More powerful than a double-edge sword

I attended an Episcopalian Church growing up and to be honest with you, I dont remember a thing about it except that I was bored to tears.
I was strung out on drugs and alcohol, going through a divorce and trying to raise four little kids on my own (with my mother's help,God bless her) because my ex-wife left me and my children for another man.
It just so happens that a man came to my door one night and asked me "the question".
No, it wasnt a Catholic man, no it wasnt a Luthern man, no he wasnt Methodist, or presbyterian, Christian scientist, etc. You see, as I found out later these churches dont seem to have much of a burden for the lost.

HE WAS AN INDEPENDANT FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST, PRAISE GOD AND I AINT EVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE!

 

The focus on a walk with Christ that is ever growing in truth and faith and sanctification is great - but if it is done to the exclusion of the focus on the need to die - the need to be "born again" - the need to surrender all at the very start, the need for instant justification at the moment of the New Birth - at the moment one CHOOSES to accept Christ - then it is all for nothing.

Half of the truth - is not a workable model. You need BOTH the justification component AND the sanctification component of the ONE Gospel given to mankind from Genesis - Revelation.

In Christ,

Bob

 

The focus on a walk with Christ that is ever growing in truth and faith and sanctification is great - but if it is done to the exclusion of the focus on the need to die - the need to be "born again" - the need to surrender all at the very start, the need for instant justification at the moment of the New Birth - at the moment one CHOOSES to accept Christ - then it is all for nothing.

Half of the truth - is not a workable model. You need BOTH the justification component AND the sanctification component of the ONE Gospel given to mankind from Genesis - Revelation.

In Christ,

Bob </font>[/QUOTE]AMEN and AMEN Brother Bob!
1Pe 5:8 "Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, 9 whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you."

Maranatha,
Rodney

 

Sounds not too far from a baptist church service. Always the same.
Song
Announcements
Song
Choir
Prayer
Scripture passage
Prayer
Service
Prayer
Invitation
Offering
Prayer

 

Brother Adam said: "What is distressing is the people that equate liturgy with satan."

Where has anyone equated liturgy with satan?

 

Brother Adam,

I have read them objectively and I can see nowhere that anyone has stated that a liturgical service is of satan. I tend not to read between the lines; I tend to read the lines and make my judgments based upon them. If I believe that someone is making a veiled comment I ask them to clarify, just as I have done with you.

Maranatha,
Rodney

 

Brother Adam,
Let start out by saying, I don't have a clue as to what you are talking about. I'm saying you are stupid or anything like that. What I'm saying is I don't follow. Our dialogue was started by your comment of equating liturgy with satan. If I am not mistaken, liturgy is a form of worship, nothing more.

As for your comment on salvation let echo what The Apostle wrote; Eph 2:8 "for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them."
This is what I believe.

Maranatha,
Rodney

 

OOPS!

Brother Adam,
Let start out by saying, I don't have a clue as to what you are talking about. I'm NOT saying you are stupid or anything like that. What I'm saying is I don't follow. Our dialogue was started by your comment of equating liturgy with satan. If I am not mistaken, liturgy is a form of worship, nothing more.

As for your comment on salvation let echo what The Apostle wrote; Eph 2:8 "for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them."
This is what I believe.

Maranatha,
Rodney

 

Bro. Adam

I understand what you are saying about liturgical v alter-call service thingys.

My take. I believe one must be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus. Somefolks, however, seem to believe that this must come as a blinding flash as it happened to Saul on the road to Damascus. I happen to believe that the realization, and the coming of faith maybe a gradual affair. I also believe that salvation is completely of the Lord, and that all the coercion, preaching, ranting, raving, or what ever is a complete waste of time, unless the Lord is in the arrangements. If we are honest, faith is not an intellectual enterprise, and it takes a bit longer for some to understand what God has done for them than others.

 

Psalms --

I must agree with you in this. If we REALLY believe that there is a hell for unbelievers and that people are going to go there, we should be constantly inquiring about the state of people's relationship to God.

Now the difference is that some would say that because I am Catholic I don't have a relationship with God and they would see me as in need of being "saved." Well, so be it.

There was a time in your life when you had wandered far from the fold, rejecting your baptismal vows and heeding the call of your flesh to sin. Thanks be to God that there was indeed someone sent to ask you "the question" and to point you to the Savior you both loves you and gives you the power to resist temptation and live for Him.

Cordially in Christ,

Brother Ed