Results 4141 - 4160 of 4325
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
4141 | Why do so few Scriptures mention baptism | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8875 | ||
Tim, I believe that much of the confusion and misinterpretation about baptism being essential for salvation finds its genesis in our human tendency to think that we must "do something" to earn our salvation. We are conditioned to think that we receive nothing, materially or spiritually, unless we work for it and earn it. God's grace in granting us salvation is not a payday we receive for being good or doing good deeds. We somehow feel that in carrying out the commandment to be baptized we have, in some measure, done something toward securing our salvation, when in fact baptism is the result of, the outward manifestation of, our salvation, not the cause of it. The Scriptures show this and teach it clearly, as you have amply demonstrated. --Hank | ||||||
4142 | Should a Christian be a Mason? | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 8871 | ||
Having once been a practicing Mason, I'd say that the "bloody oaths" are more bark than bite. I've never known or heard of violence being inflicted upon a Mason by another because of some infraction of the pledge to secrecy. As a matter of fact, I never found the "secrets" of Masonry to be anything of any real substance anyway, and the fact is most people couldn't care less about their so-called secrets...... In my case, eventually I began to have some misgiving about whether my memembership in the Freemasons, or any other "secret" order, was the proper thing for me as a Christian; hence, I became a drop-out. I might add, parenthetically, that by and large I found the ritual extremely boring and uninteresting, and in the main rather pointless. --Hank | ||||||
4143 | How do we remit | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8762 | ||
Excellent exposition of Acts 2:38, Tim. In his study Bible, John MacArthur in his footnote of this verse says of the phrase "for the remission (forgiveness) of sins": This might better be translated 'because of the remission of sins.' Baptism does not produce forgiveness and cleansing from sin. The reality of forgiveness precedes the rite of baptism. Genuine repentence brings from God the forgiveness of sins, and because of that the new believer was to be baptized. Baptism was, however, to be the ever-present act of obedience so that it became synonymous with salvation. Thus to say one was baptized for forgiveness was the same as saying one was saved........ Acts 2:38 is the "proof text" of those who view baptism as absolutely essential to salvation, but as you note, the overwhelming body of Scripture that speaks of salvation does not support the interpretation that Acts 2:38 exchanges water for the blood of Christ as the redemptive agent. Context, proper context, always context! --Hank | ||||||
4144 | Does the Bible say gambling is a sin? | NT general Archive 1 | Hank | 8752 | ||
A good, reasonable answer, prayon. But that is not unusual for you :-) Gambling can indeed be an addiction par excellence. And, as you point out, gambling bears no hallmark of responsible stewardship. When somebody "wins" at gambling, others lose. Furthermore, the lords of the casinos are the ones who ultimately profit. It can hardly be said that they have the best interests of their clients at heart. A Christian surely cannot claim he enhances his influence as a witness for Christ by hanging out in a gambling hall. --Hank | ||||||
4145 | MULTIPLE IDENTICAL POSTS - PLEASE NOTE | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 8740 | ||
MULTIPLE IDENTICAL POSTS - NOTE: Many of you have no doubt noticed several identical posts appearing from two to five times. I've alerted Lockman and they are working on the technical problem. --Hank | ||||||
4146 | The dream was from God? | Heb 1:1 | Hank | 8671 | ||
Mark, it's quite possible we may be thinking about two different groups. The "natural theology" website is the group I have in mind. No matter. The original point at issue was whether God reveals in His creation or in His Word His plan for our redemption. My thesis was, and remains, that He speaks to us on that issue by His revealed Word. The heavens declare the glory of God, as the psalmist says, but they do not tell us how to be saved. --Hank | ||||||
4147 | The dream was from God? | Heb 1:1 | Hank | 8667 | ||
Mark, this "natural theology" is not a "branch" of theology in any Biblical sense whatever. It is, in fact, as far removed from orthodox Biblical theology as east is from west. --Hank | ||||||
4148 | Please explain | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8590 | ||
Thanks for your comment, glory777, about keeping things simple and uncomplicated. It's a worthy goal, to be sure! There's a line from the old Shaker hymn, "Simple Gifts" that goes like this: 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free...... But the stuborn fact is that the Bible is, as most of us who have attempted to mine its riches would agree, a complex book. And oftentimes "taking things as they appear without getting so technical" is not the wisest path to take, in my view, and in the view of scholars far wiser and better equipped than I shall ever be. To take a sentence or two out of context, to fail to weigh it against other scripture, to look at the little picture and disregard the big mosaic can, and frequently does, lead us to misunderstanding and improper interpretation of a passage. A good case in point is the item of scripture being considered in this thread; namely, Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. The term "born of water" is seen by Sharp as water baptism; by you as human birth; by me as a Jewish idiomatic expression for cleansing. There is a possibility that all of us are wrong, but hardly one that all of us are right. I am heavily inclined to believe, based on context in conjunction with the Old Testament references I cited in my former post, that neither water baptism nor human birth is the correct exegesis. Believe me please, I was not attempting to "get technical" in an effort to confuse or confound the issue, and even less to attempt to orchestrate a vain exhibit of erudition. I know you did not intimate that, but I feel duty bound to clear away any lurking doubt by anyone who might tend to read into my motives something that simply does not exist..... To conclude, glory (and sharp also), you have given your views and I mine. The fact that we have looked at the issue from different angles has not caused any sparks to fly or voices raised. I appreciate that and thank you..... It is my deep conviction that the sacred Scriptures richly deserve our best thought and most strenuous efforts. The Bible is made, as it were, from small pieces of cloth that are woven tightly together to form a pattern, not unlike the quilts my mother used to make. Each piece of cloth fits exactly into the overall pattern and each piece is absolutely vital to the perfection of the whole. When we tend to examine a fragment, a small piece of cloth, without connecting it to the overall pattern, we can easily enough lose our perspective. That is why I feel very strongly about this thing called context -- context and perspective, two invaluable tools for unlocking the keys to God's treasures. Closely allied to this, of course, is inductive-type study, comparing Scripture with Scripture, seeing the parts in their proper relationship to the whole. --Hank | ||||||
4149 | Kingdom of God | 1 Cor 15:24 | Hank | 8556 | ||
Jim, this is not meant to be a curt answer or even an answer at all, because I have no answer for your question, being myself neither God nor a triunity. --Hank | ||||||
4150 | Please explain | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8550 | ||
Sharp, thank you for your note and comment. As for your question about who John MacArthur is -- well, he's a conservative Bible scholar, pastor and teacher and, in my view, quite an extraordinary and reliable exegist of Scripture. Among his many well-known works is the MacArthur Study Bible (Word Publishing) It was from this publication that I used an excerpt in my post which drew your question about MacArthur's identity. ..... You advance certain points in regard to baptism and -- please don't construe this as an effort to avert the issue -- but I believe that it would not be prudent on this one post to attempt a comprehensive essay on baptism. I say this mainly in view of the fact that there have been any number of posts on this subject before and can be accessed by using the Search function. I will however attempt a brief response to your question, "Was Paul saved in his sins or from his sins, i.e., washed away?" Now I'll use my disclaimer "attempt," because quite honestly I'm not sure we are on the same page on this. It's not clear in my mind what you mean by "in" his sins or "from" his sins. Or by "washed away." So, instead of trying to parse your words, I will make a summary statement of what I believe the Scriptures clearly teach about salvation....... Our salvation is effected solely by one thing, which is our faith in Jesus Christ. This and only this is the way to be saved. Over and over again in the New Testament -- some 200 times over -- belief, or faith, in Christ is stated as the single condition for salvation. Salvation is wholly of God by grace and is offered on the basis of and made possible by the redemptive work of God's Son on the cross. It is given solely -- solely -- on the merit of the shed blood of Jesus Christ -- His substitutionary death for our sins -- and not in any wise on the basis of human merit or works, or on water or anything else. Water did not therefore wash Paul's sins away and neither does it wash ours away. Jesus Christ saves us. Water does not. And now a few "witnesses" -- John 3:14-17; John 5:24; John 6:44-47; Acts 4:12; Rom.5:1-2; Rom.11:6; 1 Cor. 1:21; Eph.2:1-9; John 1:12; Eph.1:7; 1 Pet.1:18,19. --Hank | ||||||
4151 | The dream was from God? | Heb 1:1 | Hank | 8480 | ||
My dear shogun: If you like sarcasm as much as you say you do, you'll simply love this: "Extra, Extra, read all about it. Step right this way, folks, and get the latest publication from God." --Hank | ||||||
4152 | Please explain | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8477 | ||
Dear ezekiel: You asked for my feedback on, I assume, Eph. 4:5; Acts 2:38; Acts 19:5-6 and Rom.6:4 on how these passages pertain to "this baptism stuff" (your phraseology is colorful!) involving the name of Jesus Christ....... You say,"Now it looks to me like this baptism stuff involves the name of Jesus Christ, that's what I'm reading in this KJV. Am I doing it all right so far?" .....Ezekiel, both you and the KJV seem to be doing just fine. If you were an archer, I'd said you hit the bull's eye dead center. --Hank | ||||||
4153 | Please explain | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8469 | ||
Hello, again, ezekiel. (1) The key to understanding my "fancy words" is to use a good dictionary :-) (You know, look them up in your Funk and Wagnalls) ...... (2) The key to understanding the exegesis I submitted is to look up and study the passages I offered in support. Good luck and God bless. I appreciate your kindness. --Hank | ||||||
4154 | The dream was from God? | Heb 1:1 | Hank | 8464 | ||
Mark, I will attempt to satisfy your curiosity. You ask how I can say that the Bible is THE source which defines our relationship with God and by means of which we are led into a right relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. I can say that because that is exactly and precisely what the Scriptures teach, a generous sample of which I included in my post. Your citation of Paul in Romans 1:20 does not negate anything I have said about Scripture. A careful reading of this verse in context shows that Paul is speaking of the invisible attributes of God as being clearly seen and understood by His creative power; it is a powerful attestation to the existence and might of God as manifested by the things that He has made. The psalmist said that the heavens declare God's glory and the earth his handiwork. But all the glories of God's creation cannot lead us to a saving knowledge of God. Through nature we exult in the greatness of God; it is only through his Word that we come to know His plan for our redemption....... You observe that "our relationship starts when we say yes to God (and no to sin) not yes to the Bible." Where, then, do we learn enough about God and who He is to be able to say anything to Him? Where do we learn about sin and its consequences? If our knowledge about these things comes not from God's word, whence then does it come? --Hank | ||||||
4155 | Please explain | Matt 7:13 | Hank | 8459 | ||
Sharp "Grammatically this phrase 'calling on the name of the Lord' precedes 'arise and be baptized.' Salvation comes from calling on the name of the Lord (Rom. 10:9, 10, 13), not from being baptized." --John MacArthur. If you will take the time to track down the references I cited in the answer to which you have so swiftly responded, you may find that the exegesis I gave is right. --Hank | ||||||
4156 | Is suicide a sin? | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 8457 | ||
Dear hunger: Is suicide killing? Obviously the definition of suicide says as much. Can the victim repent? Not if he's dead as a door nail. Is our salvation contingent upon our repenting of every sinful thought or deed we commit from the day of our salvation to the day we die? The Scriptures in no wise support such a notion. --Hank | ||||||
4157 | Cities of Judah or Cities of Demons? | Genesis | Hank | 8455 | ||
Perhaps your question, shogun, "Can a person have some crazy theology and still be an effective soldier for the Messiah? could just as well be answered by another question: Could a physician who ignores the orthodox teachings of his profession and habitually prescribes snake oil and other witch's brews be an effective physician? --Hank | ||||||
4158 | The dream was from God? | Heb 1:1 | Hank | 8451 | ||
Verbatim, here's what you said, shogun: "The scriptures are a source that helps us see how the Lord interacts with his creation but is no substitute for our relationship with God." ....... The Word of God (Scripture) is not merely "A" source, it is "THE" source which defines our relationship with God and and by means of which we are led into a right relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are not a "substitute" for anything. They are the inerrant Word of Almighty God. Read the following passages and tell me where I'm wrong: 2 Tim. 3:16; Acts 1:16; Heb. 3:7; 2 Pet.1:21; Luke 24:27; James 1:21-23; Luke 11:28; Heb. 4:12; Col.3:16; Rom. 1:2; Is. 34:16; Rom. 3:2; 1 Pet.4:11; John 5:39; Acts 10:43; 1 Cor.15:3; Prov.6:23; 2 Tim. 3:15; Ps.19:7; Rom.15:4; James 1:18; John 20:31; John 15:3; Ps.17:4. If, having read these passages, you feel a need for more proof, I can supply you with twice as many more. --Hank | ||||||
4159 | What is the Message? Whose is the Light? | Matt 5:16 | Hank | 8445 | ||
"What is the message?" applies to you, Mark, to me, Hank, and to every single one of us who posts on this forum. --Hank | ||||||
4160 | What is the Message? Whose is the Light? | Matt 5:16 | Hank | 8442 | ||
Please look back at the postings made on this forum and ask, What message are we sending to the world? Whose light is shining before men? | ||||||
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