Results 61 - 80 of 169
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Results from: Notes Author: Aspiring Overseer Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
61 | Can true Christians lose their faith? | Bible general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 91023 | ||
Andrew, Are you out there? AO |
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62 | 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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63 | 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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64 | 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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65 | 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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66 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106931 | ||
Tim, Thank you for the discussion! AO |
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67 | 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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68 | Is infant baptism scriptural? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 129866 | ||
Did the member infer that those who did not agree were not welcome or that all would be welcomed, even those who practiced infant baptism? AO |
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69 | Doesn't NT forbid all images-somewhere? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 132638 | ||
Hi, Doc, The difference is the picture is specifically prohibited by God while the use and replacement of your bible, is not. It does not matter how we feel about them, if scripture prohibits their creation and use, I must go with scripture. Thanks for your input. AO |
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70 | which came first the chicken or the egg | Gen 1:20 | Aspiring Overseer | 33178 | ||
This is a simple question, gentlemen. God didn't create Adam as a sperm and egg and grow him into adulthood! Neither did He do this with the Earth, plants, fruit trees, sea monsters and CHICKENS! Each were created fully formed (and in the case of living creatures) able to reproduce after their own kind. | ||||||
71 | which came first the chicken or the egg | Gen 1:20 | Aspiring Overseer | 33326 | ||
My Friend, Is it your opinion that man evolved? If so, what evidence do you have? Why would it be so impossible to believe God's design was to create everything fully grown and mature in every respect? Is anything impossible with God? Does attempting to piece together assumptions in incomplete and incredible schemes serve a useful purpose for you? We can always prove scripture through science, but we should not "bend" scripture to meet our scientific assumptions. That, my friend, is being a true "ostrich". |
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72 | which came first the chicken or the egg | Gen 1:20 | Aspiring Overseer | 33340 | ||
Hank, On a second reading of CurtnSally's posting I conceed you are correct. My apologies, CurtnSally. Paul |
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73 | Exodus and a God to fear | Exodus | Aspiring Overseer | 75109 | ||
God has not changed since He created the universe. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom or the application of knowledge. Christians are called today to obey all of God's commands. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; that is to realize that unless we obey the commands of our Lord that we can not expect to be covered by the blood of Christ. Contrary to the doctrine of men, we must put forth the effort God requires of His priests if we are to expect our reward. God is just and God is kind by providing all those who seek him the opportunity for eternal life in heaven. AO |
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74 | Do all men belong to God? | Job 33:6 | Aspiring Overseer | 132596 | ||
Momma, I am sorry for the delay in responding. You pose two excellent questions. The first, "Do men have a need to "belong"?", is answered in Acts. Acts 17:24-28 24"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; 26and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said,' For we also are His offspring.' NAS We see that all mankind was created "that they should seek God". Not just some, but all. Why must we seek God? God desires His creation to chose Him! OT examples: Ex 32:25-27 25Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control-- for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies-- 26then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.'" NAS Josh 24:14 15And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." NAS God tells us to seek Him: 1 Chron 16:11 11Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. NAS And Prov 8:17 17"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. NAS Jesus tells us to seek His kingdom above all else: Matt 6:33 33"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. NAS A person must seek with sincerity and truth otherwise God will not draw them to Him. 1 Cor 1:18-19 18For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." NAS John 6:60-65 60Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" 61But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? 62"What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before? 63"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64"But there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father." NAS The Father grants access to Christ (the opportunity for spiritual life) only to those who obey His commands. God sets the standard for all people to either follow or ignore. Here lies the answer to your second question, "Does our response to this "need" determine to WHOM we belong?". Yes, those who choose to seek God, sincerely, will belong to Him. Those who choose to ignore God or to seek Him without understanding, will belong to Satan. Be careful to understand, however, that it is US who have the ability to chose which path we will follow. God does not direct or predispose some to choosing and some not to choosing. Each of us has the same test as the above verses demonstrate. I hope this is not too late for assisting you with your study. I am at your service should you desire to discuss this further. AO |
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75 | References to His Command | Ps 27:8 | Aspiring Overseer | 136920 | ||
Lissa, You are certainly welcome. I commend you on your daily prayer to seek God and encourage you to keep alert to those who He will put in your path. Best wishes, AO |
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76 | 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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77 | to serve god | Matthew | Aspiring Overseer | 136922 | ||
Lissa, We can also address the service question with Romans 12:1-2: Rom 12:1-2 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NAS Our spiritual service of worship is to present our bodies as living and holy scarifies, as you say, "by loving Him..", but what does it mean to love God? Is it to tell Him we love Him or to show Him we love Him? P.S. You must be a night owl! AO |
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78 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Aspiring Overseer | 163705 | ||
Hi Doc, Yes, I pray that people come to the knowledge of the truth so that they may be saved, but targeted specifically for those that are seeking God. It is my daily prayer to be able to speak the truth plainly to those individuals and that God lift the veil which has clouded their understanding. AO |
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79 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Aspiring Overseer | 163733 | ||
Doc, No, I am praying that God will grant them understanding. If that is against their will (choice), God will not allow the veil to be lifted further until they repent. It is still their choice. It is like the illustration of a drowning man praying for God to save him. God sends a boat, but the man waves them on telling them God will save him. A ship comes along next and they are waved on, as well. Finally a helicopter comes on scene and the man waves for them to leave, yelling "God will save me!". After finally drowning, his soul asks God, "Why did you not help me?". God did not change his will. It was the man who stubbornly refused to choose the way provided by God. James 4:8 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. NAS AO |
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80 | Praying for the 'World'. | Matt 5:44 | Aspiring Overseer | 163772 | ||
Doc, I appreciate your confusion as I think you may have misunderstood my previous posts. God created all mankind to chose Him. Many, unfortunately, rebell against God by refusing to chose Him. Matt 6:33 33"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. NAS Luke 11:9 9"And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. NAS Man must first seek before finding. Answers to your Q's: Q1. No, they have already exercised their free will by failing to ask. Q2. No, man has first rejected Him. They do not hear (understand), because of their continued rebellion. Why should God throw pearls before swine? AO |
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