Riverwalker

Good word. thank you And we must remember to do this and not be too proud to cast our cares upon the Lord. It is not weakness, it is a humble acknowledgment of His greatness 1 Peter 5: 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Perhaps we should be careful where we wander. It is one thing to hear the opinion of men, it is another thing to give them heed and a place in your head. After all, they are just men, and this is the Word Of God (not the word of Matthew) we are talking about. Even though the bible was put to page by dozens of men over a period of more than a thousand years. It is perfect. And it is perfectly harmonic, in that from Genesis to Revelation it tells one story, reveals one God and has one message.. No man or collection of men could ever produce such a thing. Even Mohammed couldn't keep his story straight over the 4 surrahs and few decades of his work. So then if we do consider this to be the word of God (As Christian's should) then to entertain the aspersions and doubts cast upon it by mere men is simply wrong, and a waste of our time. Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

Read...study the bible and pray for God to reveal it to you. When I was first saved, I read the "Sower and the Seed" in Mark 4 and God revealed the truth of that to my understanding ...no hidden meaning, just my understanding" And from that moment on, every could be applied to that one truth. It is better to know 1 scripture with understanding, then 10,000 without The Holy Spirit has been given to us, for just that purpose John 14:John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Milk is only for a Time, If we are not maturing, we are not succeeding ------------------ Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 Peter 2:2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby 1 Corinthians 3:3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and [a]behaving like mere men? --------------------- You are correct in stating that everything we are when we are saved is because of Christ, But what we become (grow up to be) is a joint effort of Christ and Us. If we abdicate our responsibilities, we will forever remain babes.

Romans 12:12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Renewing the mind, and presenting the body as a living sacrifice is a daily thing. Its living the Christian life. Yes we are saved, and grace is given us, but we still our responsible for taking care of our business. The epistles are full of instruction and encouragement to do exactly that. Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. and when I have reached the end of this journey I want to know that I left it all on the playing field and then I can say what Paul said when his end was near. 2nd Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Anyway, that's my take

That would all come down to how you define Spirit and Soul To me the Spirit is the essence of who we are, once dead, now alive The Soul is the mind will and emotions, and this is the salvation we are to work out....renewing our minds One is made new right away, and the other takes a lifetime, this has been my life experience anyway

The New Testament says we are saved By Grace through faith and not of works. But your use of the word symbol is misplaced Baptism is a public CONFESSION display to everyone and a confession Water baptism is an ACT of repentance. Baptism is the DESIRE of regeneration Baptism is an ACT Of OBEDIENCE of for us as believers (As the Lord Told us to be baptized, not to be saved but to show our devotion) Baptism is simply an ACT of obedience The act of water baptism does not guarantee anything of eternal value. This is true. If there is no faith, all you get is wet

Many of the people of God went through trials before they goodness came. Do not hold on to the past, look to God for the future and trust God. Yes God hears you, and yes he has the very best thing in mind for you. It may not seem like it now, but trust Him to bring you into your new reality. Let go of the controls and let God fly the plane.

My Spirit is made new, perfect complete and of God 2nd Corintians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, My Soul needs some work...where the bible tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling....Not meaning to do works, but rather to do what Romans 12 tells us Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. And my flesh...fuggedaboutit it is worm food, unredeemable. I will get a new glorified body on resurrection So as the song says, I still have a couple of dents in my fender and total perfection will wait until that day. But I am content to know at my very core I am a new creation, made in God's image

Ah it started out well, but you know people it didn't even work in the new church after a time. thank you again for posting

I find that I easily tune out when I just listen, but if I listen and follow along with the text, I get much more out of it.

Psalms 130:5-6 “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalms 27:13-14 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Patience may be a virtue, but sometimes it seems impossible. But you must let the Lord have His time, because He is preparing something wonderful for you. Like a great feast it can’t be hurried, or it simply will not be nearly as good. Thanksgiving Dinner is a perfect example in the reward of patience. It starts the day before as side dishes are prepared and the smells of pies and stuffing fill the house, but not yet. Then the next morning , bright and early the turkey is prepared, and stuffed, and covered with wonderful smelling spices, and then for the next six hours you are tormented by the smells most wonderful, but not yet. Then people start coming over bringing dishes that look absolutely wonderful and smell great and they are set on the side board, all wonderful and inviting, but not yet. Then the turkey comes out of the oven in all its golden glory and adds to the symphony of smells enticing in all its ways, but it has to sit for at least a half hour. So, not yet. And then the moment comes when everything is ready and laid out on the table, glistening gravy, sumptuous turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing, but first we have to remember why we are here! We have to give our thanks, so not yet And then it is time to feast. a feast made so much sweeter because of the waiting and anticipation. Imagine if you tried to eat the turkey raw, and the potatoes in their skin….it wouldn’t be nearly as nice. So to is the promise of God, so let Him have his time to prepare what He is bringing you. Besides there are his blessings and grace that will hold you in the mean time. They are the chips and dip and cold cuts of the day. Just don’t fill up on those, because the feast is coming So if you grow tired of hearing "Not yet" just remember God has something wonderful in store for you

Indeed we are all preachers... and the only way the lost can hear. Romans 10: 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Israel Rejects the Gospel 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But going out as a stranger in a strange land does require a calling, I believe

Okay so there are Christians and then there are the lukewarm, the pretenders, the compromisers. Okay I get that

You have to be called. And God will equip you. God doesn't need our ability just our availability, If he calls to this ministry He provide the gift, and power and peace to do well in what is a life of hardship. If you go into without a calling, the results could be disastrous

Humanity has been studying this for a long time and while there a splinters of other view points. The view point that we have two natures, that battle between each other in our minds has been pretty much accepted by the majority of people, even people who hadn't heard of Jesus This sounds alot like what Paul tells us of the fruit of the flesh and fruit if the Spirit, why would hell us this, if it was a non-issue for real believers? Galatians 5: 9 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [d]adultery, [e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Hopefully you are trying to say there are "special Christians"

Again if this is the case then why are we constantly remind that we are in a battle 1 Corinthians 10: 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not [a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Sin is never in the what, it is always in the why. Intent If someone walks into my house with the intent to do me or my family harm, I can kill them and it will not be sin If your intent in lying is to deceive and do harm it is a sin If your intent in lying if to help and save people (genuinely and not in a self aggrandizing way) then it is likely not. Jesus said we would commit adultery eve just by thinking lustful thoughts. Have to add that the lines can get a little fuzzy. Like stealing from someone (doing them harm) to feed your family. This would not be right because there are resources available to you and even if there weren't you got yourself into that situation through a series of choices and no one has to pay for that but you.

We are free from the law of sin and death, but we are NOT free of the flesh, not while we breathe If the flesh (aka sin) was not a problem for us, then Paul wasted a lot of time discussing it, and teaching us how to overcome, first by obedience and then, if we fall, by grace Romans 7: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. It is true if we are Christian we do not wantonly serve the flesh, but we do deal with it and we do fall occasionally 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 2:2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (he is plainly talking about the saved here, calling us children)

I am not sure it really matters, but if they are called, their gift will "make room" for itself. Those who God calls, He equips. A Teacher will rarely tell you what he thinks, or his opinion. or be overly emotional, those things fall into the realm of preaching (sometimes) A teacher will tell you what the word says in an ordered logical way

He is not talking about a specific law, He is talking about the Law, the law which could not save us (Romans 8) it is really so much simpler then the mental gymnastics you are going through. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

It is very much New Testament Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [e]edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; And yes while we can all teach and share with each other, the "office of a teacher" (of which I am not) is to expoind upon the scripture, line upon line, precept upon precept. These leaders were given us to help and prepare us to DO the work of the ministry. We are the foot soldiers, they are the sergeants, and Jesus is the Captain. They hold no special honor, just a special calling.

I joined because It provides an interaction with believers I do not normally get in daily life, I stayed because it is well moderated I survived because I moderated my abrasive personality...to a point

One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. Interestingly we will pass away, but we will not die. We will live forever and be resurrected in a new body, just as the old earth shall pass away and a new one will take its place

The Rapture and the Return are two different things Rev 3 10 Because you have kept [g]My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole *world, to test those who dwell on the **earth. *When the bible talks about the world it is talking about the people. **When the bible uses earth it is talking about the planet So what the scripture is saying This trial will come upon all people who dwell on the earth That means those who are are taken in the rapture (aka kept from this trial) are NOT part of THE WHOLE WORLD (all the people) and they do not DWELL ON THE EARTH.