Results 41 - 60 of 115
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Parable Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Which proposition is scriptural? | John 3:16 | Parable | 89054 | ||
Both are true. Romans 10:10a "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified..." "that YOU believe" means we do it, not God. However, we cannot believe without faith, which is a gift from God... Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- This means that faith is not a work, because all we can do to get it is accept it from God. However, once received, it is ours to embrace, or not, as we choose... 1 Cor 16:13b "stand firm in the faith" Parable. |
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42 | Are all sins equal in the eyes of God? | James 2:10 | Parable | 86768 | ||
I suggest the answer to your question lies in the nature of God's perfect holiness, a state in which sin of any kind cannot be present. James 2:10 says "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." This point is also emphasized in Romans 3:23 "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." However, we can rejoice in the fact that "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." -- Romans 8:1 While the practical worldly consequences of sins may vary according to circumstances, in God's eyes all sin is incompatible with His presence. Thus, we need Jesus to cleanse us of all our sin, so we can enter His Presence, so we may participate in the love He has planned for us. However, in Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus says "... every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Many theologians understand this in the following way: if you cannot see or refuse to recognize the One who forgives, i.e. the Holy Spirit, then it is logically impossible for you to ask for and receive forgiveness from whom you have offended. That is, if you deny the authority of the Spirit, you cut yourself off from the realm of forgiveness itself. In this sense, I submit the worst sin is to convince yourself that the Holy Spirit is the devil, because this is the ultimate hardness of heart and at some point, God, according to his wisdom, will give you over to your decision. Parable |
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43 | Can the Bible be taken literally? | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 86702 | ||
I suggest "Biblical Hermeneutics: A comprehensive introduction to interpreting scripture", 2nd ed. by Corley, Lemke and Lovejoy This is a scholarly treatment and quite demanding, but worth the effort. A simpler approach is this: suggest that your brother read the bible on its own terms, i.e. accepting that it is the word of God because that's what it's authors intend. Then, simply go with that idea and see where it leads, reading without prejudice. If, after reading it fairly, he is not convinced, he can always go back to his previous opinion. I suggest he start with the NT. Also, I recommend The Message, Eugene Peterson's paraphrase because it integrates text with interpretive commentary so the reader need only read it naturally to get the point. It seems that at this point, your brother needs milk, not meat. Parable |
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44 | Was David up? | 2 Sam 11:2 | Parable | 84530 | ||
I don't believe scripture supports imparting this motive to Bathsheba. Clearly, she was bathing after David's normal bedtime. Also, to see Bathsheba, David needed to be on the roof of his house. Then David sent for her, and she responded to his summons. Then David slept with her. This story is all about David and his choices. The scriptures hold David accountable for his actions, not that he was the victim of a setup. "2One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her." |
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45 | Todays fashions | Eph 2:2 | Parable | 82319 | ||
1. discontent, from comparisons with others. 2. selfishness, from having too much. 3. arrogance, from having power over others. |
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46 | Believing in the Bible and E.T.'s | Eph 2:2 | Parable | 82317 | ||
I submit that the Bible does not address the possibility of extra-terrestrial life, at least in the normal biological sense. Therefore, there is no reason to support nor deny it on the basis of scripture. Perhaps the more important issue is how you respond to that possibility. If true, then I suggest it provides another witness to God's creativity. If not, then our collective existence is that much more meaningful as a unique expression of His love, just as our individuality reflects His love for diversity. With respect to the modern "folklore" surrounding UFO's and aliens, I believe we must not be seduced by these distractions. James instructs us to "test everything" and "hold onto the good". If you find any "good" evidence for aliens, let me know. Parable. |
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47 | Are injury lawsuits okay with God? | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 81604 | ||
I concur that you should seek counseling elsewhere, perhaps from your pastor and an attorney. Given that, your situation is worthy of comment here in that how we apply biblical principles to our lives is an important part of understanding God's Word. Here's my view: Those who failed to obey the law are accountable for their actions. If you do nothing, they will still be accountable to God. Yet, you have suffered as a result of wrongful acts and are entitled to just compensation. The bible prescribes such terms in several places as a means to preserve social justice. God has ordained the authorities so they may adjudicate situations like yours. You are called to act according to love for God and others, as the Spirit leads you. It may be that the loving thing to do is hold someone accountable. On the other hand, mercy is always an option, but there is always a cost. Only you can decide if the cost is something God wants you to bear for those who hurt you. I believe you are free to pursue legal action, but I also believe that you are not required to do so. |
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48 | Ever Doubt God's Existence? | Gen 3:1 | Parable | 78790 | ||
For a comprehensive discussion of doubt, see "The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God" by Gary R. Habermas. Dr. Habermas combines advanced scholarship with practical experience to address the intellectual, emotional and spiritual issues of doubt. This book may be available at your local library, but I got mine used through an on-line book dealer named after a very large south american river.... Peace, Parable |
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49 | Ever Doubt God's Existence? | Gen 3:1 | Parable | 78179 | ||
"But ask the animals, and they will teach you.... Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job12:7-10 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm19:1 Do not fear doubt. It shows us where we need to grow in our faith. Just as temptation is not sin, a passing thought is not a change of heart. In each, what matters is how you respond. Peace. |
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50 | Time line when the world was Created | Genesis | Parable | 77641 | ||
As a Christian who is also a physcial scientist at a university, I summarize my thoughts on this topic, see below. My inspiration for the scientific side of this discussion comes from "The Genesis Question", by Dr. Hugh Ross. For previous posts by me on this topic, see the thread starting at message #46773, which can be found by using the Quick Search window on the upper right. Here's my interpretation of Genesis. I have shared this with one of my pastors at my church, and he has no objections to what I have said. I expect others on this forum will want to share their views as well. 1) God created Adam. Gen 2:7 God planted the Garden of Eden. Gen 2:8 Scripture does not say how long it was between the time of Adam's creation and his arrival in the Garden. 2) God created Eve in the Garden. Gen 2:22 Scripture does not say how long Adam lived before God created Eve. 3) Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Gen 3:6 Scripture does not say how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden before they disobeyed God. 4) God walked in the Garden and Adam and Eve hid themselves from him. Gen 3:8-9 Scripture does not say how long it was after eating the apple that Adam and Eve hid themselves from God. 5) Because of the serpent's role and the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the world was cursed by God. Gen 3:14-19 The curse brought humanity: conflict with the serpent (Gen 3:15), pain (Gen 3:16), dominance of the husband over the wife (Gen 3:16), surviving on the meager fruits of painful toil (Gen 3:17), and death and decay (Gen 3:19). 6) The curse is contrasted sharply with the Garden, implying life in the Garden had none of the troubles of the Fallen world, most notably death and decay. As these are how we measure time, in both the cosmic and personal sense, our Fallen understanding of time is wholly inadequate to understanding time in the Garden, before the Fall. Peter alludes to God's view of time in 2Peter3:8b "... with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 7) Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden and entry was barred by cherubim and a flaming sword. Gen 3:23-24. 8) We are the decendents of Adam and Eve, Gen 3:20. We live in that same Fallen world and likewise cannot access the Garden in ANY way, including through the use of logic to infer anything about the timing of Creation or the nature of the Garden, as might be extrapolated by science after examination of the Fallen world. I conclude: Science is constrained to reveal the nature of the Fallen world only and cannot address it before the Fall in any way whatsoever. If the Fallen world appears by all scientific measures to be very old, that fact has no bearing on when Creation was established nor the nature of the Garden before the Fall. |
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51 | Balanced view on the issues in Middle ea | Rom 3:23 | Parable | 77392 | ||
How about "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"? -- Romans 3:23 The issues are: 1) local, regional and global, 2) ethnic, religious, economic and political, 3) chronic and acute 4) embedded, highly charged and dangerous and surprisingly, 4) solvable. Jesus is the answer to all of them. Parable |
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52 | Unequally Yoked? | 2 Cor 6:14 | Parable | 76723 | ||
"with unbelievers" is the key to understanding this verse. Diversity in Christ is not the issue. Rather, it is the distinction between faith in Christ and unbelief. Since you ask about getting married, and not about being married, this verse can be interpreted as advising against marrying an unbeliever (the ultimate alliance), but does not address differences in preferences, tradition or denomination. |
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53 | help | Song of Solomon | Parable | 76719 | ||
I'll attempt to answer your question in general terms. Where the bible speaks, we are firm and where the bible is silent, we are free to live according to the principles of Godly living. To my knowledge, the bible does not discuss in detail what is allowed and what is prohibited between husband and wife. In principle then... That which expresses passionate love and unbridled joy for both husband and wife, that which promotes spiritual intimacy, that which honors and respects each person, those are the behaviors that glorify God. Sex is His gift to us; we should cherish it. That which expresses selfishness or lust, that which denegrates or objectifies a person, that which injures, that which manipulates, that which does not honor the other person, etc, those are the behaviors that must be avoided. Leviticus 15:19 and 24 declares that sexual relations during menstration renders both unclean. However, as I understand it, this relates to ceremonial cleanness. In Christ, we are freed from the OT law, so so this issue may not imply anything about sexual conduct between husband and wife today. I'll leave this point for others more knowledgeable than me. Ultimately, in this area, like all areas of our lives, the Spirit is our guide. |
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54 | Why haven't I given personal information | Proverbs | Parable | 76715 | ||
Peace to you. Please know that you are under no obligation to reveal anything about yourself to anyone on this or any other internet forum. You can edit your personal profile by clicking on Update User Info under Resources to the left of the page. However, do not feel pressured to include anything about yourself that compromises your right to privacy. You are wise to be cautious, there are predators lurking on the internet, even on bible websites. |
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55 | Searching for the truth | Matt 28:19 | Parable | 76623 | ||
Rapid growth is not so important as steady, solid growth. Many a venture has failed because it expanded too quickly to manage properly. Churches grow one person at a time. Each member is as responsible for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) as the pastor. So, the key is to have each member bring a new friend. This means they must establish meaningful relationships with unbelievers, and at the right time, invite them to church. The friends are most likely to come if they see the light of Christ in the person who invites them. Also, the church needs to establish a nurturing children and youth program in which the kids bring their friends, who later get their parents to come. Finally, the pastor must periodically provide sound teaching on the spiritual discipline of giving, being clear about its benefits to everyone and its importance to Kingdom work, but not nagging the congregation about it. Visitors should be encouraged to refrain from giving until they become members. Parable |
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56 | Searching for the truth | Eph 5:21 | Parable | 76562 | ||
Further thoughts on potential problems in small churches. The best solution is prevention. The main issues are misconduct, in the following areas: money, sex and political power. MONEY: Because they often lack resources, finances can be a source of strife. Proper accounting practices and sound budgets are vital. The books should be open to anyone who wants to see them and the church should be audited each year by an independent CPA. Also, the accountant should be the only one who knows how much each person gives. The pastor should not seek to know who gives what. Such knowledge can lead to favoritism, even in the best of us. SEX: The pastor should observe strict rules regarding where, when and how time is spent with members alone. Such rules preclude opportunities for accusations and temptations for either party. When people know these rules are in place, they are more likely to address accusations rationally rather than emotionally. Even so, any appearance of impropriety should call for immediate action, although it need not always be public. POWER: Mechanisms for accountability and an atmosphere conducive to open dialogue are fundamental to smooth operations. The pastor must encourage people to share their concerns and address them in a meaningful way. The pastor must delegate authority and tasks to others, then let them serve in their own way, intervening only if there is a real need. |
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57 | Searching for the truth | Eph 5:21 | Parable | 76497 | ||
Problems come when any church is not based in scripture, not centered on Jesus and not filled by the Spirit. This is not to say that people never disagree, but the kinds of problems that tear a church apart are characterized by pettiness, selfishness, pride, hidden agendas, gossip, greed and lust, among other things. The solution is to bow before the Lord, remain humble in spirit and set aside that which detracts from Kingdom work. The church leaders must create an environment in which everyone is able to "speak the truth in love" (Eph 4:15) and "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph 5:21) Parable |
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58 | Should I Look For Another Church? | 1 Thess 5:12 | Parable | 76492 | ||
We are called to respect the judgment of church leaders. "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you." - 1Thess5:12. There may be good reasons your pastor is not yet willing to marry the two of you. If so, those reasons won't change if you go to another church and it would be unwise to get married anyway. The decision to look for another church should be based on severe problems that cannot be resolved, rather than one decision that you don't like, especially if that decision relates to something as important as marriage. Parable |
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59 | C harles Stanley abusing the Bible? | 1 Tim 3:2 | Parable | 75800 | ||
I believe it is wrong to use scripture in the way you describe, i.e. to judge others. See Matthew 7:2. In my opinion, the highest test should be this: Does waging war with Iraq demonstrate love for God and love for others? See Matthew 22:37-40. A case can be made that it does and a case can be made that it doesn't. It depends entirely on the motives behind the actions, the contents of our hearts. If the President is lead by the Spirit to wage war in an effort to end tyranny and bring justice, peace and love to an oppressed people, then he should wage war. But he should do so in the most just and righteous way, including the occupation/rebuilding afterward. In this case, protestors would do well to examine what drives their actions. If protest is for selfish reasons or out of fear, then the peace they seek is not possible. On the other hand, if the President is driven by impure motives, such as arrogance, economic self-interest or revenge, then any actions taken would be made in vain, including efforts to wage peace. In this case, protesting his motives would be proper. Parable |
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60 | big-bang theory | Bible general Archive 1 | Parable | 66606 | ||
You should discuss this with an astro-physicist or astronomer, not bible forum expositors. But, since you ask....yes, the theory of the Big Bang is a reasonable projection into the past, a logical extrapolation based on well-established astromical data. It's generally accepted by those in the field, although like any healthy academic discipline, there is continuing debate and revision whenever some new observation comes to light, no pun intended. To me, BB confirms the universe was created from nothing, on a scale commensurate with the magnificence of God and with beauty commensurate with His holiness. The theory suggests that before the event, absolutely nothing physical existed, i.e. no matter, space, energy nor time. Yes, it is theorized that time and space themselves were created at the BB; it is not correct to say that before Creation there was just empty space. Then, at the beginning, our universe appeared in an infinitely dense, infinitely hot, zero-dimensional singularity. This is the point where the equations break down. As a committed Christian, I know God created the universe, as revealed in His Word. As a scientist and educator at a university, I accept the understanding of Creation afforded by modern science. There are some who suggest these two views are mutually exclusive, perhaps because their understanding of science does not fit with their understanding of scripture. I note that there are also some, whom we rightly call heretics, who say that Jesus cannot be both God and man. |
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