Results 141 - 160 of 281
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
141 | Is not God inside of each of us? | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 89494 | ||
Yes, God is the ultimate authority in all things. Since scripture is His inspired Word to us, then scripture reflects God's authority. Of course, we must divide the word rightly or we face interpretations that reflect our minds and not His. If my personal revelation is contrary to scripture, I must conclude it is not from God, for His character does not change and His truth does not change. If my personal revelation is not contrary to scripture, but not explicitly endorsed either, then I must seek to understand how my revelation is consistent with Godly principles and truth as revealed in scripture. If I can't establish that consistency, then I must question my revelation. The idea that scripture is complete comes from the understanding that Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to us and nothing more can be added. Thus, additional fundamental truths are not to be expected, for all we need, or can hope for, has been given to us through Christ. This does not undermine the importance of living for God and heeding the Spirit. Indeed, it demonstrates how important it is that we look with eyes that see and listen with ears that hear. But it also recognizes that we see through a glass darkly, and can fool ourselves or be deceived by others. In any chain of command, one always confirms orders are genuine before executing them, no? |
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142 | why would God withhold the gift of faith | John 3:16 | Parable | 89471 | ||
1. When I asked "how can we understand that an all-loving, all powerful, all wise God would withhold faith from some, only to result in them being damned?" you said "By trusting His judgement instad of our own." IF this is indeed what God does, i.e. withhold the gift of faith, then I agree with you. Of course, in general I agree that we should trust Him, not ourselves. But that's the very point I wish to explore, that is, whether God withholds the gift of faith from some, knowing they will perish. This understanding seems derived from Augustine, not scripture and is contrary to clear statements that Jesus loved us while we were sinners, that He came to save sinners, so that all who believe in him might not perish. I cannot make any sense of the idea that Jesus would deny anyone the gift of faith. However, it is easy to understand that some people will choose to deny His gift. To confirm, are you saying that God creates unbelievers only to destroy them? 2. When I asked that question previously, you said "He does'nt. Every one the Father draws, He teaches, and gives to His Son, who raises them up on the last day. (John 6)" Do you mean to suggest that all will be saved on the last day? Isn't this universalism? Hasn't this doctrine been shown to be unbiblical? 3. Finally, I look forward to your responses to my first two questions from before, i.e. "Isn't this faith an "assent from it's recipient"? "If not, is faith involuntary?" Peace, Parable |
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143 | Adult Question young people please do no | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 89469 | ||
I concur completely, brother. Congratulations on your 44th! I can't imagine how painful it must have been to lose a child, no parent should outlive their kids...yet Praise Him for his wonderful gift of grandchildren! As usual, it has been a pleasure to dialogue with you. Peace! |
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144 | Adult Question young people please do no | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 89405 | ||
Of course, I was referring to sexual conduct, not conduct in general. I apologize for not being more clear. The issue for me is not "where do WE draw the line" or "how far do WE dare lower the bar" but rather, "where does Scripture draw the line" and "where does Scripture place the bar?" We must be vigilant against reading into Scripture what we'd like to find. We can rationalize anything, including and most especially our own agendas, values, and prejudices, be they puritanical or hedonist. I think we agree that marriage is holy because it is a covenant between a man, a woman and God. While marriage also has a social function, i.e. recognition by the community, according to Scripture, it is not primarily a social institution. Thus, conduct in marriage is a matter for the three participants to decide, not society. The limits on conduct commanded by Christ are clear, love each other. |
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145 | Adult Question young people please do no | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 89391 | ||
You capably defend the faith with gentleness and respect, and for this I thank you. If I may respond in kind... To your statement "the Bible does not attempt to catalog in detail every sin and aberration of which man is capable..." I offer "the Bible does not attempt to catalog in detail every good work and loving act of which man is capable..." And to your "but one is hard pressed to justify biblically....any other sexual act except the act of coitus which God has made clear that He both sanctions and encourages, but which He has expressly reserved for the marriage bed" I offer "...one is hard pressed to condemn biblically, any sex act other than those He has explicitly condemned, except those which violate the law of Christ, i.e. the law of love." My point is, the Bible does not explicity condemn nor condone oral sex in the marriage bed. Hence, arguments for condemnation may be equally countered with arguments for acceptance. For example, if coitus is the only permissible conduct, then all conduct other than penetration via intercourse is prohibited. Is this really what the bible teaches? |
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146 | Adult Question young people please do no | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 89376 | ||
With all due respect to Hank's opinion, which is noted with the most serious mind, I submit that the modern dictionary definition is not necessarily biblical. Nowhere in the bible is the term "sodomy" defined with anything like the same level of detail given by Mr. Webster. Peace, Parable |
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147 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89124 | ||
Regarding our nature, there is no doubt that we have a sin nature. Yet before there was sin, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 Our first nature is a reflection of God, but because we are tarnished by sin, this image can only be brought forth by Christ when He cleanses us and gives us a new nature, the image of Himself. Romans 8:29 "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Regarding the question of why some choose God and others don't, it seems clear those who reject God are casualties of the war against Satan and the forces of darkness. Eph 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This is why we need the armor of God, Eph 6:10. Parable |
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148 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89116 | ||
I believe that Dr. Gregory Boyd has a pretty good answer to this debate in his book "Satan and the Problem of Evil: Constructing a Trinitarian Warfare Theodicy". Boyd's theodicy is founded upon the Bible and is derived from a comprehensive understanding of scripture, sound reasoning, practical experience and objective examination of many philosophical attempts to explain the problem of evil in a world created by a holy, loving and all-powerful God. For those who seek a cogent, compelling, logical and practical treatment of the biblical worldview, this book is a "must-read". |
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149 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89114 | ||
Nothing I have said is in conflict with the idea that God chose us. All I'm saying is we also chose Him. That we can choose to "worship at the altar of free will" is what makes choosing to worship God all the more meaningful to Him and to us. However, if you wish to believe that you have no free will, you are free to do so....but what genuine love can be offered by one who is controlled or manipulated by another? Isn't this exactly what Satan tries to do, manipulate us to love him instead of God? |
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150 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89102 | ||
OK, but I really think you should expound the verses you cite rather than just list them. First, I don't see any connection between "1. God gives us freedom to choose and the ability to walk." and Rom 6:17, 18, 20. Second, regarding Rom 3:11, I did not say we seek a door that leads to God, I said "eventually, we come to a door that leads to Him." I hold that it is by grace that this door appears on our path. Third, regarding Rom 8:28-30, "Only those whom God foreknew will recieve His call and have the desire to enter in", what I said is very similar. "We cannot open the door ourselves, so He opens it for us". I don't see that this verse opposes what I said, in fact, I feel it supports it. Fourth, regarding Mark 13:20 and Eph 1:11, these verses support the idea that Jesus did what was necessary for us to be saved, for us to receive our inheritance as a result of being adopted into His family. That He chose us does not preclude the idea we must also choose Him. As I understand it, predestination is a plan, but not necessarily what happens when free agents are involved. Now, please explain how the verses you cited oppose my analogy or how they support the logical opposite of my analogy, as you suggested with the term "contradict". Thanks, Parable |
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151 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89093 | ||
Tim, Thanks for clarifying this. From this word study, I agree that Paul is saying here that salvation is the gift. This is consistent with what Paul says elsewhere about salvation. Yet, 1 Cor 8:6 says "yet for us there is but one God...from whom all things came..." From this I infer that faith is from God. If not from God, then it is evil, but this is nonsense. And I'm NOT suggesting that this verse teaches that evil is from God. On the contrary, the definition of evil is that which is NOT from God. Evil was not real until it was chosen. Previous to that, it was merely a hypothetical possibility, a risk that was necessary for love to be meaningful, but one that God did not want anyone to actually take. |
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152 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89078 | ||
I appreciate your desire to speak the truth in love and likewise wish to do so in all my conversations about our faith. I respond to your comments: "Contradiction" has a very specific meaning, i.e. to negate or oppose. If you are right, the opposite of my statements should be true. That is: 1. God does NOT give us freedom to choose NOR the ability to walk. 2. We NEVER come to a door that leads to Him. 3. We CAN open that door and He does NOT open it for us. and 4. Our choice to be with Him CANNOT be meaningful and that choice is NOT genuinely ours to make. I don't see how the verses you cite support these statements and I don't see any other places where the bible teaches them. Please explain. Parable. |
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153 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89072 | ||
Certainly this applies, yet in this analogy, it is Christ who knocks and we open the door for Him to walk through it to us. All we do is open the door and let Him in. I think my original analogy was closer to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." -- Matthew 7:7 |
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154 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89066 | ||
Heres an analogy of what I believe.... God gives us freedom to choose and the ability to walk. Eventually, we come to a door that leads to Him. We cannot open the door ourselves, so He opens it for us. So that our choice to be with Him (or not) can be meaningful, it must be genuinely ours and ours alone. So, while we depend on God for our freedom to choose and the ability to walk, we are the only ones with the ability to align our will with His or not. |
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155 | Christ in you the hope of Glory! | Philem 1:6 | Parable | 88376 | ||
My experience has been that the fruits of the Spirit blossom as I surrender myself to the Lord's ongoing work of sanctifying me. Through Him, I discover things about myself that I could never have learned from introspection, pop-psychology or self-discipline, and these truths help clear my path to Him. |
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156 | Christ in you the hope of Glory! | Philem 1:6 | Parable | 88372 | ||
In essence, there is nothing else to tell. Everything we might otherwise say is derived from Him living in us. Parable |
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157 | how to interpret scripture? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Parable | 87501 | ||
Verily. |
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158 | a devotional thot that blessed me | Ps 107:6 | Parable | 87135 | ||
For me, the lesson here is to be open and honest with God, no matter how you feel, and not to censor or stifle yourself before Him. To do so is to willingly restrict your contact with Him, and He has made it clear, He wants ALL of us, not just the politically correct parts. Then, when He does respond in love, it is overwhelming because He is responding to our whole being, not just the parts of ourselves we think we can "manage". This is part of what makes our witness truly powerful for others. | ||||||
159 | how to interpret scripture? | 2 Tim 3:16 | Parable | 87132 | ||
What is the literal interpretation of the following statement? "Mary had a little lamb." Let's start with just three of the possible meanings of the word "had". Mary (possessed) a little lamb. Mary (owned) a little lamb. Mary (ate) a little lamb. For each of these 3 interpretations, there is a variation in overall meaning that depends on the emphasis of the other words. MARY had a little lamb. (Mary, not Martha) Mary HAD a little lamb. (in the past, but not now) Mary had A little lamb. (only one, not many) Mary had a LITTLE lamb. (little, not big) Mary had a little LAMB. (a lamb, not a calf) If the statement is interpreted in non-literal ways, such as secret code, metaphor, allegory, etc, even more meanings can be articulated. Clearly, reliable interpretation depends on the author's purpose and method, the context in which the sentence apprears, the intended audience, skilled translation and the interpreter's perspective. In light of all these issues, some argue that we cannot know the true meaning of the Bible. I disagree, not because these issue are not real, but rather because they are mostly used to justify unbelief. That is, instead of interpreting their experiences in terms of God's truth, some interpret God's truth in terms of their experiences. Instead, we should remain humble, mindful of these issues as we study God's Word, knowing that our shortcomings are usually a result of our seeing only what we want to see. In this way, we can avoid ascribing meanings that happen to fit our agendas, that deceive or confuse us, or that dismiss our sinful acts. Parable |
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160 | Does God ever change his mind? | 2 Kin 20:6 | Parable | 84726 | ||
Christians don't have all the answers. Peace, Parable |
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