[Biblemat] X-SPAM Don't Read....

[kenneth Thomas]

"Don't Read This Unless..."
By Kenneth E. Thomas
I have my reasons for so naming this lesson. Those who aren’t of the "honest
and good hearted" variety of whom Jesus spoke in the parable of the "sower,"
recorded both in (Luke 8 and Matthew 13), may take offense to the things I
have written here. Jesus said of some whom the disciples may come across-
Give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before
the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend (tear
ket) you" (Matthew 7:6 KJV).
Was Jesus Advising Them To "Judge" Their Prospects?
That seems to be exactly what He is telling them. If that was His advice for
first century disciples, is it any less essential for us today? I think not.
The only person whom one may teach and convert to Christ, is one who is
honest and either seeking to know more about Jesus and His truth, or who can
be stirred up by our approach so he becomes a seeker after truth. I confess
that I do not always know when to "shake the dust from my feet" and go on to
another, as I attempt to share Christ’s truth with my fellow man. Some who
seem to be the most unlikely prospects for conversion, are the very ones who
"gladly receive His word."
Some whom we would think to be prime prospects for conversion to Christ, are
the least apt to accept any truths that are at odds with their traditional
beliefs and or preconceived ideas about religion.
If You’ve Read This Far, Read On.....
In this lesson we will set forth in clear readable language what the Bible
says regarding who is a "Christian" and when this conversion from a child of
Satan to a child of God takes place. It is obvious from what Jesus says will
take place come judgement day, that there will be many who led very 
spiritual lives," to whom He will say "...I never knew you: depart from Me,
ye that work iniquity" (Greek ANOMIA) (Matthew 7:23).
Preceding this statement in fact He said-"Not everyone that saith unto Me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven (the Lord’s church kt);
but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say unto
Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Thy name, and by Thy name
cast out demons, and by Thy name do many mighty works? And I will profess
unto them, I never knew you..." (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus is only the Savior
of such as accept His "Lordship" over their lives. He asked some of His day,
"And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke
6:46)? There are multitudes who claim to be "Christians" who have yet to
submit their will to the will of Christ as found in the "Great Commission"
recorded in (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:44-49).
In lawlessness (ANOMIA), they have bought into the Protestant idea that one
is saved the moment one accepts Jesus as one’s personal Savior, apart from
obeying the gospel and without membership in Christ’s blood bought church.
In my "Crusade Edition" of Billy Graham’s New Testament under the heading of
"How To Become A Christian?" Mr. Graham wrote, "Eternal life is yours the
moment you believe" (Pg.8). In Hiscox "Standard Manual For Baptist Churches"
(Southern Baptist that is, ket), Mr. Hiscox wrote on page 62 concerning 
Justification" the following:
"We believe the Scriptures teach that the great blessing which Christ
secures to such as believe in him is justification; that justification
includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of
righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of
righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in Christ; by
means of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us by
God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God
 and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity."
Never mind that Mr. Hiscox had previously written on the preceding page, ".
salvation of sinners is wholly of grace." (Pg. 61 IV The Way of Salvation).
If this wasn’t sufficiently tainted with Calvinism, let us read what he said
about "regeneration" in yet another place in this same Manual.
"We believe the Scriptures teach that in order to be saved, men must be
regenerated, or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy
disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our
comprehension by the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, as to
secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence
appears in the holy fruits of repentance, faith, and newness of life"
(Hiscox Std. Manual pgs. 63-64).
Did you catch that? One is "regenerated" first, then one repents and
believes according to the (Southern Baptist Church Manual). John Calvin
couldn’t have agreed more! Christ disagrees. So do I! Saved before faith or
repentance? So say the doctrines of uninspired men.
What Happens to The Great Commission?
We cited the "Great Commission" passages above which call upon men to do
something before they are forgiven. None of them suggest that man is
depraved so as to need a direct operation of the Holy Spirit before one can
hear, believe, and obey Christ’s instructions. What does the Southern
Baptist Manual say about baptism as taught in these commission passages? It
says they do not mean what they say. What do they say?
.."He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16)."
"...Repentance and remission of sins.." (Luke 24:47).
"...baptized in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
Now that you have read those, next read the following: (Acts 2:22-38, 40-41,
47; Acts 8:12-13; Acts 9:1-6; 22:16; Romans 6:3-6; Galatians 3:26-29; 1
Peter 3:20-21; Hebrews 10:22; Ephesians 5:26; Acts 8:26-39; Acts 16:22-34).
Now read what Mr. Hiscox wrote and what every Baptist preacher or member
with whom I have ever discussed this matter, has to say to the contrary!
"Baptism is not essential to salvation, for our churches utterly repudiate
the dogma of "baptismal regeneration" (so do I, that would be baptism alone
ket); but it is essential to obedience since Christ has commanded it. It is
also essential to a public confession of Christ before the world, and to
membership in the church which is his body. And no true lover of his Lord
will refuse these acts of obedience and tokens of affection" (Ibid, pg. 20,
note 8).
The Above Sounds Good, Until...
Until what? Until you remember that they often run to the penitent thief on
the cross as "proof" that one can go to heaven without ever being baptized!
If salvation is "wholly by grace" (Ibid pg. 61), and "solely through faith
-a flat contradiction (Ibid pg. 62), then of course baptism plays no part in
one’s salvation from alien sins. But notice some conclusions from this
premise: "Baptism not necessary to salvation, but it is necessary to
obedience."
* Conclusion: Obedience isn’t necessary to salvation. Yet the Bible says it
is! (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 5:9; James 1:18-25; 2:14-16; 1 Peter 1:22-25;
Luke 6:46; John 14:15, 21, 23).
"Baptism not necessary to salvation, but is to a public confession of Christ
before the world."
* Conclusion: One doesn’t have to confess Christ before the world to be
saved. But He said we must (Matthew 10:32-33; John 12:42).
 
"Baptism not necessary to salvation, but essential for membership in the
church which is his body."
* Conclusion: Membership in the church isn’t essential to one’s salvation.
But Jesus purchased His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Ephesians
5:25). Therefore the shed blood of Jesus was for naught according to the
Baptist Manual.
I have often heard Baptist preachers say concerning salvation: "No church." 
No works." "Nothing but faith in Jesus Christ is essential to one’s
salvation." Think about this: One cannot become a Baptist without being
baptized by immersion by an ordained Baptist "Pastor" into some local
Baptist fellowship! This leads my brethren and me to conclude the following:
* Being baptized to become a member of the Baptist church is therefore doing
something that is not essential to one’s salvation.
* Too, since one can go to heaven according to them without baptism, but
can’t be a Baptist church member without baptism, it is easier to get into
heaven than it is into the Baptist church!
Men Can’t Be Saved Out of Christ’s Blood Bought Church! (Acts 2:47;
Colossians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:13-16)
The church of Christ was "planned from eternity" by God and shows His wisdom
according to Paul’s inspired epistle to the Ephesian brethren (Ephesians
3:1-21). God is glorified through Christ in this one body. Out of this body
one is yet to be "reconciled unto God..by the cross" (Ephesians 2:16). All
spiritual blessings are "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). The spiritual sphere of
being "in Christ" and of being "in the church of Christ" are identical
spheres or relationships, entered into by the same process of conversion.
This occurs when one hears, believes, repents, confesses one’s faith in
Jesus and is immersed into His death for the forgiveness of sins by His
blood. Baptism is the final act of the "birth of water and of the Spirit"
which changes one's state or relationship from out of, "into Christ and into
His church" (John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:22; Romans 6:16-18; Colossians 2:12;
Colossians 1:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:22-38, 41, 47).
All Spiritual Blessings Are In Christ (Ephesians 1:3)
As already noted, the sphere of being "in Christ" and being "in the church
of Christ" are identical spheres or relationships, entered into by the same
process called conversion. This occurs when one hears, believes, repents,
confesses one’s faith in Jesus and is immersed (baptized) into His death for
the forgiveness of sins by Christ’s blood. This is why we teach that 
baptism is the final act of the new birth of water and of the Spirit" which
changes one’s state or relationship from "out of," "into Christ and into His
church" (John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:22; Romans 6:3-6;16-18; Colossians 1:13-14;
2:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:22-38, 40-41, 47).
Are You A Member of Christ’s Blood Bought New Testament Church? That Is To
Say Have You Been "Born Again of Water and of The Spirit" "Into Christ" and
Into This Relationship?
Paul shows clearly when this takes place. He wrote to the Romans, saying, 
Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants to obey, his
servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness? But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were the servants
of sin, ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was
delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness." The "form of doctrine" they obeyed was in keeping with
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, was their own death to the intent
to continue in sin when their faith lead them to repent and be immersed into
the death of Christ to be raised to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-6;
16-18). If you haven’t done the same, you are still "out of Christ" and "out
of His blood bought church."
 
 
Kenneth E. Thomas
Pekin church of Christ
1451 Valle Vista Blvd.
Pekin, IL 61554
1 (309) 347-3582 - Office
1 (309) 347-5645 - Home
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070514/0e46aee8/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 251 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070514/0e46aee8/attachment-0003.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 289 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070514/0e46aee8/attachment-0004.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 17991 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070514/0e46aee8/attachment-0005.gif