Hey everyone.  Please feel free to visit us at www.pagestoyou.com for Bible studies.

Thanks,
Mardis

Feel free to visit us at www.pagestoyou.com for more information.

Thanks,
Mardis

Truthlover, I believe that the church of Christ that meets in the city where we attend services is a place where all Christians are united and are "meeting together as one people in Christ."

I believe that most, if not all members there value their relationship with each other over their physical relationships.  

I hope this helps in some way, though I still don't think I understand what you are asking.

Thanks,
Mardis  

To all readers:

I have not read every post in this thread of Christ's church.  I do want it to be known that I agreed with Ollie's expression that there is only one church.  This does not necessarily mean endorsement of any other post by Ollie or any other person.  I believe the information I gave on how I agreed with Ollie on there being only one church explains what I mean and I hope this helps somehow.  Contact me at www.pagestoyou.com for more information.

[For example:]

Mardis,

That's great that you believe wholeheartedly with Ollie.  Let me ask you the same question I asked him.  How does a person become part of that church?  I don't mean spiritually be saved and join it.  I mean be able to partake of its fellowship, its daily exhortation, its calling nothing its own and sharing everything, its joy, its assemblies?

One can go participate in a division, picking the best division one can find, but Gal 5:19-21 suggests that divisions, schisms, and factions are works of the flesh.  How exactly does one meet with the one church.  Where is it, as in WHAT IS ITS ADDRESS?

Truthlover, I am not sure I understand what you are asking.  What I do understand is that when one is saved (through belief - John 8:24; repentance - Luke 13:3-5; confession of faith - Romans 10:9-10 & Acts 8:35-38; and through being baptized to be saved - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4) a person is then a part of the church - Acts 2:38-47.

We can know what the church that the saved are added to is like by searching the scriptures.

For example:
The church honors Christ and not man in her name - Romans 16:16; Acts 20:28.
The church teaches the word of God and not the commands of men in her doctrine - 2 John 9-11; Galatians 1.
The church worships as the word of God directs - John 4:24; Acts 2:42.

Of course, there are many other characteristics of the Lord's church given in the Bible.  However, these were listed simply to illustrate that we can know what the church is to be in worship, doctrine, benovolence, etc.  There are churches of Christ in many states across America and in other countries as well.

If you are interested in locating one than we can go from there.

Thanks,
Mardis

I agree whole heartedly Ollie!  There is only one church for which Jesus died (Acts 20:28; Acts 2:47; Romans 16:16; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Cor. 12:13).

John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17   That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Baptism is done:
  To be saved - Mark 16:16.
  To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
  Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
  Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
  Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
  Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

Hey everyone!  Welcome to the new week!  

I'm looking forward to our continued studies on what a person must do to be saved.

Mardis

Hey everyone.  I am going to be out of town for a while.  I will try to catch up and make responses on Sunday or Monday, if the Lord is willing.

Thanks,
Mardis

Petro

You have not understood me.  I do believe that baptism is necessary to be saved.  We don't merit salvation through baptism, but without it we cannot be saved.  This is what I mean in my last posts.

Baptism is done:
  To be saved - Mark 16:16.
  To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
  Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
  Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
  Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
  Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

Please re-read my last post.  The Bible teaches that we are saved by God's gracious gift when we follow His plan of salvation, which includes baptism to be saved.

Thanks,
Mardis

Petro, I still do not understand what you are asking by asking, "What is the work one must do to be saved?"

Maybe these scriptures will help.

2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

Philippians 2:12, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Hebrews 5:8-9, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."

Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."

God gracious gift of salvation cannot be merited.  We never deserve salavtion.  However, God does not just go around bestowing salvation upon anyone and everyone regardless if they believe or not, repent or not, and if they are baptized or not.

We have faith in God's work of salvation in our lives when we follow what He has told us to do to receive His gracious gift of salvation.

Colossians 2:11-12, "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must:
To be saved we must hear the word - Romans 10:14-17.
To be saved we must believe - John 8:24.
To be saved we must repent of sins - Luke 13:3-5.
To be saved we must confess faith in Jesus - Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:35-38.
To be saved we must be baptized (water immersion) - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4.

Abraham was saved by an active and obedient faith, not by faith only - Genesis 12-15:6; James 2:23-24.

Baptism is done:
  To be saved - Mark 16:16.
  To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
  Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
  Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
  Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
  Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

Babies are not candidates for baptism.  Before one can be baptized he/she must believe and repent (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).  Babies are not capable of either understanding, believing, or repenting, and therefore are not candidates for baptism until they can believe and repent.

Thanks everyone.  This has been a great study, and I look forward to our continued discussions.

Saved_4ever:

Where does the Bible say that baptism is "a statement of profession to the world."


To be saved we must hear the word - Romans 10:14-17.
To be saved we must believe - John 8:24.
To be saved we must repent of sins - Luke 13:3-5.
To be saved we must confess faith in Jesus - Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:35-38.
To be saved we must be baptized (water immersion) - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4.

Furthermore:
Baptism is done:
  To be saved - Mark 16:16.
  To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
  Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
  Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
  Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
  Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

The blood of Christ washes away our sins when we believe, repent, confess our faith, and are baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 20:28; Mark 16:16).  Not before baptism, but when we are baptized are our sins washed by His blood (Hebrews 5:8-9).

Thanks everyone, and I look forward to our continued studies.

Mardis

Petro,

I apologize for not addressing the question you had asked.  I must have overlooked it.

To begin, I am not really sure what it is you are asking.  Please explain the question of "What is the work one must do to be saved."  I am sorry that I do not understand what you are asking. Maybe if you explained it further I could try to answer this question.

Secondly, concerning your questions of baptism and the blood of Jesus, here is the Bible answer.

To be saved we must hear the word - Romans 10:14-17.
To be saved we must believe - John 8:24.
To be saved we must repent of sins - Luke 13:3-5.
To be saved we must confess faith in Jesus - Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:35-38.
To be saved we must be baptized (water immersion) - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4.

Furthermore:
Baptism is done:
  To be saved - Mark 16:16.
  To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
  Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
  Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
  Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
  Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
  Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

The blood of Christ washes away our sins when we believe, repent, confess our faith, and are baptized in water for the remission of sins (Acts 20:28; Mark 16:16).  Not before baptism, but when we are baptized are our sins washed by His blood (Hebrews 5:8-9).

I hope this helps Petro.  Again, maybe if you explained the first question a little more I could try to give a Bible answer for it.  Thank you for your participation in our discussion.

I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Mardis

Also, please do not misuderstand me to be saying that water washes away sins.  Jesus blood is what washes away sins - Hebrews 9:22.  But this does not occur until after we follow God's plan of salvation.

Mardis

[Hey everyone!]

Hey everyone!  There is no need to be insulting.  If we cannot be respectful and kind then we need to not participate in this discussion.  We do not have to agree, but we also do not have to be mean (Ephesians 4:15; Jude 3).

The Bible teaches that to be saved a person must:
To be saved we must hear the word - Romans 10:14-17.
To be saved we must believe - John 8:24.
To be saved we must repent of sins - Luke 13:3-5.
To be saved we must confess faith in Jesus - Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:35-38.
To be saved we must be baptized (water immersion) - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4.

Abraham was saved by an active and obedient faith, not by faith only - Genesis 12-15:6; James 2:23-24.

Baptism is done:
   To be saved - Mark 16:16.
   To have sins remitted - Acts 2:38.
   Is a water immersion - Acts 8:35-38.
   Is done to have sins washed away - Acts 22:16.
   Is to have new life in Christ - Romans 6.
   Is to have new life in Christ - Galatians 3:26-27.
   Is to have sins cut off - Colossians 2:11-12.
   Is done to be saved - 1 Peter 3:20-21.

Yes, there are many passages that speak concerning the essentaility of belief, but only one speaks about faith only and it says that we are not saved by faith only - James 2:22-24.

There are some passages that speak of repentance but not belief - Luke 13:3-5.  Surely, no one would say we are saved by repentance only, without belief.

There are passages that speak of baptism but not belief and repentanct - Acts 22:16.  Surely, no one would contend that baptism only saves.

There are passages that mention confession and belief, but not repentance and baptism - Romans 10:9-10.

There are passages that mention baptism and repentance, but not belief and confession - Acts 2:38.

Yet, there are many passage that teach that both belief, repentance, confession of faith in Christ, and baptism are all essential to being saved (See scripture citations given above).

These scriptures are evidence enough. They are not difficult.  Anyone with a mind can understand them.  

Let's continue our studies, but let's please not be mean or unkind toward anyone, even those with whom we disagree.

Contact me here or at www.pagestoyou.com for more information.