So you signed the AS ....
One of the common arguments from the right in the Television debate is that any minister who as much utters support for word TELEVISION ... has put their integrity on the line ... while some are called hypocrites.... because they signed the AS [the infernal document] stating an anti-tv stance.
Now if this legalistic argument is to be a tautology ... should it not apply in all cases?
For example some ministers believe that forgiveness of sins happens at repentance while others believe both happen after both repentance and baptism ... but let's examine the document that they have affirmed ... to see if they indeed believe, teach and preach what the AS and AOF states.
The Fundamental Doctrine of the AOF ... which ministers are to affirm states specifically:
The Fundamental Doctrine reads, "The basic and fundamental doctrine of this organization shall be the Bible standard of full salvation, which is repentance, baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. ..:
Dr. Seagraves writes: The grammatical construction of the Fundamental Doctrine would indicate that the remission of sins is effected by the water baptism alone, rather than by repentance and water baptism coupled together, since repentance and water baptism are not joined by the conjunction "and" but are instead separated by a comma.
Although don't feel to bad ... the same articles contradict each other under the Article of Repentance and Conversion:
"Pardon and forgiveness of sins is obtained by genuine repentance, a confessing and forsaking of sins:1
Seagraves also writes: The context concerns conversion, not the obtaining of forgiveness by a born-again believer, says nothing about water baptism, and would lead one to believe that repentance alone is sufficient to produce forgiveness of sins.
A study of the Greek text would indicate that "forgiveness" and "remission" are synonyms, since in the King James Version both words are translated from the same Greek word, aphesis.
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Now the question is.....
How many of those who signed the AS ... affirming that remission of sins happens only because of water baptism are aware that they don't really believe, teach or preach this ....?
If this argument is to remain consistent shouldn't the language of the Articles change to reflect what the majority believe about forgiveness and remission of sins?
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