Excitement and the value of the church are topics, today. Also, there is more on the possibilities and salvation of atheists. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Ricky” (Level 1 with 163 points, a member since June 5, 2013) posted the following:
Church is good right? why is church good?
Lots of people are there right; why is church exciting?
what is your answer’s? thanks
THE BATTLE AXE: Salvation for Atheists? (06/14/2013)—Baptism depicts and shows how one dies to sin, and is re-born having the Holy Spirit (we may say, reproduced from divine DNA). The believer receives sacred substance from the make-up and person of Almighty GOD that includes faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, truth, wisdom, and wrath against sin. The spirit content from GOD that also is in Christ is what qualifies a believer for heaven. Many will accomplish things that are commendable, important, and memorable by human standards, and will still not be in fellowship with Christ or the Father. Salvation and eternal life for believers are not provided on the basis of ones knowledge of the doctrines, holy writings, observances, practices, sacraments and teachings of the church. At the Second Coming, when Christ will harvest the earth to receive all those who are in communion as his redeemed and his saved, the persons lifted and transformed to be immortal and incorruptible will already have been identified as those who contain endowments of divinity that govern operation of their inner being and self-will. (See Mark 16: 9-16, Romans 6: 3-18, John 3: 6-8 and 1st Peter 1: 18-25, King James Version)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3: 14-21, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Church as a Bride? (05/15/2013); How Do I Repent? (05/16/2013); Church Mandatory? (05/06/2013); A GOD of Love? (05/07/2013); A Spirit Church? (04/04/2013); My Brother’s Keeper (04/05/2013); GOD in Schools? (12/20/2012); Naaman the Leper (12/21/2012); Unexceptional Beginnings (11/22/2012); Believing Everything? (11/23/2012); Attending Church? (11/12/2012); A Holy Kiss? (11/13/2012)
Ricky, here are some points most genuine Christian believers continue to endorse as useful:
(1) Church attendance and participation in a sacred community are intended to lend order and structure for growth in ones measure of the spirit of Christ that is deposited by GOD upon their receiving the Gospel. As a human institution that is part of the world (the man-made system for exchange and survival) the church is carnal, material, and social in its nature. However, as an institution identified through divinity and spirit content the church is correctly described as immortal, incorruptible, and invisible.
(2) While GOD is described as immutable and unchanging, human awareness is characterized by instability, lapses in focus, and shifts of attention. Even where there has been careful learning, practice and strict training, many are easily drawn away by curiosity, diversity and novelty. Mankind may innocently digress or forget; and self-will in created beings and living creatures may still respond to the non-material, non-spirit influence of sin.
(3) While fellowship within a local congregation does not replace ones individual and private experience with GOD through prayer and worship, assembly and association are necessary for developing discernment of holy substance, and ones ability to recognize the active presence of GOD within others and throughout Creation.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4) Salvation through Jesus is the sharing of a sacred ministry and priesthood. Believers are not called simply to enjoy the pleasure of personal blessings and intimate communion with GOD. There is work to be done. Included are the various tasks for demonstrating obedience and respect to divine law, fulfilling sacred promises, offering praise, participating in ongoing judgment, performing prophecy, preaching, and publishing divine proclamation.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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