should some one be judged by his denomination if he is a true christian or not,what unifys the body of christ?

5/11/2010 2:06:33 PM by dicKy, Member of Delve into Jesus since 5/11/2010

What unifys the body of Christ is the universal belief that Christ is God and He is man, that He died for the propitiation of sins, He was Resurected to conquer death and we are saved by grace and grace alone. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation, all we have to do is accept the gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus. We all belive in a Triune God, one God with 3 Persons. We also believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Any denomination that maintains these core beliefs and doesn't have any belief outside these that would counter them or corrupt them, they count as Christian. There are some that claim Christianity, but they deny His deity, or His virgin birth or even the fact of one God in three Persons. These are sadly mistaken and have fallen outside Christianity. Overall though, Christianity allows for a wide variety of worship styles, prayer styles, what day you meet on, how you dress, and even the life style of our pastors. I hope this has helped some. Blessings upon you!

5/21/2010 4:08:39 PM by kcgodlyman, Member of Delve into Jesus since 6/17/2009

Please don't think for a second that your ideas are true or accepted by all. Jesus is not God. Nobody knows or can prove that he came back to life after death. Salvation does not come from belief in Jesus but rather from serving The real God (not jesus) according to His will. There is no three persons in God; only one God who is one! There was no virgin birth of Jesus, that is a mith! There is no need to be christian; only a need to serve God the way He wants to be served. I hope this has helped you to find your balance while you delve into Jesus.

5/22/2010 12:15:00 PM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

Wolfson613, Jews and Christians share a love for the Old Testament Scriptures and we are united in a belief in the One God. What unifies Christians is our belief that Jesus is God. It's easy to see how anyone who hasn't experienced Jesus as God and Savior may respond to this type of question the way you did. However, anyone who has actually experienced Jesus as God and Savior, can't be talked out of it! Harkening back to January, I frequently remember to pray that God would open your mind to see what He wants you to see - I remember to pray the same for me everyday! KC, I'm glad to see you commenting again! I hope all is well with you and your family; I'm praying for you too.

5/24/2010 8:40:13 AM by Ryan, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/30/2007

wolfson613 The question I responded to was about "Christian Denomonations", not Islam, or any other religion for that matter. Your comments back to me were completely inappropriate as they do not pertain to any form of Christianity that I am aware of, and I have been a student of the Bible and Christianity for over 25 years. I will be more than happy to dialogue with you if you will limit yourself to the Christian arena that this website was intended to be used for, but I will not debate accross religious boundaries as tensions inevitably arise and I can tell you are a passionate person as am I. Ryan, It is good to be back. I am still awaiting surgeory on my back and neck, but remain busy with bible studies and other ministries. I continue to pray for you and your family. Blessings upon you!

5/24/2010 10:08:31 AM by kcgodlyman, Member of Delve into Jesus since 6/17/2009

I understand that this site is in order to delve into Jesus. But that means that we are trying to seek truth, and not just repeat the ideas that are drilled into us from youth. A christian may be told and led to believe all those things that are said about Jesus; But if you knew as I know that many of those things are wrong and distorted thinking, then I hope that you would like to follow the truth wherever it takes you. My comments are extremely appropriate because I have no interest in defending Christianity; but rather discussing the truth about Jesus, which is what this site is all about. If we are not trying to arrive at the truth about Jesus, then this site is just an outlet for cult thinking, with no intention to really delve into Jesus at all. Nobody can experience Jesus as God because he is not; but I imagine that God knows that you mean well and have good intentions, and in return responds toward you with love.

5/24/2010 1:58:00 PM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

Wolfson613, I again respectfully must state that yes you are out of order as the origional question to which I responded concerned Christians and the body of Christ, not simply the truth of Christ. If I play by your twisted rules your statements are out of line because member dicKy asked specificly about the body of Christ and Christians. With that being said I would like to address one issue. Where are you getting your supposedly supperior information? The only other information apart from them Bible concerning Jesus are a few brief references in the Quran. I am not aware of any other ancient texts dealing with the life if Jesus. If they are not relatively contemporary to His life then why should they be considered any more valid than those written by the men who traveled with Him. Are you speaking of some of the more dubious writings such as the Gospels of Judas, Mary and Thomas; which have never been authenticated properly and which do not agree with any other writings, either scriptural or secular.

5/25/2010 9:10:45 AM by kcgodlyman, Member of Delve into Jesus since 6/17/2009

It is clear beyond any doubt from the OT that Jesus is not God, because God Himself makes it clear that nothing in His creation can be God other than God Himself; Who is not seen or even understood fully by any being in His creation. Any confusion about this simple truth was a direct result of the confusion created by the NT. The NT was not God given and not even Jesus given; It is also a compilation of confusing messages written by confused people who led many to be even more confused. The end result was that not many christian people really understand Jesus or his messages about God. I know that this will not sit well with you because you believe that the NT has some God given authority (which it does not). In addition, to be honest, you should admit that the NT itself is full of mixed messages concerning the godliness of Jesus; but I don't expect to influence someone who wants to believe, simply because they were taught to believe, that Jesus is God. I am not intending in anyway to insult Christianity or the people who follow it; I am simply expressing the truth for the sake of truth and the love of God.

5/25/2010 1:23:17 PM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

Bless you Wolfson613, for pointing out another characteristic devout Jews and true Christians share in common: We both believe/worship/do what we do because we love God. In an earlier conversation you insisted that God does not demand a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. If this were true than I would agree you have Christians in a serious tight spot. However, when I went back to the Old Testament, my reading confirms - to me, that God does demand a blood sacrifice to forgive our sins and to unit us with Him. The New Testament is God's revelation of how God provides so great a sacrifice that it can, in one offering, atone for all sins for all time. This is all God's (not man's) work - and it is His gift of love. Christians read the New Testament and see how it harmonizes perfectly with the Old Testament - we believe this is possible - divinely inspired - because our sins are forgiven and we are united to God (and each other).

5/25/2010 2:15:20 PM by Ryan, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/30/2007

RYAN, We don't have to repeat our ideas about the sacrifice. I explained many times that these sacrifices were never human and God would never demand from us to bring a human sacrifice to atone for our sins. You did not get these ideas from the OT, rather you are attempting to stick them into the OT in order to make it fit with the NT. You want to believe that the NT is divine and God given but it's not. I don't want to disappoint you; but if I don't tell you the truth then you will go through life like so many others who simply believe but don't really understand or know what God (or Jesus) meant for us to know.

5/25/2010 2:42:45 PM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

Wolfson613, A baby cannot be born a Christian, nor can one mindlessly adopt the teachings of one's parents, or culture, to become a Christian. A true Christian is born when one becomes aware of being in a state of sin which separates from one's Creator, coupled with a desire to repent and accept the Creator's loving plan of redemption. A human's life could scarcely pay the required penalty for one sin. However, divine love can cover all the world's sins. In the Old Testament, we've read of God's anger due to people not understanding His hatred of sin and His prescribed method of dealing with sin. In the ancient scriptures, we've also read of His promises to be a Savior to His people; to redeem them from sin and forever unite them to Himself. While Christians don't expect one who remains under the cloud of sin to fully comprehend God's will - His plan of love - we also believe we are required to explain our beliefs to anyone who inquires. You have stated your belief in the following: You want to believe that the NT is divine and God given but it's not. I don't want to disappoint you; but if I don't tell you the truth then you will go through life like so many others who simply believe but don't really understand or know what God (or Jesus) meant for us to know. I have also stated my belief that you do not see God's loving plan of redemption because you remain under the curse of sin. We are at an impossible impasse - EXCEPT (which is an amazing, powerful and beautiful except) - we both believe in prayer for God's will to be made clear in the lives of others. I'm confident I cannot convince you of anything, just as I'm sure you cannot shake one of my beliefs. However, I will remain committed to praying that God will show us BOTH the path He desires for us to take toward loving Him!

5/25/2010 6:29:56 PM by Ryan, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/30/2007

Ryan, I wish you well and have nothing more to add to this discussion.

5/26/2010 12:53:49 AM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

wolfson613, I do appreciate your passion and your belief in prayer, and I apologize for not offering to pray for you earlier. The only other comment I will bring to the discussion is this: blessed Abraham was commanded by God in Genesis 22 to lead Isaac up into the mountains and to sacrifice his son. When God saw Abraham was about to strike the blow he told Abraham to stay his hand and God provided a Ram for the sacrifice. God set the precidence for Him providing the sacrifice for mankind's sin and it is our belief that it was God Himself who was sacrificed in the person of Jesus. I would also like to clarify that I was not raised in the faith. I was an agnostic for 17 years until I spent a summer with a friend of my father's. The only book in his house was a well read bible. When I returned home I started studying with a Rabbi in my home town. After about 9 months I decided to start studying Christianity with a priest because I felt a supernatural call to Christ. I am certain it was the Holy Spirit calling to me to come taste the freedom that Christ had to offer this wretched alcoholic and drug addicticted wanderer. I was freed from my addictions instantly never to return --- Praise to our God who loves us so much!! much love and prayers coming your way.

5/26/2010 9:39:37 AM by kcgodlyman, Member of Delve into Jesus since 6/17/2009

kcgodlyman, I am happy to hear that you were led in a way that has changed your life in positive ways; may you continue to receive a healthy direction from God to please Him always. Abraham was being tested for his true love of God to perform His will, and God had no intention of allowing him to kill his son Issac. AS I mentioned before, the idea that Jesus is God is an obvious mistake beyond a doubt as we know from the OT. The idea that God would sacrifice Himself is silly and just not worth discussing. Any Holy Spirit that exists comes from God not Jesus; but if you have come to believe that Jesus is your savior then don't let me dissapoint you with the truth about him.

5/26/2010 2:26:03 PM by wolfson613, Member of Delve into Jesus since 12/29/2009

What unifies the body of Christ is the love of God.

6/2/2010 11:34:59 AM by mrspiggy, Member of Delve into Jesus since 1/18/2008

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