Results 181 - 200 of 266
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: John Reformed Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
181 | What about those who have never heard? | Rom 1:16 | John Reformed | 39432 | ||
Dear Robert, I welcome your participation and contribution in helping to solve this question. I believe the God we love is a righteous judge. He will do right. (Ps 50:6) "And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge". My thoughts concerning those from among all tribes and nations: I do not think we have specific information concerning this great multitude. But at some point they would, by necessity, have become members of the Church (the Body of Christ). Apart from Christ no one will be saved. On that basis I cannot agree with your speculation that: "This multitude of people do not appear to be Israel or the church who is with Christ." The multitude must have at some point, prior to their personal deaths or Judgement Day, have believed in Christ unto salvation. Any other conclusion would not have a scriptural foundation. At least not one I'm aware of. The problem as I see it is: If people are told that their salvation rests on their choosing Christ as their saviour and they bring up the question of those who never get to choose, how are they to be answered? What NT (or OT for that matter) text can we point them to? Given my screen name you probably can guess where I'm headed. John |
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182 | Clarification from John Reformed...? | Rom 1:16 | John Reformed | 40300 | ||
Dear Brent, At the time I posted my original question (Is the Gospel the sole means by which men must be saved?), I was convinced that the answer was absolutey yes. I posted it for the purpose of drawing people into the debate over "free will in unregenerated man" (who chooses whom?). The reason for this somewhat circuitous approch, was based on a conviction I held at the time, which was: If it can shown that God does not supply the means of salvation to every individual, then we must conclude that, He never intended to save all men. Since my initial post, my conviction of the efficacy of my premise has proved to be less than scriptual. I have found that there have indeed been some exceptions. The thief next to Jesus on the cross for one. Others may include those who die in infancy, the mentaly and physicaly handicapped (those so severely afflicted that normal means of communication are for them impossible). Matt 19:26 "And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." The last thing a defender of "Soverign Grace" wants to do is to employ human reason to put God in a box! Perhaps the question would be better asked thus: Is the Gospel the ordinary means by which God calls His calls men unto Himself? God Bless Brent, John PS On which of the 5 points do you disagree? |
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183 | Is God somehow responsible? | Rom 1:20 | John Reformed | 70094 | ||
Dear Aznsmartyic, You began by saying: "I begin with a fact, that God loves us". By "us" I presume you mean "us meaning "christians". If so, I agree with your statement. If you had meant all people universaly, I would have disagreed. I hold the historic protestant view which is that God has ordained all things that occur. I also believe that the only proper way look at this subject is to recognize that all of God's works are holy, just and perfect. To do othewise is to elevate ourselves to the position of judges, with God in the dock being made to defend Himself against His accusers. Another problem to avoid is our propensity towards the false perception that God created this universe for oursakes. He did not! He created it for His pupose of displaying His glory before all to behold. The reason we were created was to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. The dilema you face is faced by all christians who subscribe to the doctrine of God's absolute soveriegnty. Men such as R.C. Sproul confess to having their theology turned upside down and inside out when faced with the clear teaching of Scripture. It can be difficult, especially after being fed a man-centered theology for any length of time. May God bless you as you search His truth for answers that satisfy the soul and mind. John Reformed PS: You may find it profitable to visit http://www.reformed.org/ It represents the teaching of the Reformers who were the fathers of the protestant faith. |
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184 | Are habitual sinners still Christians? | Rom 1:26 | John Reformed | 82081 | ||
Dear MsKindra, John 8:7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." There are many christians who are plagued by besetting sins of all kinds, and who, (despite their knowledge that to indulge their flesh is to sin against God) fail to employ the means to resist that God has provided and deliberately rebel against His command. We are all guilty to one extent or another on a daily basis. John 8:11 ...And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." When God granted that we be made "new creatures", He did so by raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life. He also placed His Spirit within us to help us overcome the world, the flesh and the devil. When we willfully sin we experience the pain that follows that sin. Guilt; remorse; shame; and even a "sense" that God has taken His spirit from us (I say sense because His Spirit never truly departs, it just feels that way). This chastisement by our Heavenly Father serves to drive us to our knees in repentance and causes us to look all the more to Christ for His justification and His righteousness to clothe our nakedness. On the otherhand there are those who are "mere professors". They claim faith in Christ but it is a false claim. Judas was a mere professor but the disciples had no idea of that fact. Christ alone knew, that from the beggining, Judas was a devil. Judas betrayed Our Lord and afterward his guilt drove him to suicide. Peter betrayed Jesus also when he denied that he even" knew the man". One may argue as to which of these two disciples committed the greatest sin, but there is no doubt as to who was a true believer and who was a mere professor. Judas hung himself , but Peter repented because he had the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. The point I am trying to make is that we must not judge others on the basis of their sins but on the basis of their fruit. A repentant sinner will eventually bear good fruit. This is one of the areas in which church discipline is so important. It is the job of our leaders to deal with situations that affect the well being of the flock as well as the individual. Those who refuse to accept that their acts are sinfull may have to be excommunicated ubtil such a time as God grants them repentance. This is somewhat of a complicated issue and I don't know if I have expressed my thinking clealy enough on it. I would appreciate it if you would let me know if I have. John Reformed |
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185 | Who are YOU? | Rom 3:3 | John Reformed | 86561 | ||
Who I am is not that important. What is of the ultimate importance is who's I am. I am Christ's! The rest is merely background info. :-) John Reformed |
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186 | Who will be saved? Few, Many or All? | Rom 3:23 | John Reformed | 88176 | ||
Dear Nimrod 2, I think that a careful reading of the verses which surround 5:18 will give you the clues to a proper interetation. Rom 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ Rom 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. Rom 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. v.17 limits v.18 by saying "those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness". Not everyone recieves these blessings, therefore, the "all men" in v.18 refers to all men "who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness." We also have the rest of the Bible to call upon and to shed light on the verse in question. John 3:16 for example: "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." It is a error to form a doctrine from a single verse. So, search the scriptures and never take a man's opinion as "gospel truth". What do you think? God Bless, John Reformed |
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187 | Imputed sin | Rom 5:12 | John Reformed | 63378 | ||
Hi Steve, Is there any scriptural support for View 3? John |
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188 | Is sin inherited from father and mother? | Rom 5:19 | John Reformed | 75208 | ||
Rom 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. I also believe that God relates to mankind through covenants. The husband being the head of the wife and Christ the head of the church as Adam is the head of all who are not part of the New Covenant. Another evidence is Ex 34:7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." John Reformed |
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189 | Is the Old Testament obsolete? | Rom 7:12 | John Reformed | 67760 | ||
Dear Tom, The following is from chapt19 section 3 Of the WCF with proof texts. I hope this answers your question. III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;[4] and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties.[5] All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.[6] [4] (HEB 9) HEB 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect....GAL 4:1-3 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world... COL 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [5] 1CO 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us... 2CO 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,... JUD 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. [6] COL 2:14, 16,17 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ... DAN 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate... EPH 2:15,16 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. God Bless, John (formerly of Brookln NY) |
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190 | Why are we Fake sometimes? | Rom 7:15 | John Reformed | 45610 | ||
Dear Miriam, If it were possible for Christians to cleanse themselves of all the visable sins you listed, they would still be sinners in other less obvious ways. Pride, lust of the eye, covetous, greedy, gossipers etc. Sanctification is worked out in us by God. He is the potter and we are the clay. Do you sin? Of course we all do. But to merely clean up the outside of the vessel while the inside remains foul (I'm speaking of our sinful flesh) is an atempt to follow the error of the pharisees. The Bible exhorts us to be holy even as He is holy. I agree we should strive to be Christlike in all we do, think, and say. But the ability to obey His commands is not in ourselves but are by His grace. The beauty of God's plan is that it leaves no room for boasting. It also eliminates the justification of looking down our self-righteouss noses at others. We are to go to our brother who is sining and humbly correct him. I say humbly because we as well, need constant correction. God Bless Miriam, John Reformed |
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191 | Danger of liv. accord. to the flesh? | Rom 8:13 | John Reformed | 90587 | ||
Dear KC, I don't see any contradiction or shading of meaning between the two. Why do you ask? John |
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192 | Scriptural Support Requested! | Rom 8:14 | John Reformed | 50162 | ||
Dear Mommaps, 1. CAN we know if one is controlled by the Holy Spirit? Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. I do not believe that the Holy Spirit violates our wills. I do think that there is a kind of synergism between the Soverignty of God and the free will of the christian. Please don't ask me to explain how this works! I only know that the bible indicates such a relationship. For instance. It is God's will that I pray for my enemies. This command goes against the desire of my flesh. Nevertheless I must obey God. How can I pray for those I hate and still offer a prayer that is more than lip service? Only the Spirit Himself, dwelling within me, can make such a prayer pleasing to God. Perhaps as I bend my knee before Him I will be reminded of the man I once was. This painfull reminder may serve to humble me and cause thanksgiving to well up in my breast. Now I am ready to pray from the heart for my enemy. This is where it really gets tricky. I have just performed a good work by praying for my enemy. I realize it was the grace of God that enabled me to be obedient and that it was the work of the Spirit in my heart that caused me to offer a spiritual prayer...but the bible also says: Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. So it was part of His eternal purpose that I would offer this prayer. He had pre-ordained it before the foundation of the world. Yet I did it freely! Your 2nd Q is a pieceof cake (I hope) compared to the first. 2. Does God's Word help mold and shape us into a form that is acceptable to God? Once we have been justified by the blood of Christ we are adopted into His family and are accepted as His own. No works can add to the work done on the cross by our blessed Lord. God Bless John |
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193 | Romans 10:9: is it too simple? | Rom 10:9 | John Reformed | 47358 | ||
Dear Robert, I know that my answer goes against the popular belief that man is in charge of where he will spend eternity, but: From the standpoint of fallen man salvation is not even possible! Salvation is a gift. We can't earn it or deserve it through any action on our part. It is by grace alone. Repentence, faith, confessing "Jesus is Lord", etc. are a direct result of recieving grace from God. No one in Heaven will be able to boast that they made the right choice in "accepting" Jesus as Lord and Savior. Eph 2:8-10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." John |
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194 | What do "any" and "all" really mean? | Rom 10:9 | John Reformed | 74862 | ||
Dear Hank, You wrote: "." Of whom is the Apostle speaking when he uses the words "any" and "all"? Does he really mean "any" and "all" or is he saying one thing and meaning something else?" 2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. It goes without saying, that Peter is addressing believers when he said " but is patient toward you". If "any" in the following clause meant "everyone universally", why then does the preceeding clause not say " everyone universally" instead of the specific pronoun "you" which refers to believers ( Peter's immediate audience and believers world-wide present and future.i.e., God's elect). But, not being an expert in languages, I may be wrong; for neither does he say "but is patient toward you, not wishing for "any of you" to perish". It very well may be that God is patiently waiting for "all men" to have an opportunity to hear the gospel and repent. Yet, those who will believe and those who will not are known To Him from all eternity. No Bible believing christian thinks that our omniscient God is waiting to see what will happen. And personally, I don't believe that God needs to look into the future to see who will believe. ACT 15:18 " Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." Creation was not an experiment on the part of God. He did not need to find out what would happen if He created a material univerese and placed a creature formed after His likeness into it. No; He made it according to His all perfect design, the universe; all that it contains; and everything that ocurs in it. He is the Potter and we are the clay (Rom 9) The question " why some will believe and others will not" is not addressed in this passage. We must not be found guilty of pitting one verse against another. As I have attemted to explain to EdB, it is not necessary for me to twist or ignore John 3:16 in order to prove election. Neither must I throw out 2 Peter 3:9. The fact is neither verse speaks to why or how faith comes to an individual. It is a common error to isolate a single verse and to come to a conclusion (ignoring that our interpretation places it in discord with other passages), and are satisfied for the sole reason that it agrees with our tradition. We are all guilty of this error from time to time and we need to recognize it if we are to grow in our knowledge of God's Word. John |
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195 | Visit other churches? | Rom 16:16 | John Reformed | 34095 | ||
I have been a member of my local church for Approx 4 years and have not worshipped(corporately) any place else on Sunday Mornings. You've aroused my curiosity to discover the intent of your question. John Reformed |
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196 | Is it a sin to routine drink alcohol | 1 Corinthians | John Reformed | 31663 | ||
The Bible does not prohibit drinking alcohol, however it strongly condemns drunkeness.I suggest you read 1 Corinthians Chapt. 8 and Romans Chapt. 14. | ||||||
197 | Saving graces? | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 61017 | ||
Dear Mommapbs, Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life." Faith may be referred to as a "saving grace" when it is directly related to salvaton as in in eph 2:8. It is also a gift , therefore it may be referred to as a "grace". The same is true for repentance because it is granted unto men according to God's good pleasure. Your Disorganized Brother, John |
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198 | Receiving Christ - Works? (2) Rom 10.17 | 1 Cor 2:14 | John Reformed | 95662 | ||
Dear Huron, Regeneration must pre-ceed faith. The natural man (unregenerate) being spiritualy dead in sin is unable to make a decision that requires spiritual perception. 1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. The following is from John Piper's website (http://www.desiringgod.org/dg/id144_m.htm) Faith Is Our Act, But Is Possible Because Of God's Act Repentance and faith are our work. But we will not repent and believe unless God does his work to overcome our hard and rebellious hearts. This divine work is called regeneration. Our work is called conversion.10 Conversion does indeed include an act of will by which we renounce sin and submit ourselves to the authority of Christ and put our hope and trust in him. We are responsible to do this, and will be condemned if we don't. But just as clearly the Bible teaches that, owing to our hard heart and willful blindness and spiritual insensitivity, we cannot do this.11 We must first experience the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures promised long ago that God would devote himself to this work in order to create for himself a faithful people: And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6) I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7) And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26-27) These great promises from the Old Testament describe a work of God that changes a heart of stone into a heart of flesh and causes people to "know" and "love" and "obey" God. Without this spiritual heart transplant, people will not know and love and obey God. This prior work of God is what we mean by regeneration. We Are "Called" The Way Jesus Called Lazarus: Death To Life In the New Testament God is clearly active, creating a people for himself by calling12 them out of darkness and enabling them to believe the gospel and walk in the light. John teaches most clearly that regeneration precedes and enables faith. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. (1 John 5:1) The verb tenses make John's intention unmistakable: "Everyone who goes on believing [present, continuous action] that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God [perfect, completed action with abiding effects]." Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it. This is consistent with John's whole book (cf. 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:2-3; 4:7). Since faith and repentance are possible only because of the regenerating work of God, both are called the gift of God: Even when we were dead through our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).... By grace are you saved through faith; and this13 is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:5,8) The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may, perhaps, grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26) Conversion Is a Condition of Salvation and a Miracle of God |
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199 | brother john | 1 Cor 3:16 | John Reformed | 90940 | ||
I'm sorry but I fail to see the connection between God working His will within us, and that excusing man's responsibility for sinning. I tried to avoid this very conclusion when I said "I must hasten to add that the fact that God is soverign does not abrogate my responsibiity to strive in my goal to be a profitable servant." John |
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200 | Is there a verse about smoking. | 1 Cor 6:19 | John Reformed | 60547 | ||
Dear Russ, Our righteouness is imputed to us through the substitutionery death of Christ. In other words, even though we still sin God sees us as if we were perfect. This position of righteousness is by faith alone and not by works. It is a judicial righteousness whereby we are "reckoned" or "considered" guiltless. It is not an inherent or inward righteousness. Even the apostle Paul found it impossible to live a sinless life (Romans 7) but rejoiced in his Lord and Saviour. There are those who claim that smoking is sinful and those who say it is not. But if you have been a daily smoker for an extended period of time you are probably addicted. I know because I am and have been for 40 years. I also know that I have been a christian for over 20 years. It is very difficult to be beset with such a visible sign of our sin nature. I have prayed earnestly for deliverance and continue to do so. Nevertheless, it has pleased God to allow me to suffer this humiliation up until this very day. I do not allow myself to consider my smoking to be anything but sin and I try not to rationalize otherwise. But I continue to pray for grace to quit and thank him for his mercy. I detest the mindset that says we may sin all we want because we have grace. Be careful not to allow satan to place condemnation upon your head, so keep your helmet of salvation firmly in place along with the rest of the armour of God. Do not look to yourself (that will bring nothing but despair) but look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. I do not believe that 1 Cor 6:19 and 20 apply to anything but sexual impurity. Paul is explicit in saying that we should not join in sexual intercourse with a prostitute and that this is because the one who does becomes one flesh with her. He also said "Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." That is, thru sexual sin. (We are all guilty occasionally of forcing a meaning on a verse, for we are all sinners.) I wonder if those who use this verse to chastise smokers also use it to chastise overeaters. I have heard many a fat preacher use this verse to heap guilt on "puffin' prophets" and "sippin' saints" but never mention the one sin that IS named in scripture, which is gluttony. Prov 23:20 "Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; Keep praying and keep looking forward to His return. At that time we will not only be reckoned perfect but will also be perfect. God Bless Russ, John |
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