Results 21 - 40 of 361
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
21 | Joe, is your reasoning not circular? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20349 | ||
Dear Joe, I wasn't defending the Mormons peeing at all. I agree with you 100 percent that God works internally thru His Word as well as externally through others to teach us His Word. I have no problem with that assertion at all. I never said that it wasn't important. I said that it was not absolutely necessary, it is not essential, it is not a requirement. It is 'icing on the cake.' And, again, in order to make a determination of whether you are being taught 'sound' doctrine from another human being, one would do well to first study the doctrines directly from the Word relying on the Holy Spirit's illumination and one would do well to know something about the human being doing the teaching. If you have a problem trusting the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth, then your problem is with Him, Joe, not with me. I believe what He says. It is a process. And truth is embodied in Jesus Christ. Yes, Joe, 'the external teaching of others HELPS hold us to sound doctrine as we biblically evaluate what is said.' But to do so, we must have a plumb line. How do you know whether what is said is sound, brother? Just because it is taught? You frequently remind me that you feel that all that I know is what I have been taught by those from DTS. If that were true, which it is not (I grew up in NY), then you would have no right, sir, to question my beliefs because I would have been doing EXACTLY what you are insisting here. I would have been sitting under the external teaching of people who claim, right or wrong, to be teaching the truth of God's Word. Joe, you can't have it both ways, brother. You can't criticize me (or you shouldn't) for believing a certain way BECAUSE of what I have been taught and then turn around and say that EXTERNAL teaching is just as viable as what the Holy Spirit does? There has got to be a plumb line somewhere, Joe. For me, it is God's Word. Yes, there is a dynamic. But, if forced to choose, I would rather trust the Holy Spirit then men. Fortunately, brother, I don't often have to make that choice. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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22 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 20320 | ||
Dear Steve, Of course people can come to faith in Christ apart from reading the Bible for themselves. Otherwise, the illiterate and the blind could never reach a point of putting their trust in God. God reveals Himself through many different ways. For some, He may use creation to initially draw men to Himself. For others, He may use the Bible itself, other religious writings, or other people. God does indeed draw men to Himself. In fact, the 'truest' revelation of God is not the Bible itself but the Christ of the Bible. He alone is the exact representation of God. Not even the OT was a true representation. Jesus told the Pharisees that they knew the letter of the word but missed the Spirit behind it. I believe that anyone who is truly seeking God will eventually have the Bible in their life in some form becuase it is through the Bible that the Truth, Jesus Christ, is revealed. Don't be afraid of being accused of 'heresy' here on this forum. I made a statement yesterday that I believe that if a man only had the ability to read and a Bible, that, because of the Holy Spirit's work as the teacher, that person could come to true saving faith and learn all he would need to know. Because of that statement, I was then informed that my viewpoint was also that which led to the start of Jehovah's Witnesses. What it all boils down to, brother, is that the legalists want to control you and your relationship with God rather than trusting that God is indeed revealing Himself to you and that He is the author and completer of our faith. The very ones that hold staunchly to God's complete sovereignty are the ones who will tell you to do it THEIR way or it just ain't good enough. Keep standing firm and don't let other attempt to squeeze your or God into a box. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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23 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20266 | ||
Questions, Part 2 - 8.Your fellowship with other believers? I see fellowship with other believers as a great privelege that can hep us grow in Christ. God frequently uses other believers to teach, encourage, and correct me. We are all members of His body, the church. I see the true church as an organism, not an organization. I endeavor not to let denominational boundaries influence my ability to fellowship. While denominations probably necessary at this point, I believe that they are not scriptural. 9. Your involvement in the local church? I am active in my local church through fellowship, the music program, and teaching Sunday School and small group. But I also realize that my Christian maturity is not based on how much or how well I serve. 10. Your involvement in missions? I am not active in missions at this time, other than contributing to the offering. 11. Your manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit? I believe that I have a teaching gift but it is not given for my edification at all. And it is only done properly as I allow the Teacher to teach through me. 12. The fruit of the Spirit in your life? I believe that the fruit of the Spirit is not something that we produce. I believe that Christ produces it through us and that we just get to 'bear' it. He produces the fruit as we abide in Him. If I am not abiding in Him as my source and life, I will attempt to produce 'flesh' fruit that may look like the real thing but will be burned up at the Bema seat. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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24 | What is the account we will give? | Rom 14:12 | Bill Mc | 20234 | ||
Dear forum members, What do you think that this passages means? The blood of Christ deals with the believer's sins but what kind of an 'account' is Paul refering to here? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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25 | Is job security being threatened here? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20232 | ||
Dear kalos, Sounds like someone's 'job security' is being threatened here, doesn't it? Do we really have to resort to drawing an analogy between a 'sola scriptura' attitude and the start of a cult? They re-wrote the Bible. Did I ever once suggest that? To even imply that someone with just a Bible and no supplemental material is the sure way to a cult is ludicrous. You missed my point entirely, kalos. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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26 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20215 | ||
Tim, on second thought, because I don't claim to be from either camp, I will share my beliefs in these areas. This is not a 'middle ground' because I've been told that there cannot be one. To my knowledge, I have not been formally taught either C or A. But, obviously, my human teachers may have been one of the other. Well, here goes.. 1. Your personal relationship to God? I was born in Adam, dead in trespasses and sin. God, throught Christ work on the cross and His resurrection, has offered me forgiveness of my sins and His very life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Responding to this offer, I accepted. My spirit is completely saved - a new spirit. My soul is in the process of being saved. My current body never will be saved - I'll get a new one. God indwells me and He will never leave me or forsake me because the only thing that could cause Him to do so, sin, has been dealt with by Christ. 2.How accepted you feel that you are to God? Because I am 'in Christ', I am 100 percent acceptable to God. We have been united through the Spirit's baptism and will never be separated. Because of some of my actions, I don't always 'feel' accepted, but I remind myself that truth is what God says not what I feel. 3. Your prayer life? I feel that prayer is mainly an atttitude of constand communication with God. Someone said, "Pray always, if necessary use words." I feel that prayer is one of the main ways I can express to God my thankfulness to Him and agree with Him concerning what He is doing in my life. 4. Your Bible study? I feel that if I study the Bible in a spirit of humbleness, that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. I do see doctrine through an Old Covenant and New Covenant viewpoint. I view commentaries as a supplement - handy to have but not absolutely necessary. I try to study everyday using my interlinear and Vine's. 5. Your worship of God? While I enjoy 'worship services', I think that alot of it is for show. I view true worship as the act of submitting my body to Christ to live out through. As with prayer, I see worship as an attitude, not a discreet action, but a constant awareness that I am in Christ and that Christ is in me. I feel that true worshipping is setting your mind upon things above - being consumed with Christ. 6. Your ability to share the gospel with others? I endeavor to share with any that is open. I do not actively go 'door-to-door.' I feel that Christ died for all men, that all sins were forgiven at the cross, but that we need to respond to Christ's provision and accept it. I feel that my sharing of the gospel is not "You've sinned, so come be forgiven" but rather "You are dead and separated from God, so come and receive life and union with God. Forgiveness makes that possible." 7. Your efforts to disciple others? I endeavor to show others that God's Word is the standard and that God will reveal Himself to all who truly seek Him. I endeavor to help others see that Christ is our life, that He doesn't want to come 'into' your life but that He wants to give you a completely new life as a new creation. I long to see others leave the performance-based mentality of the law and abide in a real relationship with Christ as life. More later. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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27 | Sir Pent, are you C or A? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20212 | ||
Dear Sir, Thanks for your responses. One last question if I may: Are you of the Calvinist or Armenian persuasion? Or do you even claim to be one or the other? Thanks, Bill Mc |
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28 | Do all TEACHERS teach the truth? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20207 | ||
Pastor Kwaku, That was my very point to begin with. As you have said, one should be well-versed in the Scriptures. My original proposal was that a man who is able to read will be able to understand the Bible through the enablement of the Holy Spirit if that is all he has access to. The premise being advanced here is that God has had different men down through the ages who He has given a 'deeper revelation' of scripture to than what is available to the 'average' Christian. So I asked what, aside from the Bible, would be necessary. The answer I got was teachers. But what right do teachers of the scriptures have to add to or detract from the Holy Spirit's revelation of the scriptures. And how does one guage whether one is being taught truth or not. I think that the question ultimately has to go back to the fact that we, individually, must know what the Bible says and means in order to guage anyone else's interpretation. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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29 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20202 | ||
Dear Tim, a minor observation. If this question had been on the theological differences (w/associating scriptures) between C and A, I would have had to scroll down by now. Instead, it is on what practical difference does it make in your Christian experience and there is only one person who has responded. And that response was that he would rather discuss the theological arguments pro and con. C'mon, believers, now is your chance to demonstrate why the Calvin/Armenian issue is so important. If it does not impact your life on a practical level, why is it so hotly debated? Surely something which has such a polarizing effect amongst the body of Christ must have some practical results. Humbly challenging all you C and A believers to prove the pudding, Bill Mc |
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30 | Do all TEACHERS teach the truth? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20198 | ||
Dear kalos, Thanks for the response but it was not an answer. Why? How do you know whether or not these TEACHERS are teaching the truth? Do we trust everyone who is a TEACHER? Do all TEACHERS teach the same? I think not. If I sat under Joe's teaching for a year and then sat under Tim's teaching for a year, how would I know which line of thinking is the truth? We all know that their are false TEACHERS amongst us (in the organized church). Not everyone who teaches, should be teaching. So how do you make the determination of who is 'given by God' and who is not? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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31 | Joe, is the Bible not sufficienct? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20191 | ||
Dear Joe, You write: 'Saying "all I need is me and my Bible" doesn't work, either, because most of what we hold regarding the Holy Scriptures was taught to us by others...' Are you saying that if a person knew how to read and all that he had was the Bible, that it would not be enough for him to arrive at a saving faith? If so, that is a pretty strong statement, even for you. Granted, most all of us sit under someone's teaching. But how do you know if it is valid teaching or not? The Bible. I do believe that all that is necessary in a humble soul, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit of God. In fact, I would recommend that any new Christian avoid sitting under anyone's teaching for at least a year so that only he and the Holy Spirit can spend time learning what God's Word says and means before having it filtered through someone else. I don't know about you, but I have no desire to chew someone else's food to get my nourishment. God promised me that he would lead me into all truth through His Word. Right or wrong, I trust Him to do so. Commentaries are exactly that - 'com'ments from 'men', nothing more, nothing less. I recently tried to discuss an issue with my pastor and all he wanted to do is read from his commentary. I said, "Pastor, why can't we just stick with God's Word and let the Holy Spirit and other scripture interpret this passage." "Oh, this commentary explains it very well," he replied. Made me what to puke. Commentaries have their place AFTER God's Word, not before it or alongside it. What do you think? Does one truly require more than the Bible and the Holy Spirit to know truth? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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32 | Is there any practical difference? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 20132 | ||
Dear Tim, Thanks for posting your question. As I have been 'labeled' as having no 'label' in the C and A debate (this forum, ya gotta luv it!), this is not an answer to your question. If both C and A listed their core beliefs, as implied in anothor post, I would probably line up more closely with one over the other. But as this is not the goal of this string, I thought that I would offer some 'practical' areas for this question. How does your belief in Calvinism or Armenianism affect: Your personal relationship to God? How accepted you feel that you are to God? Your prayer life? Your Bible study? Your worship of God? Your ability to share the gospel with others? Your efforts to disciple others? Your fellowship with other believers? Your involvement in the local church? Your involvement in missions? Your manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit in your life? Thanks for the opportunity to ask these questions. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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33 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20100 | ||
BTW, Sir Pent, I do have a label. It is a child of God, a son, a saint, a new creation, a citizen of heaven, an heir of God. I just couldn't find Armenianism or Calvinism in the NT. :) The un-Cola, Bill Mc |
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34 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20096 | ||
Oh,oh...we've been caught! We better start a new thread. See how the Law works, Sir Pent? Tell us not to do something and we just go and do it anyway. I wonder if I was predistined to go off topic or if I just chose to? Oh well...start a new thread guys if you want to discuss the 'pin' thingy. ;) In the flesh, Bill Mc |
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35 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20092 | ||
Gentlemen, I had to read Jim's site about three times before I could see where he was going with the Argument argument. I'm not saying that I agree with his conclusions, but I did find them interesting. I, too, agree that the world (and, in fact, Christendom) believes in many different Jesuses (I'm not sure how to spell the plural of Jesus, maybe it should be Jesi). But I do think that we all tend to create God in our image to some extent. We all have filters that we perceive truth through. Please, Joe and Tim, do not take what I am about to say as a personal attack. I respect you both. You both have been helpful to me in different aspects and I appreciate it. But, brothers, you cannot be both right if the issue is as diametrically opposed as you insist. I have to admit, I have not studied Calvinism or Armenianism at all. Not one wit. Why? Because of the arguing present over it. There is a staunch, 5-point Calvinist at my church (his label, not mine) who has the most hateful things to say about Armenianists that I left his Sunday School class. Is this my problem? Could be. But I did not view the issue as edifying to the body of Christ at all. (Joe, I am not pointing at you, brother. You have never come close to saying some of the things this Calvinist has said.) Does my lack of understanding in this area cause a deficiency in my understanding of the plan of salvation and God's nature? Not from my perspective. Why? Because I believe that everything that we need to know to be saved is in the scripture and the same Holy Spirit that revealed the meaning to Calvin and to Armenius will reveal the meaning to me. God does not say that He would send Calvin and Armenius to remind us of what Christ said or to lead us into all truth. He gives us the Holy Spirit to do so as we humbly submit ourselves to having our minds renewed by God's Word and the mind of Christ available to us. What does Calvinism or Armenianism add to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Once you are saved, does it matter one wit whether you chose or whether God did? For those who are not saved, do we have the right to decide who the chosen are and are not? Now, you're probably both, Joe and Tim, saying, "Bill doesn't understand my view at all." This is true. But it is also true that what little I do understand of the argument has led me to 'perceive' the argument as I've stated it, whether my perception is correct or not. This is the connotation it presents to me. Again, is it my problem? Probably. But, from my perspective, God has had true believers all down through the centuries that have placed their hope and trust in Christ alone as revealed through the scriptures by the Holy Spirit. How either Calvin or Armenius could add anything to the full revelation of God through Jesus Christ is beyond me. I believe that if you try to add ANYTHING to the gospel, then you detract from it. To insist that God has given a 'fuller' revelation to any one individual then what His Word says smacks of favoritism (which God does not show) and the beginnings of cultish theology. We are ALL of one Spirit if we are in Christ. We were ALL baptized into His body, the church. In closing, I agree that truth is important. That was one thing that Jim said that did make sense. We are all growing in our knowledge of grace and truth and the love of our Lord. Jesus, as Jim said, is the embodiment of grace and truth. We cannot find either apart from Him. Well, I've said enough. Grace and peace to you both. I love you both in the Lord. Now, on to really important matters...Did God predestine for a certain number of angels to dance on the head of a pin, or do the angels, having free will, choose who will and will not? :) In Christ, Bill Mc |
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36 | Does it take away sins or not? | Lev 16:34 | Bill Mc | 20075 | ||
Brothers in Christ, Here is a very interesting 'perception' of the whole argument - Calvinism vs. Arminianism. If your mind is already made up, this probably will not help. But if you are open to searching for the truth of the whole issue, then you might find this enlightening: http://theshovel.net/argument/index.htm In Christ, Bill Mc |
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37 | Searcher, what translation do you use? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 20056 | ||
Searcher, Could I ask what translation you are using? All of mine, NASB, NIV, NKJV, interlinear, have the word 'not' and in none of them is it in italics. Also, if you see my other posts on 'Is the Christian under the Mosaic Law?', you will see many other verses that agree with Gal 5:18. What translation are you using, brother? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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38 | Did Satan wait to tempt Jesus? | Matt 4:2 | Bill Mc | 20049 | ||
Dear mylene, Searcher56 has explained those related passages very well. I just had a couple of other thoughts to share. As you know from precept, letting scripture interpret scripture is very important. And, without getting into any 'theomatic' discussions, the number 40 is frequently used in the Bible as a time of testing. It rained for 40 days and nights when the earth was being flooded. The Israelites scouted out (tested) Canaanland for 40 days to see what the conditions were there. Of course, after refusing to enter, they were 'tested' in the wilderness for 40 years, 1 year for every day spent in Canaanland. Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and nights before God gave him the 10 Commandments. Goliath 'tested' and taunted Israel every morning for 40 days. So, along with what Searcher has posted, I think that the 40 days and nights were a time of testing and temptation for our Lord. I hope this helps. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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39 | How is it a law without consequences? | Rom 5:8 | Bill Mc | 19983 | ||
Searcher, Thanks for the response. I use the NASB for my word studies and correlate it with my interlinear. They both have the word "not" in Gal 5:18. That is the best I can do because I cannot read Greek. You are right that we will probably not agree on the relationship of law and grace/mercy. That's too bad because I feel all Christians need a solid understanding of both. You need to know that though I don't think that we are under Law, I am not without a 'guidance system.' I do, indeed, have one. It is no longer the external Law written on stone but the law of Christ internally written upon my heart and mind. So, at heart, I am not anti-Law. But, be that as it may, I will respect your right to disagree with me. With that in mind, I will have to pass up answering some of your questions for the sake of peace on this issue. It wouldn't do either of us any good for me to respond to a Law question, "Searcher, we are not under Law" when you believe that we are. So I will be a little bit 'pickier' on what questions I submit answers to. Searcher, I would appreciate if you read my fairly current question on whether we are under the Mosaic Law or not. Even if you don't agree with me, it would be helpful if you saw the scriptures listed there that show why I take such a strong stance on this issue. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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40 | healing | Ps 103:3 | Bill Mc | 19888 | ||
Dear James48, Thanks for your kind reply. I do agree that often times these two 'healings' are portrayed together. I'll be honest with you, brother. I do not know why sometimes God heals and sometimes He doesn't. I have witnessed a few 'miraculous recoveries' that I would attribute to our Lord's divine intervention. At the same time, like you, I have seen chronic illnesses that, so far, have not gone away despite much praying, anointing with oil, 'healing services', and faith. This much I am convinced of: 1. God still does miracles, yes, even healing and 2. He doesn't always do them (especially on our timetables). I've lived long enough to see both. I cannot stick God in a box and tell Him that He can't do what He did back during Christ's earthly ministry and, then again, because He did it back then, I cannot demand that He do it now. Right or wrong, He is sovereign. And I do not think that it is a matter of the quantity of faith one has. The amount of faith is not important, the Object of our faith is. But, James48, as I said in my other post, any physicallying healing we are blessed enough to receive is but a temporary measure. I do have some older friends that do have chronic illnesses - back problems, arthritis, cancer, severe heart problems, etc. And yet some of these older saints exude such a spirit of humbleness and confidence in the Lord and His goodness, despite their pain, that I know somehow their sufferings are glorifying their Lord. It really comes down to a matter of trust. I'm reminded of Job's pledge, "Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him." That is a confidence and trust that no disease can ravage. Keep seeking for your answers. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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