Superiority Complex.

[ephraimanesti]

If the promises from God that He would never abandon us are not binding how do you know you won't be or haven't already been replaced as well?

MY BROTHER,

God's promises to Abraham et al are Eternal! The Gentiles just got lucky because the Jews didn't recognize their Messiah when He incarnated.

The promises, however, remain--the Jews just lost a couple of thousand years of potential Kingdom citizenship.

ephraim

 

[b&wpac4]

Before abandoning Christianity I asked. The silence was my answer.

 

[Dragons87]

b&wpac4, to add to the chorus, while I have absolutely no doubts of your sincerity, I find the idea that sin can be overcome by humans alone, based solely on the given Word of God rather than asking God himself, is difficult to accept (it seems that you're saying that, anyway).

As you will have read in my testimony, I found it impossible to break myself from my bad habits even though I knew they were wrong. The commandments told me they were wrong, but knowing the commandments and even the punishments they prescribed did nothing to empower me to break free from them. It was the power of Christ and the knowledge of his deep love for me that did.

What would you have suggested I do to rid myself of my addiction?

 

[razeontherock]

If the promises from God that He would never abandon us are not binding how do you know you won't be or haven't already been replaced as well?

Jews have never been "abandoned." Nobody even suggested it. Neither have they been "replaced." Nobody suggested that, either. This seems to be some deep-seated knee-jerk type reaction?

The concept is such a common fallacy that it's given it's own name:

"replacement theology."

Scripture decries it, proving it false in both Testaments.

 

[b&wpac4]

b&wpac4, to add to the chorus, while I have absolutely no doubts of your sincerity, I find the idea that sin can be overcome by humans alone, based solely on the given Word of God rather than asking God himself, is difficult to accept (it seems that you're saying that, anyway).

As you will have read in my testimony, I found it impossible to break myself from my bad habits even though I knew they were wrong. The commandments told me they were wrong, but knowing the commandments and even the punishments they prescribed did nothing to empower me to break free from them. It was the power of Christ and the knowledge of his deep love for me that did.

What would you have suggested I do to rid myself of my addiction?

I suppose it is a difficult idea for me to explain. Obviously I am not saying we do not need God especially for situations where healing is required. But to keep commandments we can do this on our own. I made a choice not to eat pork. I do not need help I just don't.

 

[razeontherock]

A healthy choice, too! Yet you like Deut 30, where G-d says He put His word "in our heart."

Sounds like an indwelling Spiritual help to me.

I go so far as to say the good people do, IS G-d within. Unbelievers too.

 

[Josiah14]

If you are wrong then I would be a Jew guilty of idolatry. That is scary and would need to be convinced of the claims about Jesus. Nobody has been able to convince me yet.

I understand this concern. I was told I would be a heretic and lose my salvation if I converted to Orthodox Christianity.

If you are truly open to considering that Christ is God, then you should pray to God for guidence in this matter. God will not lead you in the wrong direction. If you truly want the Truth, He will give it to you.

Nobody will ever convince you except God Himself. I cannot change your mind, nor can anyone else, but I can give you my own experience of God, which is in agreement with the Eastern Orthodox Church's experience of God as a community. If you want to know, you have to go to God in sincerity and humility.

If I am wrong, then there were 100s of 1000s of people martyred for a lie, many of them being Jews.

 

[Josiah14]

I suppose it is a difficult idea for me to explain. Obviously I am not saying we do not need God especially for situations where healing is required. But to keep commandments we can do this on our own. I made a choice not to eat pork. I do not need help I just don't.

reality is that every single person 'needs help'.

 

[Josiah14]

b&wpac4, to add to the chorus, while I have absolutely no doubts of your sincerity, I find the idea that sin can be overcome by humans alone, based solely on the given Word of God rather than asking God himself, is difficult to accept (it seems that you're saying that, anyway).

As you will have read in my testimony, I found it impossible to break myself from my bad habits even though I knew they were wrong. The commandments told me they were wrong, but knowing the commandments and even the punishments they prescribed did nothing to empower me to break free from them. It was the power of Christ and the knowledge of his deep love for me that did.

What would you have suggested I do to rid myself of my addiction?

The best evidence we need God? The 12-step 'Anonymous' programs... They work for everything from TV and gum addiction to sex and drug addictions.

 

[Josiah14]

Before abandoning Christianity I asked. The silence was my answer.

"11And He said, Thou shalt go forth to morrow, and shalt stand

before the Lord in the mount: behold, the Lord will pass by. And, behold, a
great and strong wind that rent the mountain, and brake in pieces the rocks
before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an
earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12and after the
earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire the voice
of a gentle breeze. 13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his
face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the cave: and, behold, there​

came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

3 Kingdoms 19:11-13 According to the Septuagint.
Orthodox England - Old Testament

Perhaps you got no answer because it was not true Christianity you were considering leaving, and you would have been better off in Judaism at the time. There are many false Christs out there today, all claiming to be the True Church, but there is only one Church, headed by the only One Christ.

 

[Dragons87]

I suppose it is a difficult idea for me to explain. Obviously I am not saying we do not need God especially for situations where healing is required. But to keep commandments we can do this on our own. I made a choice not to eat pork. I do not need help I just don't.

Good for you for saying you don't need help. Not eating pork is easy. Not surfing the net for naughty websites and keeping my hands off myself were far more difficult. I found myself completely unable to rid myself of my addiction until I met Christ. That encounter really changed me, and now I have never found it easier to "master sin", as God instructed Cain to do in Genesis 4.

Curiously, the New Testament includes a verse with a very similar teaching to Gen 4:7, and yet was written under the context of Christ. It seems that there is thus no inherent contradiction between accepting Christ as Saviour and Deliverer and doing a bit of work ourselves to resist temptation (as you propose to do):

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

It just so happens that I was unable to do the latter (do a bit of work) without the former (accepting Christ as Saviour and Deliverer).

 

[ephraimanesti]

The best evidence we need God? The 12-step 'Anonymous' programs... They work for everything from TV and gum addiction to sex and drug addictions.

MY BROTHER,

Worked for me! The first 3 Steps changed EVERYTHING!

ALL PRAISE TO GOD FOR HIS MERCY!

My hardest struggle was with the absolute need for humility--which, i suppose, brings us back at long last to the OP.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

Before abandoning Christianity I asked. The silence was my answer.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Well, i can't argue that with you--but i can't just accept it either. Our Lord promised,

"ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES; HE WHO SEEKS FINDS; AND TO HIM WHO KNOCKS, THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED." (Matthew 7:7-8)

i have never known my Lord to renege on a promise, and i can't accept that you are the first.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

I suppose it is a difficult idea for me to explain. Obviously I am not saying we do not need God especially for situations where healing is required. But to keep commandments we can do this on our own. I made a choice not to eat pork. I do not need help I just don't.

MY BROTHER,

If what you say were true, we would have no need of Messiah--either 2000 years ago or sometime in the future.

You are not keeping the totality of the Law now, nor will you EVER be able to do so at some point in the future.

The false belief that a human being can, unaided, keep God's Law is the most serious and deadly example of human hubris i can think of. Only one Man has ever pulled it off--and He was God's Son.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Riski]

The false belief that a human being can, unaided, keep God's Law is the most serious and deadly example of human hubris i can think of. Only one Man has ever pulled it off--and He was God's Son.

At least 4 billion people on earth live their lives WITHOUT keeping your Gods law, mostly because they have never even heard of your God.

 

[ephraimanesti]

At least 4 billion people on earth live their lives WITHOUT keeping your Gods law, mostly because they have never even heard of your God.

And your point is . . . ?

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[ephraimanesti]

I suppose it is a difficult idea for me to explain. Obviously I am not saying we do not need God especially for situations where healing is required. But to keep commandments we can do this on our own. I made a choice not to eat pork. I do not need help I just don't.

MY BROTHER,

That--as i am sure you well know--it not a honest answer or a good example of what God expects of us.

Of course you don't need help not eating pork. Point well made? NOT!

How about your anger?

How about your judgmentalism towards others?

How about looking lustfully at women other than your wife?

How about coveting things belonging to another?

How about doing all you can to alleviate the suffering of the poor when opportunity presents?

How about always having God at the center of your attention and focus?

How about keeping the Sabbath holy as per the stipulations of the Law?

What about sacrificially loving your neighbor as yourself?

How about the other 605 commandments in the Law?

Who are you trying to kid, my brother? Not God, i hope!

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Riski]

At least 4 billion people on earth live their lives WITHOUT keeping your Gods law, mostly because they have never even heard of your God.

And your point is . . . ?

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

What's going to happen to them? are they damned for eternity?

 

[ephraimanesti]

What's going to happen to them? are they damned for eternity?

MY DEAR BROTHER,

The only answer i can give is that i have not answer. i have my personal opinions of the subject, but forgive me if i don't feel free to speculate in this particular Forum as i could quite easily be wrong.

We know many--but not all--things about our Abba, among which are "God is love", "God is merciful", and "God judges men by their hearts." What all that will look like when the End comes, i cannot speak to authoritatively--so had better not speak on at all.

i do know, however, that those who did not have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in their lifetimes will be judged by God by a different criteria than those who have heard the Gospel while on earth and chosed to ignore or reject it.

ABBA'S FOOL,
ephraim

 

[Riski]

The only answer i can give is that i have not answer. i have my personal opinions of the subject, but forgive me if i don't feel free to speculate in this particular Forum as i could quite easily be wrong.

From what I have read in your posts I can assure you that your personal opinions on the subject would most definitely be wrong.

We know many--but not all--things about our Abba, among which are "God is love", "God is merciful", and "God judges men by their hearts." What all that will look like when the End comes, i cannot speak to authoritatively--so had better not speak on at all.

"God does not like you if you don't bow down to him".

i do know, however, that those who did not have an opportunity to hear the Gospel in their lifetimes will be judged by God by a different criteria than those who have heard the Gospel while on earth and chosed to ignore or reject it.

I suppose the same goes for those who rejected Allah and all of the other Gods.

Put me down as a "I heard the word and rejected the offer", my brain is a selfish brain and will not allow anyone else in my head.