Started a new study of 1 John

[Kodos]

At our Bible Study at work we finished the first chapter of 1 John this week. I put up at my Bible Study Blog: http://www.timeofchoosing.com -- it's the May 25th post. I hope that it is of some value ..., we just started putting up our 'transcripts' from our studies.

It takes a lot of time and effort, but it seems like something to do to 'give back' to those who have helped teach us for free.

Please give me some feedback if you thought it is something useful. Encouragement is motivation

If you didn't like it -- please send some feedback (in love and grace, lol) about what you thought needed work.

Thanks!

 

[hopeinGod]

At our Bible Study at work we finished the first chapter of 1 John this week. I put up at my Bible Study Blog: http://www.timeofchoosing.com -- it's the May 25th post. I hope that it is of some value ..., we just started putting up our 'transcripts' from our studies.

It takes a lot of time and effort, but it seems like something to do to 'give back' to those who have helped teach us for free.

Please give me some feedback if you thought it is something useful. Encouragement is motivation

If you didn't like it -- please send some feedback (in love and grace, lol) about what you thought needed work.

Thanks!

How good it is to see your desire to learn and to teach. They are wonderful qualities.

After reading the first few pages of your study, it seemed not to be a clear confirmation of our eternal salvation.

As you know, our eternal justification through grace is not, and never will be, determined by our behavior.

Truth is, I have never within 35 years of my new life come across a person who, after having truly turned in faith toward the Lord and called upon Him, did not soon afterwards turn from doing the things your friend did.

On the other hand, an older Christian, one that is burned out, tired of the sameness, and blown away by the many schisms and disagreements within the church, may throw up his hands in defeat and walk into a strip joint.

Yet, going into a strip joint to partake in sin does not lead a Christian to hell for eternity. It is misbehavior, that, if one has a conscience, may eventually be repented of. And, even if that sin follows that person into eternity, it will cause a loss of reward, not a loss of one's salvation.

I hope to have time for more reading. It won't be easy as I have to work overtime this weekend.

Dave

 

[Kodos]

Thank you for your feedback ... I know this study could be somewhat controversial, so that's why I started with a quotation of Matthew 7:21-23. First, I made sure to note that our works do not save us (in the opening because of Matt 7:22), but I made sure to emphasize:

7:23 -- "Depart from me, I never knew you"

As you go through the study -- and look through 1 John -- you'll see that the issue isn't whether our behavior is required for salvation, but that one who doesn't show a transformed life may never have really accepted Christ to begin with.

My friend had been a "Christian" for over 20 years. And strip clubs were not where it ended. Casual trysts, anonymous sex, pornography -- and the glee at which he pursued such things are the real issue. He never struggled with it, and in fact seemed to relish that he could continue to sin because he was "saved". That's not the sort of loophole I believe God delights in. I do believe in Once Saved, Always Saved -- the question is : Was Barry truly saved? I think he was not, not just because of his sexual behavior, but also the way he treated people (women in particular). I think the book of 1 John is pretty clear, that we cannot walk in Darkness and claim we have Fellowship with the Son and the Father.

Please read the entire study, I'd hate for you to be stuck on the introduction, as the case study of Barry continues.

Thank you so much for your feedback Brother, and I hope work goes well for you this weekend.

How good it is to see your desire to learn and to teach. They are wonderful qualities.

After reading the first few pages of your study, it seemed not to be a clear confirmation of our eternal salvation.

As you know, our eternal justification through grace is not, and never will be, determined by our behavior.

Truth is, I have never within 35 years of my new life come across a person who, after having truly turned in faith toward the Lord and called upon Him, did not soon afterwards turn from doing the things your friend did.

On the other hand, an older Christian, one that is burned out, tired of the sameness, and blown away by the many schisms and disagreements within the church, may throw up his hands in defeat and walk into a strip joint.

Yet, going into a strip joint to partake in sin does not lead a Christian to hell for eternity. It is misbehavior, that, if one has a conscience, may eventually be repented of. And, even if that sin follows that person into eternity, it will cause a loss of reward, not a loss of one's salvation.

I hope to have time for more reading. It won't be easy as I have to work overtime this weekend.

Dave