metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
I don't know what you're seeking here. Basically, all Christian churches use the New Testament, therefore logically they all should be referred to as "New Testament churches".
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How does one get into the New Testament church?
- Thread starter shava
- Start date
He's seeking an acknowledgement that his denomination is the one chosen by Christ as the only true church.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Which is also a claim undoubtedly made by most of the 300 denominations here in the States.
And here's the irony, namely that it was not the Bible that chose the church but the church that chose the canon of the Bible, which leaves only one organized church that could qualify if one is using "New Testament church" in the way he may be referring to.
According to the bible, there's only "one" path for Christians to go by.
Matthew 7:14King James Version (KJV)
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Proverbs 14:12
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The bible shows a pattern as I stated before that shows how one must worship, any other way would be unscriptural, thus only one church is spoken of that the bible refers to, that being the churches of Christ, non instrumental, Romans 16:16. Jesus built one church as stated in the scriptures, as he says, I will build " my church " which is singular, Matthew 16:18.
God didn't make the scriptures say worship anyway you desire, as he said there's
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, King James Bible, Ephesians 4:5.
The Bible teaches that sin is a transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4). All people who know the difference between right and wrong have sinned (Romans 3:23). Our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). The punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is the second death which is the lake that burneth with fire (Revelation 21:8).
God loves us. He does not want us to be punished for our sins. Therefore, He has provided a way for us to be forgiven (John 3:16). God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins (1 John 4:10). Jesus suffered the punishment which we should have received for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6). He did not die for His own sins, for He had none (2 Corinthians 5:21). He suffered for our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven (Romans 5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24). In order for us to be forgiven of our sins, and therefore receive eternal life, we must accept the salvation which Christ has made possible. There are five steps which we must take to receive this salvation.
Hear
First, we must hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17, KJV). One is not a Christian because his parents are. Faith cannot be inherited (Ezekiel 18:20). Each person must believe in Jesus Christ for himself. Christianity is a religion of teaching (Matthew 28:19-20). Unless one has heard the Gospel and learned that Jesus Christ died for his sins, was buried, and arose from the dead, he cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The apostle Paul wrote: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) One must first hear the Gospel before he can believe it.
Believe
Second, one must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus said: ...except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins (John 8:24). The jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They told him to Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house (Acts 16:30-31). Jesus also said: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:16). One comes to believe in Jesus Christ when he hears the Gospel taught. Faith comes only by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). This is the reason it is so important that the Gospel be preached to the whole world (Mark 16:15).
Repent
Third, one must repent of his sins in order to be saved (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). Repentance is a result of being sorry for one’s sins (2 Corinthians 7:10). When the Jews on Pentecost Day learned from Peter that they had crucified the Son of God, they were cut to the heart (Acts 2:37). They wanted to be forgiven of their sins, so they asked, What shall we do? They were told Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins... (Acts 2:37-38). When one repents, he turns away from his sins (1 Thessalonians 1:9). He shows he has repented by doing good works (Matthew 3:8).
Confess
Fourth, one must confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). This great truth is the very foundation upon which the church of Christ is built (Matthew 16:18; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus said that we must be willing to confess Him before men if we want Him to confess us before the Father (Matthew 10:32-33). The apostle Paul wrote: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10). When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch asked, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Philip told him he could be baptized if he believed. The eunuch then confessed, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:35-38). We must make this important, yet simple confession also in order to be saved.
Be Baptized
Fifth, one must be baptized in order to be saved. Jesus said: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). Please note that baptism follows belief. One who does not believe the Gospel cannot be truly baptized. Therefore, babies cannot be baptized for they are too young to (1) have sin, (2) hear the Gospel, (3) repent of sins, and (4) confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Baptism also follows repentance. On Pentecost Day, Peter told those who asked what to do to be saved to Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you... (Acts 2:38). One cannot be truly baptized who has not truly repented.
Baptism is a burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Therefore, sprinkling and pouring are not proper baptism. Baptism is in order to be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). One is not saved before he is baptized! Baptism is unto the remission [forgiveness] of sins (Acts 2:38). Just as Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28), so we are baptized in order to receive the remission of sins. In baptism, the sinner’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Acts 22:16).
What does one have to do in order to be forgiven of his sins? He must
- Hear the Gospel of Christ;
- Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God;
- Repent of all his past sins;
- Confess that Christ is God’s Son;
- Be baptized for the remission of sins.
http://truthfortheworld.org/steps-of-salvation
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
Providing a sermon really doesn't deal with the OP.
Bingo!
Your post is your interpretation of
An English translation of
A collection of literature decided upon by the Roman Catholic church
At the demand of a pagan emperor warlord
Out of a much larger body of literature written by mostly anonymous authors
In a culture that was utterly foreign, both to them and all but the most educated modern historians
On that basis, you are claiming to speak for God?!
Tom
ho
All Christians quote from the scriptures, which is God's words. As for speaking for God, I firmly believe God through his scripture can and does speak for himself, I just use scripture to speak to others, not by my own knowledge, but by God's word.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Context
9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
All Christians quote from the scriptures, which is God's words. As for speaking for God, I firmly believe God through his scripture can and does speak for himself, I just use scripture to speak to others, not by my own knowledge, but by God's word.
1 Corinthians 1:12 Context
9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Funny how so many people don't know this.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
And notice you used the word "in", which tells me that you believe that one needs to do what Jesus told his followers to do, right?
roger1440
I do stuff
How does one get into the New Testament church? The way you phrased the question is redundant. There is no Old Testament church. Aside from that you have to look at where the term "New Covenant" is used by Jesus. Where did Jesus and/or the Gospel writers get this term? What did the original author who used the term "New Covenant" mean by it?
InChrist
Free4ever
I think faith "in" Jesus means trusting in His ability to do what only He is able to do with regard to providing salvation and eternal life.
Exactly! Many of the churches that are "anti Catholic" , don't realize how much of their bible
and traditions are actually rooted in Catholicism. I'm not Catholic, but hey, give credit where it's due. The trick for folks like OP is to quote a bunch of scripture referring to the
church and then say, "by the way, that means my church, not yours." Scary thing is, most of these people think that they are the only ones going to heaven.
.....................and many don't realize how much of that is rooted in pagan worship.
The early church realized an easier way to "save and convert" primitive pagans was to combine pagan symbols
with Christianity.
The early church just slaughtered them at first.
Google that and learn.
You need not attend a Christian university to learn these things just because I did.
The Church is rotten with pagan symbols to this day.
metis
aged ecumenical anthropologist
I would suggest faith in Jesus means doing what he says one should do, otherwise Christianity can be called "rocking chair religion"-- just sit back and have one politically-correct belief and that's it. The Sermon on the Mount, for example, is a call to action-- not to just one thought.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe evidently someone forgot to tell God He wasn't doing that anymore. Maybe His watch stopped and He forgot that He was supposed to stop giving in the future or maybe you just don't know what you are talking about.
I believe it would be nice if you got something right sometime otherwise I will start to think you guys are like the JW's who only get things right half the time. Cornelius wasn't obeying scripture. He was obeying the angel.
I believe yo got that at least partially right. There are many definitions of the word church. I would prefer Church for the body of Christ to distinguish it from a local assembly and an edifice.
I do not believe that is the only pertinent verse. By the way a church sometimes has people other than Christians in it. I know of one that had a Jew and one that had a Pagan and a Buddhist.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe I agree with you but don't you think you ought to provide a reason why?