Results 81 - 96 of 96
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: Lionstrong Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
81 | Selfish or Self-interest? | Phil 1:23 | Lionstrong | 4529 | ||
1 Matt 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Matt 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Matt 22:39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' Do not the above verses show that the Gospel appeals to self-interest, and that there is a place for self-interest? What's the difference between self-interest and selfishness? Was Paul's desire to be with the Lord out of selfishness or self-interest? Isn't saying Paul's desire was not in Christ the same as saying it was sinful? How can a desire that is out of Christ be right? And did Paul say that his service on earth for Christ was BETTER or necessary? Phil 1:24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. And if it's a matter of serving the Lord, can the Lord be served on earth only? And what is the place of altruism in the Christian life? Thanks charis and Hank for your answers and comments. I'm not trying to be mean or smart, but the selflessness in your answers sound more Kantian than Christian. But I'm grateful for your responses. This is a real question for me; I did not ask my question to engage in an intellectual exercise, although I do enjoy the give and take in our discussions. |
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82 | Is a Christian two persons? | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3208 | ||
Does a man become two persons when he becomes a Christian, the old man or self and the new man or self? | ||||||
83 | Dead but not gone? | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3323 | ||
Thanks, Prayon, for responding to my question. You seem to imply that because something is dead it does not exist, but we were already dead before we were saved. "...you...were dead in tresspasses and sin..." Ehp. 2:1. So what do you make of that? Thanks again. | ||||||
84 | Dose "Old Nature" equal "Flesh" | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3324 | ||
Thanks, Lifer, for your answer. Please read my response to Prayon. What's the difference between "old nature" and "flesh?" Thanks again. | ||||||
85 | Who's sinning? | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3379 | ||
Thank you Prayon and Lifer for your patients and perseverance. I love this forum. I think it’s a great place for iron to sharpen iron and for Christians to work on becoming of one mind on the things of the Lord. But let me press you a little bit further on this, if I may. I John 3:9, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”(NJKV) I know some translations soften this, but I won’t quibble. (Now follow me on this.) 1st point: Animals cannot sin. (Your comment on animals also implies this, I think.) Only persons can sin. 2nd point: So when sin is committed, it is committed by a person, not an animal or thing. 3rd point: A nature is a thing. It determines behavior, but it is a thing, not a person. 4th point: Our new man (or self) with its new nature, born of God, cannot sin. 5th point: We sin. 6th and finally: If only a person can sin, and our new man cannot sin, who’s sinning? Thanks again and peace in the Lamb. |
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86 | What is sin? | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3729 | ||
I’m pleased with the flow of our discussion so far, Lifer. I started with a rather speculative question on the nature of regenerate man and we’ve moved to the more foundational subject of sin. Thank you for hanging in there, and I thank you for the time you took to give such and extended answer. By God’s grace we’ll continue to make progress. I hope, after we come to one mind on the more foundational issues underlying my first question, we can get back to my first question. Understanding what sin is is important because it is that for which the Lord Jesus came to save his people from. It is that for which the wage of death is paid. It is that which separates us from our God. (I wax eloquent.) And I agree with you that what ever sin is, it is both internal (in our hearts) and external (in our words, gestures and deeds). But what is sin? What makes sin sin? The same could be said of anything. What makes a thing a thing? In order for something to be a thing it has to fit into certain categories or else it ceases to be one thing and becomes another thing. In order for something to be a dog it has to have certain characteristics or else it’s a cat or a cow, or a hairy man on all fours. In your answer you define two things, sin and sins (or sinning), and I agree with much of what you said about both. But they are two different things, and I think it becomes confusing. In your definitions "sins" is not the plural of sin nor "sinning" its verb form. I’ve come to accept a biblical definition that will appreciate, capture and combine your two things into one. It's not one I've developed; it's been around for a long time. What makes sin sin, be it in the heart in the form of unbelief or be it overt, is the Law of God. Sin is any lack of conformity to or transgression of the Law of God. It is lack of conformity to or transgression of the Law of God to not believe in Jesus. It is also lack of conformity to or transgression of the Law of God to murder a man. Even in a most simplistic understanding the law does not deal with overt acts only, because it says do not covet, which is totally a matter of the heart. Understand, Lifer, that this definition doesn't mean you have to throw out everything you wrote. I just wish you to consider that the Law of God is internal as well as external and that it makes unbelief (as fundamental as it is) a sin as well. So we have one definition to cover both unbelief and other wrong thoughts and deeds. God says repent and believe the gospel. To not conform to or transgress this command is sin. This definition can be found in the letter our present discussion has taken us, I John. I John 3: 4 says, "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness." (NKJV) You will note, Lifer, that this would be your definition of "sins" not "sin." |
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87 | Sin and Sins? | Col 3:9 | Lionstrong | 3950 | ||
"The only sin that Christ didn't pay for is the sin of unbelief....sin of unbelief. That is the one sin that MUST be repented of... That sin, unbelief in Christ, cannot be forgiven, it must be repented of." Dear Lifer, Sorry I was unclear on my last response. Thanks for staying with me. Let's sharpen each other on this sin thing some more, 'cause like I said, your understanding of what sin is is confusing, at least to me it is. So...(1) If this sin of unblief can't be forgiving, why repent? (2)Luke 17:3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." If unbelief is the only sin that must be repented of, why does Jesus expect us to repent for acts of sins? (3)"Jesus paid for all our 'sins' - our wrong acts." If Jesus didn't atone of the sin of unbelief (and we were all unbelievers) then there's stll one sin left that we ourselves have to pay for, or rather that God has to pay us for. And the wages of sin is death. So why don't we still go to hell for this remaining debt of sin? Is God unjust so as not to punish sin? (4)"our 'sins' - our wrong acts" What makes an act wrong? Does it apply both before and after the giving of the Law? How, then, does the Law relate to it? How does it differ from the Law? Thanks again, Lifer. I do find this edifying even though it's work. Lionstrong |
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88 | Is the Scriptures historically reliable? | 1 Tim 2:11 | Lionstrong | 9580 | ||
Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, Luke 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; Luke 1:4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (there's that word "truth" again! :-) ) Am I correct in saying that though "(t)he Bible was never meant to be, and certainly isn't, a comprehensive history of the world," it is the only history that can be relied upon to be inerrant? Hank, although you said that the Word alone is inspired, some don't seem to see the implication that that means that the Word is inerrant. I thought I'd make that explicit. |
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89 | Is History Reliable? | 1 Tim 2:11 | Lionstrong | 9618 | ||
Hello, Nolan, ................ I don't understand the question. Do you mean, are historical accounts reliable, or do you mean are historical events reliable, or what? .......... Since God "works all things after the counsel of His will," historical events are what they are because God's plan is what it is, as Cornelius Van Til might have said. ............ We can rely on "each day" of history to "(have) enough trouble of its own." So we don't have to worry about tomorrow. ............. And we can rely on the historical future when Christ returns and with a word from his mouth his enemies are slain and we are resurrected to life eternal. |
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90 | Where's the line? | 2 Tim 2:23 | Lionstrong | 5499 | ||
Paul does not tell Timothy to refuse speculations, but foolish and ignorant speculations. When do speculations become foolish or ignorant. For example, does one cross the the foolish and ignorant line when he speculates that the will of fallen man is not free? Lionstrong |
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91 | Do we have a flawed New Testament? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Lionstrong | 8128 | ||
"Do we have a flawed New Testament?" .............. Hank's question is a good one because it is a question lost souls are looking for an answer for. Even new believers are asked this question or have asked it themselves. How can we equip these new believers to answer this question? How can we equip them to explain that the Word is infallible AND that 1 John 1:8 applied to the Apostles? What from the Word will equip (2 Tim 3:17) them with an answer? What from the Word will equip them with an answer for the hope that is in them? (1 Pet 3:15) |
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92 | Timothy Alone? | 2 Tim 4:5 | Lionstrong | 62965 | ||
How do you know if this command to do the work of an evangelist is addressed to Timothy alone or all believers? | ||||||
93 | Is Creation a Scientific Fact? | Heb 11:3 | Lionstrong | 59813 | ||
"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." Is creation a scientific fact? Or is the above statement false? Or (to rephrase the question) since the advent of modern science, is the above statement no longer true? That is, is it true that we no longer need to understand fiat creation by faith? Will some say, "We used to (before modern science), but now we understand it because modern science has discovered that there was a creation by God's command and has explained it to us?" Creation by fiat (i.e. "prepared by the word of God") is outside the scope of scientific experimentation and speculation, and can only be understood by faith in what God in the Bible has revealed to us. Peace, |
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94 | Why evangelize if already chosen? | 1 Pet 2:9 | Lionstrong | 4086 | ||
Dud M3 asked: I'm having difficulty understanding both this verse and the purpose of evangelism from a Calvinistic interpretation (do I understand that correctly?) If God in his wisdom has already chosen those whom will be saved, then, what is the point of sharing the Gospel with others? I understand that Jesus commands us to do so, and that is reason enough for me. But intellectually, I must admit to asking, "Why bother? Some will be saved, some won't, I can't change what God has preordained." What a depressing thought! Or, ought I find inspiration in that thought? To which I answered: Hi Dud M3! Let me add my theological two cents in trying to answer your question. I believe God has chosen His elect in Christ, so I've thought about evangelism in this context. My answer partly echoes yours and that is God commands it and that's enough. But fortunately God does not leave us with His command to evangelize (which again is reason enough), but His given us some reason for the command to evangelise. Twally in the above tree gives a reference, but I think it's helpful to quote it:(especially v. 14) Rom 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Rom 10:15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Rom 10:16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?" Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. And also this reference: Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Rom 8:30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. OK, my point and my answer, as I understand and believe God's word: Q. 1 If God in his wisdom has already chosen those whom will be saved, then, what is the point of sharing the Gospel with others? A.1 God has not only ordained the end (in this case the salvation of the elect), but He has also ordained the means to that end (the call, the preaching, i.e. evangelizing in which that call is given, the hearing, the justifying, the glorification). This makes our evangelism necessary, and we should be happy that God has ordained to use us, even though we're weak jars of clay. Q.2. "Why bother? Some will be saved, some won't, I can't change what God has preordained." A.2 Same as A.1, but let me add a negative. Not only will we miss an opportunity to be an instrument in someone's salvation, but as we do not warn others of the wrath to come, we will be held accoutable. No you can't change what God has ordained, but you can be a wonderful part of it! Q.3 ought I find inspiration in that thought? A.3 Yes! As God has ordained the elect to salvation, then He has ordained success in evangelism! So you can get out there and share the gospel with confidence in an almighty and loving God. Thanks for the question, Dud M3. In Christ, Lionstrong. |
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95 | What is the Priesthood of Believers? | 1 Pet 2:9 | Lionstrong | 63099 | ||
1 Pet 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Pet 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. I'm weak on my chruch history, but wasn't the RCC opposed to the Protestants' view of the priesthood of all believers? And what is the priesthood of believers and what is some of the biblical data that supports this teaching? Peace, |
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96 | An Arminian Consensus in the Forum? | 1 John 2:2 | Lionstrong | 19292 | ||
An Arminian Consensus in the Forum on the Meaning of the Unlimited Atonement of Our Savior, Is There One? I don't see the following views as being necessarily mutually exclusive, but I don't see them as being the same either: * Christ's death PROVIDES forgiveness for all men. (I don't have it, but I can get it, if I want it. It's there for the asking.) * Christ's death RESULTS in the forgivenss of all men. (All have the forgiveness of sin.) * Christ's death results in the forgiveness of every man of all sins except one. (Christ didn't die for that one sin.) *Christ's death results in the forgiveness of all men, but they will still go to hell if they don't believe in Christ. (This makes forgiveness of no value. I'm forgiven but going to hell for not accepting Christ.) Peace, Lionstrong |
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