Results 101 - 120 of 1459
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Results from: Notes Author: John Reformed Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
101 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101164 | ||
"John Yes and so shut the door its us four and no more" Ed, where in the world do you get the idea that this old saw applies to what I believe? There will come a day when the last person to be saved will be saved. But that day and that person is known to God alone. In the meantime our job is to preach the gospel to all nations and all people. Please don't pigeon hole me according to pre-concieved ideas you may have about calvinists. I agree that there are certain groups that are what is called hyper-calvinist and they might fit your stereotype, but, please do not include me in this fringe group. It is akin to saying all pro-life ers support the murder of abortionists. It's just nonsense! I also did not say, nor did I mean to imply that you said "anything was a match for scripture". I was merely emphasising what we bith know to be the truth. Generally, I look for an opportunity to ask the person what they would say to God if He asked them "Why should I let you into Heaven?". The answer (9 out of 10 times) is "good works". If the fellow is the one out of ten that says he does not believe in God or Heaven, I ask him to answer for the sake of arguement. "Suppose you did believe in a Creator, then what do you think your answer to God would be?". Oftimes this provides a basis for the presentation of the gospel itself. John |
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102 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101161 | ||
Dear Ed, I am happy to say that I agree with much of what you have said. In my zeal for the gospel, I, pehaps, have given the impression that reason and science have no place at all. That was not the point which I wanteded to convey. They have their place to be sure! But as you said their place is to give us "the entrance to share the Gospel." Now we are singing from the same hymn book! The question I was answering was "If someone does not accept the Bible as God's word, then tell how you would convince them there is a Creator?" My response was "I don't believe that anyone (without certain exceptions; Infants, severely hanicapped etc.) does not truly believe in a Creator. If they really did'nt believe they would have an excuse before God." I take it, we agree up to this point. Right? My next remark was probably the one that you dis-ageed with. I said "I think that science, logic and philosophy are good tools for the apologist, but not the evangelist. His tool is the Gospel." This remark of mine was not definitely too sweeping a statement. I apologize. What I should have said is that they are not the PRIMARY tools of the evangelist. In fact the gospel is not a tool as much as it is a spiritual weapon, wielded with the intent of slaying the "old man". We must die before we can be raised to new life in Christ. Tools are meant to fix things that need repair. The old man is beyond repair! Your comments? John |
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103 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101153 | ||
I don't believe that human nature is any different today than it has been since the Fall. The lies of Satan and the foolishness of our post-modern culture are no match for the gospel of Christ. Those who do not believe, do not, for they are condemned already(John 3:18). |
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104 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101152 | ||
All I know Ed is that which has been revealed to me in the Bible. Thats all that anyone of us knows. I make no private claim to wisdom or knowledge. I see no need to read into my posts hidden meanings, as if my purpose was to disparage Billy Graham or anyone else. You read the verses I cited. What do they say about man's so-called ignorance concerning his Creator? They say man is not ignorant; that his claim of ignorance is a fraud! You said "I saw that reference summarily dismissed as something a “real” evangelist wouldn’t need, even though I have heard Billy Graham reference items from the book more than a few times." I would have appreciated your comment on whether I rightly divided the Word, rather than jumping to un-warrented assumtions. Paul says (in no uncertain terms) that they are liars! That they know the truth already but wickedly suppress it. What makes anyone think that human wisdom can do anything to change their minds or hearts? Reason has no power in itself when one is dealing with a person who is bent on refuting every point you want to make. Been there, done that. Let's just be obediant in giving them the gospel and leave the philosophizing to the philosphers. John |
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105 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101146 | ||
Hi George, The Word is awesome! In a few brief sentences it cuts away all the phony excuses. 1 Thess 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. POWER! That's what I pray for when I tell someone about Jesus...God's power at work, changing hearts and minds, before my very eyes. It makes one want to take his shoes off and worship Him! Many people try to avoid hearing gospel altogether. Instead they raise objections meant to divert us from our mission by taking us down "bunny trails" that never end. The next thing you know hours have gone by and the gospel still has not been shared. Others raise objections because they are truly interested in having their questions answered. Nevertheless, for whatever reason the objections are raised, the answers should be from the Bible itself. John |
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106 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101141 | ||
Dear Ed, I meant no offense. My post was simply an attempt to share with you my observation of what the Bible says about the condition of fallen man. We are on the same side...Aren't we? John |
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107 | How do we preach the Gospel? | 1 John 2:2 | John Reformed | 101099 | ||
Hi Ed, I don't believe that anyone (without certain exceptions; Infants, severely hanicapped etc.) does not truly believe in a Creator. If they really did'nt believe they would have an excuse before God. Paul utterly demolishes the concept of "true" atheist. Rom 1:20-23 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, I think that science, logic and philosophy are good tools for the apologist, but not the evangelist. His tool is the Gospel. I try to stick with what the Bible says about the hopeless situation the fallen man is in... and then tell him the "Good News"! Perhaps God will grant the person repentance. 2 Tim 2:25,26 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. If the person brings up the topic of atheistic evolution, I take him to romans and tell him what it says about what he is really doing... suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. We are saved by grace not reason. May God bless your presentation of the gospel to those whom He sends your way. John |
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108 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 100992 | ||
"we find that baptism is now a crucial step for salvation" This is a common error of those who presume that man is saved through his own efforts and not by grace alone through faith. They believe that salvation depends not on the will of God; but on the will of man himself. That God merely makes salvation availible, but is man is the one who holds the key to it's effectiveness. The problem, as I see it, is their God is to small. He stands by powerless in the face of human rebellion, unable to effect a change in the hearts of those who reject the gospel. Now, we are told, He has to hope they get baptized as well! My concept of God is that He is more than I can even begin to imagine. Everything that He desires comes to pass. Is 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Matt 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Who are "His people"? The Jews; The Gentiles; Both? No! His people are those whom the Father has given Him! Jews and gentiles alike. His people are those who hear His voice. They will not follow another. Luke 15:6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' John 10:15,16 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. Notice the use of the word "will" in the passages above. When the Bible says Jesus will or God will...Brother, it will come to pass! To God Alone be the Glory for things which He has done, John |
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109 | Isn't it a relay race? | 2 Cor 5:17 | John Reformed | 100896 | ||
Dear Noble, Dis-agreement, in itself, is not a bad thing. It is our penchant for being right (regardless of the evidence) that is sinful. Our Lord engaged in many dis-agreements Himself, so did the Apostles. Oh happy day when we at last will all be of one accord! But until that day we are to proclaim the truth according to the enlightenment with which we have been blessed; correcting, and, being corrected of error by the means which God has provided: Scripture. I have enjoyed our communication and, I pray, both of us have profited as a result of it. God Bless, John |
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110 | Isn't it a relay race? | 2 Cor 5:17 | John Reformed | 100833 | ||
Dear Noble, You wrote "it is good too see this admission that we have so much to learn. But we should not minimize our ability to learn, or the opportunities we have to learn, or the fact that, the Holy Spirit teaching us, we are learning." It seems as if you are modifiying your previous statement "God is giving us his truth, and we need not remain in the land of ever learning." If I have mis-understood, and you still hold to your previous claim, please tell me: At what point will we know everything about God that there is to know? 1 Pet 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look. It appears as if even the angels are still learning. Time to go to work. I look forward to your reply. God Bless, John |
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111 | Isn't it a relay race? | 2 Cor 5:17 | John Reformed | 100774 | ||
. Dear Noble, My point is that we have been given the truth but we at times err in our understanding of it. The divisions over what orthodox Christians claim to be correct interpretations are manifold. We certainly shouldn’t just ignore our differences; neither should we be belligerent in our arguments. Argue: To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel argued the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued. “Every word of God is truth and it must be accepted. If you want deeper truth, I suggest that we reconcile in our own minds statements that seem to be contradictory.” Would you mind explaining what you mean by “reconcile in our own minds statements that seem to be”? “We do not win anything when we win arguments, for words are wind.” Who said that winning arguments for the sake of self-aggrandizement was of any value? Our goal should be coming to the proper understanding of Scripture for the glory of God! When God, by His Spirit, grants us mutual understanding we all win. “We must appreciate a brother who points out a verse to us and incorporate in our understanding. Only then should we have the nerve to try to teach.” I have nothing against appreciating anyone used by God as a means of enlightenment. Teaching is a gift that God bestows on certain one’s of His choosing. I make no claim to have that gift. Reconciling seemingly contradictory passages can be difficult. What one must bear in mind is that doctrine is made through the harmonizing of verses with one another without sacrificing the truth of either one. Our appeal is to the whole Word of God. It is our touchstone. Job 8:9 "For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow." God is giving us his truth, and we need not remain in the land of ever learning. Compared to God we know nothing. I believe we will, throughout eternity, continue to learn that which He is pleased to teach us. John |
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112 | Searching for thr truth | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100747 | ||
Dear Noble, I believe that the Bible teaches that love for God and love for the brethren are fruits of the Spirit. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, I point this out for a reason. The reason being is to differentiate between works and grace. While it is true that "loving" is an action or "work", it is also true that the desire to express our love is a consequence of being "in Christ. Any ability to love which we as new creatures possess is a display of Christ's love being manifested through the members of His body. Yes "Let us do it" but let us not forget that the "doing" itself is the grace of God in operation. "It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me" and apart from Him I can do nothing. I don't mean to be at all critical of what you wrote, I just wanted to put the emphasis on Jesus. God Bless, John |
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113 | Do you have to be baptised to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100567 | ||
Emmaus, E-mail is fine by me. I look forward to your reply. printguys@cox.net John |
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114 | Do you have to be baptised to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100564 | ||
Dear Emmaus, If you don't mind, I would like to address your reply point by point in the hope of reaching an understanding of why it is that you believe as you do. You wrote, "The difference between us is that I believe the grace that saves is transmitted in baptism,“ How do you reconcile you belief with Eph 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"? Do you see faith as being in the category of "any other manner He sees fit"? John |
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115 | Do you have to be baptised to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100560 | ||
Dear Emmaus, I am one who does believe that baptism is necessary; not necessary for salvation itself, but, to be obediant to Christ, and as a sign to the world that one has been made a new creature. "We are saved by grace... not works". I don't know how anyone could explain away this foundational passage. I'm truly perplexed. Just a comment. Please don't feel compelled to reply. Of course, you are welcome to if you so choose. John |
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116 | Do you have to be baptised to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100549 | ||
Dear Emmaus, I take it that your sentence was "tongue in cheek". Even so it seemed to me an inappropriate remark. Eph 6:6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. John |
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117 | Do you have to be baptised to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100548 | ||
Dear Emmaus, I take it that your sentence was "tongue in cheek". Even so it seemed to me an inappropriate remark. Eph 6:6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. John |
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118 | How do you evangelize someone who | Bible general Archive 2 | John Reformed | 100478 | ||
I need all the help I can get! Daddio |
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119 | Is the sin nature substance or mind set? | Phil 3:9 | John Reformed | 100476 | ||
Hi Pam, As you can see from the thread, all of us struggle against the remnants of the old sin nature. :-) I find a simple reliance on Christ and His work on my behalf to be the best remedy for guilt and shame. Our trials are used by God as a means of His sanctifying work in us. Our failures are also meant to teach us to cling to the cross. Nothing in my hand I bring simply to the cross I cling john |
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120 | Is the sin nature a substance or mindset | Phil 3:9 | John Reformed | 100471 | ||
Dear Steve, Save your breath. John |
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