Results 441 - 460 of 494
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Results from: Notes Author: stjones Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
441 | explain Mark 15:34 | Mark | stjones | 21126 | ||
Hi, Pixie; My guess - it's just a guess - is that when he gave up his spirit, the man representing all that sin was dead and what remained was the pure, holy spirit of Christ: 'When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit' (John 19:30) All our sins were taken on at the cross and atoned for at that moment when Jesus breathed his last. At the resurrection, the man Jesus, righteous all along, was again holy and pure enough to ascend into Heaven. I like to sit around and read about these events and try to figure out such things - trying to "think God's thoughts after him". But don't let my intellectualizing get in the way of the wonderful myteries that have been only partly revealed. Peace and grace, Steve |
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442 | explain Mark 15:34 | Mark | stjones | 21007 | ||
Hi, Pixie; I can't prove this, of coure, but it seems to me that for the substitutionary atonement to be real, Jesus must have died with our sins on him. If he shed them before he died, then they're still awaiting payment and we're stuck with the bill. The wages of sin is death, not a momentary separation from the Father. I think part of the shame and horror and utter injustice of the cross is that the man Jesus did die utterly alone. He was as separated from the Father as anyone carrying a burden of sin to the point of death would be. Because he carried the burden all the way into death itself, we who put our faith in him won't have to. Just my opinion, not worth arguing over. ;-) Peace and grace, Steve |
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443 | Is it okay for women to wear pants? | Bible general Archive 1 | stjones | 20922 | ||
Because God doesn't care one way or the other? Peace and grace, Steve |
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444 | God's plan | Rom 1:18 | stjones | 20872 | ||
Hi, Johnny; Yes, I understand and agree. Among the many things we can learn from the book of Job (one of my favorites) is this very lesson. The Bible does not give any suggestion that God told Satan what to do. In both of their dialogs, God gave Satan permission to do what he (Satan) pleased within certain specific limits. In this way God, maintained his sovereign control of the situation while allowing both Satan and Job to exercise their free will. Did God know the outcome? Sure he did, but neither Satan nor Job did. BTW - completely unrelated to this thread, Job 28 contains the most lyrical depiction of the rarity and value of wisdom to be found anywhere in the Bible. The contrast between the search for riches and the search for wisdom is just beautiful. When you have time, sit back and read it and let it soak in. Peace and grace, Steve |
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445 | Origin of Rapture of the Church doctrine | Matt 24:3 | stjones | 20714 | ||
Hi, Steve; Thanks for the info. I've heard of Darby, of course, but such was (is) my ignorance of such matters that I made no connection between the rapture and dispensationalism. Peace and grace, Steve |
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446 | Origin of Rapture of the Church doctrine | Matt 24:3 | stjones | 20713 | ||
Hi, Serenetime; Thansk; your input is very helpful. Peace and grace, Steve |
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447 | God's plan | Rom 1:18 | stjones | 20679 | ||
Hi, Joe; Well, once again, God has decreed that we disagree. ;-) Peace and grace, Steve |
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448 | God's plan | Rom 1:18 | stjones | 20662 | ||
Hi, Joe; I think there's a difference between what God allows and what he decrees. God didn't decree Satan's assaults on Job, though he did allow them. He didn't order Satan to destroy Job's family and wealth, in fact, he twice placed limits on what Satan could do to Job. It's true that God dangled Job in front of Satan like a fat worm in front of a largemouth bass, but it was still Satan's choice to strike. God knew Job's heart (and Satan's) and knew what the outcome would be - a public defeat for Satan, a restoration for Job, and some valuable lessons for us. Likewise, I don't think God decreed that Joseph's brothers would toss him into a well and sell him into slavery. He knew what was in their hearts and allowed it to happen. Again, he knew the outcome - the preservation of his chosen people, the advance of his plan for redemption, and more valuable lessons for us. I think the same can be said for 9/11. Already we have seen some blessings arise out of that crime: renewed respect and love for those who protect and serve us, the return (at least for a while) of God to public life, even the singing of "God Bless America" instead of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". Admittedly, these things may not seem to be worth 6,000 lives, but God is still at work and we don't know what may yet grow out of it. But God surely decreed the death of his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I don't think he caused Judas or Pilate to act as they did. He knew their hearts and allowed them to act from their own evil natures, unwittingly advancing God's plan. I don't claim to have God all figured out - although it may sometimes seem like I think have. ;-) But I think the difference is that in all these cases, other people or other circumstances could have brought about God's ends. But only Jesus could die on a cross to save us. Peace and grace, Steve |
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449 | Workout your own salvation | Rom 1:18 | stjones | 20658 | ||
Hi, Heartfire; I agree with all that you said about God's testing of Abraham; I would like to add to it. How many times have each of observed an act of faith or heroism and wondered if we would do the same? We would like to think we would, but we're not sure. I think God, knowing that Abraham would pass the test, wanted Abraham to know as well. This test allowed Abraham to see for himself the reservoir of faith and courage God had given him. The Bible doesn't record Abraham's emotions or inner thoughts, but surely this knowledge would only strengthen and encourage him. Peace and grace, Steve |
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450 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20503 | ||
Well, the question did generate some light amid all the heat. ;-) With all respect, kalos, I don't think I have come across any messages that undermine the authority and truthfullness of the Bible. And I assume from what I've read that everyone who has participated would probably agree with everything else you said in your last paragraph; I know I do. Most of the time, reverence for the Bible is good and Godly - "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11) But there is also a sense in which it is unhealthy and idolatrous - "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39) Anyway, I'll try to do my part to let the thread die a natural death. Thanks for your participation. Peace and grace, Steve |
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451 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20485 | ||
Hi, Tim; Thanks for the note. You are probably right. "True" has lots of definitions. It may mean that something is correct or conforms to reality (both Jesus and the Bible). It may also mean that something is more accurate or faithful by virtue of being more complete (Jesus). Peace and grace, Steve |
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452 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20482 | ||
Trying again ... But first, please stop introducing falsehood into my explanations - the Bible and Jesus are both 100 percent truthful. You may imagine that I'm saying something is false, but I'm not. Falsehood is not the issue. Maybe the word "revelation" is. Revelation is not the mere recitation of facts; it means to show us something. Moses got more than the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai; he saw God. Jesus does a better job of showing us God than the Bible does. Jesus has one true attribute in common with God that the Bible absolutely does not have - the ability to save. Therefore Jesus is a truer, more complete, more faithful, more accurate revelation (image, picture, representation) of God. The Bible truthfully informs us of this ability and provides examples of both God's and Jesus' exercise of this ability, but the Bible doesn't have this ability. What does it mean to you to "have the mind of Christ"? (1 Corinthians 2:16) Does it mean that Jesus is locked in Heaven unable to speak to us? There have been many times in my life when that mind has given me direction. Every time we pray for guidance, every time we see God's hand in earthly events, God is revealed through Jesus. Yes, the Bible is the standard that helps us to discern the hand of an invisible God, but every time we do discern it, another little truth, no matter how tiny, is revealed to us. So I do indeed know things about Jesus that the Bible did not reveal to me. I know how Jesus wanted me to respond to him in the midst of raising-a-teenager crisis. He spoke to me in that "still small voice" that is described in the Bible but not found in it. Please provide scripture to back up your assertion that the Bible is on a par with Jesus who is the "image of God". Peace and grace, Steve |
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453 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20459 | ||
Hi, Joe; I hope you understand that I did not say anything in the Bible is false. Nor did I question God's authorship of the Bible. Nor did I shame or ridicule anyone for revering the Bible. The question was not whether the Bible is true or false but whether Jesus is a "truer revelation" of God. If I were to provide you with a picture of my right foot, it might be 100 percent truthful, but it would not be as true a revelation of my appearance as a full length portrait would be. I respect your opinion but can you provide a scripture that says the Bible is "the image of God" or that it reveals him as fully as Jesus does? Peace and grace, Steve |
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454 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20446 | ||
OOOPS! I didn't realize this made it to the forum; my browser crashed while I was in the "Preview" screen. Well as you can see, I gave it some more thought.... Peace and grace, Steve |
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455 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20442 | ||
Support for Bill Mc - What does "truest revelation" mean? If it means the most faithful and complete image of God, then Jesus is truer than the Bible. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15). The Bible makes no such claims for itself. The Bible is a book by and about God; Jesus IS God. If "truest revelation" means the most accurate and reliable source of information about God, then Jesus is truer than the Bible. John said of Jesus' earthly ministry "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (John 21:25). How many more books would it take for Jesus to tell us everything he knows about himself, his father and the Holy Spirit? The Bible is a wonderful gift of God, given to teach us and show us the way to salvation (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Jesus is the begotten Son of God who IS the way to salvation. By the way, nothing I have said conflicts with your observation that "the entire Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God; the only infallible rule of faith and practice". You believe that; I believe that; I'll bet Bill does too. Peace and grace, Steve |
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456 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20381 | ||
Support for Bill Mc -- The Bible is a book; Jesus is a living person, fully God, fully human. The Bible is the word of God; Jesus IS God. Jesus is a truer revelation because he is a more faithful and complete image of God (Colossians 1:15 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation"). The Bible makes so such claim for itself. The Bible is a wonderful gift of God, created by him to teach us and to lead us to salvation. It certainly isn't on the same level as the begotten Son of God who IS our salvation. Peace and grace, Steve |
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457 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20362 | ||
Thanks, retxar; I appreciate your reply, especially your observation that what God reveals to us will always line up with what the Bible teaches. What God revealed to me seemed true at the time; as I was drawn into the Bible, its truth was further confirmed. But I did use "darn" myself - indulging in a little parallelism, I guess. Your point is well taken. Peace and grace, Steve |
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458 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20338 | ||
Greetings, Steve; thanks for the reply. I agree completely. I'm grateful to God for writing it down for us. Peace and grace, Steve |
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459 | Faith apart from reading the Bible? | Rom 10:17 | stjones | 20336 | ||
Hi, Bill; Thanks for the reply. You said "In fact, the 'truest' revelation of God is not the Bible itself but the Christ of the Bible.... anyone who is truly seeking God will eventually have the Bible in their life in some form becuase it is through the Bible that the Truth, Jesus Christ, is revealed" Absolutely. Thw Word Made Flesh and the Word of God point to each other. Seek in one place and you'll find in both. I saw the JW exchange. The fruit of that gathering of men was the denial of God's word. Were they led by the Spirit? Obviously not. But the fruit of another gathering could as easily be a deeper and fuller understanding - led by the Spirit. I enjoy interacting with other believers (and non-believers too - they offer some stiff challenges). I still have to believe - even though it was not my experience - that the Bible can indeed stand on its own, convict, and lead to faith. Peace and grace, Steve |
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460 | IN PSALMS 37:4 | Psalm | stjones | 20308 | ||
Very cool. Many thanks. Peace and grace, Steve |
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