Results 601 - 620 of 645
|
||||||
Results from: Notes Author: JCrichton Ordered by Verse |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
601 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139333 | ||
Hi, Hank! As impossible as it may sound, people have removed Shakespeare and others from their original writtings (check the last few decades hollow wood rehashing anything and almost everything!)... If you do not believe that we can remove the Holy Spirit from Scripture... explain to the various congregations that believe that Jesus was a mere prophet, got married, had several children, that his direct blood descendants live among us and that the Catholic Church has been hunting them down to suppress Jesus' blood line... explain to others that the red sead did not just happen to be a fluck of nature where certain planets and the moon aligned perfectly to allow some shallow parts of the body of water to recede... how the various plagues (Moses and Pharoah) were simple accidents of nature... tell those who believe that Ishmael and not Isaac is the true chosen of God... convince those who preach a gender neutral God who wellcomes all as they are--for He or who ever they deem, is and understanding and loving God! Further, try to convince some that homesexuality is rebuked by Scripture and that God did not command His people to remain racially pure! The above examples are the arguments of many who call themselves "Christians!" How they could read Scripture and arrive at those conclusions cannot be said to be inspired by the Holy Spirit! Paul tells us that those in the Holy Spirit cannot but believe in Jesus (1 Corinthian 12:3); conversely, those who are not lead by the Spirit can and will reject Jesus (this includes the Holy Scripture's mandates). God Bless! Angel |
||||||
602 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139334 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! Just look around your township... how many denominational congregations do you find? Do they use something other than the Bible as their doctrinal base? Do all of their ministries mirror each other?... There are "Christians" preaching various values (wealth through Scripture, homosexuality in Scripture, lone-ranger Christianity--devoid of congregational constraints, cookie-sampler Christianity--grab what appeals to you, wheel-of-fortune Christianity--drop by wherever, whenever you please just don't commit to anyone...); these, as well as many others, are reading Scripture and acting upon "feelings!" Christianity, to some, is becoming as the multipurpose crucifix that "celebreties" like to hang around their necks... these "feelings" have a different meaning according to what is going on in their lives from one minute to another! Do you know the premise of the Mormons' belief system? Thoughout time I've been visited by various representatives, in several states, uniquivocally, they always reference John 10:16 as the clear, textual, proof that their congregation was established by Christ! The Masters of the Law (both Pharisees and Sadducees) were the authority of both the written and oral traditions (Mosaic Law)... yet they failed terribly! Remember Nicodemus's educated response to Jesus when Jesus brought up the subject of being born again? (John 3:4) This was an authority in Israel and, in spite of all his text knowledge, he could not understand God's Design! Even when Jesus breaks it down even further (John 3:5-8), he is still unable to grasp Jesus' Word (John 3:9)... Jesus did not marveled at Nicodemus' limitations because Jesus was ignorant of man's imperfection... Jesus wanted Nicodemus to understand that He spoke on God's Design in a manner that should have been familiar to him--after all he was supposed to represent the best of God's People! Cain and Abel is the quintessencial proof of abiding in the Spirit and abiding in the flesh: brothers--direct blood-line volunteer servants--no format for worshipping had been established (except in the heart); individual response (aspiration) to pleasing God: Able offers the best of the best; Cain offers whatever! How simple is that? One of the brothers decided on offering the best he could; the other brother could not be bothered! (This example is also an example of confusion in reading: many want to exterpulate that Cain's error was in not offering a blood sacrifice; this of course is contrary to what God later established as acceptable offering (animal, grain, oil, flower...). I know that I cannot change your mind about anything--specially Scripture--reread some of the Gospels' passages, specially those where Scripture explicitly tell us that Jesus spoke in the manner that He did so that those who would not want to listen/see could not--at times we find the explanations given to His disciples (private revelations) because they too were hard at understanding! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
603 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139335 | ||
Hi, Steve! True! I believe that God supersede's all the limitations that we impose on Him, including requiring that He be exceptionally specific in Biblical text! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
604 | Angel, How is the Bible incomplete? | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139338 | ||
Hi, Searcher! "yet we are not given the precise information to conclusively state "it happened exactly..."" For this particular reasong, among others, I based my previous statements... You are correct in pointing out that cult leaders claim something about revelations... yet, usually they claim that these revelations are made to them and only to them and that God speaks directly to them... many more times than not their behabior and what they demand of their congregation differs with Christ's Word... sadly, humanity rather follow others than to get actively involved... this is why so many have so much success in separating people from Scripture, their moneys, their loved ones, and even society in general! Experts... well... they are another breed altogether! Many are quick to agree with others as long as they are seen as qualified authority! (check some of the programs on channels such as Discovery, History, and other PBS-types); these people would argue both sides of an issue offering personal speculation as though they were presenting facts. I remember that big scare that some theologeans had about Mel Gibson's movie (The Passion of the Christ); they spoke about the devastating effects that it would have on the Jews as hightened anti-Semetic feelings would promote hatred against the Jews... did not happened! This is just a classic example of little fact being fermented with tons of supposition... When dealing with the Bible: personal study is a must! Anyone can claim anything--only the truly ignorant of the Word can be easily mislead! Jesus promised that He would send the Paraclete, who would abide with the Believer, and He, the Paraclete, would teach, and guide the Church! The Holy Spirit will never mislead us! Man can and will! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
605 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139945 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! I understand your position... I still hold that when we read Scripture as though we are reading a "best seller" or a tabloid or the Times (newspaper)... we are seeking to discern God by our own means--as limited and corrupt as they are, we will not know God! (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15) God Bless! Angel |
||||||
606 | Holy Spirit or holy spirit; (s)Spirit? | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139948 | ||
Hi, Ray! "live according to God in the Spirit" I know that this passage seems clear cut... but if we live according to God in the Spirit (meaning the Holy Spirit), I would definetely emphasize the S... if we live according to God in the spirit (meaning as spiritual beings), no, since the base meaning would revolve around the creature and not the Creator! "I know of no Scripture that talks about God's Holy Spirit, however." However, there are many Scriptural passages that do speak on the Spirit of God (a few ex: Romans 8:9, 14; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11, 12, 14; 3:16); I may had added the word Holy... that is just the way I see it: God is Holy! ""Your holy Servant Jesus," Since the direct reference here is Christ, I would capitalize Holy and Servant, and Anointed--we are all called to be holy, but we are not the Holy One; we are all called to be servants, but we are not the Servant of God; we are all called to be anointed by the Holy Spirit, but there's but one Anointed One! (You, of course, is a direct pronoun referencing God, so it is automatically emphasized!) "Who and/or what is going to help us make these decisions?" Personally, if I had the resources I would commission a special Bible edition that would incorporate much of the capitalization that you and I have been speaking on; I would also take into consideration certain phrases/words (Maran atha, El, El Saddai, Paraclete, Amen...) which, to me, have very profound meanings; this version would include as much built-in concordance (which facilitates cross reading and comparison) and a comprehensive historical dictionary... ...much, I am afraid, is open to individual preference... I mean: if the word God or any name of God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is not capitalized... I take offense! However, if only adjectives or pronouns, other than personal pronouns, are not capitalize... I can ignore it or emphasize the capitalization on my own! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
607 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139950 | ||
Hi, Steve! I do not misconstrue your words! I respond to you in the context of the thread! I have not stated that everyone or anyone will be allowed second changes after death! I believe that Jesus died to Save humanity! I believe that He preached to those who had died prior to His revelation (Incarnation, Death, Resurrection and Ascension)! Where there is no Scriptural statement speaking on Salvation of infants and mentally incapacitated... there is plenty of promise that God will take care of His people, that Jesus is the Savior of mankind, that the Holy Spirit (who is God) searches where the human intellect and understanding cannot!--this affords me the reassurance that God will not forsake those who are not fortunate enough to know Jesus; those who not due to personal election to reject God find themselves with the inability to choose Jesus because it is beyond their means--and where God's Salvific Plan allots for the Salvation of those who were under the Old Covenant (1 Peter 3:18-20; 4:6)! If you refer to the original post on this thread and reread the various counter points, you will find that there are people who are adamant about living an explicit-Biblical-text Christianity that serve only to limit God's Will, Authority and Mercy! Since I speak not just for our benefit (yours and mine) I must be inclusive whenever possible... though I must confess that, at times, I may respond according to my perceived intent rather than the author's intended export... I must also admit that, in the heat of exchange, my response feeds off the emotions displayed and my vocabulary may become curt/aggressive... as an example: "You seem to base your belief on sentimentality." ...this of course, is seen as a statement from you that I do not offer Scriptural support when making a statement! However, the problem lies not in my lack of Scriptural support but in the acceptance or rejection of the Scripture passages I offer! I Christ states that God can give Abraham descendants out of stones... it is not me stating that to God all things are possible, though I may infer that from Jesus' Word even if not citing the very specific passage that states that to God all things are possible! Others may demand that I demonstrate direct Scriptural text... this is where our path diverges! I refuse to limit God to what the text of the letter says... because I know that there is much more material that was not written down in the Holy Scripture... and I know that even that which is written down does not serve the purpose of constraining God--rather it serves to aide us into His Understanding! (John 20:30-31; Romans 15:4) God Bless! Angel |
||||||
608 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 140061 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! ...you've either misread my statement or you are inferring that by reading the Holy Scripture we automatically humble ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allow His guidance to lead us into each reading... I have reference Scripture that tells us that it is the Holy Spirit who reveals all truth! But, as Jesus stated, the world cannot see Him nor receive Him because they do not believe... so it is possible to read the entire Bible and still fall short of any enlightenment! Even those of us who are truly seeking to know God, can fall short of receiving any enlightenment... for it is said that God humbles the proud and exalts the humble! This is specially evident in the blindness of the people of Israel, most of whom are still awaiting the very first coming of the Mesiah... though the Word was revealed to them and was entrusted to them, they allowed their perceived knowledge of God blind them to the Truth that was revealed to them in the Flesh! True, this is within God's Design... but those who humbly sought the Lord, the Holy Spirit was genereously merciful to them all brought them to the revelation of the Emmanuel! Again, I reiterate: reading the Bible as though it were any book at all will not offer anyone anything more than what they are seeking! (Romans 8:5-9) God Bless! Angel |
||||||
609 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 140105 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! You are quite correct when you state that John 3:16 is clearly understood by all... have you noticed several television shows and even movies using Scriptures (specifically John 3:16)... have you met some of the people that read from that particular Biblical passage that everyone will be saved no matter what?--true it is being reinforced by hollow wood... but still many people read Scripture and they accept the popular interpretation... Most Jehovah Witnesses that I've met usually refer me to what I can only surmise is their most favorite passage: "...the Father is greater than I..." To them this is profound proof that Jesus is not God because He is less than God, a subservient creature... Another one that comes close to this one is Jesus' statement that "...only the Father knows..." this, in reference to the final day an hour! Clearly anyone reading Scripture would come to the same conclusion as they: Jesus is less than God (therefore not God), and Jesus does not know all (limited; therefore not God)! Reading Scripture and divorcing Scripture from the rest of the Bible while abiding in human intellect will get us a long trip on a very short path! If we rely on human wisdom to discern God's Design we will never know God! (Romans 8:6; 11:33; 1 Corinthians 11:7-31) God Bless! Angel |
||||||
610 | A SIN TO FILE BANKRUPTCY | 1 Pet 4:10 | JCrichton | 130101 | ||
Hi, EdB! Sorry to interject here... I think that the problem is endemic of a society that has been continuously promiting the wrong values: Capitalism and consumption are the deities that people are subliminally trained to serve. Remember when cartoons and movies were just that... at the end of the 70's they became a marketing tool for the major conglomerates (action figures, clothing, trinkets...)... when we watch a program (movie, series, talk show...) most of its content is geared towards wealth/consumption... even the homeless are depicted in spanking-new-designer-brand attires! ...in New York City, NY and in Newark, NJ kids are being crammed into anything that passes for a classroom and many are sent home with text books that are missing not only inner pages but even covers... yet the entertainment industry portrays classrooms of 15 to 20 students who are benefiting from the latest technological equipments... Further, through both programs and advertisments, children are being taught to be frivolous, inconsiderate, gluttunous... the general rule is that the parents set the standards for their household and children, but when children are being bombarded with countless waves of "buy this," or "own that ...and you are going to be the coolest..." ...parents do not stand a chance! Yesterday's children are today's young adults who have been well trained in the ole mighty dollar: consume, consume, consume, for tomorrow you will die! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
611 | A SIN TO FILE BANKRUPTCY | 1 Pet 4:10 | JCrichton | 130186 | ||
"We honor them for their faith and well we should, but we should also give ‘kudos’ to the parents that initially taught them." Hi, EdB! Exactly! It goes back to the values being taught and accepted as sound values... When we allow television and the rest of the entertainment industry to rear the future generations how can we cry out to God with the "woes" and "whys?" "We have learned to value things that decrease in value the minute we purchase them and disregard things that that will live on long after us." This to is part of the capitalist culture... remember when cars were made to last? Remember when manufacturers placed commercial adds that spoke on their pride to provide America with the "Best" products? Remember when bath soap came on a family-size (not this wimpy 4.2 oz) or when it was preached that breakfast was the most important meal of the day--before everything was saturated with oil or sugar or salt? As we've bought into the "in-crowd" mentality we've traded sound judgment for "plastic makes it happen--even if beyond our means" mentality--after all, that's why God gave us bankruptcy! The saddest part of this picture is that people are suffering not just from financial bankruptcy but also from spiritual bankruptcy as they knowningly live beyond their means, accure debts that they cannot repay within a reasonable amount of time, and they go on thinking that God must provide for them "any day now--they've seen on that DVD from x evangelist that promises them the ability to unlock all of God's wealth secrets!" God Bless! Angel |
||||||
612 | Are we still in the fallen state? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134170 | ||
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Hi, Mommapbs! So you are saying that Jesus and the Apostles had it all wrong or that their definition of confessing only meant to be administered to the non-Christians? And whenever they spoke to Believers they really only meant it figuratively so that nonbelievers could get the hint to confess their sins, turn back to God in the new born again creature? But once in the Body there is no sin? Please do not deceive yourself, Scripture does not speak of an automatic-forgiveness-of-sin machine!: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19) "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18) "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery‘--just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 2:18-29) Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16) God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. (Acts 5:31) Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. (Acts 19:18) True in Christ all sin is forgiven, with the exception of Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but there is no single Scripture verse that tells us that once born again we are free of sin or the consequences of sin! Jesus tells us that we must abide in Him, in His Word and His Word command that we seek God and flee from sin... not that we are given the liberty to sin profusely because Christ's Omnipotence and His ability to absorb sin is immeasurable: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! (Romans 6:15-21) The wage of sin is death--this never stops being true, even for those who come to Christ and willfully chose to return to sin! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
613 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134344 | ||
Hi, Mommapbs! I think that perception of vocubulary is what causes much of the schism among Christians... We both agree that is is Jesus who is the Resurrection and Life... We simply disagree in how we define "abiding in Christ!" John declares, "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake." 1 John 2:12 True, this is so... but it is not a clear and cut case... because we are still living in the world and in the flesh, and the world and the flesh have the tendency to separate us from God: Do not love the world or what is in the world. If anyone does love the world, the love of the Father finds no place in him, because everything there is in the world-- disordered bodily desires, disordered desires of the eyes, pride in possession-- is not from the Father but it is from the world. (1 John 2:15-16) When we choose to sin we reject God's Gift and we cannot please God by ignoring His Will and callously refusing to acknowledge our sins and to ask forgiveness... One final comparison: Jesus told us that we are to pray believing that what we have asked of the Father we have/will receive (Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22); yet this same Jesus instruct us to pray and ask constantly, without tiring (Luke 11:5-10)... these two seemingly opposite Scripture passages actually compliment each other: we ask God and we ask constantly not because He is unable to provide, but because He desires our relationship and we are ignorant of when and how He should answer are prayers... through constant fellowship we hone our abilities and understanding: I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) We cannot abide in Christ in willful disobedience and in a life of sin! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
614 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134390 | ||
Hi, Mommapbs! Again... we fail to share a common definition... God is the Creator of all that exists, He can make descendants of Abraham out of stones, He can reanimate dust into a breathing, living human being, He can turn to nothingness the mightiest of angels... so surely the diminutive powers of the world and Satan cannot even pretend to overpower Him... The difference between Scripture (your interpretation) and Scripture (my interpretation) is that I believe that though nothing has the power to keep us from God, God will not coerce nor manipulate us into submission... we must freely humble ourselves to Him allowing His Will to be done... Yet, when we willfully reject God and choose to serve the world, it is not Satan nor the world that battles God on our behalf--it is our own determination to refuse His Gift... Noticed how children, at least in the US, get to a certain age and begin to defy their parents... then after a certain dominion over their own lives, they reject all that has to do with the parents and embrace the world? Sometimes it becomes too much and the parents must, though extremely agonizing about it, let go of them... they must allow them to embrace all of the wrong values that they believe will bring them joy and happiness, and fulfillment... This is our relationship with God! He will never force His Hand on us! Yet, He cannot abide in sin! He has given us a choice (one choice), and we must choose Life in order to live! (Deuteronomy 30:19) If we stubbornly chose sin (death), we will gain exactly what sin's reward is: death!: because the outlook of disordered human nature is opposed to God, since it does not submit to God's Law, and indeed it cannot, and those who live by their natural inclinations can never be pleasing to God. So then, my brothers, we have no obligation to human nature to be dominated by it. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if in the Spirit you put to death the habits originating in the body, you will have life. (Romans 8:7-8, 12-14) Jesus put it in even simpler terms: Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) Paul, while ministering to Believers offered this admonition: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:13-25) Clearly, Paul does not make allowances for those who are in the Spirit to remain in the concupiscence of the flesh and all of its elements!: “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” “do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature;” “If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die;” (Summary of Galatians 5-13-25 and Romans 8:12-14) God Bless! Angel |
||||||
615 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134402 | ||
Hi, Mommapbs! We do not possess anything! Salvation is in Christ Jesus! He calls us to abide in Him! If we reject Him there is no salvation! Not that God will recant His Gift, but that we willfully reject to obey Him and abide in Him! I cannot put it any simpler. Salvation is not a guarantee do as you will God is obligated to cleanse you because you claim a few Scriture clauses! Salvation is abiding in Jesus! (John 15:5) We are warned that we must continue to depend on Him... doing as we please is never a Biblical mandate! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
616 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134404 | ||
"I'm as confused about your position on eternal security as a goose in a hen house. Does a regenerated believer truly have eternal life or not?" Hi, Hank! Perhaps your confusion comes from your different perspective of Scripture... I believe that there is no such thing as eternal security... Outside of Christ there is no salvation! When Christ calls us to believe in Him, it is not mere words and clauses, it is a life that we begin in Him (Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?) He Commands that we go and sin no more! If we choose to sin and to live a life of sin, it is not God who is rejecting us and recanting His Gift; it is us who willfully refuse to submit our will to His! As Scripture warns, nothing unclean will enter the Kingdom of Heaven! It is not I that tells you to reject the "came as you please, you are guaranteed salvation no matter how rebellious you continue to live your life" gospel; it is the Word of God! "Does a regenerated believer truly have eternal life or not?" A regenerated believer does not abide in the flesh and wallows in it; a regenerated believer walks in the Spirit, rejects sin, and humbly obeys God: Galatians 5:13-25; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:9; Romans 2:28-29; 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 5:7-13; 2 Corinthians 7:1. God Bless! Angel God Bless! Angel |
||||||
617 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134555 | ||
Hi, Steve! (Part 1 of 2) We either accept all Scripture or we don't! We are either obedient to Christ or we transcend (place ourselves above) Scripture! There are those who claim to be "Christians" and allege that their "born-again" or "saved" status grants them the power to trample God by forcing Him to accept them with all the sins they desire to practice and teach others to practice! (I am not just talking about the various reconstruction of Scripture held by some of the congregations that promote homosexuality, abortion, pray-to-wealth, etc...) Scripture is clear!: 1 John 1:9 New International Version (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. New American Standard Bible (NASB) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Amplified Bible (AMP) If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness) and (continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action). New Living Translation (NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. King James Version (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. English Standard Version (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Contemporary English Version (CEV) But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. New King James Version (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. American Standard Version (ASV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE) Let us tell God about our wrong ways. God can be trusted. He does what is right. He will forgive us for the wrong things we have done. He will make us clean from all that was wrong. Young's Literal Translation (YLT) if we may confess our sins, stedfast He is and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from every unrighteousness; Darby Translation (DARBY) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. New International Reader's Version (NIRV) But God is faithful and fair. If we admit that we have sinned, he will forgive us our sins. He will forgive every wrong thing we have done. He will make us pure. New International Version - UK (NIV-UK) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Now, either all of these translations are wrong, for they all acknowledge that we must confess our sins to God--with the exception of four which use liberal language to imply our direct communication of our transgressions... again, either all of these translations are wrong or we are subject to confessing our transgressions to God even after being "born-again" or "saved!" Jesus clearly warns that we are to be totally dependent on Him, that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5); He calls us not to be wearing a badge or claiming a clause or two which purportedly grants us free and clear entrance to Heaven… Jesus calls us to emulate Him to abide in Him! (John 14:21; 15:7-10;) If we choose to live a life of sin and claim to be clean, we are liars and we make God a liar! (1 John 1:10 thru 2:6) |
||||||
618 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134556 | ||
(Part 2 of 2) Did the Apostles not understand Jesus Word in regards to sin (Matthew 16:19)... clearly they must be as confounded as I for they not only practiced Jesus’ Word but they taught others to do the same: So confess your sins to one another... (James 5:16) Paul speaks of those who choose to partake of both the Lord and the world: You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons as well; you cannot have a share at the Lord's table and the demon's table as well. (1 Corinthians 10:21) True, Jesus' Sacrifice was once and for all--covering the sin of humanity from the past (before the incarnation of the Word) to the future (final age dated to His Second Coming), but His Omnipotence does not carry over to us! We are still creatures not the Creator. So when we choose to sin we are rejecting Christ's Sacrifice and we are telling God that we can do as we please! If we choose to do as we please, the Covenant of Jesus Blood does not abide in us, for we have, as the dog in Jesus example, gone back to our regurgitations by choosing to immerse ourselves in our unrighteous acts. We are called to rid ourselves of the old nature and to make use of our members for the edification of Christ’s Church… not to make excuses and seek exonerating clauses that would allow us to live as the world while claiming to have acquired eternal security! (John 3:19-20; Romans 5:21 thru 6:23;). Perhaps a simple comparison will help you understand: One day 10 lepers begged Jesus to cleanse (heal) them… He obliged… after seeing that they were cleansed only one of them returned to Jesus, glorifying God for the Gift that was bestowed upon him… Jesus noted that the one who returned was a Samaritan (the other 9 were Jews) and only him, the Samaritan, was made whole (Saved) by Jesus… the other 9 received only their physical healing! We are all offered the Gift but not all choose to believe (as doers of the Word) in Jesus! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
619 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134558 | ||
Hi, Mommapbs! It is easy to give you a yes--which you will easily refute if it is not the answer you require! It is easy to give you a no--which you will cheerfully support if it is the answer you require! Rather, let me offer you a Scriptural passage: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) True, you can twist this around and claim that Pauls is speaking on guaranteed salvation regarless of the constant life of sin that "the saved" commit themselves to perpetrate or you can claim that during this particular occasion Paul was really speaking to atheist and the unitiated... but if you open your heart, mind and spirit to Christ's Holy Spirit we will be able to understand that Paul is not saying this as news or a variation of a Gospel... Paul is reiterating that those who choose to serve the flesh WILL NOT enter into the Kingdom of Heaven! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
620 | WHO pays the wage? | 1 John 1:9 | JCrichton | 134742 | ||
" My Bible tells me differently." Hi, Steve! Unless you have a very special version, your Bible does not tell you anything differently than my Bibble... rather, it is your interpretation of Scripture that is different: Your interpretation tells you that if you say you are "saved" or "born-again," God has an automatic obligation to open up the Heavenly gates to you... Sadly, many people are subscribing to that ease of salvation... you know "no commitment, please!" Jesus on the other hand tells us that we must abide in Him. Abiding in Him does not mean claiming a piece of Scriture as our own personal slogan! It means obeying Him! It means willful submission of our will to His Will! It means relying on Him for Salvation not on our own selective interpretation of Scripture! Do you truly believe that when Jesus say "believe in the Son," that that simply means saying some words and living a life of sin or embracing those who willfully do not submit to God's Command not to sin? Are you married, Steve? (I do not mean to pry, I only want provide an example that you might be able to better digest...) The obligations of the spouses do not end at the "I do," or whatever is being used today... It is a lifetime commitment in the Lord! Can you imagine how much more important our relationship to Jesus is than that to any human being? We cannot simply grab a Scripture and say "see, God has committed Himself to my salvation; no matter what I do, I am now and forever a citizen of Heaven!" Jesus tells us that not all who call Him Lord (use of clauses and slogans) will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46); it is those who humbly subject themselves to Him: those who do what He says! Paul does not preach "once saved always saved..." Paul preaches that we are a new creature in Christ; that the old nature is past away; that we must live according to the Spirit of God. (Romans 5:21 thru 6:23) Not once did any of the Apostles preached that those who are above the Law, are spiritual beings that can behave any way they please because they are eternally granted salvation! They preached that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life and that our salvation hidden (found) in Him! The call is always not to claim to be perfect (free of unrightousness) but to claim Jesus as our mediator, the One in Whom we obtain Salvation! (1 John 1:1-10; 2:1-11) In the first epistle of John 1:9, he tells us that if we confess our sins, in Jesus they are washed way! He is not speaking to unbelievers or those who are being prepped for baptism and will soon join the Body... he is speaking to season Believers!: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is Christ Jesus who has the Power to Save... we have no power at all! In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul admonishes the Believers; he reminds them that those who commit themselves to sin will not enter into the Kingdom of God... he reminds them that though some were habitual sinners in the past they are no longer to remain so as they have been cleansed by Christ! But Paul's warning is not for the unbelievers! It is for those who are in the Boby but refuse to give up their wicked habits! Those who persist in their sin will reap the rewards of sin: death! Or do you believe that we can meet God with lip-service: "Lord, Lord!" Jesus tells us that those who do this He will cast out! "I pray you don't die suddenly immediately after sinning." I pray that I die a simple death, hopefully studying Scripture! But it is Christ Himself who will search my inner being and the Holy Spirit will aide me in that final transition into eternity... He will search my heart and my spirit, and if I am found yielding to His Will, it will be He who will testify to the Lord for my Salvation... my desires, my lip-service will never be enough! Grace abounds, true enough; but it flows from God to man, not vice versa! Lucifer was magnificent... but pride kept him from submitting his will to God's! I pray that all who claim the title "Christian" humble themselves to God and learn to depend on Him rather than on man for their corporial and spritual existence! God Bless! Angel |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 ] Next > Last [33] >> |