My New Lady Friend
 

Goes to a non-denominational church.

I visited her church for their Sunday afternoon service.

I felt the presence of the Lord.

I worshipped the Lord.

I listened to the sermon.

I was prophesied on.

I enjoyed the service.



And I know why I am Apostolic.

As much as at times I feel that I am so at odds with how I hear certain Biblical concepts explained, I realize that God has made me to be an Apostolic.

I don't believe others are lost just because they're not Apostolic, but it has been awhile since I have felt so very sure of what I believe, what I will teach, and what I will preach.


*We are saved by grace through faith.

*Faith must be demonstrated in order for it to be faith.

*Biblically, we are commanded to demonstrate that faith through repentance and water baptism, in the Name of Jesus Christ.

*The gift of the Holy Ghost is God's Promise to all believers and should be pursued by all believers.





I plan to speak with the Pastor of my new lady friend's church, letting him know where I stand on these most important issues. I will then ask him if he thinks that it is proper for me to pursue a relationship with one of his sheep.

If he says yes, cool.
If he says no, cool.

Either way, I'll be alright.



Folks, visiting that church made me so glad to know that I am an Apostolic.

I may not like all the traditions, but I know what I believe, and I'm so glad.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I'll be changing my picture out soon too! :)

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

What did you feel was missing?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Good idea. LOL

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I can not put my finger on it exactly. I felt the liberty to praise and worship the Lord and I did. However, it was very clear to me that I am not supposed to be a member there.



The whole idea of "making a decision for Christ" or "accepting Him as your Lord and Savior", as presented there is simply not Biblical.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

:)


Ha, ha, ha!

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Jermyn, I DO think it's Biblical. I think too often in Pentecostal circles, people get emotional and respond to an appeal to repent at an altar, but lots of times they are not really changed. They go back out and live the same old way. If they really do "make a decision" for Jesus, then they will go out a changed individual. Repentance just means a change of direction - it's making a decision to turn your life around in the other direction. Nothing anti-Biblical about that, in my opinion.

There's nowhere in the Bible that says you have to come to an altar and weep all over everything when you repent. There's nothing wrong with that, but you can also stand at your seat and make a decision to follow Christ. I doubt if people in the apostles' day came and wept at an altar - they just left their old lifestyle and started in "the Way".

Hope that all makes sense!

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Call me traditional, but I find it hard to believe that there is a genuine conversion without tears. How can you not show emotion when standing face to face with the realization of what you are, and what He did for you?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

When I received the holy ghost (and blurted out something in tongues) it was while standing during song service. I kept praying over and over for "it" and finally uttered the words "God, I'm sorry....." (no weeping for an hour at the alter) and the words came out like somewhat like the feeling if you have ever woken up from sleep with a sudden jerk -I know this has happened to everyone at some point. At this point I had it.

But.... that didn't stop people from praying for me for 15-20 minute, en mass, around the alter at the end of the service. At this point I was young and my heart was an open book and I just thought 'live and let live', so I didn't fight it. If they thought it was necessary, what did I know?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

If you weren't so narcissistic, you would realize it is very possible... and very common.

Oh yes, it is also possible to receive the Holy Ghost without the pastor shaking your head hard enough to make whatever your saying sound like an unknown tongue. It happened to me while standing during song service.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I'm a very emotional person and I cry nearly every week in church. But that doesn't make me any more spiritual than a person who is not emotional at all. I have cried like a baby over things that I've done that I feel like were not pleasing to God. But not everyone responds in the same way.

I know people who have had genuine conversion experiences and didn't outwardly shed a tear. But they CHOSE to follow Christ and then were baptized and filled with His Spirit. I don't consider them any less saved.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Sherri,

I appreciate you so much.

Yes, you make sense!

However, after that decision, or in light of that decision, the new convert must be water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. This command is very clearly presented as a command and is associated with EVERY Christian conversion mentioned in the Bible.


Crocodile tears and unconverted hearts do not show biblical saving faith.


The infilling of the Holy Ghost-- why would anyone not want to experience God in such a vibrant and personal way?

If it is not preached, will the people just stumble upon it?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I am not an emotional person. But in the presence of God...

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Well, my wife did and I consider her "saved". She grew up in the AoG. She is also officially "trinitarian" but believes there will only be one God facing us in the afterlife.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Facing us... as in a committee... like Simon, Paula, and Randy??

Or one God on the throne, and the other two persons out of sight?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I agree and we do preach and teach it. We've baptized people every week for the past several weeks. We also have many, many filled with the Holy Ghost. But I think those things happen after they're saved by confession and repentance.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Man, you've got to know that most Trinitarians don't believe in a literal 3 person God-committee!!!

:)

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

It wasn't a trick question. She (and I) feel there will be only one 'Being' standing before us.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I was guest at a Church of God. The pastor very much beleived in a committee.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I was about to type that I believe that salvation begins at faith.

However, this line of thought begs the question is anyone ever partially saved?

The answer is of course no.


Biblically, I believe that repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ must be presented as the proper response for the would-be new believer in Jesus Christ.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Furthermore, I believe that the infilling of the Holy Ghost-- as an experience that only God can bless a person with-- is a Divine Promise that all believers should seek, wait for, and expect.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

That's great. I think you are a closet PAJC.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

That is a shame.

I don't think he's lost because of his skewed view of the Godhead though.

I don't know him, so I don't think he's lost.


It's just that the line I'm drawing in the sand is different from his.

We serve the same God, have the same Savior and will probably experience the same eternal deliverance from the curse that awaits all who don't know and aren't known by Jesus Christ.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I use my real name.

There's nothing closeted about my remarks.


Are you sure you don't mean PCI?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Naw, you're sounding like a PCI. I think you're a closeted PAJC.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Yes of course you serve the same God. On Christ, you both stand.


J D, you plan to continue seeing the girl? Do you see a difficulty in reconciling the beliefs the two of you have?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Sherri,

The problem I see with my bolded post is that baptism could be seen as a "work" by most sensible people.

The Gospel clearly states we are not saved by works, but by the Grace of God.


It's just that everytime anyone was ever converted in the Bible, baptism directly correlated with their conversion.

Even if I were to believe, teach and preach that a soul is saved at repentance and confession, there is still the clear Biblical mandate for water baptism.


How do you handle this?

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Everyone needs to experience the Holy Ghost! They don't know what their missing until they've experienced God in that way!!!


But should someone not experience God in this way, I can't say they are lost simply because of that.

The Bible does not make that argument, so I won't.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Yes.

Yes.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Sherri,

I hope you come back.

I hope I did not offend you.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Whoever the woman is that I marry will have been filled with the Holy Ghost before I marry her.

Our children will be taught to seek after the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Baptism is not a work

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

It is something that you do, so it is a work.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

But it is commanded to be done.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

Stop hanging out with the Baptists. (they used to baptize)

Baptism is a work of God. Read Romans.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

But the baptists are my friends and I sure do love listening to Paul Washer!!!


I am at work and I do not have my Bible with me.

Seriously, how can anyone make the argument that baptism is not a work?

If you have to do it in order for it to be done, then it is a work.



It's a clear, Biblical command-- but it is still something that you must do and this constitutes "work".

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

what the heck does that mean?:smack

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

The person has to be baptized.

The act itself is passive, but in order for the act to happen, there are things that a person has to do. This is thinking of baptisms as I have seen and known them.


So I am trying to think of a way in which a person can be Biblically baptized without physically doing anything to make or allow the baptism to happen.



Hmmm, still thinking.....



Regardless, I am Biblical in my assertion as James teaches that faith without works is dead.

The Bible also teaches that Abraham was declared righteous by his faith-- which was demonstrated when he did something.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

LOL! No offense......I got sleepy and went to bed!

We teach everyone that they need to be baptized once they repent. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Not that baptism saves you - but that if you truly get saved you will want to be baptized. Same way with receiving the Holy Ghost.

Re: My New Lady Friend
 

I wouldn't approach him. It's not his business nor does he own her. It may be God's will that you be a light to her and if you bring him into the equation you will bring the possibilty of his interferrence. She could become very confused and have a crisis of faith if she sincerely loves you.