Results 101 - 120 of 253
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: charis Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
101 | Is this person saved? | Heb 6:4 | charis | 7515 | ||
Dear JVH0212, While Harper's observation may be true, and is most certainly true from God's point of view, no one on earth can claim knowledge of a person's salvation or condemnation. This knowledge is privy to God alone. We can only measure a few outward signs, but cannot measure the heart of man. 'Once saved, always saved' and ' one cannot be born again, again' are true *theological* statements. But there remains great doubt about our ability to truly know who is saved and who is not. As a minister, I offer a few practical examples: Person A goes to a 'revival' meeting, 'gives his heart to the Lord,' is told that he is born again, and gets a New Testament. He goes to church a few times, but the pastor is a stinker. So, he goes back to the bars. Later, he remembers the words of hope and returns to the Lord and returns to church. In the meantime the old pastor is fired, and a real shepherd is now in charge. He receives Person A into the fold, cares for him, and he becomes a fine Christian man. (This scenario is not so outlandish as one might think!) Is Person A saved? Person B is born into a Christian family. At age 12 she goes to a church camp. There is a great meeting with an altar call. She goes up, asks for forgiveness and professes Christ as Savior and she is prayed for. (she may even receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues) Person B is 'on fire for the Lord!' A few years later, attending public high school, parents divorced, she gets in with the 'wrong crowd.' (It happens, folks!) Again, a few years later she repents, and turns toward God. Her Mom's pastor says, "Sorry, you had your (one) chance." Is Person B saved? Are these ridiculous? Was the 'first' experience just and illusion or 'wrongly discerned?' Will the second experience 'take' until death? I don't know, and neither does anybody (but God). Theology is fine, but just wait until you are in the counselor's chair :-) In Jesus' name, charis |
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102 | Vilest of character? | 2 Tim 2:23 | charis | 7487 | ||
Dear Sam, Vilest of character? Come now, brother, isn't that overstating it a bit? (vile - morally despicable or abhorrent. Webster) I should be posting to JVH0212, but I thought your comment demanded response :-) What does another really believe? Only God can truly answer that question. We feeble humans try to understand one another by interaction and communication. (and among Christians, hopefully, fellowship) This is difficult to do on an internet forum. Especially when no user profile is available. We must come to certain conclusions based on the actual question, answer, or note, the thread itself, the person's previous history of commentary. It is difficult to truly know someone, even in your own church. Of course it is much more difficult to glean from minimal (given) information what a colleague on a forum believes. My point is this: Indeed it may be 'unfair' to challenge another with limited understanding of their motive, but a good deal of the responsibility for that situation is upon the participant. What is posted is all we got to go on! If we demand full understanding of one another, there would be no forum. By definition, I am responsible to portray my beliefs, and the same goes for all. Means of sharing more intimate knowledge of one another are available: Personal Profile in one, and posting an email address for personal contact is another. Other than that, "Ya takes yer chances..." :-) Blessings, Sam, in Jesus' name, charis |
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103 | What DO you mean, then? | 1 Tim 6:20 | charis | 7424 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, as pardoned author of many convulsions, I must ask, "What DO you mean, then?" Please, make it short and simple for this humble mind. I am afraid that the depth of what you have been trying to say escapes me totally. (Especially sola scriptura thermodynamics, mathematics, and astrophysics :-) In Christ Jesus, charis |
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104 | Who knows? | Rev 21:27 | charis | 7363 | ||
Dear saints, The Lamb's book of life. I think it is agreed that the book of life was written 'from the foundation of the world.' I have seen many acrid arguments about whose name is written and-or not written in it. My question is, "Who knows?" The obvious answer is, "Only God knows." Does anyone have a better answer? If not, then all of the 'spitting venom and caterwauling' is moot. As far as I can see, God has not chosen to share with us this knowledge. We have a job to live in Him, and encourage others to do so by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I see that a lot of Christians are wasting their precious time with the pursuit of pure theory (and fancy) rather than studying God (theology). If we know about God, we wil know how to live in Him, and with His people. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 KJV. If the result of our study is division, strife, and unfruitful speculation, then we are serving the thief. If the result of our study is unity, fellowship and love, then we are serving the Lord. In Jesus' name, charis |
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105 | What is a tent-maker? | Acts 18:3 | charis | 7089 | ||
Saints, What does a tent-maker do? Why is this profession special? What are 'tent-makers' today? In Christ Jesus, charis |
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106 | What is this pattern? | Phil 3:17 | charis | 7047 | ||
Saints, What is this pattern? Where is it and how can we find it? Is this pattern an exact representation of how we should act? In Christ Jesus, charis |
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107 | Confidence? | Acts 4:13 | charis | 7046 | ||
Dear saints, What was the 'confidence' that was observed in Peter and John? Can we have it? What did education and training have to do with it? In Jesus, charis |
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108 | Aquila and Priscilla? | Acts 18:2 | charis | 7044 | ||
Saints, Who were Aquila and Priscilla? What was special about them? In Christ Jesus, charis |
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109 | Command the blessing? | Prov 10:22 | charis | 7043 | ||
Forum saints, I hear a lot about blessings these days. 'Command the blessing,' and 'get the blessing' are common phrases. What is the blessing of the Lord? How do we receive it? Does God 'owe' blessing to us? In Jesus' name, charis |
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110 | Devoured by the devil? | 1 Pet 5:8 | charis | 7042 | ||
Fellow saints, In what way can the devil devour us? In Christ Jesus, charis |
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111 | Whatever we want? | 1 John 5:15 | charis | 7041 | ||
Dear saints in the Lord, Does this verse mean that God will give us whatever we want? Is this the 'prosperity Gospel?' In Jesus' name, charis |
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112 | Are we done? | 1 Pet 1:3 | charis | 7012 | ||
Dear Steve, From God's viewpoint, born-again may be an absolute. I don't think such can be said from our limited prospect. When we claim that we are 'born again,' the world sees and unfinished product. If we persist and say that all our sin has been wiped clean, we are re-created, we are led by the Spirit of God (or Spirit-filled), we speak of the hope that has been placed in our hearts. "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 NASB. I pursue this goal, and God may see it as accomplished, but as Paul spoke, " And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 NASB. This indicates a work-in-progress. I believe we are being more honest to ourselves and to potential Christians to clarify that 'born-again' is not an adjective describing present state, but a hope, a beginning. I have heard this term used in a sense of ultimate arrogance, and unbelievers are frightened away by this proud claim. That is why we always have to backpedal or use disclaimers in our evangelism. Many Christians are 'so heavenly bound they are no earthly good.' So brainwashed that they are 'perfect' they deny real sin and the necessity to pursue righteousness. "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does." James 1:25 NASB. We are first born as flesh, and we are indeed flesh at that moment. However, when we are born again as Christians, it is a birth of faith. But you are still flesh until you meet Jesus. Are we done? In Christ Jesus, charis |
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113 | 'Born again' a moment in time? | 1 Pet 1:3 | charis | 6910 | ||
Saints, Is 'born again' a moment in time? Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 NASB. I have never met a person who 'saw the kingdom of God' in it's fullness the moment they were apprehended by (or knew) Jesus. I have had glimpses of the kingdom in the midst of the church for years, but I doubt if I have seen fullness yet. Nor have I met many who could claim that they were 'filled with the Spirit' and free from all sin immediately after saying "Amen!" to the 'sinner's prayer.' I am still pursuing these blessings, and from what I observe, so are most Christians. It seems to me that the 'born again experience' in Christ Jesus has a starting point (meeting Him), a body (our life in Him), and a finale (when we meet the Lord Jesus, upon our 'giving up this earthly body' or 'meeting Him in the air.' Comments? In Jesus' name, charis |
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114 | Is it primary...? | Rom 15:5 | charis | 6689 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Is it primary that we first agree on what is primary, making it secondary to agree on what is secondary? Or, is it secondary to agree on what is primary, therefore primary to agree on what is secondary? Or, are all these trinary when compared to the primary issues, which are to agree what is secondary after agreeing what is primary? Or... Maybe we should talk about Jesus, the King of kings, the Way, the Truth, the Life. Not "Curious George" questions and ...ological intricacies that steer us away from Jesus, and life in Him. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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115 | *Only* symbolic? | 1 Cor 10:16 | charis | 6653 | ||
Dear Gail60, The question was, "...*only* symbolic?" The *only* makes a difference. (Ask any Trinitarian about 'Jesus*only*' :-) No, communion is not *only* symbolic. It does affect your walk in Christ in a real sense. Jesus did not 'go through the motions' in order to give us a dead ritual. It is true that the Bible does not support a 'mystical transubstantiation,' but Holy Communion is more than a 'mere' symbol. The difference is decided by faith, which has real consequences in our lives. Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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116 | Allocation or possession? | Heb 11:1 | charis | 6171 | ||
Dear orthodoxy,Thank you for a good answer. Indeed, there can be no doubt that the origin of faith is from God, and that it is a gift poured out in love and grace. I am not sure what you meant in the last sentence. Though I agree that it is not something we naturally possess, I was under the impression that there were varying 'measures' of faith, which would explain the Lord's words of encouragement to those of 'little faith' and also th those of 'great faith.' Is the 'measure of faith' from Romans 12:3 a constant? Then, would the problem be in allocation, not possession? (I think it can be agreed that faith is not manifest in the lives of believers in the same manner) Thank you for your comments. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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117 | More on faith? | Heb 11:1 | charis | 6137 | ||
Dear Mylwa, Good Scripture. I would like to ask for a bit more. As to the same for all belivers, why does Jesus use the terms "little faith" and " great faith?" If these are meaningful, how do we lose or gain faith? Blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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118 | Where is faith from? | Heb 11:1 | charis | 6134 | ||
Dear fellow saints, We have the definition of faith here in Hebrews 11:1. Where does this faith come from? Is it the same for all believers? Can we receive or attain more? In Jesus' name, charis |
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119 | Scripture, please? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 6127 | ||
Dear EMD, Greetings and welcome to this forum. I am not sure I understand your reasons for saying that infants will join believers in the first resurrection (unto life). What is your Bible reference to teach us this? Truly, I would hope that this is true, as I hope for salvation for all the lost. One more thing. If you don't mind, would you not use all caps in your posting, please? It is difficult to read, and according to internet convention, denotes shouting. Thanks. In Christ Jesus, charis |
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120 | 'Gaijins' have nothing better to do? | Bible general Archive 1 | charis | 6113 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Coming from a Buddhist faith, I was taught that Christians are divisive, argumentative, unwise, and lack faith, and that the Christian God is unfair, unfeeling, unnaturally divided Himself, and arrogant to boast of all creation. (I now know that the perception about God is totally wrong, but the perception about His people is mostly right :-) Trust, friend, I have very carefully considered this, and many other possible Christian conundrums, and continue to consider them as I try to preach and portray the Gospel of faith to the nation of Japan. Getting into a philosophical discussion with the typical Oriental athiest or nominal-Buddhist is a waste of time. I guess those that live in 'primarily Judeo-Christian' environments have nothing better to do? The conclusion of my consideration is to come to a simple, foundational understanding of God's will (the Good News), believe (receive the gift of faith), and walk it out in the leading of the Holy Spirit. Yes, there are a few verses that 'seem' to say something significantly different or controversial, but the balance of Scripture is so overwhelmingly in favor of a good God, a sovereign God, an all-knowing God, one God of three Persons (Japanese - 'Ranks'), that I do not see any edification in speculating about 'twists' in His holy nature or attributes. Frankly, I sometimes wonder which is the more 'inscrutable,' the Oriental, or the 'Gaijin' Westerner :-) The 'rest of the world' seems to have a pretty good handle on the problems of Christians. I only wish we could see things as clear as they do, and clean up (simplify) our act. Blessings in Jesus' name, charis |
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