Thank you so much Unknown.

I am actually very new to Christianity and my friend told me to beware of Gospel Prosperity. Because some churches their main aim is to get donations instead.

Thank you so much to you as well.

And seriously? Because the new church that I attended actually gave me this book from Paul C.Jong and one of the church member whom I closed with told me that the Pastor got saved by the book. Now i am having mixed feeling...

So what does it means? the church not preaching the true gospel?

.
MATTHEW.13: (NKJV) = The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
.

MATTHEW.7: = You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
.

So, there are true and false Churches, prophets, teachers, Christians, etc. The former are planted by the Lord/God Jesus Christ and the latter are planted by Satan. As a novice in Christianity, you should be very wary - it's like a consumer needing to be wary of online scammers and MLMers and a pretty young girl needing to be wary of playboys, cheaters or future-adulterers, love-spellbinders, etc. Eg avoid those Churches that approve of homosexuality in Church(cf; 1CORINTHIANS.5:1-13), eg Presbyterian(PCUSA), Episcopal and certain United Methodist Churches.( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_homosexuality )

Personally, I have gone through the Jehovah Witnesses(Kingdom Hall), Pentecostal(Assembly of God) Church, Charismatic Church and Methodist Church before settling in the Baptist Church.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 12 2020, 09:49 AM

Ironically one of the Sunday service, the pastor actually talked about the verses that you just gave.

So far, the pastor sound quite promising because he got show us the verses in bible through biblegateway and explained to us.

But at the same time , I have to say the following are what the pastor preached a lot.

We believe that the Bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments only, is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and is the infallible and authoritative Word of God.

We believe that the one triune God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that Adam, created in the image of God, was tempted by Satan, the god of this world, and fell. Because of Adam’s sin, all men have guilt imputed, are totally depraved, and need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit for Salvation.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God, was born of a virgin, baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, crucified as the Lamb of God, rose again from the dead, and ascended to heaven, where He is presently exalted at the Father’s right hand.

We believe that salvation consists of the remission of sins, the imputation of Christ’s righteousness, and the gift of eternal life, received by faith alone, apart from works.

So this church I attended focus a lot on the John the Baptist. It is through him, John the Baptist who baptised Jesus and also represent all of us been baptised by Jesus so that our sins are forgiven and we are saved

Just remember to keep your eyes on God, MasBoleh because only in God alone is life. In ourselves we have no power.

Too often after awhile, we tend to look at ourselves as a yardstick.

This is the nature of the flesh.

.
LUKE.23: = 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
.

https://www.allaboutgod.com/is-baptism-nece...r-salvation.htm - Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation

I doubt the young Jewish robber who entered Paradise by believing in Jesus as the Christ/Messiah at LUKE.23, was water-baptized. Note that his crime/sin of robbery only caused him to die young on earth, and not sent him to hell. His faith in Jesus Christ saved him from hell.
....... Similarly, water baptism won't save you from hell if you somehow lose faith in Jesus Christ, eg by sinning wilfully as a mature Christian = cursed by God with calamities - JOB.2:9, 1TIMOTHY.4:1, HEBREWS.10:26-31 & 6:1-8, 1CORINTHIANS.6:9-11, & 11:30, REVELATION.22:12-17.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 12 2020, 10:12 AM

Actually that is not right. The thief on the cross had sin like all of us. A sin is enough to condemn anyone to hell.

You need to be careful with your theology.

Now I am confused

on which part?

.
Truth or falsehood is judged by the Word of God through the Spirit of God that have been given to Christian believers. Not being water-baptized or not living a sinless life does not prevent a Christian believer from being saved from hell, especially a Gentile Christian, eg a repentant Gentile Christian drug-addict or HIV+ sufferer who came to believe in Jesus Christ. Only faith in Jesus Christ saves from hell. Any teaching that takes away from this fact is a false teaching. .......
.

MATTHEW.4:4 = 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
.

HEBREWS.4: = 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
.

EPHESIANS.6:17 = 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
.

JOHN.6: = 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
.

JOHN.14: = Jesus Promises Another Helper

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. ...

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

JOHN.15: = 26 “But when the [c]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

JOHN.16: = . 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ...

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

.
In the Story of Job, Job suffered for his ignorant sin(JOB.1:5 & 3:25) but he kept the faith in God/Jesus throughout his suffering, even though he was not aware why God permitted his suffering = eventually delivered from his ignorant sin/suffering and saved from hell.
....... In comparison, his wife also suffered for Job's ignorant sin and she likely lost faith in God/Jesus when in suffering, then cursed God and died(JOB.2:9) = not saved from hell.

ALWAYS KEEP THE FAITH.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 12 2020, 10:58 AM

On whether I shall continue to go to the church or not.

I understand. Because the church I attended to also mentioned countless time to believe in Jesus Christ and have faith of it.

That is why once I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and my saviour.. I edi spiritually Baptised

From there... I passed my sins to Jesus who died and Resurrected to kingdom of god.

Now my heart is sinless and I am Spiritually connected to God. (3 witnesses)


So you see the teaching of the church is not wrong I think. This is the right gospel

Just that the church focus a lot on John the Baptist and how he was chosen by god and given an important mission which was to baptised Jesus and represent all of us to be baptised by Jesus at the river of Jordan

For me personally I think churches that focus it's preaching on Jesus Christ (predominantly) would be the right church to go to.

Try my explanations at https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4886095 , especially about Gentile Christians.

If you are still young, just take your time to decide by learning more about the different Churches and teachings/doctrines as compared to the Word of God/Bible.


.
REVELATION.22: = A Warning

18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
.

Just like how people can add or subtract from the Book of Revelation, false prophets/teachers can add or subtract to the Gospel of Salvation. Eg, during the time of apostle Paul, the false Judaizers wanted to add Moses Law to the Gospel of Salvation by requiring new Gentile Christians just converted by Paul, to also keep all of Moses Law.

OTOH, today we have false liberal Christians who subtract from the Gospel of Salvation by approving unrepentant homosexuals in Church, eg gay bishops/pastors, and/or teaching the false Hyper-grace doctrine where Christians may confidently sin wilfully without any risk of losing their salvation = as if the blood of Jesus Christ has given them the license-to-sin or Get-out-of-jail-free card. In truth, the blood of Jesus Christ only gave Christian believers the Get-out-of-hell-free card.
....... Eg misguided mature Christians who go and commit murder, adultery, etc will likely soon be cursed/executed by God or His agents(= police/court-judges) and they may be saved or not saved from hell depending on them keeping the faith or losing the faith when they die a horrible death - 1CORINTHIANS.5:5.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 12 2020, 12:03 PM

Noted. Thank you so much 🙏
So you are saying all the churches that focused on false gospel shall be avoid right?

But because I am still new, so I am not really sure which one is right and which one is wrong. That’s why it got me worry as if I will to become a Christian, I wish to be a true Christian that follow the right gospel.

.
Yes, you should avoid any Church that has been proven by the Word of God/Bible to teach a false Gospel of Salvation, eg by adding to or subtracting from the Gospel.

This is in accordance to the motto;

IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY AND IN ALL THINGS CHARITY OR THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST/GOD.

In essential matters of the Gospel of Salvation, a false Church should be avoided, eg Christian cults who deny Jesus Christ was/is God or teach salvation is by works or by works+faith, ie not by faith alone.
....... In non-essential matters of keeping burdensome or non-burdensome laws/commandments of God, true Churches may differ from one another and they and their members should be at liberty or tolerant with each other in their differences, eg one true Church may emphasize water baptism by immersion just as a memorial about repentance from sins or may encourage the eating of only kosher/clean foods or the strict observance of Sabbath Sunday for Church attendance, ie not as a necessity or requirement for salvation - ROMANS.14:1-5. A true Church will not treat law-keeping as essential for salvation since it is by faith alone; but a true Church will warn against willful law-breaking resulting in being cursed/punished by God with calamities, which may put their salvation at risk due to loss of faith.
....... In all things, the brethren-in-Christ should love one another, as has been commanded by God/Jesus in His Bible/Word, ie not try to murder another or report another to the mods in this forum. During the Protestant Reformation, the Lutheran Christians killed Anabaptist Christians over the non-essential matters of water baptism and transubstantiation in the Holy Communion/Mass.

Apostle Paul, or formerly Saul of Tarsus, was an apostate and murderer against God and Christians, yet he repented and was saved from hell by Jesus Christ/God, even though later he had to suffer for his past sins. IOW, no sin/law-breaking can stop a person from being saved from hell by faith in Jesus Christ, as long as he/she repented and always keep the faith until the very end, eg a repentant Gentile drug-addict/alcoholic/chain-smoker who comes into faith in Jesus Christ does not need to be forced by the Church to quit his/her addiction cold-turkey as part of law-keeping or a requirement to be saved from hell.
.

This post has been edited by lurkingaround: Feb 12 2020, 05:34 PM

Based on what you wrote, the church I went not necessary a fake church as it still focus on faith alone.

Just the emphasise a lot on John the Baptist .. for the salvation instead.

I did ask the pastor, pastor said spiritual baptised is suffice, the actual baptism is just for symbolic.

So far I have not seen this church emphasis on work or work + faith to be save by Jesus Christ.

Based on what you wrote, the church I went not necessary a fake church as it still focus on faith alone.

Just the emphasise a lot on John the Baptist .. for the salvation instead.

I did ask the pastor, pastor said spiritual baptised is suffice, the actual baptism is just for symbolic.

So far I have not seen this church emphasis on work or work + faith to be save by Jesus Christ.

Hi MasBoleh, do not worry. Whatever it is, just continue to focus on reading & understanding the Holy Bible especially the Gospel with the guidance from the Holy Spirit. In time to come with persistance, you will definately be able differentiate the right from the wrong.

With regard to another question doubting whether one should go to church or otherwise, be careful for it is the work of the evil one, always creating doubts, just to seperate us from God.

God bless.

Well yes Water Baptism is a public declaration.


Salvation is the finish work of Jesus Christ. God the Father has made it accessible to the point of our Faith.

Think about it...how God has considered what we can do.


* because of Salvation depends on how obedient we are or how good we are.......nobody can achieve that. Why? God says we break 1 law is as good as breaking all of it, so think about it, if we were to maintain our salvation by that.

The Gospel is about "good news' and being saved by Christ is good news indeed rather than we try to be saved by our performances which is not really good news.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Feb 13 2020, 08:47 AM