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  1. I just have to say one thing. Yes, pineapple does indeed belong on pizza!
    6 points
  2. By His death having fulfilled the requirement of His law. It is through Jesus that we all believers are deemed righteous. Rom. 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. So then His Holy Spirit will dwell within the believer. Edit: And Rom. 5:17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
    5 points
  3. @Debp, @ladypeartree This little genius watched at the fish market how people would buy fish from a vendor. So she brought a leaf to the vendor who gave her a fish. From that day forward she brings the vendor a leaf and he gives her a fish.
    4 points
  4. Reminds me of a little one we used to have (Miss Ginger Rogers): She brought my Beloved Bride a heart shaped leaf because she thought it was pretty. My Bride put it in this display to photograph:
    4 points
  5. I understand that the process of getting God into man is achieved totally by Jesus Christ and applied by the Holy Spirit. The Tabernacle - God's first dwelling place - was specially designed to protect God's holiness. It also provided a very strict approach by man through multiple "gates". But the question above is really about the human BODY, for it is Christ's Body that was called a Temple (Jn.2:19-21). And after our Lord Jesus had gone to prepare an "abode" and returned, it was our BODIES that became a Temple for the Triune God (1st Cor.6:19). And it is here that we see a literal "wonder-work" of God. The Body of any man who came from Adam is totally poisoned and corrupted. Paul calls it this "vile" body and the "body of death" (Phil.3:21, Rom.7:24). In 2nd Corinthians 5 it says that in life we "groan" in this body and in Romans 7 it says that "NO good thing dwells in our bodies". Truly, what will it take for a holy God to use man's body for His abode on earth? God's creation shows us how. God sets forth a Law in Genesis 1:11-12 that multiplication of the animated creature will be by a seed within it, and it will always produce the same specie as the seed is. This is true today. In fact it is so important that it is upon this Law that Jesus possesses both humanity and divinity. It is also the basis of your rebirth. God had His Model in Jesus - the perfect Man. And so what He did was to put us all IN Jesus as seed of a KIND. In John 12:24 our Lord Jesus died as a seed. And in death our Lord achieves two things. 1. Because Jesus is the Creator of all things, and is the "Firstborn of all creatures", His death ended the old creation. And because we are IN Him, we were terminated too (Gal.2:20). 2. Because Jesus released us in the process of dying, like a grain of Wheat does, we became a New Creation with all that was old done away with (2nd Cor.5:17). This whole process is explained in the first verses of Romans 6, and Baptism is the "sign" that we have been through this process. A man IN Christ has a POSITION - in His death and in His resurrection. God now reckons a man IN Christ to be of the New Creation and in resurrection the old Adamic nature that corrupted our Bodies is gone. Now all that remains for Christ to do is WASH us and we are perfectly ready POSITIONALLY to host God. But God makes provision for our failures. He is a Spirit and so He makes man's human spirit His dwelling place. God only dwells in the Believers human spirit and is shielded from the profane by the man's soul. The journey to reach God in this new setup is designed to protect God's holiness. The journey we take to reach God in our spirits is quick. We approach Him in "Jesus' Name". In reality this is a complex journey. Our Bodies, being a "Tabernacle", has Gates, an Altar, a Laver, a first Curtain, a Lampstand burning, a Bread of Life Table, an Alar of Incense hard against another Curtain, and finally two Cherubim. Our Lord Jesus literally piggy-backs us through the whole way: 1. He is the Lamb without blemish Who died on the altar of sacrifice, 2. He is our washing at the Laver by His Word and blood 3. He is the Lampstand to shine His Light on our sins and our intellect 4. He is the Bread of Life for our DISPOSITION 5. He is the Incense that carries our prayers to the Father 6. He is our High Priest that carries us by name on His shoulders and by His heart of love 7. He has passed through the Cherubim .... and delvers us at the Throne of Grace - the Mercy Seat with its significant contents, and which UPON WE MEET WITH GOD (Jn.4:24). John 14 says that our Lord will go and prepare an ABODE, then return that we may be where He was already. The goal - to make men abodes of God. But He had to PREPARE a place. The above is a very brief explanation of one of the most profound events ever to happen 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (Jn 14:20)
    4 points
  6. Big Lou's Pizza, San Antonio Texas.. Multi Flavor, with or without pineapple... Perspective.. See any pineapple
    4 points
  7. Dominus Pizza of course!
    4 points
  8. "Mom, the Domino's chariot is here!" -- some kid in Rome, probably. :)
    4 points
  9. But who was the first to deliver?
    4 points
  10. He paid the price every person would have had to pay. The sin of the world and alone. Should do a deep study on just what it cost God. People seem to think He came died rose went back as if nothing happened. Just having the holes in His hands and feet don' t come close to what it cost Him. Only.. oh thank you Father.. oh.. only a GOD could do it. :) pray your doing great and so blessed Mel85. Something else to dwell on.. YOU have "you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places"...yeah AWESOME! You have been! In JESUS name. Yeah.. still prayin
    3 points
  11. The general explanation I've heard is that it was due to sin. Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself and was in a way, temporarily separated from the Father. The idea is that He payed the price for all our sins and experienced the end results of that sin if only for a while: death, Hell, and separation from God.
    3 points
  12. I would say that Adam was the first model and was hand made. No need for a belly button. Jesus was begotten and came from the normal way all other humans have been made, and they have belly buttons. So while I can't prove it, I think the major difference is that Adam and Eve probably did not have belly buttons, but the rest of us including Jesus does. And if that's not the most frivolous thing you've read all day, you need to up the standards of your reading material.
    3 points
  13. We were having a discussion on another current thread about how the holy God can live in defiled creatures like us. It then occurred to me (and this is inline with my quest to define the Christian life as simply as possible) that the Christian life comes down to just these THREE* things: 1) His Redemption Christ's redemption was 100% complete - He terminated old Adam's race (our old man) and made us righteous 2) His Supply He now, as the Spirit, comes to live in us to supply our every need *3) Faith in both these items He's given us! Lord Jesus You are amazing! Help us to always be so simple and just turn to You --> rest in your work, take everything to You and let Your life live in us and supply us!!! * Undated to add "faith"
    3 points
  14. I am Thankful to God, for the wonderful design of the human body and all it can do!
    3 points
  15. I don't mind sharing these things, brother. It offers the reader a glimpse of the compassion and mercy of the Lord and how He is not like man who can be harsh and even cruel. Consider how the Spirit ministered to me during those times when there was no hope, and I was afflicted with psychotic depression. Understanding what psychotic depression is, is needed to appreciate why hearing His voice was so important. Psychotic depression is marked by delusions pertaining to self-worth; these delusions are accompanied by a specific internal dialogue. What do I mean by that? Internal dialogue = self-talk and our own thoughts, not to be confused with "voices" associated with psychotic disorders. The internal dialogue of psychotic depression is horrific, a running self-commentary populated by things my mother would say to me during childhood. Indeed, it was as if I internalized my mother's voice and made it my own. These delusions were also accompanied by memories of traumatic events --- PTSD --- that were warped by the depressive psychosis. That's what psychotic depression does; it warps everything, changing one's perception of reality and relentlessly battering the one who suffers with successively more nightmarish visions leading into desperation. That desperation is what leaves the one in torment vulnerable to suicidal ideations... desires... and eventually, impulses. The latter occurs because nothing can stop the nightmare. When it's impossible to sleep and food makes you ill, it's a warning sign of things to come. There is no treatment for psychotic depression --- nothing at all --- and the prognosis is bleak, my friends. I should point out that circumstances have nothing to do with the relentless cycle of severe depression. It arrives regardless of how relatively happy (or not) you are, and it can literally take everything away... including a life. In the throes of the nightmare, the One who made Himself known to me spoke. What He said was completely at odds with that delusional narrative and those horrible visions; when all I wanted to do was die, He said that I would not. I told Him that I wasn't fit to live, but He declared that He alone makes me fit to live, I do not. It wasn't in my hands at any time, and no child --- or man --- deserved what I had endured. It wasn't my fault and I did nothing wrong. All I had to do was listen to His voice and I would endure the otherwise unendurable, learning the meaning of courage along the way. Courage? Oh yes. The Lord spoke of courage, teaching me that courage is not the lack of fear or terror but rather, the resolve to face both without compromise. I looked upon those nightmare visions which displayed my demise over and over again and I found strength in the encouragement of the Lord, who was always contrary to the psychosis of depression. I lost the fear of death and with that, those nightmare visions never returned again. There's this notion afoot which naively asserts that the Lord will "take it all away" or simply make whatever it is disappear if we only have faith, but that wasn't His work in me. This was the fiery trial and the means by which I learned how to trust in the Lord and His word, whether He speaks those words with His mouth or they are memorialized in scripture. One and the same to be sure. I marvel at how the Lord sees fit to work. He spared my life miraculously, but my recovery in the wake of my brush with the grave was accomplished under the guidance of the Spirit one... step... at a time. I didn't realize that the process of my recovery prepared me for what followed afterward. Regardless of what the Lord does, it always serves His purpose and will. Always! This includes hearing His voice.
    3 points
  16. Think knowledge comes first, we have to know what we are joining or beginning to attached ourselves to John 17:3 is key "taking in knowledge leads to life eternal.
    3 points
  17. We are the clay, He is the potter. Different vessels for different purposes. Most of us won't have glamorous responsibilities to maintain. Think upon meekness and being a peacekeeper along with being pure in heart.
    3 points
  18. We hear so much about the Spirit yet I sometimes see so little in both my life and lives of others. If I’m supposed to be filled, then that’s my goal. If it is offensive to some religious establishment, this is the least of my concerns.
    3 points
  19. Well, the questions you asked about those with dementia are good ones for sure. I have known people who are sweet and loving who after dementia progresses are mean as snakes, so I have also asked these questions. What I believe about that is that when we are saved we are told by scriptures to renew our minds to the truths of God's Word. That renewing means to embrace God's thoughts, and live according to His Word. It does not however erase memories, and the old ways of thought, but we choose to act accordingly to God's Word that we have renewed our minds with. Dementia (as I understand it from my wife who is an therapist) causes the break down of the human mind and removes social filters of how people act and what they say. Since those filters are removed, some people who have memories of bad behaviors, sins, etc. don't have those social filters that override those old man emotions, actions and behavior. Thus many Christians in advanced stages of dementia have the old man actions and thoughts rise back up shocking their family and friends and anybody else around them. Saints cussing like sailors, being mean and vile as their brains break down over time. Looking at myself, I have a terrible past life of sin and every now and then those old ways of acting and talking tries to rise up in me, but I put them down by remembering God's Word concerning those things, and if I have to I speak those verses out loud and simply by faith ask God for His power to overcome them. Does this mean that I am not saved??? OF COURSE NOT, it means that I must take control of my thoughts and take them captive to the authority of God's Word. So what happens if I would ever get dementia, and am unable to mentally control my old thoughts buried in my memory as my brain deteriates and breaks down.??? I hope I never have to go though that.
    3 points
  20. My grandmother on my father's side is an interesting case. She was my mother in practice and did a lot to expose both me and my sisters to Christianity. I think she meant well, but she also bought in to the prosperity gospel and some other dubious teachings. She seemed to use it in a way that was self serving sometimes. After her dementia kicked in someone in the mental health field described her as a psychopath. As the primary caregiver I ended up being the target of a lot of her abuse, and she behaved in some ways that weren't Christian at all. I'm potentially wrong in this belief but I think that what's in a person's heart will shine through even during dementia. What I saw and experienced during her dementia didn't paint a great picture. It left me wondering about where she ended up. On one hand I absolutely believe God is merciful and grants people who are mentally impaired a lot of slack. On the other it was clear that she had a lot of bitterness and anger for various reasons. Back to the question though, I still felt sympathy seeing the state she was in during life support. There's a lot to take to heart about her case, one of those things being that only God knows for sure what's in a person's heart. Even a decade after the fact it's still distressing to think that her standing with God by the end went so far off the mark as to land her in Hell.
    3 points
  21. With Indiana Jones, I'm thinking of that scene in the movie the Last Crusade where he and his dad are getting shot at. Henry Jones: They're trying to kill us! Indy: I know Dad! Henry Jones: This is a new experience for me. Indy: Happens to me all the time... Our Indiana Jones climbed into places he fell three stories from (only bruised his paw pads)... got his tail tangled up in window blinds draw string (he was okay after we cut the draw string but until we freed him he was in such a panic that he bit my Beloved Bride so hard in the hand it swelled up and we have to get her shots) She held him up while I cut the draw string. He was just prone to these sorts of things. He got stuck in a neighbor's garage door as they were opening it. Ironically he was generally unscathed by all of this. His guardian angel has nothing on mine (even though I am prone to taxing my guardian angel to the limits too).
    3 points
  22. We named her because she was a dainty lady but because she had a beauty mark on her nose. Our niece pointed out that the coloring of her ears was like she was wearing a big bow. She and her brother Indiana Jones when they were kittens. Indy earned his name always into something or in trouble... ever on the brink of using all his 9 lives... I'm getting choked up going so far down this memory lane. They are all gone now... in their places new little ones who needed us (all of which have special needs). But the past family members will never be forgotten. Ever.
    3 points
  23. Certainly. Here in New Mexico, the green chile and pineapple pizza is a thing. Both toppings go well together.
    3 points
  24. I understand what you're saying, but I think you're forgetting one important thing. Laws are always going to exist. People say you can't legislate morality, yet that's exactly what laws are. All laws are a form of morality from either one group or another. If Christians do not take an active role in creating the laws of this nation, then we leave to the atheists that duty and responsibility. We have seen especially recently the extreme danger of letting the godless dictate what the laws will be in the country. Sin will run rampant and God's people will be persecuted. Christians have a duty to create moral laws that benefit all people. If Christians sit on the sidelines, we won't even be able to witness our faith or evangelize our neighbors because the lawless in power will take away that right from us. I would prefer to live in a country where I don't have to risk imprisonment for my faith, but if no Christians stand up for us in government or politics, then that is exactly the type of decision we will all end up having to make.
    3 points
  25. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ370j4DFXf5zTU6wEa_6Fey30S6noI0Q38iw&s
    3 points
  26. 3 points
  27. One reason is that he snatched me out of the devil's hand when I didn't realize I was in deep spiritual trouble.
    3 points
  28. I like my sub sandwiches on flat bread. A pizza folded in half.
    3 points
  29. We love, because He first loved us. My love is all over the place but His for me never changes.
    3 points
  30. I think there is a reluctance to go into much detail in this subject since it open most up to scrutiny and doubt. God [speaks] in many ways and through many people and even animals. At least the one donkey (Numbers 22). Satan does as well (and through at least the one serpent Genesis 3). Sometimes people are not good judges to distinguish between the two. As with all things, we tend to believe in what appeals most to us. But imagine Abram at the behest of the LORD took Isaac to Mount Moriah to slay (Genesis 22). Or Hosea being told to marry a prostitute. Our wits and personal bias and self serving desires kick in and reason "surely not Lord" ← Simon Peterobics {wink} "Unless I see the prints of the nails... I won't believe." ← Thomasonics I have heard my name called out audibly when no one was around causing me to pause just long enough to avoid a fatal accident. I have hear the voice of God in my heart aiding me in an intense debate with a Jewish Rabbi (guiding me to a profound point about Isaiah 53 that the suffering servant is Israel as the Jews claim... but that Israel is none other than the Messiah (Israel is a contraction of three words he / prince / God yish sarar elohiym and the ultimate Prince of God is... Messiah Jesus). I seek the tutelage of the Holy Spirit every time I read scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21 / 1 John 4:1 / Acts 17:11 / Proverbs 25:2 / Deuteronomy 29:29 / Isaiah 28:9-13). I endeavor not to write or do Bible studies by my own understanding but by what the Holy Spirit gives me at times which flows so consistently I hardly know what is coming next until I've typed it. Often times I am given a word to type that I do not know for sure what it means until I look it up. The late great Dr Walter Martin (founder of Christian Research Institute and the original Bible Answer Man radio broadcaster) once put it like this... "you have to do your home work... but you also learn by doing... debating cultists and skeptics and atheists and heretics of all varieties, I sometimes find answers to their questions or challenges that are not coming from me because I did not know them before." God also speaks as in Revelation with a completely audible thunderous voice. I guess the point in all this is the testing by the scriptures (Acts 17:11 / 1 John 4:1) to determine whatever you hear however you hear it is actually the truth / voice from God or not.
    3 points
  31. Loving as Christ loves is literally impossible. Jesus is God so his love is absolutely perfect, but we are fallible imperfect beings who have a hard time with the simplest love. We can do our best, but our very best love still has much room for improvement.
    3 points
  32. We don't do it on our own. God sends the Holy Spirit to empower and direct us in the task. If we try to spread the Gospel in our own strength, without relying on the Holy Spirit, we get into deep trouble!
    3 points
  33. I'd go along with that, and drop the bunnies and eggs.
    3 points
  34. I think Judgement ( Bema) Seat of Christ. Wood hay stubble-Gold Silver Precious stones. Good works to the glory of God vs self works to self glory. Not sin judgement. Judgement of what we have been doing considered works. “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 The judgement of our works (at the Judgement seat of Christ) determines our position ruling. Or not. Only believers will be judged for their works. The lost will go to the great white thrown judgement. Wood hay stubble works are burned, not salvation, but we may enter as by fire with little or no 'good' works. Gold silver precious stones are representative of good works done while here on earth. To whom much is given, much is required. Talents-grace-knowledge-blessings, health/wealth etc. Receiving much requires good stewardship, faithfulness, with what God has given us to use to his glory. Receiving little is the same, being faithful with the little, a good steward, gains more, or much more. Receiving much and yet being a poor steward with God's blessing is held accountable by the judgement seat. Like at the biblical Olympics, the judge has watched the participants. Evaluating-judging the winners, the faithful, at His Judgement seat, individually, I do not believe corporately. Bema means a raised 'podium' that God will sit and judge each one of our works. Those who have been faithful in much, will receive much in the ruling, 1-2-3 cities or provinces, etc, not sure the amounts etc.. Those who received much and were yet poor stewards, wood hay stubble mostly, will receive little. Those that received little yet were very faithful in what they received, good stewards, will receive much concerning rewards, or ruling. There's much more but I believe the jist is simply right now God is recording our works, and the past and future. Who was the faithful stewards? These will be judged at the Bema seat, and the results determine our position with Christ in the future reign. This is not anything to do with any sins which have all been paid for. It's about how we have actually been showing our God and savior how much we love Him. Or not. He will judge to determine who rules what where, if anything. My simple studied understanding. PS, edit add. The works we do/have done is decided on most by our motive for having done a 'good' work. Not the amount, but having been a good steward, faithful, for whatever amount we had to work with. Why do a work? To be seen, praised by friends for unjust gain, to show someone up etc etc, or silently, maybe unseen, or simply because we know it will please-glorify the Father.
    3 points
  35. 1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: Charity; Love = affection or benevolence. Benevolence = doing good or giving aid to others, rather than making profit. Doing the right thing without expecting a return/acknowledgement. (unseen:) I also, Adrien, feel know I have fallen short. So God tells us how to love him. Bottom line, crystal clear, no if's and's or butt's, simply obey him. John. 14. [15] If ye love me, keep my commandments. [21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Neat stuff... Thanks Pat/Adrien
    2 points
  36. I'm incapable of loving the Eternal as he loves me. Woe, woe is me, for I love myself too much! I can follow the teachings by the power of the Holy Spirit, but I cannot outdo the love given me through the Holy Spirit.
    2 points
  37. Sounds so legalistic. Do this do that dont do this dont do that. Whatshisname said that he did everything perfect. He didnt even drink coffee. Andrew Wommack. God said that he shouldn't be so legalistic. He changed when he got the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It's all true, but why focus on that? Easier to focus on loving God and others. And flashing your wealth, that is the biggest sin in Calvinistic Holland, also for non christians. I would rather have to watch out that I dont brag about how little I need. Come to think of it LOL thats what we do on a News site and then judge others who have the bloody nerve to spend 10 euro extra on nonsense. Oh I can grocery shop way cheaper than you! I go to Germany. It's so cheap there. Guy got jealous cause he lives farther away from the border and can't go there. We pride in cheapness.
    2 points
  38. @Vine Abider @Dennis1209 @Sower @Marilyn C @NConly @Jedi4Yahweh @D. Adrien @Wayne222 @RdJ @Tristen Three crucial questions arise from the dialogue of this thread: 1. Has God abandoned His purpose of Genesis 1:26-28 - that is, will man rule the earth, sea and sky and their contents? 2. Will Israel rule anything after refusing the King and committing a sin which the Lord said would not be forgiven in the present and future age. They attributed a work done by the Holy Spirit to Beelzebub? 3. Will slothful and sinful Christians inherit the Kingdom of Heaven when Christ returns? The Lord requires two or three witnesses to establish anything. For brevity I will stick to this, even if more proofs are at hand. 1. The Covenant of Promise with Abraham is for a land that Abraham could see. Its borders are defined at least three times. But after Abraham refused the Land and its goods at the hand of the heathen, God enlarged the Promise to THE WHOLE EARTH (Rom.4:13). Jesus is the Seed of Abraham, Israel is the seed of Abraham, and the Church is th seed of Abraham (Gal.3:29). From Enoch through Jude to John the Apostle, they all predict that Christ will return to earth. In Matthew 25:31-32 Christ's throne of glory is set up on earth since He judges "ALL NATIONS" from it. The New Jerusalem, a heavenly wonder and sign, comes from heaven to earth and "The NATIONS" who are approved at the Gates may go in. No Nations go to heaven. New Jerusalem must be on earth. New Jerusalem is the Tabernacle of God. 2. The government of Israel after Christ's return is by Jesus Himself. To Israel He is "Emmanuel" - God WITH us. Second in command is David (Jer.30:9). David wrote profusely about Jesus in the Psalms. He must be a BELIEVER. To be in the Kingdom he must be born again. That is, David is a Christian. In Matthew 19:28 the Lord promises the 11 apostles that they would rule over Israel from thrones. The 11 plus Matthias, who was chosen by lot before Pentecost (Act.1) will rule Israel. According to the Jewish prophets Israel will "SERVE" but not rule (Lk.1:67-79). 3. According to the parables which pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven, plus direct scriptures like 1st Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:21 and Ephesians 5:5, the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom. These parables are addressed to the Believers, and te Corinthians, Galatians and Ephesians where members of their respective Churches - CHRISTIANS. Furthermore, in Matthew 24 the good servant who became evil in God's House, though chastised, is still called a "servant of His Lord". Furthermore, the men and women of Matthew 7:21-23 must be Christians because only Christians can cast out demons (Mk.16:17). Their sin was not casting out demons, but doing it without God's orders. There is sufficient proofs to fill a page - or even a book. But these above have to be dealt with because no scripture contradicts any other. That is, before any scripture can be brought, these must be shown to be untrue.
    2 points
  39. I'm slightly late to the party but I very much agree with the premise. Salvation is free yet we see a lot in the Bible that speaks of judgment according to works that suggests the absence or presence of rewards and a varying degree.
    2 points
  40. I just remember going to the city dump in St. Pete, Florida 50 years ago working with my Stepdad (law service) to dump grass clippings etc. every couple weeks and the millions of seagulls that blanketed the landfill. Their motion overall almost made the dump look alive like it could stand up and be some monster in a Spider Man film....
    2 points
  41. I would agree the man following God's word and protecting and leading the married couple with both using the gifts God has given them is the best situation. Encouraging both to be the people they were created to be. It works ! Been married 30 plus years. Sadly I've witnessed many men in a church setting using this 'men have authority ' arguement to belittle and even abuse women. I'm sure you would agree that there are some men who use it as part of coercive control to justify ungodly, abusive behaviour. Of course there are also controlling women who like to belittle and dominate men and use that in an ungodly way to gain power and influence. My opinion is God's way works ( no surprise there) but this area is often misquoted, misused to fulfill an individual's agenda and we need to be aware of that .
    2 points
  42. Ephesians 2: 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
    2 points
  43. `To him who overcome I will grant to sit with Me on My throne...` (Rev. 3: 21) We overcome by the word of God and Christ`s precious Blood. We are to overcome the false teaching of the wicked one and trickery of men - - that our inheritance is on earth whereas God`s word says heaven. - that we are to advance the kingdom of God when God`s word says we are to become like Christ and build up the Body. - that we are the bride, when God`s word says we are the New Man. - that we come back to this sinful earth when God`s word says we rule on Christ`s own throne in the third heaven. - that we are on this sinful earth in the tribulation when God`s word says we are on Christ`s own throne judging the world system and fallen angels. - that we are on this sinful earth in the millennium when God`s word says we are on Christ`s throne in the third heaven ruling over all. - that Christ`s throne, seat of power is on the earth when God`s word says He is far above all, in the third heaven.
    2 points
  44. The title is good, and should prove to be provocative. Prince Charles, now King Charles had a long way to the throne of Great Britain. He was born to a Queen which gave him the Birthright to the throne. He had no say in his birth. His mother paid the price of childbirth. But it is a great step from the mother's paps to the throne of Great Britain. So Charles' parents set about a constant training from his earliest years to be a king worthy of the name of Windsor, and a king who could serve his people. He must wear the kingly clothes, be subject to his schoolmasters, suffer discipline and learn politics. As a young man he is sent to the military and though a coming king, he must eat his share of mud. But all the while, a bevy of watchers hover in the shadows. The king, though he learn some hard lessons, must not be maimed. But what if Charles is strong-willed, a rebel and slothful. He likes fast cars and guns. He favor parties rather than politics. And soon he has had a few accidents under the influence of alcohol and drugs in which his friends lost their lives. He is soon DISINHERITED by his mother the Queen. On a certain fateful day he is publicly stripped of his titles. And now we take stock: - Charles is born to a Queen. Can he be unborn? - Charles has the life of his mother. Can Charles be stripped of his life/nature? - Charles is subject to the constitution of England. Can he be prosecuted? - Though Charles be a king-in-waiting, can he be stripped of the title and the office? So it is with the Christian. Current Christian theology teaches that salvation is a PLACE - heaven. It also teaches that we have certain rules to follow. But on closer examination it is found that salvation for a Christian is fivefold and does not end with a PLACE. 1. He is a sinner. He needs to have his sins forgiven. This was bought by the death of Another - it is FREE 2. He must be BORN into a royal family. This is achieved by faith and is FREE 3. He has a long record of a bad character. His character must be transformed. Like Charles, he must COOPERATE in this schooling 4. He will die one day. If he is to be useful, he must be resurrected. This return to life is done by Another - FREE 5. He will be judged whether or not he is worthy of Christ's KINGDOM. This EARNED by years of proving that he has God's interests and Name at heart Point 1, 2 & 4 are FREE. To achieve point 3 he must have self-discipline. He must be prepared to deny his own wishes. In point 5 he must be righteous in all his dealings for, later, with the power invested in him, he would cause great damage to people, country and his name. In Matthew 19 a rich man wanted to HAVE LIFE. Jesus assures him that because he had recognized and confessed Jesus as divine, he HAD LIFE (by rebirth). But now the Lord Jesus tells him he needs to ENTER LIFE. And our Lord Jesus uses THREE concepts interchangeably. The (i) ENTERING LIFE (v.17) is the same as (ii) ENTERING the Kingdom of Heaven (v.23), is the same as (iii) being SAVED (v.25). The man FAILED. He was not prepared to PAY THE PRICE. He had God's Law at heart, but not ALL of God's interests. He was born again and he will be resurrected, but when Christ sets up His Kingdom on earth when He returns, the rich man will be shut out. And so will the evil servant of Matthew 24, the slothful servant and the foolish Virgins of Matthew 25.
    2 points
  45. You just told my testimony! Wow,. Hard to believe they could be so similar. The more I prayed for him to change the more God changed me. He didn't say it, He just did it. It took 4 years for God to make me the wife that my husband needed. We were married for 54 years.
    2 points
  46. And as I've said often this time of year: Let's rename it Resurrection Day!
    2 points
  47. I appreciate the historical background.
    2 points
  48. Let's hope the starter posts are taken as Informative and Pre-emptive of that.
    2 points
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