Results 201 - 220 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# | |||
201 | To Marry or Burn?? | 1 Cor 7:8 | John Reformed | 91710 | ||
Dear Curt, Gen 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.". God was speaking of Adam in particuler, not mankind in general. He said THE man. God does not forbid or command marriage. If a person, such as Paul, (having the gift to remain celebate) desires to devote himself exclusively to the service of the gospel, Paul says that that is a good thing. A married man, having responsibilities to his wife, would not be able to devote all his time due to family obligations. John |
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202 | TV or not TV? | 1 Cor 10:31 | John Reformed | 102016 | ||
Now children, don't do what we do, just do as what we say :-) Radioman, you sure know how to hurt a guy? John |
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203 | Why so blind? | 1 Cor 13:12 | John Reformed | 91442 | ||
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. "Why do people who (appear) to be sincere twist the true meaning of scripture?" Dear George, Have you ever held a sincere belief that later was revealed to you to be an error? I know I have (more times than I care to admit). I was raised Catholic, re-baptized a Nazarene, spoke in tongues as an Assembly of God and am now a Presbyterian who holds to the doctrines of grace. Each step along the way, I thought my doctrines were pure, only to have them turned upside down. Even today after 25 years of pilgramage, I am still being humbled by the Holy Spirit. (I can hear the cheers from many of my friends on the forum :-)) On the other hand there are wolves among the sheep as well! False prophets and teachers of down-right heresy. These unregenerate men are true enemies of the gospel. In either case,it is the responsibility of "true believers" to pray for discernment and for enlightenment; To speak the truth in love and to leave judgement in the hands of God. Your Thoughts? John |
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204 | Is visiting a grave a right thing to do? | 2 Cor 3:17 | John Reformed | 39638 | ||
Dear Bailybear, To visit the grave of a loved one is not a sin. It is symbolic of the affection and respect you had for them. How could it be wrong to pause and remember those things that made them so dear to you? To say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for placing them in your life, to contemplate the brevity of your own live and to ask Him for the grace to make your life count for Christ. I see nothing wrong in that. I do think it is wrong to try to speak to those who have died. But if you glorify God by what you do, He will be pleased. Grace and Peace, John |
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205 | WHAT IS MEANT IN VERSES IN 2COR.4:7-9? | 2 Cor 4:9 | John Reformed | 68151 | ||
Dear RJG, Happy Thankgiving Day and welcome to the Forum! Having read the verse in the context, I believe Paul is speaking of himself and his companions (as well as the other apostles and their companions). He certainly had his share of persecution, but God had not deserted him and kept him alive by His providential care. Having said that, I believe any christian can take personal hope in these verses as well. We all have or will suffer persecution to some extent in this present age; even if the persecution involves violence or (as is more likely in America) the loss of fond relationships, caused by our stance for Christ. My heart was overflowing with gratitude and joy this morning as I walked and talked to my Heavenly Father. I thought about all the riches that are mine. He has blessed me beyond all I could ask or wish for. How and why would He shower a miserable sinner like me with such treasures! I love Him because He first loved me. He took a wretched God-hating rebel and clothed me in the robes of righteousness provided by His only begotten Son. We have so much for which to be thankful. I am a blessed man! Our God is faihful even when we are not. He will NEVER leave us or forsake us. No matter what trial we face He is present with us, providing the grace we need to overcome in the end. May God Richly Bless You, John Reformed |
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206 | blaspheme the Spirit | 2 Cor 5:17 | John Reformed | 52395 | ||
Dear New Creature, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." One of those "old" things is condemnation. Rom 8:1 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. My dear Brother, if you are a believer, chosen by God and regenerated by the Holy Spirit then your eternal security is assured. If you are unconvinced of your salvation there are persciptions in the Word of God for gaining that assurance. For christians, our condemnation is from satan (the accuser of the bretheren) and he is a liar! If you have any questions I would be glad to search the Word with you. Your Brother in Christ, John |
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207 | Isn't it a relay race? | 2 Cor 5:17 | John Reformed | 100739 | ||
Hopefully Noble, one's doctrines grow deeper and closer to the full truth as we study and pray. I don't believe that we should ever take a close-minded attitude when discussing any topic; especially God's Word. Take the Incarnation for example. Can any of us say that our eagle eye has percieved it clearly or our plumb line sounded it's depths? "It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing." No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God. We shall be obliged to feel— "Great God, how infinite art thou, What worthless worms are we!" But while the subject humbles the mind it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe. He may be a naturalist, boasting of his ability to dissect a beetle, anatomize a fly, or arrange insects and animals in classes with well nigh unutterable names; he may be a geologist, able to discourse of the megatherium and the plesiosaurus, and all kinds of extinct animals; he may imagine that his science, whatever it is, ennobles and enlarges his mind. I dare say it does, but after all, the most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity. And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatary. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning. We shall present you with one view of it,—that is the immutability of the glorious Jehovah. "I am," says my text, "Jehovah," (for so it should be translated) "I am Jehovah, I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." There are three things this morning. First of all, an unchanging God; secondly, the persons who derive benefit from this glorious attribute, "the sons of Jacob;" and thirdly, the benefit they so derive, they "are not consumed.' We address ourselves to these points." (C.H. Spurgeon) God Bless, John |
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208 | Define 'spiritual death' | 2 Cor 5:21 | John Reformed | 83113 | ||
Dear Gracefull, "It is my understanding that the spirit, whether man's or God's will never 'cease to exist' or expire. So to me spiritual death for man in sin is eternal seperation from the Father in hell. Conciousness and awareness never ceasing. So to say Jesus 'died spiritually' is not to say He ceased to exist but rather was seperated from the Father spiritually." Good point! BUT........ The spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and is also called the spirit of God. To say that Jesus died spiritually would mean that the Holy Spirit also experienced death, which would imply that the Father experienced spiritual death as well. We must have scriptural support for all of our doctrines before we may accept their veracity. John |
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209 | Is there any where in the Bible where Je | 2 Cor 12:7 | John Reformed | 39182 | ||
Dear Cody, There "let God be true and everyman a liar". Why do you you ask "Is God a liar"?. Perhaps you should re-read my note to you. I don't understand your question. John |
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210 | Why does God "allows" suffering? | 2 Cor 12:7 | John Reformed | 52350 | ||
Dear Cindy, You were right when you wrote: "... sin brings suffering and not only to the one who sins but often to innocent victims." All of suffer to one degree or another. Sickness, accidents, betrayls and death. Suffering entered as the direct consequence of the Fall. We also must realize that when Adam fell we all fell in him. His sin was imputed (charged to the account of) to all mankind that was to come. When the 2nd Adam (Jesus) came He paid the full penalty for Adam's sin through His perfect obediance to the Law and by His substitutionary death on the cross for all who would believe in Him. Our sins (past, present and future) were paid for and His perfect righteousness was imputed to us. In other words when God looks upon us he sees us as perfectly righteous, even though we still struggle and fall into sin. I know there are preachers who claim that God does not allow suffering. Personally I consider this nonsense! What does the Bible say about Christian suffering? "To the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:13-14; cf. Romans 8:18) Suffering for righteousness sake is part of normal Christian living. Far from removing suffering, our salvation guarantees it. Scripture, in fact, tells us to expect trials: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12) Some of above was excerpted from John MacArthur.I recommend you visit his web site at www.gty.org (click on Issues and Answers). God Bless You Cindy, John Reformed |
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211 | Angels at the door? | Gal 1:8 | John Reformed | 83451 | ||
Dear RLGreen, You wrote: "Hebrews 13:2 warns us that we should not forget to entertain strangers, for doing so some people have entertained angels. How is this so if God now speaks to us through his Word. Can we expect angels to appear at the door?" Heb 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. First of all, the verse says, that if we were to entertain an angel, we would be unaware that it was an angel. The point is that we should recieve all christians as if they might be messengers from God. Matt 25:40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me. Heb 13:2 has nothing to do with "new revelations". In fact Paul said in Gal 1:8 : " But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" Therefore, rather than making the written Word of God of less than our sole resource for knowing God and His will for us, it establishes it as such. John Reformed |
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212 | PLease expound on I Corinthins 11:1 , 2 | Gal 2:20 | John Reformed | 71958 | ||
Dear Chainbreaker, I agree with your definition. "follow me as I follow Christ" is simply Paul telling the Corinthians to copy Paul's example to the extent that it reflects Jesus Christ. But from what quarter are you hearing people saying that Paul was lifting himself up? I have'nt come across this one before. John Reformed |
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213 | must one baptized,holy spirit? | Gal 2:20 | John Reformed | 100276 | ||
It's not a question of what we must do, rather, what Christ is doing in me. We are His workmanship! John |
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214 | Justification for non-Christian Living?? | Gal 5:24 | John Reformed | 87484 | ||
Dear Curtman, How can you successfully "pull-off" the commandments of the New Testament as found in passages succh as Eph.4:1-3? You can't. :-) See Rom 7:18 then..John 15:5 John Reformed |
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215 | What is the correct procedure for going | Ephesians | John Reformed | 97415 | ||
It is NOT necessary for your flesh to go through deliverence! It's our old carnal nature that causes us so much trouble. We are to consider it dead and the old man crucified with Christ. Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? What is necessary is for one to have placed his faith for salvation in Jesus Christ. Our ordeals are the means which God uses to strenghten us. If you are in Christ you have been delivered from the world and into the kingdom of God. You are not free from trials (at times very severe trials) but you have been freed to struggle against sin and temptation. Some promises: 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. 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. Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. We must fix our eyes on Christ and praise Him for what He has done on our behalf. |
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216 | Predestination | Eph 1:4 | John Reformed | 41651 | ||
Dear New Creature, A man is saved as a result of his predestination by God to be among His "elect". He is not saved on the basis of any foreknown work or act of faith. Good works and faith are the result of predestination, not the cause of it. Rom 9:15,16 "For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION. "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." John Reformed |
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217 | "objects of wrath" | Eph 2:3 | John Reformed | 98727 | ||
Dear NC, Romans 9 22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory-- You concluded "From the following verse it appears that even the saved were (past tense) "objects of wrath" It seems, here at least, that being an "object of wrath" is not an fixed unmoveable condition." I think you are making a mistake that we all make from time to time, that is, reading our pre-suppositions into the text and forgetting to consider the preceeding verses. Paul had stated in Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! (15) For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." (16)So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. Paul, knowing that his statement will bring surprise and protest from some, anticipates their objection and states the anticipated question, then answers it for them it for them: Rom 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" Rom 9:20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Paul then ( so as to humble the objectors) reminds them what they are, and Who God is! They perhaps, were of the opinion that they (lumps of clay) had a right to protest over God’s (The Potter) right to form them according to His purpose alone. They thought they had “rights “ which superceded those of their Maker! Paul sets them straight. I believe it is important to remember that those who were not chosen by God to receive mercy have no right to protest because all have freely sinned and deserve only His justice. My advise is…don’t complicate this chapter by reading into it that which it does not say. John |
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218 | "objects of wrath" | Eph 2:3 | John Reformed | 98877 | ||
Dear NC, Permit me to modify my initial answer. The term as used in romans 9 differs from it's use in Eph 2. Rom 9 adds the modifier "prepared for destruction" to "objects of wrath". I don't believe that this distinction should be overlooked. I apologize for not being clearer from the start. John |
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219 | Dear John: Is it possible? | Eph 2:3 | John Reformed | 99267 | ||
"Do you believe that you were pre-ordained to believe what you believe? If so, it seems it will not be possible for you to change your mind." Yes. Based upon my reading of Scripture, My understanding is that the ability of anyone to believe the truth is by the grace of God. Eph 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. "If so, it seems it will not be possible for you to change your mind." If it is God's will that I continue to hold to these doctrines, I will. But knowing about God does not compare to knowing God Himself in a personal way. I trust that He will hold me and keep me, nevertheless, I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling. I must examine my heart daily. The way I see it is this. I know that God is in control of my life and that everthing that happens happens for a reason (in accordance to His eternal plan) but I must act AS IF it depends on me. In other words, I must strive to keep His commandments and to follow His teaching to the limit of my ability, knowing I am totally dependent on His grace to do anything that would please Him. I must run the race; put to death the deeds of the flesh etc. I have to go for now, but will attempt to answer more fully later. God willing! John |
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220 | Dear John: Is it possible? | Eph 2:3 | John Reformed | 99281 | ||
Dear Noble, You asked: "In the same manner, do you think that the people who believe something different from you were pre-ordained to believe what they believe? If so, it will not be possible for them to change." Yes, I do believe that is true. 1 Cor 2:7,8 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; Thank God that we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone and not based upon our perfectly understanding each doctrine taught by Scripture. If that were so, none would be saved. Unregenerate man is not interested in serving and glorifying God. His heart is wicked and desires only that which glorifies himself. Even what men consider good works, charity, self-sacrifice, etc. are good things in themselves but unless they are done for the greater glory of God, they are done for the glory of the individual. They are "dead works". The only way one may change is by the gracious mercy of God. The purpose of this discussion (at least as I see it) is to glorify God by seeking to know Him as He is, and, to grow in awe of His majesty and love for the saints. John |
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