Results 2241 - 2260 of 2452
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Reformer Joe Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
2241 | MEANING OF 40CHAPTER V 11? | Isaiah | Reformer Joe | 13065 | ||
Again, nice non-answer. --Joe! |
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2242 | MEANING OF 40CHAPTER V 11? | Isaiah | Reformer Joe | 12992 | ||
Nice non-answer. Show us how Isaiah 40 is about you and not God. --Joe! By the way, you are not my enemy , but rather the enemy of God and His truth. |
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2243 | How many humans created? | Genesis | Reformer Joe | 12991 | ||
This is off-topic, but one of your statements brings up an interesting question that I have had. You wrote: "Adam and Eve are the only two humans EVER to be created." My question is, Do you consider the conception of our Lord Jesus in the womb of Mary to be another instance of the creation of a human. God the Son was pre-existent of course, but His "earthly tent" wasn't. I myself lean toward the idea that God supernaturally created a new human zygote "ex nihilo", which would make him the Second Adam in a very real sense. It would also deal with the question of how Christ in his humanity would have no "original sin," since he would not be the genetic descendent of Mary (if, indeed, the physical body plays any role in the transmission of the curse at all). Just idle speculation, of course. What do you think? --Joe! |
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2244 | Is the Christian under Law? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12986 | ||
True enough. God regenerated us, however, to lead holy, moral lives which glorify Him. This comes not from circumcision, nor from keeping the Old Testament feasts, but come from sanctification in obedience to God's moral law. Obedience is not the BASIS of our being saved, or we would all be in some serious trouble! But it definitely is an inevitable fruit of our new birth. We are not saved BY works, but we are saved UNTO works. Following God's moral law with the motivation of honoring Him should be the sole occuption of the life of a believer. That certainly was not limited to pre-Christian Jews! Thanks for your input! --Joe! |
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2245 | What is your identity in Christ? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12984 | ||
Bill: I agree with Spurgeon completely here. However, he is speaking of forgiveness. That is justification, not sanctification. Undoubtedly, we are justified by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Works play no part of our justification. My justification is complete. However, in certain senses my sanctification is not. When I was justified at conversion, I was also "set apart" for SERVICE to God. Salvation is not and end in itself, but rather God's means of glorifying Himself both in our redemption from sin, but also in the fruit that we will bear. Works are not the basis of our justification, but they very much play a part in our sanctification. Note what I am saying here: we are not saved BY our works, but we are saved UNTO good works which glorify God. You may continue to dismiss the tri-partite view of sanctification I and most believers in church history have held, but the fact is that sanctification is presented in Scripture in one sense as a past event, in another as an ongoing event, and in yet another as a future, completed event. I have already cited many verses which point to sanctification as a goal of the Christian life, not merely a "done deal" like our justification. Again, how do you explain those verses in light of your view that sanctification is complete in every sense? Justification and sanctification are not the same thing. My salvation is assured when I was justified, and I was "set apart" when i was sanctified, but God gave me the Spirit to enable me to submit to God's law (not my words, but His -- Romans 8:7) and to be transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2 -- our transformation is not yet complete). All of this is designed to glorify Him, to accomplish His purposes. My salvation has benefits for me, but it is only a means to God being glorified in his mercy and grace (1 Peter 2:10). The whole ball of wax is about Him, not me. I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS which are in keeping with his law. Every time we see the gospel mentioned and the blessings we have received, the passage continues to define a larger purpose for why we were chosen and regenerated. The will of God is that we live a holy life which testifies to the excellencies of God and silences the ignorant talk of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15). This comes from following God's moral law, which among other places is demonstrated in the Ten Commandments. We are free from the curse that comes from our non-compliance with the law, because Christ has fulfilled it completely for us. God's moral guidelines that are reflected both within and outside the Mosaic Law still are moral guidelines for us. If you ignore these guidelines, saying they are not applicable to the believer, what exactly are the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit uses in your life "to conform us outwardly to the image of Christ"? Any commandment from God forms part of His moral Law, and it is from His commandments that we have a standard on what righteous living is. This is what is known as the law/gospel distinction. God's law shows us what is good and what the Lord requires of us. From the gospel do not come guidelines for obedience to Christ, but rather grace and mercy despite our rebellion against God and His perfect law, as well as the power of the Holy Spirit for us to honor and glorify Him by following His moral law. Incidentally, for Spurgeon's take on the uses of law in the life of the believer, you can read some of his sermons online. These two in particular address the issue in question: www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0128.htm www.spurgeon.org/sermons/3418.htm Don't dismiss what we can learn from the heroes of the faith. They are certainly not infallible (and I myself disagree with some of what they have to say, just as they disagree with each other on some points), but one should weigh seriously what they have to show us from the Word before a summary dismissal is made in favor of "just God, me, and the Bible!" Thanks for your comments --Joe! |
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2246 | I'm sorry, Readers, and Reformer Joe | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12980 | ||
No offense taken, Bill. What I would like to know is that if I have interpreted Scripture erroneously, what is your interpretation of the Scriptures I presented? I especially refer to those which are in answer to your statement that "God does not want us to be righteous." I am always open to correction, but you need to be detailed in showing me just how I have misapplied the list of Scriptures I gave in my post, rather than just implying that I am pulling something out of thin air in my use of them. Thanks! --Joe! |
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2247 | Is the Christian under Law? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12944 | ||
I agree with your statement about both the Pharisees and of David. The spiritual deadness of the Pharisees found its expression through superficial and hypocritical adherence to the letter of the Law. I am not sure what you mean by "established," but we agree that the Holy Spirit caused David to embrace and love God's moral law rather than to despise it and consider it irrelevant to someone who has the Spirit. --Joe! |
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2248 | What is your identity in Christ? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12918 | ||
You wrote: "I am a saint, a child of God, who occasionally still sins." What do you think the term "sinner IN PRACTICE" means, Bill? Someone who commits sins (and if your life is like mine and most of those I know, I hope that "occasionally" is an understatement). You wrote: "Well, brother, I feel we've probably taken this as far as is profitable. You can cling to what you allege that Catholics, Protestants, Reformed, Dispensationalists, Calvin, Luther, Augustine, Edwards, and Spurgeon say. I'm going to 'rest' in Sola Scriptura." Now you are both demonstrating ignorance and arrogance, Bill. Where do you think "sola Scriptura" came from? Where do you think it would be today without God's intervention through the lives of Luther and Calvin? Do you not realize the way in which Augustine and Edwards and Spurgeon preserved and passed on the biblical idea of grace? To spit on their contributions in the way you do really makes me think much less of you, because somehow you think that you have become wiser than all the saints who have come before, and that there is absolutely nothing to be gleaned from their application of "sola Scriptura." Speaking of sola Scriptura, there didn't seem to be much Scriptura in your post here, while mine seems to be replete with it. And I must confess that your view seems to be anything but the whole counsel of God. It's more like "sola the Scriptura that I am comfortable with." Your NT must be a lot thinner than mine, because while you reject law wholesale, I see that the God of the New Testament very much cares whether believers worship him alone, refrain from stealing and cheating on their spouses, reject the building of idols, abstain from blaspheming, tell the truth, and honor their parents. Your view is the one that has been the most disastrous to evangelicalism in America, and is the primary reason why the Church is the fat, lazy, impotent element of society that it is, looking very much like the world we are supposedly so set apart from. "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" --1 Peter 4:17 --Joe! |
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2249 | Are Positional and Practical truths true | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12912 | ||
And if you continue to insist that God is not concerned with righteousness, you are going to have to stop ignoring verses like these (all of which are given to those who are already believers in Christ) and explain them in light of your theology. Note that not one of them suggests that we are passive on the road to holiness, and all of them stress the importance God places on righteous living of the believer: "...so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification [sanctification is a RESULT here for those who already believe]." --Romans 6:19b "For this is the will of God, your sanctification [but aren't we already 100 percent sanctified in every sense?]; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification [note: the PURPOSE for believers is sanctification]. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you." --1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." --1 Peter 1:13-16 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." --John 14:15 "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness." --1 Timothy 6:11 "Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." --2 Timothy 2:22 God doesn't want human righteousness? Scripture seems to disagree, Bill. I could go on, but if I am mistaken in my interpretation of these passages, I would love to hear your take on them. One more, which relates to our discussion on the value of law for a Christian not under the Mosaic Covenant: "All Scripture [which includes ALL of the Old Testament] is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS [emphasis mine]; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." --2 Timothy 3:16 All of the Bible, including the Law, has a place for our training in righteousness. --Joe! (not Steve) |
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2250 | Are Positional and Practical truths true | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12910 | ||
Bill: What is "hogwash" is your understanding of the three aspects of sancification. In addition, I think it is arrogance to assume that here in the twenty-first century you have figured something out that every major figure in church history DENIES. Sanctification means simply "to be set apart." The verses you quoted in your first paragraph all support the truth that when we were regenerated, we were spiritually set apart from those who were perishing, for a specific purpose (1 Peter 2:8-9). Again, this happens at our conversion, when we are justified. Sanctification and justification, however, are different things. However, as I noted in my other post, while Christ did indeed secure my salvation 2000 years ago at Calvary, in a practical sense, I am not holy in all my behavior. If this were already a PRACTICAL truth for Christians, then Peter would not have had to write to believers to "be holy yoursleves in all your behavior." (1 Peter 1:15). The words "holy" and "sanctified" are the same in Greek. Would you say that you are holy in all your behavior? I sure wouldn't say that about myself. Neither would Paul. In Philippians 3 he expresses the idea that even though he has been called and set apart for eternal life, that in this life he has not achieved holiness in practice: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." --Philippians 3:12-16 There we have it: the fact that Christ has attained it for us, but the paradoxical statement that Paul is pressing on to attain what Christ has attained for him. We also see that paradox in 2:12-13 (we work, and yet God works). Therefore, in one sense Christ's righteousness has been imputed to our account and we have been declared righteous (rather than the "infused" righteousness of Roman Catholicism), but another sense in which that spiritual reality is to be lived out in our day-to-day existence, with a goal in mind and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul concludes chapter 3 with a verse which shows that we still have perfecting to look forward to, which is in keeping with the final moral perfection we will attain when God does away with this body of death and all vestiges of our sinfulness. On a side note, your comparison of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with that of Babe Ruth's smacks of animism and Eastern mysticism. We are not to "turn everything off" and let God operate our bodily shells as if we were robots. Look at Philippians 2;12-13 again. Our wills are definitely involved in our conforming to the image of Christ. "Let go and let God" is NOT Scriptural. The "let God" part is, but nowhere are we commanded to divorce ourselves from our sanctification. --Joe (not Steve) |
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2251 | What is your identity in Christ? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12904 | ||
Why don't you try addressing the Scriptures I presented rather than dodging my very cogent arguments? The idea of God's law having different dimensions is not my own, but has been held by the majority of Christians throughout church history. That includes Catholics and Protestants, Reformed and Dispensationalists, etc. What you are promoting is a heresy called antinomianism (i.e. "lawlessness") which has been condemned time and again throughout the history of the church. But I assume you presume to know more about the Bible than Calvin and Luther and Augustine and Edwards and Spurgeon and all of the others who have condemned your view. The very reason that the sacrifices have ceased is because Christ is our ultimate sacrifice. Most of the ceremonial aspects of the Law were shadows of the ministry of Jesus to come. Obviously, they have been fulfilled as well in the person of Christ. He even fulfilled the moral requirements of the Law, which the Jew could not do. However, Paul makes quite clear in Romans 4:9-25 and Galatians 4:17 that the covenant of grace both pre-dates the law and replaces the larger covenant of works that God established with Adam and his descendants. But God still very much cares how we conduct ourselves, even as believers. That comes from the Scriptures, including the Ten Commandments. Jesus makes that so very plain in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, which you continually fail to address when I bring it up. You constantly refer to Galatians, which is not an attack upon God's moral requirements (which are present in the Law), but rather a refutation of the idea that the Galatians must even enter into the Mosaic Covenant in the first place! Remember, that these are not people who had been subjects of the Law of Moses at any time (they were uncircumsized). Therefore, they were never under Mosaic Law, but they still were subject to the righteous demands of God which are found in the Law. Our trust in Christ's substitutionary death and resurrection does not mean that God just nods and smiles when we violate the Ten Commandments. Otherwise, every moral command in the New Testament is rendered completely meaningless. He is very much interested in purifying us in our daily lives and the way we live them, and it is all for His glory. As far as sanctification is concerned, the three dimensions of sanctification are doctrine that has been held by the majority of Christians throughout church history. That includes Catholics and Protestants, Reformed and Dispensationalists, etc. The fact is that even though Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us (i.e. been put on our account), we are not 100 percent righteous now in practice. Do you sin, Bill? That is unrighteousness, and clear evidence that the work in us in not completed. Our final perfection (ultimate sanctification) has not occurred and will not until we pass from this life to the next. Looking at Romans 5:19, you should pay attention to tense: "For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." The first clause is past tense (WERE made), and the second is future tense (WILL BE made). The very verse you quote as "support" for antinomianism belies your view. We are already sinners. We will be made completely righteous in the future. You seem to stress that the Christian life is one solely of "resting," Bill. Why do Christ and the apostles speak of it as "pressing on," (Philippians 3:12-18 -- incontrovertible passage on the fact that we are still a "work in progress"), "striving," (Luke 13:24; Romans 15:30; 1 Timothy 4:10; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:29; Hebrews 12:4) "labor," (1 Timothy 4:10), and "suffering" (Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 3, 2 Timothy 3:12, etc.)? Don't get me wrong, salvation is assured for those whom God has set apart (which is what "sanctified" literally means). However, that is not the end of the ball game, for God has called us to righteous living as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) and to glorify Him through righteous works (Ephesians 2:10) which the Spirit enables us to do (Romans 8:7-9) as he conforms us to the image of His Son (Romans 12:1-2) in accordance with his moral law (his righteous demands which reflect his character and are pointed out in the Law of Moses -- Romans 7:7-12). Therefore, your last sentence is a false one. You are still a sinner in practice, not a righteous, perfect person. "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." --1 John 1:8 --Joe! |
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2252 | Do spirits travel during sexual sins. | Matt 26:41 | Reformer Joe | 12893 | ||
What is the Scripture reference that brings about this question? --Joe! |
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2253 | Did Adam die lost? | Genesis | Reformer Joe | 12890 | ||
What is most likely is that God called Abram (Genesis 12:1-2), who was most likely a polytheist, like the rest of his community, before God intervened. Abram's heart was far from the one, true God, just like all of ours are before being called. There is no evidence that Paul was the author of Hebrews, by the way. Most scholars believe otherwise, in fact. In any case, I don't think that the Hebrews 11 "hall of faith" should be considered an exhaustive list. We see that despite Adam's sin, and that God provided for him and for Eve (Genesis 3:21, for example). It isn't conclusive proof, but there is a sense of restoration after the rebellion. In any case, I don't think anyone could look at what was recorded about Adam in the biblical narrative and conclude that he is a shining example of faithfulness in his deeds. Abel does serve as much more of a clear example, from his faithful obedience, which is the point of Hebrews 11 -- that true faith displays itself in action (look at v. 6 for that point to be made). --Joe! |
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2254 | MEANING OF 40CHAPTER V 11? | Isaiah | Reformer Joe | 12885 | ||
Nope. Isaiah 40 is all about GOD, not any "Elijah to come." --Joe! |
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2255 | Is the Christian under Law? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12867 | ||
Adam's first sin was the transgression of God's law to him (Genesis 2:16-17). It is clear from verses 3:11,17 that God referred back to his commandment in his judgment of Adam. Cain, likewise, apparently knew the sacrifice guidelines and violated them (Genesis 4:5-7). God had clearly revealed His will to the patriarchs as well, even though the Mosaic Law had not been established. The book of Romans even teaches us that for Gentiles such as myself, who were never subjects of the Mosaic Covenant with its Law, had the moral requirements of that Law written upon my heart (Romans 2:12-15). I was never "under the Law." However, had God not regenerated me, I would have "died without law," because God's larger covenant of works was established with Adam and his posterity, and I like all men (save Christ) have violated that covenant. The error of the Pharisees was not embracing the Law with all their hearts, but rather superficially keeping the outward trappings of the Law while their hearts were wicked and prideful. That is the whole theme of Jesus' discourse in Matthew 5 chastizing the "righteousness" of the Pharisees in only going as far as the letter of the Law dictated. Seriously, can one really look at the Pharisees' attitude toward law in the four Gospels and say that it was law's fault? Jesus condemns the Pharisees not for OBEYING the Law, but rather for not embracing the higher morality behind the Law, using several examples from the Law and indicating that God's standard of righteousness is far higher than what the Pharisees demonstrate (Matthew 5:17-48). The moral law is not unrighteous (Romans 7:7-12) nor is it "dead." Try reading Psalm 119 and witness in those 176 verses how useful, how vivid and alive the law was to King David, who was a partaker of the Holy Spirit just as we are (1 Samuel 16:13). The difference between David's embracing of God's moral law and the manner of the Pharisees toward the same law clearly demonstrates that it is not law that is dead, but the hearts of those who attempt to use it as a basis for their own works righteousness. The Spirit uses law to convict us of our sin (even after we are saved), to show us God's perfection and holiness (i.e the goal of our sanctification), and gives us the clear boundaries of His moral will: "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me... Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." --Psalm 119:97-98,104 (NKJV) Q: What is sin? A: Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God. --Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 14 --Joe! |
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2256 | Is the Christian under Law? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12855 | ||
On with the show! You wrote: "God doesn't want a moral people. The Pharisees were very moral. God wants a people who have Christ living through them. This goes beyond morality to miraculous. We don't need to eat from the morality Tree (of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, right and wrong), we need to eat from the Tree of Life, Jesus Christ." I think the "tree" exegesis is a stretch, Bill. Show me that one from Scripture. In any case, God wants righteousness from His people, which includes moral living (John 14:15, 1 Peter 1:14-16; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 and on and on and on). Secondly, the Pharisees were not moral. They were hypocrites, "whitewashed tombs", "sons of the devil." Their so-called "morality" was a prideful attempt at self-glorification, not a God-honoring righteousness. Jesus repeatedly told them that their devotion to external obedience without a proper grasp of the spirit of the Law was their downfall. The Father places commands upon His followers; so does Christ; all of them are in accordance with the moral law. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us, reminds us of them, and enables the believer to follow them (Romans 8:7-14). You wrote: "We live out our sanctification. We do nothing to obtain it. Our spirits are 100 percent sanctified at conversion and we have the privelege of seeing that 'worked out' through our souls and bodies as we trust in Christ as our sufficiency and grow in His love. See Titus 2:11 - God's GRACE, not the Law, teaches us to live righteously and godly lives." You, like many Christians today, are confusing justification with sanctification. Justification is totally a work of God; we do nothing to obtain it. Our spirits however, are not 100 percent SANCTIFIED at conversion. There are three dimensions to our sanctification as revealed in Scripture: initial, progressive, and final. Initial sanctification occurs when we become believers, and in that sense we are "set apart" from those who are perishing, for a holy purpose (1 Peter 2:9, 10; Ephesians 2:10). Progessive sanctification is the Lord's work in a believer from conversion until death, in which we are gradually conformed to the image of Christ in this life, bearing spiritual fruit. While it is the Holy Spirit who brings about this change, there is a clear cooperative dimension on our parts, involving our wills and yes, our WORKS (Philippians 2:13). These works are not the basis of our justification, but are a component and result of our sancification. Final justification occurs when the believer enters God's presence, and is made perfect in righteousness. Titus 2:11-12 does not contradict the role that God's moral demands in the Law have in revealing to us what God's will is. As I stated before, the Holy Spirit does not work in a vaccum, but rather utilizes His word (his moral commandments) in our sanctification as well. Lastly, Hebrews 10:14b is most likely rendered best in a progressive sense ("those who are being sanctified", as we see in the NKJV, NIV, and as an alternate rendering in the footnote in the NASB). This is in keeping with the idea of "progressive sanctification" that we see above. We may positionally be seated with Christ, but I think you would agree that that is practically not the case in our lives as we now live them. Bill, Paul himself cites God's moral law as something that should be practiced by the Christian, quoting from the Ten Commandments in Ephesians 6:1-3. If Paul and Christ and John and James all testify to the value of law in holy living of believers, why can't you? --Joe! |
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2257 | Is the Christian under Law? | Ex 1:1 | Reformer Joe | 12854 | ||
Bill: Okay...guess this has to be a two-parter! First of all, you didn't address my complete quotation from Matthew 5, the very words of Christ Himself. We have to understand Paul's teaching on law by reconciling it to Christ's claim that he did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. The Law still exists in a moral sense. It is the sacrificial and ceremonial aspects of the law which were fulfilled in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. God's morality still exists as a standard for believers to attain to. The fact is not that the law has disappeared, but that Christ fulfilled all the requirements of God's moral law in himself. Those who are not in Christ are still under the requirements of God's morality (and still fall short -- Romans 3:23). I never argued that we are saved (i.e. justified) by law. No one ever was (Romans 3:20,28-30). What I am arguing is that the holiness exemplified by the moral aspects of the Law is definitely is the goal of our progressive sanctification. Let me address each of the points you made (and by the way, the three contentions are not mine, but those of John Calvin): You wrote: "The Holy Spirit now convicts the believer of sin and points us to Christ as sufficient - not the Law." Yes, the Holy Spirit convicts the believer of sin, but the Holy Spirit acts in concert with His revealed word. Therefore, the Holy Spirit employs Scripture (i.e. law) that He inspired to convict people of sin, just as he did at our coversion (Romans 3:20). Note that I am not saying that the ceremonial aspects of the Law are needed today, but God's moral commandments are still in effect and reveal the holy character of God and what righteousness is. (Romans 7:12). The fact that we cannot keep them without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit does not mean that God doesn't care whether we are moral or not. More in the next episode... --Joe! |
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2258 | Which promises? | Bible general Archive 1 | Reformer Joe | 12759 | ||
I would love to attend a Sunday school class that went through the entire Pentateuch some time. Seems like Leviticus and Deuteronomy are quite overlooked or just dismissed as OT stuff which has no value for the believer in Jesus Christ. --Joe! |
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2259 | Old T. and New T. | Matt 10:5 | Reformer Joe | 12758 | ||
People who think there are two different Gods represented in the Bible need to study their Bibles more! I think the problem arises from people trating God's attributes as some kind of smorgasbord from which they can pick and choose the quialities they like and push the rest aside. The fact is that both the Old and New Testaments reveal the nature of God. For example, the Psalms give us a rich picture of God's lovingkindness and mercy, as does the fact that He doesn't utterly destroy Israel despite their constant and depraved rebellion against Him. The fact that he spares and even delivers Israel time and again demonstrates his grace and patience with humans (Judges is a very good example of that). Likewise, one doesn't have to read very far in the New Testament to get a clear picture of God's justice and wrath. From whose lips to we get our most thorough education on Hell? From those of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, it distresses me that the gospels are so often dismissed in favor of the Pauline epistles alone simply because the things that Jesus says are so incredibly uncomfortable to those who claim to be followers of him and are not being sanctified. However, God's wrath is clearly demonstrated through Paul in Scripture as well (Romans 2, Ephesians 2), as well as his justice (Galatians 6:7). God will be infinitely and justly hard on those who die in their sins. Likewise, He demonstrated his mercy and grace upon His chosen people in the Old Testament. And it was those people through whom he demonstrated His hatred of sin, His wrath, and His justice toward the nations who rejected Him. The God of the Bible does not have multiple personalities. It just seems that way sometimes because we gloss over the uncomfortable parts in the NT, thinking that the Christian life should be one of ease and comfort rather than the taking up of the CROSS that it is. --Joe! |
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2260 | Prerequisite-infallibility? | 1 Cor 12:27 | Reformer Joe | 12671 | ||
You obviously missed my point from church history, as well as the "lostness" of the gospel prior to Luther. God did not use Luther to re-create the church, but rather to reform it. --Joe! |
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