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andrewstx
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I knew a wise Lutheran Pastor who said “it is more important that Jesus accepts us rather than the other way around”.
Lutherans reject what they call “decision theology” and I see the point.
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Lutherans reject what they call “decision theology” and I see the point.
A
andrewstx
Guest
Actually there are some (mostly Baptists I think) who refer to the water in water andm the spirit as amniotic fluid in childbirth.
Baptists don’t belive in sacraments at all, they call them “ordinances”, only have two and they are symbolic
only.
With baptists forgiveness of sins is from “gettin saved”.
Baptists don’t belive in sacraments at all, they call them “ordinances”, only have two and they are symbolic
only.
With baptists forgiveness of sins is from “gettin saved”.
S
stevekehl
Guest
Jesus died for us, isn’t that a pretty good clue that He accepts us. And how do we get Jesus to accept us? Good works?I knew a wise Lutheran Pastor who said “it is more important that Jesus accepts us rather than the other way around”.
Lutherans reject what they call “decision theology” and I see the point.
S
stevekehl
Guest
In the Church of Christ, accepting Christ as your Savior is a process, albeit a process that can happen very quickly (actually the quicker the better).
Hear. One must hear the Gospel in order to be saved. The Gospel being that all people have sinned and offended God, Jesus died to pay for our sins and reconcile us to God. This reconciliation takes place when you put your faith in Christ and are baptized.
Matthew 13:23 And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty."
Mark 4:9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Believe. After hearing the Gospel message you are convicted of your sins and make a conscious decision to put your faith in Christ.
John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Mark 1:15 "and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Repent. Having made this decision you choose to follow God’s commands and live in a way that reflects God’s love to the world.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Luke13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Confess. Confess you are a sinner before other Christians and your acceptance of Christ as your Savior, that you have put your faith in Him as Lord of your life.
Matthew 10:32 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Romans10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Eph_2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Baptism. Immersion in water by another immersed believer (usually a man) that washes away your sins and allows the Holy Spirit to reside in you. You literally come out of the water a new person.
John3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Col_2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Living a life of continual growth in faith and knowledge of Christ.
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Pter_3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Hear. One must hear the Gospel in order to be saved. The Gospel being that all people have sinned and offended God, Jesus died to pay for our sins and reconcile us to God. This reconciliation takes place when you put your faith in Christ and are baptized.
Matthew 13:23 And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty."
Mark 4:9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Believe. After hearing the Gospel message you are convicted of your sins and make a conscious decision to put your faith in Christ.
John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Mark 1:15 "and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Repent. Having made this decision you choose to follow God’s commands and live in a way that reflects God’s love to the world.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Luke13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Confess. Confess you are a sinner before other Christians and your acceptance of Christ as your Savior, that you have put your faith in Him as Lord of your life.
Matthew 10:32 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Romans10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Eph_2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Baptism. Immersion in water by another immersed believer (usually a man) that washes away your sins and allows the Holy Spirit to reside in you. You literally come out of the water a new person.
John3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Col_2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Living a life of continual growth in faith and knowledge of Christ.
John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Pter_3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
A
AbideWithMe
Guest
Andrew—I would agree with that Lutheran pastor. It is indeed more important that Jesus accept us rather than the other way around. However, we believe God has offered His grace to all men in the cross of Christ. Wouldn’t it be incredibly presumptuous to baptize anyone–infant or adult—and thereby make them members in the Body of Christ, unless we believed Jesus accepted them?I knew a wise Lutheran Pastor who said “it is more important that Jesus accepts us rather than the other way around”.
Lutherans reject what they call “decision theology” and I see the point.
We (I’m speaking here as an Arminian Evangelical, but I believe this is also true for Eastern Orthodox and Catholics) don’t believe it is a one-sided matter, but a two-way street. We believe that though the image of God is defaced in us it isn’t entirely wiped out and thus we have the freedom to say yes or no; being enabled by God’s prevenient grace to answer His call or turn away from it, and to accept or reject His gracious, humble offer of Himself.
From a recent article from Catholic News Agency:
“One of the most famous paintings of Jesus shows him as the ‘Light of the World’…Crowned by thorns, he holds a lantern, and he knocks on the door, presumably a symbol of the human heart. He says, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together.’ (Rev.3:20)” catholicnewsagency.com/column.php?n=2373
R
Razanir
Guest
Woo! I wasn’t completely wrong :dancing:Actually there are some (mostly Baptists I think) who refer to the water in water andm the spirit as amniotic fluid in childbirth.
Baptists don’t belive in sacraments at all, they call them “ordinances”, only have two and they are symbolic
only.
With baptists forgiveness of sins is from “gettin saved”.
Interesting that you mention this verse. Water and Spirit are objects of the same preposition. Catholics (and by the sound of it, Lutherans) interpret this to mean both are the same birth, BaptismJohn3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
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stevekehl
Guest
That is the doctrine of the Church of Christ as well. Like a new born baby is immersed in water (I know it’s not actually water) the new believer is immersed in water and the Spirit at the same time.Interesting that you mention this verse. Water and Spirit are objects of the same preposition. Catholics (and by the sound of it, Lutherans) interpret this to mean both are the same birth, Baptism
K
klm120861
Guest
Actually “born of water” is baptism and “born of the Spirit” is confirmation. When infants are baptized, they are anointed with sacred chrism (perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop) which signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit, with confirmation taking place when they are older. For people who are old enough to receive all of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, they are baptized in water, then receive confirmation, so they are only anointed once at confirmation.
Kris
Kris
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