Stewart Topping's Weekly Newsletter September 9, 2011

Salvation is just believing 1 Cor. 15:1-4 Sometimes it important to let your family and friends know about Jesus Forward this message to a friend *********** The only way to get saved! 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NKJV)  1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved,if you hold fast that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and thatHe was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ( plus nothing) Anything you add to these scriptures above would be considered works. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Remember He died for all of us before we knew Him and before we understood we were sinners.  All we have to do is believe the death, burial and Resurrection for the free gift.  (If someone gave you a gift you wouldn''''t say your sorry!)  I hope you believe that Jesus was raised by the Holy Spirit.  This is the same Holy Spirit that we receive by believing and are sealed with. 2 Corinthians 1:19-22 (KJV)  19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  Please don''t work for your Salvation. Link to my Website

Stewart Topping''s Weekly Newsletter September 9, 2011 {FIRST_NAME|Reader} The Body of Christ is the Mystery that the Apostle Paul revealed to the Church.  The Mystery that was spoken by Paul in his writings is the dispensation of Grace.  This was the gospel of Paul, in which we might be saved, receive the Holy Spirit and become part of the Body of Christ.(1 Cor. 15:1-4)  The body of Christ is neither Jew nor Gentile, it is born again believers who have received the Holy Spirit..  Let me know what you think about the article.  God Bless and have a Blessed week!                                                         What do you believe? Here is a survey conducted by USA TODAY  and is very interesting. Many beliefs, many paths to heaven? By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds.  Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven''s gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian group — Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists or people with no religion at all — who may also be saved, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. This means 52% of Christians do not agree with the doctrines many religions teach, particularly conservative denominations.  Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, calls the findings "a theological crisis for American evangelicals. They represent at best a misunderstanding of the Gospel and at worst a repudiation of the Gospel."  Read More >>>> Today there are many who believe that there are many ways to Heaven as this article says.  It is exciting that God has given us the “Body of Christ”; as a group of dedicated believers that can come together to help each other learn God’s word and how to live a Christian life. Let me give you an illustration that might seem funny but think of the truth behind it…. Let’s say that God decided to require certain attire in order to get into heaven, everyone has to wear a Dark Blue Jacket and Light Brown Pants or Skirt and solid Black shoes.  Some people would say I don’t agree that God knows what he is talking about, some would say I don’t like Blue and Brown together, some would say he meant something else and some would go along with the program. At the beginning those that believed in God would follow the instructions.  Over time some would change the solid Blue to a lighter Blue, some would change the Light brown pants to a darker shade.  The reason that they are making change is that someone is telling them that God meant to allow a variety of shades but it was translated wrong.  Some say the Hebrew is correct; some say the Greek is right.  We must not believe other people, it is important that we to study to prove the truth.  As time goes on the color of the clothes changed to Yellow Jackets and Green Pants, and all shades were now acceptable. Everybody thinks they are going to heaven. It is the same as changing the instructions in the book over a period of time.  Our problem is by allowing other to lead us, error is introduced.  Now we have different books with different instructions.  Now we know that God wrote the instructions for us to follow in a book for us to read and understand; and He gave us an instructor, the holy spirit, to help us understand what we are to wear. What are the requirements to go to heaven.  This is why the “Body of Christ” is very important.  It is a group that can bring us into the “Unity of Faith”.  Some would think that a quick mind is the key to understanding but in truth those that are spiritually minded can obtain the understanding. Ephesians 4:13-14 (KJV) 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; What's is nice is that only a true believer has the discernment to understand God word, the Bible.  If each person thinks that they have the truth and they think the other person needs to be instructed; then how do we reach the unity of faith?  It would seem that we have to come together and reason together with the instructions in the book.  When we were born again by the Holy Spirit we received the teacher to help explain the book.   John 14:25-26 (KJV) 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. We cannot have different opinions about who we are in Christ, or how we can receive salvation.  We can not have different interpretation about the Bible.  If you think about the different beliefs concerning salvation or Christian understanding is a lot like the example I used with different colors of outfits that are were required to entrance into Heaven. Picking and choosing what we believe confuses more Christians and posting our beliefs on the wall at our Church or placed in a bulletin will not work.  They need to see us operating by the spirit of God and in the unity of faith. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (KJV) 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man''s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. This is what I see in these verses; 1. Mans wisdom does not teach, only the Holy Spirit teaches 2. The natural man (unsaved) cannot receive anything of God 3. If you have the mind of Christ he will instruct you. It is exciting to know Jesus personally and to know He loves us.  He will take care of us if we spend time with him and his people.  He has not left us alone; He has given us the power that raised Him from the dead to live within us.  Praise God. Link to my Website