Results 321 - 340 of 729
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Results from: Notes Author: charis Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
321 | 3 baptisms or 1, or... | Col 2:12 | charis | 23170 | ||
Dear Nolan, Greetings from Yokohama in Jesus' name! No apology is ever necessary, my friend! In fact, I was ruder than I intended to be regarding your baptism experience. I think I should have added that EVERY experience in the Lord IS more than we think! :-) I'm sorry, dear brother in the Lord. Your love and peace received, and returned 'with interest!' :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |
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322 | 3 baptisms or 1, or... | Col 2:12 | charis | 23151 | ||
Dear Nolan, Blessings in the name of Jesus. I guess that I am just wrestling with 'not entirely essential' but 'effective.' :-) Love and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
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323 | 3 baptisms or 1, or... | Col 2:12 | charis | 23136 | ||
Dear Nolan, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Yes, yes, yes! :-) Please do not put me in the camp of those that 'require' things, my friend. I have never said anything of the sort. I believe that we are justified by grace through faith. On the other hand, you seem to be saying that there is no ongoing cleansing or sanctification at all. I find this goes against the 'sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit' (1 Peter 1:2) that we observe in many saints. In fact, few show forth 'completed sanctification' upon confession of Christ. Some change quickly, some take longer, some have up and downs, and some never show forth any fruit of this cleansing. I believes this apparent reality shows that the Spirit *begins* His holy work in our lives at *that moment,* AND continues to sanctify us as we 'work out our salvation with fear and trembling.' (Philippians 2:12) I must say that you said in this post, and in several others, the word 'begin,' which would imply that you also believe in a 'beginning, a during, and an ending.' You ask for my opinion: I see that the Lord indeed starts His work in our lives by the initial cleansing work of the Holy Spirit. God also 'asks us to submit' to water baptism, for OUR benefit, as a strength and a seal upon the things that have already begun. At times, the Lord also sends a 'refining fire' into our lives, again for our benefit and cleansing. This baptism of fire can be sent to us as many times as He sees fit. The result is three baptisms in the New Testament that sanctify our lives. Each is important and effective. They work in tandem, and all seem to be that which God desires in our walk in Him. None seem to be optional, to be done in accord with our will, for our purposes. One thing you said about water baptism, that is is a sign to the world of our faith. Then why do it in church? The world is not watching there. So this makes it only a symbol for the benefit of the saved community, which sounds like church membership to me. :-) Friend, I don't have anything to prove to you! I only pray that your water baptism is more effective than you think it is. :-) Blessings, peace and love in Christ Jesus, charis |
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324 | 3 baptisms or 1, or... | Col 2:12 | charis | 23022 | ||
Dear Nolan, Greetings in Jesus' name! Perhaps it is just your use of the word 'symbolic,' but I will have to disagree with you. If water baptism is 'just a symbol,' and does not truly accomplish any spiritual thing, then it is meaningless except in the sight of man. We must either say that it is something, or it is not anything! Obedience and submission, must be 'worth' something to the Lord, or we discount any efficacy of entering the waters of baptism. Honestly, I do not get what you mean by saying that baptism in the Holy Spirit is automatic to all who have faith in Christ, then we have the baptism of fire. Is the baptism of fire constant, or a point or points in time? What is the purpose? Are there 3 washings, or 2, or just one? If there are three, are they not all equally important and effective before the Lord? My friend, did you really mean to say, "We mustn't feel as if we absolutely need to undergo water baptism, but we must be baptized under the authority of Jesus Christ (Spiritual baptism, also known as salvation) if we ever hope to reach heaven." ? So the baptism of the Holy Spirit is synonymous with salvation? Or justification? Or sanctification? And water baptism is just an option? Hmmm... I have come to the conclusion that all three washings are co-equally effective before God, each one integrally important for our sanctification. I do not think that it is a 'one-shot' thing, that 'happens' upon confessing Jesus as Savior, and we get baptized if we want to, and that life after is a big baptism of fire. I must go now. Take good care. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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325 | N.T. circumcision? | Col 2:12 | charis | 23002 | ||
Dear Ray, Greetings in Jesus' name! You wrote, "I think that the Jeremiah 4:4 quote goes well with Matthew 3:11..." Why do you think they go well? Please look at my reply to Searcher and Nolan, and tell you what you think of a connection with all three baptisms; water, Spirit and fire. This would seem to be more consistent with your verses from Matthew. As I said, It is very difficult to 'shut out' water baptism from these verses in Colossians, due to the reference to burial and resurrection. Thanks for your input. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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326 | N.T. circumcision? | Col 2:12 | charis | 23000 | ||
Dear Searcher, Greetings in the name of Jesus! I have looked at all these Scriptures, and only come to the conclusion that the all deal with the word 'baptize.' I do not see any realtionship with them and the term circumcision of heart. Colossians 2:11 and 12 seem to be talking about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is commonly held to be in regards to water baptism. While I agree that this connection with water baptism is far from conclusive, I also must say that there is little evidence that this Scripture is talking ONLY about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as I wrote to our colleague Nolan, I would lean toward the promise of, and the commandment to pursue a circumcized heart are connected with the 'washings' (i.e. Hebrews 6:1) of the three baptisms in the New Testament. This would mean, by the way, that water baptism is more than a mere ritual, but an act of obedience that has real consequence in our walk with the Lord. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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327 | A divorced pastor in ministry? | 1 Tim 3:2 | charis | 22940 | ||
Dear Sir, Ed, and forum, Greetings in Jesus' name! The 'theory' you are speaking of is that full repentance and forgiveness is available to the Christian man, minister or otherwise. Frankly, my friends, this is kind of dangerous territory for the imperfect to tread! I, too, know of many instances of inability to walk in full repentance for any number of sins. Nonetheless, I cannot deny that this is just the sort of miracle, just the sort of healing that has been promised us. If we say that all 'pre-salvation' sins are forgiven, but 'post-salvation' sins are not, we deny the work of the Holy Spirit to renew us. Truly, we are required to show forth the 'fruit of repentance,' and this is no easy task! But it MUST be possible, or we are all lost! True, we are to portray a 'higher standard,' but that standard is not the achievement of a 'higher level of morality.' Our standard, our banner, is Jesus! "He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love." Song of Solomon 2:4 NASB We are not renewed once, and that's it! We are constantly being renewed, and one sweet day we will be just like Him! Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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328 | Are new worship songs scripturally OK? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 22797 | ||
Dear Searcher, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Brother, I agree that the definition of worship these days is terribly adulterated. Indeed, much that is called worship is nothing more that emotional pap (something lacking solid value or substance). Also, 'worship' is used where the Biblical 'praise' is more appropriate. Frankly, some of that which is called worship angers my spirit... But, worship is an attitude of heart, not just a physical posture. We don't have to be in some 'position' in order to be able to worship our God and Savior. If we begin to specify the 'perfect position,' we fall into the same category as some that say you must face a certain direction, or be at a special location, or be ministered to by a special person. In my humble opinion, it is our heart that worships God. Should our environment be free from distraction? Yes! Should our minds be free from distraction? Yes! Should we be attired appropriately (within reason :-)) and kids should not be running around unchaperoned? Yes! Order, common courtesy and reverence definitely help us find and maintain a spirit of worship. But too much (human) order or attention to physical things might lead us to that which is NOT worship toward God, but self-adoration. Balance and peace, my friend! In Christ Jesus, charis |
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329 | A divorced pastor in ministry? | 1 Tim 3:2 | charis | 22788 | ||
Dear Raul, Greetings in Jesus' name! Thank you for this list! I would place my name among this august group. (but THEY are not above anyone either, right? :-)) Seriously, I agree with your point, but cannot help adding my two yen: We cannot think accept divorce *lightly* either! We DO live in an age of excessive 'self-forgiveness!' Divorce IS a bit easier than it should be, even in the church. God *abhors* divorce, so we must make sure that we do not 'allow' it, but only accept it as Jesus might. If a minister has a situation such that his wife commits adultery and leaves him, we cannot simply say that it is ALL her fault, and that he is a 'victim,' therefore blameless. His repentence is not something that happens overnight, and he is free to preach, teach and get remarried next week! Unfortunately, this is the attitude of some. I think that 'stepping down' for an appropriate time is required, and the 'fruit of repentence' must be made evident to all. Indeed, this 'requirement' is not just for the minister, but for all who name Jesus as Savior. Grace abounds, YES! But (sadly), so does licentious behavior in the church! To some degree, there must be a 'deterrent' factor toward sin in the church. We must have a different standard than the world, and all must know. I have spoken with Christians that claimed they 'didn't know' that premarital sex, extramarital sex, abortion, etc. were not allowed by God! The church, fellowship, or para-church ministry they attended only taught that 'God will always love you, no matter what you do.' This makes nice 'comtemporary worship music,' but is lousy theology! Well, I guess the meter on my two yen is expired! :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |
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330 | Are Positional and Practical truths true | Ex 1:1 | charis | 22588 | ||
Dear Aliehs, Greetings in Jesus' name! I suggest you read 'Pilgrim's Progress' and also about John Bunyan. He and Christian took the stairs, because there weren't any escalators or elevators. The easy paths all led back down the mountain! :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |
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331 | So when did "evil" start? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 22585 | ||
Dear LisaMarie, Greetings in Jesus' name! I really don't know where the 'minister of music' thing came from, as that was K Burgee's post. Sadly, he has not been posting to the forum for quite a while. As to the 'first evil act,' you might be correct if we were to say what is the first evil that occurred between men. But then, Eve offering Adam a bite wasn't very nice, yes? :-) Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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332 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22505 | ||
Dear Johnny, If you click on my name 'charis' below, you can find out much about me. But I did not mention that I am an American citizen. I have spent most of my adult life in Japan, though, almost 30 years. Please give some information in your 'user profile,' too! Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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333 | Weekly Communion? | 1 Cor 11:25 | charis | 22501 | ||
Dear Tim, Greetings in Jesus' name! How are things in Sud Afrika? As we are saved by grace through faith, I would not expect condemnation for substituting the unfermented fruit of the vine for the fermented kind that we suppose Jesus used. This remembrance of the Lord's last meal was one of faith, not the elements themselves. If we focus on the elements themselves we can come dangerously close to attaching salvific import to them. Tim, I don't know either. I have partaken of the Lord's Supper for 20 years by faith, and I do go further than many in my attempts to mimic the enviroment, but never thought to go to the lengths you do. I do see your point, but as yet cannot agree with it. Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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334 | Weekly Communion? | 1 Cor 11:25 | charis | 22480 | ||
Dear Tim, Greetings in Jesus' name! I truly respect your desire to please God. However, in your zeal to 're-create' the scene of the Last Supper, could it not become legalism? I must admit that I am appalled at the thought of using Oreos and Coke! :-) But I think that I would even prefer that to the notion that we are more pleasing to God for our efforts to be absolutely precise. My reasoning is that it is impossible to be absolutely precise! No matter how much you study what the Jews *usually* did, you could never know exactly what Jesus used. This is the pursuit of the Holy Grail, and futile, In my humble opinion. In my own fellowship, we pursue a 'reasonably similar' environment using 'reasonably similar' elements. While I know that this is open to a lot of variation (sometimes too much!), it IS to be done in remembrance of Christ, not reproduction of the scene. Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
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335 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22437 | ||
Dear Johnny, Mabuhay! I take it then that you have no regular time of offering during your times of fellowship. I have seen this method, and can appreciate it. I am pleased to know that there is no special recognition for those who have more money. Adiyos Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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336 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22423 | ||
Dear Johnny, I am not trying to 'disprove' your statements. If I have heard you correctly, your church believes only in the 'love offering.' Is this correct? I do not say this is wrong. OK? I would, however, like to ask you, how often do you collect this offering? How often do you remind the people that they are required to give these offerings? What happens to those who do not give 'love offerings?' Does your church know the identity of those who 'give big' offerings? I'm just curious. By the way, if you ask me what Scripture I use when I teach New Testament giving, they are: "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 NASB, and... "And in His teaching He was saying: "Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation. And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." Mark 12:38-44 NASB. I then explain the Old Testament (our tutor) tithe and offering system. I say that we are no longer under the obligation of the Law, but it is a good basic measure that is wise and full of grace. The people in my church never hear 'appeals' for money, and know that they are not 'required' or 'watched' by anyone (but God). Please, stop 'challenging' me. I am weary! In Christ Jesus, charis |
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337 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22417 | ||
Dear Johnny, By the way, "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect." is a quote from a movie. It is my feeble attempt to add some humor to this thread. In this movie there is a fellow that considers himself to be a genius, calling Socrates a moron. Then, he proceeds to go into a long, completely one-sided argument that was the epitome of circular reasoning, with no apparent conclusion. This scene came to mind. I am sorry you are offended. I almost forgot to ask, were those statements I asked you about your own? Or were they quotes from another source? If so, who were you quoting? Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
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338 | Releases from tithing 10 per cent? | 2 Cor 9:7 | charis | 22413 | ||
Dear Johnny, I teach that tithes are an attitude of the heart, not a legal requirement. To me, the tithe is not so much an absolute amount, but a basic guideline that works for me in my church. It is not a burden to God's people, but a joy. I have never had to ask or beg for money from the pulpit, and our needs are always met, though we have never had a 'big giver' or 'sponsor.' Please do in your church as you see fit. No, I will not get into a Bible 'tit for tat,' because I really don't know what you are trying to say, even though you have posted voluminous Scripture to prove it. If you truly want to discuss New Testament giving, then please condense your thoughts into a simple paragraph. Then I will try my best to give you a Biblical answer. By the way, could it be that you are in the Philippines? I just wondered, because I have been there many times, and some of the situations describe sound familiar. Peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
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339 | Does Jesus' name satisfy Matt 28:19? | Acts 2:38 | charis | 22396 | ||
Dear John, Greetings from Yokohama in Jesus' name! Thank you for your kind words! :-) I guess the reason I feel upset about this topic is not you, or Mr. Boyd, for that matter. I am saddened that 'fringe groups' such as the 'Oneness' or 'Jesus Only' radicals have pushed balanced Christians into a 'defense posture' about certain valid Scriptures and Biblical doctrines! In this particular case, the 'Oneness' people started pushing 'modalism' and other twisted doctrines, causing those who hold to a simple faith as prescribed in the Apostle's Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed, into becoming 'Trinitarians.' If we hold to these creeds, we are simply Christians, but now we are 'forced' into refuting every single thing that the 'Oneness' group says. Unfortunately, in our zeal, we refute some of the things that we believe in ourselves, or denounce equally valid Scripture in order to 'prove' OUR point (which should not need too much 'proving!'). It is also sad that this zeal sometimes clouds our judgement, and leads us to use 'logic' and 'debate tactics' that are similar to those that we decry. This is what I call 'Doctrinal Polarism.' In my humble opinion, this leads the Christian away from Christ by separating us from the simple faith that he has poured upon us. Well, brother, just a 'private' theory! :-) Thanks always for your patience with me! In Christ Jesus, charis |
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340 | Does Jesus' name satisfy Matt 28:19? | Acts 2:38 | charis | 22339 | ||
Dear kalos, Greetings in Jesus' name! With all due respect to you, which is a matter of record, I must say that Mr. Boyd's article is rather obviously written as a specific argument against 'Oneness' people (which I am NOT affiliated). In his middle paragraph he say that Colossians 3:17 'obviously' does not mean what it says goes against the rules of Biblical interpretation that we have discussed many a time. As I recall, we are to believe the Bible means what it says in the simplest, most straightforward manner possible. There IS a great difference between *saying* 'in the name of Jesus,' (a phrase) and *doing* in the name of Jesus (an attitude of faith). I can't speak for all, but I an very careful to NEVER *say* 'in the name of Jesus' unless I *mean* in the name of Jesus. Blessings, my good friend, in Christ Jesus, charis |
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