The COG Catholic

I tried to explain Christmas was pagan to my first grade teacher. I've come a long way.

Baptism does not take the place of grace. It IS grace -- and a channel OF grace.

How can the Christian be assured of eternal life? My old quasi-Christian church taught we needed to "qualify for entrance into God's kingdom" through a life of obedience. But what was the standard for passing the qualification test? I never knew. It was disconcerting. Now I know the plain truth. In the simplest terms: repent, be baptized, and believe the gospel; then be sure not to die in the state of mortal sin. That doesn't necessarily make it easy, but it makes it clear.