Results 281 - 300 of 391
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Rowdy Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
281 | What commands must we obey 2B saved? | 1 Pet 3:21 | Rowdy | 113740 | ||
This post is for both Searcher and CDBJ. I agree with both of you; this IS NOT an easy subject but I'll try to deal with all the points of your posts. First of all, let's agree to subdivide God's commands in the NT to His children, those who want to be with God at Judgment Day, into 2 groups. The first group would be those 5 steps of salvation I've posted once before but I'll repeat them here: 1) Hear/understand the Gospel of Christ, 2) Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, IAW that Gospel, 3) Repent of one's sins and resolve to turn away from that life of sin as much as possible, 4) Confess that belief in Christ as God's Son publically, and 5) Be baptized for the remission of one's sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. One should also consider the cost of this committment, which includes a total living sacrifice and a resolution to immitate Jesus and His official representatives (the Apostles) in the example they set as well as the directives they gave, found throughout the NT. Now onto the second group of commands from God's Word, those coming AFTER becoming a christian and being added to the Lord's church. We could spend the rest of lives discussing this subject and fill up hundreds of books like we're seeing on the bookshelves in our stores. Basically, in summary those commands are all the other directives or imperatives as provided in the NT, i.e. sing, adding the fruits of the Spirit and maintaining our armor of God so as to avoid the temptations of the Devil. Now you're probably saying about now, "It's literally impossible for one human being to do all of that." And to that I say an hearty AMEN and thank God for it. That's where grace comes in. We must be in a constant state of introspection, soul-searching, re-evaluating and maturing in our life of immitating Christ. We should feel free to confide in our soul-mate and open up our hearts to that person, expressing our fears, our short comings and solicit their prayers and support. Of course, we must do the same for them. Don't misunderstand, this is not an option as far as our Lord is concerned. Just as John explains in his 1st letter, we must see ourselves in the fellowship with God, while striving to maintain that fellowship with all of God's family. This constant vigilence keeps the blood of Christ active in our spiritual lives and constantly cleansing our soul of those few sins accorded to us on a daily basis. But we MUST also see ourselves as drawing closer and closer to our God and He'll do His part and draw us closer to Him. Sure there's going to much in the life of a christian left undone and ocassionally the best, most mature christian will commit a sin but that's also where God's grace bridges the gap. Now on the subject of Cornelius, his family and their being saved: this too is a tough subject. I've got to say it seems to me it's fairly obvious that Cornelius was saved in much the same manner as the Apostles. Don't you know that the Apostles were all baptized AFTER receiving the Empowerment of the Holy Ghost on that sacred 1st day of the church? I'd like to think they even had fun baptizing each other. Another interesting question: who was the first Apostle to be baptized? Let's pose your question from the other perspective. Let's suppose that Cornelius or any one member of his family (excluding the small children since they couldn't repent and believe) refused to be baptized. This person after receiving Empowerment from the Holy Ghost and THEN refuses to obey God's requirement to become a family member. What do you think? I've got to conclude he probably wouldn't have kept the Holy Spirit within him much longer. It would have left him just like it left King Saul in the OT, just like the Holy Spirit leaves a christian (in today's world) when he continues to sin willfully and doesn't repent. He gives up that redemptive power and all the benefits that go with it. I guess you can figure my answer to your question BUT the most important thing is IT'S GOD'S DECISION. I hope this long post is read by all on the Forum and God bless you all. |
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282 | Give three stages in Moses life? | Acts | Rowdy | 113671 | ||
I understand Moses' life was divided in perfect thirds. He spent the first 40 years of his life in Eygpt, then the next 40 in the wilderness (which was actually useful to him and the Israelites) and his final 40 years leading them to the promised land. He lived exactly 120 years. | ||||||
283 | Where was Jesus crucified? | Matt 27:33 | Rowdy | 113597 | ||
According to our history books and other historical records, the Roman Empire conquered Israel several years before this timeframe. This is alluded to in the Apophrical books between the Testaments of the Bible. I don't know much about these books but I understand they hold some interesting items of information. Pilate was the Roman official in charge of the whole area whereas Herod was in charge of Galilee only. This area was a continuous source of headaches to the Roman Government in Rome because of their alligence to God and the total lack of respect from the Israelites. No one really looked forward to ruling Israel but Pilate was directed to handle it and do so peacefully. |
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284 | Did Jesus have to die? | Bible general Archive 2 | Rowdy | 113217 | ||
I really don't want to take the time to dig up all the scriptures but I'm thinking most of them have already been posted on this Forum previously. I think all of us (with any maturity at all w/the Lord) know and appreciate the scriptures to which I'll be referring. First of all, from the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, our God knew and cited the fact that there would be need of the perfect sacrifice, His Son coming to our rescue. He cursed the serpent and told him, "he would bruise His Son's heel but Christ would bruise the serpent's head." I know everyone has heard of and maybe even studied the 300 plus prophecies in the OT concerning the coming of Christ, His ministry, his death and resurrection. All of this and a few scriptures in the NT make it very, very clear, at least in my mind that the Godhead knew and planned on His coming to this earth for that specific purpose. YES, our Lord was compelled to come and die for our sins. He was our only hope. He knew it, His Father knew it and the Holy Ghost. The only ones who don't know it don't know God's Word very well. God's Plan of Salvation is the main theme throughout His Word. God's perfect sense of justice DEMANDS payment for the sins in our lives. There's no possible way, we (you and I) could ever hope to pay for our sins successfully. These 2 statements being absolutely true pose an extreme problem for an ordinary mortal. But thanks be to God, He knew what we needed and He sacrified His Son just like Abraham did as a foreshadow of things to come. So did Christ have to die? You bet. You and I are counting on it, along with everyone else in God's Family. Jesus is also the only one that has already "blazed a trail" back to His Father, from this earth. His way is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. I do hope you'll forgive me in not citing all the specific "book, chapter and verse" for the scriptures referenced above. God bless you for having the courage to bring up this topic in connection with the film. My wife and I are looking forward to checking it out. |
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285 | My grandfather needs to be saved | Bible general Archive 2 | Rowdy | 113212 | ||
I'd like to refer you to the website, apologeticspress.com. There you can find/shop through their resources. One of the best resources is entitled "Evidences of Christianity." In my opinion, the single most powerful thing we can do for someone outside of God's Family is to establish firmly in their minds, that He does exist and His Word IS an actual, real document from Him. After that is firmly established, most reasonable people will provide their own motivation to go to be at Home with that God, our Father. In case it helps any at all, I too am worried about my father-in-law, along with my wife. We discuss Bible, and many topics within with that uppermost in our minids. God bless you in your persaverance of influencing your grandfather. |
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286 | Where would there be no transgression? | Rom 4:15 | Rowdy | 112941 | ||
Those that live and die without knowledge of God's Word will be judged without His Words but those individuals will be judged by the "track record" they established with their conscience. This is made very clear in Rom 2:12-16. This kind of God's judgment has been going on since the beginning of time and will go on through to the end of His/our universe. It's the only way God's perfect sense of judgment could be maintained. This reflects the image of God which was installed in all of us. Tell us what you think of this matter. God bless. |
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287 | ways to praise God | NT general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 112518 | ||
Generally, the are 6 acts of worship in the NT: preaching, singing, giving, communion and praying and reading of scripture. These are the ones we follow in our worship. Would you be able to come up with more? God bless. | ||||||
288 | Is astrology forbidden? | Bible general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 112450 | ||
I can only come up with the following scriptures which seem to imply God is not pleased when we pursue this area for guidance. Luke 21:25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 1 Cor 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 2 Thes 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. I don't think you'll find the specific words astrology, horoscopes or the zodiac in the Bible but it seems pretty clear to me from the scriptures and I noticed the previous posts on this subject. My solid conclusion is that God wants us to come to one single place for guidance in the metaphysical world of any kind. You know what single source I'm referring to...God's Word. We all know about the Apostles instructions in general to do things in the name of the Lord and if we can't have complete faith in any one thing we do, we should avoid it. There's no way anyone could convince me (or any other serious Bible student, in my opinion) that we follow any other source of guidance in a metaphysical sense. I'm hoping, from studying your other Bible based posts to this Forum, that you're not saying you put any belief or any serious study into these questionable areas, please confirm for me that you don't. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a fanatic about this. For example I know my zodiac sign as being Taurus the Bull but that's the extent of my knowledge of the zodiac. I might even be just a little stubborn as suggested by the personality of the bull but I don't do anything else along these lines. God bless. |
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289 | How do I help a 'know all' adolescent? | Bible general Archive 1 | Rowdy | 112429 | ||
I can only share with you what my wife and I did with our son with the same kind of attitude. BUT the big difference there was his age and our united stand as husband and wife, father and mother. This works best under these kind of circumstances. I talked to some folks at the church and they referred to the local sheriff who fixed me up with a visit to a nearby prison. We took our son to that prison and "treated" him to a rather UN-pleasant conversation with a couple of reformed prisoners. These men do a wonderful service to the local community, "scaring the devil" out of kids who have too much attitude and put the fear of God back in them. They talk very rough to them, telling them what kind of life they're headed for in prison, if they keep on disrespecting the authority figures in their life. If this sounds a little too scary for you or for those over your cousin, there are alternatives. You might be able to find a old video using the same kind of basic technique, filmed in a prison setting with several teenagers. I think the video is entitled "Scared Straight." I saw it and got the idea above from that. I know these ideas sound a little drastic but believe me, my son and I almost were ready to go to court. If it hadn't been for my wife to intervene, I don't know what would have happened...I shudder to think. Anyway, a parent or a person in such a role has to adopt "tough love" approaches to rearing kids nowadays. I know she may be chronologically 19 years old but sometimes it's hard to believe. As a last note, I gotta say I agree with Hank when he says this Forum is NOT the ideal place to get good, complete advice for personal struggles. I do hope God blesses you in your struggle to be a role model. And do a lot of praying. |
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290 | adding to the Bible | Rev 22:18 | Rowdy | 112404 | ||
I think you've received some excellent guidance from Makarios and WarriorOne but I would add just one more thing. I don't know much about the Mormon faith but I did date a Mormon girl once and went with her to her worship assembly. I must admit they have a great "family life and atmosphere." I was a little envious. Generally, I've heard from folks from around the world that most mormons are great at being good moral people and have a loving spirit. So if you can convert one or more of them, they should be a great asset to the Lord's body. Remember the devil is an excellent deceiver and some of these folks will respond favorably upon the truth revealed in a loving way, like our Lord did for us. God bless. |
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291 | tithing only to home church? | Lev 27:30 | Rowdy | 112402 | ||
Generally, I think God likes to see us "grow where we're planted" but then again I don't think there's anything wrong with sharing. The most important example we see over and over again from our Bible is that of Godly people like Jesus and His Apostles giving freely to those in need. We should be anxious to do likewise, so if you determine in your heart that other organizations outside your home congregation have a greater need, you should feel free. But as always this kind of decision should be preceded with prayer. God bless. | ||||||
292 | is this about faith | Heb 12:1 | Rowdy | 112401 | ||
Thompson's Chain Reference Bible is good for this kind of thing. If you've been assigned this topic to speak for that time frame, you'll get plenty. Like Emmaus mentioned, most Bible students should only get started in such a short time as 10 minutes, so choose wisely which scriptures to supplement with your lesson. God bless. | ||||||
293 | labels for God and for the Deity? | Heb 10:12 | Rowdy | 112376 | ||
I, too am interested in seeing your response to this controversy. Also, your profile is quite mystical but not very revealing about the true Thelma. Could you expand on your profile? Looking forward to your response and God bless. |
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294 | What happen to people who died before | Rom 2:11 | Rowdy | 112358 | ||
I think Paul's letter to the Romans is pretty clear: Romans 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 12For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; The folks before the cross had to live by the Law of Moses, but now let's be clear. It was just as impossible for them to live by that law as it is for us to live up to Jesus' perfect example. In both cases, God's children have to show some portion of faith. Some showed far more faith than others, but as long as we're all trying to do the best we possibly can and ask God for forgiveness, we have to rely on God for the difference. That's called grace. Sure, this is not all laid out quite so nice and neat in the OT but we do see some implications to this end. Remember, the plan of salvation as we now know it was a mystery to all those folks. They didn't even have a clear picture of Heaven after death so practically everything they did was built on an assumption of faith. What do you think is going to happen to those folks? God bless. |
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295 | rest v. work | Philippians | Rowdy | 112330 | ||
I think just about all of us think seriously about retiring from christianity at some point in our lives; I know I have. I can only say, sooner or later, the Lord says "enough is enough" and He'll humble such a person. I know He did with me. It sounds like you're talking about a person a little older than youself, perhaps in my generation. I can't think of the exact scripture but I think you'll recognize the principle. We all should watch ourselves carefully in this regard, take heed of God's Word lest we fall and are humbled far more than we would like. In other words, the more proud we become of accomplishments or anything else, the harder we fall. I think CDJB also made some very good comments on this subject. Basically, if Paul didn't earn a retirement from his Lord BEFORE death, you and I (No one) certainly can't hope to expect such a luxury. I hope this helps and God bless. |
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296 | Does the Devil know our thoughts? | Ps 139:23 | Rowdy | 112329 | ||
I'm not certain there are scriptures to actually support the conclusion as you've stated it but I do think we can infer a few things. The best I can think of is the example from Adam and Eve. Apparently, he knew Eve was the "weaker vessel" and would be an easier target for his temptations. I think he knew that if he could deceive Eve then she might help him deceive Adam which is exactly what happen with no fault being pointed to the women of the world. That's the way the Lord made us both. The second example I thought of is that of Christ Himself in the desert. There, Satan knew he had to come up with the very best temptations he could possibly muster. We see that in the three items he offered him. The only other item I could offer is from Matthew 10:15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. As you can imagine, I'm comparing this scripture to picture of the Devil as a serpent. Can the Devil read our minds? Good question...who knows? Probably only God. But I do hope to see some other responses, maybe even more scriptures. God bless. |
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297 | Will Passion cause confusion | Bible general Archive 2 | Rowdy | 112284 | ||
I plan to see it and evaluate for myself. It will cause no more confusion than any other teaching or doctrine coming out of the crazy world we live in. Hope to see ya there and God bless. | ||||||
298 | What is the meaning of logike latreia? | Rom 12:1 | Rowdy | 112260 | ||
Sounds like Latin or possibly Greek. Where in the world did you get these words? Which words within the verse does it apply? Maybe we can figure it from the context. Please advise. God bless. | ||||||
299 | Why was David an important king? | 1 Samuel | Rowdy | 112258 | ||
To the Jews of Jesus' time, David was an important figure in their history because of the numerous and wonderful victories he accomplished for the Israelite nation, with the help of God. Apparently, he was also a pretty good judge of character and made good decisions, while ruling the country in general. But the most important reason he was an important figure in our Bibles is the nature of his relationship he shared with God Almighty. He was about as good as men got before Christ on earth. He also shared an incredibly close relationship with God, at least through most of his life. Even after adultery with another man's wife, killing that man and covering up the sin as far as his fellow man was concerned, he was humbled enough to truly repent and be counted as the one man "after God's own heart." (Acts 13:21-22) That's quite a high standard for us as humans to attain and quite a compliment from our Lord. Do you have additional ideas/reasons as to the importance of King David? God bless. |
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300 | was abraham ever a gentile? | Genesis | Rowdy | 112229 | ||
He was never an Israelite or a Jew in the national sense. Notice Israel as a nation was named after the father of the original 12 tribes, named after the sons of Jacob, later re-named Israel. God's family of Jews didn't become a nation until after deliverance from Egyptian salvery. So no, Abraham was not a gentile or a Jew either one. He pre-dated the whole business of discrimination between those two distinctive "races." Just like Melchizedek pre-dated Jesus ministry on earth. Pretty cool how that works out that way, huh? God bless. |
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