Results 761 - 780 of 975
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Aixen7z4 Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
761 | Why don't you know for sure? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100200 | ||
God made man with free will, and the alternative to obedience was always there. God even made man aware of the alternative and its consequences. Read it again (Gen 2:16,17): "The LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die". Incidentally, it says what kind of tree it was. Folklore says "apple", but you have just seen what God and the Bible said. Also, it is not that man lacked knowledge. He lacked the knowledge of evil. And we ourselves should limit our knowledge of it. Please note Rom 16:19 "I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil". Knowledge, my friend, comes through experience. May God help us to limit our knowledge of evil. We should learn that which is good, from the word of God, and then put it into practice. Be encouraged. Jesus said (John 7:17)"If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching" and (John 8:31,32) "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." We also have the Holy Spirit to guide us, but we must be sensitive to his leading through the word. |
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762 | Why don't you know for sure? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100198 | ||
The passages referred to in the first post were primarily from the New Testament, with only one from the Old. The posibility of separation from God has always been there. Our foreparents chose because they had the ability to choose. Please take the time to think and to do the necessary research before telling us what we must realize. Please take your time. You do not have to have the final answer. Just share your thoughts and read what the others write. The answers will appear. |
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763 | Are you quite sure about that? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100195 | ||
I am sorry to say that I have no idea what you are talking about, or how it might be related to our topic. I will read your note again when I have the time. In the meantime, you might want to read the question again and review the comments of others. God bless you as you do, and if you write on this thread again, please make sure it is related to the question, and please try to make it clear. | ||||||
764 | In Adam vs. In Christ? | 2 Cor 5:17 | Aixen7z4 | 100165 | ||
I would be pleased to capitalize Him in order to gratify Ray. Come to think of it, I also failed to capitalize Christ. But that was a typo. I trust it does not detract from the substance. It is an interesting thought that we were in Adam and we are now in Christ. We inherited something from each of them, I suppose. But in Adam all died. In Christ, all were made alive. Quite a difference. Some would say it is a contrast and not a comparison. But the thought of it, that they do have something in common, may help us to gain a deeper understanding of your topic. |
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765 | Are you quite sure about that? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100164 | ||
Yes, Ken, we do need a deeper understanding. That is the reason we are sharing here. Please share your insights on the topic. Also, please share something about yourself by filling out the User Profile. It will give us an idea how far you have come and why you think it is only we who need a deeper understanding. And let us not put a stumbling block in front of our weaker brethren. Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. But can you explain how building up one another helps us to know the mind of God. Is it by getting stronger that we get closer to God? And are you quite sure about that? |
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766 | What does it mean to be "in Christ?" | 2 Cor 5:17 | Aixen7z4 | 100145 | ||
To be “in christ” may mean to be in the church, maybe. The church is his body (Eph 5:23;Col 1:18;Col 1:24). It also means that our lives are merged into his. I do not doubt that some who read this may have their doubts, Mommapbs, but I think you understand. First of all, we are not thinking about Christ in the flesh. Your passage tells us that “we know no man after the flesh: (not even Christ) yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him (like that) no more”. We are a part of his kingdom, his system, his agenda, because he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We do not live for ourselves anymore. We live for him. Lord, Let it be so. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. We are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God. I hope that this says a little about what it means in terms of what the phrase signifies. I hope it also says a little of what it involves in terms of the change it makes in our lives. We are baptized into him. We die to ourselves and live for him. We are hid away with Christ in God. And this is all God's will. He wants to gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. Amen. |
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767 | Are you quite sure about that? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100144 | ||
Keyman, I am glad to see you here. If I understand correctly, God has been speaking to you for some time, and you have recently responded by committing your life to him. I trust you will continue to find encouragement in your church and also on this forum. Let me say that one-sided conversations are OK with me as long as the person is talking about the Lord or about what the Lord has said. It happens sometimes in church and we can bear with it, even enjoy it, when the preacherman is telling us “Thus saith the Lord”. I am happy that you read at least one of the passages mentioned in that post before responding. I trust that you considered the others as well. In some sense we are responding now, among ourselves, to a one-way conversation in which God has been speaking to us in the Bible. What has he been saying to us? And how have we responded? Have we even asked him to make it clear to us? We may not like one-way conversations because we think we have something important to say, I suppose. But if God is speaking, we should be willing to listen. This thread is asking us two questions. First, would we be concerned about the possibility God is not directing us and we are acting on our own? Also, when we speak for God, we would hope and like to think that the people are listening. But sometimes it seems they are not listening. Should we continue speaking anyway? God seems to be saying that there are times when he withdraws himself in order to induce us to seek him. We would not want to miss that message. First and foremost, we need him for ourselves, to guide us. He does not want us to go on without him. And when we speak, we want to speak his words, not ours. He wants us to speak when he sees fit and not in a time of our own choosing. But what if we are not listening? I think you are exactly correct in saying that God does not want a one-way conversation. He has spoken to us and he wants us to talk to him. It is not to tell him our opinion, which is often why we want our turn in the conversation, but to ask him. In other words, to pray. Sometimes it seems that God is not talking, but it may be that we are talking and not listening. Sometimes it seems that he is listening and we are not talking, to him. Even now it seems that we are talking to each other and not to him. I don’t think he likes that either, to be left out of the conversation. So, Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. And Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. |
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768 | Are you quite sure about that? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 100133 | ||
So why is there that little doubt in your mind? When Jesus was here he had no doubt. He said he knew the father was always with him. He never had that little doubt. He did always the things that please the Father. But you do not. Sometimes you do not know whether you do or not. That's the truth. Please don’t say it’s because Jesus was or is God. Please read on. When Jesus directed his disciples in fishing he told them to cast their nets on the right side of the ship; not the left, or front, or back. When they needed money to pay the tax he directed them to the fish with the coin in its mouth. Does he direct you, directly, like that? Please don’t say it’s because Jesus was here in person. Please read on. When the Lord spoke through Ezekiel, the prophet said, “The spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, ‘Go, shut thyself within thine house. And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover. But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD’”. Would you not like to be clear about God’s will as that? Please don’t say that was the Old Testament. Read on. It happened in the life of Paul the Apostle. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately they endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called them for to preach the gospel unto them. Wouldn’t you like it if the Lord led you as definitely as that? But now he says sow the seed, though some may fall on bad ground. Preach the gospel even if it is the wrong season. Come to think of it, Jesus spoke to the people even when some had no ears to hear. Ezekiel was to speak whether the people would listen or not. Paul preached in Macedonia and got put in jail. And some of you are reading this and asking what’s the point. And some of you have an answer, mingled with doubt. You say God never leaves us alone and you forget that he sometimes does that “for a small moment” (Isa 54:7). You are not sure that he does not do that for a longer period of time. Are you confident he has given you the answer you are about to give? |
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769 | Is baptism for salvation? (Mark 16:16) | Mark 16:16 | Aixen7z4 | 99997 | ||
Brother Emmaus: There is some comfort for you in having that authoritative voice in the Catholic church. But you also wish it could be true for all of us together, in the catholic body, on this forum. Is that not true? Is it not possible? All of the verses you quoted are in all of our Bibles. And there are others as well. I therefore beseech you that we be all reconciled, to God. Maybe we can, in a place like this. | ||||||
770 | Is baptism for salvation? (Mark 16:16) | Mark 16:16 | Aixen7z4 | 99994 | ||
Brother Hank: I think it is not envy that you feel, but regret, that such beautiful language has to be describing such an unbeautiful thing. I think you would rather wear your own hammer out on the anvil of the word, in concert with some others, hammering out the truth, the last bare bit of it, to those who need it in small pieces, not to digest it, for that would be to mix the metaphor, but to be able to handle it aright. Am I not telling the truth? I think that “sawing sawdust” is equally elegant in phraseology, and may describe an activity that you do not admire. Perhaps something better could be done with the sawdust, again to make it easier for some dear soul to handle. As it is, the ones with the best phrases use them to compete and to oppose. It leaves room for those who cannot even handle the language to their own comfort to come on and try to teach. The people do not know the difference between teacher and learner now. They think we are all looking for answers (and some will say we should accept that) and so everybody offers them. Now what you get is what you see. There are people on this forum who have obviously learned a lot and could very well teach us with some measure of authority. They could put their heads together, dig a little deeper, learn from each other, and tell the rest of us the truth. People could express their opinions, no doubt, and they should ask questions. But at some point we should arrive at the answer. Don’t you agree? Or perhaps there are those who prefer to think we should not have final answers. We should be ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth? Take the present subject of baptism. Is it necessary for salvation? I imagine the person who is asking the question really needs an answer. Or maybe they need many different answers and can then figure out the truth for themselves. If that is the case, I wish we could leave the last space in the thread for them so they can tell us what they have learned. I think some people try to do that, but the case does not rest there. The opinions continue, the threads untangle again, and future visitors have much reason to be confused. Somebody must like it this way. Some say they learn from debating. I just wonder why the Lord does not expressly encourage this. (Does he?) And why is it not exemplified and commended in Scripture. And what is the record we are leaving here? You do not enjoy thumbing through it. You find it frustrating and depressing. You have the sense that it is guiding few searchers for truth to truth. Now, the truth is that baptism is very important. So much so, it might be said that those who would refuse it are casting doubt on their salvation. Isn’t that the truth? Can we build on that by adding to it? No one has shown, or tried to show, that physical water accomplishes salvation. Yet we may get that impression. Can we clarify that so that the notion goes away? There is some ground where the ceremony of baptism (if you will) is given its rightful place of importance so that believers are not tempted to minimize it or refuse it. I dare say even the mode of administration can be clarified if we put our minds to it. The people with the beautiful phrases are obviously good men with good will. They can put aside their biases here and accept truth when the see it. This is a good place. After all, we can be here anonymously, and even the risk of ostracism from our group can be minimized, until we learn to minimize or extinguish the importance of those denominational divisions. We can answer these questions. But we must seek to do so while endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
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771 | Is baptism for salvation? (Mark 16:16) | Mark 16:16 | Aixen7z4 | 99947 | ||
It is true. Look it up and you will find a long conversation, accusations, different opinions, and no agreement. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could come to a place like this and find an authoritative answer? Different verses seem to say different things. It would be nice if someone could give a comprehensive answer that takes all those verses into account, explaining them without explaining any of them away. But that means digging deep. And to dig deep means you have to leave family and denomination and even friends behind. Ask any miner. But that is hard to do, and it takes time. It’s taken me a long time to come to the conclusion that baptism should be embraced by anyone claiming faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He wants to do it because his Lord did it. He wants to do it whether or not it is a part of the salvation plan. He figures (not to place a pun on the 1 Peter 3 passage) that it goes well with his profession of repentance. He has decided to give up his way for God's way. Now, if the Lord wants it, that is all that matters. Baptism is usually done when a person is newly saved. He realizes that there are so many things he does not understand. He is leading with his heart, if you will, not his head. He is trusting and not feeling; not intellectualizing either. If Jesus says do it, he’ll do it. If he refuses to do it, that is a bad sign. It does not bespeak a good conscience toward God. It is not something to debate about, he says, it something to be done, as soon as possible, because the Lord he loves desires it. There’s more to it, I’m sure, but it does take time to say it, and right now I do not have it because the next appointment calls. But if you need to be baptized, if you are saved, I trust you will have done it by the time that I get back. |
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772 | Why don't you know for sure? | Eccl 11:6 | Aixen7z4 | 99940 | ||
I am surprised to find myself disturbed by the thought that God leaves us so much on our own. God knows we often don’t know what we are doing. We make mistakes, we waste time, and sometimes, as now, we don’t even know if we are doing just that. Why should we as God’s children sow seed without knowing if it will grow and bear fruit (as in Ecclesiastes 11:6)? Why should we preach the word out of season (as in 2 Timothy 4:2)? Yes, a sower went forth to sow, etc. But also, he calls us friends, not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth. So many things we discuss here and we have different opinions. It is not clear what the Lord is saying. And why does he let us do it? It is not clear what he is doing. Will you just share your opinion now and hope it does some good? |
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773 | do you belive in being baptised again? | Mark 16:16 | Aixen7z4 | 99937 | ||
It is clear that baptism before salvation is of no account. The order is always to believe and then to be baptized. It is when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved, as in Acts 16:31. It is after we are saved that we are to be baptized, as in Acts 16:33. The advice here is that you should be baptized again. It is notable, however, that you have given the reason for the baptism, that you have "accepted the Lord" as your Savior and that you know those things about him. Please be clear that you are saved before going through with baptism. It is to be hoped that the church you go to for that important ceremony will explain these things to you. For salvation, the Lord requires repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be sure that you understand, that you have done as he requires, and that you have an assurance of salvation. Make sure that your next baptism is the one that counts, so you never have to ask that question again. Baptism is an important act of obedience. May the Lord bless you as you seek to please him in this. |
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774 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | Aixen7z4 | 99815 | ||
Emmaus: Thank you for that. With that, may I suggest it that it is better to leave sanctification alone and not entangle it with justification. They are both important in our lives, but when we are perusing our role in sanctification, it is not useful to have them thus entwined. I take it we want to make our role clear so we can play that role to the full. Justification is a legal term and refers to our responsibility before God for our sins. Sanctification is a ceremonial term, if you will, denoting our being set apart for God’s glory and service. As we have noted previously, positional sanctification is accomplished by God on our behalf when we have repented and put our faith in Christ. Practical sanctification is a continuing process in which we are actively involved in taking on the character of Christ. With that, I would like to suggest the following revision of that document: Having, therefore, been justified [1 Cor 6:11] and made the friends of God, [Col 1:21] and having become a part of his family [Eph 2:19] we advance in virtue, [2Pe 1:5] , we present our bodies, as the Apostle says, day by day, [Romans 12:1] that is, “mortifying the members” of our flesh [Col3:5], and presenting them as instruments of righteousness unto sanctification, [Rom 6:13,19] we, through the observance of the commandments of God, faith cooperating with action, operationalize that sanctification received through the grace of Christ and are thereby immersed in the process of practical sanctification, as it is written: “He that is holy, let him be holy still” [Rev 22:1]. The church, by it’s name and very nature, is a called-out people, a holy people. As individuals and as a body we seek to manifest our sanctification by encouraging ourselves and one another to be reconciled to God [2 Cor 5:20] in his will for our lives. We understand that his will for us is practical sanctification [1 Thess 4:3]. Aixen’s suggestions to The Council of Trent |
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775 | What is my role in my sanctification? | NT general Archive 1 | Aixen7z4 | 99738 | ||
Dear pam: I am EdB's assistant. Therefore may I add a few words to his good advice, that there is a requirement placed upon us to walk in holiness. I trust you will not mind hearing it twice. In one sens we have been sanctified. That is something God has done for us as we trusted in Christ. That is why Paul says (2 Thess 2:13) that God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Peter says (1 Peter 1:2) that we are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit. But there is a practical side to sanctification, and we have to be actively involved in it. Paul says (Romans 13:12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. That is practical sanctification. He gives an example to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:3). This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Practical sanctification is a process of putting off things that are unlike Christ and putting on things that are like him. Colossians 3:8ff Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Ephesians 4:22ff Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Holiness is another word for sanctification. Wherefore (Ephesians 4:25ff) putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. We are saved. Sanctified. Set apart for Christ. Paul says (2 Cor 6:11) we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified. Positionally. In Christ. And (Rom 5:1) being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. But Peter says (2 Peter 1:5) we must give all diligence to add to our faith virtue. That is practical sanctification. May the Lord give us grace to put off the things that are unlike him, and put on the things that are like him. We are to be like him. And he is holy. 1 Peter 1:14ff: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in every area of life; because it is written, “Be holy; for I am holy”. |
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776 | What is my role in my sanctification? | Col 2:6 | Aixen7z4 | 99737 | ||
I would like to suggest that what Princess is referring to is something the theologians call positional sanctification. That has been done for us. That is why Paul says (2 Thess 2:13) that God has from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Peter says (1 Peter 1:2) that we are the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit. But there is a practical side to sanctification, and we have to be actively involved in it. Paul says (Romans 13:12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. That is practical sanctification. He gives an example to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:3). This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Practical sanctification is a process of putting off things that are unlike Christ and putting on things that are like him. Colossians 3:8ff Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Ephesians 4:22ff Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Holiness is another word for sanctification. Wherefore (Ephesians 4:25ff) putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. We are saved. Sanctified. Set apart for Christ. Paul says (2 Cor 6:11) we are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified. Positionally. In Christ. And (Rom 5:1) being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. But Peter says (2 Peter 1:5) we must give all diligence to add to our faith virtue. That is practical sanctification. May the Lord give us grace to put off the things that are unlike him, and put on the things that are like him. We are to be like him. And he is holy. 1 Peter 1:14ff: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he who has called you is holy, so be holy in every area of life; because it is written, “Be holy; for I am holy”. |
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777 | Are Reformed people lost souls? | 2 Pet 1:10 | Aixen7z4 | 99723 | ||
I think I am free to respond or not respond, but I am not sure. Since I am responding, I guess I have that freedom. But in so doing I seem to have lost the certainty about my freedom to not respond. What is clear to me is the fact that others have stopped responding. I do not know if they have more freedom than I do, or less. I seem to be irresistibly drawn to olive branches., or what I perceive as such. I do not seem to be able to ignore the possibility that I am falling prey to, as you put it, a ploy. I shall yet see whether or not there will be a restatement of the doctrine you hold. I am not asking for it. I am trying not to provoke it. I am hoping it does not reappear. So we’ll see. Reconciliation is important to me, as I think it is to God. We are to be reconciled to him, and we are to be reconciled to each other. I agree that I may have lost some of my fervor for this inter-human reconciliation when no one took me up on the offer. I think it always takes two, and if they are both believers in the Lord Jesus Christ I believe it can be done. But it does not take one saying come let me explain my side further so you can come over to it. It takes mutual respect and the recognition that it is the Holy Spirit who brings conviction, and things like that. Since you were disappointed in my last response, I offer this in compensation. I can only hope you find it conciliatory. Since you were expecting a kinder answer, I hope this is it. As you had hoped, I do accept the possibility that you were sincere in wanting to clear up any mis-conceptions I may have had. I would like to assure that I am not aware of any misconceptions and I do not sense the need to have anything cleared up. I believe you will allow me to be the judge of my own needs this time and stop offering help. It is my hope that those who are believers in the word of God would abandon extreme positions which divide and seek to reconcile in our own minds statements which seem to be contradictory. When we seek such reconciliation we should not allow one passage to expunge the other from scripture or explain it away. We should hold them all. Again, this is not an invitation to have the doctrine restated. I hope you are not offended when I say now that we have heard it often enough. It is not that we have not heard it. It is not that we do not understand. It is not that we need a misconception cleared up. It is that we think it needs to be reconciled, modulated, combined with the other teachings in the Bible. I use the term “we” because I think I am not alone in wishing for reconciliation. I speak for those who have fallen silent because I have read their previous posts. Look, there are those who will read this response and say I am wasting my time. They think you will respond and restate your doctrine yet again. Prove them wrong. You have noted my fervor for reconciliation. You have suggested that your last post was not a ploy. Show your real motive now, not in words but in action. Or inaction. Let me say like you did. Please feel free to not reply to this post. In response to your question, “Are Reformed people lost souls” I think I should have given only one answer, as I eventually did above: It is a matter of personal redemption. With that you have agreed, You said, “Your main premise ‘It is a matter of personal redemption’ is quite true”. Perhaps we should leave it there. |
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778 | Will we recognize loved ones in heaven? | 1 Cor 13:12 | Aixen7z4 | 99719 | ||
It's like asking whether we will remember or whether we will learn new things. It is evident that we will think differently in heaven than we think now. Here on this earth we separate "loved ones". From whom? "Hated ones"? “Ones we don't care too much about”? “Ones we don't know and don't care to know”? In heaven we will be like Jesus. That's what we are told (1 John 3:2). And Jesus had a way of asking, "Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?" If we are thinking like that in heaven, we will be saying, "All of these are my loved ones”. "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother". I have wondered what it would be like when I am looking for my mother and she is looking for her mother, and she is looking for her mother, ad infinitum. What would the ultimate siciogram be like? Who would want to be with whom? The people had already asked Jesus the question, "Whose wife will she be?" What if one thought of her as their loved one" while she was thinking of another man as her "loved one"? Jesus said there would be none of that. Now, is there any comfort in these words? I think it is comfort that people are seeking when they ask the question. We seem to want the comforts we know now: to be with people who are like us; same genomes, same color, same language, same tribe, same nation, same denomination. But the things that make us similar to some people make us different from others. They divide us and make it difficult for us to relate. If it were that way in heaven, would we be divided again? Would we be having the scourge of racism all over again? I am guessing that since we shall all be like him, then we shall all be like each other. We will all be loved ones and we will all get along. I have often wondered why these discussions on the topic of knowing our loved ones in heaven do not include the possibility that we will be able to introduce ourselves to one another in heaven. If we can, then we may find that part of the joy of heaven will be in meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances with old friends, including those who were “loved ones” here below. It seems to me that both of those kinds of meetings can be equally joyful. But the greatest joy of all will be seeing him! We will meet the Lord … and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. Now this kind of answer may not help me to become one of your "loved ones", but I think that in heaven you will love even me. We shall all be changed. We shall all be loved ones over there. |
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779 | know loved ones when I get to Heaven | 1 Cor 13:12 | Aixen7z4 | 99718 | ||
Amen! It is evident that we will think differently in heaven than we think now. Here on this earth we separate "loved ones". From whom? "Hated ones"? “Ones we don't care too much about”? “Ones we don't know and don't care to know”? In heaven we will be like Jesus. That's what we are told (1 John 3:2). And Jesus had a way of asking, "Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?" If we are thinking like that in heaven, we will be saying, "All of these are my loved ones”. "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother". I have wondered what it would be like when I am looking for my mother and she is looking for her mother, and she is looking for her mother, ad infinitum. What would the ultimate siciogram be like? Who would want to be with whom? The people had already asked Jesus the question, "Whose wife will she be?" What if one thought of her as their loved one" while she was thinking of another man as her "loved one"? Jesus said there would be none of that. Now, is there any comfort in these words? I think it is comfort that people are seeking when they ask the question. We seem to want the comforts we know now: to be with people who are like us; same genomes, same color, same language, same tribe, same nation, same denomination. But the things that make us similar to some people make us different from others. They divide us and make it difficult for us to relate. If it were that way in heaven, would we be divided again? Would we be having the scourge of racism all over again? I am guessing that since we shall all be like him, then we shall all be like each other. We will all be loved ones and we will all get along. I have often wondered why these discussions on the topic of knowing our loved ones in heaven do not include the possibility that we will be able to introduce ourselves to one another in heaven. If we can, then we may find that part of the joy of heaven will be in meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances with old friends, including those who were “loved ones” here below. It seems to me that both of those kinds of meetings can be equally joyful. But the greatest joy of all will be seeing him! We will meet the Lord … and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. Now this kind of answer may not help me to become one of your "loved ones", but I think that in heaven you will love even me. We shall all be changed. We shall all be loved ones over there. |
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780 | Will we know our loved ones in heaven? | 2 Sam 12:23 | Aixen7z4 | 99717 | ||
Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Before we can "believe" something, it must be told to us. And God has not told us that we will know the people we know now, or recognize them as such when we are in heaven. It is evident that we will think differently in heaven than we think now. Here on this earth we separate "loved ones". From whom? "Hated ones"? “Ones we don't care too much about”? “Ones we don't know and don't care to know”? In heaven we will be like Jesus. That's what we are told (1 John 3:2). And Jesus had a way of asking, "Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?" If we are thinking like that in heaven, we will be saying, "All of these are my loved ones”. "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother". I have wondered what it would be like when I am looking for my mother and she is looking for her mother, and she is looking for her mother, ad infinitum. What would the ultimate siciogram be like? Who would want to be with whom? The people had already asked Jesus the question, "Whose wife will she be?" What if one thought of her as their loved one" while she was thinking of another man as her "loved one"? Jesus said there would be none of that. Now, is there any comfort in these words? I think it is comfort that people are seeking when they ask the question. We seem to want the comforts we know now: to be with people who are like us; same genomes, same color, same language, same tribe, same nation, same denomination. But the things that make us similar to some people make us different from others. They divide us and make it difficult for us to relate. If it were that way in heaven, would we be divided again? Would we be having the scourge of racism all over again? I am guessing that since we shall all be like him, then we shall all be like each other. We will all be loved ones and we will all get along. I have often wondered why these discussions on the topic of knowing our loved ones in heaven do not include the possibility that we will be able to introduce ourselves to one another in heaven. If we can, then we may find that part of the joy of heaven will be in meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances with old friends, including those who were “loved ones” here below. It seems to me that both of those kinds of meetings can be equally joyful. But the greatest joy of all will be seeing him! We will meet the Lord … and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. Now this kind of answer may not help me to become one of your "loved ones", but I think that in heaven you will love even me. We shall all be changed. We shall all be loved ones over there. |
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