Seeker100

When I was a non-believer I did the right thing. I never knew at the time that Christians believed that Jesus is God (and I grew up in a Christian church). I just loved God and walked in the Spirit.

You cannot feel God and walk in the spirit without believing first. The bolded doesn't even make sense. Again, unbelievers cannot walk in the spirit. When I was a non-Christian I believed in God and He was my joy. The old testimate is loaded with God telling the people of Israel to follow Him and cling to Him. I experienced God as they did. I did not know about Jesus being God I just felt God in my heart and that He is Love. He was my joy when I was a non-Christian walking in the Spirit and He is my joy now as a Christian walking in the Spirit. Non-Christians can certainly follow God. Some people of the old testimate did. I did and many people of the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, nothing or anything if they follow God serve love and walk in the Spirit. God makes Himself known to all men. God in us all is the common thing that all people have.

Good Post Gentlewind!!!

I have to disagree with you statement colored. The Holy Spirit resides in us, guiding us, teaching us, creating a us into the likeness of Christ. Unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit; therefore, can not walk in the spirit as you say. I read that differently. I didn't think "unbelievers" were being spoken about, but rather those who hold to the One True God. Jesus is not in the unsaved, so they can not meet and serve Jesus in them. You need to be careful stating that those who are not His have Christ and the Holy Spirit in them ... I would have used different terminology. Even so, what Spirit is it that returns to God that gave it upon physical death? I too think all have the Spirit, but that not all have been reconciled back to God yet. It is God's Spirit that animates us. Seems to me that none would live without His animating presence within us. I think also that if we were to first consider that what we "do to the least of these" by seeing the Christ Spirit within others, even if that Spirit has not been born in them, may... just may expedite it's birth. Permie!!! Good to see you again!!!!

I have to disagree with you statement colored. The Holy Spirit resides in us, guiding us, teaching us, creating a us into the likeness of Christ. Unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit; therefore, can not walk in the spirit as you say. Jesus is not in the unsaved, so they can not meet and serve Jesus in them. You need to be careful stating that those who are not His have Christ and the Holy Spirit in them ... Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities

I agree that health care should be available to EVERYONE. But Americans, almost 70%, don't want Obama's plan. We are a different people, we don't like Washington running things. And we have 10 times the population. I hear both good and bad things about the NHS in Canada (from Canadians here in Houston) and they know better than I. I just know we, Americans, don't want government run health care. That is too bad if it is so, that Americans don't want government run health care. Why stop someone who is trying to help everyone and not just the rich. Governments have a responsibility to the people. It is their job to serve the people. In Canada and Europe we have very good social programs run by our governments to help society. Hopefully Obama can bring social programs to United States to help lift the weak and make the society more civilized and under God's law.

Walking in the Spirit is obeying God in our hearts. It is listening to God's voice to love everyone and see every human being as infinitely precious and valuable. It is doing our best by the direction of God to help and love mankind. It is loving everyone we meet even those that do us wrong. Anyone can walk in the Spirit, both Christians and Non-Christians as God's voice is in everyone. Christians however can do something that non-Christians can't. Christians believe that Jesus is God and that God is love. In believing this they can meet, see and serve Jesus in everyone they meet. Christians can literally meet and serve Jesus in every person, the good and the bad. Jesus is Love. He is the love to be loved and the love the be served. He is love for other people. Thus Christians have an enormous gift! They can walk in the light. They can align their physcial action to be for God when their motives are for God as they now can do things directly for God by doing things directly to Jesus in everyone they meet. Christians come to Father by coming to Jesus in each person they meet. It is the gift of life and it is for all people! How blessed mankind is!

As a Canadian I can assure we have problems with our system. Some are these problems are simply because we have many remote and lower populated regions. This makes providing the maximum standard of care for everyone very difficult. America does not really have that problem for the most part. The main thing we Canadians complain about is waiting lists. There are innumerable stories about waiting lists to get tests and examinations by specialists. These wait lists are sometimes totally ridiculous and basically the same thing as unavailable service. However, I think that is something that is still being worked through, and certainly isn't the usual situation. By and far, a massive majority of Canadians receive the critical care they need in a reasonable amount of time. And almost the entire bill is covered by the government. (obviously the money comes from our taxes though. and our taxes are way too high, there are a lot of things that add to this beyond health care) Do we have problems with our health care system in Canada. Yes we do. Would we trade our system for the American system. Never in a billion years. When Canadians are asked "what things make you proud to be Canadian?" One of the number one things they say is, our health care system. Good Post! As a Canadian I really love our health care system. It is not perfect of course. I live in a remote area and don't have a doctor but I can always go to the walk in clinics. I have had a few operations when I was young and the costs were all covered for the best treatments known to man. Presently I still undergo some treatments by a specialist and they are all covered by our health care system. I am so thankful to God that Canada has universal health care. Universal health care is a human right for all people. Obama's work in bringing health care to all Americans is the work of the Lord.

One can certainly lose one's salvation. Salvation is a state of union between man and God through Christ. If we decide not to live our lives for God we end the union and thus end the salvation. God does not end one's free will. Thus we can always lose our salvation. Thus we must walk with care as we serve the Lord.

I checked this thread out for two reasons. One it was regarding the "Kingdom of God", and secondly it was from you. The only criticism I might have is that you should have titled this thread as "Authority in the Kingdom of God". But otherwise, you have dealt with the subject nicely, and I hung on your every word. Great posts!!! Now I am going to create another thread that only regards the "Kingdom of God", just for the sake of theology. But I hope you continue to add to this thread. It is a blessing to many, including myself. Thank you & Blessings, Dad Ernie The Kingdom of God is exactly that. It is God's Kingdom. Jesus is the King and we serve Him. We see Jesus in everyone we meet and serve Jesus there. As Mother Teresa says, " the poor are Christ in disguise". The Kingdom of God is where we are our true selves. We are united with God in Spirit and He can work through us. It is a wonderful gift. It is life!!