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BELIEFS
Why does it matter what we believe?
Because we have created a world "In which Our Children Have Been
Separated From Their Innocence"...?
Separated From Their Innocence"...?
Who did it? To whom do we give the blame? To the Pope or your pastor? Who was given the children to care for in
the first place? You and me!....and what we believe and how we implemented it, (or did not).
Children, contrary to what some people believe, were born innocent, without knowledge of right or wrong. God
created them that way.
Much of what is taught as "Biblical belief" stresses mere intellectual assent with little or no implementation. Say this
prayer and "your'e in!"
We gave our children to a public school system that we were told was for everyones good. Few objected. When our
children came home after having been taught a curriculum arranged by "social engineers", we gave them to the TV
set as a baby-sitter. Today we bury their minds under video games and all kinds of electronic information that is
anything but "Christian" The latest promise out of Washington "is to insure that every American child is ON-LINE!
the first place? You and me!....and what we believe and how we implemented it, (or did not).
Children, contrary to what some people believe, were born innocent, without knowledge of right or wrong. God
created them that way.
Much of what is taught as "Biblical belief" stresses mere intellectual assent with little or no implementation. Say this
prayer and "your'e in!"
We gave our children to a public school system that we were told was for everyones good. Few objected. When our
children came home after having been taught a curriculum arranged by "social engineers", we gave them to the TV
set as a baby-sitter. Today we bury their minds under video games and all kinds of electronic information that is
anything but "Christian" The latest promise out of Washington "is to insure that every American child is ON-LINE!
We who have turned our children over to anything whose ultimate goal
is less than the God of the Bible are responsible for children having lost their
innocence. There was a time when the Church and it's beliefs turned the world
upside down...sadly, today it is the world and it's evil that has turned
the Church upside down; THAT'S WHY WHAT WE BELIEVE MATTERS!,
is less than the God of the Bible are responsible for children having lost their
innocence. There was a time when the Church and it's beliefs turned the world
upside down...sadly, today it is the world and it's evil that has turned
the Church upside down; THAT'S WHY WHAT WE BELIEVE MATTERS!,
Most of us have been deluged with this group or that maintaining their belief is what has always been taught in the
Church of Jesus. This had lead to confusion and frustration; denomination splits ,(today there are over 22,000+ "Bible"
Churches alone...all alone),...where is the unity that Jesus prayed for?
Challenge or have questions about certain scriptures and you silenced by being told "The Early Church said so!"
Now, we can know what the early Church believed and how it lived out that belief. Thanks to Bible scholars like David
Bercot, (www.scrollpublishers.com), we can read what those who sat at the feet of the apostles learned ..that said;
Church of Jesus. This had lead to confusion and frustration; denomination splits ,(today there are over 22,000+ "Bible"
Churches alone...all alone),...where is the unity that Jesus prayed for?
Challenge or have questions about certain scriptures and you silenced by being told "The Early Church said so!"
Now, we can know what the early Church believed and how it lived out that belief. Thanks to Bible scholars like David
Bercot, (www.scrollpublishers.com), we can read what those who sat at the feet of the apostles learned ..that said;
The Early Church held to 5 Core Beliefs That They Felt Were Necessary To Even Be Considered A Brother Or Sister..... |
SALVATION
BAPTISM
COMMUNION
LIFE AFTER DEATH
THE TRINITY
BAPTISM
COMMUNION
LIFE AFTER DEATH
THE TRINITY
SALVATION, is two part. a. Salvation attained; that it is solely an act of Grace; nothing that we do can earn it.
b. Salvation maintained; meaning, having an Obedient Love Faith Relationship, we
strive to live lives outlined by Jesus in Matt 5,6 and 7. seeking Holiness without which
no one can see God.
BAPTISM, washes our sins away, truly cleanses us, not just "covers them up". We can lose that which baptism
seals. If we sin, we are worse off than when we began.
COMMUNION, that the bread and wine truly signify the "presence" of Jesus as we celebrate it. It is in
"remembrance of our Lord". But remembering that is deeper and of more emotion
than one would ascribe to "remembering how to ride a bike" as opposed to times
when I remember an event such as the birth of my first child. It is more intense,
thus, taking the bread and wine wrongly would be to dishonor the presence of
our Lord. This in no way is like the Roman or sacramental Churches practice it.
Nor is it simply a ceremony of no importance or effect.
LIFE AFTER DEATH, is exactly that; the righteous go to "Paradise", (or as it also is called "The Bosom Of
Abraham"), where they rest in joyful anticipation of the end of time when they
then shall abide with God forever. This they can see from "Paradise".
The unrighteous shall also be taken to the abode of the dead, "The place of torment
where they can also see the final place of their eternal punishment, this they view in
fear and trembling.
TRINITY,The God of our Bible is indeed "three in One", meaning, 3 distinct Persons in one Nature; God the
Father ,God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. One way to grasp it is to
think of it in terms of "an Economy of Labor"; The Father creates, the Son redeems
and The Spirit counsels, enables us to believe.
Certainly there are issues, some very dear to us, but as Brother Bercot points out, "they were not
considered "salvific", that is not issues that would affect our Salvation and Eternal Life.
b. Salvation maintained; meaning, having an Obedient Love Faith Relationship, we
strive to live lives outlined by Jesus in Matt 5,6 and 7. seeking Holiness without which
no one can see God.
BAPTISM, washes our sins away, truly cleanses us, not just "covers them up". We can lose that which baptism
seals. If we sin, we are worse off than when we began.
COMMUNION, that the bread and wine truly signify the "presence" of Jesus as we celebrate it. It is in
"remembrance of our Lord". But remembering that is deeper and of more emotion
than one would ascribe to "remembering how to ride a bike" as opposed to times
when I remember an event such as the birth of my first child. It is more intense,
thus, taking the bread and wine wrongly would be to dishonor the presence of
our Lord. This in no way is like the Roman or sacramental Churches practice it.
Nor is it simply a ceremony of no importance or effect.
LIFE AFTER DEATH, is exactly that; the righteous go to "Paradise", (or as it also is called "The Bosom Of
Abraham"), where they rest in joyful anticipation of the end of time when they
then shall abide with God forever. This they can see from "Paradise".
The unrighteous shall also be taken to the abode of the dead, "The place of torment
where they can also see the final place of their eternal punishment, this they view in
fear and trembling.
TRINITY,The God of our Bible is indeed "three in One", meaning, 3 distinct Persons in one Nature; God the
Father ,God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. One way to grasp it is to
think of it in terms of "an Economy of Labor"; The Father creates, the Son redeems
and The Spirit counsels, enables us to believe.
Certainly there are issues, some very dear to us, but as Brother Bercot points out, "they were not
considered "salvific", that is not issues that would affect our Salvation and Eternal Life.
OUR BELIEFS ARE INFLUENCED BY THE FAITH AS LIVED AND TAUGHT BY THE EARLY CHURCH OF 2,000 YEARS
AGO AND THE ANABAPTIST RESTORATION (Amish, Mennonite and HUTTERITES) OF 500 YEARS AGO
AGO AND THE ANABAPTIST RESTORATION (Amish, Mennonite and HUTTERITES) OF 500 YEARS AGO
New book by David Bercot
(from back cover)..."When Christianity was young, the focus was on Jesus
Christ and His Kingdom-not theology!
In the beginning, Christians understood that the essence of Christianity was
an obedient love-faith relationship with Jesus Christ. This was not just any
relationship, but a relationship that produced genuine Kingdom fruit.
But, something happened: Theologians took over the Church.....emphasis
soon changed from godly fruit to "orthodox" theology. Christianity became
Doctrianity.
It's time for the children of the Kingdom to stand up for Jesus and the
Gospel He preached- and for the theologians to sit down!
Christ and His Kingdom-not theology!
In the beginning, Christians understood that the essence of Christianity was
an obedient love-faith relationship with Jesus Christ. This was not just any
relationship, but a relationship that produced genuine Kingdom fruit.
But, something happened: Theologians took over the Church.....emphasis
soon changed from godly fruit to "orthodox" theology. Christianity became
Doctrianity.
It's time for the children of the Kingdom to stand up for Jesus and the
Gospel He preached- and for the theologians to sit down!
Scroll Publishing, P.O. Box 122, Amberson, PA. 17210 phone (717)
349-7558
www.scrollpublishing.com
349-7558
www.scrollpublishing.com