Bible Question:
My friend's father says "I know what the Bible says. it says 'the Lord will spit you out if you are lukewarm" and that he wasnt going to "commit" himself to God unless he would do it fully and didnt think that was something he was ready for. What are some verses I can give to my friend to show her father to tell him that he can come to God as he is, and should wait? |
Bible Answer: SusieCues, First off, welcome to SBF. It's good to see that your concerned for your friend's father, however, the truth of God's word that leads to salvation is more than a matter of "some verses". In my humble opinion, a very good response to ANYONE who says "I know what the Bible says..." is to ask them- OK, and what does that mean? Understanding the context and the intent of "what it says" is often what is missing. The passage regarding the "lukewarm" Laodiceans is found in Revelation chapter 3, begin at verse 14. It is by no means suggesting that we are to postpone coming to Christ until we have achieved a status more worthy than that of being lukewarm. Rather- being lukewarm is a condition in which one has no spiritual capacity to understand that he needs God. It is a state of being in one's own "self-sufficient" state. You might consider the "chief priests and elders" in Matthew 21: 23-25. To the question that Jesus asked (regarding the source of John's baptism) they replied "we do not know". Of course they knew- but to answer honestly would have defeated their goal. So they traded the truth for a lie in order to maintain their current state (which was a very self-sufficient state of sin). The thought of finally turning to God once I get my ducks in a row and am no longer "lukewarm" is actually an idea of saving oneself; in other words, salvation by works. This does not line up with the truth of Scripture. Eph 2:1-10 NASB95 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. God bless, Jeff |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Bible general Archive 3 | Author | ||
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lorinda | ||
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lorinda | ||
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chimney rock | ||
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funtomosoba | ||
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SusieCues | ||
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jlhetrick | ||
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eileen8 | ||
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justme | ||
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justme | ||
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Blessedman | ||
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xbenclementx |