The last several days have been busy days. Took a trip to my parent's to help them with a garage sale.
Rick and I had been struggling for awhile with some issues of a private nature that we were finally able to talk out. So we are now trying to start some new routines together to help strengthen our relationship and marriage. Would appreiate prayer for this.
We got to go hear my brother in law play his sax with the Walla Walla Community Band here in our valley. That was fun. The weather was perfect. Not too hot and didn't sprinkle rain until the end.
Today is a new day. I didn't get as much sleep as I hoped last night, so I hope that in spite of that I can have a productive day. We'll see.
My Quiet Time
There is so much here. I thought about taking it a verse at a time but it breaks up Paul's long sentence. Some of my observations:
1. All three persons of the Trinity are present in this greeting.
2. At church we have been learning that the Holy Spirit's job is the convict people of sin, judgement and righteousness.
3.Paul and those with him give thanks constantly for the people of the Thessalonian church because of their work of faith, labor of love and steadfast hope in Christ. Can the same be said of me?
4. The Word of God is only powerful when accompianed by the Holy Spirit's power to convict and apply the Scriptures to men's hearts. Why are there some people whom you can point to the Scriptures over and over and try to show them there need for the righteousness of Jesus Christ, but they just don't respond? The answer is that God has not chosen to work in their hearts through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit in their lives they will not hear the Word of God. He has to make them willing to hear and respond before they will hear and respond. That is why people pray, "Lord, please make ________ willing to come to You for salvation if this would be Your will."
We should never beg and plead with long drawn out emotional invitations to walk the aisle. This encourages false professions of faith.
How many people do you know who "are not walking with the Lord right now", who at one time maybe walked the aisle or prayed the sinners prayer at someone's urging? Could it be that their profession of faith was false, made under the pressure of the moment?
Yes, it is possible for a Christian to "backslide" and fall back into sin, but does he or she ever show fruits of repentance in their life or do they persist in a godless lifestyle? One who is truly born of the Spirit will eventually return in repentance to the fold of God. God will not let them founder completly. He will go and bring them back like the lost lamb.
2 comments:
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
What is the meaning of calling on the name of the Lord? Many assume that believing in Jesus and saying a form of a sinner's prayer constitutes, calling on the name of the Lord. The problem with that theory is none of the conversions under the New Covenant support that assumption. Not one time is anyone ever told to believe and say the sinner's prayer in order to be saved.
The apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost quoted the prophet Joel, Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (NKJV)
The apostle Peter preached the first gospel sermon under the New Covenant. Peter did not tell the 3000 converts to believe and say the sinner's prayer.
Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He preached Jesus as both Lord and Christ. When they heard this they asked Peter and the rest of the brethren what they should do?(Acts 2:22-37) Peter told them what to do. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NKJV)
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost call on the name of the Lord and become saved?
1. They believed that Jesus was both Lord and Christ.
2. They believed that God raised Jesus from the grave.
3. They repented. Repentance is a change of heart. Repentance means to be converted so that God may forgive your sins. Repentance is to make the intellectual commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God. (Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38)
4. They were immersed in water (baptized) so that their sins could be forgiven.
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost not call on the name of the Lord?
1. They did not say a sinner's prayer.
2. Not one person was asked to pray for forgiveness.
3. Not one single man was told to be baptized as a testimony of his faith.
4. No one was told that water baptism was a just an act of obedience.
5. No one was informed they were saved the very minute they believed.
6. Not one person was told that water baptism was not essential for the forgiveness of sins.
7. Not one person was told to be baptized so they could join a denominational church.
Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16"16) Jesus did not say he who believes and says a sinner's prayer shall be saved.
You ARE INVITED TO READ MY BLOG POSTINGS--Steve Finnell
Thanks for your comments. May I point you to a few verses of Scripture?
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the Devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
John 1:12 But as many as recieved him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;
John 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me and believe not.
Above are a few verses and there are more that talk about beliving to be saved but do not include baptism in the equation.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
If the verse above means that a person must be baptized to be saved then it would follow that the second part of the verse would read, "but he that believeth not and is not baptized shall be damned."
But belief is the key here. I'm not saying baptism is unnecessary. We are commanded to be baptized and therefore we should be baptized if we are obedient to Christ.
Baptism does not save. That is a works salvation. Salvation is all of grace Eph. 2:8-10 through faith and it is the gift of God not of works. Baptism is a work and it does not save. We are saved unto good works, however, therefore it follows that we should be baptized.
Post a Comment