My New Lady Friend

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Berkley

Call me traditional, but I find it hard to believe that there is a genuine conversion without tears. How can you not show emotion when standing face to face with the realization of what you are, and what He did for you?

I'm a very emotional person and I cry nearly every week in church. But that doesn't make me any more spiritual than a person who is not emotional at all. I have cried like a baby over things that I've done that I feel like were not pleasing to God. But not everyone responds in the same way.

I know people who have had genuine conversion experiences and didn't outwardly shed a tear. But they CHOSE to follow Christ and then were baptized and filled with His Spirit. I don't consider them any less saved.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Jermyn, I DO think it's Biblical. I think too often in Pentecostal circles, people get emotional and respond to an appeal to repent at an altar, but lots of times they are not really changed. They go back out and live the same old way. If they really do "make a decision" for Jesus, then they will go out a changed individual. Repentance just means a change of direction - it's making a decision to turn your life around in the other direction. Nothing anti-Biblical about that, in my opinion.

There's nowhere in the Bible that says you have to come to an altar and weep all over everything when you repent. There's nothing wrong with that, but you can also stand at your seat and make a decision to follow Christ. I doubt if people in the apostles' day came and wept at an altar - they just left their old lifestyle and started in "the Way".

Hope that all makes sense!

Sherri,

I appreciate you so much.

Yes, you make sense!

However, after that decision, or in light of that decision, the new convert must be water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. This command is very clearly presented as a command and is associated with EVERY Christian conversion mentioned in the Bible.


Crocodile tears and unconverted hearts do not show biblical saving faith.


The infilling of the Holy Ghost-- why would anyone not want to experience God in such a vibrant and personal way?

If it is not preached, will the people just stumble upon it?

[berkeley]

I am not an emotional person. But in the presence of God...

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I can not put my finger on it exactly. I felt the liberty to praise and worship the Lord and I did. However, it was very clear to me that I am not supposed to be a member there.



The whole idea of "making a decision for Christ" or "accepting Him as your Lord and Savior", as presented there is simply not Biblical.

Well, my wife did and I consider her "saved". She grew up in the AoG. She is also officially "trinitarian" but believes there will only be one God facing us in the afterlife.

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Well, my wife did and I consider her "saved". She grew up in the AoG. She is also officially "trinitarian" but believes there will only be one God facing us in the afterlife.

Facing us... as in a committee... like Simon, Paula, and Randy??

Or one God on the throne, and the other two persons out of sight?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Sherri,

I appreciate you so much.

Yes, you make sense!

However, after that decision, or in light of that decision, the new convert must be water baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. This command is very clearly presented as a command and is associated with EVERY Christian conversion mentioned in the Bible.


Crocodile tears and unconverted hearts do not show biblical saving faith.


The infilling of the Holy Ghost-- why would anyone not want to experience God in such a vibrant and personal way?

If it is not preached, will the people just stumble upon it?

I agree and we do preach and teach it. We've baptized people every week for the past several weeks. We also have many, many filled with the Holy Ghost. But I think those things happen after they're saved by confession and repentance.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Berkley

Facing us... as in a committee... like Simon, Paula, and Randy??

Or one God on the throne, and the other two persons out of sight?

Man, you've got to know that most Trinitarians don't believe in a literal 3 person God-committee!!!

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Berkley

Facing us... as in a committee... like Simon, Paula, and Randy??

Or one God on the throne, and the other two persons out of sight?

It wasn't a trick question. She (and I) feel there will be only one 'Being' standing before us.

[berkeley]

I was guest at a Church of God. The pastor very much beleived in a committee.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I agree and we do preach and teach it. We've baptized people every week for the past several weeks. We also have many, many filled with the Holy Ghost. But I think those things happen after they're saved by confession and repentance.

I was about to type that I believe that salvation begins at faith.

However, this line of thought begs the question is anyone ever partially saved?

The answer is of course no.


Biblically, I believe that repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ must be presented as the proper response for the would-be new believer in Jesus Christ.