Our Differences September-11-2008

When we come acorss a person in need we do

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Making peace to honor God July-7-2008

Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering yo

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Is baptism needed to be saved? The closest verse that seems to imply baptism is needed to be saved is: Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. This verse carries some controversy with it. Here Robertson says: "{And is baptized} (kai baptisyeiv). The omission of {baptized} with "disbelieveth" would seem to show that Jesus does not make baptism essential to salvation. Condemnation rests on disbelief, not on baptism. So salvation rests on belief. Baptism is merely the picture of the new life not the means of securing it. So serious a sacramental doctrine would need stronger support than this disputed portion of Mark". While I can’t do better than Robertson I do add this thought. If one is truly under the power of the Holy Spirit, why would they refuse to be baptized? I believe there is a danger of making too much or too little of this passage as well as the others that mention baptism. Making too much of this doctrine seems to imply it is needed for salvation, when it is not. If we make too little of this we tend to excuse anyone and everyone that doesn’t want to get wet. There may be good reasons for not being baptized. The availability of water may be one. Ill health may be another. It is often pointed out that the thief on the cross did not have the option yet gained entrance to heaven. The simple answer is, no. Baptism is not “needed” in order to be saved. However, one must answer why a Christian would refuse it. Salvation is by grace through faith. It is not by grace through faith and baptism. Adding more to the Scripture than Scripture says is not wise. Some groups do this and insist it is needed for salvation. If I were in that sort of church I would seek another one. I would do likewise if I were in a church that did not baptize people. It’s just that simple if you ask me. Is a Fetus a person? Why or Why not? Should they be killed? Is a Fetus a person? Here is the definition from www.Dictionary.com. "In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after conception to the moment of birth, as distinguished from the earlier embryo." "a developing human from usually three months after conception to birth." The answers is a clear Yes. A Fetus is a living body of a human. A baby cannot "develop" unless it is living. Dead things do not develop. A fetus is a person according to the definition. Should a Fetus be killed for any reason? The only reason a person can be legally killed in our society is if a person commits an act of violence so heinous that the person deserves the death penalty. There are very rare cases today where a fetus could cause the death of the mother. In this case and this case only should it be legal to terminate the life of a baby in the mothers womb. The logic is clear, the law is not. Do we have to speak in tongues to be saved? No 1 Corinthians 12:9-11 (New American Standard Bible) New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. What, if any, is the difference between true Christianity, other religions and false views of Christianity? I love to boil complicated issues down to an easy to understand idea. If I had to give the answer to this question in a nutshell the answer would be "works". All false religious views and all wrong views of Christianity boil down to works versus grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9) I cannot think of a major world religion that is not based on humans working in some way to merit heaven. Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam teach some kind of works in order to go to heaven. Wrong views of Christianity do the same. Additionally, Christian denominations and or individuals may pay lip service to grace but actually teach works. I know some are wondering if there is no place for works in the true Christian view. Yes, there is. Works are a result of a person's conviction after receiving salvation by grace. This is one of those fine line differences. Good works are an obligation of love. Good works cannot merit salvation. It's that simple