I was encouraged to see that the Bible is taught and the name of Jesus known in Pakistan. This is wonderful news indeed! I welcome you to use our site in educating more of your countrymen about The Way.

Onetruechurch.net is a little different than some religious internet sites in that we are not sponsored, financially supported, or directed by any specific church or religious organization. It is a group effort of 10-12 like-minded individuals who desire to see God’s truth proclaimed. Though we each are members of the Lord’s body, the site itself stands apart from any church or religious organization, and we wish it to remain so. We feel this permits us to objectively preach God’s word unhindered. Thank you for the kind offer, but we will decline at this time.

However, as I previously stated, you are welcome to use the website as a reference. We add content weekly in the form of articles and monthly in the form of short videos. Your comments and questions are always welcome.

I pray that Pakistanis will love the truth and receive the salvation of Jesus, the Son of God and mankind’s Savior.

Warmest Regards,

Wade

I am looking forward to see your kind response in this regard. God bless you and your church.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Alyas Bhatti

But I don’t think it’s necessarily the translation that is the problem, it’s lack of study AND good teaching along with the lack of a prepared heart ready to receive the Word. Those 3 thing can overcome a bad translation..

I’m not saying that to commend myself, for I have seen that happen in others as well, but just a personal observattion. There is just still so much more that I need to learn and understand.

Acts 20:20,21 “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 6:1 ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

“to think again” or have ’second thoughts’ is a good way to think of repentance. It can be humbling since it is an admission that we were wrong, but it is so much better than continuing in wrong thinking. Progress, as C.S. Lewis said, is not what happens when you keep going the wrong way, no matter how far you go down that path. But it is ‘true progress’ to turn around when you realize you are going the wrong way – that is repentance.
When we truly change our thinking, our lives really do change.

Admittedly “First Last”, I am a little confused by where you stand. In your previous entry, you state, “With all due respect, …what one must lay hold of and hold fast to is a saving faith in Jesus.” Agreed. What I wonder is what do you mean by “one must lay hold of”? This entire exchange is predicated on the assertion that saving faith, as it is widely taught and understood, is, “something that the predestined to election receive upon hearing the word. They are zapped by God with saving faith and will then never lose their salvation.” (emphasis mine) In other words, faith is a gift which God places in you because you are unable to place it in Him. That is the doctrine of saving faith. Yet your statement implies that we are active participants, that we must lay hold of saving faith in order to be saved. If this is what you believe, on what do we disagree? No one disputes that faith is essential to salvation. The point of view expressed here is that we place our faith in God and remain steadfast for there are clear warnings against unfaithfulness. If we hold fast this hope without wavering, He who promised is faithful. If that is not what Hebrews 10:23 means, then what does it teach us?

I think it worth your while to interpret John 10:28 in light of what Jesus teaches in the opening verses of chapter 15. If the branches represent disciples, why are some “taken away…cast into the fire to be burned”? Because they are unfruitful. Why are they unfruitful? Because they do not abide in the vine. How does one abide in the vine? By keeping the commandments of Jesus and loving the brethren, two things which Jesus exemplified in His own ministry by obeying His Father and laying His life down for His friends. Whose fault is it if they fail to keep the commandments of Jesus or love their brethren? Surely it cannot be Jesus’ fault! If faith cannot fail, then why does Jesus warn His disciples about its failure in disobedience and failing to love the brethren?

Finally, after reading through all of this exchange, I am wondering where we have boasted about our own self worth? It seems to me that a Christian who sincerely examines themselves by the mirror of God’s word has no reason to boast. Nor do I see in any of the aforementioned entries of Kyle, John, Joshua or I any expressed desire to establish our own righteousness. We simply want to follow the commands of Christ, His apostles and prophets. By doing this is God made our debtor? May it never be! We just want to be obedient children and please our Abba, Father. What child does not want to please their father?

As this site’s administrator, I think you owe it to Kyle, the contributors to this thread and site, and the visitors to our site to present your case and support it with scripture. Tell us what you think the scripture teaches, not what you think we’re saying and what that means. Come, let us reason together. I appreciate your contribution to this end.