How to be saved (born again) and join the family of God!!!

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theefaith

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theefaith

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The Bible tells us it's meaning.
It means receiving power for witness and it's the public pledge of a good conscience towards God.

Ideally, it's the very first act of obedience for the person who has been justified by faith apart from works.

then it’s meaningless
 

Ferris Bueller

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Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism...
You don't seem to understand that would be the same as saying 'this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of CIRCUMCISION.'

Just as the ceremony of circumcision was a SIGN of the righteousness Abraham had while he was uncircumcised (Romans 4:11), so the ceremony of water baptism is a SIGN of the righteousness a person receives while not water baptized. Catholics make the same mistake with water baptism that the Jews made with circumcision. They think it secures a declaration of righteousness. Neither secures a declaration of righteousness. Both are outward signs of a declaration of righteousness that a person already has received by faith apart from works.

Just examine the parallels between physical circumcision and water baptism and you'll begin to see the error the Catholic church makes about baptism.
 

theefaith

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Let's get our terminology straight so there is no confusion.
A man is justified (made righteous) entirely by faith apart from work. Romans 4:6
That's how Abraham was justified. That is how we also are justified. Romans 4:23-24.

Continuing to believe, as evidenced in a life of obedient faith, will ensure that a person remains saved and so will be saved from the wrath of God when Jesus returns - Hebrews 6:11-12. Works only 'save' a person insofar as they are the evidence of the faith that justifies apart from works - Matthew 25:34-36. Works do not make a person righteous. If they did then justification/salvation would be a reward of debt owed to us instead of a reward of grace given to us as a free gift - Romans 4:4.

and Mk 16:16
 

theefaith

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The Bible tells us it's meaning.
It means receiving power for witness and it's the public pledge of a good conscience towards God.

Ideally, it's the very first act of obedience for the person who has been justified by faith apart from works.

Define works
 

theefaith

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Faith all by itself.

Baptism gives you the Spirit in power for witness and public testimony.

eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

quickened brought to life
Jn 1:16-17 life
Jn 10:10 life

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Jn 3:5 by water and the spirit
Life by faith and baptism
acts 2:38 received the Hs in baptism

God breathed life into Adam, gen 2:7 and we received this life from our fathers!

Christ breathed on the apostles our spiritual fathers, we receive the new covenant life of God’s grace from them thru faith & baptism! Jn 20:21-23 Mk 16:16 acts 8:36-38


Christian ritual of baptism:
Immersion, sprinkling, pour pure water over the forehead three time with the words, I baptize thee in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit! Ez 36:25-27 Mk 16:16 Matt 28:19 Acts 2:38-39 Acts 8:36-38 Acts 22:16
1 Pet 3:21

Proper intention: to make a new creature in Christ, to put on Christ, initiation into the new covenant of grace
Matter: pure water
Form: the words

Born again! Born from above!


'The Father has set his seal' on Christ (John 6:27) and also seals us in him (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:23, 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Baptism,

Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life." 87 The faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith," 88 with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

St. Paul tells the faithful at Ephesus that they have been “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” This is in terms of an indelible character imprinted on the soul in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. It is not as if this invisible mark is simply decorative. Rather, through it, we are enabled to participate in Christ’s mission and in his offices of priest, prophet, and king. Eph 1:13

Sealed by God eph 1:13 sealed by God (ez 36:25-27) in the ark of salvation by baptism just as Noah was sealed by God in the ark of the flood gen 7:16

1 Pet 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us!
(Ark of Noah a type of the church, member of Christ and his church and salvation by baptism!)
(Outside the ark of Noah none were saved, outside the church (the ark of salvation) none are saved!)


Sealed in the ark, sealed in the church the ark of salvation by baptism!
 

Ferris Bueller

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and Mk 16:16
Water baptism is not the only obedience required of justifying faith, you know.
The person who does not have the obedience of justifying faith is showing he does not have the faith that justifies. That's the only way works are required to be saved.
But you're seeing it as justification/salvation is owed to you because of your obedience of faith.
The Catholic religion is a works salvation religion (do this and you will be justified/made righteous. No different than the Jews who said 'get circumcised and you will be made righteous').
It's the very works gospel that Paul assails in his letters.
Catholics are incapable of seeing this. That's why they're Catholics. And why we're Protestants.
 

theefaith

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Sacraments misused by the Catholic priesthood to deceive countless millions into receiving salvation as a reward of debt (as if that were possible), not as a reward of grace.
Grace is communicated by the sacraments


Sacramental life: Jn 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Jn 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Baptism: (initiation into the covenant)
Mk 16:16 Jn 3:5
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The Eucharist: (holy communion)
Mt 26:26-39 Jn 6:51-58 1 Cor 11:23-25

Confession of sins:
Jn 20:23 / 1 Jn 1:9 / 2 cor 5:18

Confirmation
Lk 22:32 acts 8:14-17
acts 14:22

Marriage:
Matt 19:4-6

Holy orders: (priesthood)
Jesus Christ continues HIS ministry in His new covenant church thru His priesthood in Peter, the apostles, and their successors with the same mission, power, and authority!
Mt 10:1-8 Mt 16:18 Mt 28:19 Lk 10:16 Jn 8:32 Jn 13:20 Jn 15:5 Jn 16:13
Jn 20:21-22 acts 1:17 acts 6:4 acts 8:26
2 Cor 5:18 1 Tim 4:14 Eph 2:20

Extreme unction: (anointing with oil)
1 Tim 4:14 James 5:14

The one, holy, catholic, (universal) and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ on Peter and the apostles!
 

theefaith

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A sacrament is an outward efficacious sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Jesus Christ himself is the sacrament, as he gave his life to save mankind. His humanity is the outward sign or the instrument of his Divinity. It is through his humanity that the life of the Trinity comes to us as grace through the sacraments. It is Jesus Christ alone who mediates the sacraments to allow grace to flow to mankind.

Christ sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to inspire his Apostles and his Church to shepherd his flock after his Ascension into heaven. "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 17:18, 20:21). Jesus is the Head of his Body the Church (Colossians 1:18). The Church itself is a sacrament instituted by Christ to give grace. Jesus gave us his Body the Church to continue the works he performed during his earthly life. Grace given to us through the sacraments will help us lead a good life in this world and help save us for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The sacraments were instituted by Christ! The Church celebrates in her liturgy the Paschal mystery of Christ, his Passion, Sacrifice on the Cross, Resurrection, and Glorious Ascension. The Greek word μυστήριον or mystery in the Greek New Testament is translated into sacramentum in the Latin Vulgate Bible, from which we derive our English word sacrament (examples: Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:27). The saving effects of Christ's Redemption on the Cross are communicated through the sacraments, especially in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist.

The seven sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. The three sacraments of Christian Initiation are Baptism, Chrismation or Confirmation, and the Eucharist. The two sacraments of Healing are Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, and the two sacraments of Vocation are Holy Orders and Marriage. Three sacraments, Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, and Holy Orders, are given once, as they render a permanent seal or character upon one's soul (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 4:30, Revelations 7:3).

The Gospel of Mark 5:25-34 describes a woman afflicted with hemorrhage who touched the cloak of Jesus and was immediately healed. There is a fourth century fresco painting in the catacomb of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter depicting this event, which serves as an apt symbol of Sacrament - the power that flows out from the body of Jesus, in order to effect both remission of sin and new life in Christ. The fresco image frames Part II of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Liturgy and the Sacraments, The Celebration of the Christian Mystery. St. Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa Theologica, has written the standard exposition on the Seven Sacraments.

Each sacrament consists of a visible external rite, which is composed of matter and form, the matter being the action, such as the pouring of water in baptism, and the form being the words spoken by the minister. Each sacramental rite confers a special ecclesial effect and sacramental grace appropriate for each sacrament. The sacraments occur at pivotal events and give meaning to a person's life.

The sacraments act ex opere operato, by the very fact of the action being performed, independent of the minister. The effect on the person receiving the sacrament is called ex opere operantis, and depends on the interior disposition of the receiver.

Grace is a favor, the free and undeserved gift from God through Christ Jesus, to help us respond to his call to become children of God, to become partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life. Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is a participation in the life of God and is necessary for salvation.
 

Eternally Grateful

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there are two ways to get to heaven according to scripture

1. The law (works) Moses, Paul and James gave us the requirement if we are to get to heaven this way. Jesus said it best, when he went over the law as a means of righteousness "be perfect as your heavenly faith is perfect"

2. Grace through faith.

Jesus said it best when speaking to Nicodemus, As Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness. so must the son of man be lifted up so that whoever believes in him will never die, but has in their possession eternal life.

The serpent represented Gods salvation. When a child of Abraham was bit and looked at the serpent in faith, he was saved. if he did not look (unbelief) he died.

We also see Gods salvation in Egypt. When the blood on a door jam saved the oldest son. God did not look at the worthiness of the child in the house. he looked at the life that was given in faith, again, those who did not put the blood (unbelief) lost their first born son

Only by grace can we overcome the world. And how does scripture say we do this?

As John said, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (again it is faith, He who rejects Jesus in unbelief is not born of God and does not overcome the world and is lost.

what we have to remember is we have all sinned. We have all fallen short of Gods standard. that standard is perfection. Since we all have failed to meet the requirements of salvation by works,. we are forced to look to the Lord for salvation. As the OP stated, whoever calls on the lord will be saved, with the mouth and the heart is one saved (rescued) from the penalty of sin.

the penalty of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life.

Salvation is a gift. It can not be earned by our good deeds, By our religious works, or any works of righteousness which we have done, Only By Gods mercy can we be saved through the washing and new birth of the holy spirit

remember, the tax collector became poor in spirit, got on his knees and called out to God for salvation. He went home saved

the pharisee pumped his chest, never became poor in spirit. and thought he was saved because of how righteous he was.

He, like all people. failed to meet Gods standard. so he watered it down to make himself think he was worthy. He refused to repent and have faith, trusting only in himself.

Our work will not cause God to forgive on sin. Let alone all the sin we have, are and will commit before we leave this world. Lets turn to Christ, the only means of salvation.
 

theefaith

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You don't seem to understand that would be the same as saying 'this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of CIRCUMCISION.'

Just as the ceremony of circumcision was a SIGN of the righteousness Abraham had while he was uncircumcised (Romans 4:11), so the ceremony of water baptism is a SIGN of the righteousness a person receives while not water baptized. Catholics make the same mistake with water baptism that the Jews made with circumcision. They think it secures a declaration of righteousness. Neither secures a declaration of righteousness. Both are outward signs of a declaration of righteousness that a person already has received by faith apart from works.

Just examine the parallels between physical circumcision and water baptism and you'll begin to see the error the Catholic church makes about baptism.

not so

testimony of the fathers the successors of the apostles Matt 16:18-19 Matt 28:19-20 acts 2:42

A) "It does not suffice to believe. He who believes and is not yet baptized, but is only a Catechumen, has not yet fully acquired salvation." St. Thomas Aquinas

B) "Now, even the Catechumen believes in the Cross of the Lord Jesus, but unless he be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, he cannot receive remission of his sins nor the gift of spiritual grace." St. Ambrose

C) "Without the Sacrament of Baptism, no one is ever justified. If anyone says that Baptism is optional, that is, not necessary for salvation: let him be anathema." Council of Trent

D)
“There are three ways in which sins are forgiven: in baptism, in prayer, and in the greater humility of penance; yet God does not forgive sins except to the baptized” (Sermons to Catechumens on the Creed 7:15 [A.D. 395]).
St. AUGUSTINE

E) “As many as are persuaded and believe that what we [Christians] teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly . . . are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, ‘Except you be born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:3]” (First Apology 61 [A.D. 151]).
JUSTIN MARTYR

TERTULLIAN
“Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life. . . . [But] a viper of the [Gnostic] Cainite heresy, lately conversant in this quarter, has carried away a great number with her most venomous doctrine, making it her first aim to destroy baptism—which is quite in accordance with nature, for vipers and.asps . . . themselves generally do live in arid and waterless places. But we, little fishes after the example of our [Great] Fish, Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than by permanently abiding in water. So that most monstrous creature, who had no right to teach even sound doctrine, knew full well how to kill the little fishes—by taking them away from the water!” (Baptism 1 [A.D. 203]).

“Without baptism, salvation is attainable by none” (ibid., 12).

ORIGEN
“It is not possible to receive forgiveness of sins without baptism” (Exhortation to the Martyrs 30 [A.D. 235]).

CYRIL OF JERUSALEM
“If any man does not receive baptism, he does not have salvation.

St. AUGUSTINE
“There are three ways in which sins are forgiven: in baptism, in prayer, and in the greater humility of penance; yet God does not forgive sins except to the baptized” (Sermons to Catechumens on the Creed 7:15 [A.D. 395]).

POPE LEO I
“And because of the transgression of the first man, the whole stock of the human race was tainted; no one can be set free from the state of the old Adam save through Christ’s sacrament of baptism, in which there are no distinctions between the reborn, as the apostle [Paul] says, ‘For as many of you as were baptized in Christ did put on Christ; there is neither Jew nor Greek . . . ‘ [Gal. 3:27–28]” (Letters 15:10[11] [A.D. 445]).

FULGENTIUS OF RUSPE
“From that time at which our Savior said, ‘If anyone is not reborn of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven’ [John 3:5], no one can, without the sacrament of baptism, except those who, in the Catholic Church, without baptism, pour out their blood for Christ, receive the kingdom of heaven and life eternal” (The Rule of Faith 43 [A.D. 524]).

Irenaeus
He [Jesus] came to save all through himself – all, I say, who through him are reborn in God; INFANTS, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an INFANT for INFANTS, sanctifying INFANTS; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).

Hippolytus
Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D.215]).

Origen
THE CHURCH RECEIVED FROM THE APOSTLES the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The APOSTLES, to whom were committed the secrets of divine sacraments, knew there is in everyone innate strains of [original] sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit (Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [A.D. 248]).

Cyprian
As to what pertains to the case of INFANTS: You [Fidus] said that they ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, that the old law of circumcision must be taken into consideration, and that you did not think that one should be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day after his birth. In our council it seemed to us far otherwise. No one agreed to the course which you thought should be taken. Rather, we all judge that the mercy and grace of God ought to be denied to no man born" (Letters 64:2 [A.D. 253]).

Augustine
It is this one Spirit who makes it possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that INFANT is brought to baptism; and it is through this one Spirit that the infant so presented is reborn. For it is not written, "Unless a man be born again by the will of his parents" or "by the faith of those presenting him or ministering to him," but, "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit." The water, therefore, manifesting exteriorly the sacrament of grace, and the Spirit effecting interiorly the benefit of grace, both regenerate in one Christ that man who was generated in Adam (Letters 98:2 [A.D. 408]).

they received it from the lips of the apostles
You’re preaching another gospel
 

amigo de christo

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Being Baptized into the Body of Christ is the one and only Essential Baptism....If you ain’t go that, I don’t care if you used the entirety of Niagara Falls to try to wash your sins away....all you did was get very wet....One can easily become a member of that Body —— Rest in Paul’s Gospel Of Grace Found In 1Cor15:1-4.....it was given to Paul by Jesus......
Ol niagra cant wash away the sins of man . BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS CAN . I have seen many a sinner
go down with the dunk in a tub and come up as lost as they were before they took that plunge .
IF THE HEART , IF THE FAITH IS NOT IN JESUS ALONE as the only means of salvation , THEN ALL IT WAS , WAS and IS DEATH .
Cant nothing save us , BUT JESUS . TAKE THAT TO THE GRAVE . ALL else comes BY FAITH IN JESUS .
If our FAITH WAS TRULY IN HIM , then we are DOERS BY that same SPIRIT . ALL else is vain . No man
can save himself by his deeds , ONLY JESUS CAN . ONLY JESUS . THAT is what one must BELIEVE .
 
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theefaith

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Any work done to receive justification/salvation as a reward of debt owed for that work vs. receiving justification/salvation as a reward of grace as a free gift.

baptismal regeneration is not works or a work, you cannot baptize you’re self
 

theefaith

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Water baptism is not the only obedience required of justifying faith, you know.
The person who does not have the obedience of justifying faith is showing he does not have the faith that justifies. That's the only way works are required to be saved.
But you're seeing it as justification/salvation is owed to you because of your obedience of faith.
The Catholic religion is a works salvation religion (do this and you will be justified/made righteous. No different than the Jews who said 'get circumcised and you will be made righteous').
It's the very works gospel that Paul assails in his letters.
Catholics are incapable of seeing this. That's why they're Catholics. And why we're Protestants.

Paul does not oppose works but works alone
Works apart from faith and sacraments and virtues

1 cor 13:2 all faith no charity avails nothing
Phil 1:29 called to suffer for Christ
Heb 6:12 faith & patience

1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
“Faith alone” really?

how do you explain these verses

1 Corinthians 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall notinherit the kingdom of God? Be notdeceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind

Galatians 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shallnot inherit the kingdom of God.

and what about keeping the commandments?