NOT CATHOLIC NOR PROTESTANT BUT CHRISTIAN ONLY (1 Pet 4:16)
These groups (Catholics, Protestants) are based on the theologies of men, what is meant by theologies is man-made theories based upon certain passages of scripture which are believed by those in these groups to be all compassing, even to the point that if other passages of scripture contradict the supposedly all compassing ones, the statement is made that the contradicting ones "don't mean that." Catholics stand on Mt 16:18 and Protestants Eph 2:8, neither of which contextually mean what these groups assert (Mt 16:18 is explained on the "Seed of the Kingdom" page in the lesson "The Primacy of Peter?" and Eph 2:8 is explained on the "F.A.Q." page in the question "Does Eph 2:8-9 teach..."). One of these groups sprinkles or pours unbelieving infants unto salvation, the other prays to Jesus unto salvation, neither of these plans are found upon the pages of inspiration, only short statements pulled out of their contexts which are only pretexts, it is the sum of God's word that is the truth on any given subject (Ps 119:160) including salvation. Those that teach these things as truth sit in the temple of God setting themselves forth as God (2 Thess 2:4), it is God Who justifies (Rom 8:33), and He does through the pure and undefiled Gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16) which was once for all time delivered in the 1st century (Jude 3), not through the doctrines of men concocted hundreds of years after the fact. And those that follow them, who recieve not the love of the truth that they might be saved, God allows them to believe such lies (2 Thess 2:10-12).
The Gospel, the Faith, the Way, that which we commonly refer to as Christianity, was once for all (time; "hapax" ) delivered in its entirety, unto the saints in the 1st century, it was in danger of being perverted by false teachers, thus it was to be contended for (Jude 3). . .
"Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints."
It contains FACTS to believe (Jn 8:24; 20:30-31; Cor 15:3-4, 20-26; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Heb 11:6, etc.),
COMMANDS to obey (Mt 28:20; Acts 10:48; 17:30-31; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 7:19; 14:37; 2 Thess 1:8; 3:14; 1 Pet 4:17; etc.),
PROMISES to receive (Eph 1:3; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Tit 1:2; 1 Pet 1:3-5; 2 Pet 1:3-4; 3:13; etc.),
And WARNINGS to heed (Mt 5:29-30; 10:28; Lk 12:5; 13:1-5; Jn 3:5; 8:24; Acts 3:22-23; Gal 5:19-21; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 10:1-12; 2 Thess 1:8-9; Heb 2:1-4; 10:23-31; 12:14-29; etc.).
God's plan of salvation is included in this, and was that which Jesus gave to His apostles in that which is commonly referred to as the great commission (Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16),
"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
" And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned."
I think it is very interesting that with all the Protestant Bibles and all the salvation plans written in them that not one has any reference to Christ's commission (note that these individuals have to insert their own plan in these Bibles instead of letting the Bible speak for itself), this is very sad, they claim Christ as Lord but deny Him by their works. Surely a person would not believe men rather than God, would they?
There was a form, a pattern of teaching, which when believed and obeyed from the heart (Rom 6:17), brought about salvation (Rom 6:18; Heb 5:9; Acts 16:30-34), any one that teaches a different gospel other than that which was preached in the 1st century is accursed of God ("anathema" - devoted to Gehenna Hell without the hope of redemption), we could rightly apply this to praying to Jesus unto salvation or sprinkling/pouring unbelieving infants unto salvation, neither of these salvation plans of men are found upon the pages of inspiration (Gal 1:6-9). . .
"I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema."
It was preached by Peter on that first Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (Acts 2:38), it was the same plan that was to be preached unto all the nations as commanded by the Lord (Luke 24:47). Is this the plan you preach? Is this the plan that you heard? It should be, remember Gal 1:8-9!
Example after example after example in the book of Acts, which shows the gospel going into the whole world, leaves no doubt what the Lord commands of us today (Acts 2:36-47; 8:4-13; 8:26-39; 9:1-20 & 22:6-16; 10:1-48 & 11:1-18; 16:13-15; 16:23-34; 18:8; 19:1-7). The Bible was written for the common man, you can understand it (John 8:32; Eph 3:4), it means exactly what it says, and the sum of it is the truth on any given matter (Ps 119:160), not just some of it pulled out of its context (Mt 4:4-7). One can read through the conversions in the book of Acts and plainly see there was no praying to Jesus unto salvation, no sprinkling unbelieving babies unto salvation. Acts shows us the "Lord's plan" being fulfilled, not "men's," individuals heard, they believed, they repented, they confessed, they were baptized, they were encouraged to continue in the Faith . . .
1. The GOSPEL is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16), it is the GOOD NEWS that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and our living hope of following Him (1 Cor 15:1-4, 23; 1 Pet 1:3-4), those who are Christians are commanded to teach the gospel to all nations (Mt 28:19-20), one should note that Matthew's account of the great commission (Mt 28:19-20) is of a perpetual nature, it is "ongoing" even to this day. Also it should be noted that salvation is a "process," it also is "ongoing," individuals are in the process of "being saved" (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:47; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15) which is a present tense verb showing the continuous action of God saving us through the gospel.
2. Those who HEAR (Rom 10:17; or in some other way learn of) the gospel, the good news, are to BELIEVE these facts (1 Cor 15:1-4; 1 Pet 1:3-4), they should also believe that God exists, and rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6), and that Jesus is the Divine Christ (Jn 8:24), the resurrected Son of God (Rom 10:9), Who is Master (Lord) over all (Mt 28:18), for no one comes to God except through Christ (Jn 14:6). Belief (faith) is the starting point of salvation, this is the point that a person crosses over from spiritual death to life (Jn 5:24), yet not faith only (Ja 2:17, 24, 26), demon like faith (Ja 2:19), but a faith that acts, that demonstrates "the obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5; 16:26), faith working through love (Gal 5:6), God working in and through you (Phili 2:12-13), God's will is that a person doesn't stop there but continues "being saved" (Mt 7:21-23; Lk 6:46; Heb 5:9; Ja 1:22). (What early Christians believed about faith only salvation)
3. Belief (faith) is to lead individuals to REPENT of their past sins (Lk 13:3, 5, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30), repentance is a change in mind that brings about a changed life. This is brought about by learning of God's goodness through His standards of right and wrong in the New Testament and seeing one's own lost condition in view of it (Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:10), this is how the Holy Spirit convicts individuals of sin (Jn 16:8).
4. Individuals are to verbally CONFESS that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Jn 12:42; Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Tim 6:12). Jesus also stated that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father. If we deny Him, He will deny us (Matt. 10:32-33). This precept looks back at and promotes Christ's commission, this enables us to be "salt and light" instead of "good for nothings" (Mt 5:13-16).
5. We are to BE BAPTIZED into His death (Rom 6:3), where His blood was shed (Jn 19:34) thereby contacting that precious blood (Eph 1:7; Rev 1:5). One is to be "immersed" ("baptizo") in water, this word does not refer to "sprinkling" ("rhantismos" 5 times in the NT; "rhantizo" 1 time in the NT; "proschusis" 1 time in the NT) or "pouring" ("ekcheo"/ "ekchuno" 31 times in the NT) the Bible has these words, this is not those words. The word "baptizo" was a naval term used in the 1st century of when a ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea, this refers to a complete immersion in water. Baptism is for the purpose of (unto; towards "eis") the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38, 22:16; Col 2:11-14; 1 Pet 3:20-21) as is belief (Acts 10:43; 13:38-39) and repentance (Lk 24:47). Baptism puts one "in Christ" (Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:26-27), the place where every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places are located (Eph. 1:3), yet one should note that entering into Christ is also progressive. It starts with faith (Jn 3:16; LITV) and baptism (Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:26-27), and continues with all things commanded of the Lord (Eph 4:15). Baptism is the point wherein one is to die to self and live unto God (Rom 6:3-14). It is interesting that our baptism actually shadows our Lord's death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-18), this is how one obeys the gospel (Rom 10:16; KJV; 2 Thess 1:8; 1 Pet 4:17), baptism is actually an reenactment of the gospel of sorts (Rom 6:3-6 vs 1 Cor 15:3-4). This reenactment cannot be seen in any of the false doctrines being propagated today, not in praying to Jesus unto salvation, not in sprinkling or pouring unto salvation, not in modern day Holy Spirit baptism unto salvation. None of these plans are in harmony with this truth clearly set forth in God's word, and those of an honest and good heart (Lk 8:15) will admit this to themselves and flee from those lies. (What early Christians believed about baptism)
6. Then, we are to BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY (1 Pet 1:16; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 12:14), the word "holy" means "set apart," "separated" FROM the ways of the world and "separated" TO the Way of God (2 Cor 6:17-7:1), this is to take place IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES (1 Pet 1:15), being transformed day by day by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16) back into the image of our God (Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:10) which we lost by loving and imitating the ways of the world (Ja 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15-17), this takes place through belief, study and earnest application of the Holy Spirit revealed and confirmed living word of the living God (1 Pet 1:23; 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), that sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17), which is also refered to as the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5).
"That you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written" 1 Cor 4:6
Contact us:
Kenneth Windbiel
715-557-1126
kensanwind@yahoo.com
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