The definition, of a Sacrament is that it was instituted by Christ to give grace. The Scripture states that Baptism saves(Tit 3:5). Baptism is a Sacrament. As far as belief goes, it is certainly important to believe but with that, in and of itself, save someone? I would say, no, since the devil believes and he is not saved. There has to be something more to it than just mere belief.
Christianity is growing strongly in Russia
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1. How do you know that that laws of space and time are the same on the other side?
2. Let's look at what happened between Peter and Cornelius,
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
It was not the bowing aspect that Peter was against but the worshiping part. Peter was definitely right to say that he was not to be worshiped.
2. Let's look at what happened between Peter and Cornelius,
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
It was not the bowing aspect that Peter was against but the worshiping part. Peter was definitely right to say that he was not to be worshiped.
So you believe Mary able to hear billions of catholic pray to her?
I never read in the Bible after you die you able to be like God, able to hear billion people pray for them.
How do Catholic know mary able to hear billions people pray to her?
2. So you believe it is ok to bow before statue as long as not worship
Leviticus 26
Leviticus 26 King James Version (KJV)
26 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.
Did Peter teach to bow before his statue as long as not worship?
As jew, I believe Peter read this verse
Not to bow before statue
I never read in the Bible after you die you able to be like God, able to hear billion people pray for them.
How do Catholic know mary able to hear billions people pray to her?
2. So you believe it is ok to bow before statue as long as not worship
Leviticus 26
Leviticus 26 King James Version (KJV)
26 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God.
Did Peter teach to bow before his statue as long as not worship?
As jew, I believe Peter read this verse
Not to bow before statue
The devil does not agree with God.. No one is saved because they believe God exits, that.s what Jesus was talking about when He talked about satan believing in God but that was not enough.. One must believe God ( his teachings/ will for us)
There is Belief and Trust to salvation and Nothing more.. Anyone who relies on their own Works to be saved does not have salvation.. Only those who trust 100% on what Jesus did to save them have salvation..
There is Belief and Trust to salvation and Nothing more.. Anyone who relies on their own Works to be saved does not have salvation.. Only those who trust 100% on what Jesus did to save them have salvation..
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i found this site because I was wondering if true Christianity was rising in Russia. I am from the US. Unfortunately, true Christianity and tolerance for it is quickly decreasing here I believe. By true Christianity I mean if people are undergoing the new birth. Jesus said, “unless one is born again he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” And in the Scriptures it says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation - old things have passed away - behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). True saving belief in Jesus Christ is characterized by repentance- turning away from our old life (when we were slaves to our sins) and turning toward a new life living for Christ, a life with new desires and new appetite to please God - not to earn our way to heaven but in gratitude because Jesus is our salvation and our hope, we willingly with glad hearts obey Him and seek to please him. We are no longer a slave of our old sins but we are now slaves to Christ! Our new birth and the witness of the Holy Spirit living within us are the evidence of our true faith. Not infant baptism - “We were buried with him therefore 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.” (Romans 6:4). No baby as ever turned from their old life of sin to walk in newness of life. Infant baptism does nothing. Adult baptism is meaningless without true faith. Faith alone, saving faith, that bears fruit, this faith in Christ’s sacrifice for us is the only thing that saves. And we will know them by their fruit. So, is true Christianity increasing in Russia? What is Russian Orthodox? Is this Catholicism? Because this will not save on the Great Day. You must be born again. Any brothers here who have gone through the new birth? Any new creatures here? Blessings
1. How do you know that time and space work the same way that it does here? In Mk 12:25, Mt 22:30 Our Lord says that men will be like angels. In Zech 1:12 we see where an angel interceded on behalf of Jerusalem. If that is the case then it is evident that those, in Heaven, can intercede for those on Earth.
2. I'm not sure if I'm understanding your question. Do you believe that it is wrong to make images or do you believe that we should not bow before images or both?
The Scripture never says that babies should not be baptized and neither does it say that we should baptize babies but the Scripture does point in the direction that babies/children should be baptized. Here are the verses:
- Mk 10:14 – let children come; to such belongs the kingdom
- Lk 18:15 – people were bringing even infants to him…
- Col 2:11-12 – baptism has replaced circumcision
- Jos 24:15 – as for me and my house, we will serve Lord
- Acts 16:31 – believe in Lord Jesus you & house will be saved
- Acts 16:15 – she was baptized, with all her household
- Acts 16:33 – he and all his family were baptized at once
- 1Cor 1:16 – I baptized the household of Stephanas
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You know, inevitably in any Christian community there will be that thread, "works do not save". And yet, how often do we get caught up on thinking we have to constantly work to get "it" right?
I have friends who are Roman Catholic. All of their children were baptized as babies. I really don't think come the judgment of those parents God is going to say, you had enough faith in me to want to insure your child was baptized as a sign of the faith you as their parents had in me. You're sentenced to Hell!
God knows more than we do, is wiser than we shall ever be, knows the heart of each and every one. When the heart is right, I don't think God is going to condemn us for a rite that some thought was contained in His word.
It's water, faith, and love. Let it be.
God bless the people of Russia and keep them safe. Amen.
Infant dedication to the Lord (and baptism is such) is very scriptural however, we as parents must follow through, Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. (BSB) There comes a time when they must decide for themselves and bringing them up in the ways of word, not the world is our best insurance. Go with God.
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I agree that all parents should bring their children up knowing about God. I agree with dedicating babies to God. However, it is when people (adults) are relying on the baptism they underwent as an infant as somehow contributing to their salvation - it doesn’t. Hitler, no doubt, was baptized as an infant, as were many serial killers in America. Will their infant baptism save them on the great day when our Lord will separate men as a Shepherd separates sheep from goats? Does He say those who are baptized stand on my right and those who were not stand on my left? Certainly not. You know what it says. You who have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and imprisoned, these come stand on the right and those who didn’t do these things stand on my left. God is not mocked. He knows the secret things of our heart. Baptism is a beautiful thing if a man or woman is a believer and has repented. Babies have no need to repent. Nor do they have a need to be baptized. Can an infant be married? Can a baby pledge his or her love to another for the rest of its days? I’m sorry but no. But when a baby grows up and is old enough to understand and make such a pledge of love, he or she can get married. And when old enough to understand properly, one of these little ones can be baptized and united with Christ as part of the church, which is His bride. Does this make sense? And yes, I know that the Bible gives an example of a whole household coming to Christ (it does not say that any was a baby) but Jesus Christ Himself said He did not come to bring peace but a sword and to set a daughter against her mother and a father against his son and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. Sadly, not everyone is going to heaven, but the Lord warned us to enter by the narrow gate because few are finding it and it is difficult. And He warned us not to enter by the broad road because the way is wide and easy and it leads to destruction and many are going this way. I am talking about the new birth that happens when a person truly believes. When is a person born again? Is it when they are a baby under the water of baptism or do you think it happens later when they are old enough to understand the good news of the gospel? This is a sincere question as I am not catholic and am trying to understand your viewpoint. Peace in Christ
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Not me. I'm Ana-Baptist. we believe that once a person reaches the age of accountability and asks Jesus into their lives they should get baptized to acknowledge and symbolize being born again. I personally believe it should be done in public for the world to see, rather than in Church witnessed by believers. Fortunately most of us live in a society where public expression of faith is tolerated for the time being.
I feel there is a place for childhood dedication. But it dosn't replace circumcision of the heart.
I didn't want to contribute to a Catholic vs Protestant debate, again...
I feel there is a place for childhood dedication. But it dosn't replace circumcision of the heart.
I didn't want to contribute to a Catholic vs Protestant debate, again...
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A person is born again, "born from above", when they repent of their sins and ask Christ to enter their life. Their faith in Christ makes them a new creation.
Baptism is a symbolic undertaking as one , like Christ, goes down in water as one who is dead in their sins, and then rises from the water, as one regenerated. Cleansed of their sins, they arise from the water having left the one dead in their sins behind and are now a new creation in Christ. Jesus arose from the tomb where His dead body was placed after He was crucified. Death itself did not hold Him.
That new creation that arises from the water is reborn anew. Their sins are put under the blood of Jesus and are no longer held against them by God. Their sins are forever forgiven them because they now have an emissary between themselves and God, Jesus, who took on their sins on the cross, and those of the whole world, and paid the price for all peoples sins forever.
God's gift of grace is Irrevocable. You can never lose your salvation because you are now in Christ's hands and He has vowed, no one will take you away from that security.
Even if a Christian backslides, in other words, stops doing what is right in God's eyes, even if they lose their faith, God does not lose faith in them because that Christian was reborn in Christ. That purchase, "you were bought with a price", Jesus suffered on the cross eternally secures the one that held faith in Him. Even when they're feeling the need to walk away, Jesus never will.
The parable of the prodigal son is an excellent teaching concerning this.
You rise from the Baptismal waters reborn, and free of sin. And Holy Spirit God takes up residence within you, leading you to all truth, guiding your life in the way of His righteousness.
Letting go and letting Holy Spirit God take the wheel, sort of speak, isn't instantaneous. It takes time because while we are reborn in the world of sin, we are still alive in the sinful world. It takes time to release what we held as our need to be in control of our life and to trust God in that way. However, the more we relax that need to drive our own life, the easier it is to recognize God steering the way.
Baptism is a symbolic undertaking as one , like Christ, goes down in water as one who is dead in their sins, and then rises from the water, as one regenerated. Cleansed of their sins, they arise from the water having left the one dead in their sins behind and are now a new creation in Christ. Jesus arose from the tomb where His dead body was placed after He was crucified. Death itself did not hold Him.
That new creation that arises from the water is reborn anew. Their sins are put under the blood of Jesus and are no longer held against them by God. Their sins are forever forgiven them because they now have an emissary between themselves and God, Jesus, who took on their sins on the cross, and those of the whole world, and paid the price for all peoples sins forever.
God's gift of grace is Irrevocable. You can never lose your salvation because you are now in Christ's hands and He has vowed, no one will take you away from that security.
Even if a Christian backslides, in other words, stops doing what is right in God's eyes, even if they lose their faith, God does not lose faith in them because that Christian was reborn in Christ. That purchase, "you were bought with a price", Jesus suffered on the cross eternally secures the one that held faith in Him. Even when they're feeling the need to walk away, Jesus never will.
The parable of the prodigal son is an excellent teaching concerning this.
You rise from the Baptismal waters reborn, and free of sin. And Holy Spirit God takes up residence within you, leading you to all truth, guiding your life in the way of His righteousness.
Letting go and letting Holy Spirit God take the wheel, sort of speak, isn't instantaneous. It takes time because while we are reborn in the world of sin, we are still alive in the sinful world. It takes time to release what we held as our need to be in control of our life and to trust God in that way. However, the more we relax that need to drive our own life, the easier it is to recognize God steering the way.
Well said, however, a new question is raised. If a person “loses their faith” are you meaning this as a temporary occurrence? Or are you meaning if a person had faith earlier in life and then falls back into the world, never to come back to their original faith - are you saying this person still has salvation based on their original “faith?” Or are you saying only if the wayward person is disciplined, chastised by the Holy Spirit and God draws the backsliding person back to Himself again?
I'm saying that I trust Jesus when He tells us, whoever comes to Him in faith He will in no wise cast out. No one can take us from His hand.
We can't even take a leap of disbelief and lose what we did not merit, earn, work for, nor acquire for ourselves by our own efforts. We had faith, and God did the rest.
For us to go back to the way we were before we believed? First, God would have to have lied to us when He said his gift of grace is irreversible. And then, all that happened to us , that transformed us from being dead in our sins to a new creation reborn in Him, would have to be undone so that we return to being dead in our sins. And all those sins we were forgiven for would then have to be reinstated onto our "account".
There is not one scripture anywhere in the Old or New Testament that tells us that will happen.
God knows we're human. God is greater than His creation. God knows all things, past , present, future. Do we really think someone who backslides, or loses faith, would surprise God? That He didn't see that coming prior to His telling us the gift of His grace is eternal and irrevocable?
We can lose faith in God.
Our Creator has never lost faith in us. And never shall.
We can't even take a leap of disbelief and lose what we did not merit, earn, work for, nor acquire for ourselves by our own efforts. We had faith, and God did the rest.
For us to go back to the way we were before we believed? First, God would have to have lied to us when He said his gift of grace is irreversible. And then, all that happened to us , that transformed us from being dead in our sins to a new creation reborn in Him, would have to be undone so that we return to being dead in our sins. And all those sins we were forgiven for would then have to be reinstated onto our "account".
There is not one scripture anywhere in the Old or New Testament that tells us that will happen.
God knows we're human. God is greater than His creation. God knows all things, past , present, future. Do we really think someone who backslides, or loses faith, would surprise God? That He didn't see that coming prior to His telling us the gift of His grace is eternal and irrevocable?
We can lose faith in God.
Our Creator has never lost faith in us. And never shall.