hmbld

I believe the "works" that you refer to as being the action on our part, is a result of God's saving grace, creating a "new man" in us, is not works as to contributing to salvation, or even proving salvation, but instead the "works" is a result of God's work in us. Again the action required on our part still is not a credit to us, but a credit to God.

This 50% is new to me! If I get a gift on Christmas can I just say I'll take 50% of the credit for this gift instead of saying thank you? Lol

I was pondering your wording after I posted, wondering if I misunderstood your post. If you insist by accepting a free gift, you can take credit, well I see the train of thought but disagree with the concept.

If I give you a gift Butero, what credit can you have in the offering of the gift? the sinners prayer is not the thing doing the saving, rather it may be the spoken acknowledgement of God. We have no credit, only gratitude.

Isn't each day a day for the gospel regardless of who comes across our path?

Even so, God does not always keep violence away from christians. I keep thinking why did God allow Paul to be beaten, stoned, etc so many times? Did he not defend himself? Were there no other christians to defend Paul? Could it be Paul was not concerned with the power weapons could have here on earth, because he knew God was more powerful. Jesus did not defend the woman who was going to be stoned with any weapon. I am not saying a christian can't use a weapon for defense, I am saying I am trying to make sense of this in my head.

I'd agree. And if God made us for relationships, both with God and with others, we need each other, so asking others to pray with/for us, is part of a relationship. If you pray to a dead "saint", where is the relationship? Essentially your making this dead saint a little god who has special favor in God's sight. Nope, ain't happening.

Interesting lol. But would it really work, or would they use the teaching of using deception as a way to pass this "test". It is odd that the media will show some of the truth of how muslim countries social structure works, yet in general we can't "offend" them when they move to a country that is not muslim.

I fear I may not contribute anything that would be accepted, as I have to say Jeff makes sense to me. Often, it seems when someone has complaints, needs, poor thoughts of another, it can be projection. Now noob supplied this passage: o the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. 12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. Now I don't see where feelings come into play in following the word of the Lord. Is it hard, why yes of course. Could following the Word possibly bring this husband to see Christ in her? Why does God bring people into our lives that are hard, maybe downright impossible to love? Loving in the face of unloving is nearly unheard of. So do we make decisions based on our feelings or on the Word of God? You may think me hard, maybe I am. Even now, I am on the brink of severe depression, which makes no sense if I value God's word over all. Life is hard, how do we see/hear God in the midst of all this confusion? As for storing up a man's end, I only pray the end is loving God, I dare not wish the other on anyone, the mere suggestion makes me cringe for them.

It is known to have errors, read at your own risk! lol Some say it gives you more understanding of what is not explained in the bible. I say if its not all truth I don't need it!

Surely God makes no mistakes.

How can God confine Himself inside His own creation-time?

Maybe I'm being petty lol but I don't view God as not knowing something.

I think we are incapable of understanding God, and Shiloh addressed Genesis 6:6, 3 posts above.

Well, Oak, I am not entirely ignoring your other examples, its just I believe Shiloh has explained these things much clearer than I could. In short, I see you trying to contain God in a logical box, trying to pin down your points on wording of God repenting and regretting as if He makes mistakes as humans do.

Well, I am attempting to understand how you say there is no free will if God cannot change His mind. That just does not make sense to me. Why would God ever change His mind? He is all-knowing. There is another thread explaining God relents, but that does not mean He changes His mind. Also, how could God be not all powerful if He cannot change His mind? That is nonsense equivalent to the question "can God create a rock too large He cannot lift it?". It may initially sound logical, but is in fact nonsense.

When were we told to consider God using man's logic? I also do not agree with your logic here, you have not proven anything other than you attempt to use logic to understand an all-knowing God. God is all knowing, why would He change His mind? He also exists outside our own little timeline, figure that into your logic!

God exists outside of His created "time". He does not have to look into the future as He is already there! Do not constrain God to the same boundaries we have!

understood. not saying your wrong, but I am questioning if it is appropriate to state what demons are and are not, as a fact, when it can not be proven?

I think I may already know, but care to share biblical proof of this oo?

This made me laugh, thanks!

No one seeks God on his own, Psalm 14:2-3 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand,[a] who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. But God calls us, John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." And I believe He calls everyone regardless of their IQ. Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, nhave been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,7 in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. And I see a pattern in the bible of God seeking us out, even longing for us to come to Him, starting with the first two people, Genesis 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" As if anyone could hide from God! We may reject Him, but we are called. We may try to rely on emotions and lie to ourselves, saying that God did not choose me, yet that is incorrect. God did choose you, and everyone else, our responsibility is to respond, the mystery of free will is that we can respond either way, yet God desires us all to come. If anything could be hard for God, in my limited human knowledge I would think granting free will to people would be a hard decision to make. Because of free will I hear people blaming God, accusing Him even of sending people to hell. This free will, it is a mystery to me, for we can decide to choose God or not, yet even with free will we are dependent on Him drawing us, revealing Himself to us,

You may instruct me on how such and such a day has pagan origins, but before the pagans did their thing my God held ALL the days in His hands and He trumps any pagans. I know this is too simplistic for a legalistic standing, but I am but a simple man! christmas is recognizing Jesus, family, blessings, hope, God loves us!

luke2:14-18. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” certainly looks looks like there were some who were celebrating! This is the most important part of Christmas to me. Please don't take Christmas away! I may have a tree, but I've never worshipped it!

I remember in grade school every year we would put on christmas plays, and sing christmas songs. Actual biblical plays, actual Jesus songs. Now I'm amazed how many stores will not mention Christmas, its only "happy holidays". I've heard the arguments about pagan origins, and I don't care. get back to merry christmas, with every child in public school learning that Jesus is the reason, and like someone says, make america great again lol. Bring back the actual religious freedoms and freedom of speech to america and every school, bring back the monotonous pledge of allegiance, where kids actually say "under God". Anyway, do we really want to give Christmas back and help keep every american from saying "Christ" in their daily conversations, from, say, about mid sept all the way through Jan? I don't. Maybe the majority has turned it into spending money and giving and getting, but I think the real reason for the season still gets put front and center for unbelievers even to contemplate. Now, this is a Christmas thread, so if you are offended, please do not read any more. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!