May 2013
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Usersname: billyb (Billy Beard)
Points: green quill (5580) (?)
I am married
I am a male
I am 58 years old.
My birthday is: June 28th.
I live in Columbia Tennessee USA
I am one of many who have a testimony like this, I professed faith in Christ at an early age, when I was 13, I am now 55 years of age and can say that Christ has always been faithful to me, and there were many times I was not very faithful to him and also many times when I was faithful. All times that I was lukewarm or backsliden, it was I who was away, not the Savior and Lord who loves me. All I needed was to confess my sins and failures, repent, and follow Christ as best I could. Anything short of our best is failure. There is no work of righteousness I can do that will earn salvation, that has been done already by Christ, my salvation depends on what Christ did for me by shedding His blood for me and giving His life on the cross to pay our sin debt and turn Gods wrath away. The life I have in Christ, the obedience and service I now render as I walk in faith, is not to earn salvation, but reasonable service. Rom 12:1&2. When I fall short, I am forgiven through Christ, and start anew following Him. That is what all of us do as we go through our life here. What I have learned through the years is that true christianity is a life trusting and following Christ, walking as He taught us to walk in the Bible. A true believer is one that has been changed, they live a life that is different than their old sinful life, because Christ lives in them. There is a simple saying I personally use that is proved by scripture. True faith means a changed person, if our faith does does not change us, then we have no faith. That famous verse, Eph 2:8&9, tells how we are saved, "by grace", "not of works". However, that same verse also explains, "through faith". Jesus said "Ye must", not "Ye should", in John 3:3&7. James 2:26 also explains saving faith. I hope that there is no person who sees controversy in that. My faith rests totally in Christ, and I put my life and trust in Him. I hope we can share our faith and testimony to help us all mature in Christ! Thanks for allowing me to share with you!
I study constantly about different Bible subjects, and compare how the different groups teach them as doctrines, lately I have been studying the subject of baptism. Water baptism, spirit baptism, as they are mentioned in the Bible. Here are a few of my thoughts and I invite others. Baptism typically refers to death, when Jesus asked James and John if they could be baptized with the baptism He was, they said yes, and He told them that indeed they would. Mk.10:38-39 When 1Peter in the 3rd chapter spoke of the flood and the ark he compared baptism as a copy of it. The old life was destroyed, and a new life started. In Romans chapter 6 it speaks of the believer being baptized into Christs death. Christ died to sins, He removed them, and we are saying we are dying to sin as well when we are baptized. And just as Christ rose victorious over sin and death so we as believers rise in baptism to walk in newness of life. So then, baptism stands for death and for life in Christ. Many groups I fear take baptism too lightly and others I fear too strongly. Many wonder in their later years if they were baptized correctly, or if they knew as much as they should about it when they were. The reason is that sins have been committed since. I think Peter said what was needed when he said baptism was the "answer of a good conscience" 1 Pet 3:21, also notice he said, "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ". That same power that raised Christ also empowers the believer to live the Christian life, when with a good conscience we respond to His calling. That answer of a good conscience does NOT stop at baptism, it cannot, if we are to live holy lives, pleasing to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Every day that God gives us, we choose to answer with a good conscience, or, are drawn away of our own desires, and serve self, and are hindered by the powers of darkness. James1:13-15, Eph 6:12. Let each of us purpose in our hearts each day to serve Christ, and honor Him. In Christ, Billyb
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