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[dwillss]

The body of Christ is not divided but the physical church is.

[dwillss]

My reformed church (Harvest bible chapel) required the same thing and I didn’t agree with it but now I understand the need for it. There are so many false converts and our church wants to protect itself so in order to get baptized they want to make sure your salvation is genuine and you follow the same theological understanding of the gospel etc.

Thing is when I got baptized I knew all the right theology etc but I was an outward Christian not a real one and they didn’t pick up on this so the membership really doesn’t do much except make one feel restricted. Our membership is between ourself and God. I shouldn’t feel separated from other branches of Christianity because this causes division. If we all believe the true Gospel saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) then we should treat all with the same brotherly love despite some theological differences. Heck even revelations starts off with 7 different types of churches that God showed love to except 2 of them and none of them were perfect but they each had something to offer. Membership creates division.

[dwillss]

Amen brother, the purpose I see behind baptism is to share your testimony before the church and God. A declaring of ones salvation and glorifying God for his Grace. It’s to be a celebration and a time for praise. Not something we just do because we are told to but because we want to. Our hearts should be so filled with Joy that despite our wretched heart God was merciful and we should want to proclaim his Mercy to the church.

[dwillss]

Completely agree, It is by faith alone through grace by the sheer mercy of God through the cross that we are saved. Baptism is only an act of obedience (an important one at that, mostly for the opportunity to declare God as your saviour to the people through a testimony for his Glory. So if you are able to then yes baptisms is important but by no means a matter of salvation. A true saved heart will desire to be baptized by water after being baptized by the spirit.

 

[dwillss]

Kerwin, you are taking what I said out of context. My basis for sharing about our brothers and sisters overseas was regarding baptism. Also how could you possibly think that someone humbly refusing to declare allah as God while watching their family and children be raped, tortured and beheaded believe in a false Jesus Christ. They all declared Christ as Lord and Saviour until their last breath with heavenly confidence and faith. There are still many brothers and sisters being killed over there, do not be mistaken nor distracted nor desensitized.

[dwillss]

What really bugs me about these posts is those people in the middle east, men, woman, and children who were newly born again yet tortured, raped, and beheaded for not proclaiming allah as god. Some of those people didn’t get a ‘water’ baptism yet they were able to endure through the holy spirit the brutal death and not once take their eyes of God. God is beyond our understanding and no one will ever have all the answers but as long as we stay strong in spirit to the gospel and endure, we will inherit the Glorious Kingdom.

[dwillss]

Actually kevin i agree with what you wrote, maybe i didnt illustrate my point well enough. Baptism is an act of obdience out of thankfulness for gods grace but it is in no way required for salvation. For example many people in the middle east that are martyred never got a chance to be ‘baptised’ but you can see in their last moments their eyes filled with hope and strength that only God can give. So again baptism is not required it is simply an act of obedience but will not harm your walk unless you feel personal conviction about it.

 

The downfall of living in a blessed country is we have way to much time on our hands to obtain biblical ‘knowledge’ whereas when you compare our mentality to those in less fortunate countries their faith is so pure and awe inspiring because Christ resides in us through faith not by works. Works is merely a byproduct of a regenerated heart. Good works done while in the flesh are nothing but filthy rags in Gods sight. He is more interested in us serving him and strengthening the spirit while putting to death the flesh.

[dwillss]

Thankyou fellow brother or sister in Spirit. Matthew 24:22 says “and if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. We are in very fragile times with so much deceit infiltrating our churches including the reformed church that i belong to for there is so much focus on knowledge rather than understanding revealed only thru the spirit. Now more than ever we must focus on strengthening our relationship with Christ and his word for we can not trust man but only God. I may only be 23 but it took many near death experiences and losing everything i could have pride in to finally gain Christ in a beautiful way. May the Lord strenghten you and put to death the flesh as we enter in these dark dark days.

[dwillss]

Hey brother please do not be deceived. Ephesians 2:8-9 make it extremely clear that salvation is through faith by Gods grace alone. Baptism is simply an act of obedience out of thankful for Gods mercy but in no way is it required as this would be seen as legalism. True Christianity is seprate from literally all religions out there because it is not by our actions that we are saved but by our faith and a renewed heart. Do not be mistaken if you have genuine faith all these things will be revealed to you through the spirit. All our good deeds are like filthy rags in the sight of the Lord Almighty this includes baptism. Im glad you got baptized as i was also baptized but i was baptized before i was saved and now that i am i do not feel the need to do so and would rather exercise my efforts in producing fruits that bring glory to his name.

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