Willa

Having no formal teaching except for traditions like "making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out whose naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town", this is what I believed when I first repented. I didn't realize that salvation is a a free gift, by grace through faith, not of works. So I thought I had a second chance to be good enough to go to heaven. It was horrible bondage! It is a lie of satan, and it took years to free me from it.

Mat 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; Mat 6:15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I didn't ever say that. I did say that we should try to avoid becoming bitter. We are told to not let the sun go down on our wrath. We are even told to make peace with our brother before we give our offerings. Fortunately later on Paul won the deep respect of the apostles at Jerusalem. His gospel was the same as they preached. 1Co 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 1Co 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1Co 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1Co 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 2Pe 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. Peter put's Paul's letters on par with the Old Testament sacred scriptures. "We only ever need to concern ourselves with whatever situations, circumstances and people that God puts us directly into contact with. Regarding all of those scenarios," You fail to realize that some people here have had to deal with comparable situations in real life. People here have been raped and molested, threatened with death, and used for satanic rituals. I am not stretching this but am simply didn't name the names of the people involved. Perhaps you are naive and think that we should put our children in the care of these unrepentant dangerous people, and trust them. We forgive because Christ forgave us, and He in us is able to do so. If Paul warns to avoid dangerous people, it is right to do so even after forgiving them and seeing them as God does--lost and corrupted by sin and by the enemy. Paul forgave his tormentor but did not trust him, and assumed he would harm others if given the opportunity. It really doesn't matter that he had rejected the Gospel. We never know for sure that a person genuinely has repented til we see the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, even as was seen in Paul and his many converts among the gentiles.

Welcome to Worthy, nkingman. That is how Jesus felt as well. People thought he was a mad man and rejected Him as well. The people He came to save in Jerusalem rejected Him. He was taunted and ridiculed even when He was dying for things he didn't do. If you are a Christian, Jesus is praying for you. Jesus said we would be treated the way He was treated if we are trying to live godly lives. The best I can tell you is that someday you will be out of school in working in the real world. They won'd be quite as cliquish then but the world isn''t getting any better. You aren't alone. My grandchildren who are 14 to 20 years are going through the same things. Try finding a youth group in a good church to attend and you may find a few friends there. But people are people. It gets better when you have a career or a job good enough to support a family; nicer girls take you more seriously then. Jesus said "in the world you will have tribulation. Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

We used to be able to buy them at a hamburger place and to get buffalo in the grocery stores but no longer. I love them as well, and it is very lean.

oops, I left out the egg. Just bought the hamburger to make one!

I grill it buttered but not inside. My husband buttered both sides of the bread. Never heard of mayo on it but I like miracle whip on cold cheese sandwiches.

Care to share your meatloaf recipe? I have several but always look for more. My husband liked it made with cream of mushroom soup and crackers. I like the classic with oatmeal, chopped onions and catsup with BBQ on top. My mom made it with chopped canned tomatoes, bread and onions. Love meatloaf.

Comfort food: a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of tomato rice soup with basil.

2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 2Ti 4:15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. We must forgive to avoid becoming bitter and falling short of God's grace. When the person who wronged us has not asked for forgiveness there is little chance of their changing, and many people are dangerous to ourselves and our children. We should not put ourselves or our families in the path of danger. Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled Wilkerson was putting the church's possessions in the hands of people of doubtful trust. He did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That is not to be compared to people who are dangerous and who have harmed us. I agree that they need to earn our trust. They do not need to earn our forgiveness. That is to be freely given even as God in Christ Jesus forgave us. We may be able to forgive a serial killer for killing one of our children. But I would have to see a real change in him before I turned him loose with another. Even though there are stories of Charles Manson, Bundy and others coming to Christ, I doubt if I could trust them. Even the apostle Paul who had persecuted Christians was not trusted in the Jewish Christian community because of his reputation. God instead sent him to the gentiles.

I also use e-sword while at home, and usually compare Amplified, English Standard Version and New King James. But I also check LITV, Wuest, and YLT. Word Study Dictionary N.T. by Spiros Zodiahates is my go to lexicon, as well as Vine's, Ropertson's Word Pictures, Vincent's Word Studies, and Wuest's Word Studies are also valuable. The commentaries I find most valuable are Barnes Notes and Jamison, Faucet and Brown. All are on my E-Sword but I have hard copies of most of them as well which I rarely use because they are too heavy and awkward compared with a computer program.

Rom 5:6 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. No one is worthy of His love. We are made worthy by the blood of the Lamb which takes away the sins of the world. God is love. He can do no less than love us whom He created, and whom are defiled by the enemy. So we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Heb 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, Heb 10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, Heb 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 1Jn 3:24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

The problem is that there is no purgatory in the Bible which says it is once to die and after that the judgement- hell. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life have the Spirit so already have eternal life. It is blasphemy to think that Christ's atonement was insufficient. We are either born again believers with the earnest of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing the blessings of Ephesians 1, or we are unbelievers who are rejecting God's offer of atonement. There is no in between. There are no second chances after death.

When God convicted me of sin I repented and asked Him to forgive me. Soon after I told the people I had sinned against that I was sorry and had asked God to forgive me, and tried to make it right. Then God drew me to read the Bible. I have have reading disabilities and couldn't understand King James. Months later I found an Amplified New Testament which I bought and read. Then God drew me to find a church with solid teaching since I was in a very liberal church with no teaching. So it was at least 2 years before I was finally baptized. The important thing was that I was continuing to walk with God, obeying that which the Holy Spirit's light guided me to do. The church I now attend only baptizes outside in the warmer months of the year. Like others have said, it is a testimony of what God has done in us. Sometimes it helps us to realize that the old man is really dead and we are new creations in Him. Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Welcome to Worthy, James. The problem is that every time we say no to God, we harden our hearts a little bit. It's not now or never. God will keep trying to get your attention. What will He have to do to do that? Will your heart be too hard by that time? Will you die in an accident tomorrow? We never know. But if your still care, it is not too late.

Isa 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isa 11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Isa 11:3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, Isa 11:4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Isa 11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. Isa 11:6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. Isa 11:7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. Isa 11:8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isa 11:10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Isn't that what Adam and Eve did? Good thing there won't be any trees of the knowledge of good and evil.

Even better in Paradise it is already planted!

That's the kind of sermon I seek to hear. He preaches truth.

Some of us believe that when we believe Jesus is God with us (Emmanuel) and the Word (God) made flesh (Jesus), that when we die our souls go immediately to be with the Lord. Then He will return to earth and rule for 1000 years in Jerusalem, after which He will reign in a new heavens and new earth--Paradise. If He rules in our hearts now as Lord, I am sure He will be our Lord and King in the future life.

The sin that all are guilty of who are sent to hell is that of rejection Jesus as the Son of God, God the Word made flesh. Hell is punishment in itself. All who are there continue to endure punishment and suffering. While all are forced to bow their knee to Jesus in the end time judgement, that doesn't mean that their hearts have changed. Rebellion was the sin of satan and pride was the cause of it. So these are the sins that remain in those who are sent to hell. Joh 3:17 ESV For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Joh 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Joh 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Joh 3:20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. Joh 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Welcome to Worthy, BNW. I don't think I have seen you before. You may want to start your own subject so that you can be vetted faster to post elsewhere.

Welcome to Worthy, WOTL. Usually we ask you to post in the welcome area first. But I will welcome you here.

Moses interceded for the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness because God was about to destroy them for their unbelief. He had delivered them from the Egyptians, provided food and water for them miraculously, and still they refused to trust God but complained continually against Him. So Moses pleaded on their behalf and God relented. There are only a few places in the Bible where God has "changed His mind"; perhaps God has a plan B. I personally think that God wants most for us to draw close to Him and depend on Him daily. He wants us to interact with Him in a relationship. Eph 6:18 AMP Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).Eph 6:19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel), Many times prayers for others are answered and we don't learn of it till years later if ever. Missionaries tell of such stories of severe illness and being spared, of sudden danger and being rescued. And often someone had awakened in the night and prayed for them on that day and hour. I have experienced this. God does hear us and answer prayer when we pray according to His will.

Rom 6:23 ESV For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. The Jews offered the blood of an innocent cute little lamb as a sacrifice for the sins of the household. Jesus is called the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, because He was without sin but gave Himself to suffer and die in our place for our sin. His blood is offered for our sin. When you believe that He loves you and suffered for your sake He becomes your Savior. When you in thanksgiving and rejoicing surrender to Him as God and Lord of the universe as well as your own Lord and God, and believe He arose from the dead, then He is your Lord as well. So it is appropriated to your own life by faith. It is trusting in and relying on Jesus Christ's death as payment for your sin. Romans 4. Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." Rom 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, Rom 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Rom 4:7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Rom 4:8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." Rom 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Rom 4:17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Rom 4:18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." Rom 4:19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. Rom 4:20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, Rom 4:21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 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. God credits our account with righteousness when we believe His word and His promise like Abraham did.