To clarify,
If you care to read my earlier post, then it is clear that baptism is a response to the gospel. That is to say, that one believes Christ is Lord of their life and has confessed their sins, they submit to Christ through baptism. (which follows scripture)
I agree that one merely getting dunked in a tank of water has anything to do with ones salvation, but, when one comes to the baptismal waters in faith, then wonderful things occur and as scripture plainly states, one is assured the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Now, does merely getting dunked into a tank of water assure one the gift of the Holy Spirit? If we highlight the word merely, then one is merely getting wet. But wait; do we now credit the water as having saving grace? Only to those who distort scripture to ‘water down’ the significance of baptism.
Baptism is more than your aware of MEC, but like any doctrine, it can be distorted to ones favor with disregard to scripture, thus, I often wonder why you sidestep the significance of baptism while ignoring the scriptural evidence that baptism is a package deal, hence, your false dichotomies and rampant tangents.
You stated,
Forgiveness is ONE THING, but condoning the sinful acts of those that LIVE for this world is to 'take pleasure' in their ACTS.
Where in the world do you come off saying this? Show me where anyone has condoned the sinful act which I used as an example. Now, to clarify, I agree that we are not to condone sinful acts, but considering the context which you wrote these words, I fear that they are completely non-sequitur to the conversation and which could actually leads a reader to believe falsely as to my character or to what I have actually written. As a result, I would ask that in the future, you kindly refrain from such remarks that do not pertain within the context of our conversations.
I would offer that the individual to which you refer is the 'seed' that has been PLANTED in rocky soil. For the LACK of a solid foundation, his faith is WEAK and ineffectual.
I am appalled by your response and would offer that you are quick to judge that which you know nothing about. You know absolutely nothing about this man and judge by exterior events without any knowledge of what his background is, where he came from, what he’s been through let alone what he’s overcome. If you say that his foundation is weak, then you deny the power of Christ in this man’s life as I have personally seen how Christ has transformed this man from what he was, to who he is. If you believe that as a Christian, we cannot stumble or be tempted, and then I would love to hear your interpretation of Romans 7 and 8. Simply put, even Christians sin and fall short of the Glory of God.
There is NOTHING that either YOU nor I am able to DO to 'save one' that is UNABLE to come to the TRUTH.
Again, you condemn this man to hell not knowing from where he came. May the Lord have mercy on you MEC.
As part of the body of Christ, we are called to be there for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to be strong, when they are weak. We are to encourage, admonish, teach, worship together. A the body of Christ, we are a community for Christ, to do the work of Christ. To heal the broken hearted, to take care of the oppressed, the lonely, the sick, the needy. Christianity is not synonymous with apathy, Christianity is active and is always reaching forward.
Our love is OFTEN not 'enough' to help those that SEEM to need it the most. That is WHY we place our faith in God and NOT some 'man-made' church or OUR OWN ABILITIES. We KNOW that God KNOWS what we NEED before we even ask. And NO amount of prayer for another is ABLE to do ANYTHING against the will of the individual. So far as we have been offered NO ONE has EVER been FORCED to LOVE God. No one has EVER been FORCED to LOVE Christ.
I’ll ignore this little rant of yours with the exception of stating that it is my opinion, which I dare not waste the time backing with scripture, that you have an odd distortion, or better yet, and odd way of composing and linking logical thoughts.
Stove, just because your 'church' has 'taught' you that things MAY be different than what has been offered in scripture does NOT validate their teachings.
If you misunderstand what I am saying in regard to baptism, how am I expected to believe that you would understand what the Church teaches on baptism? I would offer that it is you that does not see clearly what scripture teaches in regard to baptism.
But it seems that MONEY is MORE important to the churches NOW DAYS than TRUTH. Fornication, lying, stealing, etc..........these seem to matter LITTLE to the leaders that would over-look such sins and welcome those that commit such sins with OPEN ARMS so long as they bring their 'open wallets' with them on Sunday morning.
And Stove, that is NOT what I 'consider' The Church to BE.
Are you insinuating that the church I attend is more concerned about money than truth? Your really starting to irritate my with your empty assertions.
