The Only Thread You'll Ever Need...

ticker · #21 20th June 2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by rcorlew

This thread is very point on to one of the primary teachings of Jesus, be like children and just believe. People have made Christianity so difficult for the average person to understand yet the Apostles taught very little other than the resurrection of Christ as proof of his life and sacrifice.

Other than a few teachings about sexual immorality within the church and taking care of the poor little else is even talked about.

So I would add only one thing to the OP which is very well written.

F) It is the will of the Father that none should perish, and only those who walk in the will of the Father will live.

--We are to accept Christ, and then we are to live a spirit filled life in which we proclaim Christ.

I like it that somebody brought this up, even I a Sunday School teacher get lost sometimes as to what people are talking about, and many of the threads have very little to do with God or Jesus at all.

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts!

Yes...being a Christian to start off with is important.

ticker · #22 20th June 2009, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by BrendanMark

Not a word about love? Love of God, love of neighbour? Forgiveness, charity . . all consigned to the "does not matter or is trivial" bin? Not a word about the union with God through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit? Dying to the world to rise in Christ?

What was it Christ said about the most important commandments?

Your system seems to me to be missing a few crucial things . . .

...well if your list continues to go as it is then I must be missing numerous "crucial" things. But what you've started to talk about is a life built around religious rules.

In brief, Christianity isn't about trying to love, trying to follow commandments, trying to do this or that...it's about trusting in the Life of Christ (...who actually IS YOUR LIFE) in order to live righteously.

YOU no longer live (...whether you might realize that or not, brother). This is Christ's life now, and He's the only one who's going to accomplish anything worth any value in this life. As He expresses His Life in us, we learn to let go of our own self-sufficiency and our own fleshly wants and ambitions....and as He expresses His life through us, we learn to become willing and gracious participants in His divine work.

As I said before, it's about rest (...the very thing He promised

)

Peace

Der Alter · #23 20th June 2009, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by ticker

Wow....two hrs in, and not a sniff.

Amazing how well the enemy has kept the Gospel from being recognized with the guise of religion.

Oh, well. Let the posturing/intellectualizing/championing of the flesh rage on...

It already has, in your OP. Your name isn't Jim Jones, or David Koresh, is it?

PT Calvinist · #24 20th June 2009, 12:37 PM

What then shall we do!!

I'd like to know the same thing!
You might as well cancel out Escatology as well, because it's worthless!

ticker · #25 20th June 2009, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Der Alter

It already has, in your OP.

Me pointing out five things which can sum up the Gospel in one post (...that most everybody here also happens to agree with) is theological posturing, over-intellectualizing, and championing of the flesh?

...ya sure about that?

Originally Posted by Der Alter

Your name isn't Jim Jones, or David Koresh, is it?

Nah...just a brother who's lucky enough to know what Christianity is actually about. Thank God!

Peace

ticker · #26 20th June 2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Holy_Bannana

I'd like to know the same thing!
You might as well cancel out Escatology as well, because it's worthless!

Nothing wrong with discussing anything that has to do with God's Word...I'm just concerned about the folks here who I see spending day after day postulating what it "really" means to be a Christian (...when really, all they're even talking about is religion, and not Christianity at all).

Peace

PT Calvinist · #27 20th June 2009, 01:03 PM

But we do talk about Christianity!
Observe

Originally Posted by 2 King

Our true identity in Christ is as follows :
We are justified righteous. (declared "righteous")
No Condemnation awaits us.
We are set free from the power of sin that leads to death.
We are sanctified(made holy) in Christ Jesus.
We are pure and holy in Christ.
We will be given new life at the resurrection.]
We are new persons.
We are made right with God.
We are on in Christ with all other believers.
We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
We are holy and without fault.
We are adopted as God's children.
Our sins are taken away, and we are forgiven.
We will be brought under Christ's authority.
We are identified as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit.
We have been raised up to sit with Christ in the heavenly realms.
We are God's masterpiece.
We have been brought near to God.
We share in the promise of blessings through Christ.
We can come boldly and confidently into God's presence.
We are members of Christ's body, the church.
We are made complete in Christ.
We are set free from our sinful nature.
We will have eternal glory.

We even have the verses to back them up

ticker · #28 20th June 2009, 01:08 PM

Yes....Christianity is talked about, of course.

......still doesn't mean that this isn't true though...

Originally Posted by ticker

Theological posturing, over-intellectualizing, championing...all things of the flesh, and all very much present in most every other thread here on GT.

....the very first thing I was getting at.

Peace

PT Calvinist · #29 20th June 2009, 01:38 PM

“The Will of God” is one of those phrases rife with theological, philosophical, and emotional implications. It’s not easily explained or easy to learn, but whether or not you’re “doing God’s will” is a question that every Christian confronts at some point in their faith journey.

This is deep and not easily answered.
1Corinthians 1:27 “For God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things which are mighty”.
1Cor 2:7 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory”.
1 Cor 2:9 “But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him”.
1 Cor 2:10 “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God”.
Gods will is hidden, we must search for it. It can be found. Through the instruction of the Spirit. But we must listen and accept the answers. Our will, will clash with His will and we must be careful to be able to distinguish between them.
This is a life long quest and not meant to be easily understood. In all matters we should be prayerful and meditate when necessary. Follow instruction from the scripture and find agreement from the Spirit.
Read 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 , all of it is summed up in verse 18, ,”for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Yes I believe we can fall out of the will of God, and I think it has its consequences but that will not change His will for us, only delay or needlessly cause us to go down a more difficult pathway to the same conclusion.
Yes we can be forgiven always…Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”.

simonthezealot · #30 20th June 2009, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by ticker

...yep, believe it or not, that really is all it is.

Hope this speaks to you.

Enjoy your life of victory in Christ!

Sounds a lil different coming from the mouth of our LORD...

16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’d and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’e”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Or summarised well in this verse...
Luke 14:33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

You see no matter what doctrine the young man would affirm, he refused to turn from what he loved most, IOW salvation is only for those willing to give Christ first place in their lives...
You see like this young man you can have the right;motives,attitude,you can go to the right source, you can even ask the right questions...BUT if you're filled with pride, unwilling to confess your guilt, and unwilling to make Jesus the Christ LORD over your life...It's none of you...

A good lesson in this is that even though salvation is a blessed gift, Jesus the Christ will not bestow it upon one whose hands are loaded with other things...Unwilling to turn from possesions and sin and pride and false religion and selfishness one won't be able to turn to Christ in faith.

He challenges the seeker!

Zacheus as well, didn't just rest in the LORD the proof of his salvation was evidenced in his fruit, his story could well be summarised using eph 2:8-10.

When the LORD brought salvation to his house he was radically transformed and it was evidenced by desire to right the wrongs and payback restitutions.