Results 1 - 20 of 1003
|
||||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Rowdy Ordered by Verse |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | About the Rapture... | Not Specified | Rowdy | 107930 | ||
What scriptures from the Bible are used to support the concept of the rapture? How are they supported by the rest of the Bible? Please explain the whole scenario of the rapture. | ||||||
2 | About Premillenialism... | Not Specified | Rowdy | 107932 | ||
What scriptures from the Bible are used to describe Premillenialism? How is this supported by the rest of the Bible? Please briefly descirbe the scenario of this concept. |
||||||
3 | Christian Nation? You decide. | Not Specified | Rowdy | 109847 | ||
It seems many have forgotten some of our history. Did you know that 52 of the 55 signers of the Declaration of Independence were orthodox, deeply committed Christians? The other three all believed in the Bible as the divine truth, the God or scripture, and His personal intervation. It is the same Congress that formed the American Bible Society. Immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase and import 20,000 copies of scripture for the people of this nation. Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American Revolution, is still remembered for his words, "Give me liberty or give me death." But in current textbooks the context of these words is deleted. Here is what he actually said: "An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a jusst God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peach so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almight God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death." These sentences have been erased from our textbooks. Was Patrick Henry a christian? The following year, 1776, he wrote this "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." On July 4, 1821, President Adams said, "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President of the United States reaffirmed this truth when he wrote, "The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country." In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools." William Holmes McGuffey is the author of the McGuffey Reader, which was used for 100 years in our public schools with over 125 million copies sold until it was stopped in 1963. President Lincoln call him the "Schoolmaster of the Nation." Listen to these words of Mr. McGuffey: "The Christian religion is the religion of our country. From it are derived our notions on the character of God, on the great moral Governor of the universe. On its doctrines are founded the peculiarities of our free institutions. From no source has the author drawn more conspicuously than from the sacred Scriptures. From all these extracts from the Bible I make no apology." Of the first 108 universitites founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the scriptures: "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of this life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, John 17:3; and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments? James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: “We have staked the whole future of our new nation not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.” Today, we are asking God to bless America. But how can He bless a Nationa that has departed so far from Him? Prior to Sep 11, 2001, He was not welcom in America. Most of what you read in this article has been erased from our textbooks. Revisionists have rewritten history to remove the truth about our country's Christian roots. You are encouraged to share this with others so that the truth of our nation's history will be told. God bless America. I can't add a thing, but I know how to respond. How about you? |
||||||
4 | Study Bible Forum or Bible Philosophy | Not Specified | Rowdy | 114932 | ||
First of all, let me apologize to the Forum in general. My posts seem to have caused quite a bit of controversy and that is certainly NOT what I was after. So, what am I after? I guess if you were to pin me down and put me in a pigeonhole, I’d probably label myself as a philosopher, much in the same spirit as my dad. In a lot of ways I imitate his lifestyle, including his way of looking at things in the world, studying other people and how they interact with each other and with our God in Heaven. I know and realize there's probably not many people on the Forum but I like the ideas and the brainstorming that result from it. I have studied the Bible quite a bit and although I’m not particularly good at quoting book, chapter and verse, I do read a good portion of God’s Word every day. As I do have a penchant for looking for the philosophical side of a particular issue or topic, that’s where I spend most of my time, looking for such opportunities. So, I like to ask questions like “How,” “Why,” and “How about another way of looking it” just like ancient Socrates. As you can imagine this “talent” I have is a little bit of a burden to people that love me, like my precious wife and my parents. I’m quite literally serious here: To this day, my brother, sisters and parents still say I ask too many questions. But I like to motivate people to think, to look behind the curtain and dare to ask Why to the boldest person. Yes, it gets me in trouble but it also makes me a good problem solver. The most important ingredient I’ve found to make a success out of this mess I see in my life is to love people, real love for their souls, love for them to reach their potential like our Father in Heaven has for you and me. It also helps to be open minded and open hearted to their position on a issue, listen to their side of the story completely before responding…now that’s tough, I know. As I size up the “field of play” we have on this Forum, we have plenty of folks who are very, very good at research and know God’s Word quite well. Their posts are filled to overflowing with scriptures and what they think about them. Sometimes they misapply those scriptures but don’t we all on an occasional basis. Sometimes we look at something one way for years and then discover at some future time a new perspective from someone’s first review of that thing i.e. scripture. We come away thinking “What was I thinking when I concluded that way about that particular thing?” Well, again back to that field business. I’ve recently resolved to try to cite at least just a few more scriptures with my statements/posts to the Forum but you’ll have to forgive me for the few times that I fail to do so. You see just as EdB discovered with my recent question about Paul scolding Peter for his sin of discrimination against Gentiles, the answers aren’t always in the Bible, especially when it’s about one of the How or Why questions. I really do appreciate you folks who are so good about quoting from the scriptures with book, chapter and verses but I’ll continue to hold down this end of the field with my conclusions and inferences but this I promise. I’ll ALWAYS TRY to make certain these statements/conclusions, etc. are in fact based on general Bible principles and hold true to the Spirit of the Bible. If it’s anything I’ve learned to appreciate in life, I’ve learned there’s tremendous value to the whole team concept. I may consider myself in the middle of the road like most people do on most subjects in life, most especially Bible topics and religion in general. But we need to appreciate those folks on both sides of that road for they’re there for a reason. They sincerely believe the way they do (at least most of the time) because they’ve studied the issues and concluded that’s where they need to be. So with that promise being made, if at any time, you disagree or think my statement in the future needs tweaking to make it just right, please feel free to post your statement to that effect. That’s why we’re here. One last thing, just as a reminder. We’re all human, every single one of us. None of us are going to get out of this world alive and take anything with us but our souls. So let’s love one another and do a lot more forgiving and a lot less griping and complaining. It will go a long way toward getting us to where we want to go after this world is over. God bless you all. |
||||||
5 | Get'g the right message from our Bibles? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 115446 | ||
Just got this very interesting article by E-Mail from a good friend and thought I would share. It asks some very probing questions. Be sure to notice the scripture in support. God bless all who study and obey God's Word. IS CHRIST OUR CENTRAL FOCUS? We have scrutinized the Bible to the point that we have it all laid out in reasonable and logical principles. We have dismantled it into theological sections. We have made it an answer book to life's problems and a cure-all for what emotionally and mentally bothers us. It has become a manual filled with instructions on how to live. It provides us with principles that will guide us into God's favor, thus insuring us of His presence and power. Manfred Haller writes: "If you want to know what is in an automobile, the parts it contains and how it was constructed, disassemble it. Just do not try to drive the disassembled vehicle, though, because it won't move an inch. It will have lost all its power, functionality and any purpose it had. All the components belonging to a complete automobile will be lying before you, but it is still not a car. Dissected truths are no longer spiritual truths; they are ineffective, lifeless theorems." "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40) Could it be that most Christians have a love affair with the Bible rather than with Jesus? The Scriptures are VITAL! Scriptures reveal Jesus! If we are in love with Jesus then why is it we dismantle the Bible into theological opinions, then talk about those segregated segments with more excitement, interest and intensity than we talk about Jesus Himself? We even form fortresses around our opinions and call them churches. If we can form alliances we call them denominations. Jesus is not our rallying cry! Is this why the Christian community is having a diminishing influence on our cultural direction? "Begin seeing Christ behind everything. When you finally understand that Christ is everything you need, then you will have become truly Christocentric. Then will you share with the Father the most precious thing He has - His Son. Christ will become your only perspective, your only hope, your only possession, and your only interest. Everything else will fade into insignificance." (MANFRED HALLER- "CHRIST AS ALL IN ALL") For example, we normally present the Gospel as a message of repentance from sin. If we want to go to heaven and miss out on hell then we need to ask for forgiveness. If we want a meaningful and purposeful life, we need God's grace. He will give us forgiveness, redemption, and life everlasting. God has a wonderful plan for our life. Note; the paragraph above has man as God's central focus. Jesus is God's central focus. Everything happens through Jesus, by Jesus, and for Jesus. Christ and Christ alone transforms people, the results of this transformation do not save people only Jesus Christ saves. We seem to focus on the transformation rather than Christ Himself. "The New Testament gospel begins and ends with Jesus Christ. Christ Himself is the gospel. The gospel in a single pronouncement is, "he who has the Son has life!' Another one like it is, "if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. …The gospel calls men and women to believe in Christ. This means acceptance that God has placed Him in the center, that God will judge us on our relationship to Christ, that our present and our future depends on our kinship with Him." (MANFRED HALLER) We place too much emphasis on the results Christ brings about that we inadvertently present a gospel of works rather than a gospel focused on Christ Himself. Jesus is not coming to gather a brood of cloned replicas that do as He did. When Jesus returns He is coming to receive the Body, the Church, the Vessel through which He will express the fullness of His deity. Written by Terry Jarbo |
||||||
6 | Just brainstorming. Any lightning? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 115649 | ||
Have you ever considered how strange and inconsistent we humans tend to be? Most of us want the world on our terms when we know we didn't create it and shouldn't expect that response from the world. We want things to conform to and be consistent with the Bible so as to make sense, and rightly so. But what happens to all that nice and neatly packaged world of thinking when someone comes into our midst who's got some rough edges or corners, like John the Baptist, prophet Elijah or maybe even Apostle Paul. We don't like someone to come in with strange ideas like our Lord did; He literally turned the world right side up. We're supposed to be transformed into new creatures every day by renewing our minds in accordance with Paul. Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. We want the world to be objective about its news reporting on our TVs. We want our job evaluations to be objective so everyone is treated fairly and on a "level playing field" for promotions. We want our laws of the land to be fair and reasonable and above all objective and not subjective to one person's interpretation. BUT now, let's turn to religion and to God's Word. There we want God to answer our prayers and we want them answered in a hurry. We say "in accordance with thy will" but we rarely mean it. Because if it's God's Will that our spouse, father or mother or child really dies, then all is lost and we tend to give up on God or at the very least, we question His judgment. We can't even agree on what it takes to please God and assure ourselves a reservation in Heaven. Our Lord prayed earnestly for unity in the last few words He spoke on this earth, and yet we fight and bicker over the most immature things in our world, just like our kids. Yes, God's world is filled with conundrums. It's difficult enough just for us to figure ourselves out and then we're faced with figuring out what God wants us to do. (Well, I guess you've probably figured me out by now...I'm just venting, like we all do sometimes.) Couldn't you use a vacation from this planet? Sometimes, I think I would have made a great Captain Kirk but then I was born about 3 centuries too early. What might be your thoughts on the matter? Come back. God bless. |
||||||
7 | Something positive from the Movie | Not Specified | Rowdy | 116209 | ||
Just got another fantastic E-Mail from my friend, which I just had to share. Hope you think so too. Interesting............ The Passion of Christ is Rated R The "R" of course is because of the violence, the gore. In movie terms "R" stands for RESTRICTED, but in this movie "R" stands for RELEVANT, for REALISTIC, for it REALLY happened for a REASON because we were REBELLIOUS we needed a REDEEMER, we needed to be RECONCILED, we needed to be RECOVERED, we needed to be REGENERATED. Jesus needed to be REJECTED so that we could have a RELATIONSHIP not just a RELIGION. The "R" is to REMIND us to REMEMBER what Jesus did to REMOVE our sin to RENDER Satan powerless, to RESCUE us from eternity in hell. The "R" rating is to show that Jesus was RESPONSIBLE for giving you REST. As a RESULT of his death Jesus RETIRED your debt. The "R" rating means that some will be REPULSED, some will REFUSE to believe, some will be RELUCTANT, some will think you are RIDICULOUS in believing that a death was REQUIRED. The "R" rating means that the RESULT of sin has been REVERSED and now through faith in Christ your REWARD is eternity and you are now RIGHTEOUS before God because you have RECEIVED him as the RULER of your soul. What a REVOLUTIONARY and RADICAL solution to REDEEM mankind. God bless all who see the movie AND see what they've studied come to life. Rowdy |
||||||
8 | Does the OT apply to us as christians? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 118393 | ||
Kalos, I was looking for scripture for another purpose and stumbled upon this one below. It seems, at least in my mind to put a decisive "kabosh" to the applicability of the OT to us in this, the Christian Age or Dispensation. Gal 3:15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. 19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. I hope this makes my position a little more clear. Let me emphasize this does NOT in any way take away the VALUE of the OT for study and understanding the NT better but it makes it clear from Apostle Paul that it no longer applies or has any authority. Let me know what you think? God bless you, dear friend. --Rowdy |
||||||
9 | Hungering and thirsting f/righteousness? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 119482 | ||
Matt 25:14 "For it (Kingdom of God) is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 26 "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' 29 "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why is it that it's an almost universal problem throughout the country that most people know about this very famous parable from Jesus and yet we don't heed its very simple message? I guess almost everyone is familiar with this malady: the 80 - 20 percentage rule. Roughly about 20 percent of the congregation throughout America does about 80 percent of the work in that congregation. That is, they are faithful to every service they can be and are willing to help out assisting with the programs designed by the leadership of the church but designed for the whole congregation's participation. Why is it a large percentage of every congregation of human beings in the Lord's church (maybe as much as 80 percent) sit through the service every Sunday morning? They smile really pretty and shake hands in a friendly enough greeting but other than Sunday morning, we hardly every see them. Rarely do they show up on Sunday evening and never on Wed nite Bible Study. When asked about their attendance, they make up excuses again and again. They'll find time to go to the ball game and there they sit as close as possible to the front and center seats to see all the action. But in worship, they prefer the back couple of pews in the auditorium, and escape as soon as possible after worship. Like my father used to say to me as a child, "Son, you'll always find time to do the things you really love to do." Can anyone explain this to me? I've been studying human nature for almost my whole life. I've taken college pyscology courses and have talked to numeous other students of pyscology about this subject but the answers are always difficult to pin down to a root cause. We're commanded to use our talents as best we can even it's nothing more than just one single talent and yet so many of us don't do it. It's scary to me to think that this too will be part of the standard by which we're judged at Judgment Day and evaluated as to whether we get to spend eternity in Heaven with God and go to someplace much, much warmer. Can anyone furnish a formula with which they have had some success? Is there some other scripture that scares more people and makes the ratio a little closer to 60 - 40 or something better than 80 - 20? What are your thoughts? As you may have guessed by now. Our minister preached on this subject this past Sunday. We only get one to come forward. Sad, huh? God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
10 | What is the apostacy? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 121483 | ||
Recently, I've been studying about the apostacy from a Biblical perspective and an historical one. I'd be interested in what exactly is the common view among most Bible students on this subject. What is the apostacy? Please based your discussions on what the Bible says about it. At the very least, I assume most of you will include 1 Tim 4:1. God bless you all. --Rowdy |
||||||
11 | Age of Miracles - Past or Present | Not Specified | Rowdy | 123092 | ||
As I mentioned previously, I've gotten myself a new book, entitled "Bible Commentary" of the King James version of the Bible. It was written and compiled by 21 of the best minds in the Bible community. But I'm convinced it is a good commentary, as it does a good job of representing all sides on the controversial verses as shown below. The particular verse I'm referring to is from 1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. As you all know, I've been suggesting that the miraculous phase of Christianity ended with the death of the Apostles and those on whom they laid their hands for that special empowerment. Now I'd like to quote from the commentary on verses 8-11. Unlike the leaf or the flower, love never fades and falls off. The significance of the Greek word (pauo) indicates that tongues would soon be "cut off" as their necessity in the process of New Testament revelation ceased. It is important to note that tongues are never mentioned again in the New Testament after this warning. Vanish equals be abolished (in Greek). This is the same word used in reference to prophecy above. This is not knowledge in general but the "gift" of knowledge by direct revelation. For suggests reason. Knowledge and prophecy as we now know it are suited only to an imperfect state of existence. This is best understood in the light of 1 Cor 2:6, in the sense of "mature" or "complete." Conservative Biblical scholars have proposed two main interpretations of "perfect." It may be a reference to the completion of the canon of Scripture, with which partial revelation (by knowledge, prophecy, or tongues) came to an end, culminating in a complete revelation of God's Scripture or it may refer to the maturation of the body of Christ in the sense of Eph 4:11-16. Paul employs the neuter because he does not comtemplate an individual. Thus, the "perfect" cannot refer to the coming of Christ Himself. Once the perfect has been achieved, there will be no need for that which is immature. It will not be needed or accepted and should not be desired. The apostle illustrates his point by likening it to the maturation of a person from infancy to manhood. A child speaks, reasons, and assimilates knowledge at the level of his maturity. End of quote. As you can see, the commentary presents both sides of this controversy so it seems pretty clear why I've taken the former position as it seems too be supported by the rest of the NT with the scriptures I've cited in the past. But I would be interested in what you think of the opinions of these learned men of God. God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
12 | Does true faith produce fruit or works? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 123093 | ||
I've submitted posts in the past porporting the idea that once we become christians our God does expect to see us produce fruit from our lives as proof that we really do have faith in our Lord as cited in James 2. I thought I'd provide a little more documentation from my Bible Commentary citing a little more support. Quote from Bible Commentary (Ja 2:14-17) 14. If one regards the author's purpose, the discussion will be less difficult to interpret. Many misunderstand this verse because they fail to observe two significant facts. First, James does not state that the hypothetical person "has" faith, but merely a man say he has faith. It distinguishes the one "possesses" from the one merely "professes." Secondly, conclusions are based on the question, can faith save him? The Authorized Version unfortunately gives a wrong impression, for he is not asking about faith in general, but that type of faith which one has who makes claims without producing fruit. This is affirmed by the presence of the definite article in Greek meaning "the faith." "Can that faith save him?" would be a proper translation. Which faith? That which the man claims to have. That being the case, James does not contradict Paul. Both affirm that true saving faith results in a changed life as evidenced by workds. 15-16.When Christians say empty platitudes without actually helping those in physical need, what does it profit? How many words fill a hungry stomach? 17. As the worthlessness of well-wishers reveal their selfishness, so barrenness in a professing believer's life exposes his insincerity. Significantly, the Greektext states with the article, that "the faith...is dead, being alone. James refers specifically to the faith which is claimed, not the genuine brand. End of quote. I think the quote says it all. True abiding faith in God the Father will simply produce fruit. But we as loving christians imitating God in His love, we do need to be patient and willing to show some forgiveness to our brethren and sisters in the Lord. God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
13 | Does God want the NT or OT reflected? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 123192 | ||
I've been doing some homework and studying on my recent additional item to my library, the same Bible Commentary as mentioned before and discovered it's a relatively good book. It was written and compiled by 21 different men coming from 51 different schools, mostly colleges and seminaries. These schools are mostly located here in America but one is in France and another in Israel. Of course these gentlemen went to as many as 3 or 4 different institutions over their lifetime with most of them getting a Ph.D. or an equivalent. The General Editor, Woodrow Michael has done additional study at Harvard Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. All the major "religions or denominations seem to be well represented so I'm satisfied, at least for now, that the book seems to well balanced and is a good fit for most christians in this day and age. I said all that to say the next. As you know there is some bit of controversy about the authority of the NT over that of the OT and I thought I would reflect what the Commentary says about it, especailly about the following verse. Col 2:11-15 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. From the Commentary: V.11 This circumcision that Paul speaks of is not a rite, but a reality. Stripping and casting aside as a filthy garment. The flesh is removed from the throne, and the christian is set free from his sinful nature. The evil nature is not eradicated (1 Jn 1:8), but its power is broken. Christ is now on the throne; but the flesh lurks about and tries to usurp the throne. Our physical members are to be instruments not of unrighteousness unto sin, but of righteousness unto God (Rom 6:11-14). V.12 Jointly entombed with Christ; sharing in His experience. Baptism is not a magic rite, but an act of obedience in confessing our faith. Baptism symbolizes our experience of death to the old life and resurrection to the new life (Rom 6:3-5). Baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience. Without saving faith, baptism is an empty, meaningless ceremony. Through faith we receive Christ (Jn 1:12-13) and experience the new birth. V.13 Devoid of the life of God, a totally depraved nature (Eph 2:1; 5:6,11) Made alive in union with Christ. Graciously pardoning and canceling the debt (cf. Lk 7:42) V. 14 Erased, wiped away, obliterated, cancelled the note. This explains the forgiveness. The handwritten document consisting of ordinances. The bond here is the certification of debt, the instrument of condemnation, the indictment drawn up against a prisoner, and a signed confession of indebtedness. Three expression describe the law: 1) it is written in ordinances, expressed in decrees and commandments; 2) it was against us, had a valid claim on us; 3) it was contrary to us, because we couldn't meet the claim. Paul states that bond was: 1) blotted out; 2) taken out of the way; 3) and nailed to His cross. This was once-for-all removal (2 Cor 5:21; Eph 2:15-16; Gal 3:13). In the East, a bond is cancelled by nailing it to the post. Our bond of guilt was nailed to His cross. v.15 Stripped off and away from. The principalities and powers are conquered antagonists stripped of their weapons, disarmed (Mt 12:29; Lik 11:21-22; Jn 16:11; Rom 8:37-39; 1 Cor 15:55-57; Heb 2:4). By His death, Christ conquered His enemies, stripped them of their power, exposed them to public disgrace, held them up in contempt and let them captives in His triumph. End of quote. I might mention the gentleman who wrote these words, Edward R. Roustio, Th.D. was a former Associate Professor of Religion, Liberty University. He went to William Jewell Collge, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Central Baptist Theological Seminary. I'm satisfied that this excerpt represents what God wants us to understand about the superiority of the NT over the OT. I hope this helps in clarifying the controversy. God bless. --Rowdy |
||||||
14 | Just what is the purpose of baptism? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 129794 | ||
I've been watching and reading the recent posts on this subject for the past couple of weeks and restraining myself. So since I've been raised in a christian home as was my mother. Both my father and grandfather were elders so I was expected to "study and show myself approved" long before I finished school. But how could so many people be so passionately against this action as being an actual part of salvation so I was motivated to re-study the topic with as objective attitude as possible. Let's go all the way back to Leviticus. Have you ever considered just why did our God give his Israelite so much details and specific requirements in the matter of making sacrifices and worship to Him? I also looked at the antitype of the Ark to the modern age of Christianity. I suppose you've heard that comparison before. The flood compared to the world of sin and the ark compared to the church sealed tight against sin flooding in. Have you ever considered why did God instruct Noah to build only one door and just one window. A big huge boat, big enough to accommodate all the animals of the world with just one each door and window. It seems like an endorsement of just one entrance to the church and one single avenue of getting information from outside the ark/church. I then notice Naaman with his problem with leporsy. He finally obeys the instructions he receives from Elisha, God's prophet and is cleansed of this horrible disease, but notice only upon complying with ALL of the specific commands in spite of their not having any relation to a logical reason, at least by man's reasoning. So we come to John the Baptist who babptizes the actual living Son of God Almighty, the very Messiah Himself. He doesn't really want to do as he feels so inadequately qualified but Jesus insists. And of course, God gives His own seal of approval from Heaven as does the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Jesus lived the only sinless life and died as the Perfect Sacrifie because of that sinless life, but he still was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. So how could we possibly argue about doing the same? He set the stage in John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus gives the great commission in Matt 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We see the first Gospel sermon in Acts 2 and the climax as follows Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Simple question and simple answer. Well, I really don't want to fill up the rest of the alloted space with verses which we know so well. Suffice it to say we can insert the word baptize into the word search and see for ourselves all the emphasis God places on baptism. Now you're probably wondering about now so why didn't God just put a chapter or a book in His Word, our Bible entitled Plan of Salvation or maybe How to Get into the Church and be Saved? I don't really know but I can guess. Apparently it looks like, in keeping with how God has revealed Himself and His Word over several thousand years, that he wants us to dig out for ourselves the step by step process. You see our going to Heaven is a gradual process. As indicated throughout Jesus' teaching and throughout the rest of the Bible, we draw closer to Him and He draws closer to us. So we should this refining process as a good thing. God is refining the physical out of our being so that we can feel comfortable with our God's Home that He has waiting for us. One last comparison and I'll conclude this post. It does seem that there is some similarity between circumcision and the act of baptism as they both are ritual type acts and seem to be the main focal point (threshhold) for people in their respective dispensations to get close to God. I do hope and pray this is all clear and God bless. Rowdy |
||||||
15 | Yet Another Opinion on Baptism, Part 1 | Not Specified | Rowdy | 130985 | ||
Excerpts from a book review, Part I From: Bobby Valentine Date: Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:56 am Subject: Unveiling Glory: A Review Greetings Cyberfriends and family, Unveling Glory: Visions of Christ's Transforming Presence by Jeff Childers and Frederick Aquino (ACU Press, 2003). On one level the book is well written. It is easy to read and the authors do a fine job of presenting a challenging subject to a reader who is unfamiliar with Christological issues. But we are not interested in just the finesse of the prose but in what the authors are trying to say. The burden of the book is that the life of Jesus Christ matters to Christian discipleship and how we "do" church. This is, in my view, a very healthy and sound position to take. Jesus did not just come to demonstrate his authority to empower the apostles to give a new law, he himself is central to the entire "equation." Through the Incarnation we learn fundamental truths about the nature of Christian existence as the new humanity. I personally think this section of the book is among the most needed in our fellowship. The book also looks at Jesus as our Teacher and ourselves as Learners (disciples). This again is very good material. Here again the concern of the authors that Jesus matters himself for the church is quite evident. We all agree that Jesus matters, that is not the issue and we should be clear on that. However what the authors, I think, wish to make clear is that Jesus himself is the church's Teacher, not simply his empowered apostles. This is important because some (not all) brethren will relegate the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels as "before the cross" and not binding. But these authors challenge this view . . . I think correctly. Jesus' teaching on living in the kingdom is for the Christian, not just Jews in Palestine in the first century. Please check out Part II. Rowdy |
||||||
16 | Yet Another Opinion on Baptism, Part 2 | Not Specified | Rowdy | 130986 | ||
Excerpts from a book review, Part 2 From: Bobby Valentine Date: Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:56 am Subject: Unveiling Glory: A Review Chapters 6 and 7 focus on the meaning of the atonment and resurrection. I thought again the authors did an admirable job with complex issues. They did not oversimplify but did try to communicate that Jesus death and resurrection are not just historical facts but have meaning for Christian living right now. Their call to "imitate" Jesus in his resurrection is a needed call to live the new life we begin in baptism with Christ. What the authors challenge us to avoid is reductionism. They correctly point out that we have often debated the essentiality of baptism but rarely the meaning of baptism. If what these authors write in chapter 3 is a "dismissing" of baptism I wish for more dismissing!! Hardly dismissing baptism these authors challenge us to look at our daily discipleship through the lens of baptism. We live baptismal lives. There actual words (though they say much more) are: "Baptism is not just a command to be obeyed, an essentail requirement to be checked off the list. Baptism is important because, in its essence, it connects the disciple to Jesus Christ. That is its basic meaning and key to its significance. Discussing baptism's essentiality reveals little, but looking into its essence can open our eyes to see the power of Jesus to cleanse and renew broken lives . . . " (pp. 58-59). The authors tell us three things begin as we "enter the waters with Jesus." First, we are reborn by water and Spirit by experiencing the washing of rebirth and renewal (p. 62). This certainly does not sound like a dismissing the essentiality of baptism . . . the authors just move us BEYOND that debate to say how does this moment continue to impact my life. Second, "in the water" we join Jesus . . . we become connected to him (p. 63). Third, "taken under the water, we . . . meet him in his death and resurrection" (p. 63). Following this the authors challenge a number of false dichotomies that are often constructed. They make some very good and insightful comments that salvation (and thus baptism) is both a divine and human moment. For example: "Baptism initiates us into the new humanity by connecting us with the Second Adam. It is not primarily an act of obedience that qualifies us for salvation. It is not like a lever we throw to receive the membership card that will gain us entry at the pearly gates. Nor is it a mere external human work, to be downplayed due to an emphasis on God's grace . . . the picture we get in the baptistry should match the one we get at the Jordon, where the fragmants of our humanity are being put back together under God, not broken further apart." (pp. 67-68). After a number of observations on real discipleship and truly dismissing the notion of "cheap grace" the authors spend considerable time on the implications of baptism for daily living. This is a needed thing in many churches. Here is one example: "Discipleship is not one-sided. It does not begin with us. Discipleship begins with the Lord. It is a response to the commitment God has already made to us, founded on a relationship and a covenant established in a muddy river in a tiny country where one who is both God and man humbled himself in the waters of baptism." (p. 77). We do the same. This book, while not flawless, should be welcomed by all who want to think through the implications of Jesus of Nazareth for living for God. I invite you to read this book for yourself. I pray you do. Shalom, Bobby Valentine Milwaukee, WI Ut omnes unum sint (John 17.21, Vulgate) End of review. I'd be interested in your opinions if you've read the book. God bless. Rowdy |
||||||
17 | What about christian as a name? | Not Specified | Rowdy | 131344 | ||
Recently there's been some discussion about the name of christian and possibly coming up with some other alternative. I discovered this very powerful article based on a very old but appropriate story. I don't think I could add a thing. "Do You Wear the Name of Christ?" As christians, we should be constantly aware of the great privilege we have in being able to wear the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. As with any privilege, it is accompanied by a host of responsibilities. We learn of our responsibilites through His Holy Word; and desiring to grow into the image of our "namesake," we study that Word daily, don't we? There is a story told about Alexander the Great, who had already conquered the world. He was reviewing his troops when he saw a slovenly soldier who was a disgrace to his company. He asked the soldier for his name. The soldier replied, "Alexander, sir." The world ruler sternly said, "Soldier, change your ways, or change your name!" from W. Ken Graham |
||||||
18 | Evolution vs. Creation in Today's World | Not Specified | Rowdy | 133335 | ||
From a recent christian church bulletin: "Dr. John Morris is affiliated with the Insitute for Creation Research in El Cajon, CA He produces a column each month in a publication called 'Back to Genesis.' "In the October issue there appeared a facinating piece regarding the startling admission of a molecular biologist who was interviewed earlier this year by a journalist in Virginia. I would like to pass along the gist of this piece because many of our readers likely are unacquainted with this valuable little paper, and because the incident is so telling. "The interviewer and the experimental biologist were discussing the matter of the incredible volume of complicated information that is packed into the human genetic code. The newsman asked the researcher if he believed the astonding array of information in the DNA code -- which the scientist had compared to a document 'larger than four complete sets of Encyclopedia Britannica.' "He replied '...nobody I know in my profession believes it evolved. It was engineered by 'genius beyond genius.' And such information could not have been written any other way. The paper and ink did not write the book! Knowing what we know, it is ridiculous to think otherwise. "The Biologist was then asked if he had stated that conclusion in public. He replied that he had not. It simply was not feasible, he said, as a working scientist, to reveal a view of nature. He admitted that he could not deny the evidence for 'design,' but that it would be professionally suicidal to deny that the genetic process had evolved. He confessed that if he openly expressed his true feeling, he'd soon 'be out of a job, or relegated to the outer fringes where (he) couln't earn a decent living. "The biologist then compared his plight to the old quip about the 'elephant in the living room.' He said that 'creation disign' is 'like an elephant in the living room. It moves around, takes up an enormous amount of space, loudly trumpets, bumps into us, knocks things over, eats a ton of hay, and smells like an elephant. AND YET WE HAVE TO SWEAR IT ISN'T THERE! (emphasis added by article writer). "Is that not pathetic? Even sad? The gentleman knows that the genetic code of the 'fearfully and wonderfully made' (Ps 139:14) human being could not have designed itself. Hence, it must have proceeded from a Mind characterized by 'genius beyond genius.' And yet he is so intimidated by his cience peers, so fearful for his reputation, that he is refuses to acknowledge his Creator in a candid and public way." End of article I have to agree with this writer. How very sad for our country (once known as a Godly nation) to not only deny christians of prayer at public events and display of the Ten Commandments but now it encourages men like this to deceive the public in order to provide a decent living for their families. We can hope and pray that we can influence our fellow Americans to return to that lofty position of being a Godly nation once again. My main desire with this post would be to solicit from you good folks examples in your corner of the world showing some progress against this onslaught against God and His Will in our country. God bless you for participating. Rowdy |
||||||
19 | What's the most important msg of Romans | Not Specified | Rowdy | 133634 | ||
Just rec'd this quote from a good friend Grace is the incomprehensible fact that God is well pleased with a man, and that a man can rejoice in God. Only when grace is recognized to be incomprehensible is it grace. Grace exists, therefore, only where the Resurrection is reflected. Grace is the gift of Christ, who exposes the gulf which separates God and man, and, by exposing it, bridges it. ... Karl Barth, The Epistle to the Romans Tell me what you think. I thought it's pretty good. God bless. Rowdy |
||||||
20 | Baptism or No? Our Forefathers said... | Not Specified | Rowdy | 133974 | ||
Yet another article from from another christian, only this time, based on a man from long ago. Part 1 of 2. MARTIN LUTHER SPEAKS ON “FAITH ONLY” AND BAPTISM by Kyle Butt, M.A. One popular belief in many protestant denominations is the idea that God supplies salvation to each and every person based solely on the faith of that person, apart from any action taken by that individual. This idea, often called sola fide, says, that a person is saved by faith alone. Any number of quotations demonstrating this doctrine can be cited. In a debate with Thomas Warren in 1953, L.S. Ballard affirmed the position that “the alien sinner is saved the very moment he/she believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God” (Warren and Ballard, 1953). This particular belief is commonly worded like this: “People are saved through Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.” According to the modern-day advocates of “faith alone” salvation, water baptism cannot be a requisite to salvation, because it is something “more than” faith. While space limitations prevent a thorough investigation of the biblical doctrine of baptism (see Lyons, 2003), it is interesting to note how far the “faith alone” doctrine has drifted from its original form. The idea of being saved by faith alone is often attributed to Martin Luther. Indeed, he and the other reformers challenged the Catholic Church that sold indulgences and offered a “works-based” type of salvation. Martin Luther often taught that salvation was based on faith alone, and not received based upon a person’s meritorious works. Martin Luther did not, however, take faith alone to mean that mere mental assent to Christ’s deity was sufficient to obtain salvation. In fact, Luther’s idea of faith alone does not conform to the modern-day idea that baptism cannot be required for salvation. While it is understood that the opinions of men are in no way authoritative when it comes to God’s plan for salvation, it is nonetheless interesting to note that Martin Luther believed wholeheartedly in the necessity of baptism as a requisite for salvation. In his Large Catechism, Luther wrote: [I] affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God Himself. Moreover, He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. No one is to think that it is an optional matter like putting on a red coat. It is of greatest importance that we hold Baptism in high esteem as something splendid and glorious. The reason why we are striving and battling so strenuously for this view of Baptism is that the world nowadays is full of sects that loudly proclaim that Baptism is merely an external form and that external forms are useless…. Although Baptism is indeed performed by human hands, yet it is truly God’s own action (1978, pp. 98-99). From Luther’s comments about baptism, it is obvious that he viewed water baptism as essential for salvation. Many of the protestant denominations that attribute their ideas about “faith only” to Martin Luther have not been taught that Luther’s concept of faith alone was not in opposition to works of God (like baptism and repentance), but in opposition to meritorious works by which a person believes that he or she “earns” salvation. What, then, would Martin Luther say to those today who teach that “faith alone” excludes baptism? Listen to his words pertaining to this teaching: But our know-it-alls, the new spirit people, claim that faith alone saves and that human works and outward forms contribute nothing to this. We answer: It is of course true that nothing in us does it except faith, as we shall hear later. But these blind leaders of the blind refuse to see that faith must have something in which it believes, that is, something it clings to, something on which to plant its feet and into which to sink its roots. Thus faith clings to the water and believes Baptism to be something in which there is pure salvation and life, not through the water, as I have emphasized often enough, but because God’s name is joined to it…. It follows from this that whoever rejects Baptism rejects God’s word, faith, and the Christ who directs us to Baptism and binds us to it (1978, pp. 101-102). Martin Luther was a man. He made many mistakes and believed things about the Bible that were not true. It should be noted, however, that the “faith only” doctrine attributed so often to him has been misrepresented on a grand scale. Martin Luther’s words are unambiguous and clear. His “faith only” doctrine did not exclude baptism as necessary for salvation. Could it be the case that those who loudly tout the “faith only” mantra have not thoroughly investigated the works of the man to whom the doctrine is so often attributed? Please see Part 2 of 2. God bless. Rowdy |
||||||
Result pages: [ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ] Next > Last [51] >> |