Results 281 - 300 of 1773
|
||||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: John Reformed Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
281 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98341 | ||
Dear Gene, "We determine in which direction our destiny will take. God determines the results of our choices.God has destined for us to choose. God determines the consequences for our choices." Ok Gene, if I understand your statement, God simply reacts to man's free-will choices by either blessing or punishing him based upon whether those choices be for good or evil. Presuming that you are correct, how do we explain what Peter said : Acts 4:25-28 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. This passage seems to clearly state that God had predestined the actions of those who were gathered together against Jesus. I know that God is not the author of evil and neither does He tempt anyone to sin. But, if we look at the case of Joseph and his brothers, what they did to Joseph they meant it for evil but God meant it for good! The same could be true for those evil doers that Peter cites in Acts 4; Herod, Pontius Pilate, the gentiles, the Jews etc. Nevertheless God pre-destined that just as Joseph's brothers were pre-destined to sell him into slavery, these people were pre-destined to crucify the Holy Servant Jesus. Will they be punished? Absolutely! Do they deserve punishment? Of course they do! Did God ordain from all eternity that these people would do what they did? The Bible says Yes!....Do we understand that God is Soveriegn over all things that occur, but, man is still resposible for his own actions? No. I just don't think that things are that simple or easy to explain. I believe that God is bigger than any of us are capable of understanding. Eternity itself will not be long enough for us to ever comprehend how marvelous and wonderful His ways really are. Time to earn my bread by the sweat of my brow. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this subject. John |
||||||
282 | And what about those who will die before | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98288 | ||
"Something given has no value." If you needed a liver transplant and a dieing man left (gave) you his...would you consider it a valueless gift? Much more valuable is the gift of eternal life to a miserable sinner who knows he deserves nothing but an eternity of torment. I would'nt place all that much confidence in the wisdom of man. 1 Cor 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. John Reformed |
||||||
283 | What about those who have never heard of | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98284 | ||
What about those who have never heard of Christ? No one is is either lost or saved apart from God's eternal purpose. Those who never have heard of Christ have not been drawn by God. No one can come to Me (Christ) unless the Father draws them. (John 6) God has not ordained that all shall recieve His mercy. Some do and others don't. Does this seem unfair? See Romans 9. Keep in mind the fact that all who die without Christ are guilty of sin. It is not unfair that lawbreakers are punished for what they have done. God owes man NOTHING! If He chooses to save some and to allow others to die in teir sin, He is pefectly justified in doing just that. "Where is Gods mercy in eternal damnation of a people for the traditions of their fathers?" His mercy cannot be demanded, it is ginen according to His good pleasure. Salvation is by grace and is given for the same reason; It pleased Him so to do.(Rom 9) "One thing to remember, God is not the authory of confusion, Christs teachings are more meaningful if using commonsense in reading" Commonsense is a good thing, but, without the enlightenment of the Spirit man cannot understand His teaching at all. John Reformed |
||||||
284 | difference between sickness and disease | Matt 4:23 | John Reformed | 98281 | ||
Sickness: The quality or state of being sick or diseased; illness; disease or malady Disease: To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease or sickness; to disorder; Take your pick; their meanings can be inter-changable. Why do you ask? John |
||||||
285 | Who determines our destiny? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 98274 | ||
Dear Dashande, I believe that this thread has become a circular arguement, with faith chasing works and vice-versa. I ask you to consider the following verses and tell me who it is that is control of whatsoever occurs. 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. Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; Who determines your destiny, God or youself? John Reformed |
||||||
286 | Thanks | John 6:9 | John Reformed | 98184 | ||
Hi Dave, I think the danger lies in reading into the text a set of circumstances that cannot be proven (by the text itself or from other related verses). Many a false doctrine has found itself into the world through faulty and immaginitive speculating. As far as your "stumbling" on to the forum... I don't believe in chance happenings. :-) Welcome! John Reformed |
||||||
287 | Does God love everything? | 1 John 4:8 | John Reformed | 98158 | ||
Dear terrifel, The following is an excerpt from a sermon given by C.H. Spurgeon on January 7, 1855. I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."—Malachi 3:6 It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing." No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God. We shall be obliged to feel— "Great God, how infinite art thou, What worthless worms are we!" But while the subject humbles the mind it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe. He may be a naturalist, boasting of his ability to dissect a beetle, anatomize a fly, or arrange insects and animals in classes with well nigh unutterable names; he may be a geologist, able to discourse of the megatherium and the plesiosaurus, and all kinds of extinct animals; he may imagine that his science, whatever it is, ennobles and enlarges his mind. I dare say it does, but after all, the most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity. And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatary. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning. |
||||||
288 | Does God love everything? | 1 John 4:8 | John Reformed | 98156 | ||
Dear terrifel, What does the Bible teach? Ps 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates. Does Satan love violence? John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning,... Does God's heart break over the destruction of the wicked? Ezek 24:14 "I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not relent, and I will not pity and I will not be sorry;... Can we put God in a box and find out everything about Him? Rom 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Our concern as christians should be focused on how well we know our God as our Creator, Lord, King, Saviour, Father and friend. We will spend eternity learning to know and love Him more and more...But we will never learn everthing about Him or know Him as He knows Himself. Jer 9:24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. Thanks for the question, but the answer is beyond my understanding. Nevertheless, it is good to think about and to wonder at His ways. John |
||||||
289 | Church curses??? | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 98150 | ||
Hi Elaine, In all honesty, I don't know. I do believe we should pray that the schemes, which wicked people design in a vain attempt to thwart God, are to be considered anathema. But, Paul himself was the chief of sinners before he was called by God. I see no clear biblical mandate for christians to call down a curse from heaven upon the unregenerate, per se. I am content to pray "Thy will be done". God Bless, John Reformed |
||||||
290 | Church curses??? | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 98068 | ||
Anathema - anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is anath(ee)ma, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Luke 21:5, where it is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. the form anathema is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word herem, derived from a verb which means (1) to consecrate or devote; and (2) to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Num. 18:14; Lev. 27:28, 29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The anathema_ or _herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God (Lev. 27:21, 28); and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction (Num. 21:2, 3; Josh. 6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In Deut. 7:26 an idol is called a herem anathema, a thing accursed. In the New Testament this word always implies execration (the act of cursing). In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled (Acts 23:12, 14, 21). "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] (1 Cor. 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the apostle says, "let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8, 9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed. In Rom. 9:3, the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people. The anathema in 1 Cor. 16:22 denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." (EASTON'S BIBLE DICTIONARY). I would not be so bold as to set a curse on my enemies. The Lord said to love them. Perhaps the definition above is more in keeping with the Scripture as a whole. Curse their deeds not their persons. John |
||||||
291 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 98035 | ||
Hi Ed, I understand why you feel the way you do. You are right to say that I'm hung up on the the term "altar". But words mean things, and an altar is a table upon which sacrifices are made. Altar - (Heb. mizbe'ah, from a word meaning "to slay"), any structure of earth (Ex. 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25) on which sacrifices were offered. Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Gen. 22:9; Ezek. 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8; Acts 14:13). The word is used in Heb. 13:10 for the sacrifice offered upon it--the sacrifice Christ offered. Paul found among the many altars erected in Athens one bearing the inscription, "To the unknown God" (Acts 17:23), or rather "to an [i.e., some] unknown God." The reason for this inscription cannot now be accurately determined. It afforded the apostle the occasion of proclaiming the gospel to the "men of Athens." The first altar we read of is that erected by Noah (Gen. 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham (Gen. 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Gen. 26:25), by Jacob (33:20; 35:1, 3), and by Moses (Ex. 17:15, "Jehovah-nissi"). (Easton's) To my mind, each element of worship must mean something to the worshippers. The meaning must of neccessity come from Scripture! How can we be in one accord if that meaning is subjective and left to the sentiments of each individual? We don't have tabernacles. Why not? Because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and God now dwells within us. Does your church provide a Bible based reason for having an altar? If so, I would appreciate your providing it. Thanks Ed, John |
||||||
292 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97978 | ||
well... I had hoped for a reply which contained an honest answer; instead i get more spin. The study of the amish has not been a major pursuit of mine. The reformers of the 16th century is more my style. Heroes of the faith who rescued and returned the gospel to the people. Bye, John |
||||||
293 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97943 | ||
I thought you went to bed! I once had to carry an old Castro- Convertable bed up to a 3rd floor apartment. I can guarantee that the upper room did not come with an altar! Although, that could explain why the 12 were lying on the floor.........Hmmmmm Maybe I should go to bed! J. |
||||||
294 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97942 | ||
Would you agree that knowing God is the most important goal for which a christian might strive? If so, he must follow the truth of God; His Word. Jesus told thw woman at the well that God was neither male nor female but spirit. In it's highest form art reflects truth. Therefore the dipiction of God the Father as a man is not only untrue but a lie and bad art to boot! No I have never seen God the Father or Jesus depicted in any presbyterian literature either juvenile or adult. I can vouch only for the PCA, not the liberal branch from which we seperated (PCUSA) Members of my family are unlikely candidates for diefication, so I don't burn their pictures :-) Just kidding! But you are now stretching for an absurdity. The command is against idolotrous images not pics of the grand-kids. Perhaps your getting dizzy! John |
||||||
295 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97932 | ||
One thing for sure...There was no altar in the UPPER room! John |
||||||
296 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97931 | ||
It seems that it is not general knowledge among the Laity, despite RC theologians. Perhaps Rome should simply dispose of it's graven images of God. I can't imagine why people would pray to a statue and kiss it's feet, unless they were ignorant of the Bible. On the domed roof of Holy Redeemer RC church above the altar was a depiction of God the Father seated on His throne and looking quite a bit like Jupiter; long beard, flowing robes and a body like a weight lifter. That image is as clear in my mind today as it was over 50 years ago. Nobody, neither priest or nun or lay teacher explained that the term "art" made the commandment null and void. I can't fooled with spin. I've heard it all and I'm not buying any of it. John |
||||||
297 | When did Christians start to use altars? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97911 | ||
The sacrifice was offered upon an altar. Are you saying it was eaten at the altar also? If so, I am unaware that that was the practice. Christ himself instituded the sacrament of communion, not on an altar but at a table. We refer to the Lord's table in protestantism. Rom 8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Jesus was not offered up as a sacrifice by man but by God the Father. The cross was a symbol of the altar. When we look at the cross we should think of the Lamb being slain and offered unto God as a propitiation for our sins. When Jesus cried "It is finished" that statement meant the end to all other sacrifices. No sacrifices...no altar. Just the cross and the finished work of Christ are all the sacrifice we will ever need. What other churches say about what their alters mean to them, will not convince me of their necessity or justication. Men have been tinkering with worship since the Fall. I for one do not wish to impose my ideas on true worship. Let God be the judge. John |
||||||
298 | Do altars belong in christian churches? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97902 | ||
Dear CDBJ, It seems we are both in one accord. Thanks for the information. I was beggining to feel like the Lone Ranger! John |
||||||
299 | Was a cross used in Apostolic worship? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97901 | ||
It does'nt. I retract my statement. I did'nt mean it to be taken literally. In fact we do have a cross standing outside our church building, but not one inside where our service is held. We are careful not to encourage even the least temptation to idolotry. I remember the crucifix of my childhood. It stood near the altar and after confession people would do penance near it. The feet of the statue were badly worn from stroking and kissing it. It was as if the statue itself held some holy vitue of it's own. That's the kind of idolatry that rises from unbiblical practices. Images of God made from wood, stone or paint. People begin to think the "things" made are holy in themselves! That is why even an altar can lead the people from worship that is true and spiritual. Christ is risen! He died once and is now seated at the right hand of God. His enemies have been made His footstool. The sacrifice has been made. Believe and be saved. John |
||||||
300 | Do altars belong in christian churches? | Ex 17:15 | John Reformed | 97896 | ||
Was Davids dance choreographed and practiced? Was it a performance for the congregation? I hate to admit but...I wonder if choirs can be a distraction from worship rather than a means to focus the worshippers on God Himself. Hmmm... I'm not attempting to lay down the law for anyone, but merely expressing my concern that Christ be worshipped in spirit and truth. I do believe that our guide to that truth is God's Word rightly divided. I do rejoice with you over your daughter's return. Whether gathered around an altar, cross, or anything else, the main thing is that where two or more are gathered together, Christ is in the midst. May God bless you and yours Tim. John |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ] Next > Last [89] >> |