Results 21 - 40 of 49
|
||||||
Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: bjanko Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | When are we saved? | Hebrews | bjanko | 1188 | ||
But I would again add, the verse is summed up in the next verse were this state is referred to as the "way of righteousness." I do not see that "way of righteousness" and being saved from hell are necessarily the same thing. On the way to salvatiion, you confront this righteous way; but not all necessarily complete the journey to where they are securely saved. |
||||||
22 | Snatch? | Hebrews | bjanko | 1185 | ||
I think, as far as I understand you, that I agree. There is a difference between not being really saved and drawing near or then turning away from God on the one hand; and being truly saved and not being willing or able to turn away. Just my 2 cents in reply to you, though this is becoming a wearying topic. :) |
||||||
23 | Executive privilege? | Matt 18:17 | bjanko | 1147 | ||
I would not agree the sin must be particularly heinous; it simply must be repentant. The caps were in the NASB translation when I did a search for the verse. It was not my emphasis. They are in caps because they are words taken from the Mosaic Law in the O.T. and the NASB always caps those to indicate them. I don't know how many rules we can work out to come up with exact rules, which why we need leaders with wisdom living by God's rule. Ministers not ought hold back. If they do, then THEY should be disciplined by those over them. (Of course, many ministers have no one over them unless they are in a Reformed church.) vv. 18-20 are not verses merely about prayer, as is commonly misunderstood. Taken in context, they are referring to the prayers of two or three church authorities, binding and loosing, exercising authority over the church, with powers to admit into the church or to excommunicate. I believe the Scripture gives great authority to spiritual leaders and of course there's danger in that and men should be tested and examined very carefully before they are ordained. I'm not really sure what your main point or bottom line is, so I'm not really able to answer any more succinctly than this. I also agree that excommunication is not a glib or light thing or something that should be rushed into without first full and earnest pleading with the offender to repent. |
||||||
24 | A pastor who is there? | NT general Archive 1 | bjanko | 1141 | ||
IN THEORY: if a mega-church existed where it was subdivided and there REAL pastors and elders who shepherded their assigned portions of the flock, then I suppose all would be well. Unfortunately, mega-churches seem to operate much in the way you describe and so I do not think they are healthy. Theoretically, there could be an exception, but it is certainly very difficult to consider it a wise rule. It is more biblical, because you do have a pastor familiar with the individuals of his flock, if you have a smaller congregation. I am in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery, which covers So. California and some of Arizona is really what is called the "church." So, in that sense, it is indeed a mega church. However, the Presbytery oversees Sessions, which are two to four trained men -- a teaching elder, a couple ruling elders and perhaps a deacon or two. These men are usually over a smaller congregation, from say 50 to 200. And the number of men to congregants is sufficient for their to be proper care and feeding of the sheep. If the proportion is not adequate for that, then they should make two smaller churches out of it, in my opinion. |
||||||
25 | The church involved? | Matt 18:17 | bjanko | 1140 | ||
Matt 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. Matt 18:16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. Matt 18:17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matt 18:18 "Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Matt 18:19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. Matt 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matt 18:21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Matt 18:22 Jesus *said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. *********** This section covers all your concerns. 1) "if your brother sins against you" - it doesn't specify type of sin, it just says "sins" 2) the church should be informed about the matter -- maybe not every gory detail, but the main thrust of the issue; the verse explicitly says it should be made known to the church; I'm just inferring that the church not be told so much that it might lead to gossip or an ungodly disdain toward someone they ought all should desire to see come to repentance vv. 18-20 show clearly that there is an ecclesiastical authority; an authority the church leaders -- ministers and elders -- have that the laity does not have vv. 21-22 is paradoxical. Jesus tells Peter he should forgive the brother basically without any limit, (i.e., the hyperbole seventy times seven). I think this is resolved though by taking the view that while we might forgive the brother, we -- the church -- ought not let him profess to be a Christian if he lives in sin and will not repent. The excommunication is to cause him to desire repentance, just as the exile of Israel was meant to cause them to desire to return to their God. |
||||||
26 | Jesus closes the door? | Matt 18:17 | bjanko | 1104 | ||
The Matthew verse says to treat them like Gentiles and tax collectors; in other words, they were to be excommunicated; this is plain because they were the lowest scoundrels in society. I agree with your point, but let me clarify. The only good tax collector was a repentant one, to borrow a phrase. The image of the tax collector is to emphasis that they should be put out of the church. The issue you are raising now is different? You seem to really be asking, "How should we treat the apostate, those who are excommunicated?" And here is where we agree: we should treat the excommunicated as Jesus did, offering the gift of God's free grace and inviting them into the Kingdom; however, the church officers cannot allow them into the kingdom until they are will to repentant and believe, which also implies coming under church authority. In excommunication, the door is always open for reconciliation and repentance. But only those who actually do repent and believe should be allowed back in through the door. |
||||||
27 | Who wrote the letter to the Hebrews? | Hebrews | bjanko | 1096 | ||
I do not know the arguments. I have also heard that Mark might have possibly been the author. It is certainly a "heavenly" letter as are Paul's are, but it's style doesn't seem to me -- at least in its English translations -- to be similar to either Paul or Mark. So, I suppose that's why it could be Barnabas or someone else. I believe its canonicity was sometimes disputed over the centuries and I'm not sure, but I wonder if this authorship question could be part of the reason. This shouldn't be a hindrance though. There are many books in the Old Testament for whom we are also unsure as to who was the author. Anyway, Hebrews is properly a canonical book and, being part of Scripture, was therefore ultimately written through "whoever" by the Holy Spirit. So God, being the ultimate author, should give us assurance as to its truths. |
||||||
28 | What would be considered the age? | Bible general Archive 1 | bjanko | 1091 | ||
All are sinners and under the wrath and curse of God. Remember that God has the right to judge all mankind, not only for their own sins, but for the sins imputed to them in Adam. So, if by some miracle, you had never ever sinned, you would still be guilty by virtue of the sin nature you have inherited. This goes for young and old, male and female. All babies are sinners and subject to the same wrath. This is where the destructive views of Arminians enter in. Because they think man is able to choose God, they must make up an "age of accountability" where this must happen, and also excuse all infants and say God must be sending them to heaven. However, the Bible teaches that we are saved by faith, not that we give to ourselves, but that faith is a gift from God. GOD REGENERATES US BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO BELIEVE; or, put another way, we are enabled to believe because regenerates/saves us. For those who cannot choose -- like the mentally ill or infants -- are they different than us? Not at all. No man with all his usual capacities is able to choose God. God elects those whom He will save. Those who are able will express that new life by exercising faith in Christ. Those who cannot show the expression of their salvation -- such as babies, etc. -- are still saved because God has saved them. |
||||||
29 | Flood in the air? | Gen 1:1 | bjanko | 1090 | ||
Of course it receded into the atmosphere. The Bible says so. | ||||||
30 | Excommunication? | Matt 18:17 | bjanko | 1089 | ||
The Matthew verse is in reference to excommunication. The Thessalonians verse is not as a extreme -- it's simply a disassociation, to shame him for his disobedience, not fellowshiping. The Thess. verse is not excommunication because the very next verse says to "admonish him as a brother." If he is to be treated "as" a brother, then he must still be in the visible church; if he were excommunicated, you would need to treat him as a non-brother, i.e. a Gentile or tax-collecter, (see the Matthew passage again). | ||||||
31 | sin vs. sins vs. iniquity vs. dead works | Bible general Archive 1 | bjanko | 1080 | ||
I'm not sure there is much difference between sin and sin. Although remember there is the sin which we actually commit ourselves in addition to the sin nature we inherited by imputation from Adam. Iniquity just seems like another name for our personal sins which we commit. Dead works is sinful in only an indirect way. Dead works are the works we do to try and earn merit before God. They might even be good works, but in terms of making us right with God they are totally dead because they are not from faith. |
||||||
32 | Does God want big churches? | NT general Archive 1 | bjanko | 1079 | ||
I don't think God wants churches that are so big that the minister, elders and deacons are unable to properly provide for the individual members of the flock in a personal one-on-one way. | ||||||
33 | How can Jesus be tempted if He is God? | Heb 4:15 | bjanko | 822 | ||
Jesus is fully man and fully God. He is one person with two distinct natures. God cannot be tempted because He is God and not a man. Jesus' divine nature cannot be tempted either. Jesus' human nature can be tempted because He is human like we are and can sympathize with our condition. He cannot be tempted to the point of sin because He is God in the flesh and is sinless. But in His human nature He can be tempted in a way that He cannot be in his divine nature. | ||||||
34 | How do you then interpret the verses... | Luke 8:13 | bjanko | 461 | ||
The common trait of all the verses you quote is that they all say that the man who chooses Christ will be saved. BUT THEY NEVER SAY WHAT KIND OF MAN CHOOSES CHRIST! This is the case with all so-called "free will" verses. The verses supporting predestination, on the other hand, are very explicit: they all say that no man can choose God unless God enables them to; or they say that God has chosen certain people to respond to His call. Taking this in view, it is very consistent to conclude that God foreordains whom He will save; and when these people choose God, they will have everlasting life. But if you simply say that sinful people who despise God somehow, magically, choose God; then you are really saying that man is not thoroughly sinful, that the inclinations of his heart are not evil continually, and you still have no explanation for how a corrupt man could choose Christ and a way of life which is entirely against all the sinfulness within that sinful man. And you also have no explanation for all the verses which explicitly state that God has predestined a people to Himself. I suggest YOU read John 6:44 in context. In the midst of telling people how to be saved, Jesus makes the EXPLICIT point that they cannot do it on their own. They have not ears to hear. Only the elect, those few who are responding to Christ, are saved; and He makes it clear, properly giving glory to God, that the ones responding have been chosen and predestined by God -- in other words, they are not choosing on their own, but God Himself is drawing them. So, clearly, God's drawing precedes their choosing. In context, the point is clear that Jesus says ONLY the ones who are drawn will be saved; for indeed they are the only ones who are enabled to come to Christ. |
||||||
35 | Predetermined or Free Will | Luke 8:13 | bjanko | 460 | ||
You wrote: '3: To renounce your salvation would be to turn your back on God, to no longer believe or accept his Gift. To no longer follow the teachings of Christ. Granted, you could always say that person wasn't really saved then. But then what would you say would have happened to that person if they died prior to that drastic change?' My reply: Since they were never saved to begin with, then they would have gone to hell. You wrote: 'And if you say that the person must not have been chosen by God to be saved and was only fooling themselves when they truely believed in Christ and thought they were saved -- ' Me: That's not what I'm saying; that's what the Bible says. You cont'd: ' -- then can you say for sure that anyone is saved?' My reply: No. Of course not. How can I tell if you are saved or if someone else is saved? Am I God? It would be quite presumptuous for anyone to claim he could tell if someone is saved or not, don't you think? You wrote: 'Did Jesus die for everyone or just for a select few?' My reply: He obviously died for only a select few. In Romans 9, Paul calls them "the elect." If God HAD died for everybody, then everybody would be saved. Do you really think that people whom God has decided to save can resist His will? Do you put mere man on the same level as God? You wrote: 'I can show you several versus that show that He died for all, can you show one that says otherwise?' My reply: Although I have shown you several, you do not seem interested in what they say. Again, a mere smattering a verses (not versus) means nothing if you do not take the whole of Scripture into account in interpreting them. You wrote: 'Then if Jesus did die for all, how could there be some that God predetermined not to be save?' My reply: Indeed, you finally understand me. If Jesus died for all, then all would surely, without question, be saved, for Jesus' blood is in no way ineffectual. However, all are NOT saved; therefore, Jesus did NOT die for all, but only for His people, only for the elect. |
||||||
36 | Predetermined or Free Will | Luke 8:13 | bjanko | 459 | ||
You wrote: '2: God has predetermined that his plan of salvation will be carried out. This does not mean that he has predetermined who will and will not be saved.' My reply: That simply does not make any sense. How can the predetermined will of an all-powerful God NOT come to pass? You wrote: 'God wants everyone to be saved (If you need several versus to back this up, let me know). He provided the means for that to happen through the death and ressurection of Jesus. It is our choice whether to accept his Gift or not.' My reply: Eph. 2:1-2 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins" How do the spiritually dead choose anything? When's the last time you have seen a corpse make a choice o do anything else for that matter? John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." This is pretty explicit. Sure God desires that all be saved, but He did not PROVIDE so that all will be saved. Since all will not be saved, then if you say that God PROVIDED atonement for all, then you are saying that the atonement which God has provided has FAILED. But a failing God is NOT the God of the Bible! It makes more sense to understand that, while God desires all will be saved, He only PROVIDED atonement FOR HIS PEOPLE whom He has elected from eternity past. As for the numerous verses you quoted: it is not proper to pick and choose numerous verses which support your view while ignoring all the verses which do not support your view. You seem to be ignoring all the verses which speak of election and God's will from before eternity and the fact that God is the ONLY acting party in the regeneration of the soul. What about the verses I have quoted? You simply say things like, "but that doesn't necessarily mean thus and such".... but your responses are really no answer; you are begging the question. My answer to all your verses is that we certainly do choose God: AFTER He has regenerated us and given us the gift of salvation. But as the Bible explicitly and clearly says, we are DEAD in our trespasses and sins and NO ONE comes to Jesus UNLESS the Father draws him. |
||||||
37 | Predetermined or Free Will | Luke 8:13 | bjanko | 456 | ||
You wrote: '1: Where does it say that Jesus is omnipotent? Jesus says in Mat 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father." If Jesus were omnipotent as you say, He would have known the day and hour.' My reply: You are confusing omniscience with omnipotence. What you are describing is omniscience -- having all knowledge. I was speaking of omnipotence -- having all power. If you study the doctrine of Christ in more depth, you will learn that Jesus was one Person (of the Trinity) with two natures, fully man and fully God. Being fully God, Jesus would be fully omnipotent and omniscience. The verse you quote is obviously Jesus speaking as fully man. |
||||||
38 | Would you please give scripture evidence | 1 Cor 13:12 | bjanko | 265 | ||
I do not think any verses really address this. However, it is a reasonable assumption that our loved ones who are saved will be recognizable to us. We all have our same bodies, although they will be glorified. It is not a stretch to believe we will be able to recognize one another; but, frankly, I think we will be more interested in the recognition and worship of Christ. | ||||||
39 | Is Passover celebrated by Messianic Jews | NT general Archive 1 | bjanko | 264 | ||
I would say that it would be all right to appreciate the rich Christological symbolism of the Passover. But if one actually "celebrates" Passover, it is like ignoring the work of Christ because Christ IS our Passover. Passover is the shadow; Christ is the substance. Christ is the Real and Glorious and Beautiful. To actually "celebrate" Passover would be to turn from the worship of the Real and to be enamored with the picture of the Real, to look at the picture more than the object of the picture. "For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed" (1 Cor 5:7b) |
||||||
40 | why were Eli's sons permitted to do this | 1 Samuel | bjanko | 244 | ||
This is evidence that Eli's faith grew cold in his later years. This is evidenced by the way God judged him at the end of his life. |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 1 2 3 ] Next > Last [3] >> |