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Since we know that faith without works is dead (useless), where does the argument lead? Show us a faith unto salvation without works, and you have merely exposed a dead faith. Can a dead/useless faith bring us to the salvation that is in Christ? The righteousness of Christ is never imputed unless it is imparted. Is there a difference between a positionally sanctified, carnally-minded Christian living for himself supremely and an unregenerate, naturally-minded man living for himself supremely? Every mistake may not be a sin, but every sin is a mistake. It is today rare for anyone to come before God with guard completely down, head bowed and in silent confession: Dear Lord, I am ready and willing to hear what You will speak to my heart today We have become so learned and so worldly and so sophisticated and so blase and so bored and so religiously tired that the clouds of glory seem to have gone from us. |
![]() | Some Arminians teach a doctrine of Eternal Security, or 'once saved, always saved', based upon regeneration over election. Once so born-again, it is said that the Christian cannot be 'unborn-again'. Lutheranism teaches that a Christian can fall away by rejecting Christ. Yet, for Luther, eternal security was found in Christ. It is not the normal Christian walk to presume or tolerate sin. |
![]() | Since the Bible records no Sinner's Prayer... what is at the heart of, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved? |
[a dramatic culmination in Preparation:Luke 23:32-43 ]
The second thief had been drawn to a place of conversion[vs. 32]; was aware of the word in law[vs. 41]; came to fear God[vs. 40]; expressed conviction[vs. 41]; understood the cost and forsook all of what was passing away[vs. 40-42]; confessed and turned from sin with brokenness & humbleness[vs. 41-42]; looked to Jesus, asking in belief[vs. 42]; changed kingdoms[vs. 42-43]; knew acceptance from God[vs. 43]; and of the significance in forgiveness toward others[vs. 34]; his speech testifying to faith found, love of the truth, and regeneration to righteousness[vs. 40-42]; in the apparent, faith enduring 'til his death.
![]() | Making disciples is how people are brought in and grown up into Christ. |
![]() | The life, words & actions of |
![]() | Humanism is summed up as this: the end of all being is the happiness The present world will never know a truly classless society. Jesus said, The poor you will always have with you. On earth, individual societies tell us what we need. |
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Both ekklesia (church) and synagogue can refer either to the gathering or to those gathered. Groups of Christians were distinguished from each other by their geographical locations, not by their pet doctrines or favorite preachers. Thus we have ekklesia/edah referring to Christians who are meeting in a particular house, in a particular city, in a particular province, or in a larger area still. Local congregations are de-activated when their number one job becomes that of feeding the R.W. Tozer remarked, We know lots of evangelical churches that would like to grow, and they do their best to get the crowds in. They want to grow and have contests to make their Sunday school larger. That is true, but they are trying to get people to come and share their rut. They want people to help them celebrate the rote and finally join in the rot. So, we want more people But, more people for what? More people to come and repeat our dead services without feeling, without meaning, without wonder, without surprise? More people to join us in the bondage to the rote? Are we too weak to know just how weak we are? The greatest rebellion on the part of the church has been its willingness to substitute a phony institution for itself – to take cover and spiritual cheer in the fact that they attend on Sunday, put their tithe in the offering plate, sing a few hymns and take notes on a pre-prepared sermon. THAT is rebellion against God. |
![]() | If someone we know is caught 'trying to do it all' -- even an elder or a pastor -- ask them to merely select one or two from the known Bible administrations, and to calibrate their efforts accordingly. The role of elders/pastor-shepherds is to feed the flock and live godly example. The saints give attention to, are persuaded by, and follow the biblical teaching and godly example of their leaders. The work of the men becoming overseers does not just happen (as the product of aimless conduct), but as part of a broader lifestyle of careful obedience. There is great need for assemblies to practice corporately, as families, and as individual members of Christ's body, separated lives We have constructed a lot of notions about office that rest on human tradition, and are not found in the New Testament. The King James has office in For tentmakers to survive three full-time jobs (work, family and ministry), they must also adopt a sacrificial lifestyle. Tentmakers must live a pruned life and literally find leisure and rest in the rhythm of serving Christ |
![]() | The subordinate church resists reform. The autonomous church refuses accountability. |
IGNATIUS: | Called for the separation of clergy & laity, and the authority of Bishops. |
IRENAEUS: | Viewed the Church as an institution, with authorized meetings only. |
CYPRIAN: | Called for Apostolic succession, with the Bishop to replace Christ. |
AUGUSTINE: | Called for the use of state methods and powers by the Church. |
WALDO: | Sold all. 'Lay people are competent to preach.' |
WYCLIF: | 'Leaders can and do make mistakes.' |
HUS: | 'Christ is the Head of the Church.' |
ERASMUS: | 'No intermediaries except Christ.' |
LUTHER: | Defined the external Church as not central to any point. |
CALVIN: | Pastors and teachers as the mainstay of Christian work. |
ANABAPTISTS: | Made efforts to return to 1st century Christianity. |
PURITANS: | Congregation autonomy. Restricted Church membership. |
![]() | There must come a violent break with the irresponsible, [A.W. Tozer] |
other References:
Good, Evil, Sin
---{chart}
Conversion Examples
---{chart}
Catholic, Protestant, Anabaptist, and
---{chart}
Faith Works
---{a conversation}
Discipleship Overview
---Hampton Keathley IV
The Bible Doctrine of The Separated Life
---Johannes G. Vos
Testimony of church fathers: gifts of the Holy Spirit in action
---{quotations}
A Brief History of Revival
---{outline}
Once A Sinner
---{anon}
The Pursuit of God
---A.W. Tozer
Of Communion With God
---John Owen
The Church is Israel Now
---Charles D. Provan
Martin Luther & William Tyndale on theState of the Dead
---Michael Scheifler
New Testament Church Meeting
---Rusty Entrekin
Mere Christian Community
---Stephen B. Clark
Giving & The New Covenant
---Steve Atkerson
Passing The Plate [2 pages]
---Mark Rogers
The Lord's Tithe & Jones' Trial
---{anon}
History of the Christian Church
---Philip Schaff
Lay Member's Roll in the Early Church
---Donald L. Jackson
Morality a poor partnerof Christianity
---{anon}