Innocent party

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by houston

Adultery is fornication. NEXT

If you had only written that before Jesus and Paul made a difference they might would have known better.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

If you had only written that before Jesus and Paul made a difference they might would have known better.

Steve, adultery and fornication are derivatives of the same word.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by houston

Steve, adultery and fornication are derivatives of the same word.

They most certainly are not. SAME act true the those committing the acts are not the same. Jesus twice made the distinction as did Paul.

[DanShaf]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

If you had only written that before Jesus and Paul made a difference they might would have known better.

[DanShaf]

Originally Posted by DanShaf

I am not laughing at anyone,as I do believe in the sincerity of many who hold this point of view (innocent party) I think the wit of Bro Epley is humorous..Unless I am on the receiving end of course!

[DanShaf]

Baptism is accomplished for the remission of sins. Several times in my ministry I have refused to baptize individuals who desired baptism because I doubted their sincerity and their understanding. Cults are made up by individuals who believe that they have the power to forgive sins or not! I have also seen Apostolic preachers overstep the bounds of their authority and make HORRIBLE mistakes..

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DanShaf

Baptism is accomplished for the remission of sins. Several times in my ministry I have refused to baptize individuals who desired baptism because I doubted their sincerity and their understanding. Cults are made up by individuals who believe that they have the power to forgive sins or not! I have also seen Apostolic preachers overstep the bounds of their authority and make HORRIBLE mistakes..

Let's look at the text yet again... let's stick to it's literal wording and meaning...

John 20:21-23 (KJV)
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Where is baptism mentioned in this text???

You see... first you said it was about establishing doctrine. That's not mentioned here. Now you're saying that it's about baptism. Baptism isn't mentioned here either. Word for word... literally... what does it mean???

Exactly what it says. That's what it means.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by DanShaf

I have also seen Apostolic preachers overstep the bounds of their authority and make HORRIBLE mistakes..

I have seen elders use this authority when another was extremely sick and dying in a hospital and couldn't be moved, but was sincerely repentant. It's often accompanied via the "anointing with oil".

James 5:14-15 (KJV)
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

This sacrament is a manner of delivering both healing and divine grace to the desperately ill.

[Aquila]

When the church (or a fellow saint) is in a quandary, Apostolic Authority is a doctrine to fall back on. With Apostolic Authority, as granted and guided by the Holy Spirit, the elders can plead the blood of Jesus over an adulterous marriage and have it atoned for and forgiven. Now it can be blessed and the couple live with a clean conscience before God. Praise God for the blood!

On a darker note... the elders can also bind a sin upon a man or couple should they dare tempt the body (Ananias & Sapphira). See also... Acts 13:9-11.

[Aquila]

We also see Apostolic Authority at work in many altar services wherein seekers are struggling to pray through. Pleading the blood and speaking atonement and forgiveness into the life of another is part of our ministry of reconciliation. And we do this regardless as to if one has been baptized or not.