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NASB | John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name-- [Is 56:5] |
Subject: How do we receive Him? As Guest/Owner? |
Bible Note: Hello again momma, I read your post with sincere interest. I want to start with your ending. First, I apologize if I made you feel that I was anything less than courteous. You had seemed somewhat discouraged that no one had responded to your original post after it had been up for so long and you finally withdrew it. I felt a responsibility to you as a forum member and your brother in Christ and wanted to show respect for your question and give an honest response. I mentioned in an earlier post that I was now suspicious of your original question. That is because your continued posts suggest to me that you have a very good understanding of this topic, so why the question? Was it to solicit a answer that you could then tear down? I hope not and I don’t want to believe that. But again, even in this most recent post you continue to debate against the language that you yourself presented. It was not my language, it was yours. As I have already stated before, I was attempting to use “your” language to help you see the truth. Again, that was my mistake. You make this comment: Just as He stands at the door and knocks, does He do so as a Guest or as Owner of the house? I’m not sure what you mean. I have tried to articulate that Jesus is not the owner, or shall we say the master, of any person until that person receives Him. Perhaps it continues to be the language that conflicts us. Sure He is our creator, and absolutely He has total authority over us. I’m not disputing this. I’m not asking you to take my word for this, I am simply asking you to understand what the Lord Himself has to say in the matter. Jesus said: Joh 8:42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would have loved me, because I came from God and am here. For I have not come on my own accord, but he sent me. Joh 8:43 Why don't you understand my language? It's because you can't listen to my words. Joh 8:44 You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood by the truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. So you see, your premise, while sincerely presented I am sure, just doesn’t line up with the truth found in the word of God. My intention is not and has not bee to embarrass or call you wrong for sake of arguing with you. My intention has been to redirect your thinking and use of scripture back to what the bible actually teaches, that is, the truth. Again, too often people pull verses from here and there and establish their own statement of truth from it without considering what it is really teaching in the context of which it is found. I would argue that we have all probably done this unintentionally or believed something to be right based on the teachings of others who have done it. With this in mind, let me ask what you meant by your statement: “According to Scripture, there is none who seeks God” This is a definitive statement. Yet I don’t know of this teaching. Am I mistaken, or are you? Pointing me to scriptural support will be helpful. I will end with that for now and some verses that I believe suggest that not only are there those who seek God, but we are responsible for doing so. Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. Deu 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 1Ch 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: There is much more in your post that I would like to address but for sake of time can not. It also would likely be unproductive to post even more in one posting, but, I truly hope this helps you. Again, if I offended you I apologize. It was not my intention. With Sincere Love, Jeff |