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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: JeffBradt Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Who baptized with the Holy Spirit ? | Acts 1:5 | JeffBradt | 180054 | ||
2:5? You mean 1:5? | ||||||
2 | How to draw near to God | Bible general Archive 3 | JeffBradt | 170188 | ||
Talk about it. Get with true Christians and talk out your fears, your feelings and your sins. It's important to include everything, because when you do, not only can people help you more, but Satan can't blackmail you with your sin. The devil wants you not to talk to God, so he will tell you not to talk out your sin and temptation or your feelings with your brothers/sisters in Christ. (I believe that if you're a woman you should talk to a sister, and if you're a man you should talk to a brother. That just makes more sense since each sex deals with different sins in different ways.) If you listen to Satan and close up, you'll be lonely and afraid, just like he wants. But God says not to fear so many times in Scripture. In Mt 17:2-8, Jesus is transfigured and appears extremely bright white (v.2). In v.4, Peter says it is good to be there, but even as he finishes talking God speaks and terrifies the disciples who are present – to the point that they fall face down. Here, as in so many places in the Bible, Jesus needs to tell them not to be afraid. Apparently this type of fear is an extreme case of being awe stricken, so it isn’t a horrible sin and it is perfectly understandable. But he still warns them against being afraid. I am studying out courage in the Bible now, as I have been for about a month. Actually, I originally studied it out in 2002, but have since forgotten a lot of what I read about it as I have been reading other things in the Bible. Anyway, don't be afraid of God. Just revere Him. Do you understand the difference? Fear of God is an awe of someone who is all-powerful, - but who loves us more than we can imagine! Remember the promises of God, like Hobbs said. Jn 14:1-4 Jesus has a place for us in heaven; take heart and look forward to that. We already know the way: just follow him. Do you truly believe that you're saved? If not, why? Maybe there is some sin to think about, but maybe you're just unduly worried. I find that a lot in my life: the butterflies for no good reason. But I talk with my bro's in Christ about it and that really helps. I am blessed: I live with 2 true Christian brothers who appreciate me enough to help me with their insight into God's word. But even for those who don't, find the true Bible-based Christian church (I go to the International Churches of Christ, ICOC, maybe you'll check that out), and talk to someone who is saved and has gone through fear. It'll transform your life! |
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3 | baptism | Acts 19:3 | JeffBradt | 170185 | ||
The baptism of John was not a baptism into John's name. He did say, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" (Jn. 1:23, quoting Is. 40:3). John never claimed to be the One, so why would getting the baptism of John be different from getting baptized by anyone else in Jesus' name? My answer? It's the same thing, if you are doing it right. So if I get baptized I'm okay, right?? Well, IF you get baptized for real, then you're saved. But what does that mean? If I get "baptized" by someone who doesn't ask me to obey first, is that really a baptism? Are you really saved if you get a little water on you but never try to repent? No. If you haven't repented, you can't be baptized. That would be just getting a bath. (Ac 2:38 "Repent and be baptized...") Please read 1Pe 3:21 if you never have. It's awesome! Baptism saves us, not the water, but the "marriage to Christ", if you will. (That's a rough concept since I'm a guy. j/k ) We all need to make the commitment to study and follow the Bible beforehand. Then we need to start doing it, showing that we are true to it. At that point, we're probably ready for baptism. I got sprinkled as a baby, but that wasn't baptism. You can't have an understanding faith if you're just a baby, since you don't know how to understand ANY words, much less those of Jesus. So how can you have faith to be baptized? So I had to be baptized truly when I was an adult and understood the Scriptures. I made a decision, turned my life over to Christ, and THEN got baptized into Him. Doesn't that make more sense? It's an intelligent relationship with our Master, not some hokey kids' play. Besides, children don't need baptism. They are innocent. Yes, they make mistakes, but they aren't responsible for themselves even when they sin. So I, for example, didn't get "rebaptized." I got sprinkled uselessly, then as an adult, realized how to really get saved by reading the Bible and following it, devoted my life to Christ, and got baptized once. I think it's kind of sad how people think they're doing their kids good by "baptizing" them without reading what God says about it and following that. To wrap this long message up, if someone were to get "rebaptized," as you put it, they would probably be in sin, I would imagine. But I've never seen that. It's always baptism into Jesus for the first time after having THOUGHT one was following Him in the past and realizing, "Hey, I was so wrong about that. I was still in sin." I say "still in sin" meaning not having ever repented. I don't mean making mistakes after sincerely changing. If you don't know if you need to be baptized or if you already were correctly, ask yourself this: Do I truly understand the Scriptures? Do I know Jesus? (Before you answer this, read 1Jn 2:4-6) IF you live in him (v. 6), get baptized if you haven't already. Full immersion, "baptizo" in the Greek. Otherwise, keep reading the Bible, asking questions, and repenting of all your sin as you seek it out- not being perfect, just trying your best. Then when you're ready, you'll be baptized into Him. Hope you make it all the way to where you want to be!! I really hope this huge message helped you, and that you didn't fall asleep reading it :-) Jeff |
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4 | IS IT A SIN AFTER YOU DIE TO BE CREMATE? | Bible general Archive 3 | JeffBradt | 170183 | ||
Jesus said, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Mt 8:22 in response to a Christian requesting Jesus allow him to bury his father. I think Christ is emphasizing the importance of doing what He did, making disciples, over taking care of physical things like burial. I want to be cremated; I think it's better for the environment, takes up less space and isn't a sin at all. And I don't think Jesus would have said what he did if he thought the person's father's body would not be taken care of, but let's not worry about what happens to our physical bodies after we die. Let's focus on what we can give back to Christ Jesus our Lord while we're still here so that God will allow us into eternity. | ||||||
5 | To those of you talking about Tongues. | 1 Corinthians | JeffBradt | 170163 | ||
"Tongue" means "language." The word used for "tongue" that people are talking about is from the Greek "glossa" meaning a naturally unacquired language, or one that you don't know from learning it in school or home. Having said that, I'd like to point out that nowhere in the Bible does it say that you must speak in a different language to show that you have the Holy Spirit. It is FAR more important to just follow Jesus' example and help others to do the same, agreed? Also note 1Cor 13:1 and 13:8, which explain that without love all this is useless, and that speaking in tongues is going to cease. Someone said, "First of all, tongues is nothing to be afraid of. 1Cor. 14 gives a good description of the use of tongues." I'd like to comment. Note 14:6. What good is it to speak without being understood by people? In vv. 2-3, it explains that when you speak in tongues you're building yourself up, not others. There is nothing wrong with feeling God's power by whatever means you can really do that, but let's not neglect the fellowship with each other either. Let's make it more of a point to help each other get to heaven by teaching the Scriptures. 1Cor 14:14 "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful." (NIV) Also see v.19: "...I would rather speak 5 intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." Finally, and most importantly, read it for yourself. I am not the final authority. Please, take nobody's word for what the Bible says or how to understand it except God's! Your loving friend in Christ, J. P. |
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