Results 361 - 380 of 386
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Country Girl Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
361 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127332 | ||
Yes, I see your point. IF I was literally forced to choose between the two, yours and Ancient's position, I would have to go with yours, as I think you're slightly closer to the truth as I see it. I'm just hoping both of you can keep this discussion friendly and Christ-like. I've seen all the points of your post and Ancient's counter points. I'm just convinced it all boils down to the fact that God wants very, very much our devoted and regular attendance at our local worship assemblies so that we can share fellowship, our strengths and our weaknesses at that formation. God knows us better than we can ever possibly know ourselves and He knows we need to be there. BUT God's wishes apparently are NOT going to come in any clearer language than that already cited in His Word. He's going to leave it up to us to figure out. But I would also tack on a word of caution. If one actually chooses not to go to these worship assemblies I don't really think he/she will feel comfortable in Heaven so God will oblige that person and keep them out. Again, we do reap what we sow. Blessings to you all. Country Girl |
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362 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127345 | ||
True love, Agape type love, that which is described in 1 Cor 13 is the type of love we're commanded to strive for, to grow toward and mature in. Part of this true love is the DEMAND (not option) to assemble together as a family and encourage one another AND rejuvinate ourselves so that we don't think too highly of ourselves but instead get what we need from God and His family on earth set here for that purpose. Some of us need humbling whereas some others need to be built up and encouraged. Some of us have weaknesses with which we should share and deal with them, opening our hearts and repent for the sins in our life. Others of us must assemble with family members, sharing the strengths we've gained with God's help so that others may benefit. In some cases, some might share weaknesses (from one area of his life) one day and then a week later, share a strength (from another area of his life). So you see we MUST see ourselves as being compelled to be there or this function breaks down and the whole system is rendered powerless at least for those that are a "no show." If everyone were to take such a non-chalant attitude about the assembly, then eventually the church would disentagrate, at least for that particular congregation. Naturally, this means the stronger, more mature christian with a little more heritage in the Lord should be expected to be a leader in this devotion to the cohesiveness of the congregation. They should realize the debt they owe to God and be all the more anxious and willing to return the favor by spreading the enthusiasm and encourage growth among the younger and less mature christians. No, my dear friend I'm afraid I can't allow your post with this kind of disregard for God's ultimate authority go unchallenged. We as God's children MUST NOT consider the regular assembling of ourselves in worship as an option. I do hope you'll continue praying and studying on this subject. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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363 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127354 | ||
But Ancient, my dear friend, can't you see how dangerous this line of thinking would lead to? Our Lord says we're "either for Him or we're against Him." Most of the guidance from His Word lands on either side of that fence. Either we're going to comply with His Wishes, His Commands, His Examples as delegated to His Representatives, the Apostles OR we choose our own way as you're advocating. I'm just saying it's a dangerous and slippery slope you're playing with and worse of all, there are other people in the world, both on and off the Forum that are going to follow your lead and your example. Do continue to study and pray on this issue. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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364 | What do you make of this? | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127515 | ||
The debate about this subject has been going on since Martin Luther when he first put the Book of James to the very back of his Bible, because he couldn't handle its truth very well. In that book, James makes it very plain and simple that faith by itself is dead and useless without works resulting from that faith. If a person is not willing to submit himself/herself to the Lord in such a way so as to include at least some time, effort and sweat, then that kind of useless faith is no good to God. Yes, I agree with Paul, if we have all the faith in the world and don't have love, we're as useless as that musical instrument. And how can possibly have that kind of love IF we're not showing it and proving it every day of christian lives. We must do everything in our power to discover our hidden talents and adopt a ministry, pick up our cross and bear our rightful share of that burden of christian responsibility to the Lord's church. Then we can be found faithful when our Lord comes again. Blessings to you all. Country Girl |
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365 | A Superior Home | Heb 13:14 | Country Girl | 126984 | ||
As I see the Book of Hebrews, the main city emphasized throughout is that of the church and her superiority to the Judiasm and the Law of Moses. Is that what you're trying to say? This seems to be further endorsed by the fact that it's God who adds us to His church, living stones as Peter calls us in 1 Pet 2:4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Please confirm...just curious. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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366 | What do this chapter means James2? | James | Country Girl | 127833 | ||
The Book of James is known by most Bible Scholars as being one of the practical, down-to-earth books in the Bible. James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. James 2:2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, James 2:3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," James 2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? James 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? James 2:8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? James 2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, James 2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Here in Chapter 2 is James' way of telling us christians that our christianity has to be real and genuine, not fake or artificial. IF it's merely fake or false, our whole christianity is worthless. So this chapter takes one through a series of demonstrations showing us just how real and practical James means this christianity should be to us. We should love others more than ourselves, especially when we see their need is greater just as described in 1 Cor 13. We must watch out for opportunities to demonstrate this real and genuine love every day, all day with acts of kindness. Now, this is NOT to say that we must earn our way to Heaven for that CANNOT be done. The Lord expects us to act like we are living our lives in His very presence so we should do our best to imitate His life and the Christ-like actions we see in the NT. A true christian should see this as a debt we all owe to our Redeemer as He bought and paid for our very souls from the Devil himself. Our Lord is just letting us off easy by imitating His lifestyle and adopting His priorities. Hope this helps and blessings to you. Country Girl |
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367 | Through Cultural Eyes - or not??? | 1 Pet 3:1 | Country Girl | 124435 | ||
I must side with EdB here as his words ring true. For example, the demonstration of our Lord's washing the feet of His disciples was NOT done so that we would consider that an act of worship. Jesus did that to demonstrate the proper attitude we should have toward our brethren our sisters in the Lord's church. In the first century, particularly in the Mediterrean countries, washing of feet was a very good thing to do for one's guest but the lowliest slave was the one who did it. Thus the wonderful example of our Lord. Some of the other cultural practices are the exchange of the Holy Kiss between christians in that day and time; or the anointing of oil of sick family members. Now there's nothing wrong with doing these things, it's just not treated as acts of worship. They were aspects of that culture, time and place. Some folks treat them as acts of worship and I'd be the last person in the world to condemn them for doing that but I would caution that they can't REQUIRE someone to believe in since the Bible doesn't show it. So once again words like "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent" should prevail here. The most important item of culture we MUST learn is that of God's Culture. We should learn to "speak as the oracles of God" and practice love and forgiveness like He does. For we have received these precious treasures as gifts from our Father and should do likewise as much as we possibly can with everyone we meet. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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368 | How literal do we go? | 1 Pet 3:1 | Country Girl | 124499 | ||
Excellent treatment of the subject in perfect support of God's Word. Blessings to you, dear friend. Country Girl | ||||||
369 | Traditional answer? | 1 Pet 4:6 | Country Girl | 131576 | ||
Since this verse from Peter seems to be talking about living people who are dead in their sins, do you have any other scriptures to support this other view about "the outer darkness or prison?" Does the website provide any such scriptures in support? Sorry, I didn't take the time to check out the site myself. Might do so later on. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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370 | Why is the thread associated with ID# .. | 2 Pet 2:4 | Country Girl | 127352 | ||
The post 127074 was restricted by the Lockman Foundation of the Forum because they are dedicated to God's Word and Its rightful claim to being the absolute Truth. It is a basic self-evident contradiction of His Word to think that God could have created evil and is thus banned as soon as the Foundation know of its existance. I'm not an expert on the subject but in the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, we see that EVERYTHING in the universe, even the physical and spiritual was created by God. In Genesis, we're told that everything God created was good. BUT that's not to say that everything stayed that way. We see the Fall of Mankind and the spoiling of the world by the introduction of sin. This sin was introduced by Satan. So our conclusion is that although Satan was an angel created by God, apparently he turned bad and was sentenced to Hell by God as referenced above. So even the angels are given their freedom to choose whom to serve: God or their own ungodly way. Hope this helps and blessings to you. Country Girl |
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371 | Why is the thread associated with ID# .. | 2 Pet 2:4 | Country Girl | 127393 | ||
Again, I'm not an expert on the subject; I'll let Tim Moran and the other scholars on languages speak to that. But I think the scripture you refer to in Isaiah is hinged on a word that can be interpreted a couple of different ways. Here, "create evil" really means to us that God allowed its introduction into the world because he allowed the Devil to choose that path of ungodliness. This can be compared to parent-child relationship here on earth. The parent tells the child over and over again not to do a certain thing like riding a bike without a helment or touch a hot oven but the child goes ahead and does it, insisting on having his way and finds a whole new definition for pain. From the child's young naive perspective, the parent created this situation in giving the bike or bringing the hot oven into his world. From our naive and physical, limited and finite minds, it appears the evil in the world came from God since He created the world and everything in it. But we forget the Devil was also created and God said EVERYTHING He created in the beginning was good. So again, obviously the Devil gets ALL the credit for actually bringing sin, pain, suffereing AND evil into the world. I'm afraid I can offer no specific verse to corrobarate my conclusion other than those to which I've alluded earlier. Keep studying and praying, dear friend. Blessings to you. Country Girl PS: I would invite our language scholars to chime in and contribute to the discussion. Thanks. |
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372 | Why is the thread associated with ID# .. | 2 Pet 2:4 | Country Girl | 127394 | ||
I'm hoping to share some wisdom I've learned after being on the Forum for a few weeks and seeing for myself some of the grief and heartache that is meted out to some few participants. Please understand, most of us on the Forum are quite obsessed with the idea that the Bible is the One and Only Book in all the world that is considered to be authored by God Himself. He inspired It and He has protected It during these past several thousand years so when someone introduces a particular thought or idea that is especially repulsive like "God creating evil," naturally that person is going to run into the full and unmitigated guantlet of harsh criticism and extreme prejudice. If that person wants any kind of respect or an objective (maybe loving) response to his post with that kind of unusual and repulsive statement or topic, then he needs to do himself a favor and cite book, chapter and verse or better yet, quote the whole verse as you've done here. When a person does less and simply asks a particularly repugnent question like "Did God create evil?" there's not going to be a whole lot of sympathy toward that person. When one wants to tackle these kind of controversial and usually unpopular topics, that person needs to develop the art of tact and diplomacy. That skill is something woefully lacking in lot of folks in the modern world. You've paid a terribly high price to attend this school of hard knocks. I know some little something of that price as I got my PhD there. But hopefully, we're all learning, that is until the day we die. Then we'll be subjected to the ultimate final exam. I do sincerely hope this is helpful to you. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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373 | Why is the thread associated with ID# .. | 2 Pet 2:4 | Country Girl | 127400 | ||
You might be interested in reading my post to Ancient, Post No 127394. I really do mean for it to be offered only as a suggestion for your consideration. Hope it helps and blessings to you. Country Girl | ||||||
374 | When did the devil sin? | 2 Pet 2:4 | Country Girl | 127428 | ||
We're not given all the details and the actual sequencing of these events so we're left to discuss and draw our own conclusions. The only thing we do know for certain is that EVERYTHING God created was good and then a relatively short time later, the Devil tempts Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. Like it's already been shown by Stultis and your questions, this is a tough subject to figure out. I really don't think God meant for us to spend a whole lot of time discussing this stuff. I'm just thankful that our opinions on this subject are NOT going to influence our Day of that Final Exam or our Lord's final evaluation therefrom. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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375 | Grace? | 1 John 1:7 | Country Girl | 132686 | ||
Good solid post! Amen, dear friend. Country Girl | ||||||
376 | Can salvation be lost? | Jude 1:5 | Country Girl | 123928 | ||
The most powerful question, in my opinion, posted in this thread is from your post "Why do Paul, John, James, Jude and Peter write so much about the need to fight the fine fight and hold a good conscience if no risk of losing salvation?" I do hope a multitude of folks read this thread and your post in particular. I do believe you've head the crux of the matter with a dead on bombshell. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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377 | Can salvation be lost? | Jude 1:5 | Country Girl | 123931 | ||
I would submit that the only way of being confident of our salvation is after a lifetime of studying God's Word, obeying what we read and maturing in a close spiritual relationship with our Lord. I've lived quite a few years and I've only known a small handful with that kind of confidence as cited in 1 John. But I do think it's attainable by anyone who devotes himself as mentioned above. But if it were easy, then that would go counter to our Lord's Words about the straight and narrow gate to Heaven vs. broad and wide road to Hell, wouldn't it? Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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378 | Can salvation be lost? | Jude 1:5 | Country Girl | 123963 | ||
1. Yes, very definitely. I became a christian at the young age of 13. I've had ups and downs in my life and have been unfaithful but I've been restored and am now quite faithful. I'm now a member of a very good, dedicated bunch of christians who encourage me and work with me to be the best christian I can be. 2. I have full confidence in my salvation because I have obeyed the commands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have complied with ALL of His terms and conditions so I can receive His gift of salvation. I'm growing in my spiritual relationship with Him and His Father every day. I study His Word and am getting to know It better and better. I think my attitude is closer and closer to the heros in the Bible about whom we read. I love to share the best parts of my life with others so as to encourage them. I don't hesitate to mention the mistakes I've made IF they come up, especially if it's beneficial to help someone through their own crisis. How about you? What is your response to these same two questions? Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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379 | Can salvation be lost? | Jude 1:5 | Country Girl | 123983 | ||
I can only repeat what the Bible clearly teaches as follows 1 John 1:4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. Here, we see we're all guilty of sin and like you mentioned, every day we're guilty at the very least of NOT doing all the good we can possibly think of. So what are we to do? I would refer to those verses that speak to the "practice" of sin. If we're living our lives on a continuing basis, repeating our sins over and over again with no real intent of repenting and giving up those sins of commission or omission, that's where we run into trouble. We MUST make it a part of our routine, at least on a daily basis of repenting of our sins that day and asking for forgiveness so as to stay in good fellowship with our God and our His family here on earth. Hope this helps. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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380 | Can salvation be lost? | Jude 1:5 | Country Girl | 124017 | ||
I guess I would have to compare this relationship to one of a credit account with a store, or some other source of credit. In this scenario, the company issues a line of credit to the user and they maintain that line of credit and allow the user to continue using the account and make purchases, maybe even raising the ceiling of the account. BUT this is all based on the continuing maintenance of payments from the user on a regular basis. It's absolutely paramount as you know in today's world of business for the user to maintain his end of the bargain by making these payments or he/she jepordizes the closure of the account and maybe even forfiture of some of his posessions. In the same way, you and I without Christ are totally lost in a world of sin as we all "owe our souls to the Devil." But then Christ came into the world and literally bought us from the Devil with His own blood. He purchased all of us so that we could come live with Him and His Father in Heaven. Now of course, He left this world with His Last Will and Testament offering a free gift of salvation. All we have to do is fulfill his terms and conditions and accept His gift of redeeming blood. But that also means we have an account with Him, a line of credit if you will. He'll help us avoid falling deeper into debt with the Devil if we'll avail ourselves of His power and avoid those temptations. We must pray constantly as Paul states "without ceasing." We must study our Bibles, God's Word and find out all the rest of the terms and conditions, all the other commands in the NT to which we must obey. You see, we must maintain "our end of the bargain" and stay in the light of God's fellowship as described in 1 John. We must do everything in our power to imitate Christ and keep that relationship with Him and His Father alive and active. We can't allow it to grow stale or suffer from neglect for that's when we get ourselves into trouble and backslide into a life of sin and debt with the Devil. He loves to win back his old patrons. Yes, indeed Jesus' blood will indeed cover our sins on that all important Judgment Day IF we've done our part and maintained that close, personal relationship with our Lord. Remember just because a person says "Lord, Lord" that alone IS NOT going to get him to Heaven but "he that doeth the will of My Father"...that's the key. Obedience to God has always been one of the main themes throughout the Bible. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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