Friendly Bible Study - participants must agree to Nicene Creed.
- Thread starter Carl Emerson
- Start date
-
Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.
You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Yes, a physical church where members could meet...
an institution.
Jesus realized that HIS Way would never be accepted.
He sent the Apostles out to witness to the known world regarding the teachings of Jesus and baptism.
Matthew 28:19
Eventually, in fact, the Christian Jews would no longer be accepted into the synagogue, and they had to find their own buildings where they could worship, learn and remember Jesus - as He had commanded. (the Last Supper).
What I mean is that it's necessary to have this "place".
It's necessary for the fellowship of the members of this "sect", this new religion.
Indeed the early church used homes.
Peter's home was found in Capernam recently (or at least it's believed to be his home)....and certainly this was one of those homes.
The Spiritual Church is a totally different topic...
And does not require any buildings.
Hi Johann
It would be nice if you stayed here....I know that you're very knowledgeable and could add to this study.
I'm going to post the Nicene Creed and say that I find it difficult to believe that you don't agree with it.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
What could you possibly not agree with?
Hmmm. I don't think you could edit the title or add a warning to it.
I think that would require the source code.
Let's continue and see what happens....
Then read the Nicene Creed and you post from the above after deciding you agree with the Nicene Creed !
LOL
(you know I don't care to rummage through commentaries).
Oh, for sure.
The first Christian Jews met in the synagogue.
Depends what you mean by institution.
Don't you think the church is an institution?
Just to clarify:
an organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose.
"an academic institution"
source: google
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
Conflict arises because Jesus is not understood or does not want to be understood. Mens systems to remedy this only result in the need to control.
Last edited:
Sadly I have had to confront a couple of 'little foxes' that objected to us having a bible study in the safety of the Nicene Creed.
Such confrontations can be awkward but necessary.
Thanks to the Mods the issue is resolved.
Back to Acts 6
One more point to note...
Stephen was preaching powerfully and God was confirming His Word with signs and wonders.
This was before he was given any office in the church and 'ordained'...
So the premise that we should only seek healing from ordained elders does not hold.
Last edited:
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
I have learned Jesus never controls. He guides and lets men make their choices.
The history of Israel reveals this.
The history of Israel reveals this.
I think we need to define 'control' and what is sinful.
Jesus took control when He turned the tables in the temple and threw the moneychangers out.
This was good control.
Also consider the well known verse "without a vision the people perish"
The Hebrew for Vision means 'fence'.
So the true meaning was that the people of God needed boundaries to survive. (the Law served this purpose for them)
Our necessary boundary is the Nicene Creed. By having this fence we can share together without endless wrangling about the fundamentals of the faith.
Is healing all we seek from ordained elders?
This would be one of the items.
How about Marriage, Burial, Teaching, Fellowship, Confession (for some denominations),
there must be more that doesn't come to mind right now.
As to signs and wonders....
Of course if we could see signs and wonders it would be very nice....
but Jesus said not to seek signs and wonders.
Matthew 16:4
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there will be no sign given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them and departed”
However, Jesus DID give us a sign that He was God in the flesh....
He rose from the dead and after this all of the Apostles understood who He was.
This sign was specifically to show/prove who Jesus was.
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
It is the nature of men to control; to force the issue in their perceived favour. Men force men, they force women and children to do it their way. Men create Gods because they can control them.
The living God is not a controller of people. He desires meaningful relationship and this can only come about when choices are respected without outing the ones who make choices against or different. We see this exemplified in Jesus allowing men to kill him. (John 10:18)
Love never forces (controls). If under its banner it does, it is not love but the desire for power.
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Jesus obviously was facilitating this - so we know that such a ministry has Jesus's approval.
As written in Mar 16 - " ...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues..."
However the point I was trying to make was that when we are instructed to go to our elders for healing prayer, in Stephen's case he was moving in these gifts before he was ordained it seems. So my comment is in response to those who have been told that only ordained elders should pray for healing.
Personally I try to encourage all believers to pray for others in Jesus name - when we do this He shows up.
I am not sure that we can make a case for Love always being passive. Scripture as a whole presents a righteous, just, and loving God at times acting against mans will and sometimes forcefully.
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
Love is not passive, love acts. It acts in ways barely understood by men. Consider Jesus love for humanity in giving his life?
What do I mean by 'giving his life'? The transcendent Creator of the Universe humbled himself and took on a human body....not just for thirty years but for eternity....yes, when Jesus returns in the clouds he will be human.
The angels who appeared at the side of the disciples when Jesus ascended told them, 'this same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven.' Acts 1:11
A limitation (body) for eternity. This is a sacrifice, a giving of his life....even unto death that we as humans are pressed to the absolute limits to comprehend. This is in no way passive as we might understand a limp rag to be but an active dynamic which is at odds with human logic or comprehension.
So Jesus driving out the money changers was in violation of their will - Yes ?
quietthinker
Well-Known Member
I don't know how to answer this. I would not however superimpose man's ready desire to violate another's will onto God...particularly in the light of the Crucifixion.
Similar threads
