₦airaland Forum

Water baptism (like circumcision, and other ceremonial acts in the Old Testament) had to be traditionally fulfilled. Yet, they were pointing to the spiritual washing of the soul, spiritual circumcision of the heart... acts only God Himself can perform "with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26), Rom 10:17.

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:24-26

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 3:21

So, water baptism is commendable practice, but should not relied on as the automatic solution for salvation, The Word of God should. Keep reading, keep praying.

Blessings!

isholafisayo:
In my church today we had a topic on God's love and how God told us to "love our neighbours the same way God loves us" John 15 vs 12....
My question is, is it possible for we believers to love one another the same way God loves us?
I thought of this because I discovered LOVE is a very big word and the love of God for us is very great beyond any man thinking, because despite our sins,our unrighteousness, he still loves us.
Can we find this between we believers??
Please I need you Christians contribution and explanation,
Happy Sunday and God bless you all.

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"With God nothing shall be impossible." We can at least love others as much as we love ourselves.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." - Matt 7:12

Indeed...

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." - Proverbs 31:30

There is only one GOD, and He is the GOD of all humanity, of all things. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1:3

In considering the holy Bible in its entirety - particularly the New Testament - it is clear that God mercifully intends for people of multiple nationalities to be saved/justified/pardoned/granted eternal life through His/the Lord Jesus Christs sacrifice (Revelations 7:9).

"Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." - Romans 3:28-30

According to the dictionary a gentile is "A person who is not Jewish."

We (all humanity) need GOD/ The Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings.
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"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12... also 1 Tim 2:5

otemdomino:
Timothy and Peter told you this and you believe it? I can't laugh joor!

Notwithstanding the faith necessary to believe... what is your response to every prophecy documented in the Holy Bible which has unfailingly come to pass? The doubts and unbelief of many will continue until the very last prophecies are fulfilled and the end comes... at that time, or at the end of any ones' time on this planet, it will not be a laughing matter.

"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:" - Hebrews 3:7-8

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:" - Isaiah 55:6

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." - Psalm 34:18

Blessings!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Almighty (Revelations 1:7-8 )... He is the "The mighty GOD", "The everlasting Father"...

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

So, in principle and practice, the Lord Jesus is the I AM, so he was and is able to do everything, including mercifully save and justify any human being, no matter when.

Illustratively...
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." - John 8:56-58

Blessings!

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." - Romans 3:10-11

Well stated OP... in addition though, and ultimately, GOD does all the work. We are all merely stewards. Blessings!

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." - 1 Corinthians 3:7

1 John 4:19-20 - We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

In addition to that OP... we all should be weary of self righteousness (loving God is a good thing, yet a work... which of itself doesn't justify us in God's sight... only the work and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ does).

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16 (also Galatians 3:10)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

... and so walk men and women of faith by the mercies, grace and strength of GOD...

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." -Hebrews 13:5

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:..." 2 Timothy 3:16

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." - 2 Peter 1:21

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11

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Prophecy - God's word, that never fails! Stay tuned...

avaa:
Are you talking of the same god who murdered innocent kids in Egypt? Who commanded and aided all those atrocities committed by the Israelites? The one who drowned the whole world?
Such a kind, good, just and loving god he is!

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The operative word and title here are GOD... He is Almighty, Sovereign GOD! He righteously can do and does as He pleases, oh man (Psalm 103:19)

We have the privilege of being alive, of being created in His image... yet, what is man? What is man to question GOD? (Psalm 144:3).

"Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands" -Isaiah 45:9

Whenever judgment came on any nation or people... it was justified because of iniquity, for their "wickedness" (Genesis 18:20-21, Leviticus 18:24-28, Deuteronomy 9:4, etc) "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye." - Ezekiel 18:32

GOD is good... He's said it repeatedly, I've seen it... (Psalm 52:1, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 143:10, etc)... and while there are many things I do not understand, by His mercies I believe and trust Him implicitly, without question.

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"Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." - Isaiah 45:21

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." - Matthew 7:3-5

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," - Romans 3:23

Having stated this... we could all endeavor to improve -especially in a place of worship - at least in a manner that doesn't cause others in the faith to be unnecessarily distracted or stumble... only by God's grace, strength, righteousness and mercies.


Blessings!

I do not believe they do...

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

That name is JESUS CHRIST, God the Son... the Almighty (Rev 1:7-8 )

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"For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." - 1 John 5:7

Men are from the earth... "dust" (Gen 3:19) and our understanding is quite finite... So, unless one knows the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, one should be silent!

But know that GOD is good, GOD is love, GOD is abundantly merciful... astoundingly making provision to save/deliver many, many from evil/wrath, at such great cost to Himself (The Lord Jesus Christ)... we have no idea.

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth." -
Psalm 145:17-18

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." - Matthew 5:44-45

The LORD reigns.

The Parable of the Sower - Matt 13:1-9... & 18-23

"On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” ...

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

Without The Lord Jesus Christ - God the Son/The Word (1 John 5:7) - there is nothing, and we can do nothing.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” - John 3:36

Also see John 14:1-3

Peace & blessings!

While morality is a good thing, and should be encouraged and practiced... for the good of man/woman, a simple answer to your question is NO!

"But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." - Isaiah 64:6

But thank God for His mercies and the Self sacrifice He (Jesus Christ) made to ensure that many are good enough... in His holy name.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

To "tonyx4x44" - the Holy Bible did/does not sanction anyone or group of people to be inhumane to one another with regard to servitude... some will attempt to excuse inhumanity with virtually anything!

Peace and blessings!

Not to say that one shouldn't intervene when one safely can, but I've personally experienced this sort of thing... getting caught in the crossfire.

"He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own Is like one who takes a dog by the ears." - Proverbs 26:17

Why ask why? GOD, The Sovereign King Eternal righteously requires it... that is enough.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" - Hebrews 4:16

(Read the entire Hebrews 11 chapter for more).
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"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." - John 20:29

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." -Hebrews 11:6

Ridiculous... seriously!

Physically going to a church building, while objectively commendable, does not ensure one's salvation... only God does this.

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” - John 3

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1:12-13

Op, even if you were right... There has been and is hope for many, thus, the "good news"...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16....

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17

Try to read or listen to a verse or chapter daily...

"truthman2013"... is it necessary, or wise - for any reason -to insult The Lord Jesus Christ, revered Deity, the Almighty? (Rev 1:7-8, etc)...

Did it occur to you that some books of the Bible, and some chapters in those books do not necessarily appear therein in chronological order? Did it occur to you that The Lord Jesus could have asked his apostles "But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?" before "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou?"

Genesis is the first book of the 66 books of the Holy Bible ... in chronological order the book of Job should be second, yet Exodus appears! The same holds true for some chapters in some books, yet the message(s) are still contained. The prophecies and content are infallible.

We should all be very careful how we refer to GOD. He is merciful!
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"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." - Psalm 18:30

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1

OP... the essence of Christianity is the belief in The Christ, The Lord Jesus.. unto salvation of the soul (from death), all by God's mercies through the operation of His holy word, the Bible - "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17... this in response to your first question. It's not a matter of anyone being "ok" with others suffering or going to hell. We are all -since the fall of Adam - dead in sin (Romans 3:9-12, Colo 2:13), until the Lord GOD magnanimously gives us life. Even then the cost is great evidenced by what The Lord Jesus incomprehensibly suffered.

2. Someone who has truly come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ is at peace... "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:12-14... one need only "occupy" until He returns, or until one is called.

3. God Himself is, and will be the only true judge... so, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about who's "morally better"... it'll be just that... a thought.

Believe my friend... at least search the scriptures and pray for insight. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

Thanks OP... in addition to that, and just as important... before making such a commitment, that you honestly determine whether you're "unequally yoked" - 2 Corinth 6:14... the relationship should be continuously and mutually complimentary - speaking and bringing life, the Word... into the other all to the glory of God and to your mutual prosperity. May The Lord GOD bless y'all!

"... Beauty is vain..." - Proverbs 31:30

tee4light:
Thanks for those scriptures. But there are some other scriptures that point to the fact that a believer MAY lose his salvation. Scriptures like "Let him that stand take heed,lest he fall" and the likes. We all know that salvation is a gift from God which we get by faith,not by any work of righteousness. But does this mean that after being saved I can just relax and keep doing those things that suit me? Afterall, I'm already secured eternally, so whatever I do now should not affect my eternal destination whether good or bad. A friend once told me, "even if the rapture should sound while you are fornicating with a girl, you would still make heaven if you are a believer who was once saved." Now that's deep.....

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I hear you my friend, but in comparing the entire word of God with the entire word of God, it's clear that one, if truly called and saved by God, cannot lose his/her salvation. Think about it too... if that were possible, no one would be saved because you sin at least once after salvation, as no one is perfect of themselves.

Now, having said that... we don't revel in sin and enjoy it... that's a mistake, which God is abundantly able to correct the in His child... he's able to save to the uttermost.

Romans 6:1-3
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

So, while your friend may have a point, a child of God will not want to engage in any such activity, certainly not with the sort of impunity that's suggested. We only need believe in Christ Jesus the Lord, read the word, pray constantly for His strength as the flesh is weak... He is Faithful, He never fails.

I could go on and on, but in a nutshell...

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

"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." - Romans 11:29

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," - Ephesians 1:13

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:30 (do not revel in sin... if you are The Lord's, you won't want to).

Amen!

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -
1 Thessalonians 5:18