Results 301 - 320 of 784
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Beja Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
301 | Explain Matt. 18:15-18 | Matt 18:15 | Beja | 227711 | ||
Mac702, I don't think this was meant to be about problems with those outside the church or in any way giving permission to settle Christian disputes by unbelieving law courts. I'd recommend you give some thought to how verse 17 shapes this. We are to tell it specifically to the church, and if they don't listen they are to be as a gentile or tax collector. That doesn't even make sense if he is telling them to go to a court of law. 1Co 6:1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 1Co 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 1Co 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 1Co 6:4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 1Co 6:5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 1Co 6:6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 1Co 6:7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? In Christ, Beja |
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302 | When saved do you receive the Holy Spiri | Eph 1:13 | Beja | 227681 | ||
Dickinson, Yes. Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, In Christ, Beja |
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303 | God turns back on individuals? | Rom 11:5 | Beja | 227632 | ||
Justme, I don't think that is what the original post was asking at all. However, you also illustrate my point. There is no great clarity on what is being asked. That has been my only point. In Christ, Beja |
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304 | God turns back on individuals? | Rom 11:5 | Beja | 227614 | ||
PaulusSecundus, These verses are only illustrating my point. What are we talking about when we say that God turns his back on us so that we can't be saved? Are we talking about when God kills an individual? That certainly ends their chances. Are we talking about election and reprobation? Are we talking about the Gospel no longer being valid for them even if they repent and believe? Are we talking about individuals in some remote time and place who never heard of the gospel? All of these require different discussions, and in the mean time its just a vague highly emotionally charged question. There are certainly valid forms of this question, we just won't have productive conversations until we define what we are talking about better. In Christ, Beja |
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305 | God turns back on individuals? | Rom 11:5 | Beja | 227564 | ||
thread, I think what we run into here is very poor specifics on what we are asking. "Does God turn His back on us so that we can't be saved" is simply an emotional question that could mean more than one thing. In Christ, Beja |
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306 | Hell | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227550 | ||
PaulusSecundus, Luke 16:23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. In Christ, Beja |
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307 | Hell | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227545 | ||
PaulusSecundus, Right again. I'm sorry, I so very much slip into the common habit of referring to them both as hell. I think Gehenna here is referring to the lake of fire. Hades is one place, lake of fire/gehenna is another. Hades will be done away with and gehenna will never be quenched. In Christ, Beja |
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308 | symbolic/literal scriptures? | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227532 | ||
Julia, Absolutely. I think those are fine examples of passages where there was full intent that the words be taken literally. In addition, you'll neve reach a point where it is all just obvious. You will have some passages which are obviously literal and you will have some that are obviously symbolic. However, there will always be some that we must work hard in order to see how the author intended his words to be understood. Though God's word is worth such diligent study. And my God cause you to prosper in knowing His word and may you be diligent to grow in it. Let nobody despise the day of small things, though let us not be content to stay there. In Christ, Beja |
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309 | symbolic/literal scriptures? | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227521 | ||
Julia, Writing is very flexible. Something literal is taken at face value. A flower is a plant. This is literal, I'm not using fancy language to paint some picture for you. On the other hand I could give you a very similiar sentence, "Judah is a lion." And what I certainly do not mean is that Judah is a large hunting cat. I am not saying something literal. I'm attributing certain qualities of a lion to judah whether it be the ferocity, the preditory nature, or the majestic aspects of the creature. In scripture we sometime see very dramatic symbolism. In Zechariah chapter 5 we see a vision of a giant 30 foot long scroll flying through the air. The author does not meant for this to be taken as a prophecy of a literal giant scroll that will one day fly over the world. Rather he menas for it to be symbolic of something. In this case it symbolizes the words of the Lord that will be pronounced in a curse over the world. Now, one of the surest indicators of when symbolism is being used is what type of genre you are reading. There is poetry, history, apocalyptic literature, parables, didactic teaching. This may sound intimidating but give it a little thought. Where do you suspect symbolism? In history? Probably not. It is attempting to give an account of the past. However in apocalypic literature symbolism is used extensively. Revelations, Zechariah, and Daniel all have many examples of symbolism. Beasts that represent nations in reality. Trees that represent a kingdom, and on it goes. Now, to apply this to our current discussion, we have hell displayed as an eternal place of torment in a variety genres, apocalyptic, parables, and straightforward teaching. The suggestion that it is all symbolism in every case would be extremely doubtful. However, when they suggest that hell is symbolic, what they mean is that it is only speech that really means something else. For example it simply means to be a symbol of how God's wrath is really displayed at the end. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |
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310 | Sodom and Gomorrah | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227519 | ||
Julia, I do not think it means to say that what sodom and gomorrah suffered was exactly the same thing as the eternal fires of hell. I'm not certain what the difficulty is but I imagine your husband's arguement going something like this: This says that what sodom and gomorrah experienced was the eternal fire. Yet this was only temporary and a moment and time destruction, so therefore eternal fire in other places doesn't really mean eternal. If I'm mistaken correct me. Assuming, however, that I'm correct I'll try to address this. Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. What we are seeing here, is that false teachers have crept into the church and the author is trying to assure them of the coming final judgement. How do we prove the coming judgement? There has never been an eternal judgement of the same sort. So what the author is doing is grabing examples of God's judgements that have happened and they are using those as proofs that God is in fact a God who has judged sinners in the past, and therefore we need not doubt that He will climatically judge them in the future. Therefore the fires of destruction that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah are held forth as a type or example of the eternal fires that are coming. So what we are seeing is a limited comparison. Something that has similiarities to eternal judgement, but is only limited in its similarities. I think what I'm telling you is accurate and you can trust it, however, let me just say that a passage such as this, where the meaning is somewhat uncertain should never be allowed to trump the numerous clear passages we have affirming the existence of hell. Clear passages always help us understand the unclear passages. We do not take an unclear passage and use it to negate clearly stated teaching in other places. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |
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311 | Does Jer 32:35 disprove hell? | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227517 | ||
Julia, The point in Jerimiah 32:35 is that child sacrifice never entered his mind. The means, passing through fire, is completely secondary to the point. The point was the child sacrifice. Nor can you take something like this in such a blanket sense. He means that He never wanted the Israelites to sacrifice their children, we don't stretch that to exclude something like God sending His son to die on the cross. Even if the point was a burning in fire, God would not then be saying that somebody burning in fire never entered His mind, but rather that THEM burning THEIR children never entered his mind to command them to do it. Your husband is simply applying this scripture in a way it is not intended. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |
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312 | Hell | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227505 | ||
PaulusSecundus, Forgive me, I was not being very precise in that post. We tend to use the word "hell" to refer to two different things. One is hades, which is temporary. The other is the coming lake of fire. Please note the fate of those who are spoken of in the very verse you quoted. Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (kjv) So the current hell (hades) is not eternal, but what I meant was the lake of fire. This is clearly stated to be eternal in the very same passage. Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. So the very passage you cite affirms with certainty what I am saying. And lest we imagine that this is only eternal for demons and not eternal for unforgiven sinners let me quote Jesus' own affirmation of the eternality of hell when preaching to men and women. Mar 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Mar 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. So yes, the dead can be consigned to hell "for all eternity." In Christ, Beja |
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313 | Hell | Jer 32:35 | Beja | 227503 | ||
Thread, God does indeed cast into hell. And the hell he casts us into is neither a pretend, one nor one of our own creation, nor is it simply a self torment, nor is it the same location as heaven in which we simply are unable to enjoy it as if one's man heaven is another man's hell. It is a real eternal judgement from God against sin for all eternity. God is the one who will judge our sin worthy of hell, God is the one who will condem us to hell, and God is the one who will carry out the sentence. "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb 10:31). Luk 12:5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! In Christ, Beja |
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314 | What does the bible say about gay people | Lev 18:22 | Beja | 227499 | ||
ahedgesRED, See Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:24-32, and 1 Corinthians 6:9,10. In Christ, Beja |
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315 | Why believe in God if He allowsuffering? | Rom 8:22 | Beja | 227495 | ||
NMJEN, My first gut response to the question is that if your friend is unwilling to believe in a God that allows suffering he has a major problem. Because as we look at the world we certainly can not believe in any other God! The difficulty of your question is that the answer is quite literally the whole of scripture. The suffering in the world must be placed in its biblical context, that of a rebellious world under the wrath of a righteous and holy God. Right now, I would assume your friend sees God allowing suffering along the lines as if I were to go over and just have a little fun kicking a dog. It would be simply pure maliciousness with no good reason for it and he can't imagine God being like that. Your friend sees suffering disconnected from any reason or purpose. How then do we get underneath suffering? Again, that is very difficulty since we must look at it from many angles due to many types and reasons for suffering. 1. Suffering as the consequence of sin. God has chosen to give mankind certain freedom to rebel against him. This rebellion always has its on consequence built into it. Man's rebellion against God brings us abortion, war, rape, murder, and theft. This has to be understood scripturaly. This suffering, God's wrath burns hot against, yet we see scripture painting God as patient and long suffering, not wishing any to perish but all to come to repentence. That's somewhere in 2 Peter 3. So here we see God's loving mercy and patience being why he allows suffering. He's restraining his judgement upon it for the sake that some will repent and be saved. 2. Suffering from God's wrath. In restrained amounts (in other words he doesn't yet destroy the earth and mankind completely) God pours out wrath on the world in judgement of their sin and yet we still see him restraining the fullness of his wrath for now. Again this restraint is because he wishes for the world to repent and not perish. But he gives us bits of wrath to display the full wrath which is to come and from which we should flee to a savior in Christ Jesus. I think Revelation chapters 8-11 are meant to teach this along with other parts of scripture. 3. Suffering from persecution. There is particular suffering that comes from being united to Christ. Scripture affirms that the world will hate us because the world hates him. 4. Suffering as facilitating holiness. Heb 12 is one example of teaching that God particularly allows hardship in a believers life so as to train them in righteousness that we may grow to be holy. Through this we learn patience, obedience, trust and dependence on God the Father and much more. 5. Suffering we can't understand. The book of Job teaches us that we can not let our faith in God depend on us having all the answers concerning suffering in this life. So you see, we can not begin to answer this question in a simple way. Here are two resources you might wish to persue, both by the same author. With regards to getting your friend to start understanding the biblical world view in order that he might understand how suffering fits in: "The God Who Is" by D.A. Carson. I believe you can download from monergism.com a 14 sermon lecture on this. With regards to a much much more in depth discussion on what I've been saying in this post and a great book on suffering. "How, Long O Lord?" by D.A. Carson. Though as a disclaimer which Carson himself makes in the book. This book is not meant as a comfort for those who are currently going through a crises, but more to give a theological grasping of suffering that will serve us well later when we do endure it. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |
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316 | Satan has permission to rule | Bible general Archive 4 | Beja | 227489 | ||
PaulusSecundus, Do you really believe a view which has had more affirmation by historical christianity than any other position has not considered these verses? I have no intentions of trying to win an arguement. I don't think end times discussions ought to be debated on these forums. Discussing them for the sake of understanding other views, yes. Debating, no. Therefore I will not even defend the view in this post except to say that it would become us to not lightly dismiss such a well attested historical view before we even know what it teaches. In Christ, Beja |
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317 | Satan has permission to rule | Bible general Archive 4 | Beja | 227481 | ||
PaulusSecundus, True true. However the question becomes, When is the thousand years? Many Christians today believe the only real question in end times belief is when will Christ come back in relation to the tribulation? At the beggining? At the end? In the middle? However, they would be suprised to know that in historical Christianity this has not been the question that divided where people stood. In contrast, the question was when will Christ come back in relation to this 1,000 year reign. To that there were three main answers. (I'm discounting the preterist view.) The one we are most familiar with would be the pre-millenial view. This view holds that Christ returns prior to the 1,000 year reign on earth. The second two both hold that the 1,000 year reign willhappen prior to Christs return. The first is postmillenial. This holds that the advance of the gospel will usher in a golden age for Christianity that lasts 1,000 years prior to Christs return. The final position is called amillenialism. It holds that Christs thousand year reign is meant to reference his current reigning on his throne in heaven guiding all things to their proper climax in his return. At the end of this time, satan will be released. This actually has been the most widely held stance historically, though few hold it now. Now, the scripture you referenced only actually impacts the discussion if you assume a premillenial view. I do not here intend to argue for one or the other, but only explain the assumptions we are bringing to the text. I'll tell you that I do not hold a premillenial view. In Christ, Beja |
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318 | Please explain the Trinity | John 1:1 | Beja | 227459 | ||
hswcurl, I'm hesitant to answer your question since it is my stance that your question does not have a correct in depth answer. When I was in seminary I had the privledge of taking a class on the historical doctrin of the trinity. We surveyed people throughout history trying to explain the concept of the trinity. What we ended up seeing was that any attempt to explain the trinity in depth only lead to heresy. Here is what we can say with clarity from scritpure. The Father is God. Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is God. However, the Father is not the son, the Father is not the Holy spirit, and the son is not the Holy spirit. Now how exactly does that fit together? We can't grasp it. Attempts to fully grasp this has always lead to one error or another. But here is the good news. First, we do not have to grasp it, merely accept it. Second, in my opinion it is a very fit and good thing that God has some mystery with regards to exactly WHAT he is. It is fitting that our great God transcends our ability to point out his parts and say, "Aha, I've mentally grasped the internal workings of the God head." Further, what I teach in my church is that God is concerned with us growing in knowledge of WHO he is, not WHAT he is. It is important that we know that God is three persons in one essence or unity. However, that is all we must know concerning WHAT he is. Beyond that God wants us to grow in the knowledge of WHO he is, in other words, His Character. Take a look at Exodus 34 when Moses was begging to see the glory of God. What did God show him? He announced His character to Moses. That is what we are to spend our time persuing. We affirm the trinity because it is true, and because it is neccessary to properly worship God in his three fold person. However, we do not try to erase the mystery. Learn of God's might, his steadfast love, his mercy, his wrath, his holiness, his all sufficiency. This is what we need to strive to intimately know about God. In Christ, Beja |
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319 | Satan has permission to rule | Bible general Archive 4 | Beja | 227457 | ||
arabian031, What passage of scripture makes you think that he will let satan rule after he comes back? In my opinion this is an unbiblical notion. 2 Thessalonians makes it clear that the coming of Christ will bring satan's rule to an end. 2Th 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; In Christ, Beja |
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320 | Where are they? | Bible general Archive 4 | Beja | 227404 | ||
steamboat, You are observing scripture's testiment to two truths. The first, the ressurection will happen and after the ressurrection then those who are still alive at that point will be raptured. This goes contrary to the popular dispensational teaching of the rapture, which they say happens 7 years prior to the ressurection day. The second thing you are observing is the fact that when we die we are present with Christ. Where are they? With Christ. Wherever Christ is, that is where the saints who died in Christ will be. So the question becomes, where is Christ? The answer: At the right hand of the Father. I hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |
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