Results 41 - 60 of 169
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Results from: Notes Author: Aspiring Overseer Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Treasure? | Matt 6:20 | Aspiring Overseer | 120211 | ||
Hi Momma, How does a Christian "invest in things that contribute to the salvation of the souls of the lost" without being a faithful and obedient servant? Can they do this by being disobedient? AO |
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42 | Holy Spirt w/ evidence of tongues? | 1 Cor 12:10 | Aspiring Overseer | 115040 | ||
Searcher, I have read your note to Kalos, but am unsure of your meaning. If you like, please restate it for me. Thanks. AO |
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43 | Holy Spirt w/ evidence of tongues? | 1 Cor 12:10 | Aspiring Overseer | 114915 | ||
Kalos, P.S. I would seriously reconsider the scriptural understanding of the writer you quote if they believe the Kingdom is a future event. AO |
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44 | Holy Spirt w/ evidence of tongues? | 1 Cor 12:10 | Aspiring Overseer | 114914 | ||
Kalos, I understand the author's opinion that you have shared. It might be helpful to determine whether "the perfect" in 1Co13:10 is a deity or a thing. AO |
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45 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106937 | ||
Steve, I understand your position and thank you for the discussion. AO |
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46 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106931 | ||
Tim, Thank you for the discussion! AO |
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47 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106921 | ||
Steve, You mention, "the example of Cain is irrelevant because there is no prohibition against celebrating Christmas (or Easter, for that matter). Indeed, the lesson of Scripture seems to be that God does not limit our worship to what he has specifically commanded." Where did God command Cain to offer a blood sacrifice? Was that specifically commanded? Where does He “limit worship” to blood only? Did He prohibit an offering of the fruit of the ground? Maybe God forgot to cause Moses to record it in scripture? Of course, it is not mentioned, because it is implied. Cain knew the command, but disobeyed. Cain thought that God should accept what Cain wished to provide; like denominational Christians think God should accept what they wish to provide. God was, is and will always be, very specific in how He is worshiped. He had no regard for Cain, but unlike transgressors today, Cain received immediate feedback! Are we still unsure if God limits His worship to what is specifically commanded? Lets consider Nadab and Abihu: Lev 10:3 10:1Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy,And before all the people I will be honored.'" So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. NAS The sons of Aaron were priests. They knew what was right, but decided to take a shortcut. God does not accept substitutes! Since we have clearly established God is specific in how He desires to be worshiped we could stop here, but lets continue to review your other objections. You wrote, “When God gave Samuel the victory over the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7, he didn't instruct Samuel to set up a stone named Ebenezer to celebrate. Yet Samuel, on his own, did just that (v.12). That worshipful act didn't seem to make God angry. In fact, in light of God's continued assistance against the Philistines, it seems he found Samuel's "unauthorized" worship quite acceptable. “. How do you know God did not instruct Samuel to “set up a stone”? If He had not, how do we know that it was pleasing to God? All we can agree upon is that the act, “didn’t seem to make God angry”. Many things done by God’s people He tolerated, but did not condone (Christmas is not one of them:-)). It is somewhat dangerous to base your actions on something that “seems” acceptable. Lastly, you also wrote,” More to the point, God did not command the observance of Purim (Esther 9), yet there is no expression of divine (displeasure) with the Jews for doing so. It appears that God really doesn't mind when his people go beyond what is required in honoring and praising him.”. How does removing the distinguished status as God’s People and bestowing that upon Jew and Gentile, alike, strike you as a indication of divine displeasure? Once again, we do not know how God felt about Purim, so we can either delude ourselves into thinking it was an acceptable man-made practice, or we can understand God’s unchanging nature. It’s our choice! AO |
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48 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106917 | ||
Tim, I understand your viewpoint that it is lawful for a Christian to use something that is not specifically prohibited in Scripture. Computers and cars certainly could not be mentioned in the bible, as well as, vaccines, airplanes, submarines, etc. as they did not exist. Did anyone of that day know Jesus birthday? His mother assuredly did, maybe some of His apostles, maybe even Paul. They all lived for many years beyond the start of the Church, yet they seem to have had little influence over establishing a celebration of His birth. Could God have caused to have been written something about His desire for us to honor His son’s birth? Do you think this was an oversight on God’s part? Maybe Paul forgot to include this in his example to the churches of the day? We would have only needed one example to make it a command (unless we are talking about baptism, of course! :-)). Maybe we should approach the issue of whether it is acceptable to observe Christmas from the other direction. Is it specifically prohibited? What does scripture tell us? 1 Cor 10:14 14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. NAS Is idolatry acceptable during the Christian age? How would we classify nativity scenes, passion plays, angels, decorated trees, yule logs, mistletoe, December 25th, the worship of the Virgin Mary, etc.; the list is long of items not only missing from scripture, but having the distinction of “graven images”. Many will still stand by the doctrine of “Once Pagan, But Now OK”, but does God share this perspective? AO |
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49 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106811 | ||
Steve, I agree that Christian worship occurs 24/7. How a Christian handles the "stuff" in their care is very important as it shows where their mind is centered. The reference to "cars, computers and plumbing" was brought up in suggesting society has changed since the first century, but worship of God has not. Unfortunately, denominational Christianity believes otherwise as evidenced by the “anything goes” practices of today. Most interesting is the idea religious people can create their own celebration of God in any manner they chose. Christmas especially may be viewed as a holy event in some people’s minds, but not God’s. Consider Cain: Gen 4:3-7 3So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." NAS Cain thought it would be a good idea to offer his own idea of worship. The original inventors of Christmas followed in the same erroneous steps. Are we to believe that a couple hundred years of honoring Jesus’ birthday may change God’s mind? He had no regard for Cain’s worship thousands of years ago; maybe He has become a more liberal thinker? We are reminded several times: Prov 30:6 6Do not add to His words Lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar. NAS The wise man will ponder this and pray for guidance, would he not? I am at your service if you would like to discuss this further. AO |
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50 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106734 | ||
Hi Tim, Yes, we drive cars, communicate via computers and live in houses with central plumbing. All of these are vastly different from the first century Christian's way of life and most importantly, they have nothing to do with worship! :-) You stated, "I am only concerned with what Christmas means to me! It is the day I give thanks for God coming into this world to save me!". Is not that the same choice made by Cain in desiring to worship God the way he chose rather than the way God directed? AO |
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51 | in what ways does god punish people | Prov 28:13 | Aspiring Overseer | 104423 | ||
Aixen, What greater punishment could a person face than disfellowship with God? AO |
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52 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103450 | ||
Radioman, I appreciate your point. As we have already addressed the necessity of a command of God to need only be given once, lets move on to why Paul stated "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (your quote). You gave 1Cor 1:17 as evidence. Lets look at the full context: 1 Cor 1:10-17 10Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15that no man should say you were baptized in my name. 16Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. NAS Verses 14-16 make it clear that Paul is not denigrating baptism, but glad that he himself did not baptize MANY so to avoid denominations. He was happy to baptize, but understood that there was danger for him to do so. Additionally, Christ personally handpicked him, because of his desire for righteousness as demonstrated by his knowledge! This made him a much more effective servant in teaching than in baptizing. AO |
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53 | All He taught apply only after He died | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103364 | ||
Searcher, Did the Jews under the Law of Moses have to be "born again"? If not, then John 3 only makes sense when applied to the age of Christianity. Does this make Christ "inconsistent" to teach regarding future events? Throughout His life He prepared those around Him for the New Covenant. Some lessons had immediate applicability, some described future events. AO |
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54 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103363 | ||
My point, which you acknowledge (though indirectly) is that repentance and confession are not mentioned in that verse, yet you still include them as necessary steps. You must do the same for baptism if you are going to be consistent. AO |
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55 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103348 | ||
Radioman2, Acts 8:11-12 12But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. NAS Repentance or confession are not mentioned in the above verse. Does that mean they are not required, as well? AO |
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56 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103347 | ||
Searcher, How is one "buried with Him through baptism" (by the Holy Spirit), as you suggest? AO |
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57 | Under the Law but not under water? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103345 | ||
Rom 3:26-27 27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. NAS Rom 2:5-8 5But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. NAS There will always be those who wish no effort was involved with salvation and I sincerely hope, for their sakes, they are correct. AO |
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58 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103344 | ||
The verses you give illustrate the First Gentile conversion, which was given as a sign to the Apostles to show God's acceptance of them (the Gentiles). Only the Apostle's conversion and the that of Cornelius's family occured before water baptism. AO |
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59 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103324 | ||
Searcher, If an Apostle taught that baptism was required, was that their own opinion or God's command? Acts 2:38 38And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NAS Acts 8:36 36And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" NAS Acts 16:32-34 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. NAS Acts 18:7-8 8And Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. NAS We could go much further, but why do we need more? AO |
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60 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103316 | ||
How many times must something (such as baptism) need be mentioned to make it a commandment of God? Must God mention it every time He gives us an example of conversion? AO |
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