Results 5801 - 5820 of 6029
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Results from: Notes On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: DocTrinsograce Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
5801 | Are silent protests scriptural? | 1 John 3:17 | DocTrinsograce | 155871 | ||
Hi, Bows... We do appear to have some guidance from Scripture in these things. We know that God does not tolerate wickedness forever (Galatians 6:7). Furthermore we know that judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17). Now, the following verse is frequently used out of context. It is, after all, a covenant promise to the people of Israel. However, I believe we can glean some things from it: If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) Certainly "My people" speaks of Israel. But does God have a people today? Indeed, He does: those who are the children of God; the ones who have been purchased with price. Indeed, they are called by the name of Christ. Here God promises a way for their sin to be forgiven, and healing to come to their land. We must understand that outside of salvation in Christ, no change in our nation will make any difference at all. Sometimes as believers I think we are of the opinion if we get the lost moral, then maybe they will become saved. Scripture says the opposite: we must get people lost before they can be saved! So, what are we told to do? 1. We are called to humility. We must set aside our pride, recognizing our deep need of God. We must understand our dependence on Him alone to effect eternal change. 2. We must pray. Oh that we would be a people of prayer. Oh that _I_ would be a person a prayer! 3. We must seek the face of God. Most people who call themselves believers look for benefits and blessings from God. They ask, "What can God do for me?" We even shout, "God bless America!" When we should be shouting, "America, bless God!" 4. We must turn from our wicked ways. We must submit to God, instead of trying to have Him on our terms. Instead of seeking to gain glory, we must seek to bring God glory. We must submit to Him in obedience in every aspect of our lives. Then, perhaps, God will deliver us from this great evil in our land. In Him, Doc |
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5802 | Are silent protests scriptural? | 1 John 3:17 | DocTrinsograce | 155876 | ||
Hi, Bows... But what I was saying was extremely individualistic. Revival begins right here with me! Now, although I participate actively in communication with my representatives and the like, I'm not entirely convinced that protesting at clinics is the solution. I see in Scripture that when many were offering human sacrifices to Moloch, God didn't tell the Israelites to picket the heathen temples. He said, "Come out from among them." On the other hand, as Christians we have often been in forefront of great social reform, throwing down institutions that were clearly violating Biblical principals, and standing up on behalf of those who could not help themselves. I guess my answers are less than satifying. Yet I know that all change begins right here, at home, in my own life. I can't ask God to deal with the issues in other peoples' lives until I am willing to mortify the flesh, and bring every single aspect of my life into full submission to Him. In Him, Doc |
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5803 | A Life Founded on Doctrine | 1 John 3:18 | DocTrinsograce | 242285 | ||
"The issue in the Church of the present day is not between two varieties of the same religion, but, at bottom, between two essentially different types of thought and life. There is much interlocking of the branches, but the two tendencies, Modernism and supernaturalism, or (otherwise designated) non-doctrinal religion and historic Christianity, spring from different roots. In particular, I tried to show that Christianity is not a 'life,' as distinguished from a doctrine, and not a life that has doctrine as its changing symbolic expression, but that -- exactly the other way around -- it is a life founded on a doctrine." --J. Gresham Machen (1923) |
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5804 | Hereing from God | 1 John 3:22 | DocTrinsograce | 213221 | ||
Thank you, fwiaskycap. If someone has some kind of mystical experience, if it contradicts Scripture it is false. Period. If it agrees with Scripture, then it is superfluous. Scripture is our ultimate authority, it needs no external augmentation -- if it did, then that other thing would be of greater authority! Therefore, God forbid that we leave anyone with any differing conclusions, that would be as the sin of the serpent in the garden (Genesis 3:1). This really shouldn't surprise us. The human heart is puffed up with so much pride, they will invent all kinds of ways to elevate themselves before men. They'll even go so far as to declare that God has spoken directly through them (Jude 12-13). We should further expect it when the Bible explicitly states this (1 Timothy 4:1-2). The problem gets even compounded when they take passages like those in 1 Corinthians, twisting them to suit their outward show of piety. That is a practice as old as the church. Peter said as much. "...just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:15b-18a NASB) May God grant them forgiveness, and grant us mercy that we be not one of their number. Anyway, thanks for being willing to join us in keeping our eyes steadfastly on Word. In Him, Doc |
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5805 | No Substitutions... Just One Mediator | 1 John 3:23 | DocTrinsograce | 241126 | ||
"For even if many men once boasted that they worshipped the Supreme Majesty, the Maker of heaven and earth, yet because they had no Mediator it was not possible for them truly to taste God’s mercy, and thus be persuaded that he was their Father. Accordingly, because they did not hold Christ as their Head, they possessed only a fleeting knowledge of God. From this it also came about that they at last lapsed into crass and foul superstitions and betrayed their own ignorance. So today the [Muslim] Turks, although they proclaim at the top of their lungs that the Creator of heaven and earth is God, still, while repudiating Christ, substitute an idol in place of the true God." --John Calvin | ||||||
5806 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141342 | ||
Hi, Brother Ray... I think that was my item number 6. You bolstered it with at least two other scriptures that I hadn't mentioned. Thank you! In Him, Doc | ||||||
5807 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141664 | ||
Hi, Momma! Nice to see you posting! I am certainly not a psychologist like Aixen and I am not a pastor like Glenn. (I tend to study a lot, but even so, I don't get everything right.) I hope that nothing is too contrary to the thoughts of these blessed men whose life is the ministry. I appreciated what Aixen said about facts. Facts are not dependent on my feelings, behavior, or even knowledge of them. They are simply true. The Lord dwells in the believer, and all three members of the Triune God participate in this (see Ephesians 1 through 3). By the way, I am a fan of Brother Lawrence, although I'm certain that I'd have theological issues with the man. I believe that tiny little book ("Practice of the Presence") is worthy to be read by all believers. Christ's ministry was a ministry of teaching. It was accompanied by signs and wonders, but even those were there to authenticate His authority (i.e., the correctness and divine source of His teaching). Sound doctrine must be conveyed by teaching. Every believer is involved in this learning process. Christ even stated that "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Truth is really only believed to the extent that it is lived. Of course, this is also why I'm a stickler for sound doctrine. Here is a model of how I think it all works: You can broadly generalize a human being into cognitive (mind), volitional (will), and relational (heart). Doctrine enters the mind through learning, but that is just the beginning. The mind must apply the knowledge volitionally, that is via the will as expressed by decision and manifested by action. By exercising the will, the heart becomes engaged, and truth ends up being expressed by habits. My pastor expresses this with the alliteration of head, hands, heart, and habits. Ephesians 4:1 is the pivoting point of that epistle, making it clear that the theology in chapters 1 through 3 are part and parcel of the application of that theology (practice) being expressed in the imperatives of chapters 4 through 6. Now, there is a necessary balance in all of this. Head knowledge without application is hypocrisy. Heart activity without head knowledge is emotionalism. Volitional demands alone is legalism. See how all the extremes can be expressed when there is no balance? As another pastor put it, "Right doctrine leads to right living." All renewal begins with the renewal of our minds. This is why you can tie the work of salvation to the love of God. It is also why you can tie the expression of that love to works, etc. This is how we tie the expression of the Greatest Commandment to the life of the believer (Luke 10:27). Christ stated this in John 14:21, "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him." See the progression? Cognitive, volitional, and relational. I hope that helps. Perhaps I have stated these thoughts in a clumsy manner. If so, maybe others will be so kind as to correct me. In Him, Doc PS Another class for me starts tonight. I may be a little less active in the forum as a consequence. |
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5808 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141665 | ||
Hi, brother Russ... The problem is that both of your assurances are subjective. As my pastor puts it, "You should never go against your conscience, but you should never trust your conscience as a guide." (Jer 17:9) Furthermore, the "warm fuzzies" are purely emotional. Emotions come and go. We can stand firm on the truth, even when we don't "feel" it. In Him, Doc |
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5809 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141673 | ||
Thank you for the encouragement, brother. I appreciate the prayers! While you're at it, if the Lord brings it to mind, you might pray for journey mercies for my far-better-half. She's in New Mexico and about to head back home. To God be the glory! In Him, Doc |
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5810 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141674 | ||
Thank you for the encouragement, Momma. You're welcome to use any of it that you like. The only original part of it was the write up (which is good because if it was original, it would probably be wrong!), sort of kludging a lot of stuff together. :-) Although he doesn't use the terminology that I used, you can find a much more thorough treatment of this subject by Jonathan Edwards in "The Freedom of the Human Will." It gets kind of weighty, at times, though. He also does an excellent job of explaining the seeming contradiction between the freedom of the human will and the sovereignty of God. In Him, Doc |
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5811 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141676 | ||
Thank you for the encouragement, Kalos. Isn't it awesome how God gave it all -- the Word, the Spirit, and the Atonement of Christ -- that we might know Him and be conformed to the image of His Son? We've also been blest by the faitful, though uninspired, believers who have gone before us. In HIm, Doc |
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5812 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141804 | ||
Show me people with "warm fuzzies" and I'll show you people with changed lives. Note that in the passage you sited nothing is said about feelings. Instead, all of the verbs are very active. Christ has demonstrating deeds. The Father sends and testifies. The people will not hear and will not come. I'm glad you have these subjective things... now go and demonstrate them by bearing much fruit, obeying Christ's commands. We are not saved by works, but our works demonstrate a saved life. In Him, Doc |
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5813 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141815 | ||
It is very simple and very clear (2 Peter 3:17). But sometimes we assure people of their salvation on a false basis: things like, "Say this prayer..." or "Walk down the aisle...", etc. (Eph 2:9) Every example in scripture of a new believer is marked by a changed life. That's very simple too. I recall an anecdote regarding the great evangelist George Whitefield. He was walking along the docks in Boston. A drunken sailor stopped him, saying something along the lines of, "Hey, George, remember me? You saved me four years ago!" Whitefield replied, "I must have saved you. If Christ had saved you, you wouldn't be drunk right now." What you are speaking to, the old divines called the clarity of scripture (Rom 1:20). However, none of those divines would sell the clarity of scripture as easy believism or cheap grace. Each time God saves a soul it is an incredible and miraculous act (John 1:13). It represents a plan of God followed through with perfect faithfulness (Eph 1:4, 3:11), rooted in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2), fully satisfying the justice of a Holy Father (Romans 5:18). It is a work that He alone can perform (John 6:44). The Bible explicitly says that we were saved in order to perform good works (1 Tim 6:18, 2 Tim 3:17, Titus 2:14, and elsewhere). Why should we not expect, therefore, to see evidences of salvation? In Him, Doc PS By the way, where does scripture teach that only the person knows if they are saved or not? |
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5814 | How do we know that we are truly saved? | 1 John 3:24 | DocTrinsograce | 141816 | ||
By the way, Emily... welcome to the forum! Sorry, I get to pontificating sometimes! I didn't mean to scare you off! In Him, Doc |
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5815 | Theological Terms: Various Heresies | 1 John 4:2 | DocTrinsograce | 180405 | ||
Arianism: The denial of the diety of Jesus Christ, believing He was the supreme creation of God. Docetism: The denial of the human incarnation of Jesus Christ, believing He only appeared human, but was purely divine. Ebionitism: The denial of the diety of Jesus Christ, believing Him to be no more than a divinely gifted human being. Macedonianism: The denial of the diety of the Holy Spirit , believing Him to be a creation of God. Modalism: The denial of the Triune nature of God, believing that He manifests Himself in different modes at any given time. Sabellianism: A form of Modalism that holds that God manifests Himself in different modes specific to certain times in history. |
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5816 | Theological Terms: Various Heresies | 1 John 4:2 | DocTrinsograce | 180410 | ||
Dear Tim, I think you've got the main points down correctly. I wouldn't say they were exhaustive, though. Blondedness is in us all, by the way! :-) In Him, Doc |
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5817 | Theological Terms: Various Heresies | 1 John 4:2 | DocTrinsograce | 180418 | ||
All I do is point to the Word. But I'm reminded of a humorous story I heard at Aish Hatorah one time. :-) "What is the source of your wisdom, Rabbi?" a student once asked his teacher. "Good choices, son," the Rabbi replied. "But how did you come to make such good choices?" asked the student. "By experience," the Rabbi answered. "And how did you receive such experience, Rabbi?" persisted the student. The Rabbi smiled, "Bad choices, son, bad choices." Whew... can I identify with that! :-) |
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5818 | Can a christian be under a curse? | 1 John 4:4 | DocTrinsograce | 167383 | ||
Awesome, New Creature! Two great posts, succinctly stated, within three minutes of one another! Brother Brad's post to this question was like the other side of the coin. Great answers, guys! |
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5819 | Truth versus Fiction | 1 John 4:5 | DocTrinsograce | 238394 | ||
"Nothing is so beautiful and wonderful, nothing is so continually fresh and surprising, so full of sweet and perpetual ecstasy, as the good. No desert is so dreary, monotonous and boring as evil. With fictional good and evil it is the other way around. Fictional good is boring and flat, while fictional evil is varied and intriguing, attractive, profound, and full of charm." --Simon Weil (1909-1943) | ||||||
5820 | Work of the Holy Spirit | 1 John 4:6 | DocTrinsograce | 234174 | ||
"The Comforter gives a sweet and plentiful evidence and persuasion of the love of God to us, such as the soul is taken, delighted, satiated with. This is His work, and He does it effectually. To give a poor sinful soul a comfortable persuasion, affecting it throughout, in all its faculties and affections, that God in Jesus Christ loves him, delights in him, is well pleased with him, has thoughts of tenderness and kindness towards him; to give, I say, a soul an overflowing sense of this, is an inexpressible mercy. This we have in a peculiar manner by the Holy Ghost; it is His peculiar [unique and specific] work." --John Owen, "Of Communion with God" (1657) | ||||||
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