He believed in God. He was a Christian Universalist. Over the years, he was a speaker in a local congregation of believers. He was a gifted teacher, helping lead others to belief upon Jesus as Savior.
Over time he began to develop beliefs that denied some of the essentials of the faith; the virgin birth, the necessity of the blood of Jesus to save. He stopped praying, stopped reading His Bible, and eventually stated he no longer believed in God. He began to mock Christians, insult them, make crude statements and disparaging comments about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In short, he has become a persecutor of the brethren and a blasphemer.
What do you make of this man? How do you feel about a situation such as this? Does it affect your own faith one way or another? What does God think of this man? How does He view him? How does He deal with him, and how will He deal with him?
So what happens to this man?
He gets corrected like almost everybody else. But I think his correction will be less severe than that of any/most ETs because that man only needs to be remembered of something he knows/once knew. The ETs have to learn something entirely new.
Quote from: WhiteWings on June 29, 2011, 12:40:01 PM
He gets corrected like almost everybody else. But I think his correction will be less severe than that of any/most ETs because that man only needs to be remembered of something he knows/once knew. The ETs have to learn something entirely new.
Ditto
We are all just broken jars of clay. I believe that our heavenly Father looks upon this brother like any father would look at their child that is suffering from a severe fever. He will carry this brother. We must not judge the brother. Pray for him, love him, be there to give a helping hand when he comes out of this fever.
There are many scriptures, and God will have great patience and remember the works of the past. Paul said I recall you were once zealous for the gospel
repent therefore lest a worse thing come upon you.
How can he be corrected more or less if breaking one law is the same as breaking all of the laws? Where does "where sin abounds grace abounds even more . . ." come in to play in that? Should he not be given more grace because he, in our eyes, had further to fall???
Quote from: Nathan on June 29, 2011, 11:00:18 PM
How can he be corrected more or less if breaking one law is the same as breaking all of the laws?
That wouldn't be possible if the Bible actually teaches that :2c:
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Many will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
Quote from: Ross on July 06, 2011, 11:43:52 AM
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Don't know. But I think the main question of the OP is abaout teh change of heart of the man. (?)
QuoteMany will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
That statement about (former) believers of all denominations.
For me it means that Jesus never knew Christians who in all sorts of ways acted/believed contrary to His teachings.
- Eternal hell.
- All people get judged the same.
- Love your neighbor (if from the same denomination)
- Use Christianity as leverage for political goals.
- Etc
those to whom Jesus says,I never knew you...are the stranger......if Jesus never knew them..they never knew Jesus either.Oneness/intimacy..requires a 'knowing'
but another thing..Jesus is Lord of the dead and the living....dead branches in the vine are pruned here on earth..and found alive in heaven[prodigal that
was dead declared alive by Father,with rejoicing]. All mankind,dead branches as well as live and/or fruit bearing are in deVine/Christ.Father does'prune' the dead
branches..just as an axe is at the tree. Fostering spiritual growth in this earth..is Father's business....He will remove you from this earth..when spiritual
advancement doesn't come.....and finish your training in heaven [if need be]
Unregenerated Adam is pruned so that the new man[sprout] in Christ may come forth and bear fruit[SOS 6;11] Christ inspecting spiritual growth
Quote from: Ross on July 06, 2011, 11:43:52 AM
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Many will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
That's what I was wondering after I posted this. Maybe he only stated a sort of faith, but was never truly spiritually reborn. Not for me to say, but it's apparently possible to be the case for some.
That seems to be the case. Seems to be what Christ says to Nicodemus about being born again or you will Never see the kingdom. We don't get any say in our physical birth or upbringing either.
Quote from: sheila on July 06, 2011, 03:50:19 PM
those to whom Jesus says,I never knew you...are the stranger......if Jesus never knew them..they never knew Jesus either.Oneness/intimacy..requires a 'knowing'
but another thing..Jesus is Lord of the dead and the living....dead branches in the vine are pruned here on earth..and found alive in heaven[prodigal that
was dead declared alive by Father,with rejoicing]. All mankind,dead branches as well as live and/or fruit bearing are in deVine/Christ.Father does'prune' the dead
branches..just as an axe is at the tree. Fostering spiritual growth in this earth..is Father's business....He will remove you from this earth..when spiritual
advancement doesn't come.....and finish your training in heaven [if need be]
Unregenerated Adam is pruned so that the new man[sprout] in Christ may come forth and bear fruit[SOS 6;11] Christ inspecting spiritual growth
Wow thanks Sheila, now I understand the axe at the root of the tree! :cloud9:
Quote from: jabcat on July 06, 2011, 07:55:35 PM
Quote from: Ross on July 06, 2011, 11:43:52 AM
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Many will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
That's what I was wondering after I posted this. Maybe he only stated a sort of faith, but was never truly spiritually reborn. Not for me to say, but it's apparently possible to be the case for some.
Going back to the OP.
Say that man was very much in Christ and then 'fell away'.
In that case Jesus can't say 'NEVER' at best 'CURRENTLY'.
It's one of those verses of which I think is translated wrong.
If the verse would read "you never knew me" I would understand.
But now basicly the verse states that all knowing Jesus doesn't know of 90% of humanity....
Quote from: WhiteWings on July 08, 2011, 07:40:24 AM
Quote from: jabcat on July 06, 2011, 07:55:35 PM
Quote from: Ross on July 06, 2011, 11:43:52 AM
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Many will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
That's what I was wondering after I posted this. Maybe he only stated a sort of faith, but was never truly spiritually reborn. Not for me to say, but it's apparently possible to be the case for some.
Going back to the OP.
Say that man was very much in Christ and then 'fell away'.
In that case Jesus can't say 'NEVER' at best 'CURRENTLY'.
It's one of those verses of which I think is translated wrong.
If the verse would read "you never knew me" I would understand.
But now basicly the verse states that all knowing Jesus doesn't know of 90% of humanity....
I think when He says He never knew them it's more of an intimate knowing, a relationship, like when Adam "knew" Eve. I could be wrong, that's just my present understanding.
I agree, I see the "I never knew you" to be a spiritual intimatacy of knowing. If you keep that passage in context, you see that these guys who were complaining were measuring their relationship according to their ministries. "We cast out demons in your name, we did this, we did that . . ." There was no "knowing" all it was about was, "doing". Their identity was not in an intimate relationship with Christ, it was instead in the manifestations of Christ's power. Remember the passage where the disciples were bewildered at the fact that even demons respond to them now . . .and Jesus brushed that off and turned the focus back to their identies, their names that were written in heaven were more important than his power in them casting out demons. My identity isn't in what I do, it's in who I am. Who I am is what governs what I do. Not the other way around. In other words, my identity doesn't derive from my actions, but from my position. And my position doesn't derive from my actions either in that I didn't "earn" to be who I am. My position is what it is because of who He's called me to be. Without having an intimate relationship with Him, I would never be able to see what my position, or my identity was.
Quote from: Nathan on July 12, 2011, 11:24:50 PM
I agree, I see the "I never knew you" to be a spiritual intimatacy of knowing. If you keep that passage in context, you see that these guys who were complaining were measuring their relationship according to their ministries. "We cast out demons in your name, we did this, we did that . . ." There was no "knowing" all it was about was, "doing". Their identity was not in an intimate relationship with Christ, it was instead in the manifestations of Christ's power. Remember the passage where the disciples were bewildered at the fact that even demons respond to them now . . .and Jesus brushed that off and turned the focus back to their identies, their names that were written in heaven were more important than his power in them casting out demons. My identity isn't in what I do, it's in who I am. Who I am is what governs what I do. Not the other way around. In other words, my identity doesn't derive from my actions, but from my position. And my position doesn't derive from my actions either in that I didn't "earn" to be who I am. My position is what it is because of who He's called me to be. Without having an intimate relationship with Him, I would never be able to see what my position, or my identity was.
You are speaking about
humans with all sort of flaws. I agree with your view about humans.
But that's not what that verse is about.
"I never knew you" --> "I" is Jesus not that flawed human.
Ok, perhaps it was a one way relationship. But then the correct words would have been "YOU never knew ME" because surely Jesus knows the mind of that person.
What about this verse? "I knew you before you were born"
That seems a one way "knowing". Unborn persons have no relationships.
Ok, it could be about a future relationship. But everybody will have that relationship when God is all in all.
:dontknow:
some great insights,guys...
what I get out of it.....these weren't called of God...but of 'satan' transforming himself into angel of light'..not of the 'spirit' of Christ..most likely
lying signs..to mislead...'I know my sheep..and my sheep listen to my voice] Babylon religious spirit that fornicates with 'kings of the earth" that
receive their kingdom from satan, for one act of worship....the liar and murderer spirit
Quote from: WhiteWings on July 08, 2011, 07:40:24 AM
Quote from: jabcat on July 06, 2011, 07:55:35 PM
Quote from: Ross on July 06, 2011, 11:43:52 AM
Is this man one of those who claims to know Christ but is actually not " In " Christ?
Many will come and say that He is the Christ, but Christ NEVER knew them.
That's what I was wondering after I posted this. Maybe he only stated a sort of faith, but was never truly spiritually reborn. Not for me to say, but it's apparently possible to be the case for some.
Going back to the OP.
Say that man was very much in Christ and then 'fell away'.
In that case Jesus can't say 'NEVER' at best 'CURRENTLY'.
It's one of those verses of which I think is translated wrong.
If the verse would read "you never knew me" I would understand.
But now basicly the verse states that all knowing Jesus doesn't know of 90% of humanity....
I see that problem too. If a believer gets to know God then falls away, then christ should say I once knew you, but now depart because ye work iniquity. But he says I never knew you.
So either translated incorrectly or that simply these believers only Honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from God. They did not have the Spirit of God within them.
"What does God think of this man? How does He view him? How does He deal with him, and how will He deal with him? " Jabcat
Jer 18:3 So I went down, to the house of the potter,—and there he was! making a piece of work on the wheels,
Jer 18:4 Then was marred, the vessel that he was making, while yet it was clay in the hand of the potter,—so he turned and made of it another vessel, as seemed right in the eyes of the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me, saying:
Jer 18:6 Like this potter, can I not deal with you O house of Israel? Demandeth Yahweh: Lo! as clay in the hand of the potter, So, are, ye, in my hand O house of Israel.
He deals with us all the same, arent we ALL in the process of being saved(healed?) :HeartThrob: :bigGrin:
Amen! We are all in the process, just a different rates as we are all individuals.
Eph 3;11-16 " And He gave some to be apostles, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers- with a view to the fitting of the saints for the work of ministering, for a building-up of the body of the Christ; until we all advance into the oneness of the faith and the PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of the Son Of God, into a man of full-growth, into the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ; that we may no longer be infants in the craft of men, in knavery suited to the artifice of error, billow-tossed and shifted around with every wind of teaching; but pursuing truth may grow into Him who is the head in ALL things- Christ. Out of whom ALL the body secures the growing of the body into a building-up of itself into love, fitly framing itself together and connecting itself through means of every joint of supply by way of energising each single part in the measure."
I love the word knavery...carry on
Ross what version is that?
That is the Rotherham version.
Knavery is scoundrel behavior according to the dictionary.
I think their are those who he "never knew" who are in darkness
I also think their are those he "knew very well" who returned to darkness
This why we watch, and remain sober for the purpose of prayer, and exhort one another while it is still called today to love and good works, and warn one another against complacency for our adversary roams about like a lion seeking whom he may devour
Heb 10:35-39 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. (36) For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (37) FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. (38) BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. (39) But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.
That is for sure an interesting scripture. I'm going to have to dwell on it some more.
If that verse is talking about our salvation or the final state of the believer, then it seems to me it's saying we're saved (kept saved) by works - which IMO, cannot be. Paul talked about that elsewhere, when he addressed beginning by grace then attempting to continue by Law (works). He said we can't count on that, and he called that having fallen from grace, i.e., not trusting in Christ's full atonement, but in our own abilities to perform. Seems to me we can't be saved by grace then kept by doing the right works/not doing the wrong works.
So some questions I toss out; is it about something such as position and rewards? I.e., having to do with "few stripes or many stripes"? And then further, can a spiritually reborn son still have to face even 1 stripe "on the other side"? More specifically, will absolutely everyone still have some cleansing to be done after resurrection, and if everyone's going to get purged post-death, then where does that place the idea of being spiritually re-born in the first place? Isn't such a doctrine just saying 'some are just a little better off than the rest, but all still have the purging fire to face the other side of the grave anyway'?
I believe the ecclesia are spiritually reborn now, and God ensures their perseverance. Grace not works. Position and rewards are a matter of obedience, yielding our will to Him and "following Him closely" rather than being disobedient re-born sons. And I believe disobedient re-born sons are treated as family - disciplined by Father to maintain closeness, rather than being tossed out as a bastard child.
So this Hebrews verse, standing alone obviously doesn't fit with the many other verses that IMO, support the above position. So it makes me curious about the context, how it reconciles with so many others that say it's not about our efforts but about His calling, electing, ensuring/completing. Also, the word "destruction" is used, which many (I) believe has to do with destruction of works not of God, those that cannot stand the basanizo (testing for purity), not being "unsaved". (Two things I found so far, part of that text is a quote from Habakkuk, and at least a piece of it has also s/w inexplicably been translated from the Septuagint. I'm not smart enough to know what all that means :mblush:, but it does stick out as perhaps important. Also, "for yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come" sounds interesting. A little while? When was Hebrews written? Prior to 70 AD, or after?
Quote from: jabcat on August 28, 2011, 07:14:39 AM
I believe the ecclesia are spiritually reborn now, and God ensures their perseverance. Grace not works. Position and rewards are a matter of obedience, yielding our will to Him and "following Him closely" rather than being disobedient re-born sons. And I believe disobedient re-born sons are treated as family - disciplined by Father to maintain closeness, rather than being tossed out as a bastard child.
So this Hebrews verse, standing alone obviously doesn't fit with the many other verses that IMO, support the above position. So it makes me curious about the context, how it reconciles with so many others that say it's not about our efforts but about His calling, electing, ensuring/completing.
Surely Paul's message to us, the nations is not "you're saved by grace not works, it's a gift. But then it's up to you after that to keep yourself saved". Hmm...some things to think and pray about here. (For the record, I do believe in obedience.) Ya'll have a great weekend. :bigGrin:
Always the scriptures must be taken in whole context. Paul (if he wrote Hebrews) is not saying that we are saved by works. He is saying that we participate as partners with God in working out our own salvation. This is a big part of what sonship is all about. We cannot take the exercise of our wills Today out of the equation no matter what we believe God does and sees over the whole enchilada. What are we to do? Ignore every injunction in the New Testament- every warning? This would certainly be foolish. "Labor diligently to enter into his rest", "Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart". Hebrews alone has many exhortations and warnings, Virtually every speaker in the Old Testament and New includes these warnings and consequences of ignoring them.
If we cannot trust the Word in relation to these things, what business do we have trusting the Word that we are saved by "grace through faith". None, actually.
The attempt to take all the weight off of one side of the balance simply causes seekers to be thrown up into the air. Our choices, and learning to exercise our will in union with his, cannot be taken out of the paradigm. It is discipleship. We trust and believe and obey- and part of our trusting is that he is calling forth our efforts(for it is God who is in you to will and to work of his good pleasure) and his grace is filling them(strengthened with might in our inner man by the Holy Spirit). In the exercise of walking it out we begin to grow in discernment as to whether we are "working in religious flesh and self-effort" or if "the Lord is working with us, confirming our works." But I am very sure this principle applies, As we reap we sow. If we do not press into the Lord with our wills, mortifying the deeds of the flesh, we will not know the difference between when we are "resting" and just "lazy"- because our senses will not be exercised to know the difference.
Jesus, who gave forth more warnings than anyone against complacency and the result of it says "Watch, and pray that you might not enter into temptation, for the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak".
I think however that the warnings are not in terms of being "tossed out as a bastard child". I think it concerns sonship, the rewards of the overcomers, the right to participate in the inheritance,
Heb 3:13-19 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, (15) while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." (16) For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? (17) And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? (18) And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? (19) So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
They were brought out, but unable to enter. The wilderness lies in between living in Adam (Egypt)and living in the inheritance of Christ(promise).
"To every one who believes he gave the right to become sons of God" (John 1)
"Every son while he is still a child, is no different than a slave and must be kept under tutors until the appointed time" (Gal 4)
If we are immature we have the adoption rights but we cannot work within the house because Dad don't give little ones the keys to the major equipment.
Stewardship is about growing incrementally into the inheritance. To the one who is faithful over little, more shall be given.
If we as disciples can become as focused on how to enter the inheritance and walk as mature sons Today, Now- as we are on the fine lines of the doctrines of the faith, wow. Who knows what might break forth? :dontknow:
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
I do think that is it is possible to so grieve the Holy Spirit that one can be required to enter through the fire into that which was meant to be entered, "by grace through faith". I also believe that there are certain things one can disqualify ones self for both now and in the age to come, by disobedience and neglect.
"If we cannot trust the Word in relation to these things, what business do we have trusting the Word that we are saved by "grace through faith". None, actually."
To be clear, this isn't my stance. IMO, trusting the Word and understanding the Word and rightly dividing it can be different "operations" - again IMO, both very important, but can be hard to do. That's what I'm working on. I also did say I believe in obedience.
However, I still think there are some vital questions to be answered with this, at least to my own mind and spirit. Maybe it's only "doctrinally" important to me, and if so, I'll continue to search it out.
Part of my perspective is having rubbed shoulders with thousands of "church people" through the years, with so many of them teaching others that if they're not careful they'll "lose your salvation and go to hell". Perhaps it's a little more of a sensitive subject for me. I grew up in that environment, it was my formative years - "you better hang on, one lie will send you to an eternity of hell, screaming, burning, no hope, the skin and flesh melting off your bones. Have you considered the cost, if your soul should be lost?...mercy doors are open now, you may lose your last chance and split hell wide open..." So maybe I notice (and struggle) with the "little" seemingly unimportant doctrine of it more than some others.
So, with that background, sure there are warnings, and I didn't and don't say we should ignore them. I am questioning though what those warnings are actually about, especially for believers, those who have been spiritually reborn and SEALED with the Holy Spirit. For instance, was Jesus talking to those of the nations saved by grace of His shed blood after the cross, or about something else having to do with the kingdom in that age? And was Paul and the other NT writers really saying that a person could be saved/born again/spiritually born from above actually be sealed with the Holy Spirit but then that seal be broken? If so, then what's the point of the seal?
All of that could be correct. I'm saying what I believe, not what I know 100% with no chance of being wrong about any of it. But I still question, that if Jesus' words are taken into account as to their context, and if Paul's et al are taken into account of whole context of other scriptures, then these quotes of yours that I pull out seem to "make more sense" to me rather than "being cast out", or "losing one's salvation (that was given by grace)".
"If we are immature we have the adoption rights but we cannot work within the house because Dad don't give little ones the keys to the major equipment.
Stewardship is about growing incrementally into the inheritance. To the one who is faithful over little, more shall be given.
To the one who is faithful over little, more shall be given.
I think however that the warnings are not in terms of being "tossed out as a bastard child". I think it concerns sonship, the rewards of the overcomers, the right to participate in the inheritance" [inheritance of 'what'?]
It's the question I had in the first place; maybe this is about rewards, position of service, even relationship/intimacy (clear conscience); the question of "what then does 'sonship' exactly mean, rather than "they've lost their salvation" as so many teach. I don't know the answers to ALL of this. But the bottom line for me is, right now, today, I don't see how we could be saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, yet after that the relationship be so tenuous that we could lose it at any second through our own lack of proper works.
Well, more digging for me personally. I said this early in this post; "So maybe I notice (and struggle) with the "little" seemingly unimportant doctrine of it more than some others." I'm also reminded of my sister, who thinks she can't "be a Christian" because she may think a bad thought, or not be able to quit smoking, or not feel like "going to church", etc. So she lives in defeat, depression, with a sense of foreboding that she's doomed for an eternity in hell. I'm not about to tell her the intricacies of this topic isn't important. She's in misery because she doesn't understand it and can't accept God's grace and love. I've tried over and over to tell her, but her formative years have indeed formed her.
Hi Jabcat
I apologize if it appeared that I was speaking to you personally in my little exhortation there, I was speaking to the question in general without meaning to be critical of you, or insinuate you personally are splitting hairs over doctrine. I am not saying the doctrine of grace is unimportant either. I am saying that if Christians think that accessing grace involves no reciprocal- call it what you will, zeal(zeal for thine house consumes me), works(faith without works is dead)- then whatever relief they are seeking from oppressions like that of your sisters will be hard to find. It is the truth that sets us free, in all of its fulness and of course ministered in love. If I fail to do that it doesnt matter what I believe. But the thread is, "So what happens to this man"- and my response was directed to that man, who grew lax on his watch and fell into shipwreck- not to a little one being oppressed by a spirit of condemnation.
Oh it's OK John, and sorry on my end if I came back sounding too harsh. This is probably a more sensitive issue for me, based on what I shared. Some without the background may just sort of skim right over it without any question. For me, there's just much involved. Blessings, James.
Jesus is the pioneer and the perfecter of our faith. Today, my main focus is not on me. My main focus is on Christ. I see the hand of sanctification moving through my life, not because of me but despite of me. My best efforts are like filthy rags. This maturation process has continued and ploded through my mistakes, sins, and character defects. I look back and know my best efforts should have landed me in prison or the grave. My best efforts imprisoned me to addiction and misery. It wasn't until my flesh was broken over the Law...that I truly began to grow. It wasn't until I knew that I knew that I would never be good enough to earn salvation...that I gave up trying to be good enough. It was through that breaking process, I realized where my eyes should be focused...and that is on the Cross.
So does that mean God gives us a lil nudge and a wink wink when we sin? Does it mean my sin doesn't grieve me? Does it mean I don't try to avoid setting idols up in my heart? The answer is no to all the above. I am grieved when I sin, my heart breaks. But, not because I am trying to earn something, but because I am trying to be something...like Jesus Christ. My desire is to be like my Savior in every way. My desire is to continually grow. Do I look at my motives, my actions, my reactions? Absolutely. Because I want those to be like my Saviors as well. But, I know this...that even when I stumble and fall flat on my face that God still loves me, is still in control, and I trust him to remove it all from me. HE is the perfector of my faith...not me.
the rewards and plagues are immediate consequences NOW IN THE FLESH...get out of her my people,lest you receive of her plagues..she is
become a cage of demons/that can happen to us...the rewards? intimacy/wisdom/understanding/peace with God/Holy Spirit.
The BATTLE HERE AND NOW,WHILE IN THE FLESH IS WITH THE POWERS AND PRINCIPALITIES IN HIGH PLACES..AND IT IS OVER POSSESSION
OF OUR FLESH/TEMPLE/HOUSE/DWELLING/SOUL AND WHO WILL RULE IT...THE LORD...OR THE ABOMINATION.. will it be a vessel honorable/mercy
or dishonorable/wrath...vessels of wrath go about preaching wrath and destruction...as ye judge so shall ye be judged...vessels of mercy preach
the love and mercy of God[as ye judge so shall ye be judged]
Jesus said 'you must forgive those who sin against you if you want the Father to forgive you" unjust balances dish out generous portions of grace
to ourselves...but 'cheat' on that same measure to others[He hates a cheating pair of scales] when we refuse to forgive an offense that someone
'worked' against us...it opens the window for evil to come in and sup with us[table of demons] you must not partake of
Always remember Father's wrath is against the kingdom of darkness/the corruptible image/and sin in the flesh HAS BEEN RIGHTLY CONDEMNED HOWEVER,
the GRACE OF GOD THROUGH HIS SON....IS NOT COUNTING SIN AGAINST MAN...AND PAUL CRIED OUT,"WHO WILL SAVE ME FROM THIS BODY UNDERGOING
THIS DEATH"
Again there are two men in a bed...the soul that is sinning will die[corrupt image] appointed unto all men to die once
Remember when they all come with Him,they shall not be made perfect apart from us..in our days HE IS REVEALING MUCH OF WHAT THEY SAW THROUGH A GLASS
DARKLY[obscure] Also remember that they being under the legal code of the law,and it was no little transition for them
there was a tendency to 'shrink back' and fall away to the law again...Peter was caught in the midst of this..as Paul paying for vows..under the law
there was stumbling..as there is now..over grace/works.
HE ALLOWED THE SAINTS TO BE OVERCOME ALSO...SO NO FLESH CAN BOAST.....IT'S GRACE ALL THE WAY...but there are snares/pits to beware of
that we must watch out for[and if we follow Him,we can avoid a lot of them]
Great thoughts Shawn and sheila!
It's the question I had in the first place; maybe this is about rewards, position of service, even relationship/intimacy (clear conscience); the question of "what then does 'sonship' exactly mean, rather than "they've lost their salvation" as so many teach. I don't know the answers to ALL of this. But the bottom line for me is, right now, today, I don't see how we could be saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, yet after that the relationship be so tenuous that we could lose it at any second through our own lack of proper works.
" Not of ourselves in case any should boast.
I have been crucified with Christ, IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME."
We are called sons of God because of what Christ has done.
Would you get rid of a son for some mistake he has made?
Our Father loves us more than our mortal dad's are capable of attempting. So He has patience to train us and discipline us for the coming ages. No wonder Paul was excited about what lies ahead for us all, but especially for those who believe that Christ was sufficient in every detail.
Did we come up with a thought?
I think the difference between losing salvation any second versus being saved as one passing through the flames is at least a thought
Prodigals are still sons....even though their relationship with their Father may be good as dead...for a time...
the prodigal 'severs' relationship with Father...in the pursuit of something else. Simple 'want' will bring him to his senses.
There's a big 'hole' in Adam.......that can only truly be filled by God. Most don't realize what that 'emptiness' inside them is....
they try and fill it in all manner of ways. I know I did...but others things just don't quite do it...and you are left 'empty" and wanting.
Amen sheila and eaglesway.
Quote from: sheila on September 04, 2011, 10:39:51 PM
Prodigals are still sons....even though their relationship with their Father may be good as dead...for a time...
the prodigal 'severs' relationship with Father...in the pursuit of something else. Simple 'want' will bring him to his senses.
There's a big 'hole' in Adam.......that can only truly be filled by God. Most don't realize what that 'emptiness' inside them is....
they try and fill it in all manner of ways. I know I did...but others things just don't quite do it...and you are left 'empty" and wanting.
God alone does not fill that emptiness though. When one walks in their role that God desires for them, then they will be fullfilled.
Really? You mean "before" God heals me, he first "requires" me to walk in his will? Isn't that a bit backwards?
Regret is a word that looks backwards at what could have been.
I am talking about this earthly life though Nathan. I don't believe we will be empty for eternity if we miss Gods will for our life on earth.
I also believe that God can create new plans for our earthly life, if we mess up, even if we feel we are too old.
Quote from: jabcat on June 29, 2011, 06:56:04 AM
He believed in God. He was a Christian Universalist. Over the years, he was a speaker in a local congregation of believers. He was a gifted teacher, helping lead others to belief upon Jesus as Savior.
Over time he began to develop beliefs that denied some of the essentials of the faith; the virgin birth, the necessity of the blood of Jesus to save. He stopped praying, stopped reading His Bible, and eventually stated he no longer believed in God. He began to mock Christians, insult them, make crude statements and disparaging comments about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In short, he has become a persecutor of the brethren and a blasphemer.
What do you make of this man? How do you feel about a situation such as this? Does it affect your own faith one way or another? What does God think of this man? How does He view him? How does He deal with him, and how will He deal with him?
So what happens to this man?
That man is going to get a severe beating, but yes he will be saved.
There is no one who has sinned so sorely as to be beyond the redeeming blood of Jesus. Their are men and women of all persuasions who are seduced by the world, the flesh, and the devil- and fall, yet the good shepherd leaves the 99 righteous and goes to rescue that lamb who has gone astray.
What if the man was a goat?
IMO, isn't that like saying, "What if the banana was an orange?"
Just kidding. Yes, we will be divided up into the sheep and the goats, the sheep being those that are saved before they earthly die, and the goats being those that are saved after they die. A person that actually has the hioly spirit of God cannot
abandon the faith. The person may have thought he was saved at one time but was deluded. Tht's why Paul says those that stay true to the faith "until the end" - because that's the only way one can truly know if another is saved during their lifetime.
In the end, that's why our belief is called ULTIMATE reconciliation. Not that it's the best (Ultimate defined as best)reconciliation but that ultimately (eventually)all will be dragged to and saved by the shed blood of Jesus. :Peace2:
The correction that is ordained for goats is crafted to turn them into sheep.
For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
(Rom 11:32-33)
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Php 2:9-11)
One day this man, who is convinced that he is truly a self-made man because he doesn't need that silly crutch known as god or faith sees a little old lady walking down the street. He notices her not because she is little or old, but because she has a smile which seems to be twice as big as she is. He watches as she meets a friend, who is also smiling, and when they met, both their smiles get bigger and their faces light up.
"Stupid old biddies" thinks the man to himself. Their smiles simply prove they have no idea what reality is; they should be put in a home for sillies". Yet he continues to watch them.
The next day he sees her and her friend again. He follows them a little and watches them go into a little coffee shop where they talk and laugh. "If they knew how hard it really was out here, they wouldn't even leave their homes let alone smile all the time ... stupid biddies." Yet he continues to watch them.
This goes on for a long time, and the man finds that against all his best intentions, he starts to look forward to seeing the ladies. He even makes sure he plans his lunch breaks so he can sit in the same coffee shop and just listen to their quiet, gentle, laughter.
One day he sees the lady walk down the street and she walks into the coffee shop without her friend. The strangest feeling comes over him. He finds he somehow misses this other lady. He never knew her name and had no relationship with her, yet she wasn't here, and somehow that just didn't seem right. He hesitates for a bit but finally he walks over to the lady and asks if he could join her. She graciously says yes. "I'm sorry mam but I need to know, is your friend not coming today, is she not well?" The lady's smile leaves momentarily, "I'm afraid she died last night." Stunned into silence the man feels the sting of tears welling up. "I am so sorry is all that comes out" for he knows if he says any more, he will start weeping. He realizes he misses her.
"She was very fond of you," says the little old lady, to the self-made man. She used to look forward to your joining us for lunch. She was a little worried about how much salt you put on your french fries though, but, she said at least you didn't smother them with ketchup so it was a fair trade off." The man couldn't say a word. The little old lady got up and put her hand on the man's hand. "God bless you son," was all she said, and she left.
He never saw her again, but he knew that his heart had melted. He knew that even though he thought he was in charge, a little old lady, whose name he never knew, had been sent by God to show him that God's love for him wasn't depended on his love for God. He wept more, prayed more, and put his hand in God's because he realized there is no such thing as a self-made man, and no such person as someone not loved by God.