not swear. As I said, all of the 10 commandments are in the new law of Christ EXCEPT keeping the 7th day holy. You will not find a commandment for that in the New Testament. Under the law of Christ we celebrate a new day—the first day of the week— the day Christ our Savior defeated Satan, overcame death and rose from the dead. Jesus commands us to give as we have been prospered ( no tithing) in the church collection (1 Cor. 16:1-2,) we have an approved example of the 1st century Christian’s assembling on that day to take the Lord’s supper ( a commandment for Christian’s) and give into a church collection.
There are three laws in the Bible, just as there were 3 laws in the history of our United States. The first one was “the patriarchal law or law of the “fathers”. God spoke to the fathers directly and they taught their families and others. Then, God gave a special people a “written” law, the law of Moses. Finally, the Messiah is born and brings a law for ALL PEOPLE whether Jew or gentile. Thus UNITING all people all over the world under one law—of Christ.
Our country first was under the laws of England. Then, The Articles of Confederation.” That was replaced by the United States Constitution, which governs us today. There is nothing unusual about laws being changed. Hebrews 7 states that the law had to be CHANGED in order for Jesus to be a priest. If the old law of Moses was still binding, Jesus could not be a priest because He was from a different tribe of Jews.
Finally, Colossians 2:14-16 tells us that Christ nailed all of those old laws to His cross.
We all are Christians, but it should be evident that your denomination believes WB is necessary for salvation, which contradicts most of Scripture, including NT teachings that souls are saved by faith rather than by works such as WB. Basing belief on historical passages (Acts) more than on doctrinal ones (epistles) is a problematic hermeneutic.
Yes, I am in Christ and Christ is in me.
It is essential to be "in", because it means to be saved.
A person gets to be in Christ when they “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as in 2CR 4:5 & CL 2:6).
The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:
It is essential to be "in", because it means to be saved.
A person gets to be in Christ when they “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as in 2CR 4:5 & CL 2:6).
The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:
- There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (DT 6:4, JN 3:16, 2THS 1:6), who is both able (2TM 1:12) and willing (1TM 2:3-4) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
- Human beings are selfish or sinful (RM 3:23, 2TM 3:2-4, CL 3:5), miserable (GL 5:19-21), and hopeless (EPH 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (MT 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (JN 3:18, RM 2:5-11).
- Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (JN 3:16, ACTS 16:30-31, PHP 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (RM 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1CR 15:14-28).
- Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (LK 2:11, JN 14:6, ACTS 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (MT 22:37-40, JN 13:35, RM 13:9)—forever (MT 10:22, PS 113:2).
- Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept Him (RV 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning Truth/God’s Word/sanctification everyone cooperates fully with His will (JN 14:6, 17&26, RM 8:6-17, GL 6:7-9, EPH 1:13-14, HB 10:36, 12:1, JM 1:2-4).
By accepting Christ Jesus as Lord does NOT mean you're in Christ at that point. or place you in Christ. There's only one way according to scripture by which you can be "in Christ", and that's by baptism into him, which is his body consisting of other obedient believers. See below short study.
"In Christ": What does it really mean?
The words “in Christ” and similar, i.e.; “in Jesus Christ”, “in Christ Jesus”, “in him’, are used ad nauseam within the Christian world with hardly anyone ever giving any thought whatsoever as to what the words really mean or entail, thus relegating them to nothing more than Christian “buzz words” that sound good and Christian-like.
So what do these words really mean? What does it mean to be “in Christ” and how does one get “in Christ” or into Christ? Is there a specific way stated in the bible? Are there unique benefits for being “in Christ” once one has achieved that state of being “in him”? Are there benefits available to those not being “in Christ”? Can you receive spiritual blessings without being “in Christ”?
These are logical questions that should be asked or considered when one sees or uses these or similar words inferring the same.
There are 146 references in the New Testament (may not be all inclusive, but close if not) using these exact or similar words as those mentioned above. If mentioned that frequently and to that extent, it must be of great importance, so likewise, all should render like importance to these words when using them, clearly understanding what they truly mean and entail.
Consider the suffix “ian” attached to the word “Christ” to become the word Christian; what does "ian" attached to the end a word mean or indicate? One of its meanings is 'from or belonging to'. As it pertains to Christ, it indicates that a Christian is from or belonging to, or in other words, owned by Christ! It should be noted too that the word “Christian” doesn’t mean a believer in or follower of Christ, but rather really means owned by Christ. So, you could be a believer in and follower of Jesus, practice some form of “Christian” religious worship, be devout, moral, etc. etc, but not be owned by Him, not “in him”.
Note that the bible says the following:
1 Cor 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:"
Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
The above clearly states that Christ purchased or bought the church with His own blood, so it's clear that Christians, those owned by Christ, those that are part of his body (the church), have been bought and paid for by his blood which was the price he paid for them who are now “in him”. Therefore, those that are “in” the church are His, and are “in him”.
What are some of the benefits that being owned by or “in Christ” bestowed upon you that are unable to be conferred in any other way according to scripture?
• Be saved, receive redemption, have your sins remitted and added to the Lord’s body which is the church
• Be buried/planted with Him in the likeness of his death thus enabling like resurrection
• Put on Christ and become a Christian and child of God
• Receive the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, blessings, have hope, and be made alive in Him
So, how do you become owned by, “in Christ”, and part of the church? The fact of the matter is, there is one specific way mentioned in the bible as to what one must do to be “in Christ” as well as benefits for being “in him” that can only be realized thereby: by baptism.
Rom 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”?
Gal 3:26/27 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.
1st Cor 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Rom 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.
Col 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”.
Rom 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”:
Acts 2:38 “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”. 41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”. 47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
• Christ’s body is the church of which He is the head (Col 1:18, Eph 5:23);
• You become part of the church by becoming a part of His body. You become part of His body by being baptized into it.
• In it (His body, the church), you obtain spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
• Are you really a Christian without being part of His body, the church, which you are added to upon being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47)?
• If you’re not buried with Him through baptism, can you then still be raised with Him?
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"In Christ": What does it really mean?
The words “in Christ” and similar, i.e.; “in Jesus Christ”, “in Christ Jesus”, “in him’, are used ad nauseam within the Christian world with hardly anyone ever giving any thought whatsoever as to what the words really mean or entail, thus relegating them to nothing more than Christian “buzz words” that sound good and Christian-like.
So what do these words really mean? What does it mean to be “in Christ” and how does one get “in Christ” or into Christ? Is there a specific way stated in the bible? Are there unique benefits for being “in Christ” once one has achieved that state of being “in him”? Are there benefits available to those not being “in Christ”? Can you receive spiritual blessings without being “in Christ”?
These are logical questions that should be asked or considered when one sees or uses these or similar words inferring the same.
There are 146 references in the New Testament (may not be all inclusive, but close if not) using these exact or similar words as those mentioned above. If mentioned that frequently and to that extent, it must be of great importance, so likewise, all should render like importance to these words when using them, clearly understanding what they truly mean and entail.
Consider the suffix “ian” attached to the word “Christ” to become the word Christian; what does "ian" attached to the end a word mean or indicate? One of its meanings is 'from or belonging to'. As it pertains to Christ, it indicates that a Christian is from or belonging to, or in other words, owned by Christ! It should be noted too that the word “Christian” doesn’t mean a believer in or follower of Christ, but rather really means owned by Christ. So, you could be a believer in and follower of Jesus, practice some form of “Christian” religious worship, be devout, moral, etc. etc, but not be owned by Him, not “in him”.
Note that the bible says the following:
1 Cor 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price:"
Acts 20:28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
The above clearly states that Christ purchased or bought the church with His own blood, so it's clear that Christians, those owned by Christ, those that are part of his body (the church), have been bought and paid for by his blood which was the price he paid for them who are now “in him”. Therefore, those that are “in” the church are His, and are “in him”.
What are some of the benefits that being owned by or “in Christ” bestowed upon you that are unable to be conferred in any other way according to scripture?
• Be saved, receive redemption, have your sins remitted and added to the Lord’s body which is the church
• Be buried/planted with Him in the likeness of his death thus enabling like resurrection
• Put on Christ and become a Christian and child of God
• Receive the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, blessings, have hope, and be made alive in Him
So, how do you become owned by, “in Christ”, and part of the church? The fact of the matter is, there is one specific way mentioned in the bible as to what one must do to be “in Christ” as well as benefits for being “in him” that can only be realized thereby: by baptism.
Rom 6:3 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”?
Gal 3:26/27 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.
1st Cor 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Rom 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”.
Col 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead”.
Rom 6:5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection”:
Acts 2:38 “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”. 41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”. 47 “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
• Christ’s body is the church of which He is the head (Col 1:18, Eph 5:23);
• You become part of the church by becoming a part of His body. You become part of His body by being baptized into it.
• In it (His body, the church), you obtain spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3).
• Are you really a Christian without being part of His body, the church, which you are added to upon being baptized (Acts 2:41, 47)?
• If you’re not buried with Him through baptism, can you then still be raised with Him?
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Is A dwelling for the Holy Spirit Gods building and temple
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The church is where the holy spirit dwells together with us
“For we ( the apostles ) are labourers together with God:
ye ( the church ) are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”
1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
The church is where the holy spirit dwells together with us
“For we ( the apostles ) are labourers together with God:
ye ( the church ) are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”
1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV
what Peter did required him to act upon faith like this
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
Exodus 10:21-22 KJV
God caused the darkness but Moses was required to act upon his word spoken that’s the power of God his word of declaration faith is when someone believes what he said and acts upon it
thats what James is talking about
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26 KJV
What God said requires Moses to act in order to bring the wonder to pass its what God says That shall be if he told Moses “ don’t do anything I’m going to cause darkness “ then Moses wouldn’t be required to do anything but he includes people in his word
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, ( what we are told to do and why )
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”( what Jesus promises to do )
Acts 2:38 KJV
Believing something isn’t the reason we don’t do it it’s the reason we do , in faith . To say “ the spirit does it “ doesn’t then equate to “ so you don’t need to do anything he said will result in salvation “
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
Exodus 10:21-22 KJV
God caused the darkness but Moses was required to act upon his word spoken that’s the power of God his word of declaration faith is when someone believes what he said and acts upon it
thats what James is talking about
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26 KJV
What God said requires Moses to act in order to bring the wonder to pass its what God says That shall be if he told Moses “ don’t do anything I’m going to cause darkness “ then Moses wouldn’t be required to do anything but he includes people in his word
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, ( what we are told to do and why )
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”( what Jesus promises to do )
Acts 2:38 KJV
Believing something isn’t the reason we don’t do it it’s the reason we do , in faith . To say “ the spirit does it “ doesn’t then equate to “ so you don’t need to do anything he said will result in salvation “
I wasn't talking about faith in answering the post. I was speaking concerning spiritual and physical reality.
Faith is evidenced in what someone does. People act upon what they believe.
Apply this to baptism. Does someone get baptized who doesn't believe they should? Or do they believe they should and then get baptized?
Belief of anything precedes action based upon that belief. But action will always follow genuine belief when it is called for.
Faith is evidenced in what someone does. People act upon what they believe.
Apply this to baptism. Does someone get baptized who doesn't believe they should? Or do they believe they should and then get baptized?
Belief of anything precedes action based upon that belief. But action will always follow genuine belief when it is called for.