I would like to learn just one thing from you:
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
(Galatians 3:2)
we repent in our hearts, not in a bucket of water -- else how many times must we be baptized? if someone sins against us and repents, we must forgive him - even "70*7 times" -- do we only do this if he is also baptized 70*7 times?
do you remember when you first believed? did you go to be baptized, not believing, not having repented, not trusting Christ, waiting to do all these things in your heart under the water? or did you do these things first, and then seeking to obey the one you call your Salvation, also be baptized? why were any of us baptized, if we did not first believe? and anyone who believes and refuses to be baptized, has not believed at all.
we heard the gospel of the cross, not the gospel of the mikvah. this word being received by our ears, was understood by our minds and turned our hearts toward God in repentance - and then having believed, having this faith and first being loved by Him, we love Him, and obey His command to be baptized, professing Him before men and following after Him in the light.
Jesus must be lifted up, and in Him alone is salvation. if we love Him, we keep His commandments - but we love Him because He first loved us - first then, we are loved by Him. believing this we follow after Him and do what He asks us to do!
if i own a company, and i put out an ad for a worker, does someone who answers the ad become my employee the moment i hire him, or only after he has put on the uniform and starts to do the work? as soon as i say "you're hired" he says "i have a job!" if my secretary waits until after he's clocked in to put him on the payroll, where does he get the time card to clock in with?
Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
(Galatians 3:2)
we repent in our hearts, not in a bucket of water -- else how many times must we be baptized? if someone sins against us and repents, we must forgive him - even "70*7 times" -- do we only do this if he is also baptized 70*7 times?
do you remember when you first believed? did you go to be baptized, not believing, not having repented, not trusting Christ, waiting to do all these things in your heart under the water? or did you do these things first, and then seeking to obey the one you call your Salvation, also be baptized? why were any of us baptized, if we did not first believe? and anyone who believes and refuses to be baptized, has not believed at all.
we heard the gospel of the cross, not the gospel of the mikvah. this word being received by our ears, was understood by our minds and turned our hearts toward God in repentance - and then having believed, having this faith and first being loved by Him, we love Him, and obey His command to be baptized, professing Him before men and following after Him in the light.
Jesus must be lifted up, and in Him alone is salvation. if we love Him, we keep His commandments - but we love Him because He first loved us - first then, we are loved by Him. believing this we follow after Him and do what He asks us to do!
if i own a company, and i put out an ad for a worker, does someone who answers the ad become my employee the moment i hire him, or only after he has put on the uniform and starts to do the work? as soon as i say "you're hired" he says "i have a job!" if my secretary waits until after he's clocked in to put him on the payroll, where does he get the time card to clock in with?