Results 41 - 60 of 177
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Results from: Notes Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19274 | ||
Joe, 1 Tim 1:9 - Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers. I guess you have no church to take your bull or goat to this Sabbath then. If you wait just a few more years, the temple should be rebuilt :) In Christ, Bill Mc |
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42 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19273 | ||
Dear Joe, Was your 'new self' created in righteousness and holiness or not? Eph 4:24 in my Bible says that it was. I didn't claim to be perfect. Heb 10:14 says that Christ's sacrifice has perfected me for all time before Him. Does your Bible say that? How could God's Holy Spirit united Himself with an old sin nature? I already cited the verse that says we are one spirit with God. He has joined us to Himself on the spirit level. Did you skip over that one? The moral law is best reflected in Jesus Christ. He was the exact representation of His Father and the radiance of God's glory. If you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. What good is it doing to compare my beliefs to Roman Catholicism? Their beliefs are not my standard or plumb line. If this is an attempted insult, it is ineffective. (Try the antinomi-thingy again. That's sure to get me riled. Or maybe you could throw Rom 6:1 at me.) Show me a verse where the Spirit of God is united with something sinful. Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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43 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19270 | ||
Dear charis, I agree with your post, brother. If you will read some of my other posts, you would also see that I feel that the OT has its place. And I agree with the 'intent.' But there are many who would not, and preach the 'letter' instead of the intent. They preach that we must keep the Old Covenant. While they have as much right to preach Old Covenant here as I do to point to the New, it would be a travesty to let them continually go unchallenged. Yes, I have read many of your other posts (not all, too time consuming) and I think I know you're heart. I think you do a great job here on this forum. Especially at keeping the peace. Thanks for your work. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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44 | Why keep the Moral Law? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19266 | ||
Dear Joe, See my other post. We view through different lens, brother. You see works as proof of what you are. I see works as a result of what we are. The difference is not the works. The difference is the source. Your source is yourself. Christ was never His own source. Our source is to be Him in us, not ourselves. You see commands are something that we have to do. I see them as something things we get to participate in with Christ fulfilling them in us - Rom 8:4. Let me lock the barn door. I, too, believe that a genuine faith results in works. But that is the correct order. Works are the results of genuine faith in Christ to work through us, not the by product of us doing it apart from Him. "Apart from Me, you can do nothing." (I am not going to, for the sake of time, interpret all these verses for you. You don't require it, Joe. But to illustrate our different lens, consider the Rom 7:4 verse that talks about us bearing fruit. That is correct, as we abide in Him, as the branch abides in the vine, we will bear, support, display the fruit. But we do not produce it. He does. If you cut the branch from the vine, it bears no fruit. If you splice a live branch into a dead vine, it will still bear no fruit. The source is always the vine. The life flows up from the vine into the branch and produces the fruit. The branch can produce none by itself. That is my point. But most legalist would say, "See, there, brother, if you ain't producin' good fruit, then you shore ain't no Christian." The legalist's focus in on him and others, what we do for God. Our focus should be on Christ, the author and completer of our faith.) Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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45 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19264 | ||
Joe, 4. Yes, Paul (and other NT writers) quote the OT. As I've said, the Law reflects the character of God. In Eph 6, children are not generally indwelt by Christ. They are born unregenerate, dead in trespasses and sin, and have no idea of what God's character is like. So they need the Law to show them what God is like and how sinful they are. How many kids do you know that walk in the Spirit? The Law was given to lead us to Christ. Unless you teach the Law to children and sinners, they will never see their need for a Savior. 5. What is the epidomy of His commandments? He tells us right there in 1 John 3:22-24. 'We keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.' Why? Hold that thought. What is His commandments? 'That we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another.' This is the heart of obedience. It is not what you do or don't do, it is belief in Jesus Christ. Now, if you do that, and He indwells you, we abide in Him and He in us. That is how we do the things that are pleasing in His sight. We abide in Christ. Are they're things that we do as we abide in Him and He in us. Yes. I have already tried to explain this to you, dear Joe, in another post which you seemed to dismiss as some sort of 'touchy-feely, let go and let God' doctrine. I tried to explain to you what Christ in you means and the fact that we are supposed to be in total reliance upon Christ in us. And in another post, after I listed all the scriptures to support that, as Christians, we done initiate anything, we respond to what God initiates, you posted an 'agreed!' although you argued the point with me earlier. The bottom line is that I am motivated to let Christ live out of me because He is in me and He and I are one spirit. Do I still sin? Yes. I don't always walk after the Spirit. I still have my old, legalistic flesh that abhors the thought that there is not one thing that I can do to make myself more 'in Christ' than what God has done. My soul, and, most definately, my body are not yet sanctified. My body contains my (limited brain) that I still have to deal with. But scripture also assures me that I have the mind of Christ in my spirit and that I have been made a partaker of His divine nature. I am no longer who I was. I am a new creature, indeed created to glorify God and do good works as I let Him live through me. So are you, dear brother. Blessings to you, Bill Mc |
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46 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19257 | ||
Joe, A legalist is not just someone who believes that he can earn his salvation. I've read enough of your posts to know that you don't believe that. A legalist can often be someone who believes with all their heart that they are saved by grace alone, but after that, it is up to them to live a life pleasing to God. "You're saved to serve," they'll say. They seek to win God's favor and approval by what they do. This can take many shapes and forms. Often, they substitute there own set of 10 commandments for the Mosaic law and it usually looks like this: If you want to be a good Christian (more than what Christ made you at new birth), then read your Bible, pray, go to church every time the doors are open, tithe on your gross, witness to everyone you see, confess your sins continually, etc. The list just goes on and on. Their basic theory is that God saves you to enable you to do things for Him. I agree with you that the NT writers quote alot of the OT. But the point remains, Joe, that nobody but Christ could ever keep the Law. And no one since Christ ever has. One of the reasons, brother, that we don't see eye-to-eye on these issues is that you don't see these commands as a result of the relationship we have with Christ. You see these commands as a validation of that relationship. You and I would both agree that the Law reflects the character of God, right? The Law was given to show man how far he is from God's character. That is why Jesus turned up the heat with the Sermon on the Mount. Here is where we differ, brother. You seem to think that the primary reason that God gave you the Holy Spirit is to help you conform to God's character. I agree that He does bring us in-line with God's desires for our lives. But what I can't seem to be able to get through to you is the fact that you are not who you were before salvation. You think that you are just a sinner saved by grace and that if you didn't have all these rules, why, you'd just go crazy sinning. "I need rules to function," is the mind set of a legalist. "Rules tell me how to act." And if someone like me comes along and says that you are supposed to live by abiding in Christ, letting God work through you, resting in Christ, trusting that Christ will live His life in and out of you, well, you think that that person has slipped a cog. And, this is not an insult, but you have no understanding of the kind of life I am talking about. All you hear is that I don't have rules and commands. You then brand me a antinomian and inform me that the church has condemned it down through the ages. Please try to understand what I am about to say. When you became a believer, your spirit was united with Christ's Spirit - 1 Cor 6:17. This passage is reflecting marriage concepts but the point is still union. Now, if God's Spirit is righteous and holy and it is united with your spirit, was does that make you? The Holy Spirit of God would never unite Himself with something sinful or less than perfect. God, at salvation, creates a new 'you', a new spirit born from above, born from God - 2 Cor 5:17. This new spirit in you is created in righteousness and holiness - Eph 4:24. Yes, Joe, Christ in you is righteous, but He indeed creates a new righteous, holy, blameless spirit in the core of your being. That old sinful 'in Adam' spirit was crucified and buried with Christ. As a result, brother, you are not just imputed righteousness. You're righteous in essence (not always in action). You are now a temple of God. The temple of God is holy and that is what you are. But you still have the same unredeemed soul and body. And, granted, it does take a while for our new identities to influence that old habits and patterns in our soul. But you are still a new creation in Christ, created in righteoness and holiness. "Why is Bill rambling on concerning all this 'goobledygook' without answering my questions?" Because until you understand what Christ has done in me and in you, you will not understand my answers. The sum of my answers is this - we adhere to God's moral law from within, from our spirits that are joined to Christ's Spirit. Out of the relationship, Christ in us, we in Christ, we will live up to God's moral character. Not in order to attain something from God, but because we have already obtained something from God. We have His Spirit indwelling our new spirit and the motivation is from within. We meet God's righteous standard because we are in union with Him. I will create another post to answer your questions. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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47 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19248 | ||
Dear charis, I agree. The OT is a tutor to lead sinners to Christ. But once it has done that, and Christ makes us saints, we are no longer under it. Sure our Bibles have the OT. But they also have the NT. Contemporary Christian says that, in order to have the full revelation of how we live as Christians, we must meld them together. I.e. take all the Law and mix it with all of grace and then you will have the truth. That is like trying to mix oil and water. They are two different things. That is precisely why there is an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. A new will does indeed supercede any old one, as you have stated. But many on this forum would say that both wills apply. They imply that Christ saves you so that you can then fulfill the Law. I don't find this ridiculous, charis, I find this insulting to Christ's work. He said that it is finished. And I respectfully submit to you, dear charis, that Paul's words still stand - once you have come to Christ by faith, you are no longer under that old tutor. Free at last, free at last, Bill Mc |
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48 | Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil law | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19245 | ||
Dear Joe, It IS like the Trinity in that we have no right to separate the Persons. As the Trinity represents the whole Godhead, the Law represents the whole Law (hence James 2:10). There is no getting around this. James says that you cannot pick and choose which parts of the Law you want to be under. You do not have the options of saying, "Well, I'm not under the ceremonial Law, but I am under the moral Law." The Law is the Law. You are either under all of it with its moral, ceremonial, and civil restraints or you are under none of it. "Cursed is EVERYONE who does not abide by ALL things written in the Book of the Law, to perform them." Do you want to be under the Law? Then you better find a bull or goat for next Saturday. The only choice you have is the Law or Christ. You can't have both. That is called Galatianism and Paul condemned it. If you are a Christian and you want to be under the Law, any of it, then Paul would say this, "Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?" You are making yourself needlessly to be a child of a bondwoman when Christ gave you new birth - born of the free woman, according to the Spirit - Gal 4:21-31. Christ set you free from that yoke of slavery. Do you not know this? If you do, then stand firm in your freedom - Gal 5:1. No longer under the Law, Bill Mc |
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49 | The question stands | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19240 | ||
Dear charis, Paul disagrees with you. Ephsians 2:14-16 - For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. Galatians 3:23-25 - But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.' See these scriptures: Rom 6:14,15; Rom 7:1-4,6,18,18,22; Rom 8:2,13; Gal 2:4,19,20; Gal 3:13,25; Gal 4:5; Gal 5:1,18 In Christ, Bill Mc |
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50 | Why keep the Moral Law? | James 2:10 | Bill Mc | 19239 | ||
On another side note, I'm sure it really bothers God to see so many of His children who claim to have faith in the sufficiency of His Son with the seeming attitude of "Watch and see HOW MUCH I can do FOR God. He really needs me." God never calls you to do things FOR Him. He calls you to Himself and to abide in Him. Doing things FOR God implies that He can't do it, when He said He could raise up stones if He wanted to. Doing things FOR God is what Abraham did when he sired Ismael through Hagar. Doing things FOR God is what King Saul did when he brought back all those nice sacrifices when God told him to kill everthing. Doing things FOR God is what the apostles did when they drew lots to replace Judas. That is what Peter did when he said, "Lord, I'll never deny you," and when he cut off the soldiers ear. That is what the Pharisees thought they were doing by keeping the Law, they were doing it FOR God. The New Testament has a really good word for this attitude and works - it's called 'flesh.' I do not for one second believe that we are saved by works, either. And if works can't make you right with God before salvation, they certainly can't keep you right with God after. Freed from PBA, Bill Mc |
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51 | Propitiation: Forgiveness or Provision? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19237 | ||
Lionstrong, one other note. BTW, thanks for making think so hard :). I can tell that I have got to choose my words very, very carefully and say exactly what I mean, nothing more, nothing less. I feel like I'm on trial here :). Though forgiveness of sins is provided for the whole world by Christ's work on the cross 2000 years ago, not everyone has received it. It is the same with the way of salvation. It has been provided for on God's part, but our part is to believe by faith and receive it. Forgiveness for sins is not something that you get from God. It is not something that He dispenses as we need it. The forgiveness of sins is found, after the cross, only in Him and is part of our redemption. One cannot have forgiveness apart from having Christ. So though it is (you guys love these words) 'positionally' provided for at the cross, it is not 'experiencially' received until you receive Christ. Supporting scripture: Eph 1:7 - In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Col 1:13,14 - For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Acts 10:43 - Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. Acts 13:38 - Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. In conclusion, though forgiveness is provided for my Christ's work at the cross, taking away the sins of the world and reconciling God to man, it is received by faith at conversion or new birth. Thanks again for the challenge. Still forgiven, Bill Mc |
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52 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19199 | ||
Lionstrong, You write, 'If unbelief is a sin (unrighteous act) and all sins (unrighteous acts) are forgiven, how are your statements not contradictory?' The sin of unbelief is not an act, it is an attitude. In other words, unbelief is not accepting what God says is true. That is it's purest definition. That is why God says that whatever is not of faith is sin. This sin of unbelief can manifest itself as a committed sin, an actual act of unrighteousness or lack of an act of righteousness and is the root of all sin. Consider Eve. Her sin was first unbelief in what God said (you will die). That unbelief was then manifested by her partaking of the forbidden fruit, the actual act of sin. The Christian world is caught up in defining sin as only what you do or don't do. From God's perspective, sin is much deeper. Sin, from God's viewpoint, is what you think or believe. Consider the Sermon on the Mount. The Pharisees thought that they were righteous before God because they kept the Law (So do many Christians). They said, "We have never killed anyone." - an act. Jesus said, "Have you ever hated?" - an attitude. They said, "We have never committed adultery." - an act. Jesus said, "Have you ever lusted?" - an attitude. They were concerned only with outward actions, Jesus was showing them that the true root of their problem was not their actions but their hearts. I believe that Jesus took the punishment for all our sins (wrong attitudes and actions) on the cross. He provided forgiveness for all sins. But to receive that we must change what we believe concerning Him and His provision. The Bible uses the word 'sin' in three primary ways: 1. An unrighteous act or lack of it (omission) 2. An unrighteous thought or attitude 3. A power within (Rom 6,7,8) that causes 1 and 2. We have to look at the context of the passage in order to determine which definition is being used. In conclusion, no matter how you define it, if you die without accepting God's provision for forgiveness and life - His Son, your sin of unbelief in Christ is what results in you eternal death in hell, not every unrighteous act you have committed. But if, while here on earth, you accept God's provision by faith, you are indeed forgiven for all your sins and you have eternal life. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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53 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19036 | ||
Dear Joe, The fact that God works through us is not 'sitting back and watching.' It is not being a puppet. Look at Christ's life, dear brother. I won't list all the scripture references because 1) it don't have them all memorized and 2) I know that you know scripture: 1. Christ did nothing unless the Father told Him to do it. 2. Christ said nothing unless the Father told Him to say it. 3. The miracles that Christ did, the Father enabled Him and told Him to do them. 4. Christ said, "I do nothing of My own accord (initiative). I ONLY do what I see My Father doing. 5. Christ said, "Not My will, but Thine be done." 5. Christ said, "Apart from Me, you can do NOTHING." This was Christ's attitude. Although He could have, being God, exercised His full Deity, He did not do so. He temporarily set His divine prerogatives aside and relied COMPLETELY on the Father, did He not? Now, Joe, would you characterize Christ's life as one of sitting back and watching the Father? Would you say that Christ was a mere puppet for the Father? Do you think that because He 100 percent relied upon the Father that that made Him passive, inactive, lazy, unmotivated, useless and without purpose? Hardly, my friend. Christ was an active participant in the Father's work. He did indeed become a servant but He was hardly a mindless automiton. This is my point, brother. You seem to think that I am advocating so mindless, 'Yes, mastuh...' relationship. Far from it. Yes, Paul lived His life. Yes, I live my life. But also Christ lives in us and through us. We are to live as Christ lived, in faith and complete reliance upon Him as our source just as the Father was His source. "As the Father has sent Me, so send I you." I'll be honest with you, Joe. This 'God living and working through me' is hard to comprehend intellectually. That is why it is by faith. Faithfully is He who called you, Who will do it. He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. Here's the truth, dear brother in Christ - if you are doing ANYTHING apart from His enablement (Apart from Me, you can do NOTHING. I can do ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST) you are operating in your flesh. Even your good works. Check out Paul's 'good flesh' qualifications in Phil chapter 3. He was without equal when it came to pleasing God through the Law. Then see, if you don't already know, how Paul sums up all those good works. In Christ but hardly In Active, Bill Mc |
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54 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19034 | ||
Dear Joe, We're closer in our views than probably either of us realize. But if forgiveness alone were the defining issue, then Christ died needlessly. The OT Jew had a system in place for being forgiven. They knew what forgiveness from God was. The sacrifices and the Day of Atonement, from a practical viewpoint, provided forgiveness. If this is the only problem between God and man, man's unrighteous acts, his sins, then the OT sacrifices could have just continued without God ever instituting a New Covenant. But I think you would agree that the forgiven OT Jew could not go into the Holy of Holies. Forgiveness and justification are not the same thing. Forgiveness deals with our sins. Justification deals with who we are. Forgiveness in the OT covered, atoned, for sins. But it could not make anyone righteous. Righteousness was credited to OT believers on the basis of faith. But they were never MADE righteous in their spirits. Forgiven? Yes. Saved by faith? Yes. Righteous? Only credited. In the NT, the believer is not only forgiven, he is made righteous as a gift. At conversion, our spirits are created in righteousness and holiness. That is the only reason that the writer of Hebrews says that we can now go into the Holy of Holies, that we are now the temple of God. "Do you not know that you are a temple? The temple of God is holy and that is what you are." We don't earn it. It is a gift of righteousness. Because we are in Christ, we are what He is in spirit. We are one spirit with Him. So, yes, the NT believer is forgiven but he is also justified (made righteous before and by God). We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the OT believer did not know. God indwells us. Therefore, brother, what I was saying in my original post is that, though everyone's sins are forgiven, not everyone is justified by faith in Christ's sacrificial work. I was trying to clarify a misunderstanding that says this: Salvation is being forgiven for your sins, Therefore not everyone is forgiven because that would mean universal salvation and we know that that conclusion is not true. That is why salvation is more than forgiveness. It is eternal life. We are saved FROM the wages of sin, spiritual death, separation from God, by the gift of God, eternal life, union with God. Forgiveness was provided to remove the sin issue between God and man so that when God imparts His life to the believer, it is indeed eternal. Justification provides that righteousness that God requires. You're right, brother, God has done so much more! I hope this clarifies my view. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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55 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18978 | ||
Dear Joe, one other note. If the forgiveness of sins on the cross is the total embodiment of being saved, Paul would never has said, "If Christ is not raised from the dead, you are STILL in your sins." Christ has become, for us, a LIFE giving Spirit. If He had not been raised from the dead, He could not impart eternal LIFE to us now. LIFE begets LIFE. You can't get LIFE from something that is dead. Jesus Christ gave His physical life for us (to take away our sins), so that He could give His spiritual LIFE to us (through the Holy Spirit), so that He can live His LIFE through us. "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Living in Christ, Bill Mc |
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56 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18975 | ||
Dear Joe, Salvation is not just being forgiven. Salvation is the impartation of eternal LIFE. Jesus did not come to just provide forgiveness for our sins. He came that we might have LIFE (zoe), eternal life. "I come that you might have LIFE, and LIFE abundantly." "He who has the Son has the LIFE, he who does not have the Son of God does not have the LIFE." "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE." "I AM the resurrection and the LIFE." "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you'll find eternal LIFE, but you won't come to ME." Salvation is being saved from the wages of sin, spiritual death, by the free gift of God, eternal LIFE. This LIFE is imparted by the Holy Spirit to our spirit. "The Spirit is LIFE. The flesh counts for nothing." This is exactly why sins had to be forgiven. If our sins had not been forgiven, the first time we, as Christians, sinned after receiving God's Spirit, He would depart from us. Now Christ can say, "I'll never leave you or forsake you," because the only thing that could make Him do so, sin, has been eternally dealt with by the cross and Christ's blood. Joe, this is why your position cannot be true. Forgiveness is offered to the whole world. Salvation (LIFE) is offered to the whole world. But we must receive it. It's a gift. Forgiveness is a gift and so is righteousness before God. But, Joe, for a gift to be effectual, it must be offered by the Provider and received by the recipient. Forgiveness deals with our sins. It takes them away. But God's LIFE deals with the sinner, "While we were still sinners, God made us ALIVE together with Jesus Christ." In Christ, Bill Mc |
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57 | When was Saul of Tarsus saved? | Heb 9:22 | Bill Mc | 18641 | ||
See my answer to DLD. | ||||||
58 | When was Saul of Tarsus saved? | Heb 9:22 | Bill Mc | 18640 | ||
DLD, you state, 'unless we follow the same commandments of the Lord we cannot be saved today.' Sorry, friend, but you're wrong. Following commands never saved anyone. Salvation is by faith in Christ and what He did, not in what you do. And you're worshipping the sign instead of what the sign points to. Water baptism is a symbol, nothing more, of what the Holy Spirit has done in placing us in Christ: 'For by one Spirit (not water) we were all baptized into one body (Christ's, the church)... (1 Cor 12:13) or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life.' - Rom 6:3,4 Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual truth. Nothing more. If you make it more than that, it becomes works. Note that Paul says in 1 Cor 1:17 - 'For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach to the gospel...' This proves that water baptism is not part of the gospel. If it was, Paul would have said, 'For Christ DID send me to baptize, because it is an intergral part of the gospel.' But he doesn't say that. Instead, he contrasts them. The act of water baptism is mutually exclusive from salvation. Water cannot wash away sins. Heb 9:22 - "Without the shedding of blood, there is NO forgiveness (remission) of sins." Period. Repentance doesn't forgive sins, water baptism doesn't forgive sins, confession doesn't forgive sins. Only the shed blood of Christ takes away sins. It is non-negotiable. If you don't know that, then you don't know what He did. I'm afraid, brother, that you are caught up in legalism (any effort we make to make ourselves more acceptable to God or more godly than what Christ has done) and works. Did you ever try to get a dog to fetch something by pointing at it? He NEVER looks where you are pointing. He only looks at your finger. He has no perception of anything else. That what some sects of Christianity are like. The Holy Spirit has baptized, immersed, united us with Christ. We use water baptism to illustrate that truth and all people can see is the pointing finger instead of the spiritual reality. Christ can set you free from works, DLD, but you've got to see your need first. The Christian world is more under the law and works than the Jews ever thought of being. Satan knows that as long as he can keep your eyes focused on yourself and your actions, you'll never look to Christ and what His actions. Look to Christ, DLD. Rest in what He has done. Resting in Christ, Bill Mc |
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59 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18265 | ||
Paul shares a similar concept in Romans when he says that we have died to sin. It doesn't mean that we are literally dead. But we have been sanctified, set apart from it. Blessings, Bill Mc | ||||||
60 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18263 | ||
I understand. I use the NIV quite often. It is an excellent dynamic equivalent translation. But it does, occasionally, have a few problems. This is where some other formal equivalent translations shine. Blessings to you, Bill Mc. | ||||||
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