Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | RoaringLamb | 89737 | ||
Greetings, Fellow Heirs. I'm new to this forum and am eager to join this discussion. Of all biblical issues, none have generated more discussion, debate, passion, speculation, and confusion among people supposedly of "like mind" than that of the rapture and the various fates of mankind at the end of the age. Yet I am fully persuaded that we -- the body of Christ -- can and WILL come to agreement on this. Four reasons I know we can do this: (1) God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor.14:33); (2) we [if we are true believers] have God's Spirit (Acts 5:32); (3) God is not divided (1 Cor. 1:13); and (4) I've been through this before, in discussions involving Christians from all kinds of denominations and, in each case, where love and humility -- and Christ -- ruled, understanding was achieved. Once we see, from God's Word, that denominational pride is sin; that God is against false teaching; and that God requires us to come to unity in the faith (1 Cor. 1:10-13), we can discover the plain, simple truth about these things. Having done this many times before, I am familiar with the various lines of reasoning and points of contention -- as well as the false assumptions -- that have unnecessarily prolonged the debate for centuries. The problem lies in our tendency to jump from FALSE PREMISES TO PREMATURE CONCLUSIONS. Forgetting the biblical injunction against PRIVATE INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures (2 Pet. 1:20), we rely on human reasoning and end up presenting opinion as doctrine. While we all speculate on matters not definitively set forth by the Scriptures, when it comes to DOCTRINE, we had better verify what we teach. Doctrine is that which we hold one another accountable to believe. Upon DOCTRINE we make RULES. And because of RULES, I have seen people put out of churches, leave churches, and refuse to become part of churches. Because of RULES, people have even committed suicide. Every church I have ever attended has preached at least one sermon against the practice of the Pharisees and Saducees of going beyond God's requirements and laying burdens on others. Yet every one of them had their own set of requirements. A quick example: many churches condemn ALL consumption of alcoholic beverages -- going far beyond the biblical condemnation of DRUNKENESS. When I address this forum again -- if it's God's will -- I will examine the first premise most churches teach that the Scriptures plainly contradict, but by its application casts many a stumbling block before the would-be believer. I think we will begin to see that the "good news" REALLY IS GOOD. In Christ, Jay |
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2 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | Mommapbs | 90707 | ||
Greetings Jay! I only have two days before I leave my computer AGAIN for two weeks! Thought I'd ask you to identify what the "first premise" that churches teach is and which you also call a "stumbling block" to unbelievers? You wrote: "I will examine the first premise most churches teach that the Scriptures plainly contradict, but by its application casts many a stumbling block before the would-be believer." In our Savior's Name, Jesus! mommapbs PS: A belated welcome to the Forum! |
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3 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | RoaringLamb | 91025 | ||
Greeting, mommapbs! Thank you for the welcome. Since my note to you, a few people have joined in on the discussion: Morant61 (Tim Moran), gracefull, and MaTT. To save time, I ask you to take a look at those exchanges, as well as those following a question I submitted, "Rapture different from Second Coming?" which is related to this subject. But here's the premise, in a nutshell: It is too late for those who have already died without having professed Christ. They are forever lost and, according to what most Christians - in my experience and by what I've read - believe, they are already burning in hell. Incongruously, most also believe in a "secret" rapture, in which Christ returns to Earth years before what we call "the Second Coming" or "the Glorious Appearing" (although some even differentiate between these as two separate events). Whether we (the saved) understand these things or not has no effect on our salvation, but it is a stumblingblock to many who might believe, in that it contradicts the very gospel we exhort them to believe - that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, that God is love, and that he is willing that none should perish, that he is just, and that he is sovereign. In fact, this has been called by many "The Case Against Christianity"! In Jesus' Name, Jay |
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4 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | EdB | 91032 | ||
Jay I believe Christ did die for the sins of the world. To be saved one must beleive that also, and that is the problem. Many believe 1. They do not need salvation or 2. They can obtain salvation through their own good works. By doing this they then place themselves outside the salvation provided for them by Christ. It was God's desire that they don't perish and made a way of escape, it was their choice to accept it or reject it. Therefore the "Case Against Christianity" isn't much of a case. EdB |
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5 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | RoaringLamb | 91038 | ||
EdB, I never said the "Case Against Christianity" is valid. I'm not attempting to justify unbelief. What I'm saying is that sound doctrine should be taught rather than error. Sound doctrine is more likely to convince the nonbeliever than fables full of contradictions. You and I need no convincing - we already believe. But many who don't believe are hindered by reason. For many who are now converted - such as myself - certain reasonable objections had to be overcome. As I told mommapbs, I have been discussing this extensively elsewhere in this branch and the one I began with the question, "Rapture different from Second Coming?" What I ask is that you respond to what I have already said regarding the accuracy of the teachings. There IS no case against the gospel - the GOOD NEWS that Jesus taught. But the popularly taught fables contradict each other at several points. I am addressing these, point-by-point, and scripture-by-scripture. If we would continue in this manner - rather than trying to fell ideas that challenge cherished beliefs in one swift blow - I think we will all learn from each other. So, please consider the evidence I've presented, enlighten me with yours, and let us seek to come to agreement. Your brother in Christ, RL |
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