Wow!

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>With much happiness I report to you all that her grandfather has decided to
>be baptized in the Name of Jesus sometime in the next couple of weeks! Ahh,
>you all can understand the joy that's in our hearts and the gratefulness
>that we have to the Lord for the salvation of Frank Facio Sr.

Fristly, I am thrilled that your grandfather (in-law) has come to Christ!

However, this brings some questions to mind that I've been holding
for a long time.  So, according to you mail, the fact that he is going 
to be baptized in Jesus name means he has salvation?  

I really am pretty confused about this.  I have been on this list 
since January and I still don't know what the Pentecostal "require-
ments" for salvation are.  I have read message after message, and
I have heard that you need to (I'm not specifying order): 
1) have spoken in tongues, 
2) be baptized in Jesus name (and *no* other, though God, the 
Spirit, and Jesus are one in the same, even, or especially, by the 
Pentecostal belief??) 
3) not be a Trinitarian (i.e. trinitarians are not saved)
4) have received the Holy Ghost

and a few others at different times, but those didn't seem to have
widespread support.

>From what I can tell, the process can take a long time, and there
is no way to ensure you even receive the Holy Ghost.  So you can
love Jesus with all your heart, do your best to live a Christ-
like life, share the Good News of Jesus with everyone you meet...
basically, spend your life in prayer and devotion to Jesus Christ
and still not be saved?

1 John 5:13 says "I write these things to you who believe in the 
name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal 
life."
(not to be *proof* texting ;-)

I have heard a number of sermons on this verse (and the many like
it), and find it comforting to know that I have eternal life in
Christ... so long as I do not leave Christ (but that's another
discussion ;-)  But it seems to me, all I ever hear on this list
are additions to this.  New rules stating that you also need this,
that and the other, in order to be saved.  

I am not saying it is belief alone, but if you have *real* 
belief then you will have the actions as well.  You can't really
be *in* Christ if you are currently in blatant defiance of Him,
continually sinning and not working to overcome the flesh. In 
fact, 1 John also says 2:3 "We know that we have come to know
Him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says `I know Him,'
but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is 
not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly
made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him: 
6 Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did."

But, never have I read in the bible any of these other require-
ments such as speaking in tongues, or baptism in Jesus name
and no other.  I don't mean to insult anyone or their views,
because I believe everyone is earnestly trying to do what they
believe in their hearts Jesus would want, but ... it seems 
that all these rules just make people jump through additional 
"hoops" for salvation, and I don't think that is something Jesus 
would have wanted.

I know this message will prolly bring a lot of response, but
can I say first "no flames please".  ;-)  I know I am in the
minority with these opinions... as most of the others I've 
expressed here for music, or hair or rings or whatever, but 
remember Christ when you are reposting (not that people don't
normally, but this list can go through many phases, and has
gotten pretty volatile before)

Your inquiring servant,
-Dee Goepel, dee@pobox.com
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