Category:Round Table’
Confess + Believe = Christianity
- by Angela
Confess + Believe = Christianity
It really boils my butt when people say that you can’t be a Christian if you are not baptized. Dear fellow believers, it’s not a good idea to make these types of blanket statements.
A guy just called into the Mark Levin show a little while ago. The caller told Mark Levin that a person who is not baptized is not a Christian. Mark Levin immediately let him go. It was pretty obvious why.
First of all, you do NOT have to be baptized in order to be a Christian. Like communion, baptism is something that you do as a result of your faith. It comes AFTER you believe and put your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 10 verses 8 – 10 in the NIV Bible says: But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Anything more than that and you diminish the good and perfect work of Christ’s blood on the cross, the sacrifice the He made for all who put their trust and faith in Him. Baptism and Communion is something you do AFTER you put your faith and trust in HIM.
He is enough!!!
Jesus Said It. Let’s Talk About It!
- by Angela
This post is a Round Table feature here on Blog Mommas. Please head on over to Stretching My Faith so we can talk about what Jesus said.
What are your thoughts on this section of the Bible? How does it make you feel? As a Christ follower are you challenged by these commands? Why or Why Not?
Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.
What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.
“What sorrows await you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now. What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets.
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”