My point is that he doesn't like the answers he's getting from the religious folk around him, but if he actually knew Jesus that would not matter. Faith, by definition, does not require answers.
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Needing the answers and having answers are two separate things. That's all I am saying. This Sampson guy makes it seem like because he doesn't see these things, as if he is the one to define them, then somehow Christianity and the Bible is null and void.
2 Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
Romans 8:15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Philippians 4:6-7: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:34-39: Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanks for your reply. Yes, that is true. However the other part of the Bible also says what I already covered. It’s good you brought up that part because that does count for something as it’s God’s Word.
What I mean is taking the Bible as a whole into account is something we all should do, and remind each other what the other part says. Which you have done.
Yes, God knows who are His, Amen.
Maybe he should lose his faith. Perhaps, what he is/was believing isn't true. I am not one to equate someone who says they are "losing" their faith with they had true faith in the first place. Someone needs to ask him, "What is your understanding of the Gospel?" That answer may give clarity to what it is he is believing and it may not be saving faith. When he talks about preachers falling, "contradictions" in the Bible, the lack of miracles, etc., all these things tell me he doesn't even know Jesus to begin with because all of these conclusions he is making have answers. So, just pray for him and do not let your heart be troubled saints.
Thank you for your reply as well.
Just know I wasn't trying to argue with you. I just get confused with scripture. So, you who are spiritual may know more then me.
Well, maybe by your definition of faith. As for me, I have to put faith in something tangible; Jesus, the object of my faith. Granted, I may not have all the answers, but I have enough to put my faith in. Faith is my response to the truth that God has revealed to me. I know Jesus and answers do matter to me. Also, I didn't see in the article where Samson claims to not "like the answers he's getting from the religious folk around him." He just exclaims to have found all these deficiencies in the Bible and his Christian walk that made him walk away. Again, I don't think he was ever saved and just proves what I have always believed; that going to church doesn't make you a Christian. You must be born again.My point is that he doesn't like the answers he's getting from the religious folk around him, but if he actually knew Jesus that would not matter. Faith, by definition, does not require answers.
Well, maybe by your definition of faith. As for me, I have to put faith in something tangible; Jesus, the object of my faith.
Tangible in that I am receiving answers, facts, to my questions, not physically touching Jesus. I don't have faith in faith as some describe Christianity; as if we believe because we are supposed to believe despite not having any evidence or proof of anything.Well, Thomas found Jesus tangible and thus not a ghost, but then Jesus said unto him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.”
I'm not saying that you've actually found Jesus literally tangible as Thomas did, but that's not required for faith.
Tangible in that I am receiving answers, facts, to my questions, not physically touching Jesus.
I don't have faith in faith as some describe Christianity; as if we believe because we are supposed to believe despite not having any evidence or proof of anything.
Tangible also means "clear and definite; real." Not just physical touch. Therefore, I stand by my definition."Tangible" means actually touchable. Intellectual information is not tangible.
Faith is not belief. Faith is what causes belief.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."
The writer of Hebrews used two Greek words that connoted something that physically existed, not something that was merely conceptual. The Greeks had plenty of words for concepts, but that's not what the writer used, and he doubled down in describing faith in physical terms.
If a man is hoping to win the lottery, his hope is based on the lottery ticket he holds in his hand. The lottery ticket is not the hope. The lottery ticket is a real thing, a palpable thing, the substance of his hope.
If a jury rules that a defendent is guilty, it's because there is evidence of the crime they did not themselves see. The evidence itself is not a concept or a belief, it is a real, palpable thing that points to what is not seen.
The ancient Greeks discovered air. That is, they realized that breath is not a substance generated within the lungs, and wind is not a substance generated somewhere beyond the mountains, but that both were merely the movement of an invisible substance that constantly surrounded everyone. The Greeks said, "Wind is the evidence of the invisible air." The air is invisible, but wind is palpable.
If a person has faith, real faith, he knows it's not just a belief or concept. He knows it's something he didn't have before, but he has it now. It is something that pushes him--like wind--in the direction of emulating Jesus.
But, I digress, we are now entering into the monologues as this is becoming an exercise in trying to convince others instead of giving a reason for the hope we have. I can hear Paul saying, "Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words; this is in no way profitable, and leads its listeners to ruin (2 Timothy 2:14)." I am finished with this interaction. Grace and Peace.
But the fact that you are saying, which many Christians say the same thing, that God will not accept fearful repentance is confusing to me. He did in the Bible. When the Israelites rebelled against God,
Oh yeah, there is also the fact that Jesus talked about the sheep or goat (I forgot which one). One group went into outer darkness and the other group went into everlasting life. The one group that went into outer darkness did not feed the poor, did not visit the sick, and did not clothe the naked.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This proverb is addressed to those who think lightly of God and have not come to him. If you have accepted the salvation of Christ offered to all mankind you have nothing to fear but the consequences of sin. The chastisement of the Lord is to let the consequences of sin be experienced.
We are not under the Old Testament and never have been. The Mosaic covenant was made with one family only, Israel. It has never applied to the rests of mankind. The Mosaic Law was given for one reason, to show it was impossible to obey, although it still showed what is true righteousness. It was given to make what was already written in the hearts and conscience of all people conscious to the mind.
This is about motivation. The goats are those who say they believe in Christ, but never truly follow him. The sheep are those who love Christ and follow him.
No I understand that. The reason why I go through detail like this is to explain to those that lurk, I’m always keeping in mind those that don’t wish to participate in discussions.
I don’t know everything, that’s for sure, but I’m always trying to keep in consideration the whole Bible.
Thank you very much. I do find the Bible little confusing. But I guess I just need to pray for understanding.
I understand.
I just can't stop fearing him.
But thank you very much for taking the time to explain to me. I did not mean to become argumentative.
I guess I just need to ask God to help me understand.
I don't know your background, but I have seen with others that those whose father at home was loving have an easier time accepting God as a loving Father. And those whose father at home was strict disciplinarian tend to see God as a punitive Father.I understand.
I just can't stop fearing him.
But thank you very much for taking the time to explain to me. I did not mean to become argumentative.
I guess I just need to ask God to help me understand.
Yes, He intimately knows us and all of our ways, and He planned out ahead of time all of our days.When the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, it's about when you first understand this sovereign God.
I believed in a god all my life, he seemed pretty scary, could send you to hell and such, reward you if you were good but in the end he was a man-made god..
But one day I was saved, and I met or truly understood the sovereign God of this universe for the first time - and I was terrified. I mean I saw every second of my life and every moment in it and every decision I made orchestrated by a God I couldn't control to bring me to that very moment in time - to the moment of my salvation.. and I knew real fear of God.
It didn't take long for that fear to turn into a true and very deep love of Him.. that fear was the beginning of wisdom, not the end. Fear is never the end with God as it gives way to love once you know Him just a little more fully, and if it doesn't give way to a deep and abiding love then you likely never met/understood God.
And I say that because God introduces Himself to us in love, not fear. The same sovereign God who brings us to the initial moment of our salvation, also promises to bring it to its completion. So if initial fear only begets more fear, you've yet to understand God.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
So keep looking for Him. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. Ask God for a heart understanding of Him in truth. There is rest to be had, when you find Him in truth.
So for a non Christian, is he Also volunteering to be a continued slave to the devil? Does he have a choice?
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