Results 121 - 140 of 495
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Results from: Notes Author: Aixen7z4 Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
121 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | Aixen7z4 | 132104 | ||
I hesitate to get involved in this since it is not clear to me what is happening here. Are these women saved? Are they attending church because they want to be saved? Does that church make a distinction? Some churches recognize members, visitors and seekers. A distinction is made in Scripture between salvation and sanctification. I think we will find that practical sanctification is gradual (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:26). But salvation is instantaneous (John 6:37;Luke 18:14; Romans 10:13), positional sanctification is instantaneous (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2) It is a good and needed ministry, to help a new believer in the practical ramifications of their decision to follow Christ. But I understand the point made by PasserBy. A person must be willing to forsake all in order to follow Christ. Otherwise, as he says, we cannot be his disciples. We should try to help the people who have made that decision (1 Thessalonians 2:7). And may I say, it is one of the goals of our counseling ministry. We do not judge anyone, but we seek to help everyone who comes to us (Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1). We need not judge God’s servants either (Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 4:5) as each of us is accountable to him (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). On the original question, may I say that it is possible to train one’s mind so that we respect each other and not lust after people’s bodies. Consider 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 1Thessalonians 4:4,5. Meditate on these things. Think about God’s purposes for the human body. It might help to sanctify your thinking. People who dress and behave in a provocative way so as to arouse sexual desire in strangers should be pitied, especially if they earn their living that way. As we relate to them we would do well to remember the Lords word to Jeremiah, though it was given in a completely different context: “Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them” (Jeremiah 15:19). You are to influence them; do not let them influence you! (NLT). |
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122 | Eph 4:8("given") vs Ps 68:18("received)? | Eph 4:8 | Aixen7z4 | 131494 | ||
He received gifts from the conquered? And he gave those to the church? He recovered men from the powers that held them, and gave them to the church? Possibly so. It is somewhat distressing to see the different ways the one passage (Psalm 68:18) is rendered in different translations. We may get some help, I think, by looking at what other scriptures say on the same subject. Who were the conquered? Would they be the same ones we read of in Colossians 2:15, that “having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it”? Are they not the evil powers, aligned with the devil, that had us in bondage (Hebrews 2:14,15)? What gifts would he have received from them? Are they the same gifts he gave to us (Ephesians 4:11): apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers? Jesus knew that he should depart out of this world unto the Father (John 13:1) and in John 14:3,12 he said that he would. In John 14:16 he said he would pray to the Father, and he (the Father) would send another Comforter. In John 14:26 he said that the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, was the one the Father would send in his name. In John 15:26 he said that the Comforter would come, as he would be sending him from the Father, “even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father”. In Acts 2:33, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he shed forth that which they were seeing and hearing. In Acts 2:38 Peter told them that all believers would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says that the Spirit is not only himself a gift, but he brings gifts with him. “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:11 “All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will”. It is evident that the same Spirit who gives gifts to the men also gives the gifted men to the church. Thus, “he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11,12). So, it seems that Jesus ascends on high, receives the Holy Spirit from the Father and sends him into the world. The Holy Spirit brings gifts to individual believers and gives those gifted individuals to the church for the purposes stated. |
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123 | Eph 4:8("given") vs Ps 68:18("received)? | Eph 4:8 | Aixen7z4 | 131468 | ||
Hello: You seem to be concerned that Paul did not quote what David had said exactly. David had said that Jesus received gifts, and Paul is saying that he gave gifts. I would say we should thank God for the way he inspired both of those writers to reveal God’s will. But Paul was doing more than just quoting. The Holly Spirit was revealing to him something that was hidden in the psalm. Look at the passages again: Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men. Ephesians 4:8 When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. We should say that God wanted to know a little more through Paul. Jesus received gifts for men and he actually passed them on. Of course, Paul tells us even more: Eph 4:9-16 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” Etc. We should not be surprised that the New Testament writers reveal more than the Old Testament writers did. Moses told us about a rock (Exodus 17:6). Paul tells us that it was really a Rock and that the Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). David spoke about Christ in Psalm 16:9, but we would hardly realize that until Peter explains it in Acts 2:25ff. The whole idea of a church with gentile members was hidden in the Old testament but revealed in the new. But it is perhaps the greatest revelation we have in the New Testament is the truth about salvation, a truth tat was not as clear in the Old. “Of which salvation the prophets enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto us: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven” (1 Peter 1:10-12). |
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124 | What does watch over your heart mean? | Prov 4:23 | Aixen7z4 | 131257 | ||
The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do”. Many other Translations use the term “Guard your heart”. It might conjure a picture of something precious that we cannot well afford to lose, some sort of crown jewels, maybe, that must be guarded at all cost, “with all diligence”. Otherwise, it paints a picture of the heart as some sort of precious, fragile vessel or container that must be handled carefully. Some things must be put into it; the word of God, for example. “Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart” (Proverbs 4:21). The singer of Psalm 40 is wise then, for he says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8 ). He says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart” Psalm 119:11. The law of his God is in his heart (Psalm 37:31). Christ wants to be in it. It is God’s will that Paul prays for; “that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3:17). Some things must be kept out of it. "Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them" (Proverbs 22:5). It is pictured as some sort of vehicle, that we must steer as it goes along. “Be wise, and guide thine heart in the way” (Proverbs 23:19). Even if it is a pushcart, and we walk behind it, we must not trust it to set the path. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26). Keep your heart. Be careful with it. Keep it full, of the word of God. Keep it clean. Keep it on the right path. Keep it, like the Savior is in it. Keep it with diligent care. Watch it. Guard it. Protect it. Because “out of it are the issues of life”. “It is the wellspring of life”. “That’s where life starts”. “It affects everything you do” (NLT). Seems that everything you think, say, or do, depends on it. If so, then we may need to watch it, and to understand it better. |
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125 | Why is our love important? | John 13:34 | Aixen7z4 | 131256 | ||
Isn’t that the truth? As so often is the case, the answer to the question is in the context. If it is important that the world know we are his disciples, then it is important that we have love for one another. Jesus says it is the way they will know (John 13:35). A disciple is a follower of the Master. How can we be a follower of Him if we do not have this characteristic? That is what he did. He loved his own (John 13:1). If we follow Him, we will love His own. But there is not enough information here to know if that is all the questioner is looking for. Is he asking what is so important in our love for the brethren that Jesus would single it out, among all of his characteristics, to make it the sign of discipleship? If so, we might say it is because love is the principal thing. God is love. Love is of God. Jesus came from God and no matter what else he did, he could not be of God if he did not show love. These themes are developed in John’s first epistle. Is he asking why it is important today? If so, I would suggest that it is not so important today. The fact is that believers do not love one another as they should. Also, there are false religions and cults where the members do show love for one another. It is as though Satan is mimicking the sign and leading people astray. People have to believe without seeing love among Christians. They have to be drawn by other factors such as their own need, the preaching of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit. Whereas demonstrated love among the brethren could help, they have to do without it. Is he asking why we should consider it important? Then I would answer that it is because it is the command that Jesus gave. It is important that we do what Jesus says. Indeed, Jesus does not give us many details about the ways in which we might show love for one another. He seems to be leaving it up to us to find ways to show love. The apostles found ways and shared a thousand of them with us, in things that we can do for each other. Look up “one another” in the KJV or “each other” in another translation. They also remind us that love is not a saying but an action. The questioner must be aware of that since speaks of “demonstrated love”. Since it is so important, we ought to practice it. |
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126 | ....one another! | John 13:34 | Aixen7z4 | 131249 | ||
Isn't it ironic, though? It was such a wonderful idea, to start this thread! In some sense this is a getting-together of Christians, like we might have in church. What an opportunity to do some of these things for one another. And yet ... Look back over the thread and see what we did to one another. It is like church, at least when we try to get away from sitting in rows and actually start interacting. I was very glad to see this list. I have made one myself. But I wonder now what good it is to have it when it is so hard to put any of it into effect. It is ironic because, in the plan of God, love is the be-all and end-all of it all. We have to begin with love. The command is to love, and that one command consolidates all commends, including love of God. When we love one another we have fulfilled the whole law, including the command to love God. But love means we think no evil (1 Corinthians 13:5). In this case, that means we do not assume that the brother is out to get us. We give one another the benefit of the doubt, that we mean well, that we are here for each other’s welfare. This could be a place where we have great joy and consolation in the love of the brethren (as in Philemon 1:7). It is ironic because we are not sure that anyone can afford to do that here. We realize that someone can come on even now to disagree with every point that has been made here. We can see into each other’s hearts and know each other’s motives and be just plain nasty and dismissive. But this was an opportunity for us to practice loving one another. Why do we miss it? Since no one is going to answer, I will say that the reason is fear. That strange emotion, that appeared in the Garden of Eden, comes to ruin everything. We have to overcome it in order to love. We have to take a chance. Take a stand, and do it. |
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127 | Do we need the gospel to be saved? | Matt 24:14 | Aixen7z4 | 130458 | ||
Romans 10:18 suggests that they have heard enough to be accountable to God. God has spoken through nature (Psalm 19:1-4) and through their conscience, the law written in their hearts (Romans 2:15). They do need to hear that Christ died for their sins, and that they need to repent and trust in him (I Corinthians 15:3,4;Acts 20:21). If they never hear that Christ died for their sins, it does not take away the fact that he did. They can repent and turn to God anyway, based on what they do know. The coming of the Gospel will reveal those who have done that or who want to do that. When they have heard the gospel, they will be responsible not only to accept it themselves, but also, as we are, to pass it on to others (1 Corinthians 4:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:2). “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:48). |
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128 | Are we always conscious of the conflict? | Gal 5:17 | Aixen7z4 | 130111 | ||
Hi: We are discussing the conflict between the two natures in a child of God. See galatians 5:17. Perhaps you would like to read an article on it and comment again. See http://www.tftmin.org/TwoNatures.htm |
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129 | How do we know that God is love? | 1 John 4:16 | Aixen7z4 | 127096 | ||
I found a ministry called No Greater Love and tried to understand what it is all about. The statement that "No Greater Love Ministries is a non-denominational mission organization focused on the task of, 'putting the Gospel in the hands of faithful men'" was interesting but, to me, unclear. I could not determine why they had chosen that name. It seems that many other groups are using that phrase in their names too, because of Jesus' statement in John 15:13. It seems that many of us are grappling with the fact and the extent of the love of God. We are not sure if the little word "So" in John 3:16 means "to this extent" or "in this way". It seems that words cannot tell it all. So great is his love. Paul speaks of "his great love wherewith he loved us" (Ephesians 2:4). The hymn writer says simply, “Great is the measure of our Father’s love”. But it is only John who uses the phrase: “God is love”. Moses spoke about the love the Lord had for the children of Israel. In Deuteronomy 7 he told them that God loved them. As for the reason, it almost seems to be what we cal circuitous reasoning. “The LORD set his love upon you (v.7) because … because the LORD loved you” (v.8). And God kept repeating and showing that he loved them (Deuteronomy 10:15; 32:8-14; Isaiah 41:8,9; 43:4; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 11:28). He loved them because he loved them, and he did that in spite of what they did. And now I wonder if Moses was saying that God is love. God loved them because he loved them. He loved them “according to the good pleasure of his will” (as in Ephesians 1:5). God loves because he wants to love. He “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will ” (Ephesians 1:11). But I wonder if he is not also saying that God loves because he cannot help it. It is his nature to love. The problem with that reasoning is that God was choosing whom to love. He also has the ability to hate. “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). And yes, I have heard the explanations of what that word “hate” means. I wonder what God meant by those words (Malachi 1:2,3). God blessed Jacob; but as for Esau, he “laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness”. Someone has noted that “through every period of the history of Jacob’s posterity, they could not deny that God had remarkably appeared on their behalf; but he had rendered the heritage of Esau’s descendants, by wars and various other means, barren and waste forever”. We cannot question God (Job 33:13, Romans 9:20, etc.). But he invites us to understand him (Jeremiah 9:24). And he is love. We should try to understand that. |
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130 | What is God saying these days? | Ps 19:2 | Aixen7z4 | 126670 | ||
I agree. It is true that God has a message for me, and I must be careful not to miss it. It is of primary importance. But what if he gives me also a message for the world? What if he has a message for the church? What if one of his messages to me is that I speak to them? It reminds me of Isaiah (6:8; 40:6; also 50:4 and 58:1). I must also be keenly aware of what he wants me to tell them. What do you think? |
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131 | Is God actively speaking? | Ps 19:2 | Aixen7z4 | 126665 | ||
So, God is saying "Come, Repent, for the Kingdom of God is here." Is it not a shame that those words are being restricted from appearing on the homepage? Jesus says, "There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops". Matthew 10:26,27. |
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132 | Country Girl: Scripture...or Opinion? | Gen 2:9 | Aixen7z4 | 126118 | ||
But "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6). | ||||||
133 | What is the exceeding sinfulness of sin? | Rom 7:13 | Aixen7z4 | 125223 | ||
This brother wants us to discuss the nature of sin, as expressed by Paul in Romans 7:13. He says it is his hope that we can expose the malignity and wickedness of sin. Perhaps it will help a unsaved to better understand his need of salvation. Perhaps it will help a believer to stay farther away from sin. But I am not sure about that. He has a web site that is confusing and user-unfriendly. He links it to good sites but that is not good. We have already told him it may be unethical and illegal, but he does it anyway. I believe he does this for various reasons. One to add an air of credence to his offerings. Two to have points of view both good and bad to share with clients and three to build a knowledge base. Of course, I am not sure, but I wonder. I know that where some body accuses another of an action, when it in fact what they accuse the other of is the very thing they use as a basis to justify their own actions. But I wonder. Why don’t we just forget about this man and his website. We do not have to visit his web site, and we are not responsible for his weaknesses and his sins. But no. I think we should ban him from this web site. Don’t let him even ask questions, especially about sin. But, speaking about sin, why don’t we discuss the nature of sin. Sure he may benefit from our knowledge. He may even share our ideas with his clients. And remember, he may be building a knowledge base. But it is possible our discussion will make him aware of the sinfulness of his sin. Maybe it will cause him to repent. Maybe he will fix his web site, if he can, and delete those links, and stop charging people for his services. Maybe he will close his practice down. It is probably no good anyway. Based on his own behavior, he is not a good example. Maybe he even teaches people how to sin. Let us expose the malignity and wickedness of sin. |
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134 | What is the exceeding sinfulness of sin? | Rom 7:13 | Aixen7z4 | 125200 | ||
My brother says he is aware of all these things and is not worried, that Lockman’s reputation is secure. Still we find it interesting that someone thinks a person who works as a Christian professional should offer his services for free. Do pastors do that? Do booksellers? How then do they pay their bills?? (But now we seem to be asking the question Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 9). We wonder how the issue ever came up. Perhaps we can drop it now, and return to the topic of this thread. | ||||||
135 | What is the exceeding sinfulness of sin? | Rom 7:13 | Aixen7z4 | 125191 | ||
Please be careful. My brother who is an employee of the Lockman Foundation thinks you are attacking them and accusing them of hosting a Forum in order to attract people who will buy the Bibles which they are selling for a profit. | ||||||
136 | why are some christian people cruel | Bible general Archive 2 | Aixen7z4 | 124142 | ||
I fear that an answer like that will encourage acceptance of all types of behavior and discourage the person who is seeking Christ or still a babe in the faith. We ought to say, I think, that a characteristic such as cruelty does not belong in the life of a believer. Cruelty may be typical of some sinners, but even sinners have a sense that it is wrong, and many sinners are kind, not cruel. But what if every unsaved person was cruel? Paul says (Ephesians 4) that we should not be content to live like sinners; “that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk … that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, … and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted …". Many of us were cruel before we got saved but, even if we are still sinners, we are taught to give it up. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,… living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, … he saved us … that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men (Titus 3). I do not know if the person asking the question is a Christian. But it is clear that they are puzzled and disappointed by seeing cruelty in the life of a professing Christian. But they have a right to expect something different. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2). I know that Emmaus is a good man, and I think he might like to reconsider his answer. |
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137 | The Gospel the sole means of salvation? | Rom 1:16 | Aixen7z4 | 123811 | ||
Or maybe you are asking if human instrumentality is the only means God uses to communicate the Gospel. | ||||||
138 | How are we to react to the fact? | Luke 13:23 | Aixen7z4 | 123656 | ||
"They don't need to react at all". One might have thought that it would motivate the hearer to "strive to enter in" (Luke 13:24). But I see that this thread has been temporarily restricted from appearing on the homepage again, so I guess we will have to leave it at that and strive to spread the word elsewhere. |
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139 | Isn't delusion dangerous? | 2 Thess 2:11 | Aixen7z4 | 122795 | ||
In the matter of "What happens when a believer does not put up with sound doctrine?" I understand the quote from Scofield that came through Kalos to this page. But here again we have stopped at definition and not described the consequences that Paul described as shipwreck. Is that not a condition that we should guard against? It seems to me that there are many undesirable consequences which may be summarized with the word “shipwreck” but which are described in greater detail in passages such as Hebrews 12:15-17 and Revelation 2:5. But back to the more important issue, I did ask: "What happens when a person refuses to accept the Gospel? Can it be that they are then allowed to think that something else is the gospel? (See 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11)." You said, “First of all, there is only one true Gospel”. That is true. But does that not remind us that there are false gospels? What happens when a person believes one of those? I say he may get a false assurance of a salvation which is not. That assumes, of course, that he has previously heard the true Gospel and refused to submit to it. How do we know that God has not responded by sending strong delusion? I am afraid to think of that. It would cause me to urge people to accept the Gospel now, instead of waiting to hear it later. What they hear later may not be the gospel at all, but they might think it is if they are being deluded. You say that “the rejection of salvation by grace assumes that one relies upon works”, but I do not see why that would be the only other alternative. Nor do I see that people who reject the Gospel “most often refuse to believe that they are in need of saving”. Some believe they are too much of a sinner to be saved. Some believe it is too easy. Some cannot accept the resurrection. Some say Christianity is a bad thing. Some say “Unless I can see some signs and wonders I will not believe”, etc, etc. I guess my mind is not working well today, if it ever does. I hope I am not under some delusion. I am actually glad this time that this thread has been temporarily restricted from appearing on the homepage. I think I will go somewhere and think about these things. |
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140 | Isn't delusion dangerous? | 2 Thess 2:11 | Aixen7z4 | 122794 | ||
Hi. It was so good to hear from you. I trust that the Lord will be near and strengthen you as you face those “troubling issues”. But now I am forced to think long and deep on your responses. You say you are “not sure that people can believe they are saved when they are not” and I am surprised because this is one, perhaps the more important one, of my concerns here. I am almost always impressed with your observations and I am quite interested to see how you will support this one. Surely you are not unaware of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7 that there are many who will come to him in that day calling him “Lord, Lord”, and he will say to them, “I never knew you”, and the chilling “Depart from me”. Is that not a description of people going into judgment day thinking they are saved when they are not? I have known of many people who thought they were saved and then found they were not. I know of preachers that this has happened to. One man became saved in his own evangelistic crusade! Truth is, I was one of those though not that far gone, who found out I was not saved as I had thought. And what do all of the other statements mean: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith”, etc.? It is to me the most important matter in all of life, that a person make sure he is saved. It is also clear to me that a person can be deceived in to thinking they are saved, and I am really taken aback by the statement that you are “not sure that people can believe they are saved when they are not”. It is clearly true that the Holy Spirit gives us assurance of salvation. But, as you have also pointed out, Satan is the master counterfeiter. Does he not also give an “assurance” of “salvation” to the people under his control. That is to me the point, the most important point, in this discussion. I go back to the passage from 2 Thessalonians 2, and is that not the point? A person fails to obey the gospel and he is sent strong delusions that he will believe a lie? Yet how many people do we know who admit that they once rejected the gospel and later got saved. What do you then make of the fact they can’t even tell you what the gospel is. It is a fantastic thing to me that people would then say let’s not make an issue of it, let every man be persuaded I his own mind, etc. It is as though we believe that delusion is an illusion. I am deeply disturbed by these thoughts, not the least because at this point, here, I am alone in this. Makes me think that the powers that be are correct in restricting this thread from appearing on the homepage. And yet I think it is the most dastardly thing, for what is the harm in asking someone to consider whether he is really saved? Yet how unkind to fail to warn someone who is in danger? What if he is not saved? Is it better to shield him for the question, from considering the possibility? You say that a discussion such as this might prompt unnecessary doubt in the hearts and minds of some "babes in Christ”. I am not sure what “unnecessary doubt” is, but I have always found there is no harm in going back to double-check my salvation. In fact I can even appreciate the trial of my faith that proves it is really genuine. Yet at a time like this I really wonder why my thoughts would be so different from those of my brethren. In one breath we say we know that many in our midst are not saved, yet we think it is not good to ask them to check to see if they are really saved. I find this really strange. |
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