Are Baptists Christians?

[teresahrc]

im·por·tant (m-pôrtnt)
adj.
1. Strongly affecting the course of events or the nature of things; significant: an important message that must get through; close friends who are important to me.
2. Having or suggesting a consciousness of high position or authority; authoritative: recited the decree with an important air.
3. Obsolete Importunate.
(www.thefreedictionary.com)


Emily, don't you think that some people in the Bible (and outside of the Bible) strongly affected the course of events for Christianity?

It's not that they are divine or something. It's just that God used them in a very special way. We can honor them and also imitate their good deeds.

For example, what would you rather watch? A documentary on the missionary journeys of St. Paul, or a documentary on...me?

Hopefully you would rather learn about St. Paul because as far as the gospel is concerned, he is more important than me.

15Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. (1 Corinthians 4)

7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(Hebrews 13)

10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6)

[Cepha]

Mar 21, 2009 12:17:05 GMT -5 @teresahrc said:

So we are just as important of saints as Peter and Paul?






yup.

Nope.

27Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Matthew 19)

4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. (Rev. 20)

Clearly, there are Apostles and Saints and Martyrs that have special honor in Heaven.
That doesn't mean that God loves them more, but it's silly to say that God doesn't honor certain people above others if He so desires.


teresa

Plus, don't forget the Saints who were raised from their graves in Matthew 25 or 27 at the moment of Jesus' death when the price was paid for their sins (even though most of them hadn't received Him as their personal Lord & Savior).

[Cepha]

Mar 21, 2009 12:31:10 GMT -5 emily445455 said:

IMO that doesn't make them more important, they just have a different/additional role in heaven.

I don't think important is the right word to use here.

The Saints that are in heaven that were raised on the day that Jesus died are not in slumber (sleep until Jesus comes back).

There had to be something about them that God allowed them to be physically raised (the physical ressurection is the sign of complete holiness, which is the goal of all Christians).

[Cepha]

Mar 21, 2009 19:04:56 GMT -5 @teresahrc said:

IMO that doesn't make them more important, they just have a different/additional role in heaven

Why would it matter if someone was more "important" in heaven?

"The Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."(Matthew 16)

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
(Matthew 19)

Those who have served and sacrificed the most will have the greatest honor in Heaven. Those who were the most humble will be the most exalted.

I will just be happy to be there, and will be pleased to give honor to those who God pleases that honor be given.
(and not just in heaven, but also now)

The Church has always honored Mary, the Mother of God.

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1)

48For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1)


15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. (Psalm 116)

There is definitely a heirchy in Heaven. Not all in heaven are equal. But the least in heaven is greater than John (who was the greatest on earth). If there was no heirchy, there'd be no "least" in heaven.

[cradlecathlic27]

I have heard the saying..."Its harder for a rich man to get into Heaven then a poor man." Point being that the more you give and do for the good of man, the more you will be rewarded in Heaven.

[Cepha]

Mar 23, 2009 17:21:57 GMT -5 cradlecathlic27 said:

I have heard the saying..."Its harder for a rich man to get into Heaven then a poor man." Point being that the more you give and do for the good of man, the more you will be rewarded in Heaven.

Some churches preach me, me, me, me, me.

But The Church preaches give, give, give, give, give.

Some churches ask for money for themeselves.

But The Church asks for money for your neighbor.

[cradlecathlic27]

Yeah!