Just wondering

[ToBeBlessed]

It sounds like you have received a distorted impression of what the Bible teaches.

God made man in His own image. While the rest of creation was "good" in His sight, when He was done making man He pronounced this handiwork "very good".

But sin entered and man fell. Though He could have, God did not pull His Spirit from the earth and leave us to our own devices. The first prophecy in the Bible occurs at the fall of man, when God tells the serpent that while he may bruise man in the heel, a Seed is coming who will bruise the serpent in the head. That Seed is the Son of Man, Jesus.

The picture is not of man's seed becoming a hideous demon from hell, it is of a beautiful rose trampled into the ground.

If it were not, if God did not see past man's fatal flaws and still value him and hold His good intentions for him, would the Father have given His Only-Begotten to ransom us?

Though fallen, man is still in God's image and has plenty of value. But he has a fatal disease that keeps him from relationship with God, the only source of Life. That's why Christ's atonement is necessary - not because we are worthless, but because despite being ruined we have great value that in Christ is redeemable.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him -1John 3:1

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh -Phil 3:3

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith -Phil 3:9
​

That was beautiful.

 

[chrisstavrous]

It sounds like you have received a distorted impression of what the Bible teaches.

God made man in His own image. While the rest of creation was "good" in His sight, when He was done making man He pronounced this handiwork "very good".

But sin entered and man fell. Though He could have, God did not pull His Spirit from the earth and leave us to our own devices. The first prophecy in the Bible occurs at the fall of man, when God tells the serpent that while he may bruise man in the heel, a Seed is coming who will bruise the serpent in the head. That Seed is the Son of Man, Jesus.

The picture is not of man's seed becoming a hideous demon from hell, it is of a beautiful rose trampled into the ground.

If it were not, if God did not see past man's fatal flaws and still value him and hold His good intentions for him, would the Father have given His Only-Begotten to ransom us?

Though fallen, man is still in God's image and has plenty of value. But he has a fatal disease that keeps him from relationship with God, the only source of Life. That's why Christ's atonement is necessary - not because we are worthless, but because despite being ruined we have great value that in Christ is redeemable.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him -1John 3:1

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh -Phil 3:3

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith -Phil 3:9
​

Distorted? as in I would hope that the god of the bible says something good about us so I can know my strengths as well as my weaknesses.

 

[paul1149]

Distorted? as in I would hope god says something good about us in the bible so I can know my strengths as well as my weaknesses.

Yes. The good news is that God has made a way and you no longer have to try to live life on your own strengths, which are inadequate.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

Distorted? as in I would hope that the god of the bible says something good about us so I can know my strengths as well as my weaknesses.

With God, we have him with us always and he sends us the Holy Spirit to reside in our hearts. We are not alone with God. He tells us He will never leave us or forsake us. Where two or more are gathered in his name he is there also.

Our strength is in him in us.

 

[oi_antz]

No its just upsetting to find some way to respond to you when what you said in that post shows that opressive and cookie cutter christian mindset.

Oh ok, then please forgive me and accept my apology. I can see you are suffering somewhat, and there is nothing soothing about someone poking fun at you for it.

So, how about taking my question outside of the cookie cutter Christian mindset, and just see whether you think it is agreeable or arguable:

What value is there in saying "you are good at that, aren't you?". Isn't there more value in saying "see, this is good, and that is better".

.. A general question, regardless of the bible. Is the statement always good, or is there a reason to think that sometimes a compliment is more valuable than advice?

 

[aiki]

Distorted? as in I would hope that the god of the bible says something good about us so I can know my strengths as well as my weaknesses.

Any skill, or ability, or positive characteristic that you possess comes ultimately from God. It is for this reason Paul the apostle asks:

1Co 4:7 For who makes you to differ from another? and what do you have that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

The humbling truth is that anything we may wish to glory in concerning ourselves we have ultimately received from God. All the good you may do, all the positive things you may accomplish, all your strengths are fundamentally enabled by your Maker. Of course, being self-centered creatures, this rankles and provokes objections in most people. "It was not God but I who sweated and strained to become the person that I am today!" And God responds, "If not for me, you would not even exist. Your capacity to sweat, and strain, and improve yourself I made possible. You owe everything to me." In light of this it is misguided to seek to understand and appreciate your strengths separate from your Maker. You are, quite literally, nothing without Him.

True fellowship with God begins when we acknowledge our profound dependence upon Him, when we cease to think we can stand on our own, separate from our Maker. When we humble ourselves and acknowledge this reality, then it is God lifts us up into joyful fellowship with Him. And when we live in such fellowship we cannot help but extol the beauty, and power, and perfection of our Maker. We glory in God rather than ourselves and in so doing fulfill the purpose for which we were made.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


Selah.

 

[chrisstavrous]

Yes. The good news is that God has made a way and you no longer have to try to live life on your own strengths, which are inadequate.

Then you don't believe your own faith strengthens you or is that as inadequate as your other strengths.

 

[chrisstavrous]

Any skill, or ability, or positive characteristic that you possess comes ultimately from God. It is for this reason Paul the apostle asks:

1Co 4:7 For who makes you to differ from another? and what do you have that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

The humbling truth is that anything we may wish to glory in concerning ourselves we have ultimately received from God. All the good you may do, all the positive things you may accomplish, all your strengths are fundamentally enabled by your Maker. Of course, being self-centered creatures, this rankles and provokes objections in most people. "It was not God but I who sweated and strained to become the person that I am today!" And God responds, "If not for me, you would not even exist. Your capacity to sweat, and strain, and improve yourself I made possible. You owe everything to me." In light of this it is misguided to seek to understand and appreciate your strengths separate from your Maker. You are, quite literally, nothing without Him.

True fellowship with God begins when we acknowledge our profound dependence upon Him, when we cease to think we can stand on our own, separate from our Maker. When we humble ourselves and acknowledge this reality, then it is God lifts us up into joyful fellowship with Him. And when we live in such fellowship we cannot help but extol the beauty, and power, and perfection of our Maker. We glory in God rather than ourselves and in so doing fulfill the purpose for which we were made.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.


Selah.

Your talking about christian skills, not general skills everyone has right?

 

[chrisstavrous]

Oh ok, then please forgive me and accept my apology. I can see you are suffering somewhat, and there is nothing soothing about someone poking fun at you for it.

So, how about taking my question outside of the cookie cutter Christian mindset, and just see whether you think it is agreeable or arguable:

What value is there in saying "you are good at that, aren't you?". Isn't there more value in saying "see, this is good, and that is better".

.. A general question, regardless of the bible. Is the statement always good, or is there a reason to think that sometimes a compliment is more valuable than advice?

Because thats what caring loving people do, thats why I wondered if the god of the bible says anything about us thats good/positive/nice.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

Then you don't believe your own faith strengthens you or is that as inadequate as your other strengths.

Faith is what we have when we put our trust in Christ. We can put faith in ourselves, but we always let even ourselves down. How does one 'really' put faith in themselves?

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ he sends the Holy Sprit to us. We literally have God within us. We receive so much when we trust in Him.

Why would you want to put more faith into yourself? We will all pass away some day, Jesus Christ is eternal and promises his children eternal life with him, just as we have him and the Holy Spirit here on earth.

 

[chrisstavrous]

Faith is what we have when we put our trust in Christ. We can put faith in ourselves, but we always let even ourselves down. How does one 'really' put faith in themselves?

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ he sends the Holy Sprit to us. We literally have God within us. We receive so much when we trust in Him.

Why would you want to put more faith into yourself? We will all pass away some day, Jesus Christ is eternal and promises his children eternal life with him, just as we have him and the Holy Spirit here on earth.

That's not true, I and others I know don't continually let people down. Should we dare say when someone does not let's us down they still do? No we say something nice to those who don't let us down and for those who do, well that's when we have faith that the next time they won't.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

That's not true, I and others I know don't continually let people down. Should we dare say when someone does not let's us down they still do? No we say something nice to those who don't let us down and for those who do, well that's when we have faith that the next time they won't.

I did not say 'continually', I said 'eventually'.

Interesting definition of faith. I call that trust and hope more than faith as we know people sin.

 

[aiki]

Your talking about christian skills, not general skills everyone has right?

No, I am speaking of any skill one may possess.

Selah.

 

[paul1149]

That was beautiful.

Thank you, sister. Blessing.

Then you don't believe your own faith strengthens you or is that as inadequate as your other strengths.

Generally not a good idea to put words in someone else's mouth. My faith does strengthen me, more than anything else. Faith is the channel of our relationship with God. It is through faith that we receive His love and comfort, character and power. Without that, man is up against sin and death on his own.

 

[chrisstavrous]

I did not say 'continually', I said 'eventually'.

Interesting definition of faith. I call that trust and hope more than faith as we know people sin.

You said "always" but even if you mean eventually this would prove that theres good things about people and its those good things I would hope the god of the bible mentions. Now about trust rather than faith, I only say you need faith in people because sometimes you have to trust and hope from people what you can't see or have not recived yet, and it's this type of faith I agree too.

 

[chrisstavrous]

No, I am speaking of any skill one may possess.

Selah.

I do not agree.

 

[chrisstavrous]

Thank you, sister. Blessing.

Generally not a good idea to put words in someone else's mouth. My faith does strengthen me, more than anything else. Faith is the channel of our relationship with God. It is through faith that we receive His love and comfort, character and power. Without that, man is up against sin and death on his own.

Ah I see, faith is nothing but dependence on god to give you the strength to have the faith you couldn't have in him in first place.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

You said "always" but even if you mean eventually this would prove that theres good things about people and its those good things I would hope the god of the bible mentions. Now about trust rather than faith, I only say you need faith in people because sometimes you have to trust and hope from people what you can't see or have not recived yet, and it's this type of faith I agree too.

What do you believe about eternity? Life after death? Eternity is the prize for most believers. We are now separated from Christ, we will spend eternity with Him.

I don't quite understand why you are so enthralled into whether the bible says nice things about people. It's not wrong as any question is valid. I just don't understand why it is such a big thing for you.

Can you share more why this is important to you? Maybe if I understood more I could help.

 

[aiki]

I do not agree.

Fine. Why?

Selah.

 

[chrisstavrous]

What do you believe about eternity? Life after death? Eternity is the prize for most believers. We are now separated from Christ, we will spend eternity with Him.

I don't quite understand why you are so enthralled into whether the bible says nice things about people. It's not wrong as any question is valid. I just don't understand why it is such a big thing for you.

Can you share more why this is important to you? Maybe if I understood more I could help.

I was a christian for 13 years and although this might sound pious, I never followed jesus because I thought that I would recieve a reward or end up with him after I died. I followed jesus because I believed that he could restore me to sanity in this life (If you know what I mean) and this is my whole motivation in asking the questions I do.