Oh ok thought you was serious. I was like what in the world are you talking about lol
What is reformed?
- Thread starter calibob
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Well your half right. From Emperor Constantine foreword whe the RCC bastardized the roman form of what the Gospels, Epistles taught and included ritualistic forms of worship as well as Gnosticism and veneration of saints, prophets and practice taught against in the letter to the Colossians (amoung others). Without the persecutions by the Roman government. It seems to me they should have abandoned all of the Vatican dogma, rituals, traditions and practices all together. Peter, Paul, Timothy, Jude, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John knew what they were talking about.
The RCC dosn't have God given authority to canonize anybody and sainthood should is not limited to their discression. There is nowhere in scripture that positively identifies Mary from Magdala as a prostitute, adulterous or harlot. The wise men bore 3 gifts. There is no number given for how many wise men there were.
There is a lot that I probably do not know about the RCC, but I know enough to know that they are very corrupt.
They aren't the only ones that carry false ritualistic practictices. Baptism was intend for people that reached the age of reason to symbolize having their sins washed away and being born agian in public. Drinking naturally fermented, unfortified, beer and or wine are not sins any more than dancing is. Communion was a meal shared amoung believers. Not a cracker and s sip of juice. Many don't understand there no power of salvation in doing things this way. Sharing in the name of the Lord like a family is where the blessings come from.
It's no wonder why people disbelieve and see us as childish believers in fairy tales. Children's stories and fairy tale like myths have been woven, with many Gnostic beliefs, into the fabric of Christianity. Men and women can never become godly enough via obeying human traditions alone. Christianity is not and should never be exclusive club. Divorce is not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is not required to be saved nor is it proof of salvation. Love is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit and the most important gift.
I wonder how often are such things "said" so as to tell someone they are not of Christ and thus is why they do not understand the pointed one's posts?
That passage arrives from the Saint Apostle Paul who, three times in his epistles, stated he was bringing "his gospel" to those who received him. That which he said he was entrusted with, in the Book of 1st Timothy chapter 1.
Therein, as we are to use discernment and test the spirits, given man's involvement with compiling the canon over at least a 1,500 year period, as followers of Jesus the Christ, we must ask if one's gospel comports in the message with that said by Jesus prior.
The Book of John chapter 20 verses 30 and31
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Book of John chapter 1 verses 1 through 51
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I know what you're saying. Our modern day 'church' model is just as much a tradition as we say the RCC is.
We love to claim how we are separate from the RCC and from their traditions, except we have set up traditions of our own, except we toss more 'spiritual' elements to our services.
I speak as a person that rejected the RCC and the Vatican over 47 years ago. I recon myself to be as a Gentile Circumcized of the heart and read the New Testament daily, as well as study and share with others from several translations at a time. I don't believe that any other inspired word of God has existed since the original texts that the New Testament came from. There are only two prophets comming... In the last days.
Forgive me, I'm new to all this. My parents were Dutch Reformed but I don't know too much about it. Do we know where the true church is then?
That's a very good question. Since the Reformers saw the pope as the Antichrist, there should have been a total rejection of everything originating from the Catholic Church. Unfortunately they did not go all the way with their Reformation, and even rejected some things which were completely biblical.
In all fairness, Reformed Theology does have some redeeming features. But the Calvinism of the Reformed churches undermined the true Gospel of Grace.
To gain a better idea of Reformed Theology read and study the Westminster Confession of Faith. There are several other such confessions also. The Belgic Confession of Faith originated in the Netherlands. It says "A Reformed Confession of the Dutch Churches".
Thank you for sharing that.
I'm curious if you would please elaborate further? When you say this, "...two prophets comming... In the last days. " Whom would you be referring to?
Revelations 11:3And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”Thank you for sharing that.
I'm curious if you would please elaborate further? When you say this, "...two prophets comming... In the last days. " Whom would you be referring to?
4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.a 5If anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed. 6These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
7When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them. 8Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified. 9For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered the two witnesses, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell upon those who saw them. 12And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
Thank you. I was aware of the passages that referred to witnesses. It was your use of prophets that had me quite curious.
I believe those two witnesses are to be Enoch and Elijah.
What say you brother?
Well, I sort of try and stay away from making decisions based on conjecture but I they are very likely the top two candidates.
In the Book of Acts chapter 2 you will read of the day of Pentecost arriving. That fulfilled this prophecy of Jesus found in the Book of Mark chapter 9 : 1. And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Read all of Acts 2 and you will find the church of Christ, the true church, are the Ekklesia. That is, the faithful in Christ. Also called, those in the "body of Christ".
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The Book of Acts chapter 20 tells us how this church came about. It was purchased with Christ's blood.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.
Every member of the true church of Christ have their sins covered under that blood. Especially those that believe. Anyone that believes is a member of this church anywhere in the world.
The Book of John chapter 6 verses 48 through 51 I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
There the bread Jesus refers that which is in the human world essential for life; bread. Jesus is therefore telling us that He is essential for eternal life.
Interestingly, Jesus being born in Bethlehem in Judea which would be the area of the central West Bank of Palestine. Bethlehem is means, "House of Bread:. Fitting then that the Bread of Life, (Jesus) would be born in the House of Bread.
Bethlehem is also where King David was born and raised and as such Bethlehem eventually came to be known as, the City of David.
Jesus' mother Mary was a descendant of the line of king David, and in the Old Testament prophecy concerning Messiah, it was said that the Messiah would be of the line of David.
Beautiful how it all works out like one giant puzzle fit together with perfect pieces of prophecy and fulfillment.
In the Book of Acts chapter 2 you will read of the day of Pentecost arriving. That fulfilled this prophecy of Jesus found in the Book of Mark chapter 9 : 1. And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Read all of Acts 2 and you will find the church of Christ, the true church, are the Ekklesia. That is, the faithful in Christ. Also called, those in the "body of Christ".
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The Book of Acts chapter 20 tells us how this church came about. It was purchased with Christ's blood.
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.
Every member of the true church of Christ have their sins covered under that blood. Especially those that believe. Anyone that believes is a member of this church anywhere in the world.
The Book of John chapter 6 verses 48 through 51 I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
There the bread Jesus refers that which is in the human world essential for life; bread. Jesus is therefore telling us that He is essential for eternal life.
Interestingly, Jesus being born in Bethlehem in Judea which would be the area of the central West Bank of Palestine. Bethlehem is means, "House of Bread:. Fitting then that the Bread of Life, (Jesus) would be born in the House of Bread.
Bethlehem is also where King David was born and raised and as such Bethlehem eventually came to be known as, the City of David.
Jesus' mother Mary was a descendant of the line of king David, and in the Old Testament prophecy concerning Messiah, it was said that the Messiah would be of the line of David.
Beautiful how it all works out like one giant puzzle fit together with perfect pieces of prophecy and fulfillment.
The only true church are the children of God. It is not a denomination, it is not a building, it is the people. We are a house that God has built and is building.
I like to think I can read Bible passages and assort them together to give a certain picture of , in this case, future events.
The reason I think it is Elijah and Enoch is because they did not taste death, but were taken up, translated, by God.
When we're told human existence ends in physical death. The Book of Romans 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
The Book of Revelation chapter 11 tells us the two witnesses will be returned to earth and shall teach for 1,260 days, approximately 5 months, and then when they have finished their testimony the Beast will rise and make war upon them and they will be killed. The bodies will lay in the streets of the great city, which I think is Jerusalem, the city where Jesus was crucified.
But then after 31/2 days God resurrects them and the fallen people in that city that had rejoiced over their dead bodies will be made afraid in seeing this.
And then those enemies will watch as Elijah and Enoch are taken up again in a cloud by God. And then calamity hits the earth.
I see that revelation as one more proof from God that death does not have power over those who are in Christ. Two men who never tasted death returned to the earth to deliver the testimony, the Greek μαρτυρία , Martyría, are killed for it , their bodies disrespected by those who loathed their message, and then they are given the breath of life by God and arise from death before their enemies, and ascend in a cloud to the God their testimony testified of. Evidence of the truth of God in Christ. Salvation overcomes death.
Sorry, I should have actually replied to z1on lolThat's what I said. Thanks.