Results 3341 - 3360 of 3591
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: BradK Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
3341 | Ridding myself of guilt and fear | James 5:16 | BradK | 235422 | ||
Hello Happy Soul, Thanks for your response and your honesty. I do understand what you’re saying. Based on what you said, I think we’re dealing with two issues; salvation (how we are saved) and sanctification (how we are to live as saved people). As Dr. Jerry Benjamin has said, “The purpose of the Christian life is not to see how close to the edge we can live, but how close to our Savior we can get”. I think there’s a great deal of wisdom in those words. So to be clear, I’m not advocating any type of “easy-believe-ism” or “cheap grace”. In defining belief, I want to make sure we’re on the same page. Belief is not mere intellectual assent. My working definition of true faith- which the Reformers held- consists of three essential components: “knowledge” (Heb. 11:6) “assent” (Heb. 11:1; Is. 40-48; Ex. 4:1-9), and “trust”. Allow me to answer through some select quotes from Dr. James Raiford in his book, “The Camouflaged Church”. I agree with what he says because I believe it mirrors the message of scripture- at least as I understand it. I chose to quote him since he also speaks with a lot of clarity on the important distinctions. He states in Chapter Two: The Soldier’s Main Battle Weapon, “ Practically, the common situation among Christians sounds like this, ‘Is so and so a Christian?’ ‘He can’t be, he doesn’t act like a saved person’. There is no fruit displayed in his life.” “Two responses to this error can be stated at this point. First, salvation is by grace through faith, not based on any activity or lifestyle. Second, such a position as having to prove the reality of personal salvation clearly denies the doctrine of carnality as stressed by Paul in 1 Cor. 3 and Romans 6-7. Requiring proof to certify the reality of genuine regeneration contradicts 1 Cor. 3, as well as Hebrews 5:11-14. These passages identify categories of believers within the body as being carnal weak (immaturity) and the carnal willful states, such as spiritual infants, and adults.”’ He goes on to state that, “It takes great effort to deny that salvation is by grace alone and faith alone.” The problem is, “many who profess to be saved live like the unsaved! This is a real problem among the people of God and those seeking to solve it are to be commended for observing the problem and attempting to solve it.” This creates another problem as he notes, “ But the proposed solution of distorting the gospel of grace by adding works, and evidence and other requirements is unnecessary and certainly unauthorized by the Word of God.” To that, I say a hearty, “Amen”. I’ve been in a church where it was regularly proclaimed from the pulpit that, “If He (Jesus) isn’t Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all”! That’s not scriptural, in fact IMO, directly contradicts Acts 2:36 that says, “…That God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”. Christ is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not. This segues into the matter of sanctification. Using manipulative language that attempt to shame people into obedience, doesn’t substitute for the Holy Spirit! He makes an important qualifying note in saying, “No one who is familiar with the Word of God would deny the fact that God designs and desires his people to live holy, righteously and godly after personal salvation”! [Eph. 2:10] Here’s the important distinction: “ What God requires for obtaining eternal life differs greatly from what he requires for living a godly life. When lifestyle becomes the measurement standard to determine possessing eternal life, then error has already corrupted a grace alone, faith alone doctrine of salvation. The presence of good works can give evidence of the reality of genuine regeneration but the lack of such good works does not necessarily prove that there is a false salvation.” Conversely, “ the evidence of good works in the lives of the unsaved does not demonstrate that they are saved.” “Works are no criteria to determine genuine salvation or the assurance of salvation.” They do matter- as James definitely speaks to the practical side of salvation- but they aren’t the sole determining factor! To sum up what he is saying is this: “ The camouflage of confusing salvation passages with sanctification truth is extremely common yet equally dangerous for the body of Christ”. I see this as the fallacy of attempting to prove that a godly lifestyle is required or one is not genuinely saved. I think this is the major concern that you are alledging? To close, “When a biblical writer states conditions for receiving eternal life he is clear when he states it is by grace through faith. The Bible always makes a clear distinction between obtaining eternal life and living a life for the glory of God.” I hope this dialog helps you to better understand and bring clarity to this sometimes confusing issue. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3342 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146369 | ||
Hi Mitch, Doc and EdB have already responded, so I don't want repeat their advice. Does God always heal? No, empirically we should know this. My mother, who knew the Lord, died after complications of suffering a stroke as a result of brain surgery. She was in a semi-vegitative state for 2 years. This was over 25 years ago. One of God's names is Jehovah rophe- Jehovah heals. However, this is but one of His names. To say God always heals is to look at one "slice of a very large pie." It is also to presuppose on His sovereignty. (Ps. 115:3) We would like to believe that He always heals, yet both scripture and life answer differently. We walk by faith, not by what God does for us physically. I don't see that you provided any solid biblical answer, but merely your opinion based on the Word. There's a difference. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3343 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146424 | ||
Mitch, I appreciate the sentiments. However, I'm not sure how you arrived at the mistaken conclusion that I'm somehow in bondage? I'm not! I was simply using her death as an EXAMPLE that it is not always Gods' will to heal us. Mitch, scripture nowhere tells us to "claim our healing". We're going to have to disagree on this matter:-) BradK |
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3344 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146558 | ||
Hi Mitch, There are at least 4 main challenges with your argument that I can see: 1. Scripture NOWHERE tells us that it is always God's will to heal. To appeal to the name-it-and-claim-it doctrine is to fall prey to spurious theology. This is a very recent- 20th and 21st Century- interpretation. None of the 19th Century Commentators like Spurgeon, nor the Church Fathers held this belief. It is a major stretch to overlook almost 2000 years of Church history? Don't you think? 2. You are presupposing on God and His Sovereignty. Psalm 115:3 says: "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" God is not obligated to us, nor is He beholden to our layings claims to be healed. He is the sovereign, supreme Creator of the universe! He can choose to heal or not. He's still God!(Ps. 135:5-6) 3. What of those such as Joni Erikson Tada, and hosts of others who have incredible testimonies and ministries- despite physical afflictions? Surely you're not going to tell me they lack faith or "haven't been taught right"? It's not about basing our belief on a persons' lifestyle. 4. What of the supreme treatise on Faith in Hebrews 11:1-34? ALL of those examples mentioned were commended for their FAITH! yet, even by faith: "...others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." [vs. 36-40] We could also use Pauls' affliction- a thorn in the flesh- in 2 Cor. 12 as a prime example. Timothy had an infirmity, and Trophimus was left sick in Miletum- 2 Tim. 4:20. Why weren't they healed according to your formula? Is it possible that God worked through them despite physical afflictions? Mitch, I don't wish to argue this matter or belabor the point any further. You are welcome to believe what you want. However, as for me and my household, I choose to walk by faith. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3345 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146560 | ||
Hello Mark, Very well said! I'm not commending you just because I agree with you, but rather because of the truth and wisdom conveyed in your remarks. You hit the nail on the head:-) Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3346 | Mitch, were at Bethesda healed? | 1 Peter | BradK | 146577 | ||
Hello Mitch, I offer these comments in the spirit of love, so please don't be offended or take them otherwise. One of the challenges in the majority of your posts, is that you make a lot of broad assertions but rarely- if ever- provide any scriptural support! What I see is you just stating your views, your opinions and nothing more. You need SCRIPTURAL support for your statements! One of the intended purposes of the Forum for posts is that they are "biblically based and whenever possible, (you) have included Bible references to support it." This would be very helpful:-) Another matter is you're tending to make statements that argue from the silence of scripture. For example, you state "And I'll ask you the same about Paul, show me where Paul has said that he still suffers from the 'thorn' in his flesh. Problems may come, but God is willing to remove them all." Where does scripture tell us that Pauls' "thorn in the flesh" was EVER healed? That's an assumption upon which scripture does not say! Again, please provide the Forum with SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT to the contrary. Mitch, as Doc has offered, the burden of proof is on you, my friend! Finally, it would be helpful to answer the questions brought up in reply to you instead of switching gears and asking more questions. My intent is not to "nit-pick" or come across harsh, but to help fine-tune things, so that a more constructive discussion can be had on this topic:-) Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3347 | Prove the will of God is the Word of God | 1 Peter | BradK | 146626 | ||
Hi Mitch, If I may interject here. The problem is that you're not listening closely to what Searcher has said! As has been wisely observed by others, we need to be careful to not say what scripture doesn't say. In other words, there is no scripture that says "Gods' Word is His will". You're drawing a faulty conclusion by doing so, much like the mantra that "God always heals." For instance ( and I'm purposely being silly), IF Gods' Word is His will, then in Matt. 27:5 Judas "... went away and hanged himself." I know this is not your intent, but taken to its' illogical and faulty conclusion this is what you you're in effect saying. If I might inquire, who have you learned this from and how would you DEMONSTRATE from SCRIPTURE that this is sound doctrine? Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3348 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146640 | ||
Hello Mitch, Allow me to address a point in your response to Tim. You state: "I can't say for sure what happened to Job, but I can tell you, that Job was in fear before the bad things began to happen in his life, and living in fear, of course, is lacking faith, Jesus addressed that on the boat with his disciples." So, you don't know FOR SURE what happened to Job. Fine. But then you go on to state something that is simply your personal opinion- a speculation- nothing more. NOWHERE does it say that Job "was in fear before the bad things began to happen in his life" OR that he "lacked faith". These are YOUR words, Mitch. The major challenge I have with this is that you are representing as FACT assertions, NOT facts given from the biblical account! You're simply making things up. Nothing written in Job tells us he was "in fear" or "lacked faith". Do you see a problem here? My plea is for you to distinguish between speculation, assertions, and facts. Mitch, though I disagree with your view, I could at least accept something stated by you if you qualified it by saying, "In my opinion" or "I think this may be what happened", etc. It is careless disregard to claim something as fact from the Bible, when it is not evidenced from the text! You continue to do this on an ongoing basis, my friend :-( It's one thing to disagree, it's an entirely different matter to make representations as fact that clearly aren't. The only thing we know about Jobs' "state" is what is recorded in Chap. 1:1 (2:3). It reads: "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." As to Job lacking "faith", Roms 14:23 tells us that "whatever is not from faith is sin." Yet in Job 1:22 we find "Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." The only "fear" I see being mentioned, is that Job feared God. A reverential fear at that! If you'd care to prove me wrong and show me FROM SCRIPTURE where Job was in fear, I'd be happy to recant. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3349 | If we ask for healing does God answer no | 1 Peter | BradK | 146677 | ||
Hi justme, Let me say a LOUD, AMEN! You are absolutley right in your comments about Mitch. Good, solid advice is obviously falling on deaf ears! Folks, this is a Study Bible Forum, not an opinion or speculation forum. It is not for parroting the teachings (or errors) of spurious doctrines. Thanks for addressing the issues head-on and speaking so forthrightly. When 2 or 3 brothers are saying the same thing, it would occur to me that maybe, just maybe, I might want to listen and consider the advice. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3350 | what does the word conversation | 1 Peter | BradK | 234263 | ||
Hello ramzweb, You're "question" is posting as a note! hYou've only given a partial statement and/or question? I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. Could you please clarify? Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3351 | Where was 1 peter written from? | 1 Pet 1:1 | BradK | 196383 | ||
Hello Sandris, From 5:13 we see- "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark" (NASB) So, the epistle was written from Babylon, but scholars are divided as to whether this refers literally to Babylon in Mesopotamia or symbolically to Rome. Tradition generally holds that Peter spent his last years in Rome. I hope this helps, BradK |
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3352 | 1 peter after dispersion?? help!:) | 1 Pet 1:1 | BradK | 196385 | ||
Hello Sandris, The epistle was addressed to Christians througout Asia Minor and evidence seems to indicate this could include both Hebrew Christians as well as Gentiles- "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen" (NASB). The time of 1 Peter (mid 60's AD)would roughly coincide with the dating of Acts (62-64 AD). I hope this is helpful, BradK |
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3353 | Why can we not just be Christians? | 1 Pet 1:2 | BradK | 151625 | ||
Hi Ray, From my heart to yours, I too implore you to move on to other more edifying topics. In the spirit of Christian love, please heed the advice of your brothers ands sisters here on the Forum. This fetish with capitalization has long since lost itself on me and I see no real benefit in its' continuence. I love you as a brother in the Lord and you have my respect and prayers. But, at the same time I cannot endorse your obsession with this matter. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3354 | ? laws prior to Exodus/Moses | 1 Pet 1:10 | BradK | 202722 | ||
Hello PDAL, I'll let Doc speak for himself, but let me say this: What has changed is our relation to sin, cf Rom. 6:11-17ff. Particularly note Rom 7:14-25 where Paul is speaking in the Pesent tense as opposed to the Past tense in 7-13. He says in 7:20, "But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me." (NASB) I would also reference Gal. 5:16-17, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (NASB) I'm not aware of anything stating in scripture that our sin nature has left us! Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3355 | ? laws prior to Exodus/Moses | 1 Pet 1:10 | BradK | 202829 | ||
Hello PDAL, You state, "Name change in scripture denotes change in nature." Where exactly does scripture say this? Let's deal specifically with the verses from Romans 7, which formed the basis of my initial response. The entire portion of Rom. 7:14-25 is in the PRESENT tense. This means he (Paul) is speaking about something that is currently the case! You state that, "Romans 7;5,20,23says sin was in our bodily members". That is not entirely true, and is not what those verses actually say! 1. Rom. 7:5 is in the Imperfect Tense, where it says, "For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death." (NASB) However, note the reference is to "sinful passions". It says nothing about 'sin nature'! Weust's Translation reads: "For when we were in the sphere of the flesh, the impulses of sins which were through the law, were operative in our members, resulting in the production of fruit with respect to death." His comment is thus: "That is, in the case where the person is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that person is not in the control of the evil nature. That individual is a saved person. Consequently, the one who is in the flesh is an unsaved person, the flesh here referring to the fallen nature." 2.Rom. 7:20, reads, "But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me." (NASB) Weust's Translation reads: "In view of the fact then that what I do not desire, this I do, I am in agreement with the law that it is good. And since the case stands thus, no longer is it I who do it, but the sin (sinful nature) which indwells me; for I know positively that there does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh, good; for the being desirous is constantly with me; but the doing of the good, not; for that which I desire, good, I do not; but that which I do not desire, evil, this I practice. But in view of the fact that that which I do not desire, this I do, no longer is it I who do it, but the sin which indwells me." Notice it does not say anywhere here that "sin was...". It is in the present tense, so 'sin is...'. He writes, "It is safe for a Christian like Paul—it is not safe for everybody—to explain his failings by the watchword, Not I, but indwelling sin.… A true saint may say it in a moment of passion, but a sinner had better not make it a principle.” Sin, of course, here, is the evil nature indwelling a believer." 3. Rom. 7:23 is also in the present tense, where it reads, "but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members" (NASB). Wuest notes, "The law in his members warring against the law of his mind is, of course, the evil nature. Paul finds a condition that when he desires to do good, this evil nature always asserts itself against the doing of that good. He brings out the same truth in Galatians 5:17 where he says, “The flesh (evil nature) has a passionate desire to suppress the Spirit, and the Spirit has a passionate desire to suppress the flesh. And these are set in opposition to each other so that you may not do the things which you desire to do." Again, nothing in this verse says that "sin was...", but rather, that 'sin is...'. Nothing in these verses would indicate that the sin nature no longer resides in the believer, but rather the opposite is true:-) Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3356 | ? laws prior to Exodus/Moses | 1 Pet 1:10 | BradK | 202958 | ||
Hello PDAL, I don't really think there is much I can add to help you better understand the error you proclaim! I cannot enlighten you, but would pray that the Holy Spirit, through the Word would do so. (2 Tim. 2:15) While I can certainly appreciate your attempt at an analogy, it fails on 2 counts: 1. It's not rooted and founded in proper exegesis of scripture, as Gen.17 has nothing whatsoever to do with the "dual nature" of the the believer; 2. The analogy is also flawed in that I fail to see how "Abraham can be looked at as the church giving birth to the nature of the son"? Allow me to provide the following quote (in part) from C.H. Spurgeon and his sermon on Rom. 7:24-25 titled, "THE FAINTING WARRIOR": "Thus, you see, the Christian becomes a double man — two men in one. Some have imagined that the old nature is turned out of the Christian: not so, for the Word of God and experience teach the contrary, the old nature is in the: Christian unchanged, unaltered, just the same, as bad as ever it was; while the new nature in him is holy, pure and heavenly; and hence, as we shall have to notice in me next place — hence there arises a conflict between the two. Again, observe, that the old nature of man, which remains in the Christian is evil, and it cannot ever be anything else but evil, for we are told in this chapter that “in me,” — that is, in my flesh — “there dwelleth no good thing.” (present tense) The old Adam-nature cannot be improved; it cannot be made better; it is hopeless to attempt it. You may do what you please with it, you may educate it, you may instruct it, and thus you may give it more instruments for rebellion, but you cannot make the rebel into the friend, you cannot turn the darkness into light; it is an enemy to God, and an enemy to God it ever must be. On the contrary, the new life which God has given us cannot sin. That is the meaning of a passage in John, where it is said, “The child of God sinneth not; he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” The old nature is evil only evil, and that continually, the new nature is wholly good; it knows nothing of sin, except to hate it. Its contact with sin brings it pain and misery, and it cries out, “Woe is me that I dwell in Meshech, that I tabernacle in the tents of Kedar.” I have thus given you some little picture of the two natures. Let me again remind you that these two natures are essentially unchangeable. You cannot make the new nature which God has given you less divine; the old nature you cannot make less impure and earthly." Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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3357 | Can you prove eternal security? | 1 Pet 1:23 | BradK | 141282 | ||
Voice of Thunder, Here's my entry on this question. I oft meditate on Hebrews 7:25, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Charles Spurgeon in his sermon titled "Salvation to the Uttermost" said this, in part "WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF THE: SAVIOR’S ABILITY? This is a question as important as if it were for life or death — a question as to the ability of Jesus Christ. How far can salvation go? What are its limits and its boundaries? Christ is a Savior, how far is he able to save? He is a Physician: to what extent will his skill reach to heal diseases? What a noble answer the text gives! “He is able to save to the uttermost.” Now, I will certainly affirm, and no one can deny it, that no one here knows how far the uttermost is. David said, if he took the wings of the morning, to fly to the uttermost parts of the sea, even there should God reach him. But who knoweth where the uttermost is? Borrow the angel’s wing’s and fly far, far beyond the most remote star: go where wing has never flapped before, and where the undisturbed ether is as serene and quiet as the breast of Deity itself: you will not come to the uttermost. Go on still; mounted on a morning ray, fly on still, beyond the bounds of creation, where space itself fails, and where chaos takes up its reign: you will not come to the uttermost. It is too far for mortal intellect to conceive of; it is beyond the range of reason or of thought. Now, our text tells us that Christ is “able to save to the uttermost." It seems if we place our faith in Him and take Him at his Word, our salvation is "complete in Him". Speaking the Truth in Him, BradK |
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3358 | is this gentiles? | 1 Pet 2:9 | BradK | 224997 | ||
Hello catarm63, Keep in mind that back in verse 6 Peter is quoting Isaiah 28:16. I believe vs. 9- "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation" -is specifically referring to Israel. I hope this helps, BradK |
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3359 | IF I MAKE ONE STEP GOD WILL MAKE 2 | 1 Pet 2:21 | BradK | 222175 | ||
Hello mable, Jesus had 12 disciples. It would be assumed that John died of "natural causes" as he was exiled to Patmos, and not killed like the others. The statement "IF YOU MAKE ONE STEP GOD WILL MAKE 2" is not found in the Bible! However, here's one NT verse that may fit,1 Pet. 2:21, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps," (NASB) I hope this helps, BradK |
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3360 | did Jesus die for our sins or sickness | 1 Pet 2:24 | BradK | 160433 | ||
Hi atdcross, Welcome to the Forum! You state, "The word "healed" refers to the whole man, spirit and body, in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the NT." Might I ask, how did you come to that conclusion? Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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