chloe_fantastic

Thanks for all your answers, guys.

Atwood, can you elaborate on what you've said and how it applies to the OP? Thanks.

My sweet sister Kwik, God bless you, dear, for taking the time to post all of that for us. It is appreciated. Your sister, Chloe

These verses say we aren't to despise or judge each other on account of these things, for God's able to make us all stand, regardless. This rules out the possibility that it's a salvation issue.

Willa, you bring up a good point. It makes me wonder if building a large, expensive church is wrong in and of itself, why would God command the Israelites to do it? I bet the Temple cost more than $100,000 in our money, surely.

If the default position were saved, we wouldn't be told in the Bible to respond positively to the Gospel and accept the Lord's offer of salvation. We would already possess it, so it would be completely redundant.

Thank you, Shiloh, for taking the time to help me with this. I think I'm getting the picture much better.

Okay, so what I hear you guys saying is this isn't pertaining to Christians. My next question is, why does the verse say....."If any man see his brother...."? I always took this to mean "a brother or sister in Christ" when I read it in the NT. Is this a wrong understanding?

Hey Shiloh Does he mean the person eventually loses their salvation by not being able to repent (spiritual death), or that because they're unable to repent God eventually takes their life (physical death)? Hey 2404, Do you mean blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Can/would a believer commit such? Thanks, guys, and I'm sorry I'm posting in this way. Ever since my upgrade to Windows 8.1, the quote feature no longer works for me.

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. So what is the "sin unto death"? This came up in Bible study tonight. Someone said that it was rejecting Jesus, based on the understanding that death in the verse refers to spiritual death. I disagreed, reason being if this was so, then why are we told not to pray about it? If a brother or sister seemingly fell away, wouldn't that be something we should pray about? The only reason I can see to not pray about this is if the death being referred to is physical and prayers after this point are futile. What say you?

Izzel, I'm going to take your reply as an indication that you do mind me asking. This indicates to me that you're assuming what you think most other people believe. Correct me if I'm wrong, please, and share with us where you got your figures. Saturday/Sunday worship has nothing to do with the question I asked you, and is a red herring, a distraction, because you don't want to answer my question. This isn't necessary. If you're assuming, it's ok to say so, and then we can have an honest, meaningful discussion about what most of the world really believes, and how we can gauge that, and if it's even possible to gauge.

Will pray for Tina

This is so interesting to me. I've never heard this before. Can you tell me where you got this understanding?

Hello Sammy, God had to know already because God knows everything. This is called "omniscience." Take a look at these verses. 1 John 3:20 NASB in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Hebrews 4:13 NASB And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Matthew 10:30 But even the hairs on your head are all numbered.

Hashe, this blessed me. Thank you, brother.

Brethren, these things ought not to be........

Revelation 20:12, 13 NASB And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Just for everyone's convenience......

We're commanded, as individuals, to love our enemies, as individuals. I don't see how this can possibly be instituted and kept as foreign policy for an entire nation, unless those shaping the policy are all Christians, and will always be only Christians. Even if such were the case, I don't see the Bible as promoting pacifism, per se (yes, I know about "turn the other cheek" but I believe this also to be largely an individual mandate, and I also believe it has its limits). There are cases where war or other military action is simply inevitable, because we live in a fallen and sinful world, and while we may be loving as we can be, others will not be. It certainly wouldn't be loving to stand aside while these evil men would oppress and brutalize those too weak to defend themselves. Even in stopping them, I believe there's love to be seen. We reap what we sow. The more evil they're allowed to commit, the more evil they'll reap to themselves. Also, imagine at some point they repent. I know I've felt much sorrow over the sins I've committed. Stopping them could save them much misery in the long run, as well as those they'd seek to harm.

Izzel, if you don't mind me asking, can you share where you got your figures in regards to the majority believing in the Rapture, and the majority believing the Millennium to be taking place in Heaven? Was it something you read somewhere, or maybe based on your own experiences talking with people? Thanks.

Thank you for this, brother. It blessed me.

I've always found this to be one of the worst in terms of message. Ariel's constantly disobeying her father, "falls in love" with Eric after seeing him for all of thirty seconds, is willing to give up her entire life to go and chase after a man she's never even spoken to, goes to a witch for help, and of course gets rewarded for all of this at the end.

And if this would've happened, it would've made Jesus out to be a liar, because He'd already told Peter he'd do it.

Luke 3:11 ESV And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Proverbs 28:27 ESV Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. Matthew 25:35 ESV For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, We're all familiar with the command to feed the hungry. What I want to know is, is this command unconditional? What I mean is, are we to still provide food to those who are able to feed themselves, but won't, like someone who refuses to get a job when they could? How about those who already receive assistance of some kind, but do the wrong thing with it, like people who get welfare and buy cigarettes with it instead of food? This comes to mind..... 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. But it's written to the church. Should this verse then only be applied to those who are in Christ?

CD, welcome to Worthy, nice to meet you. Just wanted to suggest that no matter what the cause of Pearl's problem, labeling it as "stupid" may not be the most helpful way to go about talking about it. It's obvious in your post that helping her is what you want to do, so I'm sure the last thing you want to do is use words that will push people away. God bless, brother.

We saw it in theaters.....twice! I thought it was one of the best Disney movies ever made as well in terms of message and storyline. I don't usually buy movies, as one has to be really, really, good for me to want to watch it twice, but this one may actually be this good......and it's an animated kids' movie!