Taking a look at the Statement of Faith

[MisterE]

Statement of Faith​

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ChristianForum's official Statement of Faith

We believe that the Bible is inspired by God in its entirety, and is without error in the original autographs, a complete and final written revelation from God.

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, born of a virgin, totally without sin, God in human flesh, the One Who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, where He now intercedes for us who believe in Him.

The Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Stated differently, God is one in essence and three in person. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God.(Matt Perman 2006).

More accurate to say there is one Godhead. For example, Jesus prayed to the Father that the believers in him would be one, as he and the Father are one, that would be millions of believers that are to be one, a unit.

We support the biblical teaching that all people are born with inherited sin and are lost eternally. They can be saved through repentance, forgiveness and faith in Jesus Christ's death (atonement) and resurrection. No human merit or performance earns salvation. For children and the mentally challenged, they are covered by Jesus’ teaching, 'The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them" (Matt 19:14 NIRV). Furthermore, We believe children and those with mental incapabilities who have no knowledge of good and evil, being innocent in the eyes of God, will be with Him if they should die in this state. (Deuteronomy 1:39) Those who have not heard the gospel, 'have no excuse’ before God because they have not pursued the evidence for God in creation (Rom 1:18—24a NIRV).

No person is lost eternally due to sin. All sins have been paid for, and all sins have been imputed to Christ, not the person that commits . All unbelievers have been redeemed, but that does not mean they are saved. Salvation only comes from a person accepting God's offer of salvation.

The visible Body of Christ (The Church) is universal in nature and not specific to one denomination. It consists of all believers who have confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and have been baptized.

The oldest and best NT manuscripts do not contain the second half of Chapter 16 in the Gospel of Mark. So, vs 16 is not in the inspired text. It was added later, much later. One might content that the baptism is a reference to Spiritual Baptism, the basis for Positional Truth, but I don't see that. The belief that physical baptism is required for salvation means that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was not sufficient to pay the price for our salvation. It also makes for a works based salvation.

We believe in a personal devil, Satan, who, along with all his angels, called demons or evil spirits, are destined to spend eternity in hell (the Lake of Fire). They seek to deceive people, defeat believers, and destroy the work of God. They can be resisted by believers, who are protected by God and the intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord.

We believe that heaven is a real place where the saved will dwell forever, and that hell is a literal place of conscious torment where unbelievers will dwell.

After heaven and earth are burned up, heaven and earth will be where the renovated earth was.

We believe that genuine believers are born again by the Holy Spirit of God, and are indwelt, baptized into the Body of Christ, the true Church, and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

We believe that all believers need to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a godly life and to be bold in our witness for the Lord.

We believe in the spiritual unity of all genuine believers in the Lord Jesus Christ by way of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

[hawkman]

The visible Body of Christ (The Church) is universal in nature and not specific to one denomination. It consists of all believers who have confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and have been baptized.

The oldest and best NT manuscripts do not contain the second half of Chapter 16 in the Gospel of Mark. So, vs 16 is not in the inspired text. It was added later, much later. One might content that the baptism is a reference to Spiritual Baptism, the basis for Positional Truth, but I don't see that. The belief that physical baptism is required for salvation means that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was not sufficient to pay the price for our salvation. It also makes for a works based salvation.

I have found the argument over baptism to be an odd one . If you are a born again Christian you should be baptized , it is an outward showing of your confession of faith before the world . If you want to skip being baptized in your walk with Christ I would ask why is that ? Required or not , I would not want to find myself not recommending being baptized . Do you recommend a new convert should be baptized MisterE ?
Matthew 28
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

[MisterE]

I have found the argument over baptism to be an odd one . If you are a born again Christian you should be baptized , it is an outward showing of your confession of faith before the world . If you want to skip being baptized in your walk with Christ I would ask why is that ? Required or not , I would not want to find myself not recommending being baptized . Do you recommend a new convert should be baptized @MisterE ?

I too believe that a Christian should be baptized. All I wanted to say is that baptism is not a requirement for salvation. A new believer is instantly, eternally saved upon faith in Christ. He will remain saved his whole life even if he is never baptized or renounces Christ later in his life.

Salvation is a matter of faith in Christ plus nothing. Also, I didn't want someone to quote a verse to support his position using a verse that does not appear in the earliest manuscripts.

Every deathbed acceptance of God's offer of salvation is valid, despite not being baptized. I just think that bible students should get their Theology right, and stop selling a false Gospel.

 

[for_his_glory]

This is the Baptism of Christ for receiving the Holy Spirit that is different from John's baptism.


Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, (fire means empowerment)

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Act 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.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Seven works of the Holy Spirit in sanctification
1. Transforms us - Romans 12:1-2; 2Corinthians 3:18
2. Convicts us of sin - John 16:8-11
3. Guides us into all truths - John 14:26
4. Empowers us to proclaim Christ - Acts 1-8; Ephesians 1:13
5. Gives us Spiritual gifts - 1Corinthians 12
6. Empowers us to worship - Ephesians 3:14-19
7. Leads us - Galatians 5:25

We put on Jesus by the renewal of our mind, body and soul through Jesus life, death and resurrection by which we can reconcile ourselves back to Gods grace and mercy through His Salvation of Spiritual renewal and Spiritual rebirth of spirit. We now have the mind of Christ as joint heirs with Jesus as we walk in the path of Jesus and not our own path anymore. John 3:3-21

Sin separates us from God because God is a spirit and can only recognize his own children by what spirit is living in their hearts. We have to renew, rebirth - born again, Gods Spirit within us in order to be called a child of God and see the kingdom of heaven. We now put off the old man (flesh) and put on the new man (Spirit), Colossians 3:1-17. We are renewed by the word of God and through the Holy Spirit teaching us of all things, John 14:26.

Acts 2:38,39 When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus into our hearts we are also receiving the promise of God that his Holy Spirit will come and dwell in our hearts and teach us of all things we need to learn, John 14:26. The baptism that Peter was talking about in Acts 2:38 was a Spiritual rebirth through the word of God. Some people think it is being dunked or sprinkled with water the way John the Baptist did and there is nothing wrong with that for it is an outward appearance to man that you have repented and received Jesus and the Holy Spirit into your life, Matthew 3:11, but Jesus himself never baptized with water, John 4:2, for the baptism of Jesus was for receiving the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) that helps us to learn all truths and to know the will of the Father, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.

After repentance and the Spiritual rebirth, John 3:5-7, we are then baptized in the Holy Spirit and fire through that of Christ baptism according to Acts 2:38, 39, Matthew 3:11.