The Gospel Message

1 Cor. 15:1-4,

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

We've had quite a lot of discussion about this under other posts, so i figured i would formally address it.

It seems as though many are hung up (on either side) on the phrase "Believe your sins forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus", being the Gospel message or not being the Gospel message. If you look at the wordage, and the verses I included, it IS the gospel message. The issue is how it is used and emphasized.

That phrase, has become "salvation" to some, and to them it is "the" gospel. The emphasis is all wrong. On the other hand there are those who are so turned off by it, they believe it is next to meaningless, there again the emphasis is all wrong. Again this is dealing with more than the understanding of the Gospel, but anyways.

I think i'm already getting off track. or am i? Basically what i want to say is the Gospel message, as i believe is that Christ Jesus died for my sin, rose again for my justification, and i can believe that. I have been bought by the "Gospel".

The "Laying on of Hands"

During the convention I wanted to keep an open mind and consider some of the things that people have said in the comments section. I'm not afraid to reconsider the positions I have held and so wanted to do so and see what the general atmosphere was like both with the sermons I heard and the people I talked to. Some of what I observed surprised me and some was as I had thought.

The youth gatherings will have to be blogged on by our resident youth expert, APKid. I heard some very positive things though. The ministers who led the youth gatherings were those who connect with the kids better than any convention I have attended, and I know many who really enjoyed them. Positive, upbeat atmosphere, good topics, and a sense of humor.

But back to my main topic. I overheard a conversation between a couple of men, one of whom I know and the other who I didn't recognize. It was about the laying on of hands and their position was that it was a necessary requirement for salvation. While I believe that the laying on of hands is a biblical principle and a good thing, it is not a salvation issue. More on this later. This conversation opened my eyes to a faction of the church that has a very unbiblical understanding of salvation. I do not know how big this faction of the church is (and those of you who comment will probably have widely varying opinions on that, but if you're honest you will admit there's no way to know without doing a poll) but it saddens me that there would be those who believe this.

The very next day, I listened to Wilfred S.'s sermon and he completely backed up what these two were saying. It frustrated me because it was right after a very good sermon by Ansten and was totally opposite. Immediately after the sermon [NOTE: I would have blogged on this earlier but I had to verify that this was true, and I have now verified it] Ron H. went up to Wilfred and told him that he had come across the exact opposite of how he had sounded during the ministers' meeting. Wilfred was surprised and said he hadn't intended to come across this way. It is very frustrating because a few preachers will sound one way in the ministers' meeting and then when they get in the pulpit do a 180 and come out firing both barrels. And then have the audacity to claim that they hadn't meant it that way.

I later found out that the man I had not recognised was a preacher but was removed from the roll last week during the meetings because of his fringe views. This is the silver lining that I see. There was action taken to limit this man's influence because he definitely did not belong in the pulpit espousing this wrongful view of salvation.

If the amount of people that believe this way is larger than I know, then I see a division. Because this is not the belief of the main pastors of the church I go to, and I believe that they were put there by a majority that feel the same way about it. And there is a growing frustration and resolve among those who share my beliefs that something must be done--I know this for a fact.

I'll delve a little further into the issue of the laying on of hands in the comments section. I've already gone on too long! Overall, though, I was encouraged by the many good sermons I heard and the great conversations I had over the weekend, but I wanted to address this first.

God bless you,
APwww

2006 ALC Convention Info

 I would like to welcome everyone to the 2006 ALC convention hosted by the Hockinson church.  I have included a link with dates and times.  Pray that this time will be a blessing and that God's word will be above all else.  God's Peace and love be with you!

2006 Convention Info

Freedom in Christ

 Romans 8:1-2
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

So what is this freedom from sin and death?  How do we not overstep it's bounds?

1 Corinthians 10:23 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

What then is expedient?  Where is the line between freedom from sin, and sinning itself?  Can we become 
"bondaged" by freedom?

Galatians 2:4 - And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Now that is an serious example of what can happen and i hope none of us are in that situation!

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

I hope we are all in this place.  Let me know what you think about "Freedom in Christ"

Core Beliefs

One of those things that is both a plus and a minus at the same time is the structure of the Federation. (The Apostolic Lutheran Church of America Federation, to be precise.)

The positives: each church is free to create its own identity, culture, and systems. There is no overall meddling in individual churches' business by the Central Board.

The negatives: churches develop that are 1. more legalistic than the rest or 2. more liberal than the rest--and the whole church is often judged by those. Being a loose federation (almost similar to a confederation), the church is made up of parts that constitute the whole. There is a diversity of thought and belief throughout the church.

But the core beliefs are prevalent through all the churches, as influenced by our heritage and the early Laestadian Lutheran church:

• The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God (Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost - II Peter 1:20, 21)



• The Trinity(For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one - l John 5:7)



• The Lutheran teaching of salvation through faith in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done (For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3:16)



• The baptism of believers (including infants, who are believers - Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 18:3,6)



• Holy communion (And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you - Luke 22:I5-20)



• Confession and absolution as a reassurance of the gospel.
  

  "Confession should never be taught in an exacting spirit. Neither should it be taught as a condition for salvation, but rather, as a gift of God's mercy. The only condition for salvation is scriptural faith in Jesus. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life (John 6:47)." (ALC Federation Website)




• Growing in Grace, not as "proof" of salvation, but through the Holy Spirit, and not of ourselves but of God (grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - II Peter 3:18)



• The Holy Spirit guides us to all truth and shows us the things of Jesus (Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall [show] it unto you - John 16:13,14)



• Prayer (And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask. we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him - I John 5:14).

These beliefs are all fundamental to the Apostolic Lutheran Church. There are other issues as well that I haven't talked about (millennialism, Armenianism, other -isms) but this should be good enough food for thought for now.

God bless!