ONE BAPTISM - Ephesians 4:5

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Nov 22, 2015
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Sanctification has everything to do with our new creation in Christ. This is what is a stumbling block and a rock of offense to the works-salvationist mindset. They want to "create" their own righteousness and holiness by "their" works. That is NOT the gospel of the grace of Christ.

Ephesians 4:23-24 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
[SUP]24 [/SUP] and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Has been created = passive = which means you are not doing it - it has been done to you
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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I do not get their thinking.

You either are obligated to obey all the law (perfection) or you water down the law to your standard..

I find it amazing they claim we are greasy with our grace so we can sin, When they are greasy with their "law requirment" so they can live in their sin.

The thing which seperates us from them is we freely admit our sin. They have to hide it behind watered down laws, or keep it hidden behind closed doors.

There is no freedom, or hope in their gospel. Only deception and excused lawlessness.. in an order to appear holy to themselves.

As scripture says, They have a form of Godliness (they preach obedience, and loving God by wanting to please him, which is good) but they deny its power (to change peoples lives and to save a soul completely)
Amen! You hit the nail on the head! :) I don't get their thinking either and all this talk about being saved by "works of faith," but just not by "works of the law" is nonsense. They attempt to dissect the moral aspect of the law from the rest of the law, and teach that we are saved by "these" works, but just not "those" works, yet Paul NEVER said that.

Instead, Paul said that we are saved by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9). Paul also said that it's not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.. (Titus 3:5). Once again, Paul said He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Timothy 1:9).

Works salvationists try to "shoe horn" works "into" salvation through faith, but the shoe does not fit! ;)
 
Nov 22, 2015
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Knowing who you are in Christ because of His finished work that made us "alive" unto God now will change our outward behavior...."awake to righteousness and sin not..".....this is a call to see who you are in Christ and in knowing that....His life in you changes our behavior..

Knowing that we are dead to sin and "alive" to God is what is needed for real transformation in a Christian's life.

When we see that we are the righteousness of God in Christ... - we become outwardly who we really are in our new creation in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:34 (KJV)
[SUP]34 [/SUP]Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.



It is obvious from scripture that we are to walk out the holiness that is already in us in Christ..in our inner man..the new creation.

There is a difference between us as a person being "set apart" ( sanctified in our spirit ) and "setting apart " ( sanctifying ) our behavior outwardly to reflect our true self in the Lord now. It's definitely a process!.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
[SUP]16 [/SUP] because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."


The question remains..is it us doing it by our own D.I.Y. self-effort/righteousness/holiness?..or the life of Christ with His fruit bearing in and through our lives.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
Amen! You hit the nail on the head! :) I don't get their thinking either and all this talk about being saved by "works of faith," but just not by "works of the law" is nonsense. They attempt to dissect the moral aspect of the law from the rest of the law, and teach that we are saved by "these" works, but just not "those" works, yet Paul NEVER said that.

Instead, Paul said that we are saved by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9). Paul also said that it's not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.. (Titus 3:5). Once again, Paul said He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Timothy 1:9).

Works salvationists try to "shoe horn" works "into" salvation through faith, but the shoe does not fit! ;)

I think it is the human mindset apart from God. Every religion known to man uses works. The Jews crucified and rejected Christ, because of works. Islam kills Christian and jew because of works. It is all in the mindset of I am guilty and I must make up for my own sin, then I must stop sin, or God will not accept me, It is based on fear.. That is why it is so easy to get people to murder others in the name of God.. (saul even fell for this tactic)

Works are so easy,, They are visible. they are measurable.

Sadly, Gods requirement are measurable to. And everyone has, Is and will fall short of that glory, thus miss the mark (rom 3: 23)

Yet God does not say, Stop sin and do all these works and you will be justified. He says we are justified freely by grace by being redeemed (purchased) by Christ, in whome he alone is the justifier to those who have faith in Christ.


[SUP]23 [/SUP]for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [SUP]24 [/SUP]being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [SUP]25 [/SUP]whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, [SUP]26 [/SUP]to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

It is God who justifies us, By his sons death, through our faith because of Grace, not us who justify ourself. we are guilty as charged.
 
Sep 4, 2012
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Sanctification has everything to do with our new creation in Christ. This is what is a stumbling block and a rock of offense to the works-salvationist mindset. They want to "create" their own righteousness and holiness by "their" works. That is NOT the gospel of the grace of Christ.

Ephesians 4:23-24 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
[SUP]24 [/SUP] and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Has been created = passive = which means you are not doing it - it has been done to you
The translation of holiness is not correct. The word means godliness, piety.

G3742 ὁσιότης hosiotes (hos-ee-ot'-ace) n.
1. piety
 
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roaringkitten

Guest
It's faith in His one time blood sacrifice for sins, His finished work. To add works to that to be saved or stay saved is to say the blood of Jesus was not sufficient enough to save us!

We are safe by His blood forever, that is why my signature says what it says!
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
The translation of holiness is not correct. The word means godliness, piety.

G3742 ὁσιότης hosiotes (hos-ee-ot'-ace) n.
1. piety
Hosiotes - Piety, Holiness, Uprightness, Without defect, Blameless,
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
It's faith in His blood, His finished work. To add works to that to be saved or stay saved is to say the blood of Jesus was not sufficient enough to save us!

We are safe by His blood forever, that is why my signature says what it says!
His blood, Unlike the blood of bulls and goats. Was shed once, to sit at the right hand of God forever as the perfect high priest..

Romans 8:33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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It is part of the new man in Christ - holiness is just the noun of the adverb holy. The "noun" is used 2x times in the NT.

Lk. 1:75 the life of the righteous in the age of salvation; Eph. 4:24 the nature of the new man

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – Volume V.

from <G3741> (hosios); piety :- holiness.

Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Let's not fall for the "rabbit trails"...to keep us from the real issue..:)
 
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Sep 4, 2012
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It is part of the new man in Christ - holiness is just the noun of the adverb holy. The "noun" is used 2x times in the NT.

Lk. 1:75 the life of the righteous in the age of salvation; Eph. 4:24 the nature of the new man

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament – Volume V.

from <G3741> (hosios); piety :- holiness.

Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Let's not fall for the "rabbit trails"...to keep us from the real issue..:)
Trying to equate holiness (ἁγιωσύνη hagiosune) with piety (ὁσιότης hosiotes) is going down a rabbit trail.
 
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roaringkitten

Guest
"Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:10-14

"For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:23

"For the
gifts and calling of God are without repentance." Rom 11:29
 
Nov 22, 2015
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Luke 1:74-77 (NASB)
[SUP]74 [/SUP] To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,
[SUP]75 [/SUP] In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.

[SUP]76 [/SUP] "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;


[SUP]77 [/SUP] To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,


We have a great salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. Believe the gospel of the grace of Christ. Believe in His love and mercy towards us. He has done great things for us! Receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness that is in Christ and we are in Him We are one with the Lord.
 
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Armini3

Guest
What I ment was James states they go hand in hand
 

mailmandan

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Apr 7, 2014
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I really don't like that term (moral) because it's man-made. We can't separate the law into distinct parts so as to follow one part and not another. The righteous effect of every bit of the law will be fulfilled in those who walk by faith (Romans 8:4). So works of faith are the righteous effects of the law. It does not mean trying to be justified by the letter (which is impossible), but working out of faith to actually do the righteous effect of the law.
Yet as I demonstrated using scripture, you cannot dissect works of faith/good works from the law (as I showed you in James 2:15-16; Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Whether you choose to label works as works of the law, works of faith, good works, works of obedience that follow faith etc.. we are not saved by works in general, but we are saved by grace through faith.
 
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roaringkitten

Guest
Yet as I demonstrated using scripture, you cannot dissect works of faith/good works from the law (as I showed you in James 2:15-16; Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Whether you choose to label works as works of the law, works of faith, good works, works of obedience that follow faith etc.. we are not saved by works in general, but we are saved by grace through faith.

Good points! The faith has to be in the blood of the Lamb of God. Sadly, people show they are not resting in the finished work of Christ by thinking their works of righteousness saves them! And why is the blood of the Lamb lacking in their arguments? The blood of Christ is central to our salvation so it should be central in our discussion about salvation. It's the blood of Christ that God looked upon and accepted His one time sin sacrifice for us! His blood is the solution for sin forever!

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" Rev 1:5



 
Sep 4, 2012
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Yet as I demonstrated using scripture, you cannot dissect works of faith/good works from the law (as I showed you in James 2:15-16; Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Whether you choose to label works as works of the law, works of faith, good works, works of obedience that follow faith etc.. we are not saved by works in general, but we are saved by grace through faith.
Works of faith are entirely different than works of law. The latter is done apart from faith to try to justify one's self. The former is done, in the faith that one is justified through Christ's death, to express the nature of his renewed heart. The motivations and results are entirely different.
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
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the One baptism #216
Jesus did not refer to
baptism as "obeying the gospel" in Mark 16:16. NOWHERE does the Bible equate "obeying the gospel" with being baptized, but the Bible does equate "obeying the gospel" with "believing the gospel." Romans 10:16 - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" We obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel. Those who refuse to believe the gospel by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation have not obeyed the gospel. When will you finally choose to repent and believe the gospel?

The gospel is not a set of rituals to perform, a code of laws to be obeyed or a check list of good works (including water baptism) to accomplish as a prerequisite for salvation. The gospel simply sets forth Christ crucified, buried and risen (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the Savior of all who believe/trust exclusively in Christ's finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who BELIEVES..(Romans 1:16).

Now in Mark 16:16, Jesus simply said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (general cases without making a qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized) but he who does not believe will be condemned. Jesus clarifies the first clause with "but he who does not believe will be condemned." *NOWHERE did Jesus say whoever is NOT water baptized will NOT be saved. Deal with it and quit fighting the truth.


Well, I can see that we have a difference in our understanding of faith and obedience. It is commonly accepted that faith is of the mind and heart, invisible to men; on the other hand, obedience, that avails, is of faith (Rom. 1: 5; 16: 26) and from the heart (Rom. 6: 17), is of the conduct and may be observed. So when you tell us that we obey the gospel by believing, we encounter a semantics problem. Is that obedience, of faith? Then we obey the gospel by faith, by believing? Is it by law? Is it by the exercise or our will? But faith is a work of God, by grace and a gift of God. Please clarify.
Faith is our introduction to the grace of God but it is by no means the end-all. (Rom 5: 2; 1Tim. 1: 5)
Now abides faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13: 13) According to the Scriptures hope is said to both purify and save; God will give a crown of life to those who love, who have passed from death to life. Are they essential to salvation? If so, why aren’t they mentioned every time faith is mentioned?
Faith without love is nothing. (1 Cor. 13: 2)
Faith without works (of faith) is dead and useless. (James 2: 17, 20) If the faith that saves is not accompanied by works of faith, at the moment of salvation, then IMO, it is dead and useless.
Faith works through love. (Gal. 5: 6)
Works of faith save. There are several works of faith that save or lead to salvation: calling on the name of the Lord, repentance, baptism, confessing the name of Christ, obedience, the washing of regeneration. Yes, I am aware that you have felt it necessary to redefine several of these works.
Of first importance in the gospel of Christ: —(1) Christ died for our sins, (2) He was buried, (3) He was raised on the third day. (1 Cor. 15: 1- 4)
When we believe the gospel, we assent to the truth of those three facts. (Rom. 1: 16)
These three facts are the “form of teaching” which must be obeyed from the heart to be freed from sin. (Rom 6: 17, 18) Is that essential?
When we obey the gospel we have been united with Him in those three facts through baptism. (Rom. 6: 5; 2 Thess. 1: 8, 9)
When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death, the old self is crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with. (Rom 6: 3, 6) Is it important or even essential that we die with Christ?
Is it important or even essential that in baptism, we are buried with Him so that we might be raised with Him, so we might walk in newness of life? Rom 6: 4
Is it important that we be united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection? (Rom 6: 5)

IMO Rom. 10: 16 does not equate obeying the gospel with believing. The passage is saying they did not belief, therefore they did not obey the gospel. (Heb. 3: 18, 19) God bless.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Works of faith are entirely different than works of law. The latter is done apart from faith to try to justify one's self. The former is done, in the faith that one is justified through Christ's death, to express the nature of his renewed heart. The motivations and results are entirely different.
Regardless of whether works are done apart from faith or done in faith, we are still not saved by works, whether you label works of faith as good works, works of righteousness, works of obedience that flow from faith etc.. and you cannot dissect works of faith/good works from the moral aspect of the law (James 2:15-16; Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:6 Leviticus 19:18). Which works of faith/good works do you "completely detach" from loving God with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself? We are not saved by/through works but FOR good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Well, I can see that we have a difference in our understanding of faith and obedience.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Saving faith is belief, trust, reliance in Christ alone for salvation. Obedience which FOLLOWS is WORKS and we are not saved by works. There is your confusion. You don't seem to make a distinction between faith and obedience/works which follow and are produced out of faith, thus you continue to confuse the root of salvation (faith) with the fruit of salvation (works).

It is commonly accepted that faith is of the mind and heart, invisible to men; on the other hand, obedience, that avails, is of faith (Rom. 1: 5; 16: 26)
Although Paul can speak of people’s initial response of coming to faith in Christ as an act of obedience, in which he describes it as “obeying the gospel” (Romans 10:16), the purpose of Paul’s apostleship was not merely to bring people to conversion but also to bring about transformed lives that were consistently obedient to God. Notice that Paul said they HAVE (already) received grace and apostleship FOR or UNTO obedience to the faith. Just as in Ephesians 2:10, Paul said that we are created in Christ Jesus FOR or UNTO good works. We are clearly saved FOR good works, NOT BY good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). In Romans 1:5, Paul did not say that they did not receive grace and apostleship until they produced obedience/works. We have access by FAITH into GRACE… (Romans 5:2) not faith “and obedience.” We are saved through faith first, then “unto” obedience (works). You put the cart before the horse.

and from the heart (Rom. 6: 17), is of the conduct and may be observed.
We obey the gospel from the heart when we choose to believe the gospel. We believe in our HEART (and not just in our head) that God has raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Our hearts are first purified by faith (Acts 15:9) and then acts of obedience/works FOLLOW.

So when you tell us that we obey the gospel by believing, we encounter a semantics problem. Is that obedience, of faith? Then we obey the gospel by faith, by believing? Is it by law? Is it by the exercise or our will? But faith is a work of God, by grace and a gift of God. Please clarify.
What semantics problem? Paul clearly stated that we obey the gospel by believing the gospel (Romans 10:16). Choosing to believe the gospel is an act of obedience, but apparently you seem to think otherwise or else you are simply determined to "add" works to the gospel. Again, there is a difference between the obedient act of choosing to believe the gospel and becoming saved and multiple acts of obedience/works which FOLLOW believing the gospel after having been saved through faith, which these works are then produced "out of faith." You don't seem to understand the difference.

Faith is our introduction to the grace of God but it is by no means the end-all. (Rom 5: 2; 1Tim. 1: 5)
From beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is through faith and IS NOT BY WORKS (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Now abides faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13: 13) According to the Scriptures hope is said to both purify and save; God will give a crown of life to those who love, who have passed from death to life. Are they essential to salvation?
Romans 8:24 does not teach that if our faith is genuine, but we don't have enough hope, we can't be saved. Unlike the english word "hope," the N.T. word contains no uncertainty; it speaks of something that is certain. Strong's #1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope. If we have saving faith then we have this hope. Faith is the substance of things HOPED for... (Hebrews 11:1). So that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the HOPE of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), but we are saved through faith, not faith plus love. Love is the greater quality of the three because God is love and it outlasts them all. Long after faith and hope are no longer necessary, love will still be the governing principle that controls all that God and his redeemed people are and do. We won't need faith and hope in heaven. Paul is stressing the importance of love, not teaching that faith is insufficient to save us without our best efforts to love. All genuine BELIEVERS have love. Why? Because we receive the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5) when we BELIEVED the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

If so, why aren’t they mentioned every time faith is mentioned?
Faith without love is nothing. (1 Cor. 13: 2)
Paul is stressing the importance of love, not teaching that salvation is based on the merits of our best efforts to love. You are turning this into salvation by works.

Faith without works (of faith) is dead and useless. (James 2: 17, 20) If the faith that saves is not accompanied by works of faith, at the moment of salvation, then IMO, it is dead and useless.
Faith that saves will be accompanied by works. Faith that produces no works is an empty profession of faith/dead faith, not genuine faith that is alive in Christ.

Faith works through love. (Gal. 5: 6)
Amen! :)

Works of faith save.
This is where you crash and burn as you cross the line into salvation by works. :( Works of faith "works done out of faith" are still works and we are not saved by works, but by grace through faith.

There are several works of faith that save or lead to salvation: calling on the name of the Lord,
Did Jesus say there are several works of faith that save in John 6:29, after the Jews asked Him what they might do to work the works (plural) of God? No. Jesus answered, this is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent. Plain and simple.
Calling on the name of the Lord is not an additional requirement to become saved after faith. When you call upon the name of the Lord you trust in Him to come to your aid. Inherent in your calling is the essential faith that He can and will save you. So, in essence, to call on the name of the Lord unto salvation is to call upon Him in complete trust for Him to save you.

repentance,
Repentance actually "precedes" believe/believe the gospel/faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 21:32; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21). The church of Christ erroneously reverses the scriptural order of repentance/faith.

Water baptism FOLLOWS repentance/faith/salvation (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31).

confessing the name of Christ,
Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together (Romans 10:8-10).

obedience,
Obedience which follows saving faith in Christ and is produced out of faith is WORKS and we are not saved by works. When will you finally understand?

the washing of regeneration.
This is not a work that we do, but that the Holy Spirit does when we receive spiritual washing/purification of the soul at the moment we are saved when we believe the gospel.

Yes, I am aware that you have felt it necessary to redefine several of these works.
Of first importance in the gospel of Christ: —(1) Christ died for our sins, (2) He was buried, (3) He was raised on the third day. (1 Cor. 15: 1- 4)
I did not redefine anything. You are just very confused because of your church of Christ indoctrination. I certainly did not redefine the gospel. The gospel is the "good news" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16). You "add" works to the gospel of Christ, which renders Christ an IN-sufficient Savior. :(

When we believe the gospel, we assent to the truth of those three facts. (Rom. 1: 16)
We don't merely assent to these three facts, as if all we do is believe that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened." We must also trust exclusively in what happened as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation, apart from supplemental works.

These three facts are the “form of teaching” which must be obeyed from the heart to be freed from sin. (Rom 6: 17, 18) Is that essential?
Amen! We obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 10:16; 1:16).

When we obey the gospel we have been united with Him in those three facts through baptism. (Rom. 6: 5; 2 Thess. 1: 8, 9)
Water baptism is the PICTURE, but not the reality. We obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel BEFORE we are water baptized. You still confuse the picture with the reality.

When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death, the old self is crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with. (Rom 6: 3, 6) Is it important or even essential that we die with Christ?
Is it important or even essential that in baptism, we are buried with Him so that we might be raised with Him, so we might walk in newness of life? Rom 6: 4 Is it important that we be united with Him in the likeness of His resurrection? (Rom 6: 5)
Again, water baptism is the PICTURE, but not the reality. Until you figure this out, you will remain confused. We are not literally water baptized into the body of Christ, just as the Israelites were not literally water baptized into the body of Moses (1 Corinthians 10:2). Spirit baptism is the reality in which by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Corinthians 12:13); not to be confused with water baptism. This remains your achilles heel.

IMO Rom. 10: 16 does not equate obeying the gospel with believing. The passage is saying they did not belief, therefore they did not obey the gospel. (Heb. 3: 18, 19)
Romans 10:16 certainly does equate obeying the gospel with believing the gospel. Romans 10:16 - But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" In Hebrews 3:18 (KJV) - And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not. In Hebrews 3:18 (NAS) - And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

Just like in John 3:36, works salvationists run with the word "obey" and try to turn it into salvation by works. Obey the Son does not mean do extra works for Him, but obey by believing. If John wanted to make obedience the central theme in salvation here, he would have said: "He who believes and obeys the Son has eternal life," but that is not what John said. To believe on the Son is to obey Him and to disbelieve on the Son is to disobey Him. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36, NASB). The King James Version renders this same verse as: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The Greek word translated as believeth not in that verse is apeitheo and it means: not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving. Strong’s definition of apeitheo is "to disbelieve willfully and perversely." In the context of 3:36, to not obey the Son means to reject His message by remaining in unbelief.

I hope and pray that you will prayerfully consider the truth. At least a seed has been planted that hopefully one day will be watered and lead you to the truth that salvation is by grace through faith and is not by works. That will be a day to rejoice! :)
 
Nov 22, 2015
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Here is water baptism in an easy 3 minute video....only blood washes our sins away - not water...:)


[video=youtube;9BmB69Of9_Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BmB69Of9_Y[/video]