Results 1 - 9 of 9
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Results from: Notes Author: rikbrooks Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Almost understanding? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242566 | ||
JustMe, I'm not about to drop out. I was devout about a half century ago. I was in the Army and you know, no atheist in a foxhole, but I really was a believer. I studied my Bible hard everyday and prayed but didn't pray enough. I turned my back on religion but still maintained a relationship with Christ even though it was not as it should be. Now, half a century later, I've returned. First I saw changes in my life without understanding why they happened. I grew kinder and gave up judgment. I relaxed. Then my wife found a church that I really like. Then my mother died and my Dad replaced his Bible with one that he likes better and I started reading a daily devotional at BibleGateway, 40 days to get closer to the Lord. Now I have been offered a full time job that allows me to stop travelling and be with my family. So many changes. They can't be coincidence. Nah, I'll be here the rest of my life. Thanks y'all Brother Rik |
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2 | Almost understanding? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242561 | ||
You know this makes SUCH sense to me. It completely explains the changes that are happening in my life without my 'doing' anything. I'm seeking out the church not because I need to go but because well, I can't think of anything I'd rather do at that time. I made a vow to stop being judgmental because it just felt like my life would be better without me judging. I have become gentler and more accepting just because I "don't need the drama in my life". Instead what's happened is that letting God into my life has just made these things happen. I have noticed changes and my family has noticed dramatic changes but I promise you none of them are because I 'have' to. I'm not even feeling led to. These changes are just happening. I was starting to think it was a change of life. Now I'm thinking it's a change of Life. Brother Rik |
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3 | Almost understanding? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242559 | ||
hallaLEUHAH! THAT I can understand. I see NO contradiction there. Thank you and I'm sorry to have been such a pain. Brother Rik |
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4 | What are Christ's commandments | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242556 | ||
I didn’t take offense at what you said. I’m grateful that you took the time from your day to try to help me understand. You don’t have to do that and I am grateful. This site is just one of the ways that I seek. I pray for answers daily. If not answers then just the wisdom to figure it out on my own. I steadily maintain patience to await the revelation. I also read the Bible daily and maybe I’ll find the answers there. That’s certainly where I found the questions. I am seeking but without pressure. If I find my answers then great! If not then great! Whatever God has in store for me then just great! Thank you for your time. Rik the Seeker |
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5 | Grace vs Works? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242555 | ||
My reading of the day is the parable of the Prodigal Son and indeed again it’s salvation not by works but by the prodigal son humbling himself and turning back to the father. The son did nothing to earn his redemption he even asked the father to treat him as a servant because he was unworthy but sure enough the father demonstrated that it isn’t works that redeemed him. I am missing something fundamental here and I just don’t know what it is. I am on a Bible reading plan and I didn’t pick out the Prodigal Son for today’s lesson but look how it dovetails with this question. That just can’t be a coincidence. Just when I think that I understand that faith is how you are saved I am shown how important works is and just when I start to understand that I’m brought right back to faith. I don’t remember Christianity being this difficult to understand before. |
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6 | Grace vs Works? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242554 | ||
OK, Doc - THAT is a message that I understand. I'm going to go back and study those verses in an hour or so. I just awoke and although now is a great time for prayer as my mind is relaxed and unencumbered by responsibilities that I face each day it is not quite ready for study. That's just how I'm built. Creative to start the day then logical. Although I still don't understand this subject and these answers haven't helped me as much as I hoped I still have faith that God will answer my prayer and if He DOESN'T give me the wisdom that I seek it will be OK. I am seeking ways to do works. Since I've been praying on the subject I've met a couple that helps a place where poor people can go to get groceries. I can donate to them. Then there are other things that I can do but don't want to bore y'all with that. I AM going to a church. It's a non-denominational Christian church. They believe in going to church but then meeting in small groups during the week for specific study. I've joined one of those groups too. So again, without boring y'all, I am not trying to get around the works part, just trying to understand what seems to be a contradiction. Contradictions bother my scientific, logical mind. Then again, that might be God's point, huh? To make me stretch my credulity. To put me outside my comfort zone. Thanks for answering. I may have other questions when I study the cites that you provided. |
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7 | Grace vs Works? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242545 | ||
I still have questions. I'm afraid that your answer didn't help me much. I am nevertheless grateful that you took the time from your day to try to help me. That is a sincere gratitude, I'm not at all being sarcastic (not being able to see my face it's easy to mistake my meaning). I am also grateful for the prayers. I'm trying to understand, I really am. I am mindful though that there are some things that I'll have to take on faith. There are some things that I'm just not going to understand and that's OK too. Maybe you have a deeper insight into this area than I do at this point. That's OK with me too. I'll just keep doing my best, reading the Bible and praying. If I never understand the truth then that's OK too, it will be God's will because I'll keep praying for wisdom |
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8 | Grace vs Works? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242543 | ||
Thank you Doc, for taking the time for me. | ||||||
9 | Grace vs Works? | James 1:22 | rikbrooks | 242538 | ||
Please don’t confuse me as a troll or someone that just likes being contentious to stir things up. I’m really not. Thank you Justme for your answer but it still didn’t quiet my doubts nor quench my thirst. Not yet being a Bible scholar let me just approach this from the angle of a scientist (which I am). It seems that you are saying that just proclaiming to be a believer is not enough but if salvation requires works then how many works? What about the thief on the cross that would be in Heaven by the end of the day? He never performed ANY good works. How can he go to Heaven if good works are required? And how many good works do we need? Do we need an average of one per week, per month? And what is ‘good’? Is volunteering to sweep the church a good work? Who determines what is good? How many works are good enough? What if you do a thousand good works? Is that enough? Some of these questions that I’m asking are obvious exaggerations but can you see my confusion? If we are saved by faith then we are saved by faith. I’ve heard that the works is the outward manifestation of having been saved. What do I care about that? My relationship with my Lord is deeply personal. I really don’t care if you or anyone else can discern what is in my heart. Is that wrong? Should I go around trying to impress everyone around me with my piety? I’m sorry but I really am confused and not trying to be argumentative but I can’t resolve this. It seems to me that James and Paul are at odds one with the other. I’m not the only one that is confused, am I? I’m praying for wisdom and maybe God will use one of you to help me discover that answer. Until then I’ll keep reading, praying, and asking. |
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