Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Romans 10:13

Obedience, not diligent scholarship, is the key to beginning to understand God.

Man says "If I agree with Him when I finally figure Him out, I MAY go along with Him."

The child (of whatever age) begins to understand Him AFTER he starts obeying Him.

A scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) can reveal a lot of the tiniest, most remote secrets of lasagna � except how it tastes.

Very true, but to be obedient you have to know what to obey.

The COC as you label it, places no "requirements" on any person. It is not even an organized denomination, just a labeling of similar churches who attempt to follow the Scriptures without manmade organizations and traditions. "Requirements" are mandated only by Scripture. Baptism is one of them.

And you won't find it in your belly button.

Or in random perusals of a few individual verses.

"Do this" and "don't do that" aren't hard to find.

Haven't ever heard anybody claim that he didn't know and couldn't find-out what to obey.

You and I approach life differently, it's plain to see. For instance,among ALL the verses you just copied. I find THIS:

"Abide in Me, and I in you."

I see my spiritual life - just like my worldly life - as an endeavor of action. So once I read that clear, concise,instruction from our Lord, the rest of the passage is extraneous.

Jesus didn't leave us with a road map for our journey. We would have to be constantly referring to it, even memorizing it as much as possible. We wouldn't be much help to any of our fellow travelers or enjoy the trip much ourselves with our head buried in a map.

Instead, He gave us our own personal Guide and the pathway is clearly revealed, but only one step at a time, one day at a time.

That's how the "abiding deal" has worked for me.

I won't even bother to bring up foot washing even though Jesus said to do it.

The real root of the division of thought concerning "faith only salvation" is the insistence by some posters to confine the Creator of the universe to the pages of a book.

The Creator said He would write His law on our hearts.

I reject the notion that He gave some of you instructions for the rest of us.

You believe faith alone will save the sinner? Then take comfort in your fulfillment of the requirement without trying to create doubt in the minds of new converts who may be reading what you post.

I recall something one of the N T writers said about a millstone.................. .

I won't even bother to bring up foot washing even though Jesus said to do it.

Obedience, not diligent scholarship, is the key to beginning to understand God.

Man says "If I agree with Him when I finally figure Him out, I MAY go along with Him."

The child (of whatever age) begins to understand Him AFTER he starts obeying Him.

A scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) can reveal a lot of the tiniest, most remote secrets of lasagna � except how it tastes.

http://www.letusreason.org/Biblexp67.htm
It is very clear if your mind isn't closed by tradition that Jesus was speaking of the natural birth.

So, it looks like we're pretty well split down the middle as to whether or not baptism is required for entry to heaven. Interesting, I didn't think it would be quite that even. Thanks guys.

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Originally Posted By: Scott F
I won't even bother to bring up foot washing even though Jesus said to do it.


LOL, I LOVE IT. A guy at work was talking about this the other day. All I had to say was, Jesus didn't mean to literally go wash feet he meant go and be a servant but if you want to have a foot washing at church to show humility and a servants heart I believe that touches the Lords heart too so Iits all good.