Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why do i need to love god? | John 3:16 | BradK | 223446 | ||
Hello Inquisitor, Allow me to address a couple or your points:-) 1. Rev. 2:10 cannot be taken in isolation. It's not a salvation passage and is contained in a prophetic book. You cannot ignore context and develop an entire theology based on this one verse! What does the rest of scripture teach in regards to salvation? 2. We need to excercise caution when postulating hypotheticals! We have David- a man after God's own heart- who had Uriah killed and committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11-12). Yet, the Lord had specifically told him, "My mercy shall not depart from him..." (2 Sam. 7:15) Obviously, David repented as his cry in Ps. 51 details. I have no doubt of David's eternal destiny. Aside from this, I see few- if any- professed Christians going around killing people! Do you? Let me stress this point: salvation is by grace through faith, not based on any activity or lifestyle (Eph. 2:8-10) We confuse this by (adding) the requirement of living a holy life to prove the reality of salvation! Now, please do not hear what I'm not saying. Let me qualify that statement by summary quotes from Dr. James Raiford: "No one who is familiar with the Word of God would deny the fact that God designs and desires His people to live holy, righteously, and godly after personal salvation. What God requires for obtaining eternal life differs greatly from what he requires for living a godly life. The presence of good works can give evidence of the reality of genuine regeneration but the lack of such good works does not necessarily prove that there is a false salvation". "Never is salvation, the receiving of God's gift of eternal life , attached to some requirement for being holy or living a holy life. One cannot live for the Lord unless he possesses salvation. Regeneration is the gift of eternal life, as opposed to sanctification which is a process of spiritual living" [The Camouflaged Church/James B Raiford/2009] Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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2 | Why do i need to love god? | John 3:16 | Inquisitor | 223449 | ||
I can only respond with the way I've been taught all my life. I'll try to follow the flow of your post. Your Item 1: I quoted Rev 2:10 because it most certainly does apply to all christians for all time. Jesus specifically wrote to those 7 different congregations but He also meant for the guidance to be applicable to all christians everywhere for all time. I agree that Revelation is a prophetic book (and highly figurative) for the most part but the first three chapters are very easily understood. He identified some problems and to a few congregations He gave praise but the guidance for correction is easily understood and should be followed, thus the straight-forward and simple instruction of "Be thou faithful till death." is in perfect harmony with the quote from Matt 25:31-45. I realize this is not in harmony with the belief about "Once saved, always saved" or "Eternal Security" but this conflict has existed since those beliefs were first postulated. In support of Jesus' Words, I can only provide more scriptures such as 1 Tim 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Here we see Paul has apparently failed to have these two individuals repent of their sin of blasphemy and their being given over to the devil. Pretty clear example of christians falling from Grace. 1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Another clear example from Paul about his own fragile condition. He's afraid if he doesn't keep his own spirit humble, he could lose his soul. So it's quite obvious it's not just one verse but a very large portion of NT reflects this possibility of people becoming christians but are not able or not willing to remain faithful and dedicated to the Lord. Peter describes this problem in 2 Pet 2:18-20. Your Item 2: I was very cautious in citing previous examples of people who failed God miserably in being His children at one time in their lives and then NOT following His guidance. Along with the group in my previous post, I could add Nadab and Abihu from Num 3, Uzzah in 2 Sam 6. ALL (the whole group) these people were considered followers of God and failed so miserably that God punishes them publically and records it in His Word for everyone for all time to recognize and learn from their mistakes. In contrast as you have stated, King David was "a man after God's own heart" but the key difference is the main point I've been emphasizing all along: David's attitude. He was willing to recognize his sin, he repented of that sin and lived a Godly life at least to the best of his ability. In contrast, we all know christian friends in our lives who started out their lives as good, clean-living people and worshipped on a regular basis. But our faithfulness to God requires more than that as Jesus stated in Matt 25. We must see ourselves as God sees us. As I mentioned there's nothing we can do as our acts of kindness and everything else "good" about our lives are as filthy rags to our God, Isaiah 64:6. Our only hope to put our faith in God's Grace as you have stated BUT the key afterwards is to maintain that relationship with the proper attitude as clearly shown in 1 Jn 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. So the Bible is clear throughout, from start to finish. Yes, we must establish a personal relationship with God Almighty BUT we must maintain that relationship. Hopefully this is all made clear. God bless you all -- Inquisitor |
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3 | Why do i need to love god? | John 3:16 | ngkh | 223538 | ||
Hi, Perhaps a "right being" is a better word instead of "right doing" As Eph 2:8-10 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. So question - can salvation be lost if we do not show love to the Father or do any works that shows we love him? Isn't it putting the cart in front of the horse. Why would one give his life to God in the first place? Something good be it hope, love or blessings may have happened, no? Then we are babies. We seek him further through the Word and then relationship begins and we grow. There could be further encounter and you just manifest your love for Him and you will be obedient to the Word. I need not try to love or show love (right doing) but we will love (right being) because He first loved us, Amen? We will then serve according to the gifts He had given us and it will be different if the calling is truly from him. You won't expect accolades from anyone, not even from God when you serve because you do it out of love for him. Amen? It is thus not a "MUST" or "Need" but a "WANT" that builds the relationship and all things that follows with it. This is just my simple personal journey not through any theological studies. Blessings John |
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4 | Why do i need to love god? | John 3:16 | Inquisitor | 223749 | ||
All I can say is that we should comply with the obvious guidance in our Bibles, God's Word. Throughout the NT, the guidance is very clear. In becoming christians, we establish a personal relationship with God, through His Son and His Blood shed on the cross. AFTER becoming christians, we must maintain that relationship through studying His Word and praying for continued guidance. This is all made very clear in 1 John. IF we neglect this relationship, then we can repent and re-establish that connection. We also must maintain our relationship with our fellow man, most especially our fellow christians. I'm not sure about the wording, as you say "right being" or "good works" but I'm quite certain we MUST maintain this balance between worshipping in Spirit AND in Truth. We MUST maintain this balance between love for God AND love for our fellow man. AND we MUST maintain this balance between faith in God and good works as described in James 2. This way, our good works is proof of our faith in God. I hope all this is a little clearer. God bless you. Inquisitor. |
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