At what point does a believer join the Body of Christ?

[St. SteVen]

This is a wonderful Scripture, for as our Lord said to Peter, only the Father could have given this knowledge to Peter: For it was the truth that Peter uttered in response to our Lord's question, 'Whom say ye that I am?' that was the basis upon which the Lord said He would build His church:- 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

Good post, thanks.
My point was that Christ was establishing His church long before the end of the book of the Acts of the Apostles.
And there are various opinions about what "rock" the church would be built upon.

I am of the persuasion that it was based on that which was being revealed by His Father in heaven.
And not the singular thing about Jesus being the Christ, but everything that would be revealed by the Father.
It was the HOW that Jesus was responding to, not the WHAT. IMHO

To the question “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”,
“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
These are human opinions. (flesh and blood) But what about Peter's response? Human opinion? No!

Matthew 16:17 NIV
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

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[St. SteVen]

New topic:

The authority of the church over the believer. - The Body of Christ versus the institutional church

Believers everywhere are members of the church, the Body of Christ. But many also have a relationship with the institutional church. Few would claim that these are one-in-the-same. But in some sense, they may be. Christ (or the Apostles) have given the church authority over believers. We...

www.christianityboard.com

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[St. SteVen]

New topic:

Three pillars of redemption

Three pillars of redemption 1) God is under no obligation to punish human sinfulness. 2) Jesus died to pay the death penalty of sin for all humankind. 3) God is loving, kind, gracious and merciful toward those created in his own image.

www.christianityboard.com

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[St. SteVen]

In a previous topic I asked the question:
Can a believer be a part of the Body of Christ without being water baptized?

Can a believer be a part of the Body of Christ without being water baptized?

On another topic we were discussing baptisms. I think the actual subject of the topic was the evidence for the baptism with the Holy Spirit. But somehow we veered into questions about water baptism and salvation. At least one individual had strong feelings about the necessity of water baptism...

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Lack of response and seeming confusion caused by my topic question led me to attempt to clarify on this topic.
It seemed that readers assumed being part of the Body of Christ was synonymous with salvation.
As if I was asking if a person could be "saved" if they had not been baptized.

In the previous topic I was pointing to the pattern of the early church of new believers being baptized into the church.
Near the end of Acts chapter two we find this:
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. - Acts 2:41 NIV
Note the connection between baptism and being added to the church. (the Body of Christ)
Acts 2:47 and 5:14 also use the phrase "added to their number". Is baptism assumed in these references?

I was raised Protestant evangelical. Baptism was encouraged, but not mandatory.
A person could even join the church as a member without being baptized. Which seemed a bit odd to me,
because the ones being baptized were said to be following the Lord's command to do so.

The emphasis on "believe and be baptized" (Mark 16:16) was definitely on the believe aspect.
Even church membership was not mandatory. Definitely a consumer attitude about church commitment.

I remember a Pastor at a church we had attended for 15 or 20 years encouraging us to become members.
I jokingly told him that we didn't want to rush into anything. - LOL We were as involved as any member was.
And we were grandfathered in, since this was the fourth or fifth Pastor for us at that church.

Discussion questions:
- At what point does a believer become part of the Body of Christ?
- Does it come automatically when one believes?
- What is the relationship between church membership and the Body of Christ?
- Can a believer that has left the church be a member of the Body of Christ?
- Can an uninvolved church attender be a member of the Body of Christ?

 

[Ezra]

Can a believer be a part of the Body of Christ without being water baptized?

absolutely water baptism follows salvation the baptism of the spirit where we are placed into the BODY OF CHRIST is the key

 

[Behold]

- At what point does a believer become part of the Body of Christ?

A person becomes a part of the Bod of Christ the instant they are born again into it on earth.
This "new birth" can only happen while you are alive, as you can't be born again in Hell, and that is where all end up who were not born again on EARTH before they died.

 

[Ezra]

A person becomes a part of the Bod of Christ the instant they are born again into it on earth.
This "new birth" can only happen while you are alive.

exactly

 

[St. SteVen]

Behold said:
A person becomes a part of the Bod of Christ the instant they are born again into it on earth.
This "new birth" can only happen while you are alive.

exactly

That the evangelical Protestant answer.
What if you were born Catholic?

 

[Ezra]

Behold said:
A person becomes a part of the Bod of Christ the instant they are born again into it on earth.
This "new birth" can only happen while you are alive.

That the evangelical Protestant answer.
What if you were born Catholic?

i wasn't born a catholic nor a baptist or any other denom.. i was Born again because i was lost in sin. the only thing that matter what does the Bible say

 

[St. SteVen]

i wasn't born a catholic nor a baptist or any other denom.. i was Born again because i was lost in sin. the only thing that matter what does the Bible say

It doesn't say that only evangelical Protestants are saved.

Doctrinolatry - tribalism and division in the Body of Christ

A follow-up to my Bibliolatry topic. Doctrine becomes an idol when it is used to support tribalism and cause division in the Body of Christ. Since doctrinal unity is impossible, allowing others to hold their own doctrinal opinions may be the only way to prevent division. ]

www.christianityboard.com

 

[Jack]

At what point does a believer join the Body of Christ?

Isn't Romans 10 in your Bible stevie?

 

[Ezra]

It doesn't say that only evangelical Protestants are saved.

psst i never said it did.. its the whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD is saved .. i think your following doctrines of man

At what point does a believer join the Body of Christ?

Isn't Romans 10 in your Bible stevie?

must be the way he ask and then answers

 

[Ezra]

It doesn't say that only evangelical Protestants are saved.

Doctrinolatry - tribalism and division in the Body of Christ

A follow-up to my Bibliolatry topic. Doctrine becomes an idol when it is used to support tribalism and cause division in the Body of Christ. Since doctrinal unity is impossible, allowing others to hold their own doctrinal opinions may be the only way to prevent division. ]

www.christianityboard.com

ok sigh ****** i will help you out this one time...


Romans 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.


10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.


13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?


15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!


16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?


17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.


hope this helps throw that old catholic book down and get a real bible

 

[Jack]

ok sigh ****** i will help you out this one time...

Romans 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I don't think stevie even knows that's in the Bible.

 

[Ezra]

I don't think stevie even knows that's in the Bible.

maybe his priest failed to tell him

 

[St. SteVen]

ok sigh ****** i will help you out this one time...


Romans 10:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.


10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.


13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?


15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!


16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?


17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.


hope this helps throw that old catholic book down and get a real bible

How does that disagree with Catholic doctrine?

 

[Ezra]

How does that disagree with Catholic doctrine?

you dont get it its not a church doctrine per say.. its bible ask your priest

 

[St. SteVen]

ask your priest

I'm not Catholic. - LOL

Can you see that salvation is MUCH bigger than your narrow view?

 

[Ezra]

I'm not Catholic. - LOL

Can you see that salvation is MUCH bigger than your narrow view?

the only narrow view is YOURS lol asking stupid questions Btw my narrow views are backed by scripture .. maybe if you would use eye salve on your eyes you might NOTE **** MIGHT doubtful but maybe

 

[Jack]

I'm not Catholic. - LOL

Can you see that salvation is MUCH bigger than your narrow view?

The Bible view is VERY narrow! You should read it some time.

Mt 7 NARROW is the way to life and FEW there be who find it.

BILLIONS of humans who don't believe in Hell will burn in Hell.