Results 81 - 100 of 263
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Aspiring Overseer Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
81 | 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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82 | 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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83 | Christmas-Is It Christian? | NT general Archive 1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106705 | ||
Hi Tess, Here are some notes from the other day you might find helpful: Christmas is a holiday created by man to celebrate the birth of Christ or, from a secular perspective, to enjoy the presence of family and friends. You ask if it is biblical, but I believe you already have your answer. God commands us throughout scripture not to add or take away from His word. Questions to consider: Would a holiday created by mankind, regardless of intent, be desired by God? Does God command Christians to honor Christ's birth? To what extent can a Christian participate (and promote) man-made practices to honor Christ, which are not directed by God? Some other food for thought: Why do many churches display nativity scenes? The scripture in Matthew which refers to the magi does not list a number nor does it allow for them to have visited Him in the manger. If both of these are distortions to fit the worldly religious version of Christmas, why would we expect anything different in the handling of scripture concerning salvation? P.S. What does Paul mean when he rebukes the Corinthians for naming themselves in 1CO1:10-13? How do you think this applies to JW's? AO |
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84 | A husband that doesn't give money? | Ps 43:3 | Aspiring Overseer | 106702 | ||
Ps 43:3 3O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Thy holy hill, And to Thy dwelling places. NAS Sissy, What do you mean regarding your husband when you write, "He is saved but out of church."? AO |
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85 | Are these words for today? | John 13:35 | Aspiring Overseer | 106700 | ||
Aixen, John 13:35 35"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." NAS The key to John 13:35 is to understand that not all people who today say they are Christians, actually are. Most people have no understanding of the Bible, especially the denominations you mention. Christians do in fact, love (agape) each other and have genuine compassion for those who are lost. They are also of the same mind in that there is no disagreement on any aspect of God's master plan between them. In the denominationalist, worldly Christian paradigm, John 13:35 becomes a very difficult saying, but to a member of Christ's body it is accepted and followed without question. P.S. All men will know Christ’s disciples at some time. If not during their life, certainly in death. AO |
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86 | How can I spiritually endure? | Psalm | Aspiring Overseer | 106694 | ||
Dear Angellove, This is the test a Christian faces, “How do I spiritually endure?”. The only way to accomplish this is to put truth into your mind so that evil is shoved aside. We know that light and darkness can not exist in the same location, thus by continual study and teaching a Christian keeps their mind free of fleshly lust. Their focus must be spiritual rather than worldly: Matt 6:19-22 19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22"The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. NAS How do you lay up “treasures in heaven”, but through teaching others the truth. The wise man wins souls. Christians must master their tendency to sin through the renewing of their mind, or in other words, the study and practice of God’s commands, through which they become transformed to their “new self”, as effectual doers. Eph 4:19-24 20But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. NAS This means being an independent thinker in scripture, not dependent upon the opinions of others, as the Christian must be able to stand alone before God with a clear conscience for all he has done. During life, they must overcome their fleshly nature and prove to God that they understand and practice His will. Rom 12:1-2 2And 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 In the end, the best course is to pray for guidance and an open mind. God is always faithful. AO |
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87 | What is Chiristmas? | Gen 1:1 | Aspiring Overseer | 106561 | ||
Holy, Christmas is a holiday created by man to celebrate the birth of Christ or, from a secular perspective, to enjoy the presence of family and friends. You ask if it is biblical, but I believe you already have your answer. God commands us throughout scripture not to add or take away from His word. Questions to consider: Would a holiday created by mankind, regardless of intent, be desired by God? Does God command Christians to honor Christ's birth? To what extent can a Christian participate (and promote) man-made practices to honor Christ, which are not directed by God? Some other food for thought: Why do many churches display nativity scenes? The scripture in Matthew which refers to the magi does not list a number nor does it allow for them to have visited Him in the manger. If both of these are distortions to fit the worldly religious version of Christmas, why would we expect anything different in the handling of scripture concerning salvation? AO |
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88 | what does "falling away" mean? | Heb 6:6 | Aspiring Overseer | 106315 | ||
Delirious, The best advice is to sincerely pray for help from God and keep an open mind to the truth. God will send you the help you need. AO |
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89 | 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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90 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103450 | ||
Radioman, I appreciate your point. As we have already addressed the necessity of a command of God to need only be given once, lets move on to why Paul stated "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (your quote). You gave 1Cor 1:17 as evidence. Lets look at the full context: 1 Cor 1:10-17 10Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. 12Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15that no man should say you were baptized in my name. 16Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. NAS Verses 14-16 make it clear that Paul is not denigrating baptism, but glad that he himself did not baptize MANY so to avoid denominations. He was happy to baptize, but understood that there was danger for him to do so. Additionally, Christ personally handpicked him, because of his desire for righteousness as demonstrated by his knowledge! This made him a much more effective servant in teaching than in baptizing. AO |
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91 | Where does Scripture teach an exception? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103447 | ||
Tim, At the day of Pentecost, did the Apostles understand the gospel before they received the HS? In Acts chapter 1 were they not asking Jesus when He would restore the Kingdom to the Jews? They obviously had a very imperfect understanding UNTIL they received the HS. Then Peter immediately began to preach the gospel. Why did this happen, do you suppose? Did not the HS bring understanding of God's master plan that they before lacked (such as the command for water baptism)? Jumping ahead to the first Gentile conversion in Acts 10, God gives us the same pattern. First understanding, then obedience. Acts 10 tells us that this confirmed to the Apostles that the gospel was for both Jews and Gentiles. God did not want to vary the initial pattern, because it was instrumental in the Apostle’s understanding of God’s impartial nature. Acts 10 did not say that this pattern was to ever again happen. The Apostles knew that and responded accordingly. How? By preaching the proper steps to conversion. Not only Acts 2:38, but many other verses throughout, as I know you are aware. That is why incident after incident of conversion always includes water baptism. Paul mentioned it; Luke mentioned it; Peter mentioned it. Did these men mention it because it seemed like a good idea or because they were directed to write it by the HS? If by the HS, it follows that this is a command of God. John 14:15 15"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. NAS AO |
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92 | All He taught apply only after He died | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103364 | ||
Searcher, Did the Jews under the Law of Moses have to be "born again"? If not, then John 3 only makes sense when applied to the age of Christianity. Does this make Christ "inconsistent" to teach regarding future events? Throughout His life He prepared those around Him for the New Covenant. Some lessons had immediate applicability, some described future events. AO |
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93 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103363 | ||
My point, which you acknowledge (though indirectly) is that repentance and confession are not mentioned in that verse, yet you still include them as necessary steps. You must do the same for baptism if you are going to be consistent. AO |
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94 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103348 | ||
Radioman2, Acts 8:11-12 12But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. NAS Repentance or confession are not mentioned in the above verse. Does that mean they are not required, as well? AO |
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95 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103347 | ||
Searcher, How is one "buried with Him through baptism" (by the Holy Spirit), as you suggest? AO |
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96 | All He taught apply only after He died | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103346 | ||
Searcher, No, just in this instance as he is clearly talking about the Christian Age. Do you see this differently? AO |
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97 | Under the Law but not under water? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103345 | ||
Rom 3:26-27 27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. NAS Rom 2:5-8 5But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. NAS There will always be those who wish no effort was involved with salvation and I sincerely hope, for their sakes, they are correct. AO |
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98 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103344 | ||
The verses you give illustrate the First Gentile conversion, which was given as a sign to the Apostles to show God's acceptance of them (the Gentiles). Only the Apostle's conversion and the that of Cornelius's family occured before water baptism. AO |
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99 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103324 | ||
Searcher, If an Apostle taught that baptism was required, was that their own opinion or God's command? Acts 2:38 38And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NAS Acts 8:36 36And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" NAS Acts 16:32-34 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. NAS Acts 18:7-8 8And Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized. NAS We could go much further, but why do we need more? AO |
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100 | AO, was His John 3 not in effect? | John 4:14 | Aspiring Overseer | 103318 | ||
Hi Searcher, What Jesus taught in John 3:1-21 does not pertain to the Old Testament, but the New. No one of the Jews was "born again" to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus was instructing Nicodemus of the things to come AFTER His death and resurrection. Thus water baptism prior to the start of the Christian Church was not required. AO |
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