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I think our soul as an activity of God.That is where our natural/animal soul resides,
but we also have as part of our soul (Yechida/singularity)
a unity with it's source, the singular essence of G-d,
the essence of the soul of man is "literally a part of G-d above.
And there we have it. As I said, all you're doing is replacing already existing denominations and traditions with your own. By asserting that Baptism [in water] is not only not the new birth, but additionally assigning it a position of total non-importance you are introducing your own doctrines and teachings and a new kind of Christianity.
Hence: Winkenism. What you are promoting is a Winken's brand of Christianity.
-CryptoLutheran
I understand there is a liberal congregational group who are very inclusive, meaning people can stay the way they have been.I didn't realize some brands of Christianity don't have doctrines or creeds that they follow. I imagine fairly liberal ones like the United Church or something where you can believe whatever?
I understand there is a liberal congregational group who are very inclusive, meaning people can stay the way they have been.
But Jesus died on the cross for any and all sinners, and in order for us to be forgiven, not for us to continue in what is not God's desire for us. And it is about not only what happens to us, but caring about how God feels about us. Salvation means we become new creatures, with new personalities, even, of gentle and humble love and "rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30). This is what God does with us, in saving us and correcting us to become like Him in His love. So, if people want to stay the same way while they adopt a certain group of beliefs and people to associate with, this is what is not really good religion, I would think, since you are being your own judge and creator of what you see fit.
"and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (2 Corinthians 5:15)
But there is religion which God wants >
"Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)
You might go to a Bible claiming church and ask a number of individuals what the Bible says about religion, and see what each one says. In the same church, I'll betyou'l get different answers. And then, after each one has said whatever, bring up James 1:27 and ask what they understand.
By the way, I do not see anything about beliefs and practices, here, though there are things which God wants us to understand and do.
But this James 1:27 religion means, I consider, >personally< visiting "orphans and widows in their trouble". Plus, there is the keeping ourselves "unspotted from the world" part. Ones might prefer to argue against and criticize religion, instead of dealing with how real and Biblical religion has us keeping ourselves unspotted from this evil world. Because in order to stay unspotted, we need to become strong against how worry can degrade us, and unforgiveness can keep us weak so we can be messed by different things which are not spiritually and emotionally good. And we need to become strong against different sorts of lusts, including lusts for sexual sensations and food and power and control and money and security and drugs and drinking and gambling and nicotine . . . and arguing in order to have our own way.
These things can get us messed . . . spotted; and the correction which can make us strong against this is very demanding, only possible with God > Hebrews 12:4-11. So, people can be intimidated by all the Bible means by this, and they can prefer to make a project of calling attention and criticism elsewhere, to human sorts of religion, instead of seeking the correction we ourselves need.
I understand that if Jesus saves us, He does not only give us a one-time quick-fix ticket to Heaven and that's it. But in saving us, He brings us to what is safe . . . how God deeply corrects us and cures us in His love so we can not be spotted by the messy and nasty things of Satan's evil spirit > "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (in Ephesians 2:2). We are told what to get rid of, and how to become >
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
He saves us, by making us safe in His love and His love's immunity almighty >
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
This is basic, of how we become in God's own love - - - which the Holy Spirit in us shares with us >
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:5)
I trust that if we have been saved to always stay saved, then this is part of the process . . . how God succeeds in first saving us but then makes us safe in His love > 1 John 4:17.
Hebrew folk were immersed in anticipation of the arrival of the Messiah. They wanted to be prepared. Christians receive Jesus as Savior upon confession, Romans 10:8-13. One can be immersed in H2O, or sprinkled, if one wishes. It is not a requirement for salvation, not required for eternal life.
G'Nite --- be blessed!
(Sorry ....... the "Amen" smiley face isn't working at the moment)....
I think our soul as an activity of God.
John 3:5 > Jesus later refers to the Holy Spirit as "rivers of living water", in John 3:37-39. We need to be born of God, not of what is physical. So, I consider it reasonable, that here Jesus is using "water" as a symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit, along with "Spirit", in order to show how the Holy Spirit is refreshing like water (Acts 3:19) and powerful and life-giving Spirit to make us born by making us alive in Jesus, after having been dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3).
Acts 2:38 > Peter says to be baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ". He does not say the baptism has to mean in physical water > I notice how in Acts 3:19 Peter says to repent and "be converted" . . . not "baptized" > I consider that conversion from sin to Jesus is a baptism > also, considering Acts 26:18, how we needed to be turned "from the power of Satan to God" < certainly a baptism removing us from Satan's power and immersing us "with God". Plus, Jesus uses the word "baptized" to refer to what is clearly not water, in Luke 12:50. He had already been water baptized; yet He had a baptism yet to come. I consider that the "baptism of repentance" (Mark 1:4) can mean how repentance is our change from being of this world, to being baptized spiritually into God's kingdom . . . totally removed from the vain air of this world, to being totally immersed in the refreshing and loving waters of our Heavenly Father's realm. And I offer how Romans 6:3-9 could support this >
Romans 6:3-9 > This says we have been "baptized into His death". His death came before He was buried; so I consider this can not mean being immersed . . . buried . . . in water . . . since His death came before His burial, and immersion baptism is a burial. Again, the word "baptism" does not always mean with physical water. Ones have the expression, a "baptism of fire". So, being baptized with Jesus in His death would mean what? Was Jesus on the cross getting wet with water? No. Was Jesus loving any and all people? Yes. So, if I truly get baptized with Jesus on the cross, I consider I have been joined with Jesus in His all-loving love which had Him so care for us and suffer and die for us, and for any and all people. And I consider that, by living this love which had Jesus die for us, this is what Jesus means by carrying our cross "daily" > Luke 9:23.
By the way, do you think Jesus meant for people to make such an emphasis on physical water as being necessary for salvation, or did He choose the wording He did, so we now can keep learning more about how to love?
Ephesians 5:26 > "the washing of water by the word" > well, to my knowledge, no one while preaching is spraying people with a hose. Here, I think, it is understood that "water" means how the Holy Spirit in us effects us with God's spiritual meaning of His words which we hear. While we receive God's word, we also deeply are benefitting from how His grace and peace in us effects us with His love meaning of His word. The Holy Spirit is "rivers of living water", flowing through us, like a mother's blood liquid flowing across her unborn baby's placenta to form into a wiggling squiggling giggling baby; and, like this, the Holy Spirit flows through us to form into Jesus as our new inner Person > Galatians 4:19
Colossians 2:11-13 > Yes, this does say, "buried with Him in baptism". But Romans 6 shows that we were "baptized into His death", and this was before the burial. And I have offered how this can mean much more than a relationship with physical water.
Galatians 3:27 > This says we who have been baptized into Jesus have put on Christ. Well, physical water can't do this. The Holy Spirit can.
Titus 3:5 > This says God has saved us "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". Physical water can not regenerate us, but the Holy Spirit who is "rivers of living water" can wash us and regenerate and renew us.
1 Peter 3:21 > this can simply mean how baptism can be "the answer of a good conscience toward God" > bringing a total change from being of this world, to becoming baptized into God's kingdom. Baptism can simply mean total immersion in something . . . not only possibly in water, but in a baptismal trial by fire, or being baptized from Satan's kingdom into God's kingdom. And there was that baptism with which Jesus was not yet baptized, though He had already been water baptized by John. Again, the "baptism of repentance" (Mark 1:4) can mean that repentance is the baptism; and the answer of a good conscience can be the change of mind . . . repenting . . . which is the baptism.
The process of discipling someone into a group can be a baptism . . . a total immersion in learning the things and ways of the group. So, also . . . ones could be assuming, when they suppose the baptism in the name of our Father and Jesus and the Holy Spirit has to mean physical immersion. Jesus says to teach all which He has commanded > "all" can mean a total immersion, certainly in more than water.
But water baptism is good, if we are confessing Jesus before men > Matthew 10:32. So, physical water baptism is not insignificant. It can be a time of celebration that one has trusted in Jesus and now is a child of God (Ephesians 1:12), an occasion to share with one another as family with our Father and His Son and the Holy Spirit and with one another who are family in Jesuswhile using the baptism time to reach to others who need Jesus.
...Everywhere one looks, there God is.If there is nowhere He is not,
then......
Through Love, Harmony and Beauty.The G-dly part is driven by the desire to reconnect with it's source.
Allan these type of experiences need to be more sacred. What I mean is that these type of spiritual experiences are of a private nature and should not displayed so people can mock it. That is just my view. Don't cast pearls before swine.There was usually some haste to water baptize those who accepted the Gospel of the kingdom. This was complete immersion not a sprinkle. It was done as a conscious decision between the individual and God.
The apostle or disciple then lay his hands on the head so that the Holy Spirit would be given.
After I was water baptized at 19 the church was abandoned after three visits for tramping and work. At 24 a move was made into a rural environment on some purchased land and full time work was given up. At 26 I was working quietly and God opened up my mind. This was very powerful and changed my belief immediately and profoundly. The Spirit revealed where God is and that Jesus walked the earth and rose to be immortal. The mind of an immortal was shown in mine as a comparison and how mine did not measure up.
I woke up at first light one morning on my back to see a full color hand over my head and this was taken to be a blessing. Full concepts were coming into my mind with out effort, God was teaching me.
The attempt was made to go to churches but had a few difficulties and decided to work on technological inventions.
At 40 a 3 day health fast went for 3 weeks being lead by the spirit through a complete mind renewal that revealed the divine nature and God energized the Love in this nature powerfully.
Since then there have been a few difficulties when I was not protected because of an accommodating disposition. If Satan and his demons are recognized in others as they speak they must be dealt with immediately. Think what Jesus said to Peter.
When a person has a spiritual encounter is should be measured against scripture as to what it testifies. It should be done in a positive manner not to find fault but with some discernment and in the correct Spirit.
It is the Spirit that renews and regenerates but water baptism is an important as a first step between the individual and God.
I realize the scriptures are written the way they are to hide the truth. But even the very elect could be deceived if the truth was not known. The mockers are already judged.Allan these type of experiences need to be more sacred. What I mean is that these type of spiritual experiences are of a private nature and should not displayed so people can mock it. That is just my view. Don't cast pearls before swine.
Hebrew folk were immersed in anticipation of the arrival of the Messiah. They wanted to be prepared.
your sin debt
Jesus Christ paid the price with His totally holy
Self when He shed His precious blood for you.
You will either die -
in your sins
or
in Christ
You choose.
And the more you think about it, the more absurd does the "logic" behind blood sacrifices become.Yeah, that is a peculiarly Christian conception not shared by those of other religions. Most of the other Abrahamic religions hold that God can forgive any way He wishes to. It doesn't require a blood sacrifice.
This is what some Christians believe, but by no means all.Christianities requirement for a salvation package is the image of a Judgmental God standing ready to send His own creation to Hell....
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