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Originally posted by Akragon
Originally posted by NOTurTypical
reply to post by Akragon
Jesus taught grace through faith as the method of justification. Peter and John echoed it as well as Paul.
Jesus didn't even use the word Grace actually... how does one teach such a thing without using the word you're teaching?
It is a trick question (I love those). Can someone know Christ and never have read the bible? I would argue that they could. Now, if one has read the bible and rejects the letters of Paul then one must also reject Peter and the other apostles as they accepted him. Paul himself argued with the other apostles that gentiles did NOT need to be circumcised and in the end, they agreed.
Granted there are loads of "Christians" out there spewing hate and outrage and are display not the virtues of God
I do feel that a Christian could certainly discard Paul's take on these major aspects of Christianity - and return them to their esoteric origins. And if one practiced these matters of love and esotericism, one would be more in touch with Jesus' message and the Divine Spirit he Blessed his followers with.
Originally posted by borntowatch
Plenty of "Christians" reject Christ's teachings all together.
On August 3, 1979, Howard Pittman, a Baptist minister for 35 years, died while on the operating table during surgery and had a near-death experience.
Instead of allowing me to enter, the angel stationed me before the Gates, slightly to one side. He instructed me to stay there and watch as the saints were permitted to enter into Heaven. This point was so important that the Holy Spirit told me Himself. I watched the fifty saints enter Heaven, but the point I missed was the time frame involved.
It was explained to me that at the same time those fifty saints died on Earth, 1,950 other humans also died; or only 50 out of 2000 made it into Heaven. That other 1,950 were not there. Where were they? That was only 2 ½ percent going to Heaven! Ninety seven point five percent did not make it! Is that representative of the entire world today? If so, 97 ½ percent of the population of this world today is not ready to meet God. Placebo by Howard Pittman
Christians in Hell
The two angels escorted me to Hell. I then saw many pastors, elders, and deacons in Hell. I asked the angel, “I know them. They had served God faithfully while on the Earth. They had died some time ago. We all had thought they were in Heaven with God. But now, I see them all in Hell and they are crying out that it is so hot! Why are they here?” There were so many pastors, elders, deacons and all other lay believers.
The angel answered, “Pastor Park Yong Gyu, a person can appear to be a true follower of Christ on the outside but God knows the heart.
There are multitudes of churches on the Earth and many of the churches are filled with many people. However, most of them are not true Christians. They are but church attendants. The true churches will firmly believe in Heaven and a Hell. The lives of many Christians are in chaos because they do not firmly believe in Heaven and Hell. When one soul enters Heaven, one thousand cursed souls enter Hell. The rate of Heaven and Hell is 1 to 1000.” (Matt 7:14)
Heaven & Hell 1000 to 1
Bishop Wilfred Lai is the founder and senior Pastor of Jesus Celebration Center in Mombasa, Kenya and it is a church of over 15,000 members. One day he asked the Lord how many of them were ready for heaven and the Lord told him only 200. Only 1% of that church is going to heaven! Dr. Lai said that some pastors have created large groups of sinners meeting in the name of God. “What you have are not churches, but large congregations of sinners.”
Message from Pastor Wilfred Lai
Jesus explained, “Sesame! In order for someone to be saved, they must believe and receive me sincerely deep into their hearts, but most importantly it is crucial to have a sincere heart and mind. Many who have received me end up in hell, because during the prayer of confession they simply recited the prayer without sincerity!”
Jesus also said, “Many profess they have accepted and proclaimed me into their hearts, and with their mouths believe that they are saved, since they’ve believed in me for a long time, but, it is not the length of time that determines your salvation. It is the process of bearing fruits in your character that leads you closer to attaining salvation.
Many believe blindly the incorrect teaching that simply reciting with their mouths will guarantee their salvation -- and are under an illusion that they will go to heaven. Salvation should be realized through fear and trembling and each individual must grow in sincere faith.” Jesus is heartbroken and frustrated that so many souls end up in hell because they believed erroneously.
Baptize by Blazing Fire
And in the end, most people will unfortunately receive the Mark of the beast. Many Christians will get it because they were never warned by their Church. (Revelations 13:15-18) This is why The Lord is saying that less than 1% of Pastors and less the 10% of Christians will hear the trumpet sound. LINK
Without Paul, they would have been re-assimilated back into Judaism and would not have ever completely severed from it.
Were there "Christians" before Paul showed up?
If so then the answer to your question is... yes, one can reject Paul and still be a Christian.
Not.
Jesus claimed to have come for the only for the lost tribes of israel did he not?
reply to post by Akragon
Jesus didn't even use the word Grace actually... how does one teach such a thing without using the word you're teaching?
Paul claimed that he was appointed to the Apostleship by the risen Christ.
One of the Apostles were self apointed(after he saw a vision of Jesus).
I am not aware of Jesus ever saying anything like that.
Jesus also warned of a Benjaminite Wolf(A fasle apostle from the tribe of Benjamin)
Acts says basically that Paul was in Jerusalem while Christians were being persecuted. It's not known who wrote that book but it is pretty much agreed on by biblical scholars that it was not the Luke Paul mentioned in a letter, or anyone else who was involved in any of the events described in the stories.
Before Paul had his vision he was known for killing Christians was he not?
The 'cross' thing was universally believed in.
He also taught that Christ died on the cross and many of his teachings died there also...
reply to post by jmdewey60
Paul claimed that he was appointed to the Apostleship by the risen Christ. The 'vision' was something described in Acts, so is not reliable. The 'blinding' of Paul comes from Paul describing a "thorn in the flesh", and that was combined with the forgery of a supposed Pauline letter where he describes his poor eyesight
Originally posted by Akragon
I reject your answer good sir.. All or nothing?
Jesus, who rebuked her and made it clear to her in no uncertain terms that it's either she was going to surrender all or nothing at all. CJ
Nathan Leal interviews "CJ"
A Testimony of a Face to Face Encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ
"You don't believe my word the Bible." "It's My responsibility as God to protect My word for you." (10 min)
You are referring to the introduction to John's Gospel.
You live it. You physically express it. Jesus was/is the Word of GOD, the LOGOS become flesh. Anything He did was a physical expression/manifestation of the Word.
The New Testament interprets the Old Testament.
If you can't reveal Jesus through Old Testament alone, you have a problem, because that's all there was when He came & revealed Himself.
and the proof of its reality is in the changed lives of those who have believed.