Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | 1 Samuel 15:3 - a loving God? | Ps 115:3 | BradK | 157487 | ||
Hi Rob, Your question is certainly not without merit! I can understand your concern. Let me answer it by first asking you some questions and then by looking at a few , specific attributes of God:-) You said you're starting to loose faith!? I would ask in Whom is your faith? What is your faith based upon? Is it upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His all-sufficiency? Have you placed your faith and trust in Him? (Rom. 10:9-10) Islam and Biblical Christianity serve 2 entirely different gods! We need to recognize a couple of things: 1. God is sovereign (Ps. 115:3). This means He is not dependent upon any outside forces nor is He beholden to His creation. Read Romans 9:13-21. Verse 16 reads: "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." 2. God is holy! A.W. Pink writes, "In Scripture He is frequently styled "The Holy One": He is so because the sum of all moral excellency is found in Him. He is absolute Purity, unsullied even by the shadow of sin. "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Holiness is the very excellency of the Divine nature: the great God is "glorious in holiness" (Ex. 15:11). Therefore do we read, "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Hab. 1:13)." God’s holiness is manifested in His works. "The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Ps. 145:17). God’s holiness is manifested in His law. That law forbids sin in all of its modifications: in its most refined as well as its grossest forms, the intent of the mind as well as the pollution of the body, the secret desire as well as the overt act. Therefore do we read, The law is holy, and "the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12). God’s holiness is manifested at the Cross. Wondrously and yet most solemnly does the Atonement display God’s infinite holiness and abhorrence of sin. How hateful must sin be to God for Him to punish it to its utmost deserts when it was imputed to His Son! We often confuse the love of God- the attribute of His being Love with that of His wrath. That is, He is a God of love, but His love allows- rather demands - that He be wrathful as well. Again, A.W. Pink writes, "There are three things told us in Scripture concerning the nature of God. First, "God is spirit" (John 4:24). In the Greek there is no indefinite article, and to say "God is a spirit" is most objectionable, for it places Him in a class with others. God is "spirit" in the highest sense. Because He is "spirit" He is incorporeal, having no visible substance. Had God a tangible body, He would not be omnipresent, He would be limited to one place; because He is spirit He fills heaven and earth. Second, God is light (1 John 1:5), which is the opposite of "darkness." In Scripture "darkness" stands for sin, evil, death; and "light" for holiness, goodness, life. God is light, means that He is the sum of all excellency. Third, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). It is not simply that God "loves," but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature. There are many today who talk about the love of God, who are total strangers to the God of love." In contrast, His wrath can be understood by this: "It is sad to find so many professing Christians who appear to regard the wrath of God as something for which they need to make an apology, or at least they wish there were no such thing. While some would not go so far as to openly admit that they consider it a blemish on the Divine character, yet they are far from regarding it with delight, they like not to think about it, and they rarely hear it mentioned without a secret resentment rising up in their hearts against it. Even with those who are more sober in their judgment, not a few seem to imagine that there is a severity about the Divine wrath which is too terrifying to form a theme for profitable contemplation. Others harbor the delusion that God’s wrath is not consistent with His goodness, and so seek to banish it from their thoughts. Now the wrath of God is as much a Divine perfection as is His faithfulness, power, or mercy. It must be so, for there is no blemish whatever, not the slightest defect in the character of God; yet there would be if "wrath" were absent from Him!" Because God is holy, He hates all sin; And because He hates all sin, His anger burns against the sinner: (Psalm 7:11., Is. 48:9). In 1 Sa. 15:3, God is merely being faithful to his Word and what He promised to His people, Israel. I hope this helps, BradK |
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2 | Christ learned from Buddhist dharma? | Ps 115:3 | coldbrilliantsun | 157646 | ||
Thanks BradK! Still wrestling with this one though. I can understand a "righteous wrath" But then God would deliver it Himself and not command a mortal to break the Law of not killing by telling him to kill innocents. Deut 20:10-17 also has accounts of jutifying killing, raping and pillaging so long as it is done in God's name. And Leviticus advocates slavery. Just doesn't sound like the upright moral relgion I thought. But the New Testament is kind and pacifist in context. Why is this? Some scholars believe Christ was influenced by the earlier Buddhist moral ethics of Avihimsa (Sanskrit for non-violence) that was imported from India during the trade routes of 300BC - 200BC which stretched from India to Greece. After all, the physical act of placing the palms together in prayer was also an import from the Buddhists which now us Chrsitans use. Any thoughts or ideas on this? Thanks and blessings, Rob |
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3 | Christ learned from Buddhist dharma? | Ps 115:3 | CDBJ | 157660 | ||
Here is a rather remote, and what some might call, twisted idea yet it’s all biblical. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Have a nice day, CDBJ |
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4 | Christ learned from Buddhist dharma? | Ps 115:3 | BradK | 157663 | ||
Hi Rob, I can tell there is still some confusion by your answer:-) It's important to understand, Christianity is not an "upright moral religion"! It is a personal relationship with a living God Who reveals Himself through the pages of scripture. It is about the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is about who we acknowledge Him to be- merely a teacher, a good person, or God incarnate! Who do you say that He is? Christ was not influenced by earlier Buddhist moral ethics! That is a silly notion not even remotely supported by scripture. Rob, Budda is dead and still in his grave! Christ, our Savior is risen and alive forevermore ( 1 Cor. 15:20)! Both scripture and history attest to this fact. It sound like you are still on a quest. May you come to know the only true God, Jesus Christ and place your faith in Him. If it will help, I'd highly recommend the book, "New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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5 | Christ learned from Buddhist dharma? | Ps 115:3 | CDBJ | 157664 | ||
Hi Brad, I think you might have posted to the wrong guy but I will give your post some serious consideration. Have fun, CDBJ |
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6 | Christ learned from Buddhist dharma? | Ps 115:3 | BradK | 157666 | ||
CDBJ, Sorry about that! I was up late and got up early. I hadn't even finished my first cup of coffee. Brad |
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