Results 1121 - 1140 of 1251
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Results from: Notes Author: mark d seyler Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1121 | Future sacrifices? | Heb 10:10 | mark d seyler | 170811 | ||
1 Cor 2 9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit" |
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1122 | Future sacrifices? | Heb 10:10 | mark d seyler | 170828 | ||
Please accept my apologies if I have offended. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1123 | Church membership scriptural? | Heb 10:25 | mark d seyler | 169297 | ||
Hi Messiah's child, My sister became a member of her church for the purpose of serving in the Sunday School. She does not believe in "church membership", as such, but does not consider it to violate her faith. Since she believes that God led her to that particular congregation, and that God wants her to serve in the Sunday School, and that congregation has by-laws which require church membership in order to serve in the Sunday School, she became a member. The reason that her church requires membership to qualify someone to serve is that it gives the church leadership greater legal control in the eventuality of someone mis-using their position, or showing themself to be reprobate. So it is ultimately for the protection of the sheep. My congregation does not have formal membership, and sometimes its a wonder that we get anything done, and yet much is done. So my thought is, if you have to go through some ritual as a prerequisite to serve where God has put you, so long as it doesn't go against your faith, its a small thing to do. If if goes against your faith, don't do it. Pray. Pray. Pray. I hope this adds something to this discussion! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1124 | Church membership scriptural? | Heb 10:25 | mark d seyler | 169301 | ||
Hi Justme, After reading your post, I want to add a little background to mine. I attend Calvary Chapel of Anaheim CA. My sister attends Calvary Baptist Anaheim. Ours is the only Calvary Chapel I know of that, even without membership, votes on the budget, including salaries of paid staff. just sharing... God bless you! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1125 | Homosexual are picked on in the church? | James 2:1 | mark d seyler | 177336 | ||
Hi Journey me, You have claimed Brad holds the opinion that homosexuality is worse than some sins because he associated it with violent crimes. Brad's actual statement was "It is a sin just as is murder, rape or robbery." You have left out that he also associated it with robbery, which is not necessarily a violent crime. But mostly I want to address another matter that you have brought up, your claim that "you can be a 'gay Christian'". 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 So that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new! (18) And all things are from God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and having given to us the ministry of reconciliation, When you are born again, you are a new being that didn't exist before. You have no connection to what you were before. Ephesians tells us that we have been created in righteousness and true holiness. That means total separation from anything sinful in thought, word, and deed. But I find this following passage especially meaningful to this sort of discussion: Ephesians 4:17-24 Therefore, I say this, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk even as also the rest of the nations walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) having been darkened in the intellect, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them because of the hardness of their heart, (19) who, having cast off all feeling, gave themselves up to lust, to the working of all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But you have not so learned Christ, (21) if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus. (22) For you have put off the old man, as regards the former behavior, having been corrupted according to the deceitful lusts, (23) and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and to put on the new man, which according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness. No one is "born homosexual". All who are practicing such have been deceived by their lust, and have actually put off true feelings. This is not my opinion, this is what the Bible says. All such deeds belong to the "old man", which has been crucified with Christ, which is to be reckoned as already dead, and is to be put to death: Col 3:5 Then put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry; Even the "strong desire for sin" is sinful in and of itself, and is to be conquered within us, and CAN BE! :-) And again, I will say that I agree with you, all sin is sin, and any sin will separate a person from God forever. No sin is to be allowed a foothold. But also realize, while theft remains a problem in America, and lies are told every day, homosexuals have put THEMSELVES into the spotlight, in an effort to force a national acceptance and approval of their sinful lifestyle, and they should not be surprised to find that of the vast vast majority who reject and disapprove of their lifestyle there are many who say so. Its not the drunkards that are in our faces, its the SSAD's. And so if the Church, and others understand the self-destruction of homosexuality talk more about this sin then other sins, the homosexual community has brought that upon themselves. Jesus said "I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly." Not that we can be partly changed, but partly broken. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1126 | Homosexual are picked on in the church? | James 2:1 | mark d seyler | 177347 | ||
Hi Journey me, I'd like to differentiate between the "apparent church" and the "true church". The "apparent church" is composed of those who, for whatever reason, have chosen to identify with Christianity, but who have not actually come into a relationship with God by being born again. The "true church" is composed of those who have been reborn, who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and who are in the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus. Of the "true church", there are those who are more and those who are less conformed to the image of Christ. Within the "apparent church", there is little if any difference between them and the unchurched, because they are all unsaved, without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They will be completely susceptible to any and all sins including sexual immorality of all descriptions, thefts, drug use, lies, judging, hypocrisy, and so on. (I would like to add that according to many sources (university, government) the actual rate of homosexuality is more like 2 percent.) Within the "true church", all of these things will exist as well, but only against the constant struggle of the Spirit working in our lives. I have never been witness to a pastor disfellowshipping a homosexual, but I have seen those who were sexually immoral in other ways disfellowshipped. So I suppose it depends on where you are at the time. :-) No sin is easy to stop, and again, I want to agree with you, that we should not fixate on one sin to the exclusion of others. But we are not commanded any less to repent of sexual sins then of lying or stealing. And the unrepentant thief will not be treated any different by God than the unrepentant sexually immoral - of any brand - and should not be treated any differently by us. I don't know where you live, but you would be welcome to visit the congregation I fellowship in, and I assure you, we do not treat one person different from another. I do not condone those who do. Nor would you, should you come to my congregation, see "a sea of immorality". That is the "apparent church". Not the "true church" I am in a fairly small congregation, which is on fire for the Lord, and those who are not that way tend not to stick around. They find that they just don't fit in. We must do everything in our power to share Christ with all people, and I pray that we both are mightily effective in the power of God to accomplish that. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1127 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | mark d seyler | 161691 | ||
Act 11:26 And finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that many of them were gathered to them in the assembly a whole year. And they taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. This is literally "divinely called", as in speaking prophetically, to "utter an oracle". God choose the name for His people. :-) Love in Christ, Mark |
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1128 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | mark d seyler | 161698 | ||
Hi WOS, We have taken the Name of the Lord, and not, I trust, in vain. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1129 | Is the name Christian being ridiculed? | James 2:5 | mark d seyler | 161744 | ||
Hi Wild Olive Shoot, Here is the passage for referrence: James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? "They" that blaspheme would refer back to "the rich", which these early believers were showing favoritism to. "For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes," These are described as ones who simply come in. They may be professing Christianity or not, James doesn't say. "They" are addressed in the 3rd person, so we must see who James is addressing to see if they could be part of the church. If James is specifically addressing these comments to the leadership of the church, then it could be regarding members of the assembly. If James is addressing his comments to the general assembly, then it would seem to me to be concerning visitors. He writes to "the 12 tribes", "my brethren", later he will direct us to the elders, so I understand him to be writing to the general assembly, and so I would count these rich to be outside that assembly, and not Christians. Not that you asked for them, but these are my thoughts. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1130 | Are all sins the same to God? | James 2:10 | mark d seyler | 177606 | ||
I would just like to follow up with a final note on this topic. The original question was: "A minister told me that all sins are the same to God. That people judge or compare sins to feel better about their own sins. Is this true? Is gluttony the same as murder to God?" Certainly the Bible does classify sins differently. There are the examples listed in the other posts. There are others as well (intentional and unintentional sin, sexual sin is the only sin committed against one's own body, there is sin unto death and sin not unto death, unforgivable sin, sin which will receive many or few stripes, etc.). But we must never fall into the trap of saying "my sin isn't so bad, after all, I only committed a little sin, but they committed a great sin!" We must allow God alone to make that distinction. All sin kills, no matter how "small" it seems to us. And not only that, but we are not fit judges of ourselves. Take stealing a pencil, for instance. Did I steal it because I had none, and I needed to complete a job application? This would be considered a lessor offence. Did I steal it because I coveted it? This would be idolatry, worshipping a false god. Did I steal it because I knew the other guy needed it to complete his job application, and I want to see him fail because I hate him? That would be more akin to murder. I would likely say to all of these, "I only stole a pencil!" But each of these examples is sufficient to exclude me from fellowship with God. So let all sin be abhorent to us, and let God Alone be the Righteous Judge. And let us never attempt to "feel better about our own sins," because we think that they aren't as bad as someone else's sin. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1131 | Are all sins the same to God? | James 2:10 | mark d seyler | 177614 | ||
Hi Lionheart, I like how verse 18 hints at the effects of unresolved sin in our lives: Job 11:18 "Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. When we harbor sin, we are not living the life of faith, and we are not trusting God the same as when we are right with Him. We don't have, or at least I don't have the feeling of safety and security, because I know that until I get right with God I may be disciplined by Him. Even so, I can trust God to do what is best for me, but its more preferable to learn the easy way than the hard way - speaking from experience! I know that even if we do minimize our sin, God doesn't! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1132 | Patience of Job | James 5:11 | mark d seyler | 173068 | ||
Well done, Russ! This really blessed me!!! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1133 | Will you pray with me? | James 5:16 | mark d seyler | 160399 | ||
Hi Sunnyhills, I just want you to know that I also share in your pain, and I will be praying for you and your family. I understand if you wish to not reply to me on this forum, you are free to contact me at markdseyler@yahoo.com. Remember the love of the Father that Jesus portrayed in the parable of the prodigal son. Our Lord waits, watching, for your son to return to Him, and will run out joyously to greet him. We will pray for his speedy return, to you, to his faith, to repentence. God bless you! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1134 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | mark d seyler | 146559 | ||
Mitch, to interject for a moment: Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Just by the sound of Paul's words, he saw the healing of his fellow as a sovereign work of God - he did not, for instance, say "he was sick, so we claimed his healing and he was well". Jesus allowed Lazarus to die, not healing him, so that He could perform the greater miracle. Paul speaks in Galations of the infirmity of his flesh beings a testing. And the man healed by Peter at the Beautiful gate at the temple had been lame from birth, laid there daily to beg. How many times did Jesus walk right by him? Dozens? Hundreds? "Well, he didn't ASK for healing!" But he didn't ask Peter either. When it was God's time - His time - He healed him. Not according to my time, or my method, but He is sovereign, and I am subservient. And all things, all sickness, all injury, all things work for the good to us who love Him. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1135 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | mark d seyler | 146565 | ||
Hi Brad, You know, for all the scriptures we could look at, for all the logic we could share, I always come back to Jesus in the garden pleading with His Father. Name it and claim it just doesn't work for me. Jesus only had to but die, and He would have purchased us for Himself. But His Father decreed for Jesus additional suffering (ref Heb. 5:7) for a purpose - to in some way make Him complete - perhaps to prove His obedience in the face of such horrific suffering. How can I say God will never want me to suffer, when so much is said of Jesus? Properity doctrine? That just doesn't seem like a life following Jesus! May we both stand, no matter what the test! God bless! Love in Christ, Mark |
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1136 | Election | 1 Pet 1:2 | mark d seyler | 163837 | ||
Hi Doc, (Quoting for referrence) Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; Doesn't this verse divide Isreal between the elect and the hardened? Why would this not include all descendants of Jacob? Since the verbs obtained and hardened are both aorist, this has happened in the past. Would this not then, according to the plainest reading of the text, mean all descendants of Jabob as of the time of writing? The alternative would be if Paul was writing in a "prophetical past tense", speaking as if future events were already past. This is not unknown in the Bible, but is there an indication of that here? Paul goes on in the chapter to write of things yet future regarding the state of Isreal in a decidedly non-prophetic way, (vs. 23) "If they abide not in unbelief". But then we must return to the words "the elect obtained it". "Obtained" is aorist active indicative. The elect is definate. (Tim would know more about this than I do, I trust he is following and will correct me if I am wrong! - Tim, are you out there?) This seems to me to be saying "all the elect have already obtained". The would be necessity not include those not yet born, and so the redeemed of Israel not yet born would be not yet elect. But then we know our names have been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. Does this not again demonstrate that both Divine Election, and the true and unfettered free will of man are taught in the scripture? Love in Christ, Mark |
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1137 | Election | 1 Pet 1:2 | mark d seyler | 163848 | ||
Hi Luke, I should have said "from the foundation of the world", and yes, the referrence is to Rev. 17:8. I apologize for my error. This verse talks of those who worship the beast, those whose names were Not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. The implication is that there is another group, consisting of those who Are written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. However, if you do not agree with that, we can go elsewhere. 2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Does this help? Love in Christ, Mark |
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1138 | Election | 1 Pet 1:2 | mark d seyler | 163859 | ||
Hi Doc, Assuming you are referring to Romans 9:7, I believe that what I said was "descendents of Jacob", not "descendents of Abraham". Was that the passage you had in mind, or another? Prophetic passages are sometimes found in writings that are primarily teaching in nature, although I agree with you that this is not one of those. We would find textual indicators if it were. Thank you for the reminder to let Scripture teach Scripture! This is very important for all to do! Having cleared up that I was not referring to the "children of Abraham, but rather to the "children of Jacob", do you find error in my post? If so, please state clearly what you beleive to be in error, that I may profit from it. Also, just for clarity, when I speak of free will, I am thinking in terms of responsibility. If I choose, I am responsible for the outcome. If you choose for me, you are responsible for the outcome. Certainly lots of factors will affect our choices, however, they do not change who ultimately chooses. I hope this helps to clarify the matter. Love in Christ, Mark |
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1139 | Election | 1 Pet 1:2 | mark d seyler | 163871 | ||
Hi Doc, What I understand Romans 11:7 to be speaking, and (Tim can correct me if I am wrong) that Tim was saying, is that while some of Israel is said to be the elect, and the others of Israel to be hardened, how could they, that is, the hardened be later grafted in, if they were not of the elect? I do not think that this is a false dilemna. If the elect is a group of people whose number does not change, having been preset from the beginning of the age, how can any who are not of the elect become the elect, by being grafted in? Again, I believe that the Bible teaches both man's choice and God's election. We can't ignore one or the other. Love in Christ, Mark PS Choosing not to decide is a choice. :-) However, no matter how much you may influence or coerce another, their choice remains their own. We are all responsible for our bad actions towards another, and they theirs towards us, but at the end of the day, "each will die for their own sin." I'm really big on personal responsibility. :-) |
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1140 | Election | 1 Pet 1:2 | mark d seyler | 163877 | ||
Hi Doc, I feel that I am not being clear on what I am asking, the question also asked by Tim. Rom 11:7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; Paul refers to the elect, and the hardened. Two mutually exclusive groups. Some were the elect. The rest were hardened. But later, some are grafted in. If the elect are a group whose identity was established from eternity past, how is it then that the hardened could then become the elect, having not been the elect? I have all the apples in this basket, and all the bananas in that basket. I am able to make some bananas into apples. Some apples will exist that did not exist before. Can the original number of apples be all the apples there would ever be, having been decided from eternity past? No, because some apples will be added. Can the elect be defined as a group established from eternity past? No, at least, not as used in Romans 11:7. Defining the elect as Kalos' post did does not work, because of this point, that's all. This is hypothetical only, as a demonstration of the logical problem. Not a "false delimna", but rather it just doesn't work. And no, I am not an "Open Theist". No one will be condemned at the Great White Throne for Adam's sin. Each will be judged according to their own works. Love in Christ, Mark |
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