Let me start out by saying that this post is not to offend or to judge one mans belief or religion over another. Matter of fact this post really isn't for all readers. This post is to those and for those who proclaim Christianity and believe that the Holy Bible is the infallible word of God.
In a former post titled "Christianity has been high jacked " I talk about the way people in all of Christendom identity with the denominations of Christianity rather than with Christ Himself. When people are searching for a church to attend most will look to the represented denomination rather than to the doctrines of the bible. We are looking for a church that will fit our beliefs rather than fitting our beliefs to the word of God! And so with that said, as we have so many denominations of Christianity these perplexing questions arise, Which one is right? What are the differences? And Does it really matter?
From my experience the most highly recognized and even excepted denominations of Christianity all have at least one thing in common. The Holy Bible. So we can deduce from that, that the bible is the foundation of these denominations and it is the bible that we must look to and learn from as we live our lives for Christ.
My post today is not to give you my opinion or theology on the subject of salvation. Today is about self study. One of the greatest concerns that I have for other believers is that they simply believe what they are told rather than look to the scriptures for these truths. I'm going to provide a few verses on salvation and without any interpretation on my part I want you to conclude from what you read as to the necessary steps to being saved. If you find that you have questions on what you have read or you want to share with me what conclusions you have come to, feel free to comment.
#1Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
#2Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
#3Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
#4Acts 2:37-38
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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.
#5Heb 12:14
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
One last thing. As you read these verses with salvation in mind read them not from a denominational mind set but one that is desiring to know, Am I saved according to the bible?
John 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Friday, April 28, 2017
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Scripturally divided!
John 7:37-43
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
I know that there are some who would say that we are divided on the scriptures because everyone has their own translation and interpretation and they may be partially correct. However I want to speak to the subject of what a person believes the bible says verses what the bible actually says. Now I am not writing to debate one persons understanding of the verses but to challenge everyone to read the scriptures (the bible) to know what it actually says.
Jesus in verse 38 says to believe on Him as the scriptures say. So to obey His desire we need to open the pages of the bible and read it for ourselves to gain knowledge and understanding of who He is. I love talking about and hearing about Jesus but I must compare what I hear and learn to what the bible actually teaches.
Jesus in this verse also taught that there would be a manifestation in a persons life when they gain their understanding from the bible. Out of the belly shall flow rivers of living water! When I glean understanding from the Scriptures and learn of Jesus the Spirit then is available to receive!
A persons salvation and transformation doesn't come from a belief in a god but comes from the knowledge of the True God, Jesus Christ. John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To know truth is to know Him. To know Him is to know the scriptures.
Division occurs when we have a belief based upon tradition, religion, and even conventional(mans) wisdom and not scripture. For example, and this may seem trivial but it gives us a simple correlation to the subject matter, Eve ate and apple. The bible doesn't say that she ate an apple but the fruit from the tree. Another example, there were three wise men that came to Jesus after His birth. The bible teaches us that there were wise men who offered three gifts. The bible says, God helps those who helps themselves. Now I have read my bible a couple times through and I have yet to find this verse or this type of teaching any where in the scriptures. Its simply not there. Again, trivial? Perhaps, but the point is that we are dealing with division because of beliefs based upon what we have heard or have been told rather than actual knowledge of the scriptures.
This was a problem in bible days as well. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning the Messiah yet the people, because of there own preconceived ideas, failed to see Jesus for who He was!
Pay close attention to the first part of verse 42. Hath not the scripture said? Gen 3:1 ends with very similar verbiage, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Had Eve known exactly what God had said maybe she wouldn't have been deceived.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
I know that there are some who would say that we are divided on the scriptures because everyone has their own translation and interpretation and they may be partially correct. However I want to speak to the subject of what a person believes the bible says verses what the bible actually says. Now I am not writing to debate one persons understanding of the verses but to challenge everyone to read the scriptures (the bible) to know what it actually says.
Jesus in verse 38 says to believe on Him as the scriptures say. So to obey His desire we need to open the pages of the bible and read it for ourselves to gain knowledge and understanding of who He is. I love talking about and hearing about Jesus but I must compare what I hear and learn to what the bible actually teaches.
Jesus in this verse also taught that there would be a manifestation in a persons life when they gain their understanding from the bible. Out of the belly shall flow rivers of living water! When I glean understanding from the Scriptures and learn of Jesus the Spirit then is available to receive!
A persons salvation and transformation doesn't come from a belief in a god but comes from the knowledge of the True God, Jesus Christ. John 8:31-32
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
To know truth is to know Him. To know Him is to know the scriptures.
Division occurs when we have a belief based upon tradition, religion, and even conventional(mans) wisdom and not scripture. For example, and this may seem trivial but it gives us a simple correlation to the subject matter, Eve ate and apple. The bible doesn't say that she ate an apple but the fruit from the tree. Another example, there were three wise men that came to Jesus after His birth. The bible teaches us that there were wise men who offered three gifts. The bible says, God helps those who helps themselves. Now I have read my bible a couple times through and I have yet to find this verse or this type of teaching any where in the scriptures. Its simply not there. Again, trivial? Perhaps, but the point is that we are dealing with division because of beliefs based upon what we have heard or have been told rather than actual knowledge of the scriptures.
This was a problem in bible days as well. Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning the Messiah yet the people, because of there own preconceived ideas, failed to see Jesus for who He was!
Pay close attention to the first part of verse 42. Hath not the scripture said? Gen 3:1 ends with very similar verbiage, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Had Eve known exactly what God had said maybe she wouldn't have been deceived.
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