Non-denominational view of how to get to heaven.

[Willie T]

Forgive my ignorance, but could the communion be on par to being saved by works i.e. we are acting to save ourselves?

When viewed as C's, L's, and a few other denominations see it, Yes, I'd say you are correct.

 

[OliverC]

Thanks Willie, that adds to our options. I would like to think faith is sufficient.

 

[Willie T]

Thanks Willie, that adds to our options. I would like to think faith is sufficient.

Unfortunately, No, for many people, faith is not enough. For many, it has to be reinforced with religious observances on a regular and scheduled basis..... and this applies to EVERY denomination. Sometimes it is organizationally supported and encouraged (even mandated), and sometimes the same rigidness is personally developed within individual hearts.

 

[wordsoflife]

John 6:53-54
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

 

[Willie T]

John 6:53-54
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

I love this. Ever notice that there is resistance to moving right on down to verse 61 to begin reading again?

 

[wordsoflife]

I love this. Ever notice that there is resistance to moving right on down to verse 61 to begin reading again?

I'm not sure what you mean?

 

[Willie T]

I'm not sure what you mean?

And, sadly, you may never understand.

 

[wordsoflife]

And, sadly, you may never understand.

That sounds like pride speaking to me. Oh, high and lofty one will you please come down off of your throne and explain yourself.

 

[Willie T]

That sounds like pride speaking to me.

No, not in the least. I believe I am seeing the words of God, and understanding them (Specifically, here, I mean) to be speaking of spiritual communication between us and God.

You seem to be reading the same words, but it seems you are letting someone else tell you what they mean.

Because of this obstacle, I honestly feel you may never be able to let yourself understand a number of things. And I think this is sad.

 

[wordsoflife]

Sounds like to me you are reading something into the text that isn't there. May be that is why I don't see it.

 

[wordsoflife]

You seem to be reading the same words, but it seems you are letting someone else tell you what they mean.

No one else is telling me what the words mean. I am just taking them at face value and seeking the correct interpretation.

 

[PastorTeacher]

Forgive my ignorance, but could the communion be on par to being saved by works i.e. we are acting to save ourselves?

I guess that depends on how you look at it. As for me, I do not take it to become saved, I take it because I am saved. Kind of like I do not do good works to become saved, I do good works because I am saved. As for the communion goes, Christ commanded that we "do this in remberence of me" (Luke 22:19). So I do not think that it can be used for salvation but for remembering what Christ has done on the cross on our behalf.

 

[wordsoflife]

So I do not think that it can be used for salvation but for remembering what Christ has done on the cross on our behalf.

Yes, but I would also like to add one thing that I have personally found when partaking of the sacrament and that is partaking of the sacrament actually strengthens and grows my faith in the sacrifice of Christ.

 

[OliverC]

I guess that depends on how you look at it. As for me, I do not take it to become saved, I take it because I am saved. Kind of like I do good works to become saved, I do good works because I am saved. As for the communion goes, Christ commanded that we "do this in remberence of me" (Luke 22:19). So I do not think that it can be used for salvation but for remembering what Christ has done on the cross on our behalf.

Thanks, of course, I keep forgetting we are already saved... it's going to take a while to get my head around that. My point is that your point is right of course.

 

[Willie T]

There is a thread on here somewhere asking what other members we would like to meet. I posted that I could only think of one.... Oscar.

The more posts I read by you, the more I feel that same way. Are you guys related?

 

[OliverC]

Hi Willie
Me? No, I don't know anyone else here, I just wandered in off the street. Thanks for the kind words

 

[Called out]

The Messiah came to gather all of his Father's sheep, when asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied that we are to love his father Yehowah with all our heart, mind and soul,
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

[PastorTeacher]

Thanks, of course, I keep forgetting we are already saved... it's going to take a while to get my head around that. My point is that your point is right of course.

You are more than welcomed Oliver. I understand the difficulty of wrapping your head around salvation. It was hard for me to fathom how God could ever love someone like me. But as I grew I started to see that no matter the totality of my scumness, I was not loved because of me nor was I saved due to merit of my own. Salvation is a very difficult thing to comprehend, especially when we don't feel and different, we keep on sinning, and nothing has really seemed to change in our life. That is when we look beyond the physical and grasp the spiritual. What Christ wrought in His own body upon the cross for our salvation is just part of what was accomplished. The other things are -such as the power to live spiritually in a natural word- focused on our spiritual growth and our reliance upon the Son of God.

 

[bbbbbbb]

One major error that I've noticed concerning "non-denominational" Churches is that they do not actively participate in the sacraments. We regularly take communion at my Church where we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ. Jesus said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you." This does not regularly take place at non-denominational Churches. This act is a great aid to our Faith in Christ which is of coarse how we get to heaven.

Our church has communion weekly, although we never participate in your sacraments. We are not into eating flesh and drinking blood. However, if you prefer to be a cannibal, then, I suppose, that is your prerogative.

 

[bbbbbbb]

I agree with you wordsoflife. I've been to a few "non-denominational" churches and I have also noticed that there seems to be a lacking of the taking of communion. I believe that every church should have communion at lest once a month.

Once a month? What basis do you have for that? As I look at scripture, the primitive church was breaking bread on the first day of every week.