Bible Study The Doctrine of Christ

dianegcook said:

That's the problem, they rely on their Pastors!
Most folks pick up their Bibles only when they go to church.
Have they not read that they shouldn't commit adultery?

Some Pastors do not like to step on people's toes, it might make the collection plate a little lite.
Some may not know the meat of the Word.

Love is very important!
One should also teach tough love.
You can't just let your kids go wild.

Even if they do preach what is right or wrong, doesn't mean they are going to listen.
Depends on where your heart is.

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Agreed on all.

But the priest/pastor still have to preach the truth.

So, according to what you've posted (which I agree with) looks like we have to decide if we want a heavy plate or saved souls,,,or souls that obey God.

Some choice huh!?
Or should it be an easy choice?

wondering said:

Well Diane,
Actually, if I'm to be honest, I'm getting a little tired of hearing about God's love.

I don't go to church much anymore, and my priest knows why although I haven't spoken to him in some time....

But he's a very nice person, about 73 or so and very pastorial. (is that a word?) Very helpful to everyone and even gives some of his small priest income away to those in need.

But when I do go to Mass, all I ever heard him speak of was the love of God.

In the meantime, catholic friends of mine are living sans the marriage vows and THANKING JESUS THEY FOUND A GOOD COMPANION. 18 year old kids going on vacation together because they're OF AGE and it's OK, everyone is doing this and how could a parent say no?

Now, please don't preach to me about the heart condition...I KNOW THE SCORE. The problem is these people BELIEVE they are good because they go to church and know Jesus in some way or other.

Why do they do what they do? Because they've never heard any priest say they SHOULD NOT.

So, instead of talking about LOVE all the time,,,maybe we could find out what this LOVE MEANS? Maybe we could find out HOW to love God? Maybe we could learn what is accepted in Christianity and what is not?

And just so you remember correctly,
I am Protestant.

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Ephesians 4: 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The true Church of Christ (not a building called a church) is one body in the unity of faith that follows the doctrines of Christ and are obedient to God's commands. Church is not the flavor of one's religion that puts people under bondage as they dictate instead of teach the word of God to the congregation.

Why do we need big fancy churches with all the expensive trimmings that please the eye, but locks the doors to those outside the door as they are not socially acceptable by their standards.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
You say you are tired of hearing about God's love and and maybe we could find out what this love means instead of talking about how God loves. If the church was teaching the doctrines of Christ then they would know what real love is as it's God's mercy and grace given to all of us even though we do not deserve it. Love is that grace of God that we need to be showing others by our actions of a pure heart.

It took one man to know God's love as he obeyed God's commands and for that, even when it repented God that He created man and was about to destroy them all, God's love found favor in just one man. This is God's love towards all of us as all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. Grace forgives us, mercy loves us. This is what love means.

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

wondering said:

Agreed on all.

But the priest/pastor still have to preach the truth.

So, according to what you've posted (which I agree with) looks like we have to decide if we want a heavy plate or saved souls,,,or souls that obey God.

Some choice huh!?
Or should it be an easy choice?

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God wants soul's that are obedient to Him and His commands and statures. Any clergy that stands behind a pulpit had better be called of God to do so and teach Christ's doctrines as the Holy Spirit teaches through them in the simplicity that Jesus taught His disciples.

dianegcook said:

That's the problem, they rely on their Pastors!
Most folks pick up their Bibles only when they go to church.
Have they not read that they shouldn't commit adultery?

Some Pastors do not like to step on people's toes, it might make the collection plate a little lite.
Some may not know the meat of the Word.

Love is very important!
One should also teach tough love.
You can't just let your kids go wild.

Even if they do preach what is right or wrong, doesn't mean they are going to listen.
Depends on where your heart is.

Click to expand...

SMO's and PR's (Sunday morning only, pastor followers) are those who take their Bible off the shelf, dust it off and make their way to church for a couple hours presenting themselves as goodie two shoes for doing so and then go home and put their Bible back on the shelf and act like a heathen the rest of the week. Whatever the Pastor says they believe because he is their Pastor, but when they leave the service and someone asked what they learned they will say I'm not sure, but it sure made me feel good.

My peeve is when you show where one is in error by showing them what the scripture says and even have them read it out loud to you, they will look you in the face and say, well that's not what my Pastor teaches, but yet they believe their Pastor over the very doctrines of Christ.

Does it feel good to bring your own destruction upon yourself as you act like a goodie two shoes and believe everything that is taught from the pulpit or would it be better to have a place in God's kingdom knowing that of what Christ already taught.

Something to think about.

wondering said:

What do you mean?
There's a difference between So. Baptist churches and Christian churches???

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And Lutheran Church’s and Church of Christ Churches and Episcopal Churches and Catholic Churches and Pentecostal Churches and Assembly of God Churches, and on and on and on.


These are divided from one another by what they believe and teach.


Here’s the truth -


Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9






JLB

for_his_glory said:

God wants soul's that are obedient to Him and His commands and statures. Any clergy that stands behind a pulpit had better be called of God to do so and teach Christ's doctrines as the Holy Spirit teaches through them in the simplicity that Jesus taught His disciples.

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Remaining in His doctrine, His message, His word, and thereby continuing in it, is the way of truth.



Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31





JLB

JLB said:

And Lutheran Church’s and Church of Christ Churches and Episcopal Churches and Catholic Churches and Pentecostal Churches and Assembly of God Churches, and on and on and on.


These are divided from one another by what they believe and teach.


Here’s the truth -


Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9


JLB

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Agreed.

But the other member said the So. Baptist church is different from CHRISTIAN churches --NOT other denominations.

This would make it sound like the So. B. church is NOT Christian....
Or is very different in a substantial way.

wondering said:

But the other member said the So. Baptist church is different from CHRISTIAN churches --NOT other denominations.

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Ok. Let’s clarify what you mean by “Christian Churches”?


What do you mean by “Christian Churches”?





JLB

Here is how our Lord see’s the Church; His Body, His House, His Kingdom.


But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:25


The Universal Church - Kingdom
The Corporate Church - City
The Individual Person - House

• There is the Universal Church that dwells both in heaven and on earth.

The dead in Christ are in heaven.
Those who are alive and remain are on earth.

• The Corporate Church refers to the Church that dwells in a city or region.

We can glean this mindset from some of the letters that were sent to the Churches in Revelation.

Example:

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Revelation 2:1


As well as letters that were written by Paul -


Example:


Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2



The House: The Individual Person; A member of His body.


For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:30-32



The Point:


The Lord see’s one Church in a city, not many different denominations.


Man, unfortunately see’s things differently.


Our mindset should that I am the Church, rather than going to a building that is called a Church.

It’s good to gather together in a place, and worship together and minister and encourage and fellowship.


Being the Church is a 24/7 everyday function.




JLB

wondering said:

Agreed on all.

But the priest/pastor still have to preach the truth.

So, according to what you've posted (which I agree with) looks like we have to decide if we want a heavy plate or saved souls,,,or souls that obey God.

Some choice huh!?
Or should it be an easy choice?

Click to expand...

My main point was instead of talking about God's love, which is great, let's talk about OUR LOVE for God.
If you Love God you will seek all about Him.
You would try to walk as He walked.

Also each denomination has different interpretation of truth.
Denominations mean division.
We should discern what is being the truth or not, that is why we should search for the truth in His Word.

Prov.2:1-12
If thou receive My Words and hide My commandments with thee,
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding,
If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding,
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for HID treasures,
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God...
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous, He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly....
He preserveth the way of His saints...
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee,
To deliver thee from the way of the EVIL man, from the man that speaketh froward things,......

dianegcook said:

My main point was instead of talking about God's love, which is great, let's talk about OUR LOVE for God.
If you Love God you will seek all about Him.
You would try to walk as He walked.

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Jesus taught us to remain “in Him”, which is part of remaining in His doctrine, in order to abide in love; Loving God and loving His children.

Living our life by the power of His Spirit, in which we are led in the way of righteousness, is His call to every believer.

This is called the obedience of faith.


I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:1-8




John later writes instructions to us, as to how we are to remain
“In Christ”.



Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24







JLB

Latin root word for religion is bondage, which is different then that of Gods pure religion of James 1:27, but that of following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true Church. The Latin root word is religare as re is a prefix that means return and ligare means to bind. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross because the Bible is not socially acceptable to society, if it were then Christ would have died in vain. God is not about mans religion, nor does he recognize organized religion. God is about a personal relationship with you and His son Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 the same was in the beginning with God. 3 all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 in him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

JLB said:

Ok. Let’s clarify what you mean by “Christian Churches”?


What do you mean by “Christian Churches”?


JLB

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This is a misunderstanding as to what the other member stated and is not worth discussing.

A Southern Baptist church IS a Christian church.

dianegcook said:

My main point was instead of talking about God's love, which is great, let's talk about OUR LOVE for God.
If you Love God you will seek all about Him.
You would try to walk as He walked.

Also each denomination has different interpretation of truth.
Denominations mean division.
We should discern what is being the truth or not, that is why we should search for the truth in His Word.

Prov.2:1-12
If thou receive My Words and hide My commandments with thee,
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding,
If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding,
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for HID treasures,
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God...
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous, He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly....
He preserveth the way of His saints...
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee,
To deliver thee from the way of the EVIL man, from the man that speaketh froward things,......

Click to expand...

Loving each other is the truth.
It's the truth, but not the whole truth.

for_his_glory said:

Latin root word for religion is bondage, which is different then that of Gods pure religion of James 1:27, but that of following tradition and the doctrine of a mans church, not Gods true Church. The Latin root word is religare as re is a prefix that means return and ligare means to bind. Religion tells you what you can and cannot do and becomes socially acceptable by mans interpretations, traditions and doctrines. Religion is what nailed Christ to the cross because the Bible is not socially acceptable to society, if it were then Christ would have died in vain. God is not about mans religion, nor does he recognize organized religion. God is about a personal relationship with you and His son Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 the same was in the beginning with God. 3 all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 in him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

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Amen.

wondering said:

This is a misunderstanding as to what the other member stated and is not worth discussing.

A Southern Baptist church IS a Christian church.

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Let me ask you a question. Did God design different denominations/non-denominations or were they founded by man as each one disagrees with another one in the doctrines they all teach.

for_his_glory said:

Let me ask you a question. Did God design different denominations/non-denominations or were they founded by man as each one disagrees with another one in the doctrines they all teach.

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As you must surely know, Jesus meant for us to be of one mind.
There is scripture for this.

MEN designed different denominations.
So was the reformation wrong?

for_his_glory said:

Let me ask you a question. Did God design different denominations/non-denominations or were they founded by man as each one disagrees with another one in the doctrines they all teach.

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wondering said:

As you must surely know, Jesus meant for us to be of one mind.
There is scripture for this.

MEN designed different denominations.
So was the reformation wrong?

Click to expand...

Amen.

Denominations are from man, and divide us.



JLB

wondering said:

As you must surely know, Jesus meant for us to be of one mind.
There is scripture for this.

MEN designed different denominations.
So was the reformation wrong?

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Yes, we are all to be of one mind in the knowledge of Christ for what He taught so we are not carried away by all the different doctrines that each church teaches that causes division by their own traditional doctrines, creeds and statements of what they believe written by man, Ephesians 4:11-16. Each denomination/nondenominational say they are the true church of God, but how can they be as each is divided against each other.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
The reformation of Martin Luther in 16th century Europe brought the peasants out from under the political rulers of the Roman Catholic Church who extended their own power and control at the expense of the Church. Luther argued that the Bible, not the Pope, was the central means to discern God's word. He also maintained that salvation was by faith alone as sacraments and works were not necessary in order to be saved and was appalled at selling indulgences as a promise for remission of sin. It was like salvation was for sale. The sale of these indulgences raised money for the construction of St. Peter's basilica. There wasn't anything Luther did in secret as he sent copies of his theses to his bishop who in turn sent them to Rome. The reformation eventually allowed the Bible to be printed in many languages so those who could read could have their own copy. This greatly upset the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church.

for_his_glory said:

Yes, we are all to be of one mind in the knowledge of Christ for what He taught so we are not carried away by all the different doctrines that each church teaches that causes division by their own traditional doctrines, creeds and statements of what they believe written by man, Ephesians 4:11-16.

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Well said, and so true.

My desire is to see this Forum, be a shining light of truth that is established on the solid rock of Christ and His doctrine;

His Teachings.


Loving God and loving people is to practice and teach the truth.

His Gospel
His Doctrine
His Commandments.



For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17




JLB