Willa

I didn't say "has" means to receive. When we receive Christ, we have eternal life because He is in us and we are in Him. I don't believe that contradicts John 6. It is just a different perspective. Just as the Father revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ, He reveals the same to us so that we are able to receive Him. I just believe that we are free at that time to reject that revelation or accept it. Those who the Father has given to Jesus will receive Him. Since He knows the end from the beginning, He has given to Jesus those that He knows will receive Him as their Lord and God. Those who reject Him will harden their own hearts. Pride has a lot to do with rejecting Jesus and hardening of hearts. He opposed the proud but gives grace to the humble. A person does not have to be born again to do this, just as Peter was not yet born again. We are given the right to be born again after receiving Him. Anyhow, that's how I see it. Not a good Calvinist but not a good Arminian. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

Joh 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 1Jn 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 1Jn 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Therefore, When we receive Christ we also receive eternal life. This is receiving Him as God in human flesh and receiving His Holy Spirit to reside within us. Christ died for all men but only believers appropriate His gift of salvation. 1Ti 4:10. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

I like your interpretation. However, I had been taught that it is part of the description of a Jewish wedding ceremony. The engaged couple part ways as the man goes to his home to add a bedroom to his father's house. Jesus is telling them He must die and go home to our Father. The room has to be inspected by dad so he has to do a good job, and only the Father knows when it will be done. Then he returns and sweeps away his bride. In this case the church is the bride of Christ. The time of His coming back for us is still in the future. A theme throughout John is to be ready for His return for us, and to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Part of our rest in Christ is to do God's will by the power of the Holy Spirit and not try to do things in our own strength.

We have questions and answers as well as prayer requests on Wednesday nights. Our pastor is not seminary trained but is an avid reader and has covered most authorities. Only once have I heard an answer that I doubted and I have sat under his teaching for 15 years. He is an excellent teacher. Few seminary people have learned how to let the Holy Spirit guide their words but depend on their own prideful intellect. Only one of the 8 pastors I have had in 75 years had learned that secret. He had taught in his seminary but he had learned to be an exhorter when in the pulpit rather than a teacher. His teaching fell flat.

I don't believe it should be an either or discussion. When we are born again we desire to fellowship with believers and to serve them. We also desire to worship God. 1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. Being in fellowship with Christians follows being in fellowship with God, and the continual cleansing of the Blood of Christ seems to be related to our being in fellowship with other Christians. So it would seem that they can't be separated very well. Lately it has been hard on many of us because our church doors have been closed due to covid.

We speak about heaven all the time on this site. Perhaps something else was the cause of a conversation being shut down? I have no idea what you are referring to.

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. It is true that woman was deceived. However Adam's transgression was worse because his rebellion caused him to transgress the word of God Who had spoken directly to Adam. His punishment was hard labor as well.. His sin caused the fall. Gen 3:17 And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life. Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. Gen 3:19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return. Women and men are equal in God's eyes. However, there is order and roles in the home. Men shall have the last word but women are a help meet and should offer her wisdom to give balance to man's perspective; and men would do well to consider it. Woman is no more fallen than the rest of mankind. We are equal in that regard. Christ has saved us in the same way as men, by grace through faith. 1Ti 2:15 AMP. But women will be preserved (saved) through [the pain and dangers of] the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control and discretion.

The facts are in the Bible. God hates for people to practice the occult. He said don't do it, but That is what Casey did anyhow. He disobeyed God. He rejected God's word. In the same way, there is no such thing as good witchcraft. All witchcraft is evil in God's eyes. It doesn't matter is the outcome seems to be good or evil. It is the practice of doing it that is evil. You can argue with God all you want to about this, but your Creator lay down the rules and by them we are judged, not our own rules. It is the same as God saying you can eat of every tree in the garden but THIS one. If you eat of that tree you have disobeyed God. It may not seem reasonable to us but HE made the rule and we must obey HIM. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. 1Sa 15:23 AMPC For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. My advice is: DON'T REJECT THE WORD OF THE LORD!

Ok, being fearless when fear is warranted is tempting God. We can handle rattlesnakes claiming promises that God will protect us but that is tempting God. God gave us a brain to use common sense when danger is imminent. I don't try to pet a black bear protecting cubs or a mama moose with a calf. Bull moose can't be trusted either and can be very dangerous. Other wild animals can be dangerous if they are hungry and their prey is smaller and slower than them. We have often seen all of the above while bird watching, and leaving them alone is the best option. This kind of fear is not terror. It is using common sense. We don't need to be terrified of Covid, for instance. My friends still leave the mail out in the garage for 3 days before opening and don't go out in public even with masks and gloves months after having both covid shots. She is terrified of it. She should be. She is not saved and refused to make Jesus her Lord. She lives in terror of most everything. Many people have a terror of cancer as well. We should have a healthy fear so as to make wise choices. Being in terror of disease is not from God. The enemy can put a paralyzing oppressive terror on people that is not healthy or reasonable. He lies and we don't have to listen to him. He came to steal and destroy our joy and peace so that we can't even think straight. We need to remember that God is at hand to walk through the fiery furnace with us. He can make us a blessing to others even in the midst of our trials.

Our country's Vice President has blamed the current border crisis on--you guessed it--CLIMATE CHANGE!!!!

The man was probably demon possessed to be able to do things by satanic powers. They certainly are not God's powers or he would not condemn people who do them. It is seeking after other gods. 2Ch 33:6 LIT And he made his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and did magic and divined, and used sorcery, and used mediums and conjurers; he multiplied the doing of the evil in the eyes of Jehovah, to provoke Him to anger. Lev 19:31 'Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. Lev 20:6 'And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.

Humble yourself before God. Pray prayers like: God have mercy on me, as sinner. Lord I believe, help my unbelief. 1. I am not accusing you of anything. But some sins are hard for us to see. I have prayed and begged God to show me my sin and remove it from my heart. 2. Thank and praise God in all circumstances because He is worthy, not because you feel like it or not. 3. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He came to kill steal and destroy, and that includes stealing your joy to make you unfruitful as a Christian. You don't have to listen to him, period. He is the father of lies. Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Php 4:5 Let your gentle forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Php 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psa 51:8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Psa 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psa 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psa 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Jas 4:6. But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Jas 4:7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jas 4:8. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Jas 4:9. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Jas 4:10. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

You can convey the message of God in music lyrics and unbelievers will never know they are from the Bible. I have done this many times when counseling people. We also find Scripture references slipped into secular movies and TV show that aren't quoting or being preachy.

You are correct. However, often other replies have wandered to another subject completely so I try to reply to the original post in most cases. Like I said, I replied to the subject, not to you.

I was quoting you to reply to what you said, not what others have said. It was not to be an affront to you personally but to speak about what you said. We are all allowed to disagree about the subject. We are not allowed to make attacks on you personally. Sometimes people take things personally when someone disagrees with them. They all need to get over that. It is our pride that is injured in such a case and we all need to renounce all pride. I hate for my pride to be injured, but that is the only way I will know it is there and needs to die. Believe me when I say that harmony comes when our pride dies. Love prevails when pride dies. Pride was the sin of satan and is the root of contention and rebellion. It must die for all of us to be in harmony. I am deeply sorry if I have wounded you in any way. Speaking from personal experience does not make it true in others. Please forgive me.

We are not to judge as to condemn them to hell. We are to judge them as to whether they are displaying the Spirit of God or another spirt that is ungodly or fleshly. This is more like discernment. We are told that we will judge the angels someday. We are not to judge as God will judge at the Great White Throne.

That is one thing I disagree with. I nearly always use it when someone make a really bad pun, since the only good puns are the really bad ones. There are a few incidents I have also used it. One is that of bigotry, especially against Israel or Jews.

All correction is good in that it keeps us humble, whether they are correct or not. It keeps us seeking God's face for knowledge of the truth. I am not the best person to receive such correction gracefully when they are dead wrong and lying. Oh, well. God continues to teach me valuable lessons in spite of them.

Most of us agree in the basics included in the statement of faith that Worthy agrees to. They include the inspiration of Scripture, allowing God to be Lord of our lives, believing the the trinity were all involved in creation, that Jesus is God in human flesh, suffered for out sins arose from the dead. The Holy Spirit was sent to indwell us and enpower us to do God's will. It is best to not get dogmatic about the non essentials which don't concern salvation. Examples might be which day to worship on or methods of baptism. Even Calvinism vs Arminiansm is a non essential. All who have the Spirit of God living in them are saved. Those who are dogmatic about non essentials and become divisive should take a step backwards to see if even they have Christ dwelling in them. Party spirits are a work of the flesh.

This man is not only evil, he has led many others astray to seek to communicate with the dead and other evil practices. Considering how accepted the occult has become since the 60s, I am appalled that any genuine Christian would even consider condoning Casey or any other person that would presume to call himself a Christian and continue to practice the occult. It is an abomination. We are told to choose you this day who you will serve. We can't serve the occult (satan) and God.

We are to allow Christ to be in control of our lives, not our self. Self becomes evil when self is allowed to take God's place in being the lord of our lives. We are to deny self and allow Christ to control our lives. When the Spirit of God moves into our souls (selves) He works with our spirits to communicate with God and direct our lives. We deny our own wishes to yield to God's wishes. Nevertheless not my will but Thine be done. Self without Christ can be very evil.

In the Revelation we see how satan first tried to destroy the Jews, from whom the Savior would come. Then he turned to destroying the Christians. People still hate and try to Destroy the Jews as did Hitler and so many others, and then Christians. So sinners who unconsciously serve satan still hate Jews and Christians.

The psalms and all of the Old Testament was written to Jews. After Moses all Jews were under the Mosaic law. There were conditions to having a covenant relationship with God. If they obey the laws, God will bless them. Now days Christians are no longer under the law. However, if we do the 10 commandments out of gratitude for all Christ has done for us, we will certainly be happier and God will still bless us for our desire to honor Him. In the Abrahamic covenant God put him to sleep and God alone passed between the halved meat to confirm the covenant. In Christ's covenant Jesus sealed it with His blood in the place of all sinful mankind so God alone again sealed the covenant. Nothing is required for us to do to receive it. This was a covenant of grace. None of us is worthy of God's kindness and forgiveness through Christ's blood. It is a free gift requiring no works on our part. It only requires saving faith which also is a free gift from God. These gifts are undeserved and can be refused or never received and opened or applied by us. No works are required so no one can boast. We can only rejoice in them and thank Him, receiving Him as our Lord God and Savior. Through receiving Christ as being the God/man sent to us from our Father in heaven, God bestows His Spirit upon us and makes us His own children. John 1. In Psalm 101 David is still repenting of his affair with Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Repentance is forsaking our wicked ways and determining to do what is right in God's eyes. We still need to do this a Christians, even though we fail time after time. We will not be truly happy and feel God's blessing and guidance when sin comes between us and Him. This is true when trying to live in harmony with a spouse as well. We need to keep clean slates to lead happy lives. If you have questions, please ask and I will give you verses and explain it better.

When we are forgiven our sins are blotted out, forgiven and and forgotten.. Our sins shall be a s white as snow, so we won't even be judged for them as I understand it. Our names will be written in the Lambs book of life. Our good works will be judged.

You need to ask a specific question. Sometimes these questions are best in the women's or men's locked forums since children are also on our forums and we keep them appropriate for all.