I woke up at around 12:30 am Tuesday morning with a concept that I couldn't get out of my head.  I woke up wide awake with the phrase "the biblical proof of salvation".   Proof as in a mathematical proof that proves a theorem.  Now, I don't know if it is appropriate to use the practices of mathematics on everything in the Bible, but truth is truth regardless. I spent 2 hours on this and it started with this idea.

"The law of minimalism" 

Sounds big and important but it basically is a concept of logic that if a set of conditions result in an outcome and a second set of conditions inclusive but greater than the first also result in the same outcome then only the first set is needed to get the outcome.


For use within my thought I wrote this that night.

If a set of conditions are directly stated to result in a fact or action and a second set of conditions, inclusive of the first set but greater is also stated to result in the same fact or action as the firs condition set, then only the lesser of the two condition sets is truly needed to accomplish said fact or action.

Given that I went on and started reading from the beginning of John. I was looking for where it speaks of salvation and how salvation is achieved.  There is some context that I need to keep mindful of here as well.  The crucifixion and such doesn't happen till the end of John but Jesus speaks very directly about Everlasting Life in many passages and how it is obtained.  I would read Everlasting Life as being synonymous with salvation in that context.

I'm not quite ready to write about this yet but its been percolating in my brain for the past week and the more I read and research, the more shortcomings I find with this idea of the law of minimalism.  However I did want to record part of Wednesday night home church here.

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First however for my Aunt Gloria. 

I'm sorry you found offense in what I wrote last time.  It was not meant to be offensive although in retrospect I can see how it is.  In that regard I do apologize and do so publicly.  You are stating to me that we can not both be right in our belief on baptism and what it does or signifies.  If it is true, as I believe, that an individual must believe in Jesus and his redemption of us through the crucifixion and rise to life on the 3^rd day to receive sanctification before God then belief in the Sacrament of Baptism as practiced by the Catholic Church is wrong and has led many astray.  However this is only true if my understanding of the Catholic Church doctrine is true.  I fully acknowledge my own capability for error here. 

To the heart of the underlying issue however.

Do I discount the necessity for baptism?  No, far from it. It is both an act of obedience and of spirit. It is a declaration of allegiance, a partaking of the marriage wine, a celebration of life and a representation of birth among other things.  The spiritual significance of baptism in undeniable and clearly stated several times in various places within the NT.  Acts 10:44-47 however, clearly shows the sanctification of gentiles prior to baptism by evidence of the gift of the Holy Spirit. They did not let that suffice and were baptized immediately but the order of events is clearly demonstrating a reality of belief as the instigation of sanctification.  Also, remember Mark 16:16, where Jesus said you must believe and be baptized but if you do not believe you are condemned.  Even there, belief by the individual is absolutely essential because its lack is the only proof of condemnation, while belief and baptism are both positive proofs of salvation.

That fact, that not believing alone is condemnation, is the guideline that is needed to put the necessities of salvation in proper perspective.

Jesus himself stated this and he is the final authority.

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On to House Church

Wednesday we had the Christmas celebration for my house church.  We had an assignment for the evening as well.  We were all given a number to pray about to see if the Lord would give us a word to give to the person this number represented and give it to that person at house church.  I got #8, Jamie got #15.  Of course Jamie got something for her person right away and I struggled with mine.  I don't role in the "prophetic" much I think. Now Jamie was given a word from Camilla Berrett and I received mine from David Mohr.

I'll have to post a picture of the one Camilla put together, it was beautifully presented and a wonderful message.  Here however I'll record what David wrote for me.

Your are clothed in white.  I see you walking on water with the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing on you and swirling around you.  You are walking confidently, especially, for someone walking on water!  With a peaceful smile on your face, you are walking with a purpose, a destination in mind.

The Lord is increasing your faith!  He is developing the faith you already have within you.  Faith that can walk on water! (Figuratively speaking, perhaps literal ☺)

There is a purpose to your walk!  The Lord is revealing more of your destiny, more of who you are as a son/daughter of the Most High God.  This gives you a confident walk toward the destination ahead.

Thank you much David for your word.