How Many "3 Steppers" Do We Have On Aff???

[Emma Bontrager]

Originally Posted by pelathais

My dear sweet Sister Emma,

It's not the moderators who are blocking your many posts, but the simple laws of nature. In order for your keystrokes to be translated into a message on the computer screens of others, and on your computer screen for that matter, you must have invited the devil of electricity into your home first.

Frankly I rejoice whenever I see one of your posts because it is a testament that miracles can still happen!

Electricity is NOT in my home, I will have you know. But even if it was, I would still be holier than you are. Did you know that Old Order Mennonites have electricity in their homes? Yet, they still wear a covering on their heads as the BIBLE says and drive horse and buggy. They also have telephones. It is a rather different mix. That is why I am Old Order Amish. I am holier than they are. I should probably be Swartzentruber Amish but then the Bruderhof might still hve me beat. I can't help that I am maybe not the holiest in the world, but I am here to remind you that you have a LONG way to go!!

I use ILG's computer when I visit her house. We also ride in cars but do not OWN them. Huge difference there, my friend.

I wonder if anyone believes me that admin has this conspiracy against me. I am serious. I have not been allowed to post without moderator approval on EVERY POST for months!! Now, my covering avatar is GONE!! I was too busy harvesting anyway, but now I have a complaint about this. I never even got an email telling me what I did wrong. That is because I have done nothing wrong, I am just persecuted!

[helen_febus]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Three steps? Around here, we refer to three steppers as "Greasy Gracers." Everybody knows that there are not three, but seven steps to salvation.
Three might be enough for charismatic greasy gracers, but seven is twice as good plus one.

It is amazing how creative we have become in Pentecost. Well, we have had alot of help. Remember when preachers would define a word in the bible to say with authority that he found a particular word in Websters dictionary?
The problem with that is the bible was not written in English, so Mr. Webster unfortunately has been misleading us for almost a century.
Words that are not defined properly will ultimately lead to faulty concepts.
Let us take grace as a classic example. If you ask most folks what the definition of grace is they will blurt out "unmerited favor". Since the word is found in the bible that means that it was either a Greek or a Hebrew word.

OT:2580
chen (khane); from OT:2603; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):

NT:5485

charis (khar'-ece); from NT:5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):

Unmerited favor is found in the Websters dictionary. The above definitions of grace are found in the Strongs concordance.

Most of the time grace in the old test. refers to favor that was MERITED. Noah found favor or grace in the eyes of the Lord. Of course there are scriptures that speak of gratitude and graciousness.
In the new test. we find grace as an enabler. It does not fit into the context of scripture that gives us the understanding that it is unmerited.
We get grace THROUGH faith. Faith is information (the word) acted upon thus we access grace through it.
Grace is the power of God that enables the church to do its business. Without it we cannot be saved. We cant preach without it, cant build the church without it. Charis (grace) is the root word for charisma. We cannot operate the gifts of the spirit without grace.
The danger of defining this word incorrectly is because it has watered down salvation. We basically got this concept from the Baptists. It breeds a sloppy walk. The scriptures teach otherwise.Grace teaches this:
Titus 2:11-12

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Grace teaches us to be holy,grace convicts us of sin. It is not a margin of error, it is not sloppy salvation. It does not accommodate sin. But there are some that would like to water down the power of grace to suit their sinful agenda, turning Gods grace into a lawlessness.

Jude 4

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV

God bless you

Originally Posted by Emma Bontrager

Electricity is NOT in my home, I will have you know. But even if it was, I would still be holier than you are. Did you know that Old Order Mennonites have electricity in their homes? Yet, they still wear a covering on their heads as the BIBLE says and drive horse and buggy. They also have telephones. It is a rather different mix. That is why I am Old Order Amish. I am holier than they are. I should probably be Swartzentruber Amish but then the Bruderhof might still hve me beat. I can't help that I am maybe not the holiest in the world, but I am here to remind you that you have a LONG way to go!!

I use ILG's computer when I visit her house. We also ride in cars but do not OWN them. Huge difference there, my friend.

I wonder if anyone believes me that admin has this conspiracy against me. I am serious. I have not been allowed to post without moderator approval on EVERY POST for months!! Now, my covering avatar is GONE!! I was too busy harvesting anyway, but now I have a complaint about this. I never even got an email telling me what I did wrong. That is because I have done nothing wrong, I am just persecuted!

Are the Swartzentruber Amish the really strong ones?

To troubleshoot this issue, you should log in as Emma on a different computer. If you have the same problem on a different computer, but ILG does NOT have the problem, then it is definitely your account. If Emma's account works fine on a separate computer then the problem is a setting or a cookie on your first computer.

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Do you believe that a life of holiness is essential to salvation?

If so, how is that not a fourth step?

Oh there are MANY aspects of living for God after the fact one has obeyed the 3 steps. I most certainly believe in Holiness, and it being essential to one's making Heaven their home.

However Acts 2:38 didn't mention Holiness standards ... remember what the LIBS say about new converts "Now we can't scare them off by mentioning Holiness standards, we got to get them in first ..." which is true, but Acts 2:38 is the 3 steps of one's being apart of the body of Christ (Church)

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Caston Smith

Oh there are MANY aspects of living for God after the fact one has obeyed the 3 steps. I most certainly believe in Holiness, and it being essential to one's making Heaven their home.

However Acts 2:38 didn't mention Holiness standards ... remember what the LIBS say about new converts "Now we can't scare them off by mentioning Holiness standards, we got to get them in first ..." which is true, but Acts 2:38 is the 3 steps of one's being apart of the body of Christ (Church)

I think most "libs" would say that "we shouldn't scare them off with extra-biblical rules..."

But you say that you agree to a method of deception here. We have to "get them in first" before we tell them what we're all about? That's deceptive. Why not be upfront with people. Let them know right off what they're getting in for?

I've never liked the deception in our evangelism.

Originally Posted by pelathais

I think most "libs" would say that "we shouldn't scare them off with extra-biblical rules..."

But you say that you agree to a method of deception here. We have to "get them in first" before we tell them what we're all about? That's deceptive. Why not be upfront with people. Let them know right off what they're getting in for?

I've never liked the deception in our evangelism.

Oh trust me ... people in our city know exactly what we are. There's no deception at all. The church has been there every since the early 30's it was started by the late Elder D. L. Welch from Pensacola, Florida.

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I believe new believers are to obey two commands.

Obedience to those two commands, repentance and baptism, is our responsibility.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is something God does. It is a promise from Him to us.

Sooooooo, three stepper? I don't like that term.

One of the more intelligent posts that I have read in a while.

[RevDWW]

No no no....it's not steps, it's a recipe. You have to have all the ingredients of John3 and Acts2 to make the bread.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Caston Smith

Oh trust me ... people in our city know exactly what we are. There's no deception at all. The church has been there every since the early 30's it was started by the late Elder D. L. Welch from Pensacola, Florida.

I met Elder Welch many years ago. I would say that his church today tends to be "progressive" (though I hate when that term is used among Apostolics) in many ways. Many of the standards that you describe are not followed there.

From your standpoint, are they "slipping" or is it just "apples and oranges" to you?

[James Griffin]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I met Elder Welch many years ago. I would say that his church today tends to be "progressive" (though I hate when that term is used among Apostolics) in many ways. Many of the standards that you describe are not followed there.

From your standpoint, are they "slipping" or is it just "apples and oranges" to you?

I grew up in Florida, met Bro Welch several times as a child. Know his kin, and church people in Pensacola. Can only imagine how mortified he would by your attitude.