Leaderboard

I work in a common office cubicle environment. There are more women than men, and most of our leadership teams reflect that. I manage a small team under the supervision of a female director. When I was first promoted to be her team manager I told her I would prefer to not meet outside the office alone with her. When traveling to outside meetings, we travel separately unless a third person is with us. I explained it has nothing to do with her, but it is my standard to make sure no one ever has a reason to question my relationship with her. I carry this same philosophy into my personal life. I've been married to the same women for over 20 years. Not once have I met with another women alone in a private environment. I have not been tempted to have an affair, but I've also not wanted to give anyone, especially my wife, a reason to question my relationship with her. Am I over reacting? Do I go too far? What I wonder is, why would someone meet privately with a member of the opposite sex when it could cause someone to question their action? Why risk your husband or wife to waver in their trust for you? Or, should the spouse just blindly trust them no matter what? I'm fully willing to agree I'm over cautious and that my standard is too much for most people. I'm reaching out to you, my Christian family, for God's wisdom in this matter. I pray to God for guidance and will continue to seek His glory in all I do.

What is "the first resurrection"? Is it when the "dead in Christ rise first"? Is it the resurrection of the "blessed and holy"? the saints? All of them? or just some of them? What is your view? It appears to me that the "dead in Christ rise first" because they are in the "first resurrection" and over these the 2nd death has no power at all. Almost all Christian groups agree that Revelation 19 describes the 2nd coming - and that there were no chapter divisions in the Greek text of Revelation as written by John. Revelation 20 starts off then in the context of Revaltion 19 - at the 2nd coming. (Sorry -- I still don't know how to change the text format to get rid of the double spacing in the Bible quote below) Revelation 20 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, Those included in the "first resurrection" a. Those who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God b. And those which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands So certainly in the case above - the "First resurrection" includes the saints - possibly "all of the saints" in all of time depending on how far back one finds the "beast" to have had influence and to have persecuted the saints -- since it appears that the second death has power over all who are raised 1000 years later in the second resurrection Here is what Paul says about it... the saints do rise first. 1 Thess 4 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. Your thoughts? in Christ, Bob

That's not on topic. Maybe start your own thread .

A McDonald's employee should be $50 thousand dollars richer for the reward that was offered on this killer. Steve Stephens had a hankering for chicken Mcnuggets and that's what ended it all. I admire the composure of the employee asking him to pull forward because it would take a moment for the chicken to be ready. Then they called the cops. Very brave. At least people don't have to worry about his going crazy and killing someone else on live stream. His last victim was himself. Rest the soul of Mr.Godwin.

In the new covenant we are still bound to obey God's moral laws. Remember, Jesus repeated much of the ten commandments when he was asked what of the law applies. There are over 600 laws of God in the Jewish tradition. Not all of those pertain to Christians because we are not Jews. But the moral law, how we see God, how we conduct ourselves, do not steal, murder, etc...., does. Be aware that there will be a branch of people in the world that will tell you the moral precepts, the 10 commandments of God given to Moses on the mountain do not apply. I've found I can't reason with that therefore I avoid that. Because they're telling me they're happily immoral . As is their right to be. The text in Leviticus tells us also that God is not a warm fuzzy anything goes liberal God. If we're to follow his example I think we owe it to that idea to be scrupulously discerning in how we comport ourselves in the world. Researching how the written word came to be as the new testament for Christians is vital. As is using our God given common sense and intellect. God bless. Hope that helps.

Thank you Reinitin, Just as I thought! Now that has a purpose, just like in Acts 2.

Heaven is a state of existence .... not a place Once made immortal a man has no boundaries

I do not think that FaceBook has a moral or ethical responsibility to monitor what it allows on their website. As you said they are a business and their responsibility is to making money, that is the purpose of a business. Allowing these kinds videos would be bad for their business so they remove them, along with other things they see as bad for business. From the post on my facebook feed, most people feel they acted fast enough, so I do not think they will make any changes.

What is truth? Good question. To one person, the truth is this understanding, to another, the truth means something different. When people commentate scripture, they are giving their opinion only. The only truth we can depend on is His words, not the words of how someone tries to describe what they garner from the real truth. If this is the understanding you walked away with, then we failed you and I apologize.

Well almost all boards will close a thread after a large number of posts. But usually you can just open a new thread. I always thought the problem with long threads was that people seldom read every post in a long thread (lots of posts). Also long posts are not usually read beyond a paragraph. (I could be wrong about this - just giving my past experience on other boards)

There are a lot of more intensive dictionaries that use the Strong's numbering system. I use the Complete Word Study Dictionary for both Hebrew and Greek. Within it is a full page describing how the word Zoē is used and where.

Kinda like poking an angry bear with a stick....I like it.

Wow! I would never have guessed you weren't American, Angels! See? You spell better than you thought.

We're living in an uncertain dangerous world and the Lord is our hope..

I have told this story before. Back in the 70s I had an obscene phone caller. Each time he called I would thank God that he called because I knew the guy needed the Lord. Then I would start praising and thanking God for His righteousness and holiness, His love and for dying on the cross for us. I would go on for 5 minutes or so, sometimes singing in the Spirit His praises till he hung up on me. We don't have to listen to anything the enemy says. Just turning our attention to God and praising Him causes the enemy to flee. God inhabits the praises of His people. We are more than conquerors though Him who loved us.

Even the terrorist who took the lives of these Egyptian people knew they were Christians and as such deserved of death. Now this discussion implies page after page, word after word, in a dark and veiled message to add to that terrorists evil that the people in church on palm Sunday were killed for nothing. Because they were not actually in Christ. God rest the souls of his people God forgive the those that lay curses upon the dead. Amen.

Amen!!

The main elements of the Temple's drawing are now three-dimensional. Some details of the temple complex have not yet been made and some buildings do not yet have textures. Some changes may also affect the facade of the House of Sanctuary. This is a preliminary assembly.

Did the apostles not teach this? The prophecy of Ezekiel has always been in the canon of the holy books of Christians. Ezekiel is the same as the Revelation of John, these two books write about the same, both about the "two witnesses", both about the Temple, both about the animals before the throne of God, both about the flow of water, both about the City, both about the 12 heavenly The trees that grow around the waters flowing out of the Temple in the Judean Desert. Maybe you did not carefully read these two books? Ezekiel's Temple is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Do you want to know what will happen next? If you are with Christ today, then you do not have to worry.

He is the father of lies, so why do we dwell on the negativity he tries to force feed us? He throws us tricks and shadows, and it is written that the time of tribulation he instigates will be cut short, else he deceive even the elect. We are not supposed to underestimate our enemy, but many times we give him far too much credit and think him more powerful than he actually is. God is on the throne and in control, and by His grace we are overcomers. What are some ways that you have learned to defeat the lie in your life? Let's share and encourage each other, not concentrating so much on the enemy's attacks but on God's goodness, greatness and protection. God bless

I'm not home for the Five but I see Watters on the weekend....can't stand him (as a talking head that is).

Okay...now say that three times really fast!

All you super spellers who got 100%...y'all should be proud of that because some of those words were hard.

MG It is Dutch lol

MG It is Dutch lol

Yes,before the WorthyNewsBot posted it I was going to post it.

My first language is Dutch

The five is moving to the 9PM slot if I understood them today, so Tucker will probably move into o'Riley's time slot. The guy in the middle of the five is going to stay in that slot and Waters will join the five on at 9.

Amen and amen!!!

Thanks guys for your replies, very encouraging. No matter whether it's to pull down your self-esteem, your esteem of others, or your perception of a situation, we must overcome the lie with the truth, and the enemy with the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (which is in fact the truth) Sometimes, like gdemoss, you are battling others' deception to reveal to them the truth of Christ and the present state of this world. We have been lied to about history, we have been lied to about current politics, we have been lied to about the food we consume, about the medicine we take, about sexuality, about our very existence. The father of lies is hard at work, but a city on a hill cannot be hidden, our light must shine! We must lift up Jesus, the Light of the world, that He would draw all men unto Himself. I have been told all my life that I am not good enough. Good enough for what? Or for whom? God loved us all so much that He gave His only Son for us. We don't deserve it, but to Him we are worth it. I'd rather take God's Word for it, and no one else's. Keep proclaiming victory in the truth! We are overcomers in Christ!!!

For today is Resurrection Sunday, the most important day to Christians worldwide. As my sig says "He is Risen". And lots of chocolate eggs for everyone!

He is Risen indeed! He's alive and well

Thanks Marilyn for your input to my wondering. Well how does one get that infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit on their own. Does it occur with prayer and fasting or does it occur automatically and you just know you have that gift ?. I was baptized in a Pentecostal church and before that i attended the church for more than a year and i witnessed how the tongue movement took place there. Let me just say, it is real spiritual force that is at work . When i came out the pool, i sat with the others, there was lots of speaking in tongues, rolling and i know the people was genuine and could not put on an act like that, just don't know if it was the real Holy Spirit though, as i did not speak in tongues .. I asked the Lord in prayer ,as i was a bit unsure about this and i said Lord if this is for me, here i am , so i guess it was not for me. Just a little insight about my experience . As a side note here. I have been in many,many spiritual battles and I know what wicked spirits can do and they are master counterfeiter, as they first try to entice and seduce, when that fails, then warfare. Let me say too, i am not painting anyone as having false convictions. Every man has to be true to his walk and answer for his words and testimony and this is just mine. Also, if the Bible says the gift has not ceased, then who am i to contradict.

Hi warrior, I think the confusion comes when we think that speaking in tongues as an initial sign of the infilling/baptism in the Holy Spirit gets mixed up with one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first one is personal & the second, the gift is for a message to the Body of Christ. Quite different purposes there. Everyone can speak in a heavenly language but only some are given the gift of tongues- message for the Body. (1 Cor. 12: 7 - 11) `Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels...` (1 Cor. 13: 1) `I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.` (1 Cor. 14: 18) regards, Marilyn.

For myself, in the scripture above (Mark 16:17-18). However, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, why wouldn't He (by the power of the Holy Spirit) give me the same gift He gave those at Pentecost? I believe I have the same gifts from God as those in Acts 2, hence my name.

I was born again into a charismatic church in 1978. Four months or so after that I was baptised in the Holy Spirit. At that time, I began to speak in my own heavenly language to God, and this language has never changed. When I cannot express myself deeply enough to God in English, I begin to pray to Him and it always uplifts me and has done for 39 years. I am in a pentecostal church now, and all our leadership have the same gift (own tongue). Mark 16:17-18 says "And these signs will accompany those who have believed: 'in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, {we do not test the Lord by doing this on purpose of course} and if they drink any deadly poison,{by accident of course} it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.'" I am completely comfortable about this and continue to follow the Lord and His commandments. My pastor is a solid Word man and listens to the Word on his Ipod all the time. I do not believe this is a salvation issue at all. I have known a lot of beautiful Christian folk who do not speak in tongues and I have great respect for them, knowing that they are saved and serving the Lord, He is first in their lives and they love Him. I remember encountering a group of people who believed that if you didn't speak in tongues you weren't saved. They were in error.

Hi Warrior, My thoughts are that people have always spoken in tongues down through the ages, but to the Lord in praise & adoration, privately. However I agree that publically in man`s organisations the infilling/baptism of the Holy Spirit has not been common & was brought to light in the Pentecostal move of God & later across the Body in the Charismatic move. Of course with the truth there is always the counterfeit, so we must be very aware & careful. Like your sister I have spoken in tongues, privately to the Lord for nearly 60 years & know that it builds up my spirit as I praise & worship the Lord. regards, Marilyn.

Hi hmbld, I would have closed my mouth too. The `speaking privately` & the GIFT of tongues is different. Now the difference I see in scripture & was taught, that speaking in tongues is one manifestation of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, (or as some say the Baptism of the Holy Spirit). It is a private speaking, & for building up that individual in the Holy Spirit. Everyone who seeks the infilling/baptism will be able to/should be able to speak in tongues. However the gift of tongues is another thing. Not every one who speaks in tongues has that gift. It is like prophecy but in a tongue, and is part of the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit who distributes as He wills. (1 Cor. 12: 10) Also speaking forth with the gift of tongues is actually a lesser activity, & the person should be seeking to bring forth the message in the language that all will understand. So - 1. Speaking in tongues to God by your self is praising the Lord & building up your spirit. (It is not called the gift of tongues.) 2. The GIFT of tongues, is the Holy Spirit speaking through some one a message for the Body. It obviously needs to be interpreted. If some one was speaking forth a language that someone knew it would be a good sign to that person, that God is speaking through that person. Marilyn.

The first display of tongues was on the day of Pentecost; Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Acts 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Acts 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

You are correct Marilyn. One is for a sign to unbelievers. And another for our blessing.

Hi hmbld, Well I grew up with tongues, prophecy, etc. being exercised. I personally received the gift of tongues at a young people`s camp in New Zealand in the `60`s. I have continued to speak in tongues to praise the Lord, privately. However in a group situation of believers, there is a different gift of tongues, in that it is a message for the body. Some one needs to interpret that message for the edification & building up of the Body of Christ. So - one is for private praying, & the other is for the Body, a message of edification. regards, Marilyn.

This is one subject I am perplexed by. I do not want to come out and say they have ceased because I know scripture doesn't come out and say that. In fact, it says the opposite. I have been at one church- church of God- where it is done and the minister gives interpretation. I have discussed this with ministers, and even they are divided. I know John McArthur thinks they have ceased but I just don't know. Without sounding blasphemous, that Church of God service sounded scripted and hokey to me, but again, I am not dogmatic and I could be completely off base, so Lord, please don't shoot me down for saying that. I just don't know...... but, I lean toward this- tongues may not be gibberjabbish, but may be another language just like at Pentecost. I just don't know.....

I've seen enough threads to his credit to offer respectful disagreement with you there sister. I hope you understand. I live my life knowing my Father speaks truth according to his will, for his purpose, and glory. He calls those whom he will to his son. No one comes to his only Son Jesus unless Father calls them. And once there no one can rip them from our Saviors hand. I do not place myself in the seat that second guesses my Father. The Orthodox church in Egypt follows the scriptures as pertains to eternal Salvation, Baptism, etc... As I said, they do not practice as many Christians practice but then again, there are so many denominations that we Protestants are even divided under the roof of our own House of the Lord. I mourn the loss of my sisters and brothers in Christ in Egypt and offer prayers to the families that try to survive in a land wherein a Satanic evil that is ISIS wishes them all dead. I will never compound their terror with my judgment that a single one of those Egyptian Orthodox Christians , living or dead, are not qualified to be called Christian. As is happening in the OP, through the vehicle of someone elses article which is then propagated to go further in its denouncement of those Orthodox Christians in Egypt. And these many pages demonstrate it will be without end for as long as others are led to follow that intention that says, pride and arrogance knows more than the Father who knew his own before the womb. This forum is a Ministry. This site was named the other day on the Hank Hanegraaff show. Did you know that? Monday's Bible Answer Man broadcast and roughly 13 minutes in, WCF's web address was given by a caller before she asked Hank H. to clarify the report, by this same OP member, promoting someone elses allusions, not facts, that Hank H. had converted to Greek Orthodoxy. [He did not]. Now, that new Hank Hanegraaff thread is continuing last I saw to slander his faith and further the gossip about him. In a ministry forum. Imagine those who may seek us out for community. And then find that spirit of judgment that thinks it has a right to judge whether or not they belong here. Without ever realizing Father's warning. God is Sovereign! Judge not lest ye be judged. One day we shall all give an account of how we walked our faith carrying the name of Christ on our lips. Thank you for your time in reading my post sister. It is offered with all respect as I know you are deeply committed to our Father and his Son Jesus too.

Being born again is a process that flows not from man to God but from God to man. Orthodox Christians may believe practice worship of God differently than we who are not Orthodox do. However, to claim they are not born again Christians is not so. According to the first scripture that speaks as to what it means to be born again. A child undergoing infant baptism , baptism by water, and of Spirit, shall enter the kingdom of God.There is nothing in that passage shared from John 3 that states one must be an adult and choose. Orthodox perform infant baptism according to one offering as to why and in the article linked below: “Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood. Their faith is the same. Their practice is different. Who can gainsay those whom God calls to him? Simply because now it is said Orthodox are not born again? When Jesus tells us how to be so? Born of water and spirit. Who is more connected to the Holy Spirit than that precious life God gave to this world as a newborn. Water baptized doesn't make it so? Born again? That precious newborn treasure of God? Or that convert who is baptized of water and spirit? John 1 The Witness of John…12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but born of God. Jesus said to see the kingdom of Heaven we must become like little children. Children are born again in the Orthodox faith according to the scripture in John 3. As are adults. Gleaned and shared in excerpts from the Orthodox Christian Resource Center:What is being “Born Again”? The first time the term, born again, appears in the gospels :“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:1-7) Infant baptism in Orthodox Christianity insures the infant is in Christ and is not at risk in the sin filled world. It is not contrary to scripture. As in John 3:1-7 tells us. “Let the little ones come to me”(Matthew 19:14) Couple that with his edict in John 3. And then recall God is sovereign. Our Father says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Romans 9 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Worthy Christian Forum is a ministry of the truth of God through Jesus Christ. Are we really here arguing who is not one of his? Because we judge what others who are members of far older churches do that we do not do in our own church? Do we call people to Christ? Or does the Father? Do we judge who is one with Christ? Or does the Father know their names before he created the world? What is our testimony as sisters and brothers of Christ when some may say, they know whom God would not, did not, call to his only Son.

This series of posts I've made are to bring to light something very disturbing. Egyptian Christians were slaughtered on Palm Sunday in Egypt by terrorist Muslims martyring themselves through explosive devices in churches celebrating Palm Sunday. The carnage is unimaginable. May we never know how that feels or looks in any Christian church in America. To then put forth a statement that conflicts with all compassion taught by Christ. The statement that we should mourn the Copts, which is a word meaning Egyptian, but not assume the one's slaughtered on Palm Sunday were Christians. Egyptian Orthodox Christians were slaughtered on April 9th by zealous ISIS Muslims who vow to divide Egypt by killing the Christians. They're dedicated to slaughtering babies, children, men, women, because in ISIS belief system these innocents are not of God. And they therefore do not deserve to live. They are not of Christ! But we should mourn them. There are Coptic Christians who today are making arrangements to bury their dead. And there is a movement on this forum that states we should mourn them but, which by grammatical standard the conjunction "but" disqualifies for the statement that preceded it, we should not assume they are Christians. A journalist writing an article for publication on the net as that which appears in the OP knows English grammar. Therefore what is intended to be communicated is: The dead Orthodox Christians who died on Palm Sunday do to a terrorist attack against them in their churches were not Christians! Every post I've shown with resource links proves Christian Orthodox is Christian. Be they Egyptian or otherwise. They are like unto us in the Father's grace, faith and belief in Christ. And as Jesus' beloved teachings tell those brothers and sisters in Christ here and in the world, Jesus did not die alone! Grace by the father, lead to Christ being born. Faith in Christ and his death on the cross leads to Salvation afforded by God's grace, through his son Jesus Christ. To imagine that faith is all we need to have in any degree whatsoever and that alone gains us Heaven is not what the scriptures teach. But that is what is being argued by some. Imagine the possibilities of that one. Yes, I believe Jesus died for my sins. And I'm a drug dealer believing in Christ. Yes, I believe Jesus died for my sins due to God's grace. And I'm a prostitute. I'm a hitman. I'm a terrorist. I'm a fornicator who shames my marriage and disrespects my husband as I have multiple affairs. But, I have faith in Jesus. Alone. That's it. That's not Biblical. Consider what Jesus died for. Don't even try to imagine how he suffered the scorge. For my sake. And for yours. Now imagine how you'd feel if a terrorist blew themselves up in your church on your day of celebrating the calendar of God's sacred days. Easter, Christmas, Palm Sunday. And someone said you weren't a Christian. That's their point! That's it. That is all. It's the grammar after all. It's the language meant to tell us, they're dead! But they're not to be assumed to have died in Christ. What Christians Want To Know Are Christians Saints? A Bible Study The Root Word for Saints The root word of the word saint corresponds to the Latin word sanctus which means “holy“ or “sacred." Thus, someone who is sanctified is “set apart for holy use.” Surely Christians are made holy by the atoning work of Christ at Calvary on the cross. They of themselves are not holy, but once they become saved, they are set apart for holy use by God and that is to glorify God and share the Good News with those who are not yet saved. The Use of “Saints” in the Old Testament Psalm 106:16 and Daniel 8:13 The Use of “Saints” in the New Testament There are dozens and dozens of references to the “saints" in the New Testament but these were not to those already departed or for those who were “beatified" or “canonized." (Source: What Christians Want To Know)

Orthodox Church of America Salvation Is Indeed By Grace What Orthodox Christians Believe JUSTIFICATION is a word used in the Scriptures to mean that in Christ we are forgiven and actually made righteous in our living. Justification is not a once-for-all, instantaneous pronouncement guaranteeing eternal salvation, no matter how wickedly a person may live from that point on. Neither is it merely a legal declaration that an unrighteous person is righteous. Rather, justification is a living, dynamic, day-to-day reality for the one who follows Christ. The Christian actively pursues a righteous life in the grace and power of God granted to all who are believing Him. SANCTIFICATION is being set apart for God. It involves us in the process of being cleansed and made holy by Christ in the Holy Spirit. We are called to be saints and to grow into the likeness of God. Having been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, we actively participate in sanctification. We cooperate with God, we work together with Him, that we may know Him, becoming by grace what He is by nature.

Coptic simply means, Egyptian (link) I.E. for purposes of this thread, mourning the loss of countless members of the persecuted church in Egypt that were destroyed in bombings on Palm Sunday, what is being discussed is Egyptian Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters. Who are now slaughtered in Egypt due to ISIS' resolve to divide Egypt by killing the Christians there. Think about that when you all read this thread's purpose here and what it claims of those martyred to our faith by terrorists in Egypt who do not think Christians are God's people nor do they have the right to live. What Orthodox Christians Believe SALVATION is the divine gift through which men and women are delivered from sin and death, united to Christ, and brought into His eternal Kingdom. Those who heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost asked what they must do to be saved. He answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Salvation begins with these three “steps”: 1) repent, 2) be baptized, and 3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. To repent means to change our mind about how we have been, turning from our sin and committing ourselves to Christ. To be baptized means to be born again by being joined into union with Christ. And to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit means to receive the Spirit who empowers us to enter a new life in Christ, be nurtured in the Church, and be conformed to God’s image.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Yes, the Holy Spirit will teach us all truth, guide us in His will and way, create in us a new creation, seal us in Him, all to do His will and obey Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

I think that we, mere humans, try to gain as much knowledge and understanding from scripture that we can, yet, we fall far short of truly knowing. His words to us are designed to draw us to Him, not to have an understanding of what the future is, still, many try to put together the greatest puzzle of ever know to life. What I do know is "And thus we shall always be with the Lord." What ever God meant, I accept. His instructions are to teach salvation and to make disciples, not to try an figure out the mysteries of prophecy. When it is time for us to know, He will show us the truth.