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Actually, yes.*sigh*
Who would've thought an avatar of a panther would cause so much amusement. Never used to get this many laughs two years ago! Duly changed!
No doubt wolves are just as funny....
Anything to add on topic FOG?
Actually, yes.
I noticed that the Universalists use typical emotionalism to sway someone's beliefs.
The means to good biblical theology is to examine the whole of scriptures without bias so that proper and correct doctrines can be determined. Of course, no one is without bias. But, that does not mean that we should give up trying to be objective. We must endeavor to let God's word lead us rather than our emotionalism and personal preferences make decisions for us, especially about doctrine. At least, that should be the goal.
What matters is what God has revealed in His word. So, are there scriptures in the Bible that plainly state that not all are saved? Yes, there are. The following verses are gladly provided by www.biblegateway.com
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14"For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it," (Matt. 7:13-14).These verses are plain and clear. Not all are saved; in fact, few are. Whether or not we think this makes God a failure, or that it makes us sad, or upsets us, isn't really that important. If the Bible says it, that settles it. What is left is to make adjustments in our understanding and feelings in order to bring our thinking more in line with what God has stated.
"For many are called, but few are chosen," (Matt. 22:14).
"And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, 24"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25"Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, Lord, open up to us! then He will answer and say to you, I do not know where you are from. 26"Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets; 27and He will say, I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers,'" (Luke 13:22-27).
"And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly," (Rom. 9:27).
After all, we do not know the mind of God. His ways are higher than our ways. I prefer to accept what it says than feel my way through theology.
I really do like your signature verse though:We also have Abraham, who was a friend of God and not only was aware of God's presence, God spoke to him as well.
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I put knowledge first, as the scripture teaches. I have heard God speak to my soul and felt Him move within me, But I am trusting in the promise that I am changed by Christ, a new creation, I have done what I "required" and repented and have faith that I will be forever in His presence. THAT is worth far more than all the feel good you can speak of.I dont know about you, by my foundation for living IS in Jesus Christ. Jesus isnt just in the clouds He is right here on earth as well. If we just look, we will see Him everywhere we turn our eyes.
Yes, one can both live in the presence of God and at the same time still live in the world. Gods blessings are pretty cool in that way. Come on down and enjoy Gods presence.
Living in the awareness of the presence of God for many IS the foundation for living. And I dont see anything wrong with that. And for myself at least, having God at the center of ones reality is a greatly desired way to live life.
Now I have to ask: Is God only a "belief" to you? Someone to think about and believe in, but not actually be aware of? From my perspective, that seems to be limiting God in a major way.
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I really do like your signature verse though:
Micah 6:8He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The Lord "requires". Not suggests, nor asks, nor hopes for; He riquires what is good.
How do you "WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD" in the Lake of Fire?
I put knowledge first, as the scripture teaches. I have heard God speak to my soul and felt Him move within me, But I am trusting in the promise that I am changed by Christ, a new creation, I have done what I "required" and repented and have faith that I will be forever in His presence. THAT is worth far more than all the feel good you can speak of.
Thanks red, I thought I was allowed to think for myself here and have an opinion. I put any crossroads that requires a step of faith as a Damascus road experience. Some are slapped around and blinded and hear the voice of God (by the way, no one with Saul heard the voice). Some see light, and for some it is a whisper in the night or a calming beckonning in the dawn, as it was for me. But it was decission time, no less than Saul.Tim, that is NOT a road to Damascus type incident and you know it. Saul wasn't going through a "life challenge". He was blinded and spoke to by God direct! We all have moments in life where we're challenged or fearful of change but that is not the same thing. Do you think that the Damascus incident was allegorical? Was Saul actually just inwardly challenged to look at what he was doing? If not then what you're arguing isn't comparable.
I LOVE mercy, I depend on it, I asked for it and I recieved it. I wish all would.Do you love mercy?
Would you be annoyed if all people were redeemed?
Are you ever going to answer the latter question?
Thanks red, I thought I was allowed to think for myself here and have an opinion. I put any crossroads that requires a step of faith as a Damascus road experience. Some are slapped around and blinded and hear the voice of God (by the way, no one with Saul heard the voice). Some see light, and for some it is a whisper in the night or a calming beckonning in the dawn, as it was for me. But it was decission time, no less than Saul.
Call it what you want but we all get nudge or push or knocked out of the saddle at some point, but not all are changed for the better.
I LOVE mercy, I depend on it, I asked for it and I recieved it. I wish all would.
Would I be annoyed? Why? That's like saying "Would it upset you if that guy who cut you off in traffic and Hittler both chose to have faith in Jesus?" All who truely know the Lord Jesus as savior are my brothers and sisters, and I wish everyone was, and I wish we were already with Him so we would not be having this stupid arguement but I am here for the sake of the lost speaking truth in the hopes that as many as read this will be saved!
What do YOU want from me? Alot of questions for and about me in the last 15 posts. People questioning me and telling me I can't think what I think about off topic items. If you want to know more about me PM me, OK?
I think that when it's God who is doing the pushing, it is always for the better. One could use Paul as an example.Call it what you want but we all get nudge or push or knocked out of the saddle at some point, but not all are changed for the better.
Your soul is saved. I'm glad for you. That's good. But some are called for more than that. Some desire to be even closer to God than others might desire. Being aware of the presence of God is not some hippy new age feel good thing. Being aware of the presence of God is being aware of God!!! It's the coming to the Father part of John 14:6. Christian history is full of people who live in the presence of God. Living in the presence of God IS completely Christian.I put knowledge first, as the scripture teaches. I have heard God speak to my soul and felt Him move within me, But I am trusting in the promise that I am changed by Christ, a new creation, I have done what I "required" and repented and have faith that I will be forever in His presence. THAT is worth far more than all the feel good you can speak of.
Red, just cool it, OK?
Saul was a passionate man and when he knew the truth, he found the treasure in the field or the pearl of great value, he sold all he had to buy it. Paul was sold out to Jesus and I wish I had half his passion. But no, God did no more for Paul than He does for anyone. He gives us all the chance to make a decission. Many of us would faint dead away with Sauls experience, but Saul faced Him and said "Who are you?" Some extraordinary people have been changed by extraordinary things, and some answered a whisper. We all get called, it is what we do with it that matters.
Here's a link to "The Practice of Presence of God". These are conversations and letters of Brother Lawrence.THAT is worth far more than all the feel good you can speak of.
We may be talking apples and oranges here. I understand being in the presence of God, but I've never known anyone who walked their whole life that way. My point is understanding and knowing the Word of God is far more impressed upon in scripture than standing in a spiritual presence. You must admit this discussion started about knowing love and it was intended to say that we who believe in eternal damnation don't understand God's love and if we "stood in the Presence" we would know. I stress the emportance of living the word of love more than feeling the presence of love. Any way, God's presence IS real and we know that by the Word.Your soul is saved. I'm glad for you. That's good. But some are called for more than that. Some desire to be even closer to God than others might desire. Being aware of the presence of God is not some hippy new age feel good thing. Being aware of the presence of God is being aware of God!!! It's the coming to the Father part of John 14:6. Christian history is full of people who live in the presence of God. Living in the presence of God IS completely Christian.
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We also know it by living it.We may be talking apples and oranges here. I understand being in the presence of God, but I've never known anyone who walked their whole life that way. My point is understanding and knowing the Word of God is far more impressed upon in scripture than standing in a spiritual presence. You must admit this discussion started about knowing love and it was intended to say that we who believe in eternal damnation don't understand God's love and if we "stood in the Presence" we would know. I stress the emportance of living the word of love more than feeling the presence of love. Any way, God's presence IS real and we know that by the Word.
Think of all the people who saw the miricles of Jesus and them that stood at the foot of the cross when the sky darkend and the vail was torn. They heard the word of God from His mouth and only one soldier is recorded as believing because of it.I'm cool Tim!
Well I'm probably not really but anyhoo....
I do not buy that Saul was 'just given what he needed'. I imagine that anyone confronted with such an experience would have no choice but to admit that God existed, regardless of whether they were actively persecuting those who already believed!
Do you think that anyone who was so directly confronted could possibly not believe afterwards?
Think of all the people who saw the miricles of Jesus and them that stood at the foot of the cross when the sky darkend and the vail was torn. They heard the word of God from His mouth and only one soldier is recorded as believing because of it.
No, intence situations don't turn a Saul into a Paul, others WERE present and did not believe. Sauls heart was ready and God's timing is perfect. God knows the heart and who will accept Him. Paul called himself chief among sinners, but you try to deify him. God took a passionate man and gave Him a chance to serve and He took it.
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