Results 241 - 260 of 407
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Brian.g Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
241 | How will we serve God, in heaven | Matt 4:10 | Brian.g | 26211 | ||
Searcher Your reply confirms that we will continue to serve God, in heaven. How do you envision that we will be able to serve God, within the perfection of heaven? Brian |
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242 | Any info on the Human side of Jesus? | Matt 5:2 | Brian.g | 34817 | ||
xtrem4jc I understand that you want to learn about Jesus. What is it about the teachings of Jesus that you would like to learn as opposed to customs and punishments from ancient times? This will help us, to help you. Brian |
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243 | Any info on the Human side of Jesus? | Matt 5:2 | Brian.g | 34855 | ||
xtrem4jc Some flags are going up in my mind regardng this question and the explanation which you have given to us. The flags of concern are simply this: 1. It appears that you are working with a group of people who have seen, in just a few short years of life, the absolute worst of mankind. 2. These people are mature beyond their years in ways most of us cannot even imagine. 3. These girls probably have been physically and psychologically abused, damaged and scarred beyond comprehension. 4. You are attempting to minister to their needs, but you have come to a public forum, in which answers and opinions fly around faster and more, off the cuff, than you can imagine. Some of the sources are outstanding, some are not. 5. I believe that many people here can offer a great amount of assistance to you, but I think it is extremely important that you give everyone a complete profile of your project. For example: 1. age group of the girls (boys?) 2. What is the typical problem experienced, drugs, prostitution, homeless kids, etc. 3. How many kids are involved in your project. 4. How is it that they are all coming together under one roof for this. 5. Are you the only advisor/leader. 6. Is this a one-time, one-hour session or an ongoing event. 7. Are the psychological needs of these children being addressed, as well as their spiritual needs. 8. How is it that you are leading this section of the group. 9. Any other information which you feel will be pertinent. I personally believe this information will greatly enable us, to further assist you in your wonderful efforts. Everybody loves to give advise, but I know that this forum is concerned and the last thing anyone wants to do, is misguide these children,further. Brian |
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244 | I CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW | Matt 5:17 | Brian.g | 23239 | ||
There What you call Christ's Law, is in fact, God's Law. As it states in Matthew 5:17, Jesus did not come to abolish or to rewrite God's Law. John gives the best single explanation as to the true meaning of this subject. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:18-19, Jesus Himself reaffirms that He is not changing Gods Law. Matt 5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. People reading Gods Law in the Old Testament have a feeling that God's Law is one of cruelty and harshness - they tend not to see God's compassion and love for man in His laws and in the application of His laws. Often, Gods words are taken out of context. An example of this is Deuteronomy 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. But, if you read Deuteronomy 19:17-20, you will understand God is talking about justice among men living on earth. The same justice God commands in Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Deut 16:18 "You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 "You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you These words of justice in Deuteronomy is a single small example of God being a compassionate and just God - this is the truth and mercy which is what Jesus is trying to teach us. From this, we also begin to understand how to gain entry in heaven, by acting as a 'Christian'. I quote this because, Jesus is teaching the same (Christian behavior), which God had already taught us in the Old Testament. Brian |
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245 | I CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW | Matt 5:17 | Brian.g | 23261 | ||
There I couldn't have said it better Brian |
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246 | I CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW | Matt 5:17 | Brian.g | 23262 | ||
Kalos I stand corrected. Thank you Brian |
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247 | to get closer to god | Matt 6:6 | Brian.g | 203360 | ||
God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. Our response to God (our first step), is prayer. (CCC 2567) Scripture often speaks that it is the heart that prays. The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as the image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant. (CCC 2563) “You see then, that perfect prayer is not attained through many words, but through affection of desire, the soul raising herself to God, with knowledge of herself and of God’s mercy, seasoning the one with the other.” St Catherine of Siena But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Mt 6:6 |
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248 | to get closer to god | Matt 6:6 | Brian.g | 203363 | ||
There is no need to seek God. He has found you. Just answer Him from your heart Brian |
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249 | to get closer to god | Matt 6:6 | Brian.g | 203378 | ||
Azure You are right. But, in this case, the search is over - it is now time to talk and get to know each other. Brian |
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250 | Are we do pray to Jesus? - II | Matt 6:9 | Brian.g | 14376 | ||
Steve The following supports that you may pray to God through Jesus as an intercessor. While Hebrews and Mathew specifically address intercession, John is directed more towards the fact that Jesus is directing people to God and that He, Jesus, is only the messenger (or intercessor). Heb 7:24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Matt 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Matt 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven John 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. John 12:45 "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:47 "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12:48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. John 12:49 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:50 "I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." |
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251 | Are we do pray to Jesus? - II | Matt 6:9 | Brian.g | 14475 | ||
Lionstrong I believe that it is ok to pray to God direct, from when Jesus taught the following prayer: Luke 11 1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." Brian |
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252 | Are we do pray to Jesus? - II | Matt 6:9 | Brian.g | 14590 | ||
I believe it is acceptable to pray to either Jesus or God, directly. The right answer for you is whichever you are more comfortable doing. Jesus' message to us is that it is important that we love God and to be comfortable speaking to God, through our prayers and that Jesus will be with us to support and guide us in our efforts. |
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253 | In the service of the Lord, yet unsaved? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 74459 | ||
Searcher I think to understand the full context of Matt 7:21, you must read through to Matt 7:21-23, this implies that some baptized Christians may not be acceptable to Jesus, not just non-Christians. Brian |
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254 | In the service of the Lord, yet unsaved? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 74462 | ||
Searcher As long as a Christian, on the day he was baptised, was truly committed to Christ - can he act any way he wants to from that day forward - and still be acceptable to Christ? Brian |
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255 | In the service of the Lord, yet unsaved? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 74487 | ||
CDBJ Last night, I also had the opportunity to respond to a similiar question on this forum,which was asked by 'dabmci'. I feel that my response to that question, is also applicable to this discussion. dabmci I think with this one question, you are also resolving another debate on this forum, as to whether 'once saved - always saved'. Judas, as an Apostle, was baptised and a follower of Jesus. After his betrayal of Jesus, Scripture shows that Judas regretted his action - whether it was because he knew he was in trouble (with God) or because he was truly repentant is something we'll never now. But, in Jesus sermons He addressed the issue that how you live your life is important, in addition to accepting Jesus, through Baptism. Matthew 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' In the Passion of Christ, John 17:12 When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. We know that Jesus was referring to Judas in this verse. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the day of judgment (on that day) those who lived their lives in evil will be rejected by Jesus, as we saw regarding Judas in John 17:12. In answer to your question, it didn't matter if Judas repented - Jesus rejected him. ------------ I'm not a theologian or an expert on Scripture, it's just my understanding of what Jesus, Himself, had said. Brian |
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256 | In the service of the Lord, yet unsaved? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 74493 | ||
Searcher By adding the word 'committed' to Christian, you have created a term to measure the strength of the relationship which a Christian has with God, through Jesus. Each person who has accepted Christ, is a Christian. The way in which that person lives their relationship with God, determines the depth and breadth of the relationship. The extreme of a 'committed Christian' lives their relationship with their whole being - every action, every thought, every breath. And, by living their relationship with their whole being, it will carry over into their relationship with other men. By living their lives to help bring other men into a closer relationship with God, through Christ. A less-than 'committed Christian' is not automatically rejected by Christ - but I believe that there is a point within the depth and breadth of a man's relationship with God, which just isn't acceptable to Jesus. I don't know that exact point - but I believe it is somewhere between how the two Apostles (Peter and Judas) lived their lives after their individual denial of Christ. Was Judas' sin of denying Christ that much worse than Peter's sin of denying Christ or was Peter's relationship with God, afterwords - just that much greater than Judas'? Brian |
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257 | In the service of the Lord, yet unsaved? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 74560 | ||
CDBJ We are in agreement, I apologize if I didn't make myself clear Brian |
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258 | How does one know their faith is real? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 186965 | ||
LookN.. Faith in God and Jesus, can at times be very hard. And when it is hard, that is when you will know if you have true faith and trust in Jesus. When we go through life and we have material success, money in the pocket, good home, happy family, new car, the respect and admiration of your friends and peers, it's easy to have faith in Jesus. It is when the pocket is empty and the bills are due, when you have a debilitating illness, when you suffer the loss of a loved one, when in the middle of the night the fear of tomorrow is almost overwhelming, and when God 'hides his face' (Ps 13:1) and you don't feel God is with you while there are enemies all around. When you can face these sufferings without blaming God, without asking why you are being punished, without trying to make a deal with God to get you out of this mess.... without believing that God has abandoned you. And if you can still firmly believe that Jesus is still with you because he said he would be, then you have faith and trust in Jesus. As a Catholic, we believe that God uses our suffering as a test of faith. 1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls. When Jesus, the man, was suffering as they drove each nail into his hands and feet, He never lost faith in God. Unite your suffering with Jesus' suffering, gain the strength of Jesus' faith, and stand firm in your faith and trust and give praise to the name and glory of God. Look into your heart for the truth of what you believe, that is where God is looking. Brian |
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259 | Looking into the heart for assurance? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 187143 | ||
LookN I mistakenly read your original question as one of measuring piety. I now understand that your question is about quantifying orthodoxy. Sorry. To reiterate your question: am I living and believing what Jesus was actually teaching. Am I united with the Truth, which is Christ? In reality, the question becomes one of who do I trust to help me learn the truth, who will be my ‘Teaching Authority’. 1. There are those who read Scripture and accept that the Holy Spirit will lead each person to a true and accurate personal interpretation without any human assistance. The Holy Spirit is their only ‘Teaching Authority’. Christianity is not a private venture. It is meant to be learned and shared with others. 2. There are those who read Scripture and who will listen to any quack that comes along, including fortune-tellers, mediums, and others. This is their ‘Teaching Authority’. 3. There are those who read Scripture and look to individuals such as their pastor, TV Evangelist or Theologians for an interpretation. These sources become the ‘Teaching Authority’ for that individual. 4. There are those who read Scripture and then turn to their Church, as a whole – not just a local pastor, as for guidance in understanding. For example, the Catholic Church and the ‘Magisterium’ which is a Latin word for ‘Teaching Authority’. The challenge we all face is how do we separate out the human opinions of our Teaching Authorities from truth or who do we trust to show us the truth in order to choose the best and most accurate Teaching Authority. I can only give you a response from my own personal belief in regard to this question. First, as a foundation, I defined what truth actually is. I believe truth is not created and as such, it is from the essence of God and is never changing, ever. I believe that Jesus is truth, not only his words and actions, but his total being is truth, his divinity being the word of God, his humanity being in union with God. I believe that there is absolutely no deviation in what and who Jesus is and Scripture. Scripture is the printed Word of God and Jesus is the Word of God, made flesh. Scripture and Jesus are one with God. I reject any teaching authority which proclaims, among other things that: • Jesus as anything other than God. • The ‘primary’ purpose of Jesus becoming man, as anything other than mans unity with God and the eternal salvation of our souls. • Belief in Jesus will guarantee us monetary wealth or material goods. • Does not focus first on the worship of God and second, the love of our neighbor. Next, I look for the ‘organic unity’ of the teachings of this authority. Are there any obvious inconsistencies in their teachings today, in comparison to their teachings over the years? Do they completely change or modify what they teach, over time. I believe a teaching authority can expand on a teaching or a thought, but it cannot outright change its beliefs, that action demonstrates that the Teaching Authority does not recognize, understand or teach truth, but instead opinions. Opinions change, truth does not. In their teachings, is there truth building upon and joining with truth – an ‘organic development’. Can the teachings of an authority hold up under scrutiny – true academic-style in-depth examination and not just simple off-the-cuff opinions? Use this as a starting point and build upon it. As a result of this type of examination, I chose the Catholic Church. Within the Catholic Church, there are those who teach their opinions. I reject those people and listen to what the Magisterium of the Catholic Church teaches. You have to make your own decision. Brian |
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260 | Looking into the heart for assurance? | Matt 7:21 | Brian.g | 187557 | ||
LookN Greek philosopher Plato’s classic story, ‘Euthyphro’ is a story of an encounter between Greek philosopher Socrates (S) and a fellow named Euthyphro (E). Euthyphro (E) and Socrates (S) meet while E was enroute to reporting his father to the authorities for causing the death of a murderer. The man had died while E’s father was restraining him while waiting for the authorities. E stated that due to his devotion to the gods (piety), he has a moral responsibility to report his father. S asked E if he believed the stories the poets had written about the gods: of the battles, wars, and bitter hatred among the gods. E affirmed his belief. S further questioned that hadn’t the wars, battles and bitter hatred between the gods been caused by gods having different beliefs? E agreed. S then challenged E with a simple question: ‘what is piety?’ After some dialogue, E finally constructs an answer that piety is that which is pleasing to the gods. S further challenged E: if battles and wars are caused by gods not agreeing, then do all gods agree on the exact same meaning of piety? In effect, Socrates was asking Euthyphro – what is the correct interpretation of the moral action of piety (which Greek god will he listen to), and is E acting in accordance with the correct interpretation of truth. This story parallels the spirit of your comments: Ultimately, the question becomes: ‘what is the truth, which is Jesus?' If you turn to John Doe and John Smith as your Teaching Authorities, and at some point, they disagree, who represents the truth - who will you trust. Will you go left with Doe or right with Smith. And at the next crossroads, which way will you go. With truth, there is only one straight path. Look for the 'organic unity' in what they are saying. Truth has no conflict. Brian |
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