You have nothing to prove....

[StormyOne]

A good friend of mind posted a very salient note in another place and I thought I would post it here....

You have nothing to prove.

You can’t impress God with anything you do or don’t do. You can’t win God’s favor by following some rules laid down by men long ago. You can’t disappoint God. God knew before you were born what you would do. In spite of all this, a lot of folks go around trying to prove they are worthy. Sometimes, they are trying to win approval of their parents, employers, friends or critics, or an inner censor – or whoever. It does not matter much, who the who is.

The best way to move ahead is stop playing this silly game. You are who you are. You are getting better whether you are doing it the hard way or the easy way. God loves you as you are. When you are better, God will not love you any more than God loves you now.

It is really about how long you want to take to get back home. You can dilly dally along or you can move quickly ahead. You can choose vast amounts of pain and suffering – or you can enjoy yourself immensely and get on with it. God will respect your choices and walk by your side either way.

You have nothing to prove unless you are trying to prove something to yourself – which is often not a good idea. Don’t try harder – just do it or don’t do it. Then enjoy the consequences of your choices.

Some people believe this, and unfortunately some folks don't.... any thoughts about it?

 

[Joe67]

Those who are "fortunate" have escaped from the pit of suffering shame for the name of Jesus in service to his Body, the church. They are then free to eat, drink and be merry, for death will not be "Today", and they have plenty for years to come.

Isa 24:17-18
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. KJV

Jer 48:44
44 He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD. KJV

Ps 69:22
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. KJV

Ps 69:26-28
and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. KJV

Joe

 

[Restin]

A good friend of mind posted a very salient note in another place and I thought I would post it here....

You have nothing to prove.

You can’t impress God with anything you do or don’t do. You can’t win God’s favor by following some rules laid down by men long ago. You can’t disappoint God. God knew before you were born what you would do. In spite of all this, a lot of folks go around trying to prove they are worthy. Sometimes, they are tying to win approval of their parents, employers, friends or critics, or an inner censor – or whoever. It does not matter much, who the who is.

The best way to move ahead is stop playing this silly game. You are who you are. You are getting better whether you are doing it the hard way or the easy way. God loves you as you are. When you are better, God will not love you any more than God loves you now.

It is really about how long you want to take to get back home. You can dilly dally along or you can move quickly ahead. You can choose vast amounts of pain and suffering – or you can enjoy yourself immensely and get on with it. God will respect your choices and walk by your side either way.

You have nothing to prove unless you are trying to prove something to yourself – which is often not a good idea. Don’t try harder – just do it or don’t do it. Then enjoy the consequences of your choices.

Some people believe this, and unfortunately some folks don't.... any thoughts about it?

On this forum, this belief (or understanding) comes across as something that StormyOne himself believes and promotes calmly and progressively. Correct me if I am wrong.....Restin

 

[Byfaithalone1]

A good friend of mind posted a very salient note in another place and I thought I would post it here....



Some people believe this, and unfortunately some folks don't.... any thoughts about it?

Very nicely said. I agree.

BFA

 

[VictorC]

A good friend of mind posted a very salient note in another place and I thought I would post it here....

I can read your friend's comments, read Romans 11:32, and find a similar vein of thought leading to one conclusion: God is not impressed by feigned obedience in light of His conclusion that all are disobedient to the law.

 

[AzA]

You have nothing to prove.

How would you marry this idea with the idea of always being ready to explain why you hold the faith you do?

 

[StormyOne]

How would you marry this idea with the idea of always being ready to explain why you hold the faith you do?

I don't... because I don't believe that I have to explain why I belief as I do... I can share what I believe, however people do not have to agree or adopt my beliefs...

 

[AzA]

Understood.
Takes the pressure off a bit, does it not?

 

[sentipente]

How would you marry this idea with the idea of always being ready to explain why you hold the faith you do?

The OP is about proving something to God. This idea talks about being knowledge about what you profess. It may be attractive enough that someone asks for more information.

 

[sentipente]

I don't... because I don't believe that I have to explain why I belief as I do... I can share what I believe, however people do not have to agree or adopt my beliefs...

If you can't explain it why would you believe it?

 

[Joe67]

1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: KJV

When Moses was chiding the people, he was not sanctifying the Lord before them, and was not able to give a cup of cold water to those people.

The Lord, still blessed the people with their physical necessity but the sanctification of the Lord, through speaking to the Rock, was not revealed.

Let those who are more educated remember the last communication with Jonah.

Jonah was philosophically trained/educated.

The Lord was sanctified before the people of Nineveh.

Joe

 

[AzA]

1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: KJV

As Senti pointed out, this sounds like response to inquiry, not validation.

 

[Joe67]

As Senti pointed out, this sounds like response to inquiry, not validation.

AzA,

The Seed is given through hearing. It is sown through action.

Hope is the process wherein we wait. Hope has a gentle response to inquiry.

Love is the fruit harvested through others as they ask.

The means to love are burned and all becomes new.

Joe

 

[AzA]

I agree that hope produces gentle responses. What we're saying though is complementary: that hope doesn't seek self-validation via responding to inquiry.

 

[Joe67]

I agree that hope produces gentle responses. What we're saying though is complementary: that hope doesn't seek self-validation via responding to inquiry.

AzA,

Faith is the working quality whereby we have peace with God.

Hope is the working quality whereby the victory is gained over the lusts of our flesh and the lusts of our eyes.

Rom 5:2
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. KJV

Rom 8:24
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? KJV

1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. KJV

Matt 5:8
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. KJV

Joe

 

[sentipente]

Joe, sounds like you are making things up. But they sound good, if nothing else.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

As Senti pointed out, this sounds like response to inquiry, not validation.

And the inquiry is quite specific. It relates to the reason for hope. The answer is provided in meekness.

I don't personally tie this passage to the concept of apologetics. The things that I believe can be personal. The things that I believe should not become the reason why I separate and distinguish myself from other people.

BFA

 

[StormyOne]

If you can't explain it why would you believe it?

Why must I be able to explain everything I believe? Wouldn't that be like having proof to convince others to believe as I do? As you have suggested elsewhere, just because I believe it does not mean that you are obligated to share that belief.... Perhaps it would be good if we could explain everything we believe... or maybe not...

 

[StormyOne]

On this forum, this belief (or understanding) comes across as something that StormyOne himself believes and promotes calmly and progressively. Correct me if I am wrong.....Restin

Yes you would be correct...

 

[Joe67]

And the inquiry is quite specific. It relates to the reason for hope. The answer is provided in meekness.

I don't personally tie this passage to the concept of apologetics. The things that I believe can be personal. The things that I believe should not become the reason why I separate and distinguish myself from other people.

BFA

BFA,

Faith/belief is the Seed, the foundation.

Hope is the plant springing up out of the buried Seed.

Hope is a city set on a hill, that cannot be hid. It is faith with experience.

Joe