Results 5821 - 5840 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# | |||
5821 | Discerning Spiritual Motivation | 1 John 4:6 | DocTrinsograce | 243820 | ||
"I know you, the first-born of Satan." --Polycarp (69-155 AD), pastor of the church in Smyrna (which city is today called Izmir, Turkey). These were his words to Marcion -- rightly discerning that the teachings of this heretic were not of God (Isaiah 8:20; 1 John 4:6; Romans 11:8). |
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5822 | An Unatural Love | 1 John 4:7 | DocTrinsograce | 223433 | ||
"Love is the Queen of the Christian graces. It is a holy disposition given to us when we are born again by God. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. True spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet it is vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh. "We must be careful not to confuse human sentimentality, carnal pleasantries, human amiability and affability with true spiritual love. The love God commands, first to Himself and then to others, is not human love. It is not the indulgent, self-seeking love which is in us by nature. If we indulgently allow our children to grow up with little or, no Scriptural discipline, Proverbs plainly says we do not love them, regardless of the human sentimentality and affection we may feel for them. Love is not a sentimental pampering of one another with a loose indifference as to our walk and obedience before the Lord. Glossing over one another's faults to ingratiate ourselves in their esteem is not spiritual love. "The true nature of Christian love is a righteous principle which seeks the highest good of others. It is a powerful desire to promote their welfare. The exercise of love is to be in strict conformity to the revealed will of God. We must love in the truth. Love among the brethren is far more than an agreeable society where views are the same. It is loving them for what we see of Christ in them, loving them for Christ's sake. "The Lord Jesus Himself is our example. He was not only thoughtful, gentle, self-sacrificing and patient, but He also corrected His mother, used a whip in the Temple, Severely scolded His doubting disciples, and denounced hypocrites. True spiritual love is above all faithful to God and uncompromising towards all that is evil. We cannot declare, 'Peace and Safety' when in reality there is spiritual decay and ruin! "True spiritual love is very difficult to exercise because it is not our natural love. By nature we would rather love sentimentally and engender good feelings. Also many times true spiritual love is not received in love, but is hated as the Pharisees hated it. We must pray that God will fill us with His love and enable us to exercise it without dissimulation toward all." --Arthur W. Pink |
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5823 | Love Defined by God | 1 John 4:8 | DocTrinsograce | 237175 | ||
"This is the love that existed before mankind. It is a love not in need or want. It is a love that is completely fulfilled. And it is a love that has always existed. This love is not subject to the changing DNA of mankind. This love is not subject to the language of man. It is not defined by man, it's defined by God. It is not created by man, it is discovered by man. Jesus said that love is the way the world will know that He was sent by God. That is the final apologetic." --Mary Jo Sharp (2009) | ||||||
5824 | A New Creature Means a Holy Life | 1 John 4:9 | DocTrinsograce | 197718 | ||
"He that is born again and made a new creature, receives a new nature and a new principle, and always lives a new life. A regeneration which a man can have, and yet live carelessly in sin or worldliness, is a regeneration never mentioned in Scripture. He that is born of God doth not commit sin, doeth righteousness, loveth the brethren, keepeth himself, and overcometh the world (1 John 2:29; 3:9-14; 5:4-18). In a word, where there is no holy life, there is no new birth. This is a hard saying to may minds; but, hard or not, it is Bible truth." --J. C. Ryle | ||||||
5825 | Walk through 1 John | 1 John 4:10 | DocTrinsograce | 155034 | ||
Dear Brother WOS, What a wonderful distillation of the imperatives of John's first epistle! Thank you very much! This is a very valuable exercise, and I think you will find such studies of incredible value. I am sure proud of you, brother! One of the clearest evidences of the regenerate is a love of God's Word and a hunger for holiness. Complete sanctification will never occur until our ultimate glorification, but a true disciple of Christ is always making every effort to "push the envelope." Like you, I fall very short! But God is gracious, giving us all we need to live lives honoring Him, and empowering us with the Holy Spirit! If you have the time, brother, now that you have identified the imperatives of the epistle, it would be a blessing to see what you were able to identify about the Godhead. Further, it would be a blessing to see what you have discovered about the Gospel from this book. Thank you again, brother, for blessing us with your insights and helping us to fill in the margins of the Bible on the forum! :-) In Him, Doc PS Have a blessed Lord's day! |
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5826 | Walk through 1 John | 1 John 4:10 | DocTrinsograce | 155249 | ||
Dear Brother WOS, Thank you, again, for your observations! With the smaller books of Scripture -- say a dozen chapters are less -- I've often taken them and processed them as thoroughly as possible. I will read the book every day for 30 days. At that time, I make note of patterns like repeated phrases or words, which often make it clear the topic of a passage. After 30 days, I then begin to write up the truths I've gleaned. What a blessing this has been for books like Ephesians, Titus, Ecclesiastes, etc. Thanks again for sharing. In Him, Doc |
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5827 | What say you? | 1 John 4:10 | DocTrinsograce | 169977 | ||
The fact that you are struggling with sin is evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in your life. God has equipped us to the fight... and it will continue to until our death... it is called progressive sanctification. Be encouraged by the struggle, because it is evidence you belong to Him. Be encouraged by His promise that the holiness your heart desires will be more than fully realized at glorification! In Him, Doc |
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5828 | The Atoning Sacrifice | 1 John 4:10 | DocTrinsograce | 233487 | ||
"Has the word propitiation any place in your Christianity? In the faith of the New Testament it is central. The love of God, the taking of human form by the Son, the meaning of the cross, Christ’s heavenly intercession, the way of salvation -- all are to be explained in terms of it... and any explanation from which the thought of propitiation is missing will be incomplete, and indeed actually misleading, by New Testament standards." --J. I. Packer, "Knowing God", page 181 | ||||||
5829 | Work and Wages | 1 John 4:11 | DocTrinsograce | 238043 | ||
"Surely love is both work and wages." --Richard Baxter (1615-1691) | ||||||
5830 | Holy Spirit Living | 1 John 4:13 | DocTrinsograce | 196752 | ||
There's been much ado on the forum recently regarding claims of salvation on the basis of spiritual experience, supernatural manifestations, or pious practices. Redemption always results in the observable fruit of a changed life, but even that is not the grounds on which we are to base our assurance (Matthew 7:20-27; cf 1 Peter 1:18-19). "True grace is no dull, inactive, ineffectual principle; it is a powerful thing; there is an exceeding energy in it. And the reason is, that God is in it; it is a divine principle, a participation of the divine nature, and a communication of divine life, of the life of a risen Savior, who exerts Himself in the hearts of the saints 'after the power of an endless life.' They that have true grace in them, 'they live'; but not by their own life; 'but Christ lives in them.' His Holy Spirit becomes in them a living principle and spring of divine life, the energy and power of which is in Scripture compared to fire...True piety is nothing remainingly only in the head, or consisting in any speculative knowledge or opinions, or outward morality or forms of religion; it reaches the heart, is chiefly seated there, and burns there. There is a holy ardor in everything that belongs to true grace. True faith is an ardent thing, and so is true repentance; there is a holy power and ardor in true spiritual comfort and joy; yea even in true Christian humility, submission, and meekness. The reason is that divine love or charity is the sum of all true grace, which is a holy flame enkindled in the soul. ... "The power of godliness is exerted in the first place within the soul, in the sensible, lively exercise of gracious affections there. Yet the principal evidence of this power of godliness, is in those exercises of holy affections that are practical, and in their being practical; in conquering the will, and conquering the lusts and corruptions of men, and carrying men on in the way of holiness, through all temptation, difficulty and opposition." --Jonathan Edwards |
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5831 | Assurance | 1 John 4:15 | DocTrinsograce | 212992 | ||
"Assurance is the result of a competent spiritual knowledge of the person and work of Christ as revealed in the gospel, and a consciousness of dependence on Him and His work alone for salvation." --John Newton | ||||||
5832 | Righteousness Contrasted | 1 John 4:17 | DocTrinsograce | 219859 | ||
"I don’t care how strong your religion is, or how strong your church life is, I don’t care how strong your morality is. On that day of judgment God will tear it down and it will wilt. Whenever humans declare themselves to be righteous they are doing it by contrasting themselves with other humans who are worse. And you can get away with that, but when your righteousness is contrasted with the righteousness of God there is nothing but to throw yourself down and declare your morality to be dung." --Paul Washer | ||||||
5833 | Righteousness Contrasted | 1 John 4:17 | DocTrinsograce | 219863 | ||
Thank you for the encouragement, sister Azure! | ||||||
5834 | Do we "will" to love? | 1 John 4:19 | DocTrinsograce | 151456 | ||
Dear Terrib, You are right... and yet John Hendryx is right as well. :-) We haven't gotten to the theological term "regeneration" yet. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) You are right, that prior to God's saving work in us, we will not desire Him. Quite the contrary! Paul states, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (1 Corinthians 16:22) But the Lord Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." (John 14:23) Therefore, God must do a miraculous work in us. Sorry for slapping down an answer... but I'm trying to study for a test coming up Monday. :-) Good comments, though, Terrib! I am glad you always rise up to question things that don't sound right to you! That is a blessing for us all in the forum. I commend you for it! In Him, Doc PS My studies are hampered by the fact that I'm passing another kidney stone. Ouch! |
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5835 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | DocTrinsograce | 160574 | ||
With all the discussion of respect, courtesy, and love on the forum lately, I thought these quotes were particularly apropos. "Love is the Queen of the Christian graces. It is a holy disposition given to us when we are born again by God. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. True spiritual love is characterized by meekness and gentleness, yet it is vastly superior to the courtesies and kindnesses of the flesh. "We must be careful not to confuse human sentimentality, carnal pleasantries, human amiability and affability with true spiritual love. "The love God commands, first to Himself and then to others, is not human love. It is not the indulgent, self-seeking love which is in us by nature. If we indulgently allow our children to grow up with little or, no Scriptural discipline, Proverbs plainly says we do not love them, regardless of the human sentimentality and affection we may feel for them. "Love is not a sentimental pampering of one another with a loose indifference as to our walk and obedience before the Lord. "Glossing over one another's faults to ingratiate ourselves in their esteem is not spiritual love. "The true nature of Christian love is a righteous principle which seeks the highest good of others. "It is a powerful desire to promote their welfare. "The exercise of love is to be in strict conformity to the revealed will of God. "We must love in the truth. "Love among the brethren is far more than an agreeable society where views are the same. It is loving them for what we see of Christ in them, loving them for Christ's sake. "The Lord Jesus Himself is our example. "He was not only thoughtful, gentle, self-sacrificing and patient, but He also corrected His mother, used a whip in the Temple, severely scolded His doubting disciples, and denounced hypocrites. "True spiritual love is above all faithful to God and uncompromising towards all that is evil. "We cannot declare, 'Peace and Safety' when in reality there is spiritual decay and ruin! "True spiritual love is very difficult to exercise because it is not our natural love. By nature we would rather love sentimentally and engender good feelings. Also many times true spiritual love is not received in love, but is hated as the Pharisees hated it. "We must pray that God will fill us with His love and enable us to exercise it without dissimulation toward all." --Arthur W. Pink |
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5836 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | DocTrinsograce | 160580 | ||
Hi, Steve... Certainly. In the upper right corner there is a box that with the simple word "Search." Enter there the word "love" and click on the search button. All of the postings I have in mind -- and many more -- will be listed for your purusal. Feel free to draw your own conclusions. :-) We are certainly not slaves of convention on the forum! :-) In Him, Doc |
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5837 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | DocTrinsograce | 160602 | ||
Dear Steve, The "hundreds" is part of my point. But I'll help you in your evaluation. Use the "Advanced Search" link. Enter the date of 10-01-2005 (for example) and the word "love." Scan down the list of posts that you encounter, mentally excluding the ones where people use "love" in their salutations or signatures. You'll see in the first 250 entries: love of God, love of neighbor, love of all people, God's love of us, love of the brethren, God's love for creation, God's love of the sinner, love of darkness, love of light, love of a verse, love in the spirit (do they mean Spirit?), love the sumum bonnum, love of family, love of children, love relationships, speaking in love, sharing in love, making love, primacy of love, serving in love, love of spouses, purity of love, love of the lost, etc. etc. Now consider the quotes of A. W. Pink on the Biblical definition of love. What you will find is that people have a very superficial understanding of love, in spite of a penchant for using the word. We've adopted the world's definition of love, if we bother to give any sort of definition at all. Anticipating the problems of modern Christianity, J. Gresham Machen wrote, "This temper of mind is hostile to precise definitions. Indeed nothing makes a man more unpopular in the controversies of the present day than an insistence upon definition of terms... Men discourse very eloquently today upon such subjects as God, religion, Christianity, atonement, redemption, faith; but are greatly incensed when they are asked to tell in simple language what they mean by these terms." (That was a 100 years ago!) The love that A. W. Pink so precisely describes knows nothing of the tepid, put-on-a-happy-face, kind of love of the modern church. If we have trouble with the word love, think what difficulties we have in a proper understanding of God, and all the doctrines that necessarily flow from that understanding. Think what difficulties we have with many other definitions. In Him, Doc |
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5838 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | DocTrinsograce | 160722 | ||
Dear Jeff, Go for it. :-) I really just became much more familiar with J. Gresham Machen after reading -- and writing a review of -- Dr. Terry Chrisope's "Toward a Sure Faith." A very good book. It really drove home the value of understanding the historical context in which theological debates take place. The other thing is that theological debate does not occur in a vacuum: it has a real effect on the person in the pew, although it takes a while to filter down from the ivory towers. I guess the real value of Machen to folks like you and me is his emphasis on the inestimable value of historico-grammatical interpretation of the Scriptures. That's not something new to Christianity, but it is more important than ever in this day and age. Thank you for your encouragement, Jeff. In Him, Doc |
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5839 | Faith following Regeneration | 1 John 5:1 | DocTrinsograce | 173596 | ||
As there has been much discussion lately on the topic, I thought that this might be an interesting article to post. Please see the link below if you'd like to question Dr. White on the issue. "Generally such a passage would be understood to present the following order of events: 1) Believe that Jesus is the Christ, and 2) you are born of God. Yet, the original readers of this text would not jump to such a conclusion. In reality, the most literal rendering would be, 'Every one believing (present tense participle, emphasizing both the on-going action as well as the individuality of saving faith, 'each believing person') that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God (a perfect passive verb, 'has been born by the agency of God'). In John, 'the one believing' is very common, and it is no accident the the emphasis falls upon the on-going action of faith. The one believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. If a person is now believing that Jesus is the Christ in a true and saving fashion, they are doing so because, as a completed action in the past, they were born again through the work and agency of God. The verb 'to be born' is passive: they were caused to be born by another, that being God. They did not cause their own spiritual birth. And what is the inevitable result of being born of God? belief that Jesus is the Christ. Just as all those who are given by the Father to the Son come to the Son (John 6:37), so too all who are spiritually reborn through the work of God have as the object of their faith the Lord Jesus Christ. "Some ... exegetes might object to this interpretation. A means of testing the consistency of the exegesis offered of this passage would be to ask how such a person interprets these words from John: "'If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.' (1 John 2:29) "Every consistent protestant would say, 'the reason one practices righteousness is because they have already been born of Him. We do not practice righteousness so as to be born, but instead the birth give rise to the practice of righteousness'. And such is quite true. But, this means that in 1 John 5:1 the belief in Jesus as the Christ is the result of being born of Him. The verbal parallel is exact: in 1 John 2:29 'the one practicing righteousness' is a present participle; in 1 John 5:1 'the one believing' is a present participle. In both passages the exact same verb in the exact same form is used. Therefore, sheer consistency leads one to the conclusion that divine birth precedes and is the grounds of both faith in Christ as well as good works. "The testimony to the fact that God's work of grace precedes any human action can be found all through the text of scripture. Luke knew it well: "'A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.' (Acts 16:14)" By Dr. James White http://www.aomin.org/ |
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5840 | The New Creature's Worship and Knowledge | 1 John 5:2 | DocTrinsograce | 242916 | ||
"To know this God, who both condescends to share all that we are and makes us share in all that He is in Jesus Christ, is to be lifted up in His Spirit to share in God's own self-knowing and self-loving until we are enabled to apprehend Him in some real measure in Himself beyond anything that we are capable of in ourselves. It is to be lifted out of ourselves, as it were, into God, until we know Him and love Him and enjoy Him in His eternal Reality as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in such a way that the Trinity enters into the fundamental fabric of our thinking of Him and constitutes the basic grammar of our worship and knowledge of the One God." --Thomas F. Torrance from his book "The Ground and Grammar of Theology" |
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