Hi
Jose has raised an important question here.
I too would like to put up a question regarding the same. But before that
I'll put some verses here.
Ephesians 4:3-6 says, 'Do your best to preserve the unity which the spirit
gives by means of the peace that binds you together. There is one body and
one spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all people,
who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all.
We see that we have one Father for all and we are to preserve our unity or
should I say we are supposed to be united. By we I mean all those who
believe in Christ and are his followers. So why don't we see one body of
Christ. Why are there so many denominations? The Bible tells us to be
seperated from darkness, but not from each other. The body is not complete
unless all are together.
Lets look at what Jesus has prayed for us in John chapter 17. Read the full
chapter when you open the Bible, but I type here verses 20&21 "I pray not
only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their
message. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as
you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will
believe that you sent me."
Friends, Jesus has prayed for all those who believe in Him to be one. But
its a fact that we have so many denominations/sects. Where did they come
from? Its true that there are differences in doctrines between sects, but
are they based on the Bible. Can someone show in the Bible where is
Catholic, Presbytarian, Methodist, Adventist, etc...
Jose has written about Billy Graham being from the born again sect. Hey I
know that Jesus has used the word born again in John 3:3. Jesus answered, "I
am telling you the truth: no one can see the kingdom of God, without being
born again." Why did Jesus say that? How can a grown man be born
again-This is exactly what Nicodemus asked Jesus. Again I quote what Jesus
said in Jon3:6&7 'A person is born physically of human parents, but is born
spiritually of the Spirit. Do not be surprised because I tell you that you
must all be born again.' What I say here is being born again is Biblical and
its also following what Jesus has himself commanded.
Do share what you feel, preferably with Bible references.
Thanks & God Bless You.
George.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jose Paul Martin [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2001 9:14 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: FWD: RE: [JOYnet] salvation
>
> Hi Guys,
>
> I don't know if you noticed this... but what I gave below is not Catholic
> Teaching... I just wanted to share it with you so u can understand as to
> how others are thinking about Salvation.
>
> Billy Graham is a well-known evangelist in U.S. and also in the world...
> however(unfortunately!) he is from the *Born Again* sect - not that I have
> anything against them - but they do not follow catholic doctrine...
>
> Mathew, do you think you can compile something like your previous email on
> Salvation for Islam,Hinduism, Buddism etc... something for the differences
> among the various Christian denominations... so that JOYNetters may know
> the differences...???
>
> luv
> jpm
>
>
> On Mon, 9 Jul 2001, Jose Paul Martin wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I just came across this article at Billy Grahams' site,... amazingly
> enough - this was a recent topic on his site...
> >
> > luv
> > jpm
> >
> >
> > Monday July 2, 2001
> > Dear Mr. Graham:
> > Is it possible for a person to believe in Christ but then later turn his
> back on Christ and lose his salvation? I worry that this will happen to me
> because I'm not as strong in my faith as I used to be. -- H.L.S.
> >
> > Dear H.L.S. :
> > I am convinced that a person who has truly and honestly come to Christ
> is saved forever. Jesus said of those who believe in Him, "I give them
> eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
> my hand" (John 10:28).
> >
> > Never forget that our salvation depends only on Christ, and not on our
> own goodness. We can never earn our salvation by our good works; only
> Christ through His death on the cross makes our salvation possible. Satan
> always wants us to look at ourselves and our failures, but Christ alone is
> our hope, for He paid the price for our sins -- fully and freely. The
> Bible says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith. . .
> not by works" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
> >
> > At the same time, the Bible warns us about turning away from Him. A
> person who claims to be a Christian but then turns away from Christ may
> not have been committed to Him in the first place; he or she knew the
> truth but was not really committed to it. The Bible solemnly warns, "If we
> deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the
> truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of
> judgment" (Hebrews 10:26-27).
> >
> > Make sure of your commitment to Christ -- and then take steps to
> strengthen your relationship with Him. Make prayer and the Bible part of
> your life every day, and become active in a church where Christ is
> preached and lived. If we starve ourselves spiritually we will grow weak
> -- but as we make use of the spiritual "food" God gives us, we will grow
> stronger spiritually. The Bible says, "Come near to God and he will come
> near to you" (James 4:8).
> >
>
> --
> Jose Paul Martin, Bahrain
> )))Jesus Never Fails !(((
>
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