What do you believe?

[KingJ]

This thread is to share your core personal beliefs and reasoning for them. Hoping for a fruitful and edifying discussion and a chance to learn a bit more about each other.

Please, no attacking and mocking anyone's beliefs.

I will start with mine. In no specific order.

My Denomination:

I am a Protestant, enjoy teaching from Baptist churches, member of the assemblies of God church in South Africa.

My core beliefs:

1. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the Father but by Him John 14:6
2. Saving faith to believe in Jesus being Lord is not something mustered up, it is a gift from God 1 Cor 12:3.
3. There are three ways to receive this saving faith from God. A Repentance of sin Psalm 51:17, B. Sincere servitude James 1:27 and or C. Martyrdom Rev 2:10.4
4. Scripture is the infallible word of God. Catholic bible too, the extra inclusions I believe are of God.
5. I respect all Christian denominations. Catholics too. I feel many attack with ignorance.
6. I do not believe you can be a member of the LGBTQIA++ community and expect to be in heaven one day with a God that hates sexual sin like this.
7. I believe there are mortal and venial sins and that anyone who teaches ''sin is sin, full stop'' are guilty of teaching a half truth. False teaching.
8. We are forever covered by the blood of Jesus from the moment we are born again. I am a firm believer in Once Saved Always Saved.
9. I believe the difference between someone in heaven and someone in hell is their love and or hatred of what is evil John 3:19, Rom 12:9. You will not repent, serve or die as a martyr for someone who hates what is evil when you love it.
10. Because of 9, I believe all in hell will be unrepentant sinners who love what is evil.
11. I believe hell is eternal separation and punishment. It will be as nice a place as possible from God's doing. It will be a terrible place because of who is there, and the necessary punishment sin requires from a righteous God. As such I do believe there will be many activities and even 'parties' in hell. But good luck inviting nice, caring, kind people to your parties. There are no such people in hell. All are unrepentant sinners.
12. I believe all mentally handicapped, babies who never grew up and children under the age of twenty who died, will come back and live on earth in the millennium. They will all live for a thousand years as Jesus and us saints will reign over them and ensure they receive very clean water and air. The devil will test them at the end of the thousand years Rev 20:7.
13. I believe all contentious scripture needs to be filtered through verses from prophets that defined God, prophets who knew Him much better than you or I. Namely, He is a good God Psalm 136:1, He is righteous in all His ways Psalm 145:17, He is light with no darkness in Him at all 1 John 1:5, He is just, and it is unthinkable that He is wicked or will pervert justice Job 34:12.
14. If anyone's message from scripture portrays God as evil, they need to better explain themselves to clarify how they are not, or else it is a given that they are indeed a false teacher.

Teaching that highly frustrates me:

1. 5-Point Calvinism. I have extreme dislike for their message. Cherry pick and manipulate scripture to represent God as a partial Being. Portraying Him as an evil God to the lost. One of the sickest perversions around. I believe all who teach this need to take swimming lessons, as God expects them to drown themselves in the deep ocean Matt 18:6..

2. Eternal torture. God does not and never has tortured anyone who is sold out to a love of what is evil. He has only come close to those 'almost' sold out. As we see with plagues. There is no way to defend God as a good God if you teach that he tortures His enemy in hell for all eternity. Christians that teach this to a great disservice to God and Christianity. As better explained here Discussion on Torture.

3. Catholicism is evil. As explained here So tired of all the ignorant bashing of Catholics with my grievances that I believe are the only real grievances any should have, here PROBLEMS WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

4. False teachers who say sin is sin. So many do simply not care about the importance of sticking to scripture on a topic. There are many who teach that it is fine to divorce your spouse for example as 'sin is sin', and we all sin. Abandoning your spouse and messing up your children's lives is simply only another 'sin'. Sin has degrees and if you don't think so, give me a call to come to your house. I will bring a big knife, then we can test how you feel about me thinking of cutting your head off verse actually doing it.

To be continued...................

 

[KingJ]

@Rhema You said you would not share what you believe on another thread, as you did not want to derail it. Here is a thread for your belief. Please share. You have posted 2.6k posts and yet nobody knows what denomination you are.

 

[KingJ]

Core beliefs continued.....

15. I believe in the trinity.
16. I respect those who don't believe in OSAS, as I believe OSAS is only true from God's perspective. You and I are not God. As such we can think we are saved when we are in fact not 1 Cor 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
17. I do not believe we will be required to sing to God in heaven. But I do believe everyone will desire to sing to Him. He is good and worthy of praise.
18. I believe miracles still occur Share your miracle. Small and big ones. I am not completely against cessationism as I do believe certain miracles performed by Jesus were necessary for Him and only Him to prove who He was.
19. I do not believe that seeing God makes you desire repentance. Pharoah saw the red sea part and still did not repent.
20. Evidence of God is all around us. Intelligent design is evidence of God that nobody can dispute. As such I do not believe there is such a thing as true atheism. Only those who are unconvinced of who the real God is. All non-theists should all be in a single category with agnostics.

and that is enough about me...

 

[Rhema]

5. I respect all Christian denominations. Catholics too.

3. Catholicism is evil.

This seems to be saying that you respect evil.
Forgive me if I find that rather confusing, if not contradictory.
So, I'd rather not get roped into any confusing discussion here.

God bless,
Rhema

... and yet nobody knows what denomination you are.

Because I have none.
What denomination was Peter?
What denomination was Paul? James?
Rhetorical, obviously.

 

[Dave M]

make no mistake God punishes people, and punishment is eternal if you have issue with that you issue with God period end of story.
He also disciplines those he loves

 

[Rhema]

make no mistake God punishes people, and punishment is eternal if you have issue with that you issue with God period end of story.
He also disciplines those he loves

Hi Dave,
My problem with the English word "eternal" is that I don't think it adequately conveys the meaning of Greek word used.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of G166 damnation:​

(Mark 3:29 KJV)

I provide a LINK to the Liddell Scott Lexicon for G166 (αἰώνιος) aiōnios

A. 2. holding an office or title for life, perpetual,​

Basically, it tries to describe decisions or conditions that cannot be rescinded, meaning they are "Permanent." (No "Biden" pardons here.) The English word "Eternal" tends to carry the implication that a person is alive and conscious. We would then need to look at the word "damnation."

And once more I provide a LINK to the Liddell Scott Lexicon for G2920 (κρίσις) krisis

A.separating, distinguishing,​

2. decision, judgement​

So Jesus is speaking of a person who receives a Permanent Decision with regards to the condition of their inheritance of Eternal (Permanent) Life.

Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:​

(Mark 3:28-29 KJV)

Given that the opposite of Life is Death, and that the Dead know nothing, I rather think that the teachings of Jesus make it clear that those who do not receive Permanent Life are, in a word, ultimately obliterated (I guess that's two words...). At some point, they will no longer exist.

I know "Obliterationism" not a popular Catholic or even Evangelical view, but I think it's the one most accurate. (You are, though, quite welcome to present scripture that might suggest otherwise. I would welcome that.)

The thing about conscious living torment in Hell is that religious folk find it extremely useful to use such FEAR as a recruiting tool (just look at what happened to Dr. Bart Ehrman), and are typically quite reluctant to give it up. Should we use the FEAR of hell to cudgel people into conversion? Or do we preach the Good News that it is the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance?

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?​

(Romans 2:4 KJV)

I've heard enough Fire and Brimstone sermons to know that this is not the Way of the Gospel. (Blood curdling sermons, even, from a former New Jersey State Trooper.)

The other thing about conscious living torment in Hell is that, well... living things aren't DEAD. So we wind up with a doctrine that presents dead people as alive.

Kindly,
Rhema

 

[KingJ]

This seems to be saying that you respect evil.
Forgive me if I find that rather confusing, if not contradictory.
So, I'd rather not get roped into any confusing discussion here.

You are making a reading blunder, re-read the headings.

Because I have none.
What denomination was Peter?
What denomination was Paul? James?
Rhetorical, obviously.

You are dodging. You can at least state your core beliefs and from that, we can place you in one.

Consider someone like @Foghorn who agrees with Calvinism but yet refuses to be called one. There is a title for every belief.

 

[KingJ]

make no mistake God punishes people, and punishment is eternal if you have issue with that you issue with God period end of story.
He also disciplines those he loves

No issue with that. Only with torture. Punishment will never be torture. Christians must NEVER imply that. Many do.

 

[Rhema]

You are making a reading blunder, re-read the headings.

You are making a writing blunder, ask your 10th grade English teacher.

.... we can place you in one.

Have you ever thought about why YOU need to do that?

Rhema

 

[Christ4Ever]

I hope you don't want me to start pruning again...
You know of whom I speak.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
Moderator
Nick
\o/
<><

 

[KingJ]

You are making a writing blunder, ask your 10th grade English teacher.

Teaching that highly frustrates me:

3. Catholicism is evil. As explained here So tired of all the ignorant bashing of Catholics with my grievances that I believe are the only real grievances any should have, here PROBLEMS WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Please note the header for the passage you quoted

.... we can place you in one.

Have you ever thought about why YOU need to do that?

It helps to know as much as possible about the person you are talking to. Especially on the internet and this kind of site where you engage in lengthy discussions with people you have never met.

 

[Rhema]

Please, no attacking and mocking anyone's beliefs.

Somewhat reminds me of The Scorpion and the Frog.

You have a good day,
Rhema

 

[Rhema]

It helps to know as much as possible about the person you are talking to. Especially on the internet and this kind of site where you engage in lengthy discussions with people you have never met.

Alright.

While it's against my better judgment to take the above at face value (so I guess we'll see), and while we do not have any formal Statement of Faith, we do have a non public document that is titled, The Axioms of the Faith that is shared with those who decide to be baptized with us. Some might classify this as a catechism, although it doesn't quite have the rigid formalism like that found in the Catholic or Lutheran Churches.

At this point I see no reason to hold back from posting the first two Axioms - (although this is basically a paraphrase).

1) We believe that Jesus is the Xhrist, the Son of the living God. And that this knowledge can only be revealed by the Father, not by clever reasons or exhortations of men.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (of revelation) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.​

(Matthew 16:15-18 KJV+)

As such, we do not ask the sinner to get saved. We ask the Father to save them.

2) We believe that since the Father sent Jesus Xhrist His Son to preach the Gospel, then the Gospel is what Jesus preached, and Him alone.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,​

(Mark 1:14 KJV)

If Jesus came preaching the Gospel, then the Gospel is what Jesus preached, above all others, (whether Abraham, Moses, the prophets or apostles).

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.​

(Acts 13:38-39 KJV)


NOTES: You'll see that Christ is spelled with an X, the way it is written in the Greek texts. But KJ, we do not have any denomination, and you will not see the Axioms of Faith anywhere else on the Internet. (And I'm even reluctant to paraphrase the first two.)

This should be enough, but don't waste your time running around search engines trying to find the pigeonhole that you would like to stuff me into. Try (do try) to understand that we have no denomination, nor denominational affiliate.

Skeptically yours,
Rhema

 

[joestue]

i believe people should spend more time asking God what to do, than arguing on the internet.

 

[Curtis]

I respect those who don't believe in OSAS, as I believe OSAS is only true from God's perspective.

We all have a free will choice to choose between life, or death, blessing, or cursing. (Deu 30:19) When we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior of our lives he takes this decision that we make very seriously.

God marks everyone who belongs to him by sealing them with the Holy Spirit. We are no longer our own. We do not belong anymore to our self's, we have become God's property.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?
1Co 6:20 FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God's.

Eph 1:13 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,

What happens if I get off the beaten path of where I should be, am I lost? Since I am now the property of God what does he do? Does the Lord God sit around twiddling his thumbs waiting for me to come back? Does not God take care of the things that belong to him? Does the good shepherd go after the one who has gone astray?

Heb 12:6 For THE LORD DISCIPLINES THE ONE HE LOVES, AND CHASTISES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Heb 12:8 IF YOU ARE LEFT WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, IN WHICH ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEN YOU ARE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AND NOT SONS.
Heb 12:9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but HE DISCIPLINES US FOR OUR GOOD, THAT WE MAY SHARE HIS HOLINESS.

Thank God he is a good Father, and he never leaves us to our own devices, but he will, and he does correct, and chastise us without asking our permission to do so because we belong to him forevermore.

 

[Rhema]

Does the Lord God sit around twiddling his thumbs waiting for me to come back?

The father in the prodigal son did.

God marks everyone who belongs to him by sealing them with the Holy Spirit.

Indeed. I agree wholeheartedly.

Rhema

 

[KingJ]

Alright.

While it's against my better judgment to take the above at face value (so I guess we'll see), and while we do not have any formal Statement of Faith, we do have a non public document that is titled, The Axioms of the Faith that is shared with those who decide to be baptized with us. Some might classify this as a catechism, although it doesn't quite have the rigid formalism like that found in the Catholic or Lutheran Churches.

At this point I see no reason to hold back from posting the first two Axioms - (although this is basically a paraphrase).

1) We believe that Jesus is the Xhrist, the Son of the living God. And that this knowledge can only be revealed by the Father, not by clever reasons or exhortations of men.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (of revelation) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.​

(Matthew 16:15-18 KJV+)

As such, we do not ask the sinner to get saved. We ask the Father to save them.

2) We believe that since the Father sent Jesus Xhrist His Son to preach the Gospel, then the Gospel is what Jesus preached, and Him alone.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,​

(Mark 1:14 KJV)

If Jesus came preaching the Gospel, then the Gospel is what Jesus preached, above all others, (whether Abraham, Moses, the prophets or apostles).

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.​

(Acts 13:38-39 KJV)


NOTES: You'll see that Christ is spelled with an X, the way it is written in the Greek texts. But KJ, we do not have any denomination, and you will not see the Axioms of Faith anywhere else on the Internet. (And I'm even reluctant to paraphrase the first two.)

This should be enough, but don't waste your time running around search engines trying to find the pigeonhole that you would like to stuff me into. Try (do try) to understand that we have no denomination, nor denominational affiliate.

Skeptically yours,
Rhema

Thanks for sharing.

 

[KingJ]

Somewhat reminds me of The Scorpion and the Frog.

You have a good day,
Rhema

Truth defends itself. I encourage all to critique and interrogate anything I have typed.

My beliefs have survived interrogation. I hate blind indoctrination. As I believe all who love Jesus and the truth should.

 

[KingJ]

We all have a free will choice to choose between life, or death, blessing, or cursing. (Deu 30:19) When we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior of our lives he takes this decision that we make very seriously.

God marks everyone who belongs to him by sealing them with the Holy Spirit. We are no longer our own. We do not belong anymore to our self's, we have become God's property.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?
1Co 6:20 FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God's.

Eph 1:13 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,

What happens if I get off the beaten path of where I should be, am I lost? Since I am now the property of God what does he do? Does the Lord God sit around twiddling his thumbs waiting for me to come back? Does not God take care of the things that belong to him? Does the good shepherd go after the one who has gone astray?

Heb 12:6 For THE LORD DISCIPLINES THE ONE HE LOVES, AND CHASTISES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Heb 12:8 IF YOU ARE LEFT WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, IN WHICH ALL HAVE PARTICIPATED, THEN YOU ARE ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN AND NOT SONS.
Heb 12:9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but HE DISCIPLINES US FOR OUR GOOD, THAT WE MAY SHARE HIS HOLINESS.

Thank God he is a good Father, and he never leaves us to our own devices, but he will, and he does correct, and chastise us without asking our permission to do so because we belong to him forevermore.

Very insightful, thanks for sharing.

 

[Curtis]

The father in the prodigal son did.


Indeed. I agree wholeheartedly.

Rhema

Can the "thoughts and memory" of how a father treated his son be the same as his father coming after him?

Luke 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Memory is a potent tool God can and does use to communicate his message to those who sometimes forget God's goodness.