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4 comments to Love Wins – Love Wins (6 of 7)Leave a Reply |
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Copyright © 2012 Tentmaker Video - All Rights Reserved |
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Love Wins – Love Wins (6 of 7)4 comments to Love Wins – Love Wins (6 of 7)Leave a Reply |
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Copyright © 2012 Tentmaker Video - All Rights Reserved |
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Dear Gary, I have recently been in a dicussion which became debate with became heated debate over Protetant vs Orthodox, the Holy Bible or the “Church”, and the correct translation of the Bible and the correct and true Church.
I used the Word of God, meaning the Holy Bible, to be the final authority rather than the “Church”, which the Orthosox believe. And I knew that the Word of God was living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword, and I knew that The Word fo God was inspried by God through Holy men of old, and I still believe that, no matter what man made error there may be; but I also know that The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Word of God, written, was, at the time this was written, was the Old Testament or the Jewish writings. Jesus quoted them frequently…announced to the Jewish teachers in the Temple that day that they were fulfilled in Him at His reading of the texts. Also, as Jesus was so badly marred that He was not even recognizable, so has been the written Word of God. BUT, even so, God’s Word(s), each jot or tittle, are still powerful, sharper than a two edged sword, AND able to give life.
Since my debate with this person, I researched a lot of things, especially scripture, seeking to defend my faith and what I belived. Anyway, I tried to cut off our debate…but things kept coming to my mind and I wanted to share ONE more thing with them to see if that would make any difference. This time, I found a comprehensive site of all the different translations (trying to get to the OLDEST of both OT and NT teachings so that I could see if what I was arguing from was correct or not. I cut my spiritual eye teeth on the King James version as it was all I had, and I was just a girl of 13-14 years old. Prior to the time I seriouly began reading the Bible, I was sitting in church one day, Methodist, and a warmth flooded my body from head to toe; I jumped from my seat and lightly stepped over everyone’s feet to get to the aisle and run to the front and stand with the preacher. I knew with every fiber of my being that it was all of God; also, very importantly, it felt as though a huge weight had literally lifed off of my shoulders; I did not know it then, but I know now, it was the litteral burden of my sins rolled away as the old hymn says. I went home that day and began to read my Bible, usually a Psalm or Proverb each night; I began to visit my neighbor, I think maybe took some flowers, as he was in bed…he was an elderly dabetic. I was seeking to obey Jesus and visit the sick, and do good deeds. I remember getting angry with my brother one day over somthing and he said to me, “I thought you were a Christian”…I said, “I am, “. I did not understand why I could not be perfect…why I still had feelings like anger when I was a Christian. Anyway, I never learned why until years later. I am 71 years old now and still trying to understand why I am not experienceing the joy, you talked about, yet I do have joy…deep down in my sould…I know my Redeemer lives, and that he is able to keep that whic I have commited unto Him against that day…But I want o serve HIm better and more.
I was enjoying your article, at the beginning you were talking about the drunk man and what he said about reading the white. You know, this kind of reminded me of something my daddy would say when he had been drinking. I can see and hear him now. He knew the Bible so well…but he was in the Shriners and I had his Shriners Bible at one time. Anyway, I love my daddy so much, and still love his memory…in spite of everything he loved his children. Well, before he died, I was sitting with him in the dining room at a nursing home. He said something strange, and I asked him who he was talking to, and he said those men sitting over there…across the table from us. He said they had on black suits and hats. I immediately thought about bad angels. He said they wanted him to go with them. I told daddy to tell them he was not going with them and to leave him alone. He said he wanted to go home, and I asked him, “Daddy where is home”? And he sat there awhile as if looking across the table, and then he turned and looke at me and said, “My home is Jesus…”. And I said that’s right daddy; that’s right”. So, from that time on I felt as if daddy had in some way made peace with God, but I don’t know exactly what it all meant.
Now, since you have said what you did about there being no hell and that all were going to be saved, I just wonder. However, I have to say I don’t totally agree with you about that, or the written Word of God. I know that Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, and that He asscended to heaven and is now at the right hand of God and will come again some day to judge the world for sin. I believe there is a Hell because Jesus did speak of it, unless you are saying those are scriptural errors, too. I know one thing, if there is a Hell, and anyone goes there, it will be Just because God is just. Yes, He is also merciful…but He is just. So, if Hitler does not go to jail, I don’t think God would be just; and there are a lot more like Hitler…like Stalin for instance. Scripture also says that if we confess Him with our mouths we will be saved…and if we don’t we will not be saved.
Anyway, my faith is stronger for the things God is teaching me. He is my salvation, not works, not rites, etc. He came to me, he found me I did not find God. He is also the One Who will keep me, not myself, not any works I can do no matter how good. The Word of God will stand forever…and I believe that means God’s spoken Word, no matter how many distored it…the true Word of God quickens to life eternal, even if the letter of it kills. It brings us to faith, as Paul said, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Wrod of God…andI now…it is by the Holy spirit that we are given spiritual discernment, and our ears are opened spiritually.
I will reread you article and listen to more videos. I want to know all I can, and I know God will give me the discernment to know if it is true or not.
Hello Gary,
I found your site by accident yesterday and have been reading/viewing some of your material with great interest for a number of hours now. Then, in the Love Wins(6 of 7) video you said we sin because we are mortal, not because we have a sin nature.
God said to Adam in the day he ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. That sounds like death came because of disobedience(sin). Paul said the wages of sin is death. It sounds like you are saying the opposite, that the wages of death is sin.
Saving all beings sounds so very good and I can see the scriptures indicating so, but also see others that seem to indicate not so. Nevetheless, it really threw me when you said mortality causes us to sin. If so, then why did God have an angel bar the way to the Tree of Life after they had sinned? Sounds like it was still possible for man to have immortality even after sinning.
My understanding is we get a sinful nature from our human father, not out mother. That is why Jesus had to born of a virgin so He could be human without a sinful nature.
I don’t mean to be critical, but we must not simply believe something because it sounds so wonderful. I would that all would be saved. The doctrine of eternal damnation is the toughest of all to swallow. In between the two, all saved and some saved with most eternally damned(tormented), would be the idea of destruction(annihilation) of those who never believe. They just cease to exist. I too don’t understand how we can have true joy knowing most or at least many suffering forever.
A reply would be most appreciated.
Boyd
Do those who die in situations like the Holocaust find “true joy” in at least knowing their beloved ones are not burning forever, but that their suffering will come to an end? To me, this still falls FAR short of the glory of God. The Bottom line is in Adam ALLLLL died, even so, in Christ shall all be made alive. The same all who died in Adam will be made alive in Christ. http://tentmaker.org/articles/adam_succeeded_will_christ.pdf
Can it be put this way? – Are we dying because of our sin or because of Adams sin. If it is because of our sin then that involves works on our part. It does not require a work of believing to be ‘saved’. Our salvation (to heaven)is dependent on Christ’s work not our works. Believing is what we do to have victory over sin (in this life). Adam was immortal but because of his disobedience he became mortal(a sinner) Bob Jones Sr said “we sin because we are sinners (mortal?), we don’t become sinners (mortal) because we sin”. I’m not sure Bob Jones Sr would agree with this use of his statement, but I believe it’s true anyway. Since he is now in heaven he now agrees. We are not lost (dying) because of our sin, but we are lost (dying) because of Adams sin. We are not saved (to heaven) because of being born again, but because of Christ’s work on Calvary. He chose us we did not choose him to ‘get saved’. Even our ‘good works’ are dependent on his power in our lives. When we get saved that is us starting a new life in Christ (born again) unto good works. Gal_5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,gentleness, and self-control. Pro_11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.