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Question: What is your religious affiliation and background?

Answer:
        I understand God's plan to be simple. The Bible tells us all have
sinned (Rom. 3:23). Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (1
Cor. 15:3). God intends that the hearing of the word produces faith (Rom.
10:17). All are commanded to repent of sins (Acts 17:30). We are to
confessed unashamedly that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37;
Rom. 10:9,10). Upon this basis one is to be baptized (immersed) for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38). This is what I did.
        Those who did this were called Christians (Acts 11:23). It is my
life's effort to be a Christian, just as they were.
        A typical response to what I have said might be, "I know you are a
Christian, but what denomination are you?" The same question might be asked
of those in the 1st Century. To what denomination were those on the day of
Pentecost added? I refer to Acts 2, when the church was first established.
V. 47 indicates that the Lord added the saved to the church. Again, God's
plan is simple. When one obeys from the heart the Gospel, God adds him to
the church. The New Testament church is simply people, men and women who are
saved. This is what I am identified with. I claim no denominational affiliation.
        Now when these in the NT were saved, and added by the Lord to his
church, wherever they lived they were to meet together and worship. There
were assemblies throughout Judea and Samaria, Galatia, Asia, Macedonia,
Greece, etc. These local churches were not differing denominations, but
rather as Paul said of Timothy in 1 Cor. 4:17, ..."who will remind you of my
ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." So God's plan
includes local churches "everywhere," but all are goverened by the same
authority, the New Testament Scriptures. So on that basis I am a part of a
local assembly where I live in Hanceville Alabama.
        The church is given an important work in which to engage. It is to
be busy preaching the Gospel that the lost may be saved (1 Tim. 3:14,15; 1
Thess. 1:8). The church is to edify its members (Eph. 4:14-16). It is to
relieve its needy members (Acts 6; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). The local church of which
I am a part is seeking to accomplish this God-given mission to the best of
our ability at present, and pray that even more doors will be opened by the
Lord.
        Hope this helps. Feel free to correspond further.

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