"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)

[GenemZ]

Is there not an infinite chasm between our pitiful 'righteousness' and His Holiness ??
Did not Isaiah see this?
I have, and know that there is no good in me of myself.
This is in the heart of scripture that we have nothing of ourselves worthy of His Grace.
Our 'righteousness' is as filthy rags.

Anything else is arrogance and pride.

This is totally accurate biblically.

... "filthy rags?" The Hebrew means used menstrual cloths.

That is how repulsive 'human good' is to God. God seeks divine good from the believer. Not, human good. Many believers follow after human good AND DO NOT REALIZE IT.

That passage spoke of Jewish believers who were performing dead ritual without understanding its reality. It was not speaking of all believers in general like you just used it to mean. It spoke to specific believers who were apostate in Israel. Isaiah had his hands full with apostates...

 

[GenemZ]

Not at all, compared to the righteousness of Jesus we fall short every instant. That is why we trust His righteousness not ours.

How do we know His righteousness to walk in? Its not ours naturally.

By being led in the Spirit eating daily learning of sound doctrine. Our daily bread. Jesus taught daily, and so did the apostles when able to. Fed preferably by someone who studies and understands and teaches from the Hebrew and Greek texts. English translations are like eating processed refined food. The Greek and Hebrew is whole grain and meat that is organic in spiritual nutritional richness.

If we are continuously seeking His righteousness? Eventually (in God's perfect timing) we must be led to in depth teachings. What was once OK for the baby and adolescent believers ceases being what is needed for maturing into the fullness in Christ. Adolescents, as they typically are, tend to show off.. Over confident, not realizing truly how much they do not know. Solid teaching puts the fear of the Lord into a believer. For they then will realize when challenged how little they yet know and understand. And, at that point, if they are positive? ... They can not stop thinking that way. For we must keep eating, or die.

grace and peace.....

 

[Carl Emerson]

Romans 3
Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.…

Psalm 143:2
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

[GenemZ]

Romans 3
Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.…
.

According to what you just posted? You do not seek God?


Paul was using that passage to show Gentiles that Jews had in the past been just as bad as Gentiles were in the day he wrote that passage. That being a Jew did not make one intrinsically righteous.

 

[Carl Emerson]

How do we know His righteousness to walk in? Its not ours naturally.

By being led in the Spirit eating daily learning of sound doctrine. Our daily bread. Jesus taught daily, and so did the apostles when able to. Fed preferably by someone who studies and understands and teaches from the Hebrew and Greek texts. English translations are like eating processed refined food. The Greek and Hebrew is whole grain and meat that is organic in spiritual nutritional richness.

If we are continuously seeking His righteousness? Eventually (in God's perfect timing) we must be led to in depth teachings. What was once OK for the baby and adolescent believers ceases being what is needed for maturing into the fullness in Christ. Adolescents, as they typically are, tend to show off.. Over confident, not realizing truly how much they do not know. Solid teaching puts the fear of the Lord into a believer. For they then will realize when challenged how little they yet know and understand. And, at that point, if they are positive? ... They can not stop thinking that way. For we must keep eating, or die.

grace and peace.....

The Law of the Spirit within us gives us this knowledge.

The matter of learning from the learned is overstated. With the Holy Spirits help the scripture we have is sufficient otherwise He would be discriminating against the simple.

Yes intellectual humility is critical. Yes feeding on the word is essential.

 

[Carl Emerson]

According to what you just posted? You do not seek God?


Paul was using that passage to show Gentiles that Jews had in the past been just as bad as Gentiles were in the day he wrote that passage. That being a Jew did not make one intrinsically righteous.

I am starting to tire of your questions - you present like a cat playing with a mouse.

 

[inquiring mind]

All good arguments, but here again, like with exercising personal choice, I think the bible makes it clear that God wants us to do good, as it is possible for us to do. Why, because He disciplines us for wrongdoing and rewards us for doing good in His eyes (Matthew 6:6, 17-18; Luke 6:35; 2 John 1:7-8 to name a few instances). Should we completely ignore that we are interacting living beings? Jesus told us... He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living (Mark 12:27). Our good is not comparable to God’s good, no, but to me dismissing any personal responsibility in that regard (the Holy Spirit initiating those feelings in us of course) entirely from our lives is like dismissing personal choice... then what’s the point?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Agree entirely, see my testimonial thread.... Jesus's Ministry

 

[GenemZ]

The Law of the Spirit within us gives us this knowledge.

How?

I am starting to tire of your questions - you present like a cat playing with a mouse.

Not really... its just that your answers are broad brushed and offers nothing definitive! Not cat and mouse. Trying to narrow you down to talking straight and saying exactly what you mean.

What I see is subjectivity attempting to pass along subjective thinking answers. Its like having to join the gang in the neighborhood as kids play.

Evidently, you have not been exposed to sound exegetical teaching. The kind Paul taught as well as the apostles... Not to mention Jesus Hiomself taught that way.

Without that kind of teaching we are left to our subjective imagination and feelings which need to be reigned -in by becoming aware of the exact meaning of words, and what they meant at the time of writing the Bible.

God's Word says that His ways are not our ways. Nor, our thoughts his thoughts. Therefore? We must be shown SOUND DOCTRINE. Otherwise? We will end up molding God into our own image of how we would picture ourselves if granted the power to be God. Its seen all the time in forums.

Those who think that way? They (in ignorance) are failing to realize that the Word of God can be understood with great accuracy. In contrast to having accuracy?.... What they end up with after reading translations and a few commentaries, becomes nothing more than subjective "dogmatic" guess work. All the while feeling, making such as these to safe to do so, because they are convinced that the next person can not understand any better than he can. Such is not the case. If there is a God in Heaven? And, there is! He will raise up in every generation a few good teachers who will make the Word of God clear for those so being led by the Spirit to "find it." Most will wander on the "broad and wide" road - the smorgasbord of subjective false concepts and doctrines to swallow.

 

[GenemZ]

Is there not an infinite chasm between our pitiful 'righteousness' and His Holiness ??

Isaiah was not crucified with Christ! No one was in his Jewish age.

Christians now can have (on loan from God) his righteousness manifested in our vessel.
Isiah knew of no such thing. For it did not exist until after Jesus was glorified!

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said
in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water
will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom
those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that
time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet
been glorified." Jn 7:37-39​

.

 

[GenemZ]

Not at all, compared to the righteousness of Jesus we fall short every instant. That is why we trust His righteousness not ours.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,
are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18​

We are supposed to become incrementally.. and progressively... manifesting more and more of his righteousness in our expression.

But! That only can happen if what we learn is sound and accurate understanding of God's Word. Not sloppy, superficial answers can achieve it. Paul, who wrote those words, was a masterful exegetical teacher! Not like the pulpit fluff we see too often today coming from men trained to be religiously correct. Satan always infiltrates where ignorance of God's Word exists.

I am serious. I am not trying to compete with you in a combative spirit. I am trying to make something known to you that you have yet to be shown. Its rare. But, sound teachings do exist in our day.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Isaiah was not crucified with Christ! No one was in his Jewish age.

Christians now can have (on loan from God) his righteousness manifested in our vessel.
Isiah knew of no such thing. For it did not exist until after Jesus was glorified!

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said
in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water
will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom
those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that
time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet
been glorified." Jn 7:37-39​

.

We agree on that but it is a diversion from what I was saying. Encounter with God will leave you undone - Have you not experienced this?

 

[Carl Emerson]

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,
are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18​

We are supposed to become incrementally.. and progressively... manifesting more and more of his righteousness in our expression.

But! That only can happen if what we learn is sound and accurate understanding of God's Word. Not sloppy, superficial answers can achieve it. Paul, who wrote those words, was a masterful exegetical teacher! Not like the pulpit fluff we see too often today coming from men trained to be religiously correct. Satan always infiltrates where ignorance of God's Word exists.

I am serious. I am not trying to compete with you in a combative spirit. I am trying to make something known to you that you have yet to be shown. Its rare. But, sound teachings do exist in our day.

I think we are confusing what is God's Word and what is scripture. The scripture talks of God's word pouring forth long before the bible was written, and this has not stopped. Creation depends on it and so do we.

 

[98cwitr]

In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.

Sheep and goats. Why are they separated? Can a sheep become a goat or vice versa?

 

[Carl Emerson]

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory,
are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18​

We are supposed to become incrementally.. and progressively... manifesting more and more of his righteousness in our expression.

But! That only can happen if what we learn is sound and accurate understanding of God's Word. Not sloppy, superficial answers can achieve it. Paul, who wrote those words, was a masterful exegetical teacher! Not like the pulpit fluff we see too often today coming from men trained to be religiously correct. Satan always infiltrates where ignorance of God's Word exists.

I am serious. I am not trying to compete with you in a combative spirit. I am trying to make something known to you that you have yet to be shown. Its rare. But, sound teachings do exist in our day.

I am sure the Pharisees thought Jesus was more than sloppy - fancy not stoning the adulterer, and healing on the Shabbat?

This is the problem - I have chosen to walk in The Word, and I see the fruit.

 

[GenemZ]

I think we are confusing what is God's Word and what is scripture. The scripture talks of God's word pouring forth long before the bible was written, and this has not stopped. Creation depends on it and so do we.

Again.., your vagueness and lack of defining detail leaves me to only wonder what you might mean.
If today, God's Word is not first to be found in Scripture? That leads me to assume you keep on hearing a voice that you call God. Sorry. You are vague and abstruse.

 

[inquiring mind]

Sheep and goats. Why are they separated? Can a sheep become a goat or vice versa?

Is this not the Day of Judgement, when Jesus comes in his glory? Haven’t men already determined their sheep or goat status, by their choices and actions in life?

 

[Carl Emerson]

Did not Jesus send out the 12 and the 72 as unlearned? Yet with His authority and in obedience they saw folks released from all sorts of bondages. That is exactly the path I have taken, combined with about 60 years of reading scripture. Folks are healed and delivered in His name - and you find fault !!! What is it with you guys ??? Love rejoices with those who rejoice... Law is never satisfied. As a generalisation He does not give His Authority to scholars although there are notable exceptions, they are few.

Folks are dramatically converted to Him and go on to live fruitful lives.
I will continue to encourage folks to walk the life of obedience to the Holy Spirit within which you seem to have rationalised to oblivion.

Satan doesn't care what you do as long as souls are not being saved.

What were the signs Jesus told John the Baptist that confirm the coming of the Kingdom? (the kingdom is where Jesus reigns.)

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

If you object to these signs today you are rejecting His Kingdom, and how He wants His Glory to be seen.

I don't want to be over passionate but scholars have rationalised the life out of our faith and have little to show for it.

My heart longs for a living Church that Glorifies Him, that releases captives, and gives sight to the blind.

This is heart talk, He has chosen the simple, that is where obedience is, not a sophisticated rendition of biblical theology for the intellectual elite. Intellect has its place but intellectual humility is rare.

The desire to know was fundamental to the temptation in the garden, few are satisfied with the Knowledge that He has for us personally, that is one reason why we have a weak church with folks chasing every seminar that moves, and the lost are still lost.

Doubtless I will be considered a raving lunatic but I am in good company with Him.

 

[inquiring mind]

Did not Jesus send out the 12 and the 72 as unlearned? Yet with His authority and in obedience they saw folks released from all sorts of bondages. That is exactly the path I have taken, combined with about 60 years of reading scripture. Folks are healed and delivered in His name - and you find fault !!! What is it with you guys ??? Love rejoices with those who rejoice... Law is never satisfied. As a generalisation He does not give His Authority to scholars although there are notable exceptions, they are few.

Folks are dramatically converted to Him and go on to live fruitful lives.
I will continue to encourage folks to walk the life of obedience to the Holy Spirit within which you seem to have rationalised to oblivion.

Satan doesn't care what you do as long as souls are not being saved.

What were the signs Jesus told John the Baptist that confirm the coming of the Kingdom? (the kingdom is where Jesus reigns.)

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

If you object to these signs today you are rejecting His Kingdom, and how He wants His Glory to be seen.

I don't want to be over passionate but scholars have rationalised the life out of our faith and have little to show for it.

My heart longs for a living Church that Glorifies Him, that releases captives, and gives sight to the blind.

This is heart talk, He has chosen the simple, that is where obedience is, not a sophisticated rendition of biblical theology for the intellectual elite. Intellect has its place but intellectual humility is rare.

The desire to know was fundamental to the temptation in the garden, few are satisfied with the Knowledge that He has for us personally, that is one reason why we have a weak church with folks chasing every seminar that moves, and the lost are still lost.

Doubtless I will be considered a raving lunatic but I am in good company with Him.

I hope my comments haven’t offended you Carl... just trying to discuss a touchy subject.

 

[Carl Emerson]

That's fine... what do you think is at the heart of this?