Results 201 - 220 of 500
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Reformer Joe Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
201 | Why must I go to church? | Heb 10:25 | Reformer Joe | 51580 | ||
Hello, Hannah. You wrote: "Why is it so important to attend church if my salvation is based on my personal relationship with Christ? I can pray at home. Where is this emphasizied in the scripture?" Here is a few places: "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." --Romans 12:4-8 So we are to minister to one another with the gifts that God has given us (and God intentionally didn't give them to us all). As Christians, we belong to each other, and withdrawing from fellowship is denial of who you are. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." --Ephesians 4:11-13 We are involved in the equipping and building up of one another. In addition, the Holy Spirit has equipped individuals in the church as teachers, and it is in the gathering of the saints that you get that teaching. "And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." TOGETHER we are being built as a spiritual house. Over and over again we see that we are saved as individuals, but we are saved INTO a community of believers, a communion of saints. "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." --Colossians 3:12-16 There are so many commands from God such as in the passage above which simply make no sense or are impossible to obey outside the context of the gathering of believers. We are baptized into the church: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." --1 Corinthians 12:13 (I would recommend this whole chapter as an answer to your question). The Lord's Supper is perhaps the clearest example of our common bond in Jesus Christ: "Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread." --1 Corinthians 10:17 The plain fact of Scripture is that the ministry of God's people is primarily to be in the context of the body of Christ, and not as a bunch of "lone Christians" roaming the spiritual prarie. The Christian life is a communal life. Spiritual growth occurs in this context, and sanctification is handicapped without it. You have something to gain from fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and you have been given something to contribute as well. To neglect God's people is to neglect that to which you were called. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." --Hebrews 10:23-25 --Joe! |
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202 | Rom 7:9 What's it mean? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 51564 | ||
Hello, Rob. Actually, Romans 7:9 affirms the doctrine of original sin rather than denies it. He previously made this statement: "For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death." --Romans 7:5 He writes that our sinful passions were AROUSED by the Law. The actual presence of the Law caused sin to find an outlet. The Westminster Catechism teaches that sin is "any want [lack] of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God." In other words, sin only makes sense in the context of God's commandments. What Paul is saying here is that when those in the flesh (non-Christians) hear God's commandments, their natural inclination is to want to break it or not comply with it. Therefore, our sinful nature rebels against the law of God to produce actual sins. The verse you asked about is in response to a hypothetical objection that could be raised, since Paul has just said that the law causes more sins: 'What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.' --Romans 7:7-8 So is the Law sin if it produces sin in us? Paul answers emphatically that the law is not sin. But, we know sin (i.e. become intimately familiar with it) therough the Law. Hearing the commandment not to covet makes the sinful person say "Aha! Coveting is against God's moral code; therefore, I shall covet!" Notice that Paul says that sin "takes the opportunity"; our indwelling sin sees an outlet through which the sinful person can rebel against a holy God. The result? Coveting of every kind! How rebellious and hateful toward God we were before in His grace He condescended to rescuing us! We then get to Romans 7:9, which describes in more detail the effect of God's holy Law on sin. The commandment came, making sin alive (stirring it up in us) and as a result, death (Romans 6:23). He goes on in the following verse to say that the commandment, through keeping of which we would live, produces death when our sinful nature becomes aware of it. The law is not sin; but it is a catalyst for our sinful natures to do acts of unrighteousness. God does this to make us aware of our sinfulness, so that sin will be made "utterly sinful." This is why proclaiming God's law is so important in evangelism; if the person does not see his utter hopelessness in sin, he is not going to realize his need for a Savior. Your post does raise an interesting question, however. Do we have to actually hear the commandments of God in order to be sinners? I think the answer is "no," based on Romans 1:18 ff. which talks about the rebellion of man against the general revelation of God (the "light of creation"), and Romans 2:12-16 which talks about the moral sense God has given all human beings. While there may be an age of accountability for those who are not able to apprehend the world around them yet or recognize their "conscience," the doctrine of original sin is a very well-developed one in Scripture. --Joe! |
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203 | Do we as men dictate the terms of Salv? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 51550 | ||
"The book of Galatians, ;1,2Cor.;Eph;Col;Phil;Romans;etc. were written to baptized believers or unbaptized believers?" They were written to churches, made up mostly of baptized believers (with some baptized unbelievers mixed in, to be sure). There was no concept of an unbaptized believer in the New Testament, just like there should not be a concept of an unbaptized believer today. You wrote: "You put what Jesus tells us to do to be saved, (to be baptized) in the same category as the Law of Moses!" I don't put baptism in the category of what Jesus tells us to do in order to be saved. I know: Mark 16:16. Please cite for me ANY other verse where Jesus links baptism and salvation. As has been clearly pointed out, that section of Mark may not be the divinely-inspired writing of Mark. You believing it was definitely in the autographs is a an article of faith on your part and not an extablished fact. You wrote: "1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a lair, and the truth is not in him". You are absolutely right. My obedience in baptism is evidence that I do indeed know Him, but it is not the means by which I came to know Him. 'Jesus told Ananias to tell Saul to "arise and be baptized and wash away his sins" Acts 22:16.' He certainly did. He also told a crowd of people, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." Do you take this to mean that we should be cannibals? Jesus said of the bread: "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Do you hold it to be the literal body of Christ? Are we really eating Him? The sacramental elements point to spiritual realities; they do not create them. The water in baptism is a sign of washing away sins, just like the bread and the cup are the sign of Christ's body being offered for His people. The sign of baptism accompanies the reality of regeneration, but it is not the same thing as regeneration. You wrote: "We need to have faith in what God tells us to do, and do it without questions!" Like I told mouse2, that statement makes no sense. We can have faith in God and his character. We can have faith in what Christ accomplished. How does one have faith in a command? When you were a child, and your mother told you to clean your room, did you have faith in that commandment? There is nothing to have faith in! One can have faith in declaratives (the earth is round; God is one; Jesus's death paid the penalty for my sins). One either obeys or disobeys imperatives (honor your father and mother; eat your peas; don't play in traffic; be baptized). One is faith; the other is obedience. One results from the other, but they are not the same thing. --Joe! |
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204 | Saved with Baptism? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 51301 | ||
Just to clear things up in this discussion a litte, not all who baptize the infants of believers believe that the baptism "saves" or regenerates the child. What Reformed folks who believe in infant baptism teach is that infant baptism marks the infants of believers as members of God's covenant community, like circumcision was to male children in the nation of Israel. They cite Colossians 2:11-12 as support of the connection between the OT ordinance and the NT one. All classical Protestants believe that we are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Therefore, no one is justified by baptism, infant or otherwise. --Joe! |
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205 | Does Mt. 22:39 assume self-love? | Matt 22:39 | Reformer Joe | 51244 | ||
No, it is assumed that you already love yourself. Loving ourselves is not something we need to learn to do. If you look at the parallel passage in Luke, this story is followed by the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is a striking illustration of how we are to love others as ourselves. Just as we seek after our own survival and well-being, we should also look after the interests of others. Christ, of course, provided the supreme example of this (Philippians 2:3-11). --Joe! |
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206 | Has anyone found any good web sites that | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 51230 | ||
I second the www.oneplace.com recommendation. Most of th eteachers I listen to (including my own pastor) have programs that last from a few minutes to an hour. One of my favorites is Alistair Begg's program Truth For Life. I would also recommend Crace to You and the Bible Study Hour, Transforming Presence, the Moody Bible Hour, Stand to Reason, and the White Horse Inn for some in-depth Bible Study. I enjoy the teaching and discussion on all of them. --Joe! |
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207 | Mark 16:16 what does it say? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 51038 | ||
You wrote: "Would you teach what the bible says in Mark 16:16?" I would teach what the whole Bible says, placing Mark 16:16, a disputed verse, in the context with the clear and undisputed passages such as Romans 4:1-5, Romans 5:1-8, Titus 3:4-5, John 3:16, John 5:24, etc. etc. "The answer to your Galatians question is ch.3:26-27." Let's see: "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." --Galatians 3:24-29 Hmmm...nothing there that contradicts NO additional conditions to the Abrahamic Covenant by which we are saved. What does it say, however? 1. We are justified through FAITH. 2. We are sons of God through FAITH in Christ Jesus. Adoption hinges on faith. That is the instrument. 3. All who have been baptized in Christ Jesus into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Where does this say that baptism is a condition of justification or adoption? Nowhere. All of those whom Paul is addressing were baptized. Also, all of those whom Paul is addressing have professed faith in Christ Jesus. This passage does not say that baptism precedes justification, however, and to do so would contradict what he said ten verses earlier! 4. We are sons and heirs according to the PROMISE God made to Abraham. Abraham was declared righteous for believing God. The Israelites were declared righteous not by following the Law of Moses, but by believing God. No other conditions were added to the Abrahamic Covenant. Therefore, the elect of Israel "got into Christ" by faith in God's redemption, and the Law was not another condition. Christians "get into Christ" by faith, NOT works, and baptism and the Lord's Supper are not conditions or means do becoming part of the Abrahamic Covenant. It says 3 times in this passage alone that faith is the instrument God uses for our justification and adoption. Show me one single passage that uses the word "justification" and "baptism" in the same verse, and I will recant of my "error." It is simply not there. But let's assume that I am wrong. Please tell me what Galatians 3:15-17 IS saying, then! --Joe! |
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208 | Baptism in the Old Testament times? | Acts 2:41 | Reformer Joe | 50848 | ||
You wrote: "Baptism was used in OT times, I assume for new converts for becoming a beliver as a Jew." Not exactly. To become a full participant in the covenant, males had to be circumcised. Baptism arose in the inter-Testamental period as a means of a secondary type of membership, but I am not nearly knowledgeable enough of that to go into any detail at all. Jews and non-Jews alike were baptized upon professing faith in Christ. It wasn't a question of "when should I be baptized?" All converts to Christianity were baptized, so there would be no notion of a "non Jew [who] became a beliver as a Jew but was bot Baptized." --Joe! |
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209 | New life? | Acts 2:38 | Reformer Joe | 50629 | ||
First of all, I want to commend you for discussing these issues with dignity and without all of the vitrium that often can accompany these types of controversies. I do think that Romans 6 is a great passage to examine how baptism is so closely linked to our faith. Many people profess faith in Christ and wait years to be baptized, and I stand with you in criticizing this practice as not following the Biblical model. However, like with the Lord's Supper (the other ordinance established by Jesus Christ), it is important to understand that the external is not only a seal as we see in Romans 6, but also a sign pointing to an inward reality. As I said before, baptism should not be confused with saving faith, but neither should it be separated from it. I do not say that baptism saves us (especially baptism alone, which could be construed from this passage out of context), but rather what saves us is the internal work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, producing repentance and saving faith which in turn produces works in keeping with repentance. We see in both of these ordinances (baptism and the Lord's Supper) symbolic language. "Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?" --1 Corinthians 10:16 'And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."' --Luke 22:19-20 "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." --1 Corinthians 11:27 Unless one is a Catholic or a Lutheran, no one believes that the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ is present in any way, despite the apparent words of Jesus to the contrary. However, it is clear from passages above that there is a link between the two. Identification between bread and wine and the flesh of Jesus, without the two being confused. The same is true of baptism. There is an inseparable link between baptism and salvation, but the two must never be confused as being the same thing. Just as the elements of the Lord's Supper point to a reality distinct from it but not separate from it, so baptism points to an inward reality distinct but not separate from it. In other words, if you insist that baptism is literally "being buried with Christ" I would have to ask why the Lord's Supper is not literally "eating His flesh and drinking His blood" as described in John 6. Both are external signs and symbols sealing us visibly in the church yet pointing to a reality expressed elsewhere. So, to answer your question, our new life starts apart from baptism internally, and the promise is maked externally by baptism. --Joe! |
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210 | Is OT law appliable to NT? | Matt 5:18 | Reformer Joe | 50534 | ||
No, that cannot be what it means, because we see clear passages to the contrary: "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace," --Ephesians 2:14-15 The Council of Jerusalem described in Acts 15 shows that the ordinances of the Mosaic Covenant were not to be applied to the Gentiles. The entire book of Galatians addresses the issue of circumsicion, but also more generally the ceremonial law. Again, not for Gentiles. The Old Covenant of Moses was replaced by the Messiah with a new covenant for the church, taken from all nations. Hebrews 10 demonstrates that there is no longer any need for sacrifices, since Jesus is our once-for -all sacrifice. The shadow passes away once the reality has been revealed. The bottom line is that Gentiles were never part of the covenant God made with the nation of Israel. However, the moral commandments contained in the Law (the Ten Commandments) reflect God's standard of morality and are a good summary of the way God desires all to behave. So while the sacrificial and ceremonial laws were never given to people outside of Israel, the moral commandments of God apply to all peoples at all times. --Joe! |
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211 | Can other writing be God inspired? | Acts 20:7 | Reformer Joe | 50514 | ||
You wrote: "If the men who wrote the Bible were God-inspired, why can't others be God-inspired as well?" Because God didn't inspire them. Only the books of the Old and the New Testaments are "God-breathed." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) While other Christian books may be accurate and useful works, they do not consist of "new revelation" and are not infallible (i.e. incapable of being wrong) but rather serve as reflection and commentary on the inspired works. The same can be said of good preaching. Good preachers correctly interpret and apply what God has inspired (the Scriptures), but they do not add to Scripture or mainatin any sense of being infallible. If we start claiming that excellent books written in the course of church history are "God-breathed," then in effect what we are saying is that the canon of Scripture is not closed. The only works that are declared to be standards for faith and practice are the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, and with them God's self-revelation is complete. --Joe! |
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212 | What did he tell the people to do? | Acts 2:38 | Reformer Joe | 50314 | ||
Well, since you included the verse in your question, the answer is pretty apparent. --Joe! |
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213 | need for a bible-anyone | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 50199 | ||
I will try to help you get a Bible, and I praise God for your new life in Christ! I noticed that you live outside the United States, the home of most of our "regulars" here. What country are you from? Does RSA stand for "Republic of South Africa"? In the meantime, you can access the Bible online at http://bible.gospelcom.net It has a variety of translations and languages, and most contain both the Old and New Testaments. --Joe! |
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214 | John:10 theres another fold, what fold? | John 10:16 | Reformer Joe | 50192 | ||
Hi, Jessica. Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience. The "other sheep" are those of the Gentiles who will believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Out of the two (Israel and the Gentiles), Jesus makes us one fold. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." --Galatians 3:26-29 'Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace' --Ephesians 2:11-15 So the Gentiles are the "other fold" which also contain His "other sheep." Hope this helps! Just out of curiosity, what motivated you to ask this question? --Joe! |
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215 | Scriptural Support Requested! | Rom 8:14 | Reformer Joe | 50189 | ||
Mommapbs: You wrote: "1. CAN we know if one is controlled by the Holy Spirit?" Well, if we are to believe Jesus, and the apostles, then YES! "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."' --Matthew 7:16-20 "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." --Galatians 5:16-23 "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." --Romans 8:12-13 You also asked: "2. Does God's Word help mold and shape us into a form that is acceptable to God?" Well, I would not put it in those terms, since only Christ's human existence is one that in itself is acceptable to God. God the Holy Spirit does, however, through the ministry of the word, sanctify us in such a way that slowly but surely He makes us more like Christ. Psalm 19 and Psalm 119 are great places to wonder at how God uses His word to make us more like the Son. --Joe! |
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216 | Law or grace or both? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 49852 | ||
Living UNDER the Law and Grace? No, but those who are by God's grace being sanctified will naturally submit themselves to God's moral law. As a Gentile, I was never part of the Mosaic Covenant. I was never under the Law of Moses, but as a human being I am held accountable for following God's revealed moral will, which is reflected in the Ten Commandments. Christ fulfilled the moral will of God perfectly for me, but it still serves as a standard for righteousness and I can gauge the level of God's sanctifying work in me by how well I am following his commandments. Read Romans 8:1-9 for the relationship between God's law and the Christian walk. Psalm 19 and Psalm 119 also reveal the usefulness of the law for the one saved by God's grace. --Joe! |
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217 | Why not Brothers? | 1 Cor 11:3 | Reformer Joe | 49796 | ||
Hello, Rob. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, it was absolutely necessary for God the Father to be "greater than" Him. In order for Jesus to be our righteous representative before the Father, Jesus had to become everything we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, he became a human being (John 1:14; 1 John 4:2), born under the Law and fulfilling it perfectly so that His perfect righteousness and absolute submission to God the Father would be credited to all those who believe in Him (Galatians 4:4-5). The law of God only served to condemn us as sinners, because we could not submit ourselves to it (Romans 8:7-9). Jesus came to earth, setting aside His privileges as God (Philippians 2:6-11) to serve the Father as the perfect human being and representative of all of those who will trust in His sinless life, death, and bodily resurrection (Romans 5:12-19). Hope this helps! --Joe! |
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218 | Is the translation of deacon tradition? | 1 Tim 3:8 | Reformer Joe | 49653 | ||
The role of the deacon has its origins in Acts 6. --Joe! |
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219 | What exactly is predestination? | 1 Thess 5:17 | Reformer Joe | 49614 | ||
You have asked some good questions here. First off, let me encourage you by stating emphatically that one's salvation does not depend on one's view of predestination. As someone who does hold to what is known as the Reformed/Calvinist viewpoint (the one which holds that God unilaterally determines who will be saved), I recognize that there are fellow believers in Christ who disagree with me. You asked: "If this is true where does free will play in our lives and if everything is predetermined as to the outcome what is the point of prayer?" A Reformed Baptist minister by the name of John Piper has addressed that question on more than one occasion. I would recommend checking out these links to explore biblically the link between God's sovereignty and our prayer. The short answer is that God decrees that many things that will come about will come about as an answer to prayer. Prayer is a demonstration of our complete and utter dependence upon God for His providence, and God rewards our faithful prayers in the present by foreordaining their answers in eternity past. http://www.desiringgod.org/Online_Library/OnlineArticles/Subjects/Prayer/Sovereignty_and_prayer.htm I would also recommend Piper's book _A Godward Life_ for some devotional reading on a great number of Christian issues (including prayer). I am delighted to hear that you are a new believer in Christ! Have you found a good church so that you will grow in community with other believers? While you have peace with God though your faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), God has an incredible purpose for all who trust in the finished work of His Son as payment for their sins. Take a look at these verses to see what God has in store for you: Ephesians 2:10 1 Peter 2:9,10 1 Thessalonians 4 Philippians 1:6 Lastly, if you want to examine what the doctrine of predestination is all about, I would point you to the Web site below. It is a somewhat lengthy but precise description of what the Reformed understanding of the Bible's message of salvation is. Even if you end up not adhering to this view, it is good to have an accurate understanding of what many Christians believe the Bible teaches. http://www.desiringgod.org/Online_Library/OnlineArticles/Subjects/DoctrinesGrace/tulip.htm Let us on the forum know how we can assist you in your new relationship with Christ! --Joe! |
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220 | I Cor 12:7 | Rom 5:16 | Reformer Joe | 49500 | ||
Because "gift" is what the Greek word "charisma" means. It is used in 17 verses in the New Testament, and the use of "manifestation" does not make sense when looking at all of the verses containing the word: "For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;" --Romans 1:11 (imparting some spiritual manifestation?) "But the free GIFT is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the GIFT by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The GIFT is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free GIFT arose from many transgressions resulting in justification." --Romans 5:15-16 (does it make sense to you to talk about the gift of salvation as a free "manifestation" from God? Does a "manifestation" result in our being made right with God -- justification?) "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." --Romans 6:23 (the "manifestation" of God is eternal life?) "Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that." --1 Corinthians 7:7 (here he is talking about the "gift of celibacy," but it is interesting to note that each man has his own "charisma" from God...not that all have access to EVERY "charisma") "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." --1 Peter 4:10-11 (are serving and speaking "manifestations"? Whatever they are, Peter indicates that each one has received "charisma," singular. Not that each one has received all "charismata," plural.) And that is why more than 99.9 percent of Christians agree with English translators in calling them "gifts." --Joe! |
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