A Thread For My Questions To Christians

Just to clarify, the reason I wrote this:

Originally Posted by FallingWaters

God does love you and care about you.

is because as I was wrapping up my post, I felt God impress it upon my heart to tell it to you. My heart was filled with God's love for you, and He wanted me to tell you that He loves you and cares about you.

Space said:

So, whoever is being called God-haters, loveless, and heartless in Romans 1, my questions are:

1. Would those sinners love God if God loved them?

2. Would they love if God loved them first?

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As BelindaP so beautifully explained... God does love us first.

God does love you. You are not the first person to have these issues, and you won't be the last. I think that God, in His love, has brought to ChristianForums just to help you with your problems. Keep posting threads, and we will keep answering them the best that we can.

Be careful what you ask for.

Space said:

BRING IT ON!

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God disciplines those he loves.

Space said:

BelindaP and FallingWaters and eveyone else: Thanks for taking the time to answer my posts. Some of these issues are not easy for me to talk about, but I really want to know the truth. I think I have more to say, but for now, just to give you some understanding of how I'm feeling...

I'm having a hard time believing that God loves me. I also feel like I'm in a constant battle with him over whether some things in the Bible are right and wrong. If God doesn't love me and thinks he will send me to Hell, all I gotta say is: BRING IT ON!

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The times when I have not been able to feel God's love was because I was walking in sin that I had justified in my heart. When I repented, I was able to feel His love again, even more than I had before.

Space said:

I'd like to know Christians better and I have some questions for them. If you're a Christian... here are my questions for you...

1. Do you think not believing in Christ is something that someone does intentionally or do you think it's possible that someone can't believe in Christ or do you think it's something else that I haven't mentioned? Whatever your answer to this is, please explain why your answer is your answer.

2. How many times was Lot rescued from Sodom? Doesn't it say that he was rescued in both Genesis 14 and Genesis 19?

3. What do you think about false prophets and why do you think what you do about them?

4. What do you think about who God is on the outside and the inside (like what does he look like, and who he is on the inside)?

5. What do you think heaven is like (just give you're closest guess, if you want)?

6. Do you have questions, that you don't believe are answered, by reading the Bible?

7. How far do you think we are away from Judgement Day (just give your best guess, if you want)?

8. In the Bible, why does God's angels pour out His wrath, instead of God doing it himself? Is God not mad enough or have the heart to do it himself?

Those are my questions, for now.

Please answer...

Thanks!

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1. Ignorance about any topic is just that, ignorance. However; to be able not to grasp spiritual things with the intellect, and so reject them, is totally a matter of belief versus unbelief.
2. Lot was rescued fro Sodom only once. The story of his rescue is re-told in Genesis 19. Creation happened only once, but the story is re-told.
3. The great majority of Christians, not to mention people in general, believe that a prophet is one who predicts the future. A closer look at "biblical prophets", will show that the majority of the time they only repeated what they were told; i.e., "...the word of the Lord came unto..." There is a difference with the office of prophets and the gift of discernment. God said, and has not repented of it that if any one say he/she is a prophet, and what they say does not come to pass, I did not send them. To be a false prophet, the prophet only has to fail once.
4. While you may inquire honestly, this is not something to waste you intellect, or your time upon. In the Holy Scriptures it is said of Jesus, that "...He is the radiance of His glory, and the exact representation of His nature...." But consider this: When on the Mount of Tabor (the Mount of Transfiguration) Jesus began to reveal who He was on the inside, his disciples could not bear even this minute display of His real essence. No one I've ever heard of can tell you the answer to this!
5. Heaven is not like anything I've ever known, or ever will know. And if I did know, my words woul be woefully inadequate. Consider: We humans can best describe the essence of God as light, yet the Psalmist said of God that "...He wraps himself with light as with a cloak..."
6. NO! Holy Scripture is interpreted in only one correct manner. This does not mean however, that God is limited to speaking to only that situation which is similar to the one corrcetly interpreted.
7. We are only as far away from Judgement Day, as our next heartbeat!
8. THink of God's ability to do something Himself, from the story of Creation, where all He had to do was speak, and matter was formed. The created beings we call angels, we misinterpret; for in reality, the word angel means messenger. Shall we not receive from the messenger of the Lord both good and bad.

Space said:

Don't worry about it. And you are making sense.

Isn't someone more likely to be prideful if they're someone who's ignored and don't feel that they are important verses someone who's been given much attention and knows that they're important? I know there's a lot of people who crave attention, but isn't that something that you need? Like a baby. Isn't it true that if you don't give a baby enough attention, then he or she will eventually die?

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Thanks... Glad to hear I'm making some sense.

This is a great thread by the way. I'm learning so much myself!

I know exactly what you mean about believing God loves you. I have the exact same problem and I've experienced and accepted Christ's forgiveness. Like FallingWaters said, usually we have a hard time receiving His love when we have sin in our heart and have not repented of it.

Re: Pride - This can be a very obvious sin, or the subtlest of sins. It's what made Satan fall. Every time we put ourselves on the throne, we kick God off and say we don't need him and/or don't want him. To me, pride is at the root of all sin. It's the heart of our sin nature.

RE: Babies - They are born with physical (and emotional) needs that can only be met by another human being. If not, they will die as you stated. But this is different than pride. If you meet a baby's physical needs, but ignore their emotional needs, they will survive, but not thrive. Pride is making our own way, living our own way and not giving a you know what about our Creator's will.

OK, now I know I'm babbling! Thanks for listening. You have a great mind and I love hearing your questions. It helps me with my own faith and relationship with God. So thank you!

Space said:

BelindaP and FallingWaters and eveyone else: Thanks for taking the time to answer my posts. Some of these issues are not easy for me to talk about, but I really want to know the truth. I think I have more to say, but for now, just to give you some understanding of how I'm feeling...

I'm having a hard time believing that God loves me. I also feel like I'm in a constant battle with him over whether some things in the Bible are right and wrong. If God doesn't love me and thinks he will send me to Hell, all I gotta say is: BRING IT ON!

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If God didn't love you He would not be putting in any effort to convicting you.

If God did not love you, you would not be feeling the desire to seek for the truth about Him.

It is the Holy Spirit that is working on you now. The Holy Spirit does not waste its time on people who are doomed.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Hi Space,
rather than trying to answer all your questions, I think it would be key thing to do a bit of study of dispensations, we now as beleivers are living in the dispensation of the Church age (Age of Grace)

Sin has been the issue in the Old testament, because as Adam first fell he was seperated from God, (Spiritually)
All man born thereafter has the same disconnection from God, because a creature in Sin cannot have fellowship with God who is perfect, if God was to do this is would cease to be God, as his ways are perfect.

God knew there was nothing man could do to bring himself to God, as his Justice needed to be satisfied, so God did all the work, this was dealt with at the cross once and for all.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

after the work of the cross was accomplished God is free to deal with mankind as he pleases, but not as a Judge, but a loving father, because his justice is 100% satisfied, and all it takes is acknowledge on our part, that we except Christ to be our substitute for our Sin.

Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you shall be saved!"

Beleivers living in the dispensation of grace have the unique privilege of living the spiritual life, there are many stages to spiritual growth, as you adjust your thinking to the thinking of God through his living word, you will gain wisdom and understanding through the teachings in the new creature.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

we also as beleivers have the power of the Spirit available at any time, which makes understanding of the scriptures possible.

no other dispensation has had this privilege, the Christian way of life is about taking full advantage on what God has provided us with, dont buy the lie that you are not chosen, or that God doesnt love you, God has provided all men with the same oportunity to experience his life in time and eternity.

Why do you think God picked Paul, before becoming a Christian Paul was killing Christians, and look how God used him, he written nearly half the new testament once he was saved, his transformation was massive! God does these things as an example, if he can do that for the worst Sinner (as Paul testifies throughout his scriptures) to the most faithful new testament beleiver, it follows he can do this for you, and turn you into a winner beleiver if you want to.

Hope you find all your answers in your search for the truth, stay persistant in your searching and he will reveal himself to you just as he did to me in the scriptures.

Space said:

What does it mean in the Bible when it talks about aliens? Isn't an alien a stranger or foreigner (as told in other Bible translations)? I think I read that an alien is someone, who is not Jewish. Is that true?

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yes, that is also one of the definitions found in the dictionary (except for the Jewish part)

alien: Owing political allegiance to another country or government; foreign
[american Heritage dictionary 2nd college ed]

Space said:

What does it mean in the Bible when it talks about aliens? Isn't an alien a stranger or foreigner (as told in other Bible translations)? I think I read that an alien is someone, who is not Jewish. Is that true?

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Yes. An alien is someone who is not Jewish but living in the land alloted to the Jews.

Space said:

Yes!



Yes!



Yes!



No. I've broken three of them, so far.



I would be guilty!



I would go to Hell!



I am a homosexual. I live an asexual lifestyle, but I do have an attraction to men. Unfortunately, Paul tells me, in Romans, that God has already given me over. Does God really want a relationship with me?

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Greetings
Yes, by living around the lifestyle you have has created that desire for the same sex, it's not something that can't be over come.

When a act or action is practiced it becomes a habit and the longer the practice of a thing the more it will consume our minds and will become the thing that controls the freedom you once had.

What is freedom? That is the Highest form of love that could be shown to anyone, trap a man in a room he becomes a slave, no freedom to choose anything better nor different.

But if the room has another door he has freedom and he can choose, WE are traped inside of our Bodies as long as there is breath in our bodies.

This is like that room without and exit, but Jesus became that door for us, because to put us into this world without being free to choose would be a unjust action for God to do, we would be without hope.

were not a sinner because we sin, we sin because were sinners. We have the infection of sin in our blood, it was passed down with adam to everyone born, as the Holy Scriptures say's all have sinned.

Since Jesus was born from a Virgin he did not receive that infection of sin that would have came by a natural birth, his blood that he had shed was pure free from any errors.

It comes down to which do you want, to live that life style for a short period or go to heaven. There isn't a in between, since Jesus died and arose from the grave he took all our past failures, also Right now is a very special time for all who are born.

This is time is called in Scripture the age of grace, God is counting all sin as being done thru ignorance, or better term done without nowing the things you were doing was wrong. But the only sin there is and is judged during this time is rejecting the Sacrifice Jesus done to give us our door into God Presence.

We must Choose to take that door and acept Gods help to lay aside all the things HE shows us is wrong. We each know God at different levels.

Being born again is a snapshot(so to speak) laying aside those things God will teach us is wrong take all your life time, but the speed at which you change is set by the amount of seeking to know him, and it all rest on how much of yourself you yield over to God and let him control.

Yielding your life to Jesus control and asking him for help to lay aside anything he see's is wrong for you, will give you victory over those things Jesus teaches you are wrong. You must start reading Scripture it put special words into you that the Holy Spirit can use to speak to you when your quite and seeking.

Train your ears to hear the Holy voice speaking within us, The Scriptures call it meditation, being so quite in body, filled with the words of Scriptures turning in your mind. So reading give God words to use to speak to us, no vocabulary no talkie-ha ha

He is seeking to know you personally so seek him back he will suprise you at the Great things he does in your life.

Peace and love to all in Jesus name.
Rev Malone

Originally Posted by Space
I am a homosexual. I live an asexual lifestyle, but I do have an attraction to men. Unfortunately, Paul tells me, in Romans, that God has already given me over. Does God really want a relationship with me?

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There is only one unforgivable sin and homosexuality is not it. The very fact that you resist your sin nature by living an asexual lifestyle indicates that you are in agreement with the will of God on the matter. By resisting and not seeking to justify your sin you show that you have the right spirit toward the will of God.

If God did not want a relationship with you He would give you over to your sin tendency and you would feel no desire to resist and live an asexual lifestyle.

The sin of homosexuality if forgivable. Just as the sins of theft, murder, adultery and fornication are forgivable. All it takes is a contrite heart towards the will of God and acceptance of the Messiah Jesus. Jesus did not come for the righteous He came for us sinners. Like a doctor does not come for the healthy but for the sick. The truth of the matter is that all men suffer from the sickness of sin and all need Jesus for the cure.


Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “ I dwell in the high and holy place,With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.


Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered.


Romans 4
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Adstar said:

There is only one unforgivable sin and homosexuality is not it. The very fact that you resist your sin nature by living an asexual lifestyle indicates that you are in agreement with the will of God on the matter. By resisting and not seeking to justify your sin you show that you have the right spirit toward the will of God.

If God did not want a relationship with you He would give you over to your sin tendency and you would feel no desire to resist and live an asexual lifestyle.

The sin of homosexuality [is] forgivable. Just as the sins of theft, murder, adultery and fornication are forgivable. All it takes is a contrite heart towards the will of God and acceptance of the Messiah Jesus. Jesus did not come for the righteous He came for us sinners. Like a doctor does not come for the healthy but for the sick. The truth of the matter is that all men suffer from the sickness of sin and all need Jesus for the cure.


Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “ I dwell in the high and holy place,With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.


Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered.


Romans 4
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “ Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

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This post speaks the truth.

Space said:

I have another question. In Genesis 18:6 and Genesis 19:3, how did Sarah and Lot bake bread?

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Are you asking because of the short amount of time it appears to have taken them?

Adam Clarke's Commentary:
Gen. 18:6
"Make cakes upon the hearth - Or under the ashes. This mode is used in the east to the present day. When the hearth is strongly heated with the fire that has been kindled on it, they remove the coals, sweep off the ashes, lay on the bread, and then cover it with the hot cinders."

John Gill's Exposition:
"knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth; after the fine flour was made dough and kneaded, it was made into round cakes, and these were put upon an hearth made hot, and then covered with hot embers, by which means they were soon baked and fit to eat; this was done "upon hot stones"; and a traveller into those parts some years ago reports, that, passing through the deserts of Arabia, when they chose to eat new bread, instead of, or for want of biscuits, they made a paste of flour and water, and wrought it into broad cakes about the thickness of a finger, and put them in a hot place on the ground, heated on purpose by fire, and covered them with ashes and coals, and turned them several times until they were enough, and that these cakes were savoury and good to eat: some of the Arabians, he says: have in their tents stones or copper plates, made on purpose to bake them, and gives an instance of a woman they met with in a country lying between Mesopotamia and Media, making such cakes for them in the same manner."


e-sword is a free program available online. I highly recommend it for your study. You download the main program and then add to it different Bible translations and commentaries.

I recommend the Adam Clarke, John Gill, and Albert Barnes commentaries.