Way195

What scriptures mention things that could and will hinder the effectiveness of our prayers and relationship with God? I'm thinking right now of these three passages: Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he cannot hear. Psalm 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall recieve the blessing of the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. I'm sure there are many more scriptures along these lines in the Bible; please post if you think of some more.

[media=]

Sadly, I have to agree with you on that. This brings on a whole other discussion which we won't start here about wether discipleship is optional or not. I beleive a christian is a disciple of Christ, and if he doesn't want to be a disciple he's no christian. As far as taking up the cross in our lives; it is our choice, but we can't experiance fellowship with Christ in it's deepest form till we take it up willingly. Amen!

In the days of many of our forefathers cross-bearing and discipleship meant death or persecution; so what does cross-bearing and discipleship mean to us today who are living in happy-go-lucky America? This is a question I came to in a book I'm studying and I figured it would be very worth discussing. My first thought was that it means death to our own selves( selfish desires etc), but following Jesus has meant exactly that from day one.

Hello everyone, I'm currently going through a study book about the doctrines of the Bible and I came across a few questions that are a bit tough to answer so I thought I'd see if you'all have a some insights on these. #1 what is the difference between the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament verses today? #2 How is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit evidenced in the lives of Christians? #3 What does it mean to be born of the Spirit? (John 3:5) #4 Why will we bear fruit if we possess the gifts of the Spirit? #5 When does a person receive the baptism of the Spirit? I'll appreciate any thoughts you have to share to get my mind spinning... Thanks

I just put together a compilation of verses and additional thoughts from the Bible about the importance of a holy living. It is clear in the teachings of the Scripture that no Christian is totally sinless (1 John 1:8-10), but it is also clear that God expects the true believer to not sin habitually. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his sead remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because is born of God. 1 John 3:9 To practice sin is to sin as a way of life. An unsaved person lives a life of habitual sin. The sin of unbelief is a normal thing for the lost person. A true believer does not live in habitual sin. He may commit occasional sins for which he must repent, but he will not make it a habitual practice. The word holy, holiness, saint and sanctify comes from a Greek root meaning, to set apart to God. The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is set apart for God by the Holy Spirit. The saint is a person set apart for God, enjoying a holy standing before God in Christ Jesus, with the obligation of living a holy life (1 Pet. 1:15-16). The evidence of the new birth is righteous behavior in the life of the believer. Sanctification is evident in a changed life. God changes us from the inside out (2 Cor. 5:17). 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Holy living demands determination Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:4-8 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. The Christian is responsible for his inner life and outward walk. All areas of our life should be in the process of being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Sin is abnormal and unnatural for the believer. The Christian does not experience the sinless life perfectly on this earth (1 John 1:8, 10), however we do overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-21). Holiness or sanctification can be perfected, i.e., completed or matured (Phi. 3:8-16). A maturing, or growing holiness, is an increased Christ-likeness (2 Cor. 3:18). It is a progressive sanctification, not sinless perfection. We will receive glorification when we see Jesus in heaven, and not before then. Until then, we are to grow in His likeness (1 John 3:3). Our responsibility is to yield ourselves to the inner working of the Holy Spirit and keep on growing in His likeness (James 4:8). The eternal purpose of God in Christ is for us to be holy. God has saved you by the Holy Spirit to make you His holy people (2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 5:25-27). Jesus Christ died to make us holy. The purpose of God in the atoning death of His Son for our sins is to save us from the penalty of sin, and to set us apart to God to become like His Son (Rom. 8:29). Our eternal destiny is to be conformed to the image of God in Christ Jesus (1 Jn. 3:3). God loved us while we were His enemies and sent His Son to die for us, and we are now His children who are to be like their Father. A Christian who sins is a child sinning against His Father. The proof that we sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ is a holy life John 14:15 reads, If ye love me, keep my commandments. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me (v. 21). If a love me, he will keep my words (v. 23). The answer to the obedience problem is love. If you love Him, you will obey Him. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (v. 14). If you love Jesus, you will be holy. If you love Him, you will become like Him. If you do not obey Him, you do not love Him. If you love Him, you will obey Him. You do not love Him if you do not do what He teaches. Because the Christian knows God, he must also live a life of obedience and not practice sin. The evidence that we are true children of God is a holy lifestyle Everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen Him or known Him (1 John 3:6, GNT). The child of God does not have the habit of sin because He has Gods divine principle of life dwelling in him. We cannot go on continuing to sin because we now have Gods very nature in us. A person who abides in a sinless Person must himself be sinless because he has a sinless regenerate nature. Gods children act like their Father. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Rom. 8:14). The Spirit of God leads to holiness because He will not lead you into sin and disobedience. If we allow the Spirit to lead us, we will live a holy lives. Our sanctification is not a personal attainment, but is a state or position into which God in grace has called us (2 Tim. 1:9). It is our responsibility, moreover to sanctify ourselves (1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:11). If we are going to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him, we must keep our lives from all known sin. Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt. 5:8). Without holiness on earth we cannot be prepared to enjoy heaven Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 1 Corinthians 3:16-18 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appear, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (1 John 2:28). The physical changes of our redemption will take place when Christ returns and our bodies are glorified. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him (1 Jn. 3:3; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:52-54). We will have new glorified bodies made for living in heaven. Because Jesus Christ shall return, we can and must keep our lives pure and holy. 　 　

The majority of evolutionists are actually Christian, or at least profess the faith. The beliefs of evolutionists vary as much as the beliefs of those who think water is made up of two hydrogen and one oxygen atom. You cannot expect to broadly paint evolutionists and get anywhere as it is composed of Christians, atheists, believers of other faiths, and everything in-between. If you want to debunk evolution or any other science just debunk the theory, don't add on philosophies that are non-essential (i.e. materialism or relativism isn't a prerequisite to fully accepting evolutionary theory). It may sound great when preaching to the Christian choir, but it will make little sense to anyone you try to convert if they know a thing or two about the subject. No REAL christian as a true follower of Christ can believe evolution, because by beleiving evolution one is denying the existence of an almighty being who has created all things by his power. Evolution doesn't deny God's power or creative acts. It's entirely possible to think that God has chosen to create in that manner. Why do you think that atheists are relativists? I don't understand why people would think this. Most atheists are, as a matter of fact materialists (not all), and materialists are certainly not relativists about their metaphysical truths. They make pretty bold assertions what is really the case, i.e. that everything which exists is reducible to material substances and properties. This is, on the whole, a weird bunch of things to assert. The theory of evolution forms all sorts of mathmatical calculations etc in order to come up with an explaination of how the world came into being. We can simply believe that this world was formed by the awesome power of the almighty God. In short, I am totally shocked to see people on here, (presumably professing christians) defending the theory of evolution.

The majority of evolutionists are actually Christian, or at least profess the faith. The beliefs of evolutionists vary as much as the beliefs of those who think water is made up of two hydrogen and one oxygen atom. You cannot expect to broadly paint evolutionists and get anywhere as it is composed of Christians, atheists, believers of other faiths, and everything in-between. If you want to debunk evolution or any other science just debunk the theory, don't add on philosophies that are non-essential (i.e. materialism or relativism isn't a prerequisite to fully accepting evolutionary theory). It may sound great when preaching to the Christian choir, but it will make little sense to anyone you try to convert if they know a thing or two about the subject. No REAL christian as a true follower of Christ can believe evolution, because by beleiving evolution one is denying the existence of an almighty being who has created all things by his power.

By all appearances we might have some evolutionists/athiests in this thread... It might be true that not quite ALL evolutionists believe in relativism; but you know as well as I do that that is by far one thing that the majority of them have in common. The truth in the Bible on the contrary, is not relative.

Right on shiloh! I think we all are at the common understanding that homosexual relationships are sin, Joel Osteen even says it's sin. Yes, there are allot of other sins too, but to say that sin can go to heaven is absolutely heresy.

Take a look at this: How can Joel Osteen get to such a degree of deception that he believes that a homosexual can go to heaven!??? He said him said that it is sin. Does sin get into heaven...certainly not or God isn't just and holy as the Bible says. I might agree with some of his teachings, but saying that homosexual sin can enter heaven is totally unBiblical.

That is certainly not anything you would call Biblical christianity... what a shame to the christian testimony!

Are you saying that rock music(not 'christian' rock) is not to be classified as 'of the world'?

II Corinthians 6:14 - 18 that I just posted in another thread would apply here as well: 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Are tatooes from 'the world'?... certainly. Therefore there can be no such thing as a 'christian' tatoo. Again, the end of verse 17 and and verse 18 would imply that God cannot receive us if we are not willing to be separate from the world. Matthew Henry's commentary says this of the passage above: Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?

In contrast, read this portion of II Corinthians 6 below: 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Christian music is christian music - rock music is rock music. Can we mix the two according to the Bible? No. It clearly says in verse 17 and 18 that we cannot expect God to receive us if we are not willing to separate ourselves from the world. Can we justify 'christian' rock music? The answer is quite clear.

Here is an article on the Biblical principles of separation from the word that I found. Seems like this is one Biblical principle that is way too often overlooked by christians today, but it is more clearly taught in the bible than many other teachings. I guess this is one of the 'camels' that some may have missed while straining at that 'gnats'. Hopefully the length of the article hasn't bored you... Edit : Maybe one of you Moderators can move this to the General discussion section. I guess I wasn't really posting a doctrinal question; just an sharing a general observation.

I belevieve a person in that case should be willing to take the consequenses of previous sin if that is nessecary. I know of a man who is on the California top ten list of most wanted men who had fled from the law to Central America and became converted down there. After that he decided that it would be best to turn himself in to the authorities. I think they forgave him then when he explained the situation and confessed his wrong but I haven't read the story recently so I can't say for sure..

Hey I appreciate seeing this topic brought up here; thanks for the video!

This may be another one of the 'knats and camels' subject like someone mentioned in another thread. I personally have never spoken in tongues, but I do not doubt that I have been filled with the spirit. I wouldn't condemn anyone who stesses that speaking in tongues, but I would say that it is and has been over-emphasized in many churches where people are expected to speak in tongues and it only is a bunch of 'high' emotions rather than true spirit-filled emotions. Being filled with the spirit is not something we study to accomplish; it is nothing but the divine presence of God in a persons life.

Hmm, I think I heard that before... I'll have to check on the meaning of the greek word in that verse.

When I saw Augustine and Calvin quoted as "church fathers" the article lost me right there. Augustine invented allegorical interpretation and Calvin had people burned at the stake for believing differently than he did. Neither one are shining examples of Christianity and if you use them to bolster some doctrinal claim, you lose me in the process because just the use of their names discredits anything you have to say. I actually hadn't caught that the article mentioned Augustine and Calvin. I'll have to read that portion again. No I certainly don't agree with some of the doctrines of those two men.

There are a few of the commandments in the old testament that were not reinstated in the new, but you will find that Jesus endorsed a good many of them in his teaching. But yea, the ones that weren't mentioned in the new testament we would have a basis to consider void. As to our subject of tattoos again, take note of the piont that is made about our bodies being the temple of God. OUR BODIES ARE A TEMPLE When the Lord created man and woman and placed them in the garden along with His other creations. He spoke these words in Genesis 1:31, "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." When the Lord created the human body, He pronounced that the way He created it was very good. The Lord desires that our bodies be a reflection of His own beauty. When people tattoo their bodies they are tampering with what the Lord said was very good the way He made it. We should never mark our bodies as this is unnatural. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are admonished not to defile them. Tattoos on one's body is like graffiti on a wall. Having tattoos on our bodies does not glorify God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." What is it within man that makes us dissatisfied with the way the Lord made each of us? Most people are not happy with the way they look so they seek ways that will cause them to feel better about themselves or cause others to accept them. This is not wrong when it comes to having good grooming habits, but we need to understand true beauty comes from within, not from what we wear or how we look. When the emphasis is put on the outward appearance we can be ensnared in vanity, rejection, fear, pride and even racial discrimination. One of the most wonderful things about receiving the Lord is that He wants to deliver us from the outward things that we think we need to feel good about ourselves. When we are in sin we do not feel worthy or acceptable, but through Christ we are. When we can fully walk in the knowledge that we are acceptable before God through Christ, we are then free to be the person God made us to be without having to create a different image. Many people are consumed with trying to be different or become acceptable not only by getting a tattoo but by other things as well. Some Christians argue that they have the name Jesus or some Biblical word or sign tattooed on their body so they can witness by the tattoo. However, God is more concerned how we are living our lives than by displaying a religious mark on our body. That is not the highest way He would have us witness. The Lord would rather us witness to others by the character of Christ being demonstrated in our lives than display Christian slogans that many times are not matched by the life of Christ. Certainly, the Lord can use a tattoo of a cross or other religious symbol when a Christian has one of these as God knows the heart of the one who truly wants to share Christ with others. However, it is not necessary to use any worldly thing to attract sinners. It is the Holy Spirit who draws people to Christ through any yielded vessel of the Lord. When we pray and witness to others the Lord will cause them to listen. Just because a person has had a tattoo, it will not prevent God from using people to witness nor keep them from being a minister of God. God looks on the heart and can use different things to testify of Christ's love, even tattoos. However, well- meaning people can be deceived in their methods of evangelism.

Yea, I agree with that. We can't change our past we can only go forward from here; just because someone has a tattoo won't hinder anyone from being born again.

Please read this article. I just found it and the writer has made some interesting observations as to wether or not christians should have tattoos that I hadn't even noticed myself. http://www.bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=230

I would encourage you to read this article that I found last week on this subject. http://www.kingshouse.org/headcovering.htm I'll agree with you, it isn't the easiest one to understand. I see it pretty clear that Christian women should wear headcoverings, but the thing about the power on her head because of the angels isn't quite clear to me yet. I didn't get time to read all of it, but the article above does have a section about haveway down that discusses what the significance is of the angels.