I agree. The Bible does offer a lot of flexibility and its teachings are widely applicable to all cultures, professions, personalities, etc. I think churches that have the most "rules" would be the ones with the most backlash, with any kind of change. There are also things we can disagree on...
Not Paul's approach.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For I have been informed concerning you, my...
That's an assumption. What you stated is a possibility, not absolute and immovable. If this parable was also to teach that a faithful son, even a prodigal repentant son, receives all of God's powers, authority, and their own planet to preside over, (and not just God's forgiveness and generosity)...
If I understand you correctly, and if not let me know, If we compare similar wording back then to the catchphrases today, people can and have tried to make a case that their belief system existed back then. One example is
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become...
Surrendering verbally, as well as inwardly, to Jesus being one's master henceforth, unto salvation.
Also in
Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Here Paul doesn't make reference to this being involved in getting saved, he just quickly refers to...
That's part of it. You know that the confession in and of itself is not enough Matthew 7:21
And it makes him savior after confessing him as Lord, you don't confess him "as" Savior first, in order to make him savior. That's not even part of the discussion.
Yes, and that what Jesus has done...
I agree.
Then why weren't his sins washed away by this point Acts 22:16? Why was he prescribed baptism calling on Jesus's name expressly to have his sins washed away?
To who? Ananias. Ananias was the one who conveyed this instruction, he didn't need that testimony. Others first learned of his...
That would describe more get baptized into forgiveness of sins (forward looking), not because of (after the fact and looking backward). I agree with your description on the purpose of baptism though. Just saying that those who say Acts 2:38 is get baptized because of forgiveness of your sins...
The idea is that it is not our place to accomodate a verse into one's belief system. You're saying one can make a logical deduction and say this verse can mean accepting Him as Lord AND savior, in order to be saved. Instead of trying to fit a passage into one's pre-existing belief system, we...
I believe my original reasoning was that people use the passage in Malachi to transfer the practice of Old Testament tithing to Sunday offering. Those are apples and oranges.
I hope that answers your question, so you can also answer.
My condolences to your community and the victims' families.. You're in New Zealand. That was horrible. There's no place for hatred, anywhere. Whatever one's beliefs, they ought to live in safety. All discussions, debates, and conversions are to be done without hatred, violence, or coercion.
Of...
Thank you.
Yup.
Very true.
adrian009,
If you will, what does Baha'i do with a faith that kicking and screaming refuses to be considered as but a piece of a larger portrait? What does Baha'i do with passages like John 14:6, Acts 17:16, 29-31, John 3:17-18, Acts 4:12, and Matthew 24:23-26, and...
Thank you for correcting me on that. After 30 or so years, I'm not surprised I got it wrong.
He is indeed big on love.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thank you for helping me understand...
Thank you for the description. I had not understood that parallel about a new Revelation from God that built on what had gone before. It's a good parallel. I first ran into Baha'i folk around 1988. They were very nice people. There also used to be a Baha'i billboard saying "Unity is not just...
I had read on the history of Baha'i. They seem to be a Muslim equivalent of "Christian" Universalism. Is that your impression?
Had you studied the NT to see its teaching on baptism?
Are you acknowledging it's possible that some regions on earth and at some points in history, and even now some Catholic leaders somewhere may be teaching praying to (and not through) the saints and Mary?