Luke 13:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Repentance is hating the thing that killed the One who died for you and me.

I will only say that any group that thinks they have it all figured out about anything except trusting in God are all full of crap.

Churches are made up of Christians

Christians are humans

Humans are fallen creatures

Fallen creatures sin

I get frustrated when people stop going to church because the people in it did bad things.....that’s never going to end and it’s been that way from day 1. To me that’s an easy excuse for people to hide their own insecurities about not attending.

Funny you say that,... all the COC’s I know are nuts. I went home with some buddies in college and their dad (super nice guy) got to talking about religion, I told him I was saved, he asked if I had been baptized, I told him yes, told him I was actually baptized in the Jordan River in Israel. He asked what denomination, I told him Baptist. He was insistent that he right then Baptize me in his chlorine pool so I could get my name in their (short) book of people who will be allowed in heaven. I graciously passed, I’ll take my chances.

They also can’t use music in church if it’s Christian music, but it’s fine to play non denominational music in church,... so they all bebopped down the aisle in weddings to Dave Mathews and Allman Brothers.

I’m Methodist now, because baptist have their share of crazies too

Good thing you found that Methodist denomination that has a stranglehold on sanity.

Forgot the sarcasm font.

They all obviously have their own issues

My apologies on being muddy.
I meant a one time repent and you are saved forever.
Repentance is a part of what we must do. Daily in order to maintain our Kingdom citizenship.
To repent is to feel remorse for ones wrongdoings, in this case feeling remorse for operating in the flesh.
Jesus immediately followed telling the ones present this in verse 5 to repent or perish basically with the parable of the fig tree.
Which is basically a man had a tree that produced no fruit so he wanted it cut down to not use up the soil.
The gardener pleaded for one more year and he would dig around it and fertilize it and if it didn’t produce fruit then they would cut it down.

Which is interpreted as God owning the tree (us) and Jesus the gardener pleading for extra time and working in us through the Holy Spirit (fertilizer) for us to produce fruit (operate in the spirit and not the flesh). But we must continue in the spirit producing fruit or we will be removed as to not use soil for a tree that will produce fruit.

I will only add that so many people professing to be Christians are not truly saved. Saying that one is a Christian but not living it out in any way is problematic. A true follower of Christ desires to live a holy life. If Christ is in us, we are a new creature. Light has no fellowship with darkness.

Methodist are no different. All churches are the same, one no better than the other.

I haven't followed this thread so forgive me if I'm off topic. I have chosen to let my kids choose for themselves. I realized that I was Christian because my folks chose that for me. I want to let my boys choose their own destiny.

So are you educating them with Biblical teachings, so they can make an educated decision? If not then they really don't have a choice, they won't chose Jesus. Your parents didn't/can't chose for you to be a Christian. That is a choice that only you can make.

"From the Greek, Metanoia-change in one's way of life resulting from penitence or spiritual conversion.

Luke 13:5 English Standard Version (ESV)
5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”"

That refers to Repentance unto Salvation - which is not works but rather, as others have noted above, changing one's mind and beliefs
about sin, sin nature, Heaven, Hell, God's Word, the truth of Christ, etc. - and accepting the invitation of Christ, by receiving Christ.

*****


The thing about the Roman Catholic Church doctrine of works plus faith (plus membership in their church) is that you see various Protestant
Denominations teaching the exact same thing.

AND.........not a single one of them, not the RCC or others, can ever state or spell out this: EXACLTY what are these works that a person
must do in order to be saved???

They should be able to give a Step by Step list, right?

Like this:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

= salvation and eternal life.


But not a single one of them from the RCC to the CoC or any others can ever do this.


Which speaks volumes.

When the Bible is CRYSTAL CLEAR that salvation is not based on works.
This is something all the pagans and false religions even know. ALL Muslims, Hindus, Sihks, atheists and agnostics know that Christianity
teaches that faith in Christ alone = salvation. Except certain people within Christianity.

Which is a bizarre reality.

I think one quick perusal of this thread and you understand why there are so many denominations.

Jesus came and broke the veil in order to create a personal RELATIONSHIP with us, and not some religion. The denomination doesn't matter as much as long as you put your faith in Jesus and live by the word of the Lord in the bible. My problem with the CoC is how their fundamentals are based upon Baptism to reach Heaven, and the completely disregard the main example on the Cross when Jesus told the thief that he will join Him in Heaven. This is a major reason as to why Jesus was sent in order to establish a personal relationship with the father based on faith and not based on works such as sacrificing bulls, lambs, getting baptized...etc. I am not saying to not get Baptized, but I just am saying that while it is important, it doesn't do anything towards your salvation.

Every denomination has their problems, but when some go against the explicit teachings of the bible is when I have a problem with them. Look at the Pope...He is leading millions astray with his lose interpretations of salvation such as when he told a kid his dad was going to Heaven because he was a "good man" and not because he put his faith in Christ Jesus. The Methodists are about to be split due to homosexuality...if you are a Christian and believe Homosexuality is ok in God's eyes, you obviously haven't read the bible. You can't pick and choose passages to believe in the bible because you don't agree with it or think "That's not my Jesus"...maybe it's you that don't know Jesus at all...My point is if you associate yourself as "I am a Christian" in my religion, then you are no different than the Buddhists, HIndu's, and any other religion. Jesus didn't desire to start or lead a religion, He desired us...He desired a personal relationship with us..He desired to give His life and blood, so that we don't have to be baptized, make a blood sacrifice, pay money, go to a temple, or go through a catholic priest/pope or any priest to know Him personally. Just my two cents...God Bless!

There is nothing wrong with going and visiting FBC, go with your eyes upward to heaven and your ears and heart listening to the word of God. Come back and talk about it as a family. At night, you and your wife pray about where to lead the family. Don't let one person or even a handful keep you from enjoying a church. You are always, always going to have those acting holier than thou. It may take more than once or twice to really get a feel for the church. Do not worry if that is not the church you are lead after you go, go try another. There is the family that is out there for you.

The devil knows pornography, alcohol, drugs, every curse word, and he also knows the Bible and realizes that there truly is a God a lot better than most of us. How do you think he knows where to get each one of us? He has talked with God and watched him. He has interacted with him one on one. The devil is in every church.

Don't let the music if it's loud turn you off. Look at the others and how they are worshipping. Is it sincere, are they filled with love for the Lord? It may look like a rock concert, but is it honest and sincere. Remember, King David was mocked for dancing and singing (too much for some, even his wife) loudly to the Lord.

Don't let one or two drunks turn you off to a place. If that was the case, many should not have gone to church with me for years, drinking/girls/not living correctly.

Yup we are all glad that y’all have the gay marriage thing figured out

Less than half the Methodist Church supports it......it's hardly what I'd call "a Methodist thing".

I say that tongue in cheek but really it breaks my heart whether Methodist, Episcopalians or whoever it is, to embrace that which God has called an abomination is the pinnacle of craziness.

Serious question, was and is Jesus that bad?

Jesus grips my heart. I stand in awe of His love for me and that while I was in rebellion against Him, He died for me. That grips my heart and my mind and I want my kids to know and experience that love for themselves, this is the passion of my life and in my opinion the greatest thing that I can pass on to them.

The fact that ANY large percentage of the Methodist Church supports is shocking.