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 | Release and Faith Question | Rev 22:18 | John Reformed | 91383 | ||
Yes Gracefull, Faith does come by hearing the word of God and we are to act in accordance with it. But let us not forget that it is Jesus who is the "author and finisher"; We are His workmanship. Heb 12:1,2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 Fixing our eyes on ourselves and our own ability to exercise our faith? No! Fixing our eyes on Jesus! 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. There are those who place man in the center, saying that the promises of God are made ineffective by a weak or wavering faith. When the sick are not healed, the blame is cast on the sick man's unbelief. How can this be? Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. I believe that God is at the center. Eph 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us". If it is not our faith or God's ability to heal the sick person, then why has he not been healed? I believe that the answer may be found in God's eternal purpose for His creation. We are limited in our understanding of why things occur as they do. God, on the other hand, is unlimited; He knows the end from the beginning, and He does all things in accordance to His good pleasure. Is 46:10 "Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';" I have to stop here. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what I've written thus far. God Bless John |
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2 | Release and Faith Question | Rev 22:18 | Hank | 91400 | ||
Dear John: Quoting a fine line from your post: "I believe that God is at the center." And so do I, so do I! ...... God-centered theology, how sweet it is! ..... Hardly a day passes that one doesn't see ample evidence of how far so many professing Christians have strayed from the precept that God and God alone is the potter and we are the clay. Faith in faith is futile; faith in God is the only faith worth having. "Speak it and it will come to pass" is a ridiculous statement coming from human lips. Only God can do that! Multitudes today possess a 'name-it-and-claim-it' mentality, as though God actually owed them a debt. Through grace alone, not through any merit or claim that man possesses or will ever possess, and not because He owed us anything, Jesus Christ has already paid the debt for man's sin by His suffering and death on the cross! He does not owe man the guarantee of physcial health and financial prosperity in this life! Has the church lost track of who is the potter and who is the clay? How sad it is to see questions being posed here and elsewhere that ask, Why did God do this or that, or why didn't God do this or that? "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this?' Does not the potter have power over the clay?" Will man never learn to stop trying to create God in his own image? Will he never learn who's the boss? --Hank | ||||||
3 | Release and Faith Question | Rev 22:18 | John Reformed | 91407 | ||
Dear Hank, John Calvin made the statement that man is an "idol factory". When I first read his remark, my mind turned to the the examination of the "natural" man. It is clear that the unregenerate are constantly manufacturing gods that suit their own desires. Even the professed atheist makes a god of his own intellect; declaring that he has freed himself from the superstition of the masses, Nevertheless, he merely worships the creature rather than the Creator. This was no revelation to me. I was unregenerate myself, and I know what it is like to hate God and to consider spiritual things as foolish and incomprehensible. But CHRISTIANS! How is it possible for US to fall for heretical doctrines that diminsh God and inflate man? I don't know the answer. I do think that, despite wrong-headed pre-suppositions, many of those who follow false doctrines, are not mere professors but are indeed truely adopted children of God. What saddens me is the chaos and confusion that results from our attachement to error. We love Jesus; We love our church home; our pastor and brethren and we love our traditions, but when confronted with doctrines which are foreign to our accepted beliefs (whether founded on Scripture or not) we bristle with anger. We are so concerned with protecting the things we love, that many times we ignore or refuse to recieve even God's Word. I do not exempt myself from my own criticism. I'm as bad as the next guy; Maybe worse. I find my solace in Christ's righteousness imputed to me, a wicked sinner, whose own righteousness is but filthy rags. He is my Rock and my strong fortress, to Him I will run and find safety. My heart goes out to those who have yet to find out how miserable and weak they are. They still believe they can please God by pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps. Thank God for Paul's words in Romans 7! He did not put his faith in his own faith. He admitted his absolute and unconditional dependence on Jesus and what He had done in Paul's stead. He placed his faith in Christ! I apologize for rambling. I'm feeling rather overwhelmed today. Your Brother, John |
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4 | Release and Faith Question | Rev 22:18 | angel9 | 91506 | ||
Hi john-maybe the problem is that we try to elevate our "intellect" when what we need to get is that we are as stupid as sheep--our standard remains ourselves not HIM--in Him angel9 | ||||||
5 | Release and Faith Question | Rev 22:18 | John Reformed | 91534 | ||
Dear angel9, If you mean that we mis-use our intellect by forcing God's Word to conform to it, rather than it being conformed to God's Word...I would agree. Thanks for the note and... God Bless, John |
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