Let's talk about Baptism.

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by Joey Boneski

I would love to see everyone make it to heaven...but as I read the word, strait is the gate and narrow is the way.....its my burden for those who don't know and are being told different that makes me passionate...not a drive to be right about it...but a dread of what will happen to those around me if I am right...and make no mention of it.

Acts 4
10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

And yet another strait and narrow gate reference!!! I will use thes once again. 200,000.000.000 people have lived on the planet since Jesus walked on earth! Most say only 20 -25 percent were Christian!!! And out of 6 billion alive today still only 25 percent are Christian!!! There is a BROAD array of other religions!! How narrow are you trying to make these gates!!! Dont make them too narrow b/c a lot of obese wont make it!!!

[Falla39]

2Cor. 4:1-6

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[Joey Boneski]

Originally Posted by allstate1

And yet another strait and narrow gate reference!!! I will use thes once again. 200,000.000.000 people have lived on the planet since Jesus walked on earth! Most say only 20 -25 percent were Christian!!! And out of 6 billion alive today still only 25 percent are Christian!!! There is a BROAD array of other religions!! How narrow are you trying to make these gates!!! Dont make them too narrow b/c a lot of obese wont make it!!!

I didn't make the gate narrow...He did...I'm just following His instruction and not compromising His word in hope that I make it through the narrow gate...and in not having the courage to speak what the word says it narrows the gate to those who haven't read or heard it...my advice would be to read it for yourself but without some one speaking about it the gate narrows even more...and with compromise it gets narrow to shut out the ones we have had oppurtunity to know and love...BTW...Jesus made the first reference to the strait and narrow gate...why do you suppose He did so?

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by Joey Boneski

I didn't make the gate narrow...He did...I'm just following His instruction and not compromising His word in hope that I make it through the narrow gate...and in not having the courage to speak what the word says it narrows the gate to those who haven't read or heard it...my advice would be to read it for yourself but without some one speaking about it the gate narrows even more...and with compromise it gets narrow to shut out the ones we have had oppurtunity to know and love...BTW...Jesus made the first reference to the strait and narrow gate...why do you suppose He did so?

I will get more in depth later!! How strait and narrow is the gate in your opinion!!! This text is used for UC's to defend the legalism they believe is essential. I do not believe that is what is intended by Jesus!

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Joey Boneski

I don't think that would constitute a stoning...homosexuality was not embraced by Jesus...no scripture on that at all...the homosexual may be embraced by Jesus in repentance...but sin is sin...never embraced by Him at all. It's mostly the preaching against sin that drives sinners away from Apostolic churches....to run to a place where their sins are embraced being tickled in their itching ears...without any change.

Adultery wasn't embraced by Jesus. He said, if a man looks upon a woman and lusts after her, the visual alone constituted sexual sin.

But, when Jesus faced people in this situation, even in the physical sense, there was extended mercy while under the hype of the Law and Letter.

Sexual perversion can be just as wrong between 2 people of the opposite sex as with the same sex. I've brought up the issue of Sex Slavery, (it) being the second largest black market crime in this Nation. Just because a "Man and a woman" might be involved in the act, the potential evil of fantasized intimacy is no different than Homosexuality. They are both abominations.

Pulling back the covers of Internet Sex is another vile that has overrun our Planet. Jesus never talked about this, either. Internet Pornography is the number online industry, bringing in more annual revenue than the NBA, NFL, and MLB, combined. So, how do we address those that have sex with their computer? What line does this cross?

This issue is not about embracing sin, it's about extending mercy. Comments that refer a mocking intent incite a bashing mentality, not mercy. This is profiling, and Religion is entirely guilty of this. We can look down on others, not understanding the plights they've been through. We put our constituents on “Witch Hunts”, and when we’ve hung people out to dry, we wind up with innocent blood all over hands.

I'm sick and tired of the "Apostolic Bash". Spiritual Pride runs deep in our veins, and we've looked down on the World of the forgotten and the forsaken by calling ourselves special.

Joey, we all stink! We are all wretched! We are all capable of doing the foul and nasty!

This has been the sound, blaring from our Churches and Pulpits;

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

We boast, we tell the World we are Holy, while publicans fall on their faces crying out for mercy upon the wretched man that lives inside of them. Problem is, we don't hear the cry because we're too busy looking in the mirror of our Faith. Our idea is better. God has chosen US. We’ve found the straight and narrow.

Our lack of love and dishonesty is what's driving people out the door. We hide behind our dress and doctrinal arrogance, and those within our Movement are beginning to see this. We blaze past the suffering, the needy, and the unfortunate with another Denominal Trumpet that rises and falls just like all the others.

Mankind as a whole is nothing more than a wayward Son, stumbling over every attempt to do the right thing. Thank God for a Savior!

[Joey Boneski]

Originally Posted by allstate1

I will get more in depth later!! How strait and narrow is the gate in your opinion!!! This text is used for UC's to defend the legalism they believe is essential. I do not believe that is what is intended by Jesus!

I think the fact that it says strait and narrow is enough to describe it without debating how strait and narrow...especially when preceeding this scripture...which is the topic of conversation at hand.

12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

[Joey Boneski]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

Adultery wasn't embraced by Jesus. He said, if a man looks upon a woman and lusts after her, the visual alone constituted sexual sin.

But, when Jesus faced people in this situation, even in the physical sense, there was extended mercy while under the hype of the Law and Letter.

Sexual perversion can be just as wrong between 2 people of the opposite sex as with the same sex. I've brought up the issue of Sex Slavery, (it) being the second largest black market crime in this Nation. Just because a "Man and a woman" might be involved in the act, the potential evil of fantasized intimacy is no different than Homosexuality. They are both abominations.

Pulling back the covers of Internet Sex is another vile that has overrun our Planet. Jesus never talked about this, either. Internet Pornography is the number online industry, bringing in more annual revenue than the NBA, NFL, and MLB, combined. So, how do we address those that have sex with their computer? What line does this cross?

This issue is not about embracing sin, it's about extending mercy. Comments that refer a mocking intent incite a bashing mentality, not mercy. This is profiling, and Religion is entirely guilty of this. We can look down on others, not understanding the plights they've been through. We put our constituents on “Witch Hunts”, and when we’ve hung people out to dry, we wind up with innocent blood all over hands.

I'm sick and tired of the "Apostolic Bash". Spiritual Pride runs deep in our veins, and we've looked down on the World of the forgotten and the forsaken by calling ourselves special.

Joey, we all stink! We are all wretched! We are all capable of doing the foul and nasty!

This has been the sound, blaring from our Churches and Pulpits;

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

We boast, we tell the World we are Holy, while publicans fall on their faces crying out for mercy upon the wretched man that lives inside of them. Problem is, we don't hear the cry because we're too busy looking in the mirror of our Faith. Our idea is better. God has chosen US. We’ve found the straight and narrow.

Our lack of love and dishonesty is what's driving people out the door. We hide behind our dress and doctrinal arrogance, and those within our Movement are beginning to see this. We blaze past the suffering, the needy, and the unfortunate with another Denominal Trumpet that rises and falls just like all the others.

Mankind as a whole is nothing more than a wayward Son, stumbling over every attempt to do the right thing. Thank God for a Savior!

Adultery is just as bad as homosexuality...as bad as lying, cheating, etc..what I'm saying is that there are so many today that are embracing homosexuality in their churches...as not being sin...or simply saying that it is forgiven without any changes in lifestyle of the homosexual...just as in any case the sin needs to be repented of...I would welcome the homosexual into our church in hopes of seeing the light...I would not welcome homosexuality as a lifestyle...big difference.

[seekerman]

Originally Posted by Falla39

Like I said, just take that check to the bank and see if A NAME
makes a difference. Your signature (Name) is your identity! There are many fathers, sons, husbands but the name should identify which father, son, husband, etc!!

Originally Posted by seekerman

In the check analogy, who signs the check?

Originally Posted by Falla39

[/B]

The one who has the checking account usually. We have a very
elderly lady in the church we attend. Her daughter signs her checks
now as her eyesight is not good. Her mother approved!

Are you then saying that the preacher signed your salvation check at baptism, so to speak...that Jesus doesn't sign His own checks?

[Joey Boneski]

Originally Posted by seekerman

Are you then saying that the preacher signed your salvation check at baptism, so to speak...that Jesus doesn't sign His own checks?

If Jesus had a company account and had someone working for his company in charge of the checks he wouldn't want them stamping his titles on them...

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by seekerman

Are you then saying that the preacher signed your salvation check at baptism, so to speak...that Jesus doesn't sign His own checks?

He gave authority/or his power of attorney to those that would became sons of God, to them that would believe on his name!.
He commissioned them to go into all the world and preach, teach and baptize.
Would you want someone who didn't believe in you/your name, representing
you.