Bible Studies

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The Protestant Reformation did not rid the Christian Community of all its man-made traditions, erroneous teachings, and accompanying practices. Many such things continue to exist and evolve on both sides of the aisle.

The list of religious “add-ons” keeps getting longer, not shorter. The primary reason for this is the confusion over being saved, that being the result of making a one-time decision, and discipleship which is an ongoing process.

Water baptism of infants is void of any conscious decision being made by the one being baptized. Infants have no idea where they are, let alone what is taking place. Such practices put the cart (baptism) ahead of the horse (being born again).

The water baptism of every Church Age person recorded in Scripture took place AFTER they had already been born again, having already been sealed (baptized) and regenerated by God the Holy Spirit (1). There are no further actions needed for an already born again believer to obtain, or retain, the GIFT of eternal life (2).

To be born again requires a CONSCIOUS decision (to believe) in a presentation of the unadulterated Gospel Message, AFTER one has reached the age or stage of moral accountability. Water baptisms of born again believers are, at best, an overt ritual acknowledging what has ALREADY taken place in the spiritual realm.

As of the Church Age, moral accountability is in view when one has reached the age or stage of comprehension and is thereby in a position to believe or disbelieve when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message.

The eternal status of any soul that, for one reason or another, never reaches the age, stage, or scenario of moral accountability, is made clear in 2Sam 12: 23. David’s son died as the consequence of his father David’s adultery and conspiracy to murder the husband of Bathsheba, who David had impregnated (3).

“But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I am going to (be with) him (when I die) , but he will not return to me (now).” – 2Sam. 12: 23 NASB2020 parentheses mine.

In this statement, David spoke of the confidence he had in his future reunion with his departed son in Paradise. Paradise was the abode of all departed believers, prior to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the same Paradise spoken of in the promising conversation that Jesus had with the crucified man on His side (4).

Paul, prior to his conversion, was a primary persecutor of the Church. AFTER he was born again, he was baptized, making it clear to Ananias (and everyone else), that Paul was not only to be acknowledged as a member of, but in fact a key figure (5) in, the developing Church.

Even so, he was not readily accepted as either one (6).

Paul, who was used by God to be the human founder of what became many of the First Century local assemblies, made it clear that he was NOT sent to baptize (7), but did promote the ONE baptism (8), that being the work of God the Holy Spirit (9), that takes place at the moment of salvation.

Water baptisms are often the result of parental choices based on religious and or social pressure. The baptism by God the Holy Spirit is the result of a choice that the individual being baptized makes. No one is saved or condemned by choices that “other people” make for them.

These “other people,” however are warned (10) not to become a stumbling block to others, especially to those whose spiritual guidance was placed in their hands.

Each soul is saved or condemned by the choice he or she makes (11) when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message. .

. . .

Only God can forgive sin. He forgives confessed sin (12) in recognition of the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that paid the sin debt in full (13). Nothing more. Nothing less.

At best, clergy may assist believers by helping them to identify the sin(s) that they need to address.

God never gave clergy the authority or the power to forgive sin.

Many “justify” their Man-made religious traditions on a misapplication of the “binding principle” of Matthew 18: 18 - 20.

“Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven (Matt.18: 18- 20 NASB2020).”

The binding here is speaking of the positive blessings or the negative consequences as a result of the choices that people make when the Church does its Matthew 28: 19, 20 job.
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Church Age antichrists includes those who add to the John 19: 30 “finished” Work of Christ. These religious additives (e.g. penance, good deeds) consist of what their promoters perceive to be necessary in order to obtain, retain, or regain salvation.

There is only ONE way (14) to obtain salvation. Since salvation can not be lost (15), there is no need to worry about how to retain or to regain it.

What born again believers can lose is fellowship with God while here on Earth, and reward (16) in Heaven.

False teachings and accompanying activities are not merely erroneous, but are an insulting form of blasphemy, as if faith in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ was not enough!

In summary, one cannot simultaneously be pro-Christ and antichrist.

One cannot have child-like (100%) trust and confidence in what God has done, is doing, and will do, and then perceive the need to add on the religious traditions of men.

When most people hear “Antichrist’ (singular), what comes to mind is the one who will rise to power during the Tribulation period, yet to come, after the Rapture takes place.

We, that is the Church, will not be here on Earth when all the horrific events associated with the Antichrist of the Tribulation take place.

Edified disciples do have concern over family, friends, and even our enemies (16) that may be left behind, should the impending Rapture (17) take place during our/their lifetime, here on Earth. In the meantime, we have noted the antichrists (plural) that have been, presently are, and will continue to be a force (18) to be contended with, here and now, in the Church Age.

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(1) Eph. 4:30/Titus 3: 5 (2) Eph.2: 8, 9/Romans 8: 1 (3) 2Sam. 11: 5 (4) Luke 23: 43 (5) Acts 9: 15, 18 (6) Acts 9: 26 (7) 1Cor. 1: 17 (8) Ep. 4: 5 (9) Eph. 4: 30 (10) Matt. 18: 6 (11) John 3: 16, 18 (12) 1John 1: 9 (13) 1John 2: 2 (14) John 14: 6 (15) Romans 8: 1 (16) Luke 6: 27, 28 (17) 1Thess. 4: 16-17 (18) Eph. 6: 12

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