Originally Posted by aak1972 (Post 634693)

Actaully tongues were given after the ascension so there would be no account in the gospels since they all end before then chronologically.

Originally Posted by freeatlast (Post 634687)

How many Christians do you know that have cast out demons...are those who have not cast out a devil lost?


and what of those who have not handled a rattler Iceniez?? Must be lost too.

You've vever drank poison...you're lost then too.

You see you just want ot take the "sign" of tongues her and disregard the rest.

Truth is, and this will shock you, but most all bible scholars will tell you that the scriptures you cite here are NOT found in any early manucsripts.

What's that mean you ask. Some overzeaolus scribe ADDED them later, for whatever reason he ADDED them to Gods word I can't tell you.

But i can tell John, in Revealation spoke very dimly of those who addd or subtract from Gods word.

We OP's love to preach that 1 John 5:7 is not in the early manuscript but don't like to admit that without Mark 16: 15 -18, there is NO mention of tongues in the gospels.

And these gospels were written by pentecostal preachers that had witnessed years of church history before they wrote their accounts.

Originally Posted by Brad Murphy (Post 634608)

Some of us cannot even see God through all of the rules and regulations... it is just a religion of the god of "Don't"... and you get more points the more things that you can think of to make rules against. The person with the most rules wins... Whoopie!

Reading some of the people's posts, it seems that they are excited when they find something new to preach against (except for the internet - it has a divine exception)... it may actually be easier to make a list of things that are NOT wrong... let's see:

Eating (definitely first on the list)
Shopping for church clothes
Reading the Bible (at least 4 hours a day)
Church (never enough church - Glooooorrraaaay!)
Prayer (at least 4 hours a day)
Sleeping (in moderation)
Work (only enough to barely support your family, and have a wardrobe about two paygrades above your actual income... anything else would be greed)
Thinking (only within the safe boundaries that the pastor allows, and only if you have time left over from the items above it on the list... if you do have time to think, you are probably not doing something else on the list often enough...)

Pretty much anything beyond this list falls into the "glorifying self" category.

Originally Posted by iceniez (Post 634717)

I wasn't trying to argue I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU WERE COMING FROM.I do believe to the opposite however.As far as casting out demons I had someone testify in church that when a friend ofmine and I laid hands on her and prayed for her She was set free from a demon.Her words not mine.You can believe what you want .

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple (Post 634733)

Yes baptism is essential. However Mark 16:16 does not carry any more weight than Rev. 3:2-5

2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4: Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Many who have been baptized and received the Spirit could still be blotted out if they do not overcome. That does not mean God is "gotcha". He has told us all along whats essential to enter Heaven. Its just we close our eyes to the truth. We pretend our works dont have to be perfect despite what Jesus said.

Originally Posted by RandyWayne (Post 634464)

The one-step/three-step (among many others over the years) has made me ask this question.

Do we serve a "Gotchya!" God?

A godly man who was officially saved as a young teen and led a godly life, raised a godly family, always attended church and gave selflessly, strong and gentle in his demeanor, quick to forgive and slow to anger, and someone who has effected countless lives for the better.

Now, at age 60, he is driving home from the hardware store (he IS a practiced handy man after all) and someone cuts him off. He is in a hurry and says a curse word (in his head only since he won't actually utter it). 3 seconds later, another car broadsides him and he enters eternity within minutes as a result of the trauma.

Many who proclaim themselves to be strict "three steppers" would proclaim this a great tragedy since he is now roasting in Hell in endless torment since he died with unrepentant sin in his life. (I single out three steppers since I have found over the years that their view point tends to more often than not, lead to this idea of needing to die sinless in order to be truly saved.)

Another man comes to the breaking point in his life and cries out to God for forgiveness and "salvation". He has heard about baptism but doesn't understand its importance. All he knows is that everyone seems to be rushing him to have it done the very night he cried at the alter. The next evening, he too is in a car accident.

The funeral is not a joyous event as a great sadness lingers and many shake their heads knowing that he is now in torment due to having been killed prior to being baptized. (The fact that he has not spoken in tongues to their knowledge only adds to the sorrow of the situation.)
His story will be told for years to come to ALL new converts as a lesson of what can happen if you withhold being baptized.

So what God DO we serve?