Results 681 - 700 of 801
|
||||||
Results from: Notes Author: jlhetrick Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
681 | God Question | Rom 10:17 | jlhetrick | 163132 | ||
hello Joel, Please be more careful to read and understand the post you are repolying to. Rick did not clearly state that he believes in God. He clearly asked the question "is there a God" and further more, if there is, "is it the God in the bible". He seems to doubt the God of the bible because he did not feel "joy". Your right, he is looking in the right place to find the true God, but, he required redirection concerning how he expects to receive that truth. It's not through a feeling of "joy" nor is it through a "great revelation". It is through a faithful believing. Regarding the scripture you credit me for quoting, again, be more careful with your reply. Kalos actually quoted the scripture passage in Romans, and, knowing Kalos (from the forum only) I believe I know exactly what his point was. It was, I believe, (and kalos correct me if I'm wrong please) to point out what the bible says in direct answer to Rick's question. That is, even when faced with the revealing knowledge of God, a person can still reject it and live independently of it which results in not knowing Him personally and not being capable of receiving what He has freely given. If Rick has read the bible from cover to cover (and he says he has and I won't doubt him) then he, at this point at least, is still doubting it. Finally you mention encouragement. The scriptures I quoted were just that. Encouraging scriptures meant to point Rick toward some promises of God regarding seeking Him and the encouragement of the authority of His word. I did not mean to offend you with the "bla, bla" statement but I did intend to redirect you. Your own "bla" statement presented as a disregard of the answers already given. Answers, I might add, that were scripturally based and offered substance based on what God has to say and not what the replier thought or felt. You encouraged Rick to "wait on God.." great, but you coached him to wait on the wrong thing from God. It's not a great revelation Rick needs, it's faith and belief in the truth. If God adds something unique and special just for Rick, great for him. May his faith grow all the more in his ongoing relationship. But lets first attend to his most immediate need. That is knowing the God that he clearly states he doesn't even believe in yet. I hope this helps clear my postition up. Keep it in your heart to never be offended by the word of God. If scripture declares one wicked, he is wicked in deed. Without the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, we are all wicked. With love, Jeff |
||||||
682 | God Question | Rom 10:17 | jlhetrick | 163126 | ||
Hello Rick, I believe what is lacking is faith. Reading the bible from cover to cover exposes you to the truth, however, the life changing reality of what God has to say to us and what He has done for us can only be accomplished through faith. Kalos appropriately pointed you to Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 32. This passage is plainly teaching that even though one might be exposed to the truth, and even see it clearly, one might still chose to reject it and look for his "joy" experience to come through other means. It is not a feeling, or emotion of joy that we are to look for. It is the truth we seek and we find it between the covers of the bible. And, we must believe in faith, not reject it. Rom 10:17 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV So keep reading and praying. Just as important, find a bible teaching church and attend regularly. Seek God, not an experience of joy. God is faithful to His word and His word says: Isa 55:11 my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpos NIV He also promises: Prov 8:17 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. NIV Hope this helps, Keep seeking the truth but do not reject it when you find it. in Love, Jeff |
||||||
683 | God Question | Rom 10:17 | jlhetrick | 163125 | ||
Hello Joel, Do you believe it wise to encourage someone who is having difficulty accepting the plain and straight forward word of God to expect a "great revalation"? Jesus said: Luke 11:29 "This is a wicked generation . It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. NIV Well the sign has been given in the death and resurrection of Christ. We don't need to look for anything else. We certainly don't need to encourage nonchristians to look for something else. Speaking of bla, bla, bla. Careful, Jeff |
||||||
684 | is smoking a sin? | 1 Cor 6:12 | jlhetrick | 161343 | ||
Thanks, just wanted to make sure you knew so you could get it to the right person. Some of us don't always have time to follow the thread closely and might not know of a response unless we get email. Again, good points you made, Jeff |
||||||
685 | is smoking a sin? | 1 Cor 6:12 | jlhetrick | 161267 | ||
Hello itsme, Good points you made in your post, but I think you may have been intending to post it to someone else. Or, were you intending your post for me? If so, will you please be more specific as to how your response relates to my post? Thanks, Jeff |
||||||
686 | is smoking a sin? | 1 Cor 6:12 | jlhetrick | 161253 | ||
Hi Ambass, Your point is taken but I want to make a point regarding a statement you made. You wrote: "It is a sin to be obese" In the context of your post I think that you are feferring to "obese" as it relates specifically to habitual over eating (Gluttony). I just wanted to add that there are people who are obese due to serious medical problems that they may have little or no control over. We wouldn't want to imply that these people are living in sin directly related to their obesity. Thanks, Jeff |
||||||
687 | Is belief in the bible needed to be save | NT general Archive 1 | jlhetrick | 160913 | ||
Hello again hetfield, Just want to make a point here with part of your argument. You write: "Saying the bible has saved us is like saying to the person who witnessed to us saved us." Very well said. Christians do no not say that the bible "saves" us and without going back through every response in this thread, I don't believe anyone on the forum has said that. Perhapse this is where you are having a difficult time with what Christians claim. The bible does not save us, the finished work of Christ is what saves us. But One first has to know of this work and then believe it and have faith in it for ones salvation. It is through the bible that we learn of the work of Christ that saves us. That is how the bible is able to say to us that the faith that we have in fact does come by hearing the word of God. In and of myself I do not even have the faith to believe in the bible or to believe in Jesus Christ and what He did to save me. It is God Himself that gives me that faith and He has done so through my reading and hearing others teach His word, the bible, while speaking to my heart through His Spirit. I fear that your ability to believe may have been hindered by the early experiences that you mentioned earlier in this thread. It seems as though you are looking for scientific type data or other evidence outside of scripture to convince yourself that the bible is real or not. In any case, you are placing your hope and basing your salvation on information that you believe to be no more than the written words of men. This is a scary thought. It seems to me that it would be impossible for someone to truly believe in the true God and at the same time believe that He only spoke to us between the lines and paragraphs of the writings of several men. That would be a most cruel joke for God to play on mankind, leaving us to wonder which part to believe and which part to throw out. That would hardly be a mechanism for building faith. One final thought. If you are truly searching for the truth in this matter then it is fair to say that you are not sure. Otherwise you would believe you already know the truth and would not need to spend this kind of time working it out. If this is true let me ask you to consider not making statements such as "the bible is not the word of God". You might imagine how offended God might be if it is in fact. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
688 | Is belief in the bible needed to be save | NT general Archive 1 | jlhetrick | 160894 | ||
Hello hetfield, I wanted to respond to the post/response you made to Jayell. I want to ask a simple question to help give you more perspective on how to approach this issue as you seek the truth. You say you accept the OT. The OT teaches that God has authority over all things and is the creator of all things. It says that He promises to uphold His word. Do you not believe that He was in control of the writing and the compiling of the bible which is believed by those who He has called to Himself to be His word? If He chose to use the written word to speak to us then it must be the bible. No other writing makes the claim. If it is not the bible, then you and I have no hope in what we say we hope in. If it is the bible, do you not think that an all powerful God who has control over all of creation also kept control over the writing and compiling of His word to us? Plese don't be offended, I have not seen that others are judging you in their disagreement. It's only that your debate is not logical or rational and others are having a difficult time, I believe, following your argument. It is beginning to appear that you are not "seeking" the truth in this matter, but that you have already concluded what you believe to be the truth and are resistant to what others are trying to teach/explain. We love you and want you believe what God says, not what we say because we say it. God says: Isa 55:10-11 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. NIV God's word is the bible, both OT and NT. It's purpose is to bring worship of Him and salvation to men. It is to provide for our budding as new christians and our flourishing as we grow in knowledge of Him. It provides the seed that we sow and the bread for those who hunger for Him. It is what sustains us in Him teaching us His love, grace, and mercy and how to be obedient to Him. I pray that you continue to seek with an open mind and an open heart. I do believe that God Himself will show you if your sincere in your search. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
689 | Is belief in the bible needed to be save | NT general Archive 1 | jlhetrick | 160871 | ||
Hi Kalos, Thanks for the kind words and be assured that I greatly appreciate your contributions to the forum as well. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
690 | Is belief in the bible needed to be save | NT general Archive 1 | jlhetrick | 160870 | ||
Hello again hetfield, I thank God for your earnest search for the truth. God says that "...those who seek me will find me." (Proverbs 8:17). From experience I can say that this is not a single event of finding but an ongoing process of revelation and change as we study God's word and learn obedience. God can and does speak to our spirit through His Spirit, convicting us of wrong and encouraging us. But how do we learn who He is and know Him? I argue that it's through the bible which He has established as the primary method of teaching us who He is and His plan for mankind (and of course the Holy Spirit is at work in that too). You write: "I believe the Gospel message is in the bible. Not that the bible is the gospel message." Imagine if I was told by a new boss that I had to read and follow the company's personel policy manual as the governing authority of the company. Would it be logical to respond with something like; I believe the companies governing authority is found in that manual, but I do not believe that manual is the governing authority? It would be the another way of telling my new boss that I will read the manual and decide for myself which part of it I consider to be governing and then follow that portion only as having authority over me. This is not only illogical, but also insufficient. I would soon find myself in error on some part and the same governing authority (manual) that has established authority will serve as the legitimacy for my discipline and possibly being fired. I can continue to denie it's authority over me all the way out the door and into the unemployment line. My denial of it does nothing to lessen it's authority. Another simple way of looking at the bible when considering it as totally authoratative, from God, the truth and without error is this. If the bible is not the word of God and only parts of it contain God's word, which parts do I include? Again, it would be irrational to use any of it in this case because I would not know what was from God and what was not. Another argument goes like this. If there is a single false statement or untruth found anywhere in the bible, then how can I trust any of it. Finally, you write: "After being set free and finding the truth about Gods salvation through faith in Christ I am very vigilant about what people tell me. People have told me and I have believed for years that the bible is the word of god. My research has led me to believe that the bible is an accurate account of the life of Jesus. I am thankfull for the new testament! But the word of god? My faith is in Christ. I think some people put their faith in the bible. I put mine in Christ." Think of this more deeply. Why would you put your faith in the Christ you learned of and came to know from the bible, if the bible is not the Word of God? The New testament is where we find the risen Christ. Paul wrote: 1 Cor 15:13-14 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. NIV Think on it. God would not have you deceived. He promises to honor and reward your seeking Him and He will do it. Continue the search and God bless you in your journey. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
691 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | jlhetrick | 160735 | ||
Hi Doc, Thanks for the info. I put "Toward a Sure Faith" on my list of books to buy. Jeff |
||||||
692 | Using Love as Jesus | 2 Tim 2:15 | jlhetrick | 160733 | ||
Thanks Mark, No damage, sorry if I made it appear that way. A lot has been said of late regarding personal responsibility and the spiritual love that we should all be showing in our post. I never intend to insinuate that these things do not apply to me. They do, and they are not always obvious in my post. Like everyone, I have a personality and there are characteristics that are less than favorable. Being defensive is one of them. I can gladly say that those who know me personally can say that the Lord has done a lot to change me but I know that He still has a lot of work to do with me and I still have a lot of room for improvement. At the risk of sounding like I'm making excuses for myself I will say; another characteristic of mine is that I am very passionate. This can be both good and bad, productive and unproductive. I pray for the changes in me that only God can make, and ask for patients from my brother's and sister's on the forum. I hope for loving and kind redirection when necessary and hope to become better at giving the same in return. I look forward to continued learning experiences on the forum with you Mark. Jeff |
||||||
693 | Biblical Love is not Worldly Love | 1 John 4:21 | jlhetrick | 160718 | ||
Hi Doc, Great quotes! I also found it interesting that you quoted Machen in another post in this thread. Interesting because I recently used that very quote in a recent lesson I taught in our discipleship training at church. Also, I enjoy reading and learning from Arthur W. Pink and have used many of his quotes before as well. Just a thought, I think your post of quotes might be very beneficial to nightjay regarding his post 160215. He might not be following and a post back to him might alert him by email. Anyway, I would be happy to copy and paste your post to nightjay with your permission as I believe it might really be helpful for him. Again, thanks for the quotes, Jeff |
||||||
694 | Using Love as Jesus | 2 Tim 2:15 | jlhetrick | 160661 | ||
Hi Mark, Thanks for the thoughtful response. I'm not just "playing nice" but to your credit, your posts are regularly beneficial. You are one of the few on the forum that asks and answers questions with love and kindness and this post I am responding to is a perfect example of how brothers and siters in Christ should respond to one another. Thanks I do want to say that your input on the forum, as far as I have seen, has been very well grounded in the bible. For what it's worth, there are three regulars on the forum that I follow regularly, primarily because I respect them and always learn something or at least gain new insight. You are one of the three. Thanks. After your post I added my email address to my profile. Should have thought of that in the first place. Anyway, feel free to email me in the future if you care to. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
695 | Your thoughts on 40 Days of Purpose? | 2 Tim 4:2 | jlhetrick | 160566 | ||
Hi Hank, Well said, There is also a radio program (really more of a short blurb) called "Back to Genesis". These kinds of reality checks are great for us christians and any who might stumble across them. Thanks, Jeff |
||||||
696 | Using Love as Jesus | 2 Tim 2:15 | jlhetrick | 160565 | ||
Hi Mark, Sounds good. I am off tomorrow and plan to spend some time following the post. I do more following than posting lately as I am learning from others and taking notes. I'll look forward to your response. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
697 | Using Love as Jesus | 2 Tim 2:15 | jlhetrick | 160563 | ||
Hello Mark, Not to play on words but I did not say that nightjays post was treated with disrespect. I said that it was not treated with respect. I believe that many post on this forum are not treated with the same loving attention and consideration as others. The trend seems to hold true for those post that are less articulate and where the poster may have obvious, limited knowledge of scripture. My opinion is that one can show little or no respect for something without necessarily being outright disrespectufl. Your are right that nightjay did not complain, but did you notice that he did not respond at all. Why? We can not speak for him, but might it be that he felt his question was not taken seriously or that he was made to feel his question was inappropriate or even stupid???? I did caution nightjay to "get used" to being treated this way because it is abasolutely true that this is a continuing issue on the forum. And yes, people can change, but I have not seen evidence of it here. As far as not naming names for Kalos I can only respond with a question of my own. In this same thread Doc wrote: "Someone will probably try to give you a simple, trite answer -- we have people who specialize in that here" Yet you nor Kalos asked Doc to name names nor did you attempt to call him on it or question him at all. Why? Finally, you asked, "who profits from my comments." Possibly no one. Possibly the person who feels like their limited knowledge of the bible does not mean that they are in the wrong place and can not be treated with respect and love on this forum. Am I wrong? Possibly. But I hope my efforts are not in vein. |
||||||
698 | Using Love as Jesus | 2 Tim 2:15 | jlhetrick | 160538 | ||
Hello Kalos, Why would I want to do that? |
||||||
699 | An Exegete of Acts 2 | Acts 2:16 | jlhetrick | 159195 | ||
Hello WOS, Thaks for the post. I won't be long winded here because I wont allow this to turn into a situation of splitting by those who wish to make more of my comments than was intended or plainly stated. Let me just say this. A "battering" is a "battering", whether it's done intellectually or not. I agree that personal views are appropriate and helpful, it's the unsupported declaration of truth that I have a problem with. If you were to research my post (well for one you would be bored) you would see that I too have openly defended Doc when other's didn't agree with his post. But when I did so it was because he was right. He was right because scripture, taken appropriately in context, said he was right. lets let the personal opinions help in our study, lets not let it attempt to add to scripture what is not clearly there. Dangerous. Again, sincere thanks for your post. It is always helpful for me to read how others are reading into what I post. Sincerely, Jeff |
||||||
700 | An Exegete of Acts 2 | Acts 2:16 | jlhetrick | 159194 | ||
Hi Hank, Thanks for the post. Your point is most important and very supportive of my position (though I realize that was not your intentions). All who read the posts you refer to might have concluded with careful reading, I took and take this same position. I never debated yes or no on the issue of dreams, simply because I don't know. I simply challenged the unsupported declaration that God doesn't speak to us in dreams. Of course the challenge was never met and I am comfortable now that that fact alone will give the careful reader and student the wisdom not to accept everything any of us say as "the truth" unless we are able, and willing, to support it with scripture in context. Your post was very warm and insightful. Thanks again. Sincerely, JEff |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 ] Next > Last [41] >> |