Results 401 - 420 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# | |||
401 | Can we put doctrine into practice? | Eph 5:25 | Reformer Joe | 53982 | ||
You wrote: "How about practical stuff." Correct theology is the most practical thing you will ever possess as a Christian. Get as much of it as you can! You wrote: "How can men treat their wives as queen of the home?" By following Paul's advice: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" --Ephesians 5:25 Spend some time with the implications of THAT one! How did Christ demonstrate His love for His people? What lengths did He go to? And that is our role model as husbands! Also note that without a correct understanding of what Christ did for the church (theology), the "practical" just loses its force and impact completely. --Joe! |
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402 | Does God have a spiritual body? | Eph 5:25 | Reformer Joe | 54206 | ||
I love practical Christianity, because theology is immensely practical. Here are some practical suggestions: 1. Pray with her and for her. 2. Help her minister using her spiritual gifts. 3. Perform various acts of self-sacrifice for her (like doing her "chores" once in a while). 4. Give her encouraging words. 5. Correct her GENTLY when needed. 6. Do special things for her without seeking some kind of "payoff" on your part. These are a few ways we can love our wives. I would suggest that you take Momma's advice and ask her yourself what you can do to love her as Christ loved the church. A good read through Philippians 2:6-11 is a great refresher course in what Christ actually did. The point I was trying to make is one that Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary makes. In Scripture one makes thousands of observations, together leading us to one correct interpretation, and it is that correct understanding of Scripture and its broad principles that lead to a multitude of everyday applications, depending on your individual circumstances. One cannot make good, practical application of Scripture without first grasping its message, and that is theology. --Joe! |
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403 | To whom Christ died? | Eph 5:25 | Reformer Joe | 70304 | ||
I would type the words "Jesus" and "elect" in the quick search box on the right to dig up a wealth of answers from "both sides of the aisle." Hope this helps! --Joe! |
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404 | Submit . . . unless it hurts? | Eph 5:33 | Reformer Joe | 66559 | ||
You wrote: 'Maybe you all can help me with this. If I remember correctly, Job "submitted" to the Lord, saying, "Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him." If he didn't say that, please correct me (or tell me who did say it.) Or, if that wasn't submission, what is submission?' Job did say that, and we can call it submission. One needs to remember that God is sinless and that there was purpose in suffering for Job. A husband is a human being, and for one sinful human being to mistreat another is against God's law. "Please help me see where scripture relieves a wife of the resposibility under God to submit to her husband because it pains, injures, or even kills her. Isn't a husband (or wife) to submit to the Lord that way?" It is the responsibility of the church to look after the well-being of its members and to discipline sinners (which would include the husband if he is a professing Christian). It is the responsibility of the state to punish evildoers, and they have been given authority by God to do so (Romans 13). The wife should never keep silent about her husband's sin in this area, because there are God-ordained means for protecting her from a sinning husband and bringing him to repentance. --Joe! |
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405 | i did not get a satisfactory answer yet | Philippians | Reformer Joe | 64154 | ||
Well, how about responding to the answers given to you already and explaining WHY you find them to be so unsatisfactory? Are they unsatisfactory because you do not understand them? Do you need more clarification? Or is your will set against believing what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ? --Joe! |
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406 | Selfish or Self-interest? | Phil 1:23 | Reformer Joe | 4550 | ||
I'd like to bite a piece off this discussion, if I may. I would like to take the last verse first. The "loving ourselves" is not the command. It is human nature to love ourselves. What is not automatic is loving others in the same way. This is altruistic in nature, and reflects much the same message as Philippians 2, where we are told to not look out merely for our own interests, but also the interests of others. Again, it is not a command to look after our own interests (that goes without saying); the command is to humble ourselves and serve others. John 3:16 makes a declarative statement about who will have eternal life. From my Calvinist perspective, this is not an enticement to follow Christ, since we are morally incapable of choosing that route without the Holy Spirit's regeneration. Therefore, this is merely a commentary on the eternal destiny of those who believe. Matthew 11:28 is right in the middle of a discourse which supports the Reformed position of divine election. In any case, this verse has to do with personal peace in knowing Him ("rest for your souls") and not a comfortable lifestyle, as Jesus makes it very clear throughout the Gospels that following him will bring hardship, suffering, and often death. In Matthew 19, Jesus is not making an offer to humanity, but rather declaring God's plan for those whom He has called. While there is without a doubt eternal reward for following Christ, eternal life hinges on what God has done for us. All of the verses you cited describe the final outsome of the elect, but Romans 3:10-18 makes it pretty clear that it is not a path we would ever choose on our own. Therefore, self-interest is the pattern that the unregenerate follow wholeheartedly, not those who are being saved. In Philippians, Paul desires to be with Christ. He longs for his eternal home, which for him is far better. Any Christian who would not rather be in Heaven than on earth really doesn't have a very good grasp of what Heaven will be like. However, as you say, Paul sees that God has more in store for him here on earth, and that his continued presence will be beneficial to the church in Philippi. Paul understands that to be with Christ is to be like Christ (i.e. glorified, with one's sin nature utterly destroyed forever) and to worship the Lord joyfully for all eternity. I long for that day as well, but I also realize that as long as the Lord leaves me on this planet, I have a part in God's redemptive purpose (2 Cor. 5:20, 1 Peter 2:9,10, Ephesians 2:10), which I also joyfully undertake, knowing that my sovereign God's plan is best and that the glory belongs to him. One more thing regarding Philippians. Take note that Paul was by no means in a state of misery. For him it wasn't a choice between Heaven or "Hell on earth." Despite the fact that he was in prison, he is joyful because of the ministry of the church, the preaching of the Gospel, and the opportunity to serve and be served by his brothers and sisters in Christ, all of which glorify God. Does this seem rambling to you? It was somewhat hard to be both brief (if indeed one could consider this brief!) and also cover most of the bases you brought up in your questions. Perhaps looking at just one or two aspects of the question at a time would be more beneficial. Anyhow, thanks for your patience in reading my reflections! --Joe! |
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407 | How do we live the 'Christian life'? | Phil 2:5 | Reformer Joe | 18154 | ||
This is true. --Joe! |
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408 | The muslim said to me | Phil 2:6 | Reformer Joe | 64091 | ||
You wrote: " Jesus used to often pray to God (Matt 14:23) Sonship implies father-son equality in characteristics. he son can do what his father can.Since the Father does not pray, neither should the son." Your Muslim contact certainly seems to have had an effect on you, Isaac. Don't be terribly alarmed, however. He is not being terribly intellectually honest. Notice what he said. First he said that if Jesus were the Son of God, He would be able to do what the Father does. That is very biblical. However, the Muslim went on to say that since the Father does not pray, neither should the Son. That is not a logical conclusion from what was said before. Where in the Bible does it say, first of all, that God CANNOT pray? The ability to pray and the actual activity of praying are two different things. Secondly, how does a son asking his father for something make him less of a son? That is just plain silliness. With all due respect, I think that if you want to meet the challenges of Islam, you need to study Christianity quite a bit more. I would recommend starting with some of the classical confessions which summarize the teachings of the Bible. Read them and take the time to understand the claims of Christianity a little more, because the Muslims you are talking with do not understand Christianity at all. Many of them can be found on the Internet, such as: --The Belgic Confession http://www.reformed.org/documents/BelgicConfession.html --The Heidelberg Catechism http://www.reformed.org/documents/heidelberg.html --The Westminster Shorter Catechism http://www.reformed.org/documents/wsc/index.html And if you want to examine the claims of Christianity vs. Islam, one of the best resources is a book entitled _Answering Islam_ by Norman Geisler and Abdul Saleeb. Any honest approach to understanding the Christian faith requires study, so I encourage you to take the time and energy to see and internalize the wonderful truths of Christianity and how it does stand up to all scrutiny. --Joe! |
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409 | Muslim missionaries said to me last week | Phil 2:7 | Reformer Joe | 64089 | ||
You wrote: "Had Jesus been God's begotten son, he would be have been equal to him in strength." And He was: "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was." --John 17:5 You wrote: "The gospels depict a picture of Jesus as the weakest human who ever lived on earth!" Yes, He was depicted as the suffering servant Isaiah, seven centuries before, prophesied He would be: "For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." --Isaiah 53:2-3 You wrote: "Jesus was taken for investigation, insulted, beaten, whipped, mocked and crucified without defending himself or being defend by his Father, as the gospels narrate!" ...which was the whole purpose for which Jesus came to earth: "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." --Isaiah 53:4-6 "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." --Philippians 2:6-8 And he willingly laid his life down to pay for the sins of Christians. He wasn't UNABLE to come down from the cross; he was UNWILLING to disobey the Father: "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." --John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." --John 10:14-15 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." --John 10:17-18 Tell me, Isaac: who in existence would have the authority not only to lay down one's own life (on one's own initiative), but then, following death, to take it up again? Jesus claimed to be God." What your Muslim contacts seem not to understand is that the crucifixion was no accident, but the very means by which the Son of God bore the sins of His people. Your Muslim contacts claim that he is a weak man. Ask them how weak a person has to be to bear the holy, infinite, and unrelenting wrath of God for every sin committed by every one of God's people from the beginning of history to the end of it? The Jesus of Christianity is no wimp. --Joe! |
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410 | ?self effort 2 B holy now vs befor saved | Phil 3:9 | Reformer Joe | 100109 | ||
"What is the difference between my self effort to be holy now that I am saved and my self effort to be good when I was saved?" I assume you meant your self-effort to be good before you were saved, right? :) Your self-effort before you are saved is a pointless exercise, because no one can attain the perfection that God requires. We all have sinned, and legalism (the idea of earning salvation by law-keeping) is thoroughly refuted in Scripture. We need the imputed righteousness of Christ to be able to stand before an infinitely holy God. The key is understanding that you were not saved just so that you will go to heaven, but so that God's glory would be displayed through your sanctification. So, the Spirit of God motivates us and empowers us to fight against our old sin nature, to put sin to death (Colossians 3). Our role in our sanctification is to wage "no-holds-barred" war against our sin and thereby glorify God (1 Peter 2:11-12). To do this, we rely on God's Spirit that is working within us to give us the strength to do so, and we make use of the means of grace God has given us (word, sacraments, prayer) as our tools and weapons in this struggle. None of those things is effectual in the life of the unbeliever seeking to establish his own righteousness (other than to be used as visual aids for a hypocritical legalism), but they are God's gifts to the Christian, ways in which the Spirit works to glorify the Triune God through our cooperation and transformation (Romans 12:2). A great book on this subject is _The Discipline of Grace_ by Jerry Bridges: http://www.discerningreader.com/disofgracjer.html --Joe! |
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411 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | Reformer Joe | 100429 | ||
"Is the sin nature a substance or a mindset?" Not a substance. Mindset is closer. I would call it a disposition. "Has the sin nature been eradicated and replaced by the new nature?" That is a good question. Since the believer still struggles with "the flesh" (NIV translates the Greek to "sin nature"), I would say that it hasn't been eradicated, but it is being put to death in the believer. There is a struggle between the desire to please and obey God in faith and the sin nature (which will ultimately be eradicated). "Or does the sin nature remain in the believer and battle against the new nature?" I think that it is clear in the Bible that both dispositions are there. Galatians 5:16 ff. describes this struggle. "Is the sin nature the same thing as the flesh?" Yes. "What is the new nature? Is it God in me or is it a part of me that is a new creation?" The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, but the new nature is a human one that the Spirit is changing. "Is the new nature a substance or a mind set?" A disposition, like the old one. --Joe! |
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412 | once saved, always saved? | Col 1:13 | Reformer Joe | 75632 | ||
The verse above is a good one. Here are some others that suggest a one-way transition from one spiritual condition to another: Romans 8 (especially verses 1-2 and 29 ff.) 1 Peter 2:9-10 Ephesians 1:3-6,13-14 John 6:44 Galatians 2:20 etc. Verses used to argue salvation can be lost are verses having to do with "persevering to the end." 1 Timothy 4:16 James 1:12 etc. Other passages which clearly show the possibility of someone walking away from the household of faith, such as Hebrews 3:12, 4:14, 6:4-6, and Hebrews 10. Passages like Romans 11:22 and John 15 demonstrate some sort of "cutting off." The question is whether those who are "cut off" from God's covenant blesssings were ever truly saved in the first place. We see several instances in Scripture where people seemed to be saved but turned out to be corrupt (Judas Iscariot and Ananias and Sapphira are two examples). We also see Jesus telling professing disciples that he NEVER knew them (Matthew 7:21-23). We also see in other places where it is directly stated that some among God's people were not truly God's people. Certainly the Israelites showed that in their long covenant history, but the New Testament authors indicate this in several places as well: "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." --John 2:19 "For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." --Jude 4 So the real debate should be not whether people fall away or not (since warnings from God are meaningless if there is no possibility of the thing occurring), but whether those who fall away were once genuine believers or those who only enjoyed the blessings of living and partaking among the Lord's true disciples. Hope this helps to give you a brief overview! --Joe! |
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413 | firstborn from among the dead | Col 1:18 | Reformer Joe | 65019 | ||
They all died again. Jesus was the first one to be bodily raised to life eternal. --Joe! |
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414 | Verification on Charles Taze Russell | Col 2:9 | Reformer Joe | 82592 | ||
Which part needs verification? The part about the Watchtower saying that Russell never claimed to be the wise and faithful servant, or the part about Russell himself claiming to be that servant? --Joe! |
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415 | circumcission and baptism | Col 2:12 | Reformer Joe | 56959 | ||
They both have been outward signs signifying belonging to God's people. Neither one saves, but identifies them as members of God's covenant people and point to God's promises of salvation for His own. Colossians 2:11-12 identifies baptism as the "circumcision of Christ." Catholics, Orthodox, and some Protestant denominations baptize infants, just as infant males received the rite of circumcision in Israel. Is that what you were looking for? --Joe! |
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416 | what do you think about monday | Col 2:16 | Reformer Joe | 25611 | ||
Buffalo: There are several problems with suggesting a "personal Sabbath." First of all, God instituted a particular day for the Sabbath in the Old Testament, and the historic Christian understanding is that Sunday is now the Christian Sabbath. There was never any room for picking your favorite/most convenient day and naming it your own Sabbath. Seondly, while we are not saved BY the church, we are most certainly saved INTO a church. God did not ordain a loose confederation of Christian "free agents" who have the right to "have church at home." That is simply a contradiction in terms, because the church is not a service, but rather a body of believers, the bride of Christ who has been called to function together for the spreading of the kingdom of God. If you are not connected to a local congregation which faithfully encounters the word of God, fellowships with one another, participates in the Lord's Supper and baptism, and practices church discipline; then you are not in God's will for your life. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." --Hebrews 10:23-25 Can one be saved without church attendance? Sure, but it is pretty clear that one cannot be truly a follower of Jesus Christ apart from active ministry within His church. One's spiritual gifts are not for himself/herself, but for the church. When one neglects to participate in the ministry and fellowship of Christ's church, the church is actually ROBBED of something. Every believer in Christ is an important part of the body of Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 12. We are indeed justified as individuals, but we are members of the body, not able to function effectively by ourselves (whether we will admit it or not -- 1 Cothinthians 12:15-16). Pursuit of Christ-likeness is intended to be in the context of His church. I would encourage you to pray about it and obey God in this manner. The cost may be high, but the rewards are greater. --Joe! |
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417 | Rapture question? | 1 Thess 4:17 | Reformer Joe | 23425 | ||
You can answer it by saying that maybe a pre-tribulational rapture is not a Biblically accurate event... If it is for real, I guess everyone dies, then. --Joe! |
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418 | What exactly is predestination? | 1 Thess 5:17 | Reformer Joe | 49614 | ||
You have asked some good questions here. First off, let me encourage you by stating emphatically that one's salvation does not depend on one's view of predestination. As someone who does hold to what is known as the Reformed/Calvinist viewpoint (the one which holds that God unilaterally determines who will be saved), I recognize that there are fellow believers in Christ who disagree with me. You asked: "If this is true where does free will play in our lives and if everything is predetermined as to the outcome what is the point of prayer?" A Reformed Baptist minister by the name of John Piper has addressed that question on more than one occasion. I would recommend checking out these links to explore biblically the link between God's sovereignty and our prayer. The short answer is that God decrees that many things that will come about will come about as an answer to prayer. Prayer is a demonstration of our complete and utter dependence upon God for His providence, and God rewards our faithful prayers in the present by foreordaining their answers in eternity past. http://www.desiringgod.org/Online_Library/OnlineArticles/Subjects/Prayer/Sovereignty_and_prayer.htm I would also recommend Piper's book _A Godward Life_ for some devotional reading on a great number of Christian issues (including prayer). I am delighted to hear that you are a new believer in Christ! Have you found a good church so that you will grow in community with other believers? While you have peace with God though your faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), God has an incredible purpose for all who trust in the finished work of His Son as payment for their sins. Take a look at these verses to see what God has in store for you: Ephesians 2:10 1 Peter 2:9,10 1 Thessalonians 4 Philippians 1:6 Lastly, if you want to examine what the doctrine of predestination is all about, I would point you to the Web site below. It is a somewhat lengthy but precise description of what the Reformed understanding of the Bible's message of salvation is. Even if you end up not adhering to this view, it is good to have an accurate understanding of what many Christians believe the Bible teaches. http://www.desiringgod.org/Online_Library/OnlineArticles/Subjects/DoctrinesGrace/tulip.htm Let us on the forum know how we can assist you in your new relationship with Christ! --Joe! |
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419 | Please help me to understand these verse | 2 Thess 2:13 | Reformer Joe | 18319 | ||
Frank: There has been a lot of discussion/debate on this forum of the very issues that you have been struggling with. Do a search on this forum for the terms "predestination" and "free will". You will find a variety of opinions here. In addition, if you have the time to read a few things, (and I assume that you have already read quite a bit if this has been causing you so much torment), I would recommend the following books: Grace Unknown, by R.C. Sproul The Potter's Freedom, by James R. White In particular, the latter one addresses the seeming contradiction between predestination and 2 Peter 3:9. In any case, both approach the issues of predestination and God's sovereignty from a solidly biblical perspective, and you can find or order them from just about any Christian bookstore or off the Internet. Another location which specifically deals with the issue of election and predestination can be found at John Piper's Web site at www.desiringgod.org. Specifically, try this link: http://www.desiringgod.org/Online_Library/OnlineArticles/Subjects/Justification/JustificationIndex.htm Hope this helps you in your search for a resolution to your dilemma! It certainly is a topic that seems beyond the scope of a single post. Feel free to email me privately as well if you have more specific questions as well. --Joe! |
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420 | What is sanctification? | 2 Thess 2:13 | Reformer Joe | 32389 | ||
From the Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q35. What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. --Joe! |
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