Christian Forums

Slightly different question to the one yesterday. Does it matter?

If we are born spiritually dead or become dead spiritually because of our own unavoidable sin nature, we need the work of God to make us spiritually alive again.

If we come spiritually dead, regardless of how, what do you base your belief on that we can choose God? Do you believe He has to make us spiritually alive before we can choose Him or can we choose Him before He awakens us?

Does persevering in the faith by libertarian free will, enduring unto the end, cooperating with God, & obeying Christ - as opposed to thrusting away one's faith & becoming lost - imply earning salvation by works?

Col.1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation--
Col.1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Cor 3:17 If any man defile the temple of...

How will you know if you are completely forgiven? I realize that all of my fears come from having OCD, including the fear of other people and what they think. Would that be a sin? Even though I believe I have been forgiven, I continue to sin. Why is that? I don't think that I "played around with God" or his "mercy" but my point is, do Christians sin daily? Is there a possibility that a believer doesn't sin in a day? What I mean is, if I were to listen to ungodly music one day like I did last night and shunned what God is saying. I was so wrapped up in the music that I did not fall asleep until way late in the morning. I realized that today I regretted listening to the music and I asked for forgiveness, but what if I messed up?...

I've been involved with this guy from college for a few months now. We're both Christians. He's got a bit of a history, I.e. he's not a virgin, has gotten into a bit of alcohol before, a bit of cussing etc. I've never done anything like that. Most of it is from being in the army. Hes a man of good character, regardless of his past. He's a really good man and I enjoy his company. He's never pressured me into anything I wasn't okay with.

The most we've done is kiss. I have no intention of taking it further before marriage. He knows that chastity is a big deal to me, and hasn't tried to "put the moves on" so to speak.

Today though, he started kissing me in his car and he was getting a little fired up so I stopped it. We talked about it...

Most of what people believe about the end times today has no scriptural support. It comes from a theory based on what might happen if we insert a gap of indefinite duration, now thousands of years long and counting, between Daniel’s 69th and 70th weeks. And then recreate the Roman Empire, to place it in its foretold setting, rounding it out for the sake of detail.

1. That would be to imagine a revived Roman empire. The same setting the original 70th week would have had if left intact.

2. Then, instead of Jesus who died for our sins in the middle of the 70th week, as the angel Gabriel predicted. Ignore this, and turn Jesus into a future “Antichrist” ruling over the 70th week, now a tribulation 7 years long, thousands of years into...

Is is possible that the Holy Spirit inspired any of these passages and was not indicating that some or many people will be condemned forever? Presuming it is not a Universalist belief that God contradicts himself, how does a Universalist understand these passages, since from their point of view, none of them can mean that some people are not saved? Being in the Lake of Fire forever sounds to me like not being saved.

1. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14, 1995 NASB)

2. “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble,...

I've been growing more spiritually and walking closer with God by reading the word. I'm very interested about the metaphysical, philosophy, God's will, how to walk in the spirit and make the best of each day and situation. You know what I mean when you're walking by faith?

I see people who aren't there especially at work and they are always complaining and they seem happy, but when I walk in they get quiet. They don't really speak to me or ask questions to get to know me. I've learned that people like to talk about themselves but if they don't think much of you then they don't interact.

I keep quiet because I know this deep thinking or spiritual insight isn't what most people worry about so I keep to myself. Whenever I speak to a...

I have heard it be said that the people before the time of Jesus were saved by faith in the saviour who was to come, but I don't know.

Did someone like Abel knew to trust in the saviour to come? Did the OT-people knew to trust in the saviour for salvation? Is there even one verse in the OT that says that salvation comes from trusting in a future saviour? Aren't OT more about keeping the Laws and following God?

I know there are a lot of prophecies in the OT about Jesus, still did the people understand these prophecies? Didn't even the Jews believe that Christ was going to be an earthly ruler?

Some people despise the truth, but truth that is sugar-coated isnt truth, and most people accept that kind of truth because even though they can really see with thier eyes and the truth is really not deaf to thier ears, they overlook and reject the real truth and accept the "truth" that is only sweet to thier eyes and ears.. but the truth is without accepting real truth people will always remain blind and never free...

I have heard that many Christians do not believe that hell is real. I found this to be absurd, but I am open to hearing both sides of the argument. So that is what has lead me to proposing this question, is Hell real?
If it is or is not please explain.

P.S. I for one do believe it exist. Sorry for the pun in the poll but is just too much for me to resist.