Protestants, How do you know which one is right?

[12volt_man]

Contarini:

No, you are wrong.

No, actually, I’m not.

Having been a Bible teacher at Fountain of Life AoG in Burlington, NJ, I do know what the AoG teaches.

Having ministered in many Nazarene churches and having had this conversation with my next door neighbor (who is a Nazarene pastor) many times, I can safely atest that they do believe OSAS.

 

[12volt_man]

Unfinished:

It seems to me there is only one truth, and it is ALL essential.

The key words here being: “it seems to me”.

My real question is, where do you draw the line? At what YOU think is an essential? Some would argue that baptism is an essential, while others would not.

At what scripture defines as essential.

 

[Unfinished]

12volt_man:

The key words here being: “it seems to me”.

At what scripture defines as essential.

According to your personal opinion too, of course.

I think baptism regeneration is essential.

So where is the table that defines these things. After all, to know the essentials, shouldn’t they be listed in the Bible?

Everything the Bible teaches is essential. So does the Bible say OSAS or not? I say it doesn’t. I could go all day with examples, but you get the point.

When Protestants disagree over ESSENTIAL doctrine, how do you even know that it is essential? Where are the essentials defined? Second, it still comes down to what YOU think Scripture says. Or, “it seems to me Scripture teaches OSAS…”

“Essentials” and “Non-Essentials” is just a way to justify division and teaching error.

Adam

 

[12volt_man]

Unfinished:

According to your personal opinion too, of course.

No, it has nothing to do with my opinion. It has to do with taking the teaching of scripture seriously.

So where is the table that defines these things. After all, to know the essentials, shouldn’t they be listed in the Bible?

There is no table that defines these things. Yes, they are listed in the Bible.

If the Bible says it, that is essential.

No, simply being mentioned doesn’t make something essential. otherwise, Paul wouldn’t have had to point out that we have the liberty to disagree over non-essentials.

So does the Bible say OSAS or not?

Yes, the Bible teaches OSAS. No, the Bible doesn’t teach that OSAS is an essential.

“Essentials” and “Non-Essentials” just seems like a way to justify division and teaching error.

There is no division.

 

[Unfinished]

12volt_man:

No, it has nothing to do with my opinion. It has to do with taking the teaching of scripture seriously.

I take it very seriously.

There is no table that defines these things. Yes, they are listed in the Bible.

Show me the list of “essential” and "non-essentials"

No, simply being mentioned doesn’t make something essential. otherwise, Paul wouldn’t have had to point out that we have the liberty to disagree over non-essentials.

Please give me the chapter and verse so I can get the context.

Yes, the Bible teaches OSAS. No, the Bible doesn’t teach that OSAS is an essential.

If the Bible teaches OSAS, then please show me the chapter and verse where it defines it as a “non-essential”.

There is no division.

30000 denominations seems like division to me.

 

[12volt_man]

30000 denominations seems like division to me.

First of all, I dispute that number.

Second, we are united on the essentials of the faith. On those non-essentials that we may disagree on, the Bible tells us that we have the liberty to disagree over what Paul calls “disputable matters”.

 

[Unfinished]

12volt_man:

First of all, I dispute that number.

Second, we are united on the essentials of the faith. On those non-essentials that we may disagree on, the Bible tells us that we have the liberty to disagree over what Paul calls “disputable matters”.

Again, I ask, where can I find a list of the essentials? What if I have a disagreement with someone on a matter of faith…how can I know if I am allowed to disagree or not? Where is the list of essentials?

Please give me the Scripture passage where Paul says that.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[StMarkEofE]

12volt_man:

First of all, I dispute that number.

Second, we are united on the essentials of the faith. On those non-essentials that we may disagree on, the Bible tells us that we have the liberty to disagree over what Paul calls “disputable matters”.

Well so to a point. I think it has to do with the naming of churches. The four corners church, the frienship covenant church, and all, this adds up to some 20 or so thousand protestant churches. But, to be honest most of these churches of various names and denominations and claimants have some similarities to basis protestant beliefs. My honest opinion is that there are probably some 1,000 real honest distinct protestant denominations. But even this is way out on the fringe. How can one who belongs to one of these losely described protestant affiliations claim himself to be saved?

 

[12volt_man]

StMarkEofE:

How can one who belongs to one of these losely described protestant affiliations claim himself to be saved?

Because no one is saved by church membership.

 

[Unfinished]

12volt_man:

Because no one is saved by church membership.

Volt, could you please answer my questions from posts 45 and 47?

 

[JoeyWarren]

Kitty Chan:

ummm Joey you mixing me up with your bro?/ I barely know what you speak of with Church of God Bishop brother, hes a bishop? if so what if you have a problem with your brother . . . .

all I said is power struggles are wrong and Christ is the only One to Whom all knees will bow not a church, man or tradition, faith whatever. Who said ignorance is bliss not me

But yet again you bear me out when syou say the great day of the Lord and held accountable for no action on revelation that the catholic church is ummmm # 1. is that the correct answer Alex

My brother is an ordained Bishop of the “Church of God” The Church of God believes that the Catholic Church is Satan’s Imitation of theirs.

They totally refuse any history. They believe that the Holy Spirit gathered up all the Scrolls and deposited them into the lap of a Christian that was not part of the Pagan Catholic Church.

Furthermore it is not a power struggle. I hope that is not what you believe. To us it is a struggle to provide the truth.

Answer me truthfully this on question:

Why are you here at these forums.

If you are here solely to try and convert Catholics to Protestantism, it’s not going to work. Most of the Catholics here are Apologists in nature and most are Converts. The best non-clergical apologetic is more times then not the one that is a convert and once was anti-catholic.

So, I ask again, why are you here.