Willa

The Catholic Church taught that the Jews killed Jesus so they were hated. People didn't read the Bible. They just believed what they were taught. Luther also became bigoted in his final years, and possibly senile. He was also very bitter toward the Catholic Church which was seeking to kill him and continued to support the sale of indulgences, or buying loved ones out of purgatory. Augustine taught that Rome was the new Jerusalem that took the place of Israel. It teaches that the Revelation is just an allegory to that effect. It is a strange read. Augustine had a lot of good teaching but this was not one of them.

The "Jewish" people have been persecuted by "Christians" for 2000 years. I don't believe that a Christian can be indwelled by God's love for Israel and persecute the Jews or anyone else. Nevertheless, Jews are Jewish by birth so they think we can be Christians by birth. (Some Christians think that as well.). They have been bigoted toward us for good reason. Centuries of persecution. Many years ago I bought a menorah at a little Jewish shop in California. The clerk was so puzzled why I would want such a thing since I am Christian. I explained to her the many references to it in both the Gospels and the Revelation, so it gave me an opportunity to witness to her. I told her that many Christians support Israel. She was amazed.

I so agree with Omegaman and would urge you to obey the Scriptures he quoted. Don't know if it is possible to have your permit changed to include religious services. Personally, I have seen the type of revivals that you describe come and go. Most have not been so much of God moving but of the flesh and people looking for something exciting rather than to seek Gods face through the word and obedience. The latter is true revival.

Are you talking about the men that like to act like John Wayne? My father in law was one of those. However, he was cruel, arrogant, controlling, selfish, unforgiving, unloving, unfaithful, and just used people, especially his own family. He hated everyone there was to disdain including Christians and every race and nationality. God used him in my life to teach me how much I needed Him to live in me to love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable. He died rejecting Christ as far as we know. My dad was so opposite that. He was a very strong person in character but reasonable, fair, compassionate, gentle and kind. He didn't spank me often but I clearly remember when he did. He was the strength of our family and led by example, but he always got his way. He considered himself a scholar and a philosopher till he was saved.

The commandments are to be kept. Believers go beyond the requirements of the law when we walk according to the Holy Spirit. We go the extra mile and become a blessing to our neighbors. We are no longer under the law when we walk in the Spirit.

As long as your heart is good with God and you know that you don't harbor bitterness, just forgive them as well. Satan is the accuser of the brethren and you don't have to listen to him. Sometimes he uses people. Those people are his victims and to be pitied. So we love them anyhow and forgive them.

I might promise myself a reward for doing my taxes, which I dread doing this year. In previous years I looked forward to doing them and had them done by this time but his year I just can't face it.

It is not faith or works but faith that works. Faith is not static but dynamic.

While it is not in the Old Testament, it is taught in Romans explicitly. Since this is salvation by grace through faith taught by the Holy Spirit through Paul, I believe it also is righteousness by grace through faith. It also teaches the law of love which we now practice which fulfills all the OT law. People can't impute righteousness, but with God all things are possible. He credited the righteousness of Christ to our accounts. Praise His Holy Name! This is why we have a better High Priest, a better testament, a better law, a better faith than the Jews had. Read Hebrews as well. Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

They say that when we focus on not doing something it just intensifies, because that is what we focus on. In Romans 7 that is what he does. The evil he doesn't want to do is what he does because that is what he focuses on. When we focus on following Jesus and the things of the Spirit then we do that. That is why I keep going back to Romans 8. Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Our associate pastor was also a clinical psychologist. He said that when people hold unforgiveness and always dwell on that person they eventually become like them. This is why we need to focus on Jesus. We will eventually become more like Him. All through the book of Hebrews we are admonished to look at Jesus.

I had the same problem with depth perception and spatial perception. It was also hard to judge speed for that reason. My vision therapy really helped that. I still have some problems but it is mostly resolved. I always have to check the stairs when I go down, for instance.

We see in the word that the law is not for those made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ, but for sinners that they might know their need for a Savior. Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 10:4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Gal 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Gal 2:21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed iseveryone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” Jas 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. Gal 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Gal 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”, Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 1Ti 1:9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man slayers, Heb 7:19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Believers fulfill the law by allowing Christ in us to love others and serve others. That also brings glory to God. There is no longer an obligation for believers to obey the law. We are not "under" the law or under the old covenant. Instead we are already declared righteous by God, having Christ's righteousness conferred on us. We are set free to serve God in love. We are given a new heart and a new Spirit that delights in serving God and being a blessing. Even if that is obeying the speed limit, it is being a blessing by being a law abiding citizen. It brings peace and joy.

Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf. His righteousness was credited to our account. He took our unrighteousness upon Himself when He went to the cross. Rom 4:22 That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." Rom 4:23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, Rom 4:24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, Rom 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

God is also using it all to save souls. Our church is growing again and is planing another building project. We now meet in a huge carpeted gymnasium which doubles as a play area that is also partitioned for class rooms during the week.. We will soon be building a sanctuary as well since our school is also expanding and growing. More Sunday school space is needed as well. We are bursting at the seams. Four portable buildings have been moved onto the property and it is not enough. We normally baptize outside but do to the freezing temperatures we put a watering trough in the sanctuary and baptized in that! lol. Hopefully they will think to include an indoor baptismal in the new sanctuary. There is also a fresh spirit of rejoicing. God must be doing it because no one really knows what is happening or why. It is all very strange. The world around us is crumbling, people are dropping dead of covid, and our church is rejoicing; it is a bright light in the darkness.

I agree, missmuffy. We can only "channel" Christ's love and forgiveness. It is not in ourselves to forgive. It is Christ in us Who forgives. His life in us enables us to offer forgiveness as it undoubtedly did in Stephen. God forgives them even when we can't, or when they never apologize or ask for forgiveness. Unforgiveness only corrupts us. We have no choice but to forgive or the bitterness will affect every area of our lives and hurt every person we know and love.

I have also heard this, as if Paul couldn't possibly be that human. I think that Paul is lending us what he has learned from his own experience. Remember that He was taught by Jesus in the desert before he appeared on the scene. Paul was very human and had human failings and struggles.

It is also associated with my dyslexia. My eyes also sometimes switch dominance for near and far work. Ok well. Probably many people have it but few realize it. I discovered what was going on in a developmental psych class and took therapy for it which did help. It raised my GPA by a point.

I have never seen this taught by Catholics that Mary is a higher god than Jesus. The Catholic Church has always taught the Jesus is fully man and fully God, and that his humanity came from Mary. They just teach that she was born without sin and didn't have sex. They think Mary already ascended to heaven and is now called the queen of heaven, and that she intercedes for Catholics. This is contrary to Scripture that says Christ is the only intermediary between God and man and is our intercessor. There is nothing that says any dead person or saint can intercede for or help anyone. We should only pray to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We should never pray to angels or people. There are people who pray to their dead relatives. The Bible states this very sinful and calls it praying to familiar spirits. It is sad what happens when a church departs from Scripture. You can't even reason with Catholics because they don't rely on plainly read Scripture to back up their beliefs. They rely on their traditions and the interpretations of their priests. That is why Catholics are now placed in their own section away from our main forum so they can't confuse new believers with their unbiblical doctrines.

I am right handed but my eyes change in dominance. That means in archery one day I was hitting bulls eyes and then next I couldn't hit the target.

I find that Romans 8 is the answer to the quandary of Romans 7. When we walk in response to the Spirit we don't obey the old man or the flesh. It has to do where we focus our attention. We have to keep our focus on Jesus to walk on the water or walk in the Spirit. When we focus on the flesh we fall. Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

God will use this experience to keep you close to Himself.

Uganda is a Christian nation constitutionally. That is more than the US can say. It is their neighboring nations that are extremist Muslim.

Jesus did call those who rejected Him sons of Beelzebub. However, he has always had a remnant. Remember that the first church consisted of Jews, including the 12 apostles and Paul, and all who were saved at Pentecost. Not all of Israel was condemned. That is why we pray for Israel today that their eyes and hearts might be opened to the love of their Savior.

I know that no one else is ever tempted by self righteousness. I go down the street at the speed limit and watch all the speeders Cruze by me. So I become proud and think about all those sinners endangering the lives of others. If I am not better than them, I certainly am showing how much more I love God by obeying the law. I can get so ugly so fast without even realizing it when I compare myself with others. That is why God had to bring me so low to show me He loves me just as I am.

Some years ago God really drilled this home to me. I had a frozen shoulder as well as a crushed foot. I couldn't even use crutches but had to crawl on raw bloody hands and knees. I felt so useless, not even being able to cook for my family. God told me clearly that I don't have to be able to do a thing for Him to delight in me. As soon as I a born again Jesus' life is in me and I am pleasing to God. He treasures each one of us no matter how insignificant or how little we can accomplish.