Results 221 - 240 of 500
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Reformer Joe Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
221 | One more time, "fallen away"? | Mark 4:16 | Reformer Joe | 38562 | ||
Cyclist: Welcome back. Haven't seen you in a while! You wrote: "In one of my previous posts, in answer to a question regarding Heb 6:6, I responded that no person, not even a christian, can win some one who has fallen away back to repentance but the fallen away person could only be brought back in by the working of the Holy Spirit. Was this not a good interpretation of this verse?" I think it is a stretch, because the verse really seems to indicate that the way back would be barred if someone would actually fall away. Since our salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit in the first place, it is always impossible for Christians (on their own strength, wisdom, etc.) to win anyone to Christ in the first place apart from the Holy Spirit's direct intervention in the sinner's heart. It is remotely possible that such an interpretation could hold, but there really doesn't seem to be any evidence that that is what the inspired writer is saying. You also wrote about the churches in Revelation. i think that this is a very good passage to examine in light of the "eternal security" debate. First of all, the congregation as a whole is being addressed as a church, rather than as a group of individual believers. It seems to me what Christ is telling most of these churches is that because they are fulfilling their corporate role as a transforming presence for the kingdom of God, that Christ is going to remove His presence from among them. I see a great number of parallels in our churches today in the United States. How many congregations fit the description of being lukewarm or unfocused on Christ or reluctant to proclaim the whole counsel of God or more interested in church socials than reaching the lost or missions? Now there are undoubtedly true followers of Christ in most or all of these churches, but I am fearful that Christ will be removing his lampstand from the evangelical church in the United States precisely because we are no longer faithfully finishing the redemptive work that Christ commissioned us to take part in. However, I do not think it means that everyone in those churches will suddenly lose their salvation. Christ has largely abandoned the great churches in Europe after they abandoned His commission and His truth. The judgment will be the same for our churches here unless we return to our first love as well. God's kindgom will never perish, but He has never promised that the United States will remain a major player in world evangelization. We need to get on our knees and grieve and repent for the extremely poor stewardship of time and resources and other blessings that God has bestowed upon us that we may glorify Him. --Joe! |
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222 | reincarnation and the Bible. | Mark 10:30 | Reformer Joe | 64608 | ||
Jesus is speaking of the members of the family of God. Notice that he says "in this time." He lists the benefits of forsaking all things for Christ. Notice also that persecution accompanies this. In addition, he speaks of eternal life in the world to come. So what Jesus speaks of first is what happens in this life, and then addresses the glorious future in heaven for those who trust in Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that it appointed for us to die only one time (Hebrews 9:27). Therefore, Christians need to understand that Jesus was not suggesting that we will live hundreds of times, but rather that we will have spiritual relatives in this life--the church. --Joe! |
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223 | reincarnation and the Bible. | Mark 10:30 | Reformer Joe | 64610 | ||
Jesus is speaking of the members of the family of God. Notice that he says "in this time." He lists the benefits of forsaking all things for Christ. Notice also that persecution accompanies this. In addition, he speaks of eternal life in the world to come. So what Jesus speaks of first is what happens in this life, and then addresses the glorious future in heaven for those who trust in Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that it appointed for us to die only one time (Hebrews 9:27). Therefore, Christians need to understand that Jesus was not suggesting that we will live hundreds of times, but rather that we will have spiritual relatives in this life--the church. --Joe! |
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224 | Where are the houses Jesus promised? | Mark 10:30 | Reformer Joe | 96730 | ||
" I told him that the Lord does that every time. I thought he would understand when I said that my house was his, and that my brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands were his, as was what belonged to ninety-nine other Christians. But he knows believers who do not share and I am not sure he believed me." Seems like a good explanation to me, whether he believes it or not. --Joe! |
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225 | Why doesn?t God just show himself to tho | Mark 11:22 | Reformer Joe | 66054 | ||
First of all, we in our sinful states do not really want to see God in our present condition. Take a look at how it affects Isaiah in Isaiah 6, or John seeing the glorified Christ in Revelation 1. Look at Genesis 3 to see the response of Adam and Eve after they first sinned against God. God is infinite in his holiness, and that is why the Bible tells us athat no one can look on God and live (Exodus 33:20). Anyone who says, "God, show yourself," really doesn't have a good grasp of what he is really asking for. Secondly, God has revealed Himself in the grandeur of nature (Romans 1:18 ff.), in the moral sense He has given to human beings (Romans 2), and especially to His people in various ways throughout human history, culminating in His becoming flesh and living among us (John 1:14). Christians are right because they embrace what is true. Do I know objectively, 100 percent beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am right? Nope. Is there another, more reasonable explanation for everything? Nope, not as far as I can see. Do you know of any reason I am wrong? --Joe! |
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226 | Election? | Mark 13:20 | Reformer Joe | 27139 | ||
It seems like it has been ages since we have opened up this can of worms! :) I would do a search on "elect" to find the multiple threads on this issue. For relevant Scripture passages, which also have been thoroughly fleshed out from both sides of this debate, I would recommend Ephesians 1, Romans 8-9, John 6, Matthew 13 and 1 Peter 1 to look at what Jesus and the apostles say/write regarding the role of God and how much man can/will do in his unsaved state. Of course, John 3:16 and Acts 16:31 and Acts 2:38 also come into play. The debate, of course, is how the two sides of this coin (God's choosing according to Scripture and man's responsibility to repent and believe according to Scripture) are reconciled. Happy reading! There is a lot here. --Joe! |
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227 | If God gave us brains, why wouldn't he w | Mark 16:16 | Reformer Joe | 40039 | ||
Luke: It seems there have been quite a number of attempted responses to your question here. I contend that God does indeed want us to use our brains. I do not see, however, how being a Christian in the biblical sense is really "following the crowd." It seems that just the opposite is true from my perspective. :) I think that you are missing the starting point of why God created human beings (brains and all) in the first place. The Bible teaches that God created us first and foremost for His own glory. Humanity exists to glorify and give honor to its Creator. While from a purely human perspective this may seem egotistical, one also has to remember that the God of the Bible is not like Zeus or other mythological gods, which in reality are just human personalities with a lot more firepower. The God of the Bible, by contrast, is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. In short, He demands the honor and devotion of all of creation because He alone deserves it. Our intelligence, creativity, and cleverness was given to us not as ends in themselves, but for us to consciously and brilliantly praise the most perfect being in existence. It is not because we "think for ourselves" that we are condemned by an infitely just God; it is because we have used our God-given consciousness and wills in defiance of our sovereign, perfect Creator. And you, even though you claim that there is "no proof," will not escape the just condemnation of a holy God, Here is how Romans 1 describes your situation: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." --Romans 1:18-21 We see that creation itself is a testimony to God's existence, character, and nature. The human problem is not that we search for proof and don't find it; we "suppress the truth" by our unrighteousness. Simply put, Luke, the rock-bottom reason of why you deny God's existence is that you DON'T WANT the God of the Bible to exist. All human beings, because of the sin nature that corrupts every one of us, incur God's just wrath. Since God is a perfect Judge, the cosmic treason that you have committed against your Creator makes you deserving of condemnation, just as it does me and everyone else who posts on this forum. This is easily observable in our world today. There are both geniuses and imbeciles on both sides of this theological divide between us, so obviously it is not simply a question of intelligence. It is, at its heart, a question of will and a question of human nature. Paul goes on to sum up the human condition: 'as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."' --Romans 3:10-12 and "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" --Romans 3:23 So there you have it. We both have brains, given by God, we both have constantly used them to think, say, and do things that violate the standard of moral perfection and allegiance rightfully demanded by the one who made us. We have no excuse. We have no appeal to a "higher court." God wrath is just, and it is certain to fall on you, unless God in His mercy provides a way both to provide divine justice and to spare you at the same time. And there is only one provision that God has given for human beings to be saved from his holy, eternal, justly-deserved retribution for this cosmic treason. Enter Jesus Christ! --Joe! |
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228 | Primary purpose of the written Gospels | Luke 1:4 | Reformer Joe | 48818 | ||
It seems that some of them were definitely written for that primary purpose. Luke was (Luke 1:1-4). We know that the churches were recipients of the epistles. John seems to be a lot more evangelical (John 20:30-31). The other gospels are not as explicit, but it would seem that the Jews are the initial recipients of Matthew, since it appears to be largely an defense of the ministry and Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth based heavily on the Old Testament. Mark reads like an abbbreviated evangelical tract It would seem that the New Testament books would have beem used largely in the same way as they are today, as written records of the apostolic tradition, both as bases of doctrinal decisions and as communication to the unbelieving world, especially as the apostles began to die. You see, while Paul is writing to the Romans, for example, he has never seen them, and that work takes the form of the most complete theological treatise in the New Testament. The whole book starts from scratch and basically assumes that the Romans know next-to-nothing about God, sin, the law, grace, the life of the unbeliever, and the life of a Christian. I haven't studied in great detail the use of the Scriptures in the sub-apostolic era. They were obviously referred to as standard, authoritative documents by the early church fathers, adn Christians such as Justin Martyr used them in his Apology as well. Therefore, as far back as we can go in church history outside the Bible, it would seem that they served as a standard for both purposes. --Joe! |
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229 | Gaius Julio | Luke 2:1 | Reformer Joe | 49376 | ||
Julius Caesar was assasinated in 44 B.C., approximately four decades before the Word became flesh. --Joe! |
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230 | What teacher read Isaiah? | Luke 4:18 | Reformer Joe | 4372 | ||
That would be our Lord Jesus Christ, who reada Messianic passage from Isaiah 61 and announced that "today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Thus, according to Luke 4:14-21, he initiated his Messianic ministry. | ||||||
231 | Does God look for faith? | Luke 5:20 | Reformer Joe | 27432 | ||
Stephen: I do not see Luke 5:20 as the man being brought ot Christ by his friends, but rather forgiven based on the sovereignchoice of God the Son. Notice how he tells the Pharisees that he has the authority to forgive sins. At least one of the purposes for him doing so in this man's case was to clearly demonstrate that very authority that he possessed. --Joe! |
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232 | After Salvation, What? | Luke 9:23 | Reformer Joe | 8192 | ||
Well, let's see: "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'" (1 Peter 1:14-16) "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. (1 Peter 2:1-3) "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked." (1 John 2:6) "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-21) Pretty tall order, wouldn't you say? How in my weakness can all this be accomplished? "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9) "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day... How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:97, 103-104) "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2) "My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Psalm 73:25) "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) SUMMARY: Just as the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to regenerate the sinner, resulting in justification, so also the Holy Spirit and the Word of God are the essential components of the believer's sanctification. Nothing more, and certainly nothing less! In addition, those who truly possess saving faith also will be gradually growing in holiness and righteousness, beoming more like Christ, a process that glorifies God and will only become complete when we ourselves are glorified at the Resurrection. Any other verses you folks want to share? Sanctification is one of the least-emphasized doctrines in the church today. Much emphasis is placed on evangelism and "soul-winning," but so little on developing as disciples of Christ. Thanks for bringing up the topic, Hank! --Joe! |
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233 | Why pray? | Luke 11:43 | Reformer Joe | 54201 | ||
Two main reasons that come to my mind immediately: 1. God has decreed things as answers to prayer. In other words, our omniscient God, knowing from eternity past when and what we are going to sincerely pray, has sovereignly ordained that some of the things that will come to pass in time and space will be answers to those prayers. In other words, in some amazing way, God has worked the sincere prayers of his people into His plan for human history. 2. Prayer demonstrates our utter and continuous dependence on God. Our "going through the motions" of praying itself is a means by which we rely completely and consciously on God as the giver of all good things, the One in whom we live and move and have our being. That is why we are told to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). The more we pray, the more we demonstrate that we can only do all things through Him who gives us strength (Phil 4:13). A parable about persistent prayer can be found in Luke 11:5-13. The point of the parable is that even an unfriendly man will respond to the persistent begging of a neighbor. If that is the case, how much more will our loving Father delight in responding to our persistent praying? God does not need our prayers any more than He needs anything else from us. Prayer is a gift from God to us, a means of grace by which we can present our requests before the Father on account of what Christ has done for us. What a blessed gift it is that God has condescended to let His creation communicate with Him, to confess our need for Him and to have the Holy Spirit perfectly praying alongside us as we pray! (Romans 8:26) Hope this helps a little! --Joe! |
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234 | Who Then Can Be Saved? | Luke 18:26 | Reformer Joe | 36397 | ||
Robert: You wrote: "The eye of the needle was a low gateway through the city wall. In order for a camel to pass through it had to kneel down and with great difficulty could pass through." Any reference for this? I have NEVER heard this before. Your explanation, while it comes to the correct conclusion, leaves out Jesus' answer to the question, "Who can be saved?" The "low gate entrance" explanation really makes no sense if we look at Jesus' words: 'But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."' --Luke 18:27 What Jesus is saying that it is God who saves men, to "make the camel pass through the eye of a needle," so to speak. Man cannot do it, and it is a lot more impossible than doing something "with great difficulty" on our own. "Literal camel, literal eye of a literal needle" is the best explanation for this passage. --Joe! |
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235 | Christ's "real presence" not efficaous? | Luke 22:20 | Reformer Joe | 80391 | ||
'Can Christ's "real presence" not be efficatious?' Oh, I think it is definitely efficacious. We just disagree on the effects. I have a hard time reading Paul's commentary on the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians 10-11 without concluding that it actually "does something." "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?" --1 Corinthians 10:16 In my understanding, it is much more than the bare memorial that the Reformer Ulrich Zwingli concluded it to be. If it is just a ceremony, why were people dying for partaking of it unworthily? Here is the Westminster Larger Catechism's summary of the efficacy and meaning of the Supper: Q. 168. What is the Lord’s supper? A. The Lord’s supper is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness, and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with the other, as members of the same mystical body. So the Lord's Supper: --is a proclamation of Christ's death --nourishes the believer spiritually --causes the faithful to grow in grace (not to maintain or renew our salvation, but rather to further sanctify us) --serves as an outward confirmation of our belonging to Jesus Christ (the covenant aspect) --unites us to the body and blood of Christ through the mediation of the Holy Spirit --reminds us of our belonging to each other and to the universal church of all times and places Of course, this is a minority view among 21st-century Protestants, but it is the view to which I hold. --Joe! |
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236 | What or who did the rock signify/ | Luke 22:20 | Reformer Joe | 80392 | ||
Christ. "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ." --1 Corinthians 10:1-4 I see both Protestant sacraments alluded to in these verses. --Joe! |
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237 | Jesus couldn't of gone up to heaven. | Luke 23:43 | Reformer Joe | 64185 | ||
Jesus didn't go get any keys. The atonement was accomplished on the cross (He did say, "It is finished," after all). Jesus' human nature was in the heart of the earth, but His divine nature, being omnipresent, was in heaven as well. --Joe! |
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238 | Joe, | Luke 23:43 | Reformer Joe | 64280 | ||
You wrote: 'If He didn't go down to "get the keys" or "conquer death" what do you think He did do in the grave for those 3 days and 3 nights?' Well, as I said before, death was conquered on the Cross. I do not think the Bible says with any kind of certainty what Jesus (his human nature) did during the period of His death. --Joe! |
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239 | Gospel says | Luke 23:46 | Reformer Joe | 64078 | ||
Jesus has two natures: an eternal, uncreated one that cannot die (God), and one that was created for him in the womb of the virgin Mary (the human one). It is the human nature that died on the cross and came back to life. --Joe! |
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240 | How was Jesus' body different? | Luke 24:31 | Reformer Joe | 40736 | ||
It is imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:42-54). It is glorious (Philippians 3:20-21). --Joe! |
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