Seems to me you’ve forgotten two very important details, OBEDIANCE to the gospel.
“If you love me obey my commandments....”
And Baptism. “Go and make disciples of all the world baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” If baptism wasn’t critical the great commission would not emphasis it.
No. I haven’t forgotten a thing. I point out your fallacy. I have learned from the Pharasees who kept the “letter of the law” but their hearts were not with Him. They were hypocrites. They went through ALL the rituals that “looked good” and still they were not saved. Their “works” didn’t save them. DOn’t get caught in that mistake. He sees through that.
Mark7:6
[6] He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
The “He” is Christ speaking. He sees through the ritually minded. He looks at their HEARTS! NOT WORKS! NO work that you or I could do, would EVER be good enough. EVER!
“Seems to me you’ve forgotten two very important details, OBEDIANCE to the gospel.
“If you love me obey my commandments....”
And Baptism. “Go and make disciples of all the world baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” If baptism wasn’t critical the great commission would not emphasis it.
Again you focus on rituals. The thief on the cross didn’t so ANY of that. Christ is not a liar when he told the criminal on the cross next to him he’d be in heaven.
Indeed it PLEASES God to be Baptized, take Communion etc.. but it will NOT get YOU to heaven. It is what is in you HEART. Do you LOVE Him? If you do, YOU will be OBEDIENT. Just going through the motions as the Pharasees did, did NOT please Him. Don’t make the mistake of tying rituals to eternal life.
AGAIN:
In no way shape or form is speaking about the “rapture” exploiting anyones “fears”. Anyone can be a Christian.
John 3:15-18
[15] That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16] 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.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
It is NOT about rituals. It is NOT about being baptized or taking Communion. It is ALL about BELIEF! NO “work” that you do is EVER good enough.
THe thief on the cross know this. He didn’t have time for the rituals. Christ looked at his heart.
Luke 23:38-45
[38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
[39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
[40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
[42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[44] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
[45] And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Christ doesn’t lie. Mere humans DO lie - all the time - even about what it takes to have eternal life - NOT RITUALS - BELIEF!!
It’s pleasing to God to take Communion and be Baptized but that will NOT get you to heaven - it’s ALL ABOUT BELIEF. Many go through these rituals ... and their HEART is FAR FROM HIM. Don’t be fooled by those that push rituals and NOT BELIEF.