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Preceding
Étiquette : faith in the son of God
Reason enough to be baptised and become a member of our community
When we talk to several people, we discover how many people have many questions about faith and how many are not even really well aware of the doctrines or teachings of the church community in which they are baptized and of which they are members.
In Great Britain, forty years ago it was not surprising to find several religious communities in villages. At that time there were a variety of churches there. In Belgium, on the other hand, there was not much diversity and in the villages there was usually only a Roman Catholic Church. Today, when many people and even on television in Flanders are heard talking about ‘the Church’, they usually mean the Catholic Church. Many are not even aware that there are still many subdivisions or denominations in that Catholic Church.
Nowadays, there are more Protestant churches in Belgium, compared to the last century. But when people talk about the Protestant church, they are more likely to talk about a collected set of Protestant churches, with the Belgian Protestant Church and the Pentecostal churches being the two most important, in addition to the evangelicals.
It is striking that among Protestant believers there are many more believers who know what the teachings of their community are. In those groups, no one will be found to deny the Trinity if they belong to a Trinitarian Protestant movement, unlike Catholics.
Over the years, there are more Catholics who are more aware that Jesus is the son of God. However, we also encounter Catholics who say that they believe that Jesus is not God but the son of God. They do not realise that this goes against Catholic teaching where it is taught that Jesus is god the son, assuming that God came to earth to deliver humanity from the curse of sin and death.
There are also many people who doubt any faith and are more likely to ask what it can bring them. People like what they do and get them something. Faith is no different.
The Catholic Church has always been a master at promising people everything. They used to go so far that people buy off their sins with indulgences. No one seemed to think that in such a case one could bribe God and that the rich could rather be remitted of temporary punishments (penitence) for sins, while people who were poor had to suffer longer in purgatory.
It is strange that those members of the traditional churches no longer asked their clergy about these matters and about the specificities of God and Jesus.
Thus one might ask:
- If God is an unchangeable eternal Spirit who no man can see, how could He appear as a man on the earth and be seen by several?
- If Jesus were God, why does he claim not to be a spirit, and can anyone who sees him continue to live while the Bible says that the man who sees God is dying?
- If God is a God who doesn’t lie, why does He claim that He knows everything and that Jesus is his son, who in turn says that he doesn’t know things, because it is only given to God to know those things?
Strange that those believers are satisfied as quickly as their spiritual leaders say that they cannot understand that, and that they should believe those many things as dogmas, even if they do not understand them.
The Catholic Church has succeeded in scaring people with many things for centuries, so that they would step in with that Catholic doctrine.
A neighbour I had suggested to come to our Anderlecht ecclesia was told by his Catholic Church that he would then commit a mortal sin.
Rather, we believe that those who continue to adhere to church rules of doctrine rather than Biblical rules that they will remain in the world of sinfulness and will not have a chance to enter God’s Kingdom.
If one wants to be able to go through the narrow gate of the Kingdom of God, we believe one would do well to live according to Biblical norms and teachings. Scripture is not as difficult to understand as many churches claim. If one reads the Bible carefully, one will gain sufficient insight to know which path to take.
In this way one can also see that God is an Eternal Spirit and that Jesus is his beloved son who has put aside his own will to fully realize God’s Will. The 66 books that make up the Bible provide a clear insight into how things are going. If there are still many questions, it is up to the spiritual leaders of the churches to give an honest and effective answer.
In the Community of Brethren in Christ, believers are open to receive outsiders and assist them with counsel.
We do admit that certain activities, such as participation in bread and wine, are only permitted to be enjoyed by believers who have enjoyed a Biblical baptism. If one really wants to become a partaker of that memorial meal, the community is open to educating you in their faith and giving you the opportunity to be baptised by immersion in water, as a sign of surrender to God and as a sign of accession to our community of faith.
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Previous
- What does the Bible say about baptism?
- Faithful to God are baptised
- The ready baptismal candidate
- Infant baptism versus baptism as an adult #4 Questions for the baptism candidate
- Questions to be posed by a baptism
- Finding faith formation and a baptismal place
- Prayer to God for the fulfillment of the baptismal candidates
- On to a baptismal ceremony
- Reception of Peter at Cornelius’ house and a baptism of Gentiles
- Those who chose a different path
- Our first baptisms in our brand-new ecclesia
- Reading at the May 5, 2024 baptism service
- Joyous news on 5 May 2024
- Congratulations for baptism
- Why were Catholics not allowed to take communion during baptismal service
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Additional reading
- Only One God
- God is one
- Jesus son of God
- Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God
- Jesus son of God or god the son
- Christ begotten through the power of the Holy Spirit
- Son of God perceived as failure
- Trinity matter
- Trinity – The Truth about God
- Trinity Behind a false doctrine
- Trinity history
- Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #2
- God’s forgotten Word 6 Lost Lawbook 5 Heretics
- Living as a believer in Christ
- Antwerp Ecclesia
- Holland Week of billing
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Further related
Reading at the May 5, 2024 baptism service
From the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-48
“34 Now Peter began to speak and said:
“I absolutely perceive that The God does not show partiality, 35 but in every nation the person fearing Him and who continues to work righteousness is acceptable to Him.
36 You are aware of the message that He sent to the sons of Israel proclaiming peace by means of Jesus Christ, that this One is Master of all.
37 [You are aware] of the events that occurred throughout all of Judea–beginning first in Galilee and the baptism preached by John– 38 how The God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with holy Pneuma and with Power. He then went traveling everywhere, doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, because The God was with him.
39 Now we are witnesses of everything he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. [The Jews] killed him by hanging him on a tree.
40 The God raised up this person on the third day and granted him to become visible.
41 Not to all the people but rather to witnesses who had been chosen by our God beforehand. To us, who ate and drank together with him after he was resurrected from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to give our testimony that this is the One appointed by The God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 On this matter all the prophets bear witness–everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins on the basis of his name.”
44 As Peter was speaking these words the holy Pneuma fell upon all those hearing the Word. 45 Now Peter and those of the Circumcision with him were amazed that the gift of the holy Pneuma was poured out on non-Jews. 46 For they were now hearing all of them speaking in tongues and exalting The God.
Then Peter responded:
47 “Surely no one will refuse the water of baptism to these who have received the holy Pneuma just as we have?”
48 And so Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Afterwards they asked Peter to remain for several days.” (Acts 10:34-48 MHM)
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Participants bonded together into one body
In the ecclesiae of Christadelphians, members meet regularly to pray with each other and share bread and wine together.
There is also an annual high day commemorating Jesus’ last supper. This year, that commemoration celebration will take place on Monday 22 April. That evening, 14 Nisan is commemorated in recognition of God’s acceptance of Jesus’ ransom offering, offering Himself as a Lamb before God and instituting the Last Supper as an event to be repeated regularly.
At the service of remembrance Jesus Christ initiated at the “last supper” on Nisan 14 he broke bread and asked his disciples to do that likewise in the future. Jesus commands us to do this (eat bread and drink wine) in remembrance of him, until he comes. For followers of Christ, it is an important message and an act of connection with the master teacher.
As Paul expounds later, doing this is a participation (communion, fellowship, partnership) in the body and blood of the lord. He also emphasises that this is a communal act, and the participants are bonded together into one body. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
“16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not [the] communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not [the] communion of the body of the Christ? 17 Because we, [being] many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Darby)
As brothers and sisters, we want to go through life united and testify for the Nazarene teacher who declared himself willing to stand up for us and even die for us.
Before Jesus was betrayed, he had prayed that there could be unity among his followers. He said:
“20 And I do not demand for these only, but also for those who believe on me through their word; 21 that they may be all one, as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one, as we are one; 23 I in them and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one [and] that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and [that] thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23 Darby)
Note in which directions this unity extends. There is unity between Jehovah God and His son Jesus Christ. Likewise, there is unity between Jesus and his followers. These followers should be one with Jesus and His heavenly Father as Jesus is one with His heavenly Father. Some wrongly see Jesus’ unity with God as a reason to assume that Jesus would then be God. They then forget the text that people should also be one with Jesus and with God as Jesus is one with his heavenly Father. Their way of thinking would then mean that people are also God and would even be God. (So that mindset is more likely to invalidate their Trinitarian thinking.)
We must even recognise that Jesus expects that « All » his followers should be one, not only those who lived then, but that it also concerns those who, by their word — that is, by the word of his disciples — in him would put faith, so that this unity extends into the future and includes all true Christians living today.
At the same time, that unity reaches into heaven to enclose Jesus Christ and Jehovah God, so that his followers could be — as Jesus put it — „in us be one”. And that being one is what will now be commemorated and highlighted next Monday on Nisan 14.
This memory is not merely a ritual, it is something to think about, and it is a time for self-reflection. It is a look back at what Jesus received from his heavenly Father, Jehovah God. But also what Jesus did with those received gifts, such as performing miracles. In addition, it is also a special commemoration of the Lord’s Supper, when Jesus and his apostles were together around the table and saw Jesus break bread and say a blessing over it. Then Jesus indicated that he would hand over his body and that blood would flow. But from then onwards, his blood would be a sign of a New Covenant between God and people.
We cannot imagine a stronger and closer unity than that which exists between Jehovah God and his son, Christ Jesus.
“23 For *I* received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was delivered up, took bread, 24 and having given thanks broke [it], and said, This is my body, which [is] for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye shall drink [it], in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye announce the death of the Lord, until he come. 27 So that whosoever shall eat the bread, or drink the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty in respect of the body and of the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man prove himself, and thus eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29 For [the] eater and drinker eats and drinks judgment to himself, not distinguishing the body. 30 On this account many among you [are] weak and infirm, and a good many are fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, so were we not judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-31 Darby)
Jesus asked whether his disciples could be included in the closest family association of God, a privileged sonship. The apostles should have seen „the glory as of a Only Begotten of the Father”.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;” (John 1:14 Darby)
They learned how to be one with each other and with Christ. They also proclaimed that their followers should take care to be one. So they had to
„preserve the unity of the mind in the unifying bond of the peace”
and had to be aware that there is one body and one spirit, as those who call themselves followers of Christ were called
« in one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, by all and in all.
Given the many things they jointly possessed, what a closely connected and contiguous body its followers must have become!
The apostle Paul compares the community of followers of Christ to a human body. That body has several limbs, but they still belong to that one body.
Our religious community also consists of many people from different nations. Each ecclesia in turn, has many members, and all its members belong to the same body of that religious community. That body of Brothers and sisters in Christ, however many, form one body. Together they are connected to and in Christ, baptised with one Spirit soaked, absorbed into that one body.
This coming weekend and Monday to Tuesday, we remember, that through Christ and through one Spirit, we have all become one body in the name of Christ.
These special days we are thinking in particular that there should be no division in the body, but that we, as brothers and sisters, as the members of that one body, care for each other equally.
“12 For even as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also [is] the Christ. 13 For also in [the power of] one Spirit *we* have all been baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bondmen or free, and have all been given to drink of one Spirit. 14 For also the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot say, Because I am not a hand I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body? 16 And if the ear say, Because I am not an eye I am not of the body, is it on account of this not indeed of the body? 17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where the hearing? if all hearing, where the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them in the body, according as it has pleased [him]. 19 But if all were one member, where the body? 20 But now the members [are] many, and the body one. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, I have not need of thee; or again, the head to the feet, I have not need of you. 22 But much rather, the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those [parts] of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness; 24 but our comely [parts] have not need. But God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to [the part] that lacked; 25 that there might be no division in the body, but that the members might have the same concern one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-25 Darby)
Let us not lose sight of that message, of that last meeting of Jesus and his apostles around the table in the upper room in Jerusalem, and grow in love for each other with the truth, under the watchful eye of one shepherd, Christ Jesus our lord, so that we will not be ashamed when we have to appear before his judgment seat.
As brothers and sisters of each other, we listen to Jesus’ voice as we unite as one flock with one shepherd.
“15 but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ: 16 from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to [the] working in [its] measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16 Darby)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep:” (John 10:11 Darby)
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Preceding
- The Gathering and Meeting for God
- Faithful to God are baptised
- God’s Words for the Pilgrimage #2 Words of God for life
- Questions to be posed by a baptism
- Brothers and sisters as one family
- The intentions of our Brussels ecclesia
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Find also to read
- Feast days in Belgium and these in our Belgian ecclesia
- 10 Nisan An entrance for a king
- Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
- Most important day in Christian year
- “Let My People Go, that they may serve me!”: The Passover & The Exodus.
- Today’s Thought (August 19): “Watch and pray”
- The son of David and the first day of the feast of unleavened bread
- The Anointed One and the first day of No Fermentation
- Day of remembrance coming near
- 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
- 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
- 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
- 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
- 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
- Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution
- Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations
- Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory
- On the first day for matzah
- Most important weekend of the year 2016
- Preparing for 14 Nisan
- Preparing for the most important weekend of the year 2018
- The Most important weekend of the year 2018
- Soon it shall be Erev Pesach and Passover 2019
- Another year of 14 Nisan with restricted access
- Celebrating the evening of 15 April 2022 as a festival to Jehovah God
- Preparation for Passover
- Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
- Observance of a day to Remember
- Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal
- Coming together for a meal to remember a special lamb
- Passover 7 days of meditation opening a way to conversion
- The Last Supper was a Passover meal
- Bread and Wine
- How should we worship God? #7 The Breaking of Bread
- A new exodus and offering of a Lamb
- New Covenant Possesses
- Jesus the suffering man who called to God
- Imprisonment and execution of Jesus Christ
- Lost senses or a clear focus on the one at the stake
- Death of Christ on the day of preparation
- Ransom
- Ransom for all
- After the Sabbath after Passover, the resurrection of Jesus Christ
- When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name
- Those who Jesus can call friends
- Be Honest
- A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus
- Being one in Jesus, Jesus in us and God in Jesus
- Bible Students and House Churches
- Fellowship over meals
- En Soma: One Body
- Unity
- To whom do we want to be enslaved
- a Strong Family doesn’t just happen
- United people under Christ
- Commitment to Christian unity
- Atonement And Fellowship 4/8
- Atonement And Fellowship 6/8
- The Ecclesia
- #Peace . . . Praying together
How to find out that you belong to God’s people and are a chosen one
In many churches, people hear talk about God’s People. There are those who claim that these are no longer the Jews but the Christians. By this they mean those Christians who worship the Trinity. those Trinitarians then say that preaching is only for God’s people and that only the elect are saved.
The question here is who they see as chosen ones. The fact is that one can agree that only « elect » may acquire salvation and be blissful who will be allowed to reside in the Kingdom of God.
However much certain Christians may want it, one cannot exclude the Hebrew People from their role. The believing Jews belong to the People of God anyway – undeniably!
All people on earth are given the opportunity to know about God. They can see around them and find the wonders of the Lord. In more developed areas, people can also come into contact with the « written Word of God« . For example, one can say that many people can read the Bible. That Book of Books talks about a saviour who would come. That leader of trust is also said to be the Christ and the Bread of Life. That life-giving bread is at everyone’s disposal. It has been given to the whole world.
The question is who is hungry for it. Are those around us hungry? Are you hungry for what seems so elusive to many?
However, the sent of God is not as elusive or incomprehensible as many think. God is understanding and knows the needs of man. He wants to go into it, but he does want people to look for it.
God wants to satisfy you. He made His son pay the ransom for you and I, even all humanity. Christ Jesus was not haughty, but humbled himself and let sinners come to him. He received and ate with them.
Jesus Christ can be seen as the only mirror of election and the only ground of salvation. Our concern and need do not save us, but only faith in him. Jesus is the chosen one of God who was authorized to act as the ruler of the mentor and completer of faith.
True faith is a gift of grace from God. In this world there are many who call themselves Christians and claim that as believers they belong to that People of God. But when we speak to them and hear how they do not worship the God of Christ, but a deity they call the « Holy Trinity, » we realize that they have deviated far from the truth and still have a long way to go. to be counted with that People of God.
As a community of believers, or ecclesia, we can only act as servants and invite everyone to become a participant in the pilgrimage to the narrow gate of the Kingdom of God. By opening our doors to everyone who wants to hear, we will be able to help people hear and allow the Spirit to penetrate them. For it is God’s Spirit who determines everything. It is He who calls people to Himself and gives them insight. We as servants of God can only position ourselves in such a way that we give people direction to get to know both Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Father.
We must be ready for the hungry and thirsty. As brothers and sisters, we must welcome outsiders and make them as pleasant as possible without going against the Will of God. Brotherhood with Christ must always come first and that family, being a child of God, must persuade people to also want to become children of God.
Only when the conditions described in the Bible are met can one proceed as a child of God and become part of the blessed People of God.
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Previous
- Beginning of a Pilgrimage
- There were also loyal persons among the Jews
- Gathering and meeting for God
- A world where one must make oneself clearly known #1 From the first to the 19th century
- Choose the right name for your travel registration
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Additional texts
- Creator and Blogger God 6 For His people
- On the Edge of Believing
- Seeds and weeds for being the greatest nation
- Should church members question preachers about the doctrine that is not in the Holy Bible?
- Israel – A look at the land and people of Israel
- A Community to be holy
- When believing in God’s existence and His son, possessing a divine legislation
- God’s Plan, Purpose and teachings
- Marriage of Jesus 10 Old and New Covenant
- Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
- Inculturation today calling for a different attitude
- Culture War Christianity in American history
- Right wing thinking – Christian Nationalism – Extremism – Fascism – Nazism
- Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart
- No shepherds in the field in December
- Christians are increasingly mixing and matching their faith in unexpected ways
- Directions to the Called ones
- A non-degrading people
- Lovers of God, seekers and lovers of truth
- We are redeemed; we are “bought with a price”
- Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones
- Pesach and a lot of brokenness in the world
- God calls us His people, and we call Him our God
- God’s promise for his people
- Today’s thought “Being made prosperous and numerous on conditions” (May 13)
- Today’s Thought “Given for a light to the Gentile” (June 24)
- Thought for today November 6: Jews coming with fear unto Jehovah and to His goodness in these latter days
- Today’s thought “Joining with their brothers” (November 22)
- Today’s thought “Call to listen to God ” (December 08)
- Today’s thought “How have I burdened you?” (December 08)
- Today’s thought “What sorrow awaits rebellious people” (December 17)
- Today’s thought “Crisis among believers” (December 20)
- Why is the nation of Israel being restored?
- The Return of Israel
Questions and answers
In the section « Questions and answers » we want to answer questions that may arise with you. We understand that a lot of questions may arise when you read some of our articles or when you hear the differences that exist in the many churches of Christianity.
There are many dogmas in the many denominations that do not surprisingly raise many questions among many people. Some even drop out of faith, instead of wanting to search further.
However, one must dare to question faith and dig deeper. Only in this way can one come to true faith.
As a community of faith, we try to show as many people as possible the way to that only true faith, namely the faith in one God and the faith in His son who presented himself to Heavenly Father as a ransom for our sins.
If you have a question on your lips, if you please, dare to ask us. Do not be afraid. We will always try to answer your questions.
Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht 