Results 81 - 100 of 361
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
81 | Joe, how righteous are you? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19122 | ||
Dear Joe, I agree that justification is a legal declaration, but that does not mean that it is not practical or real. You rightly speak of our records of wrong and Christ's record of righteousness switching places. So, in practical terms, I am declared righteous before God. This means that that is how God sees me, right? It would not benefit me in the least if God declared me righteous and then said, "Well, Bill, I've declared you righteous, but you're not really that way. I'm just pretending that you are for legal purposes." God, brother, does not pretend. God does not see something that is not there. God's view is truth. If God declares you righteous, it is because that is how He sees you -righteous. He declares you righteous because that is what He makes you, not because He is pretending. Say that I stand before God guilty of all my sin. God says, "Bill, the wages of sin is death and that is what you deserve. My standard is complete righteousness and you do not meet it. So I sentence you to death and you will be separated from Me forever." Then, from the sidelines, Christ speaks up and says, "Father, because I love Bill, I will take Bill's sentence. You may declare Me guilty in his place and exact his death sentence upon Me...but in return, because I am innocent and righteous, You must declare Bill innocent and righteous." God, being a just Judge, says that that trade is equitable. So Christ takes my sin and punishment and God declares me innocent and righteous. Now, when I leave that chamber, am I innocent and righteous in God's sight? Christ was made to be sin that I might become His righteousness, right? To imply that just because a truth is a legal declaration, that it is not practical is an insult to the judge and jury. If a judge and jury finds that an accused person is not guilty of a crime and they make that pronouncement 'not guilty', then that person is for all purposes, legally, practically, positionally, experientially 'not guilty.' The very reason that the accused is not guilty is because the jury or judge has made that determination. He is pronounced 'not guilty' because that is what he is, not because the judge and jury are pretending or 'just see Him that way.' Can I ask, out of curiosity, how righteous are you, Joe? If, perchance, God called you home right now, only the righteous can enter heaven, right? So how righteous are you right now on Oct 14, 2001? By Bible, not my church, not my pastor, not DTS, not dispensationalism, says that righteousness is a gift - Rom 5:17. Joe, have you received that gift? If you have received it, how can you make yourself more righteous than what Christ has made you? By Bible, not my church, not my pastor, not DTS, not dispensationalism, says that Christ's obedience has made me righteous - Rom 5:19. When does that happen, in your opinion? By Bible, not my church, not my pastor, not DTS, not dispensationalism, says that I have become the righteousness of God in Christ - 2 Cor 5:21. If I am in Christ, then I am what He is. Are you in Him, Joe? If so, how righteous are you? By Bible, not my church, not my pastor, not DTS, not dispensationalism, says that my new self has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth - Eph 4:24. Was your new self (2 Cor 5:17) created this way, Joe, or are you seeking to establish your own righteousness? By Bible, not my church, not my pastor, not DTS, not dispensationalism, says that my righteousness is not from my own works but that I have received it through faith in Christ. It comes FROM God to me, not from me because of my works - Phil 3:9. Joe, if you are not currently righteous, why not? It is a gift, it is free, it comes from Christ (not the Law), He made you that way. Have you received it? Righteous in Christ, Bill Mc |
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82 | The future of loved pets | Genesis | Bill Mc | 19109 | ||
Dear CDBJ, I'm sorry for the loss of your pet. Pets are usually better companions and more loyal to us that humans are. In fact, all of nature declares God's glory and I think some pets exhibit a facet of the kind of unconditional love for us that our heavenly Father has in abundance. But, unfortunately, we find no references in the scriptures concerning our beloved pets having eternal life (or eternal punishment, either, thank God). The creation account in Genesis does tell us that animals are 'souls' i.e. they have intellect, emotions, and will (ask any pet owner). So they do have one of man's attributes - a living soul. But there is no record of someone's pet entering eternal life. Are there animals in heaven? Well, there certainly appear to be. But there is no indication that I have found that they were once beloved pets. There are some really strange sounding creatures around the throne. Are these representative of other 'alien' races that God has created, but never fell? I don't know. We just don't have much info here. I'm not saying the following as an easy fix. There is no easy fix to the death that all creation is subjected to. It is all part of the original curse. But what I can tell you is that though you grieve now, in heaven you will have no need for or even miss your pets. God will wipe away all our tears and He will finally be all in all. I'm not trying to be insensitive to your pain here. I know it hurts. But you have to admit, CDBJ, that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have been loved at all. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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83 | Yes, but what happened back then? | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 19053 | ||
Dear Ezekiel, thanks for your reply but despite it, my question was still not answered. I'd like to know why Jesus said this. I agree that it was a fulfillment of the verse in Psalms, but, by its very nature, a fulfillment is a literal in-time occurence of something that is foretold before-hand. In other words, if a prophecy is fulfilled, then it happens just as it was prophesied. So, what is the meaning behind the prophecy? To just state that Christ was fulfilling prophecy in and of itself is circular reasoning. I.e. It was foretold throughout the OT that Messiah would suffer and die. Isaiah 53 is an excellent passage that Christ fulfilled. But Christ did not fulfill Isaiah 53 just to fulfill Isaiah 53. He died to provide reconciliation and forgiveness of sins. So, although I agree that He fulfilled the 'forsaken' prophecy, what actually happened when God forsook Him? That is my question. |
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84 | Please help the ignorant and arrogant... | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 19038 | ||
Then are you both saying that Christ was not separated from His Father? If He was separated from His Father, what does that entail? How did the separation take place? What was the link, is They were separated, that was broken? If God did forsake Him temporarily, what does this mean? What does it mean that God forsook Him if He didn't leave, vacate Christ? I've looked up the word 'forsaken' in my Vines, and it says that it is the strongest form of 'to leave, to abandon.' Any thoughts? | ||||||
85 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19036 | ||
Dear Joe, The fact that God works through us is not 'sitting back and watching.' It is not being a puppet. Look at Christ's life, dear brother. I won't list all the scripture references because 1) it don't have them all memorized and 2) I know that you know scripture: 1. Christ did nothing unless the Father told Him to do it. 2. Christ said nothing unless the Father told Him to say it. 3. The miracles that Christ did, the Father enabled Him and told Him to do them. 4. Christ said, "I do nothing of My own accord (initiative). I ONLY do what I see My Father doing. 5. Christ said, "Not My will, but Thine be done." 5. Christ said, "Apart from Me, you can do NOTHING." This was Christ's attitude. Although He could have, being God, exercised His full Deity, He did not do so. He temporarily set His divine prerogatives aside and relied COMPLETELY on the Father, did He not? Now, Joe, would you characterize Christ's life as one of sitting back and watching the Father? Would you say that Christ was a mere puppet for the Father? Do you think that because He 100 percent relied upon the Father that that made Him passive, inactive, lazy, unmotivated, useless and without purpose? Hardly, my friend. Christ was an active participant in the Father's work. He did indeed become a servant but He was hardly a mindless automiton. This is my point, brother. You seem to think that I am advocating so mindless, 'Yes, mastuh...' relationship. Far from it. Yes, Paul lived His life. Yes, I live my life. But also Christ lives in us and through us. We are to live as Christ lived, in faith and complete reliance upon Him as our source just as the Father was His source. "As the Father has sent Me, so send I you." I'll be honest with you, Joe. This 'God living and working through me' is hard to comprehend intellectually. That is why it is by faith. Faithfully is He who called you, Who will do it. He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. Here's the truth, dear brother in Christ - if you are doing ANYTHING apart from His enablement (Apart from Me, you can do NOTHING. I can do ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST) you are operating in your flesh. Even your good works. Check out Paul's 'good flesh' qualifications in Phil chapter 3. He was without equal when it came to pleasing God through the Law. Then see, if you don't already know, how Paul sums up all those good works. In Christ but hardly In Active, Bill Mc |
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86 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 19034 | ||
Dear Joe, We're closer in our views than probably either of us realize. But if forgiveness alone were the defining issue, then Christ died needlessly. The OT Jew had a system in place for being forgiven. They knew what forgiveness from God was. The sacrifices and the Day of Atonement, from a practical viewpoint, provided forgiveness. If this is the only problem between God and man, man's unrighteous acts, his sins, then the OT sacrifices could have just continued without God ever instituting a New Covenant. But I think you would agree that the forgiven OT Jew could not go into the Holy of Holies. Forgiveness and justification are not the same thing. Forgiveness deals with our sins. Justification deals with who we are. Forgiveness in the OT covered, atoned, for sins. But it could not make anyone righteous. Righteousness was credited to OT believers on the basis of faith. But they were never MADE righteous in their spirits. Forgiven? Yes. Saved by faith? Yes. Righteous? Only credited. In the NT, the believer is not only forgiven, he is made righteous as a gift. At conversion, our spirits are created in righteousness and holiness. That is the only reason that the writer of Hebrews says that we can now go into the Holy of Holies, that we are now the temple of God. "Do you not know that you are a temple? The temple of God is holy and that is what you are." We don't earn it. It is a gift of righteousness. Because we are in Christ, we are what He is in spirit. We are one spirit with Him. So, yes, the NT believer is forgiven but he is also justified (made righteous before and by God). We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the OT believer did not know. God indwells us. Therefore, brother, what I was saying in my original post is that, though everyone's sins are forgiven, not everyone is justified by faith in Christ's sacrificial work. I was trying to clarify a misunderstanding that says this: Salvation is being forgiven for your sins, Therefore not everyone is forgiven because that would mean universal salvation and we know that that conclusion is not true. That is why salvation is more than forgiveness. It is eternal life. We are saved FROM the wages of sin, spiritual death, separation from God, by the gift of God, eternal life, union with God. Forgiveness was provided to remove the sin issue between God and man so that when God imparts His life to the believer, it is indeed eternal. Justification provides that righteousness that God requires. You're right, brother, God has done so much more! I hope this clarifies my view. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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87 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18978 | ||
Dear Joe, one other note. If the forgiveness of sins on the cross is the total embodiment of being saved, Paul would never has said, "If Christ is not raised from the dead, you are STILL in your sins." Christ has become, for us, a LIFE giving Spirit. If He had not been raised from the dead, He could not impart eternal LIFE to us now. LIFE begets LIFE. You can't get LIFE from something that is dead. Jesus Christ gave His physical life for us (to take away our sins), so that He could give His spiritual LIFE to us (through the Holy Spirit), so that He can live His LIFE through us. "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Living in Christ, Bill Mc |
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88 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18975 | ||
Dear Joe, Salvation is not just being forgiven. Salvation is the impartation of eternal LIFE. Jesus did not come to just provide forgiveness for our sins. He came that we might have LIFE (zoe), eternal life. "I come that you might have LIFE, and LIFE abundantly." "He who has the Son has the LIFE, he who does not have the Son of God does not have the LIFE." "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE." "I AM the resurrection and the LIFE." "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you'll find eternal LIFE, but you won't come to ME." Salvation is being saved from the wages of sin, spiritual death, by the free gift of God, eternal LIFE. This LIFE is imparted by the Holy Spirit to our spirit. "The Spirit is LIFE. The flesh counts for nothing." This is exactly why sins had to be forgiven. If our sins had not been forgiven, the first time we, as Christians, sinned after receiving God's Spirit, He would depart from us. Now Christ can say, "I'll never leave you or forsake you," because the only thing that could make Him do so, sin, has been eternally dealt with by the cross and Christ's blood. Joe, this is why your position cannot be true. Forgiveness is offered to the whole world. Salvation (LIFE) is offered to the whole world. But we must receive it. It's a gift. Forgiveness is a gift and so is righteousness before God. But, Joe, for a gift to be effectual, it must be offered by the Provider and received by the recipient. Forgiveness deals with our sins. It takes them away. But God's LIFE deals with the sinner, "While we were still sinners, God made us ALIVE together with Jesus Christ." In Christ, Bill Mc |
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89 | Did the Holy Spirit depart from Christ? | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 18923 | ||
Did the Holy Spirit depart from Christ when He was made sin on our behalf? Did He suffer spiritual death (separation from God) on our behalf? Also, do you think the Holy Spirit always indwelt Jesus while He was on earth or did He enter Christ at His baptism? Thanks for your answers. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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90 | Lionstrong, this is not universalism. | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18921 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Let me try to clarify my view here. I'll summarize as much as possible: 1) Salvation is not just being forgiven for sins (unrighteous acts). Salvation is being saved by the indwelling life of Christ, not by reconciliation - Rom 5:10. Therefore, Christ's propitiation for the whole world is NOT salvation. It is forgiveness for all sins (unrighteous acts) for all people for all time. It is reconciliation. Now, if I believed that salvation was only the forgiveness of sins, then I would be supporting universalism - everyone is saved because everyone is forgiven. I AM NOT saying that at all. 2) The forgiveness that Christ provided at the cross is received at conversion. It is part of redemption - Eph 1:7; Col 1:14. Though it was provided at the cross, not everyone has accepted Christ's redemption (reconciliation) and appropriated the forgiveness that has been provided - Rom 5:11. 3) Therefore everyone in the world for all time is forgiven for their unrighteous acts but not for unbelief in Christ. Unbelief in Christ cannot be forgiven - it must be repented of. This is the world's sin (not sins, plural) - John 16:8,9. This is what God's wrath will be poured out on as 1 Thess says, unbelief in Christ. 4) So there is no contradiction. The cross provides reconciliation for all but we need to receive it. Christ's death provides forgiveness. And Christ's resurrection, imparted to us through the Holy Spirit, provides life to His formerly dead creation. So we are forgiven and then given life. The we are saved. Does this help? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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91 | When was Saul of Tarsus saved? | Heb 9:22 | Bill Mc | 18641 | ||
See my answer to DLD. | ||||||
92 | When was Saul of Tarsus saved? | Heb 9:22 | Bill Mc | 18640 | ||
DLD, you state, 'unless we follow the same commandments of the Lord we cannot be saved today.' Sorry, friend, but you're wrong. Following commands never saved anyone. Salvation is by faith in Christ and what He did, not in what you do. And you're worshipping the sign instead of what the sign points to. Water baptism is a symbol, nothing more, of what the Holy Spirit has done in placing us in Christ: 'For by one Spirit (not water) we were all baptized into one body (Christ's, the church)... (1 Cor 12:13) or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life.' - Rom 6:3,4 Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward spiritual truth. Nothing more. If you make it more than that, it becomes works. Note that Paul says in 1 Cor 1:17 - 'For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach to the gospel...' This proves that water baptism is not part of the gospel. If it was, Paul would have said, 'For Christ DID send me to baptize, because it is an intergral part of the gospel.' But he doesn't say that. Instead, he contrasts them. The act of water baptism is mutually exclusive from salvation. Water cannot wash away sins. Heb 9:22 - "Without the shedding of blood, there is NO forgiveness (remission) of sins." Period. Repentance doesn't forgive sins, water baptism doesn't forgive sins, confession doesn't forgive sins. Only the shed blood of Christ takes away sins. It is non-negotiable. If you don't know that, then you don't know what He did. I'm afraid, brother, that you are caught up in legalism (any effort we make to make ourselves more acceptable to God or more godly than what Christ has done) and works. Did you ever try to get a dog to fetch something by pointing at it? He NEVER looks where you are pointing. He only looks at your finger. He has no perception of anything else. That what some sects of Christianity are like. The Holy Spirit has baptized, immersed, united us with Christ. We use water baptism to illustrate that truth and all people can see is the pointing finger instead of the spiritual reality. Christ can set you free from works, DLD, but you've got to see your need first. The Christian world is more under the law and works than the Jews ever thought of being. Satan knows that as long as he can keep your eyes focused on yourself and your actions, you'll never look to Christ and what His actions. Look to Christ, DLD. Rest in what He has done. Resting in Christ, Bill Mc |
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93 | How can i keep my faith running on high? | Rom 10:17 | Bill Mc | 18610 | ||
Dear Kent, Yes, Satan can sometimes have a field day (or week, year, etc.) with us. But, my friend, the secret to the Christian life is not the amount of your faith. The secret is WHO your faith is in. Faith is only the conduit by which we access the power of Christ. Faith, by its very nature, requires an object. Everyone has faith in someone or something. The object of the Christian faith is not faith, but Christ. It is believing what God says is true. Faith is accepting God's viewpoint no matter what we may think, feel, or want. Christians put their faith totally in Jesus Christ - what He accomplished and what He will continue to do through us as His body. Satan was defeated at the cross by Christ. His major weapon, death, was taken away from him. Christ came to give us LIFE and life more abundant. So, Kent, you, by yourself, can never put Satan under your feet. But we can go to Christ as our head and He ever lives to make intercession for us. Satan will accuse us, not only to ourselves, but to God. But for the Christian, there is no condemnation because the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death. Brother, its not our faith that needs to be renewed, its our minds. And this is done through the work of the Holy Spirit taking the things of Christ (in the Bible) and making them known to us. This 'known' is not just an intellectual knowledge, it is an intimate knowledge. It is believing Christ at His word and knowing that you know. Faith is merely the means by which we accept it because we can't sense it or see it. I pray this helps you. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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94 | how do we receive all the blessing:ch.28 | Deuteronomy | Bill Mc | 18587 | ||
Dear sandeep, The short answer is, "You don't." Those blessings were for Israel, along with the curses. If you want blessings as a believer in Christ, here are a few: Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Phil 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. How's those for blessings? Especially 2 Pet 1:3 -If we are in Christ, God has granted to us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness. Can't beat that! Israel was never IN CHRIST. We, as the body of Christ, are. You don't need to go searching the Old Testament for blessings. Search the limitless knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His love for you. Blessed in Christ, Bill Mc |
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95 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18265 | ||
Paul shares a similar concept in Romans when he says that we have died to sin. It doesn't mean that we are literally dead. But we have been sanctified, set apart from it. Blessings, Bill Mc | ||||||
96 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18263 | ||
I understand. I use the NIV quite often. It is an excellent dynamic equivalent translation. But it does, occasionally, have a few problems. This is where some other formal equivalent translations shine. Blessings to you, Bill Mc. | ||||||
97 | Lionstrong, who is the world? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18255 | ||
Joe, this exactly what I mean. You take what someone says and you twist it: Here is what I said: "If you see that I have grossly misinterpreted a scripture or a passage then feel free to correct me with other SCRIPTURE." What you heard or wanted to hear was that I have a 'perceived right to write anything that you want without a response from those who will disagree with you.' This is exactly why I will not debate with you. You may claim to respect the whole counsel of God but you certainly do not respect those who would disagree with your point of view. If you did, you would not twist what they say or make self-righteous remarks like "If you hold with everything that I hold to, we can be one." Jesus had many things to say to those who were self-righteous. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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98 | Lionstrong, who is the world? | Eph 3:6 | Bill Mc | 18251 | ||
Dear Joe, this is not intended to be an insult. Please do not take it as such. It is my merely my point of view. First, my question was for Lionstrong. Though, obviously, anyone can answer questions here (this is a forum, I understand that), I would appreciate hearing from Lionstrong because my questions were in response to what he said. Secondly, I am not here to debate Calvinism, Armenism or any other ism. I want to stay with what the Word of God says. If I have opinions on the interpretation, I frequently state it as such. Thirdly, Joe, I would prefer to not debate with you and I ask that you honor that. If you see that I have grossly misinterpreted a scripture or a passage then feel free to correct me with other SCRIPTURE. I will read your responses. And if your answers are scripture, I will, obviously, consider them. But if they start, Calvinism says...then don't waste your time typing. But I will not debate with you for my own personal reasons that I will not print here. This is my choice for the sake of unity and peace. Please respect that. Your 'weaker brother' in Christ, Bill Mc |
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99 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18249 | ||
Steve, Yes, I believe that even unbelievers have a spirit. See James 2:26; Luke 8:55. But I believe that it is, like Adam's spirit was, dead to God - separated from Him. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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100 | Body/soul/spirit? | Bible general Archive 1 | Bill Mc | 18247 | ||
Steve, God did indeed say when - Gen 2:17 - "but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for IN THE DAY that you eat from it you will surely die." Satan echoed this - Gen 3:5 - "For God knows that IN THE DAY you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Granted, God did not say what part. But if you re-read my post, I stated that we can come to some understanding concerning what did not die. To say that it was only physical death does not line up with the rest of scripture that says that, because of Adam's disobedience, we are born dead in trespasses and sins. CDBJ has a good explanation in this thread about what 'dead' means here. I, too, think that every man has a soul and spirit. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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