Do the Churches of Christ deny the power of the Holy Spirit?

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stantonlogan

New member
This may seem like a strange question but I've been wondering this ever since a friend of mine told me about his "Christian" beliefs. He goes to a local Church of Christ. He has told me that he believes that, besides believing in baptism as necessary for salvation, he believes that you must do "good works" in order to go to heaven or to keep from "losing" your salvation. After hearing that, I started thinking to myself if he is denying what the Holy Spirit can and will do? I mean let's look at the facts. He believes that it is he who has to work out things in his life to go to heaven, not the Holy Spirit. Yet the Bible refers to our own works as "filthy rags." I then told him that once you are saved, it is the Holy Spirit that comes into you and does these things for you, yet he seemed to deny these things. So is it true that people from this denomination denies what the Holy Spirit can do in ones life? If there's any Church of Christ people to answer this question, please explain why you do or do not believe this. Everyone else just give me your comments on this.
Good point David, I thought they may have been a cult and of course i do not believe in baptism to go to heaven, only as a sign and act of obedience after you get saved. Good comments so far
Simon, where in the Bible does it say you can't know for sure if you're going to heaven or not. What's that verse in 1 John, can't remember which, but John writes "These things i write to you so that you MAY KNOW that you have eternal life." If you could lose it, then you don't know if you will still have it once you are saved unless you rely on your OWN works, not the Holy Spirit. What many religions and denomination do not teach is that once you are saved, you are guided by the Holy Spirit, not yourself. Since the Holy Spirit is God and cannot do wrong, He will never lead you astray. Yes you're still going to sin, yes you're going to fall into temptation at times, but if you're truly saved, the Holy Spirit is there to help steer you away from those things. Therefore, you will not want to continue to consistantly sin in the first place. That is the power of the Holy Spirit and not of man.
Wacky, that was kinda of a wacky comment about 2 kinds of christians. Sounds like your saying christian can be believers or non-believers??? And it also sounds like you're saying the Holy Spirit isn't Holy after all???
Excellent comment JC. That is what so many of these people do not get. They believe that since we believe in OSAS that we can just sin and do whatever we want when we want, but that is not true. We have indeed made a commitment to him. A person who claims to be Christian yet continues in the life of sin without any feeling of guilt and remorse probably isn't saved to begin with.
 
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petsnakes

Member
I'm not sure about the Church of Christ specifically but there are several denominations who believe that the gifts of the Spirit are no longer active in the world, that God took them away after the apostles died off.
 
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Quinn

Member
people have there own beliefs bout the christianity thing i don't believe you need to be baptized with water just by the holy spirit and you can not loose your salvation if you truly believe in god and repent as long as you follow the path
 
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HeartoftheMatter

New member
The Gift of the Holy Ghost

All honest seekers of the truth can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, leading them to Jesus Christ and His gospel. However, the fulness of the blessings given through the Holy Ghost are available only to those who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and remain worthy.

After a person is baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders lay their hands on the person's head and, in a sacred priesthood ordinance, confirm him or her a member of the Church. As part of this ordinance, called confirmation, the person is given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is different from the influence of the Holy Ghost. Before baptism, a person can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time and through that influence can receive a testimony of the truth. After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, a person has the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead if he or she keeps the commandments.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=e2462f2324d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
 
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wacky_racer

New member
First thing first... there are two kinds of Christians, the believers and the unbelievers that Jesus is the Christ. Second, let us go to the Holy Spirit, is it guided by principles or by Image? Because you have asked them based on your statement about salvation and works. Look, we have worked but does our works keeps our Paradise clean and dandy? Is the guiding influence of the lead of the Holy Spirit, holy? If then and only then, let those who have ears, listen, and those who have eyes, see... Peace, in the name of Jesus.
 
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david

Active member
Don't let their name deceive you. The "Church of Christ" is a cult that leads to eternal torment in hell: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Church%20of%20Christ/cult.htm

True salvation does not demand water baptism.

True salvation is only by believing in Jesus alone for salvation, without adding any of your own works (John 3:16, John 6:29).

The truth about Jesus is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal hell, is by believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died on the cross for our sins as FULL PAYMENT for all our sins, and then Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe in Jesus alone for salvation, and you will be in heaven, no matter what!
 
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Christian

Member
"Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG


"Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG proof from the Gospels

Matthew 24:13,24,25 ; Luke 8:5-8,11-15 ; 12:45,46 ; 14:34,35 ; 15:13,21,24 ; 22:31,32 ; and John 15:1,2,6.


"Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG proof from Romans to 2 Thessalonians

Romans 11:17-22 ; 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 ; 9:27 ; 10:1-12 ; 11:31,32 ; 15:1,2 ; Galatians 5:4,7 ; Philippians 2:12,13 ; Colossians 1:22,23 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:5,8 ; and 2 Thessalonians 2:3.


"Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG proof from 1 Timothy to James

1 Timothy 1:5-7 ; 3:6,7 ; 4:1 ; 5:12,15 ; 6:10,20,21
2 Timothy 2:15,17,18 ; 3:14,15 ; 4:3,4
Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 3:12-14,18 ; 4:1,11-13 ; 6:4-6 ; 10:26,29,38 ; 12:15-17 ; and James 1:14,15 ; 5:19,20


"Once Saved, Always Saved" IS WRONG proof from 1 Peter to Revelation

1 Peter 1:9 ; 2 Peter 1:10 ; 2:15,16,20,21 ; 3:17,18
1 John 2:24,25,28 ; Revelation 2:5,10,11 ; 3:1-5,16 ; and 22:19.
 
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KikinaB

New member
The once saved always saved doctrine is a fundie doctrine.

Fundies are false christians. A lot of the fundies are also nutjobs.
 
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SimonH

New member
The Catholic Church being the Church founded by Jesus is guided by the Holy Spirit. Catholics believe that we are saved by grace. Doing good works is our response to God's grace. It is not the works that save us.

The Holy Spirit is not a puppeteer. He does not take away man's free will. The concept of once saved always saved was invented only recently although it has its roots Calvinism. It is an invention of fundamentalists but not even all fundamentalists accept this false doctrine. The early Christians, including the apostles, those who wrote the New Testament and the early Church fathers did not believe in the doctrie of once saved always saved.

For a person to say that he is sure of going to heaven is presumptious. The sin of presumption is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

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EDIT:

The Bible refutes once saved always saved doctrine.

Exodus 32:33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
 
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SimonU

New member
Apparently you do not know the Holy Spirit and you do not understand what being saved means. The doctrine of OSAS is based on false interpretation of the Bible.

Here is a link: http://www.bibleprophesy.org/alwayssaved.htm
 
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StoneRolledCleanAway

New member
I will send this to "Eds" he is the most knowledgeable person here on the doctrines of the Church of Christ.

Kikina B - OSAS is a BAPTIST doctrine, and a false one might I ad. We are commanded by Jesus to "bear good fruit" and if we do not "we will be pruned from the tree and cast into the consuming fire". This can only happen if you once believed and did as commanded but no longer do.

For those who are wondering the "Apocalypse" that JC 08 is talking about is the book of Revelation.
 
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