Results 21 - 40 of 119
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18921 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Let me try to clarify my view here. I'll summarize as much as possible: 1) Salvation is not just being forgiven for sins (unrighteous acts). Salvation is being saved by the indwelling life of Christ, not by reconciliation - Rom 5:10. Therefore, Christ's propitiation for the whole world is NOT salvation. It is forgiveness for all sins (unrighteous acts) for all people for all time. It is reconciliation. Now, if I believed that salvation was only the forgiveness of sins, then I would be supporting universalism - everyone is saved because everyone is forgiven. I AM NOT saying that at all. 2) The forgiveness that Christ provided at the cross is received at conversion. It is part of redemption - Eph 1:7; Col 1:14. Though it was provided at the cross, not everyone has accepted Christ's redemption (reconciliation) and appropriated the forgiveness that has been provided - Rom 5:11. 3) Therefore everyone in the world for all time is forgiven for their unrighteous acts but not for unbelief in Christ. Unbelief in Christ cannot be forgiven - it must be repented of. This is the world's sin (not sins, plural) - John 16:8,9. This is what God's wrath will be poured out on as 1 Thess says, unbelief in Christ. 4) So there is no contradiction. The cross provides reconciliation for all but we need to receive it. Christ's death provides forgiveness. And Christ's resurrection, imparted to us through the Holy Spirit, provides life to His formerly dead creation. So we are forgiven and then given life. The we are saved. Does this help? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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22 | Lionstrong, who is the world? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18244 | ||
Lionstrong, Your post says essentially that Christ died only for the 'elect' - 'these He sent His Son to die for...' In contrast :), then how do you reconcile the fact that: 1) 'God so loved THE WORLD that He sent His only begotten Son' - John3:16? 2)'God was in Christ reconciling THE WORLD to Himself, not counting THEIR (the world's) trespasses against them' - 1 Cor 5:19? 3) John said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of THE WORLD" - John 1:29? 4) Christ came to save SINNERS not 'just the elect' - 1 Tim 1:15? 5)'And He Himself is the propitiation for our (the believers') sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the WHOLE WORLD' - 1 John 2:2? How does your view understand these passages as applying only to the elect? I agree that God does know who will and will not be saved. But we cannot, and should not try to enter into this. The same sun that melts wax hardens clay. No offense, Lionstrong, but what CalvinisticSouthernBaptist says doesn't mean diddly-squat (sorry, no verse ref for this). Our standard is the Word of God - alone. Isn't it? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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23 | CDBJ, could you clarify this good post? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18207 | ||
CDBJ, this is a very good explanation. I like your definition of spirit and your exegesis of 'death.' Please let me ask a couple of questions. You said that Adam's spirit died (became separated from God) at the fall. Does this mean, by your understanding, that Adam's spirit was in union with God's Spirit before the fall? If THANATOS is separation from God, was Adam's spirit one with God before the fall? Do you think the God indwelled him? Why or why not? And you stated that our souls, at new birth, are the 'real' us. What happens to our spirits at rebirth? Or do you believe that they are synonymous? Jesus gave up His spirit at His death. Is this the same as His soul? Thanks for taking the time (and patience) to answer my questions. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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24 | Did Paul have 'Christ's attitude'? | Phil 2:5 | Bill Mc | 18131 | ||
Ray, thanks for your response. Phil 2:5 is a great verse! Do you think Paul was stating a view similar to Christ's when he said in Gal 2:20 - "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."? Or how about Phil 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."? What do you think Paul meant by these statements? Do you think that he was expressing his reliance upon Christ similarly to Christ's reliance upon His Father? Paul did encourage us to have Christ's attitude. How would this play out in our lives? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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25 | How do we live the 'Christian life'? | Phil 2:5 | Bill Mc | 18125 | ||
Do these verses describe how the Christian is to live the 'Christian life'? We, as believers, claim to follow, to imitate Christ. We say we want to do what He did. Then why do we not have His attitude? Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which GOD PERFORMED THROUGH HIM in your midst, just as you yourselves know--" John 5:30 "I CAN DO NOTHING ON MY OWN INITIATIVE. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN WILL, but the will of HIM who sent Me." John 14:24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the WORD WHICH YOU HEAR IS NOT MINE, but the FATHER'S who sent Me." John 12:49 "For I DID NOT SPEAK ON MY OWN INITIATIVE, but the FATHER Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to WHAT TO SAY and WHAT TO SPEAK." John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I DO NOTHING ON MY OWN INITIATIVE, BUT I speak these things as the FATHER taught Me." John 7:16 So Jesus answered them and said, "MY TEACHING IS NOT MINE, BUT HIS who sent Me." John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, THE SON CAN DO NOTHING OF HIMSELF, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I ALSO SEND YOU." John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." Apart from Him, we can do NOTHING. Is this true or was Jesus lying? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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26 | Zealot, are you a sinner or saint? | Rom 8:10 | Bill Mc | 18095 | ||
Zealot, thanks for your answer. You have indeed laided out a good explanation. But, brother, I ask you to consider one thing. Not everyone is a sinner. 63 times in the New Testament, believers are referred to as saints. In fact, Paul never addresses his letters, "To the sinners at Corinth, To the sinners at Ephesus, To the sinners at Philippi, etc." You have rightly stated that our spirits are made alive with Christ. This being the case, we are born again spiritually and your new birth determines your identity, not your actions. We were all born sinners the first time. But at new birth, we are born in righteousness and holiness and God never refers to us again as sinners. If you'd like to do any interesting study, look up the word 'sinner' in the NT context. It is used almost exclusively of Gentiles and unbelievers. If God calls you a saint 63 times in the NT, then that is pretty good proof that you are no longer a sinner. Do you still sin? Yes. But that is not who you are. How would you like to go through your entire life labeled by your one major weakness? If you run around your house barking, chewing on the furniture, soiling the rug, and panting, does that make you a dog? No. Why? Because, no matter how you act, you were born a human. If you put clothes on your dog (some do, ya know), seat him at the dinner table, and teach him to use the commode, does that make him a human? No. Why? He was born a dog and a dog he will remain. Likewise, we are spiritually born again and, though we may ACT like sinners occasionally, we will NEVER be sinners again. Why is this important? Because the Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. If you believe, at your deepest level, that you are a sinner, then how will you act? If you believe that you are a saint, then how will you act? You will act out whatever you believe is true of yourself. I am not spouting some 'name-it-and-claim-it' wishful thinking. God says unequivically that we are saints. What He says is true, regardless of my actions. What do you think? |
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27 | Is 'breath' physical life or spirit life | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18060 | ||
Hi, Tim. Can I ask a question here? I noticed that you stated that you think it is a stretch to think that Adam and Eve had God's Spirit breathed into them. If you've read my post, you can see that I think (though I can't prove it from this text alone) that Adam and Eve did have God's Spirit. So, my question is this: Isn't the Greek word for 'spirit' pnuema - breath? I was under the impression that it was. I know that the OT was written in Hebrew, but the thought is the same. If so, how could God breathe 'spirit' into them without it being of His Spirit? Isn't He the source? If you're understanding is correct and that God just breathed physical life (CPR, as you say) into Adam, then how is that different from the physical life that God gave the animal kingdom? But man and animals breathe. What would distinguish Adam, in the creation process, from the animals? (Also, if you have time, isn't the word 'creatures' in Gen chapter 1 that same word in Hebrew as 'souls'?) Thanks for your time, Bill Mc |
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28 | Where is our unity to help? | Heb 6:4 | Bill Mc | 17943 | ||
This thread has proven my point. JohnK came here seeking answers as to his security. Although many good answers were given, this thread has turned into an Armenian/Calvinist and Grace/Law debate. I am just as guilty. JohnK has not responded to any of the answering posts. He probably figured that if the user's of the most accurate, literal translation in the English language couldn't help and can't agree, than there is no way for him to know if his is saved or not. Shame on us, myself included. JohnK, if you're reading this, I'm sorry. Please seek help from a godly person who genuinely cares for your soul. We are too often concerned with whether or not we are right and proving our points rather than helping those in true need. It is no wonder that the world is dying and going to hell. We can't even agree on what salvation is or whether it is assured. Still, in Christ, Bill Mc |
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29 | Whatever happened to John 17:21? | Heb 6:4 | Bill Mc | 17916 | ||
BTW, those nice, neat little boxes may appear to be helpful but I feel that they are damaging to the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit did not baptize us into nice, neat little boxes but into one Body - Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 12:13,27; Eph 5:30; Col 1:24. Our identity, as Christians, is His body, the church. We are children of God. Nothing more and, certainly, nothing less. Our beliefs about who we are and what we believe should rest on Christ and scripture alone. To categorize believers into Calvinist, Armenian, Dispensationalist, Baptist, Catholic, Reformed, and any of a thousand other names is neither warranted nor supported by scripture. In fact, this was one of Paul's rebukes to the church at Corinth. "I hear that divisions exist among you...for there must also be factions among you." Then he went on to reitterate how the Lord's body, the church, is one loaf but consists of many members. He pegs modern Christianity in 1 Cor 1:12: "Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Only we say, "I am of Calvin, I am of Armenius (or whatever his name was), I am of Luther, I am of the Westminister Confession." These things are, but they should not be. The end result is that when a person comes to this forum seeking an answer from the Bible, we resort to: 'As a Calvinist...' then an Armenian has to reply, 'As an Armenian...' So instead of getting an answer straight from the Bible, we post responses from other people. This is because we do not trust God to reveal Himself to US through scripture. We think that you have to be a Scofield, a Ryrie, a Luther, a Calvin to correctly understand scripture. The Holy Spirit said that He would lead us into all truth. Do we believe this? I think not or we wouldn't be so quick to identify ourselves with others whom God has spoken to. I mourn for the church of Jesus Christ because most of us have no idea who were are. When will we understand that you are either in Adam or in Christ? When we will reply, "As a child of the living, true God, here is what the scripture says concerning this issue...?" When will we come out from behind our false identities, leave behind our platitudes, and respond with truth in love? This is not meant as a personal rebuke against you, dear Reformer Joe. This is meant as an observation for all those who name the name of Christ. I hope and pray as Christ did in John 17:21 - "that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." A child of God only by His grace, Bill Mc |
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30 | Joe, what is Paul and Hebrews 'the Law'? | Heb 6:4 | Bill Mc | 17912 | ||
Joe, out of curiosity, upon what basis do you make the statement that only the civil and ceremonial laws are passed away? Paul's writings and the author of Hebrews do not divide the Law into 1) moral law 2) civil law 3) ceremonial law when speaking of the Law being made obsolete or concerning the fact that believers are not under Law. They simply state 'the Law','the letter', the ministry of death, the ministry of condemnation, 'the Law of Moses'. If they make no distinction, then why do you? What scriptures do you use to support this 'dismantling' of the Law? It appears that by breaking it up into smaller pieces, then you can be the one to decide which parts to keep and which parts to discard. James refers to 'the whole Law'. In other words, if you want to be under ANY of it, then you have to be under ALL of it. Any thoughts? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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31 | Lionstrong, maybe this will clarify... | 2 Chr 7:14 | Bill Mc | 17624 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, I am not sure that I understand your statement. Yes, the whole of Scripture (the Bible) is inspired. Do I believe that that inspiration extends down to the verse level and word level? Yes, I do. But, per my prior post, not every verse is given for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Everything that we need is contained in the Bible (but is actually found in Jesus Christ - 2 Pet 1:3 'seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.') Permit me to illustrate. (Illustrations are not scripture but sometimes they are helpful.) Let's say that I hire you as a modern-day scribe. I am going to dictate to you an owner's manual for my 1990 Ford Aerostar van. You transcribe everything that I tell you on your word-processor. When I am done dictating, I say, "Lionstrong, I trust that you wrote down everything that I told you. Whoever uses this manual will find it useful for vehicle orientation, operation, scheduled maintenance, repair, and servicing of this vehicle." Now, if you did your job correctly, what you wrote down is 'inspired' by me. (As a said, don't take this illustration too far. The writers of the Scripture did not dictate as such. They were not robots merely transcribing.) But the manual has divisions in it. You would not consult the 'Operation' section to find out where the nearest service center is. You would not look in the 'Repair and Servicing' section to see how to turn on the windshield wipers. You would not search through the 'Scheduled Maintenance' section to find out how to change a tire. The entire manual would be 'inspired' by me but I would have organized it into sections to make it user-friendly for the owners. This is all I am saying. All of the Scripture is inspired by God but He has organized it to make it 'user-friendly' for us. (Obviously, if we don't read it, it won't do us much good.) But we need to use the right scriptures for the right application. This is something that I believe the Holy Spirit and study will enable us to do. Lionstrong, does this help explain the reason for my post? Complete in Him, Bill Mc |
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32 | Tim, what do you think of Rev 6:9; 20:4? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 17401 | ||
Greetings Tim! Thanks for your kind comments! You know me well enough to know that I usually dig myself into holes that I can't get out of :). Thank God for His grace! Your supposition is interesting. I am ALWAYS interested in hearing other's points of view. And the scripture you cited seems to fit with the NT verse (don't remember where it is) that Adam became a living soul but Christ has become, for us, a life-giving spirit. That being said :) let me LOVINGLY challenge it. :) Permit to ask you about two verses that came to my mind when you mentioned your view. One is found in Rev 6:9 where there are slain souls under the altar. They appear to be 'unclothed' i.e. without bodies. God tells them to wait a little longer until their number is complete. He then gives them white robes to wear. The next passage is similar. It is in Rev 20:4,5. John sees the souls of those beheaded by AntiChrist. I am not sure if these are the same group or different groups. I'm inclined to think that they are the same. Again, it appears that they do not have bodies because John says that after he saw the souls, they 'came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.' He then calls their 'coming to life' the first resurrection and says how blessed they are. If my supposition is correct, then these souls do not have there resurrected bodies yet. What do you think? As always, In Christ, Bill Mc |
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33 | Tim, what is your understanding of this? | Luke 23:34 | Bill Mc | 17372 | ||
Dear Tim, what is your understanding of these passages? John 1:29; Rom 3:25; Heb 9:26; Heb 10:4,11; 1 John 3:5. These all speak of Christ taking away sin (or sins). Hebrews especially makes a point that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away sins but that Christ alone has done this. Obviously, Christ's blood has done something concerning sins that animal blood could not do. If you get time, could you share your understanding of the 'taking away' of sins? How is it different from the atonement that OT sacrifices executed? Also, my interlinear says that the literal translation of 1 Pet 2:24 is: 'who the sins of us himself carried up in the body of him onto the tree' It still seems to suggest that His sacrifice had something to do with our sins carried, bore, sacrificed IN HIS BODY. Isaiah 53:6 says that 'the LORD has caused the iniquities of us all to fall on Him.' Isaiah 53:11 says 'as He will bear their iniquities.' And Isaiah 53:12 says that 'He Himself bore the sin of many.' Scripture still seems to support that Jesus Christ was indeed 'to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.' - 2 Cor 5:21. Gal 3:13 says that Christ became a curse for us. These are all pretty strong statements that seem to imply more than just that God pretended to see Jesus as sin. My NASB Study Bible says that Paul seems to teach that Christ's HUMAN (not divine) nature became sin. I don't know about that. I will have to study it more. But if Jesus did not actually bear our sins in His body, then why did He die have to die? Couldn't God just have 'imputed' death to Him without it literally happening? Please be patient with me. I am trying to understand. In Him (and always curious), Bill Mc |
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34 | How did the imputation of sins happen? | Luke 23:34 | Bill Mc | 17314 | ||
Hi Tim! Great to hear from you! To your questions! First, let me say that I don't know or understand everything about how God carried out the sacrificial work of Christ on the cross. What my mind cannot understand and figure out, I have to accept by faith. I'm not saying that as a copout, I'm just saying that I'm limited. 1 Pet 2:24 - and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. Heb 10:5,10 - "SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;" By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. This is what scripture says. 'He bore our sins in (not on) His body.' I don't know exactly how this happened, anymore than I understand completely how, at the cross, I was crucified, buried and risen with Christ. I am not trying to sound stupid here but, just because I cannot explain it, does not invalidate it. I agree, Tim, that 'sins' are not physical things as such. But they are thoughts, feelings and acts that DO exhibit themselves many times physically. So how did our Lord bear these thoughts, feelings, and acts in His body? I don't know. (There I go, sounding stupid again.) But we do know that it happened and that His body was the sacrifice for ours. We do know that He was made to be sin so that we could be made righteous in Him. How was my 'old man', my old nature, crucifed there with Christ? I wasn't even born yet! But Paul says it was. He says that, through this act, we have been crucified with Christ, and are dead to sin. Nevertheless, I was trying to make the point that however you want to define 'bore our sins in His body,' that it was His body that became sin, not His divinity. Paul says that we have indwelling sin in us. But he makes the distinction that it is not us. Paul says, "I don't do it, but sin which dwells in me, does it" - Rom 7:20. Some of these things are hard to understand. Some of these questions will probably not be answered until we get home. How did Christ bear my sins in His body? I don't know? But I believe He did because that is what it says. Can you shed any more light here? Note 1: I do believe that these sins where imputed (credited) to Christ and His righteousness is imputed (credited) to us. But I don't believe that this is a 'pretend' or 'positional' truth. If you have no money in your back account and I impute 10,000 dollars to your account, it is not a pretend thing. You can, if you so desire, make actual withdrawals from that account. In other words, I can't say, "Tim, I've imputed 10,000 dollars in your account but its not really there. I've only written the deposit amount in your checkbook but I never really made the deposit." What good with that be? I would be lying to you. If I've actually imputed 10,000 dollars to you, then you HAVE it. It's yours. And it wouldn't make much sense for me to say, "Well, Tim, it's there but you can't use it until you die." You would have no need of it then. Note 2: Speaking of money, I checked on those reference materials I asked you about concerning Greek grammar, etc. Could you impute about 2,000 dollars to my bank account so that I can buy them? Thanks. I appreciate it. ;) Note 3: How did we ever get on this rabbit trail? My question was concerning who was Christ requesting forgiveness for? Now, we are over in 2 Imputations chapter 3 verse 12. ??? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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35 | Steve, Christ bore sins in His body. | Luke 23:34 | Bill Mc | 17242 | ||
Dear Steve, please read all of this post and judge for yourself if what I write has merit and stands up to scripture. Please reply and let me know what you think. I do agree that, on the surface, it appears that there would be a big problem with Jesus (being God) bearing sin and dying. This is because, as you have said, God is perfect - without sin and He is immortal. But we do know that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Here is what I believe: 1. Man is, similar to God, a tri-part being. We have a spirit, a soul, and a body -1 Thess 5:23 - 'Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Your true identity, who you are at the deepest level, is your spirit. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions (personality) and your body houses your spirit and soul. You are a spirit who has a soul who lives in a body. We are not human beings with spiritual experiences. We are spiritual beings with human experiences. 2. Jesus, being fully man, had a spirit, soul, and body. References for His human spirit - Matt 27:50; Luke 23:46; John 19:30. References for His human soul - Matt 26:38; Mark 14:34; John 12:27. I won't list references for His physical body. Most people accept that (unless they are Gnostics). 3. This verse is KEY to understanding how Christ bore our sins: 1 Pet 2:24 'and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.' He bore our sins in His BODY, not in His spirit or soul. Under the OT sacrifices, the animal being offered bore the sins in it's body (Animals don't have spirits but they do have souls). This is where, as you have stated, 2 Cor 5:21 says that He became sins for us. Want further proof? Heb 10:5,10 - 'Therefore, when He (Christ) comes into the world (incarnation), He says...a BODY You (God) have prepared for Me...By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the BODY of Jesus Christ once for all.' Christ bore our sins in His BODY, but His spirit, who He really was, and soul, His personality, DID NOT become sin. 4. Therefore, I don't believe that He stopped being God just because He bore our sins in His body. Paul says almost the same thing of the Christian in Rom chapter 7. There is a power of sin in the members of his body (vs.18,23), but it is not him, who he is (vs. 17,20,21). 5. Christ chose when to give up His human Spirit and, when He did, He died - Matt 27:50; Luke 23:46; John 19:30. 6. At the resurecction, Christ became a life-giving Spirit - 1 Cor 15:45 'So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.' Why? Because He came to give His physical life to bear our sins. And He now gives us His eternal spiritual life through the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Life begets life. Of course, He has His resurrected body now, too. Well, there's my take. I don't feel that it is necessary to strip Christ of His deity in order to have Him bear our sins in His body. What do you think, brother? In Him, Bill Mc |
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36 | What do you think? | Luke 23:34 | Bill Mc | 17194 | ||
Thanks, Steve. You write, 'Jesus never called on His Father to forgive sins.' But here in this passage (Luke 23:34) He does. So what did you mean? In the instances that you cited where Jesus forgave sins, do you think that He forgave just because He was God (Mark 2:7)? Or do you think He forgave the sins because He knew that He came to be the sacrifice for all sins for all time (Heb 9:15 says that His sacrifice even forgave the sins committed under the first covenant (Law)? | ||||||
37 | Who was Jesus asking God to forgive? | Luke 23:34 | Bill Mc | 17189 | ||
Who was Jesus beseeching the Father to forgive? The context seems to suggest that it could be either the people casting lots for Christ's garments or the 'crucifixion party' consisting of the Romans who performed the act, the Jews who demanded it, the onlookers, and the even the sympathetics. There is no record of anyone asking for forgiveness at the crucifixion so why did Christ ask the Father to forgive? Did the Father answer this request? If so, how? Not even the thief asked for forgiveness. He only requested that Christ remember him when the Lord came into His kingdom. So who was forgiven? Is it possible that this was Christ's pronouncement that forgiveness for all mankind was provided for at the cross by His shed blood - Heb 9:22? If so, not everyone has accepted this forgiveness because not everyone 'comes' to the cross. Would this passage and the rest of the Bible support this view? |
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38 | Great answer, kalos! My two cents... | Col 3:17 | Bill Mc | 16958 | ||
Great answer, kalos! We often use 'in Jesus' name' as a Christian form of 'over and out' but your explanation makes it clear what the basis of this phrase is. Many Christians think that is they ask for something 'in Jesus' name', whether it's a new Cadillac, a house, etc., then God is obligated to answer that prayer regardless of motive. Many think 'in Jesus' name' is a magical incantation we use to get what WE want. Your comments clarify that we need to be agreeing with God concerning what HE wants. BTW, what significance do you see in our Savior's name as far as whether it is Jesus, Jesus Christ, etc.? He has many more names than these - Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Holy One, Lamb of God, Emmanuel, Word of God, etc. I could go on (I frequently do...) But, in Bible times names described character and function. We have lost that in modern times. Names mean very little to our culture. Anyway, what point were you trying to make concerning His name? Blessings, Bill Mc |
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39 | Where do we draw the line? | Matt 10:14 | Bill Mc | 16915 | ||
Dear charis, Thanks for the response. You said that you think that this verse CAN be applied to countries and religions but only with individuals and households can we discern this. I'm not sure what you mean by this statement. Is it a typo? But how should we respond to countries that are ready to kill and have killed missionaries? Should we just say, "Well, they knew the risk"? Do we continue to send in more people into harm's way into countries that see Christians as the enemy? We have missionaries on trial right now that could be executed for sharing the gospel. It is illegal to share the gospel there. How do we reconcile this with the admonishion to obey the laws of the land that the Bible speaks of? I've heard that some missionaries even have to have a 'cover' so that they can still stay in the country and share the gospel. Does God condone us telling lies to the foreign governments in order to accomplish a 'higher goal'? If we followed what this verse says, it would eliminate some of these problems. Why did Jesus say this if He didn't intend for it to be followed? Granted, if we literally follow this verse, then many more will also die without God. So, is there a balance? If so, where? Also, why do you say that 'don't throw pearls' and 'shake off the dust' are not permanent? Thanks, in Christ, Bill MC |
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40 | So what does this passage mean? | Matt 10:14 | Bill Mc | 16912 | ||
So what did Christ mean in this passage? There are those on this forum that insist that everything Christ said applies to Christians in the here and now. Christ did say this to His disciples. Does this passage apply to Christians? If so, how do we know when enough is enough and to 'shake the dust off'? If Christ said to do this, then how can we negate it? |
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