You can develop a healthy, robust
community that lives right with God
and enjoy its results only if you
do the hard work of getting
along with each other, treating
each other with dignity and honor.
James 3:18
Our effort includes a healthy relationship skill that we would learn from growing up in our family. However, some of us are not brought up in healthy families; therefore, we need to to be taught by others in God's family. The New Testament is the greatest instruction manual of all. Paul wrote, "I am writing these things to you…[so] you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church" (1 Timothy 3:14 – 15). We will be going over some cultivating ideas for real fellowship and a loving community in your Christian family the next few days.
Cultivating community takes honesty. When cultivating a loving community, we need to speak the truth instead of ignoring a problem. When we speak the truth, we speak it with love, so as not to hurt the feelings of others. It is sometimes easier to remain silent when we see someone doing the wrong thing. However, think about this: if you were unknowingly hurting someone that you cared about, wouldn't you want someone to set you straight right away, so that you could apologize and move on? We all have sin nature, so naturally we will all be in this position at some point. I know that all I would want someone in my family to correct me with Christian love; so that I could stop my self-destructive ways; leaving me ample time to mend any fences that I might have broken and wiping the slate clean again.
It is important that we have truthful fellowships and that we have the courage to help one another along life's bumpy road. The Bible tells us to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). So we must able to lovingly confront our sisters and brothers who might themselves be confronted by temptation. Paul says, "Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again" (Galatians 6:1 – 2).
Paul had to rebuke the Corinthian church for their passive code of silence in allowing immortality in their fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:3 – 12). We must not let this happen in our fellowships.
Tomorrow, we will go over more cultivating ideas. Thank you, and God bless you!
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the meaning of calling on the name of the Lord? Many assume that believing in Jesus and saying a form of a sinner's prayer constitutes, calling on the name of the Lord. The problem with that theory is none of the conversions under the New Covenant support that assumption. Not one time is anyone ever told to believe and say the sinner's prayer in order to be saved.
The apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost quoted the prophet Joel, Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (NKJV)
The apostle Peter preached the first gospel sermon under the New Covenant. Peter did not tell the 3000 converts to believe and say the sinner's prayer.
Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He preached Jesus as both Lord and Christ. When they heard this they asked Peter and the rest of the brethren what they should do?(Acts 2:22-37) Peter told them what to do. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NKJV)
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost call on the name of the Lord and become saved?
1. They believed that Jesus was both Lord and Christ.
2. They believed that God raised Jesus from the grave.
3. They repented. Repentance is a change of heart. Repentance means to be converted so that God may forgive your sins. Repentance is to make the intellectual commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God. (Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38)
4. They were immersed in water (baptized) so that their sins could be forgiven.
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost not call on the name of the Lord?
1. They did not say a sinner's prayer.
2. Not one person was asked to pray for forgiveness.
3. Not one single man was told to be baptized as a testimony of his faith.
4. No one was told that water baptism was a just an act of obedience.
5. No one was informed they were saved the very minute they believed.
6. Not one person was told that water baptism was not essential for the forgiveness of sins.
7. Not one person was told to be baptized so they could join a denominational church.
Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16"16) Jesus did not say he who believes and says a sinner's prayer shall be saved.
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Thank you, Steve, for your comment. We are in agreement with all but one of your stipulations. There is a lot of scripture that broaches this subject. You bring up a good point, but there are some examples that say that it is the heart that God sees, and not the ceremonies (such as baptism) that we do, that ensures a place in heaven. The one example that comes to mind now is the thief on the cross. Jesus assures the thief that he will be in heaven that day with Jesus. This man had never been baptized.
DeleteThank you for following God's Grace and God bless you,
Denise
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