Do you want to know the truth?

Almost everyone who comes here has a doctrine through which information is filtered. But do they have a way to test if their filter is accurate?

(NO, it's NOT enough to ask others with the same filter "Do you think our doctrine is correct?" because who would answer "Well, No, we've been teaching you a lie this whole time." )

What is needed is a test that you can apply to yourself, and answer for yourself in the privacy of your own heart where only God is a witness. That way you can be completely and embarrassingly honest.

The test is this: Who in your church has the Holy Ghost, and who does not? (Does your filter allow you to discern? <-- and I mean for SURE, not "I think so". )

The bible says that "if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is NONE of His". So it is very important to know. (If you want to choose your teachers wisely.)

And there is an even more important reason that you need to be honest with yourself and able to answer that question… specifically, you are also in that church.

I'll be blunt here. If your filter is flawed, it's still flawed when you use it on yourself.

If you discover your filter is flawed, you have the option of facing that truth...or trying to bury it. How you handle it is one of the things that determines "Do you WANT to know the truth?".

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

What "filters" are you speaking of? Denominational Teachings/Ideologies? Or something else?

The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is what I rely on to provide me with insight into the meaning of Scripture.......If that is my "filter," then I am fine with that............

John 8 says this -----

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Kelby believes that water baptism is required in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Which is completely false and a misrepresentation of Acts 2:38.

a fine example of a filter

Denominational Teachings is indeed a filter some people use. When presented with information (even from the bible) they say to themselves "What do my Denominational Teachings allow me to believe about this information?"

Another person may have the Personal Belief that "there is no God". When presented with information (even from the bible) they would filter that information through the filter of "there is no God".

Any specific Ideology would of course be another example of a filter.

Part of my intent is to make people aware of their filters... especially their religious filters... and then be able to test them for usefulness and accuracy.

Is that a little clearer?

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Kelby does NOT believe that a person needs to be water baptized in order to receive the Holy Spirit.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

That IS a fine example of a filter. Just not one that I particularly hold.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

really?

that isn't you that has stated water baptism is necessary and a part of salvation?

yes? no?

I did a search of your posts using the word baptism, and many came up
that seem to contradict what you have said here, like the following:

"KelbyofGod, post: 4632682,
Well, I was actually hoping to put some prayer into it to see if God would grant an answer that gets us past the 'pass' or 'fail-and-i-write-you-off' nature of your question, but I guess a sufficient answer might be "Because baptism began as, and remains, the mechanism established by God for remission of sins (to those that believe)... and because remission of sins is a necessary element of salvation, YES, I believe baptism is necessary, not optional, if a person would like to claim the fullness of salvation." But Jesus didn't just die to grant us remission of sins...so unless people get the rest, they still can't claim fullness of salvation, even if they've gotten their sins washed away.

That should at least make my position on water baptism clear, and give you enough information that you could dig further IF you really want to know.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby


Just adding words of Jesus here:
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28

seems some people can't handle the truth

Let's see if you're able to hold your reaction long enough to understand what I am actually saying.

YES, I have stated that water baptism is necessary and a part of salvation..BUT.. NO, that doesn't mean a person has to be baptized in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 10 gives us an example where the people received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized.

One of my filters is that "the examples given in the bible are to be trusted as reliable accounts of what is possible".

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Thank-you for posting an accurate account.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Were you able to understand what it was that I was saying in that quote?

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

if you were suggesting something about me, a more accurate filter might have been "Some people type slowly when they're trying to answer clearly and intelligently".

Still love ya,
Kelby

I'm curious..
Is the current delay because people are typing slowly... doing research... or doing some other thing? My hope would be one of the first two, but I don't want to make too hard of a guess.

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Did you say that a person cannot receive the Holy Spirit apart from water baptism?

There are Scriptural examples that contradict that belief.

"YES, I believe baptism is necessary, not optional, if a person would like to claim the fullness of salvation."

If you meant that Holy Spirit baptism is required, I would agree with you Earthly water does not save.

I am doing other things, plus posting and researching for other threads as well

I check back occasionally

It’s my contention that everyone uses a filter. Some are correct while others are incorrect and vice versa.

I was saying that BOTH water baptism and spirit baptism are necessary. But that is REALLY hard for some people to grasp because they have the filter that "Salvation is instantaneous and only has ONE part (or piece, or aspect, or ??... I'm really struggling to get that last word right)

Love in Jesus,
Kelby