notsolostsoul

This may be the written standard. Where it says you can only be saved through Christ. So yes it is true. However The Great thing about God is he gave his son up for sacrifice so that ALL have a chance to come to him. Now when they do or if they do, that also depends on God. If HE calls them. He does what he wants. When he wants for his plans. So The most honest answer one can give would be: According to MAN'S understanding of what is written YES According to How God Works No MAN truly knows

This may be the written standard. Where it says you can only be saved through Christ. So yes it is true. However The Great thing about God is he gave his son up for sacrifice so that ALL have a chance to come to him. Now when they do or if they do, that also depends on God. If HE calls them. He does what he wants. When he wants for his plans. So The most honest answer one can give would be: According to MAN'S understanding of what is written YES According to How God Works No MAN truly knows

Lovely and meaningful!! Thank you!!!!

I believe the only ones that can not believe in Christ are those that choose to not believe and even then it's questionionable. Sin can lead to the hardening of one's heart. That is because the individuals loves the sin or act of sinning so much they shut themselves off from God. The hardening of the heart would be shutting God out. So since God gives free will, if a person chooses to be hard of heart, love sin or sinning to the point that they disregard God, then he will let them be. "Give them over." Now is there an amount of sin that God does not forgive. I can not say. I am not authorized nor qualified to speak for God. However we do have scripture to assist in understanding God. 1 John 1:9King James Version (KJV) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Matthew 12:31-32King James Version (KJV) 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. I would suggest, you go to Jesus/God and honestly confess and repent for all your sins and ask that he teach you lead you and guide you to God and where God wants you to be. This is what usually keeps most from seeking God. Don't let it keep you in that place where it seems you do not want to be. Never be afraid of coming to God, but do be weary against whatever tries to keep you away.

Some times you just need rest. You need to replenish yourself. There is nothing wrong with that. Some times we are directed to Be Still. It's not running away or being a hermit. Some times its for our own protection. So we don't fall or stumble and get caught up in the chaos. We just have to learn a balance. Feeling not of this world I can relate, but as you said So he will protect that, by pulling you away, healing your heart, suiting you up, and reminding you that you are his and then he'll send you back out their, to do your part. TO DO YOUR PART. some times we want to do more. He just needs us to DO OUR PART. Trust that he has the rest. He is God. Oh and he will send you what you need when it is needed. You will recognize that true fellowship. It isn't necessarily a friend as MAN sees a friend, but it is a friend in that purpose of God.

These are definitely traits that MAN can place on MAN. Meaning Man's thinking and rationale from the knowledge given us/MAN. First we would have to know exactly what is being "a man after God's own heart."* I don't think knowing this exactly is something MAN can do. Our understanding is limited to our thinking. We do not think on the level God does.* Best bet I can make is that God saw that David's heart, is a heart he can work with. Sinful yes, fallible yes but since it wasn't hardened and unrepentive, God could use him for exactly the purpose he needed him for. Now had David been more comfortable in sin, more comfortable with Satan, unrepentive, then MAYBE God wouldn't have seen him fit. Yet I can't say what is suitable for God. However we do have teachings to give us an idea. *Upon writing this I think some of being after God's own heart means having a soft enough heart to repent. God still amazes me with how he delivers and when he delivers messages. I just had an Ah Ha!!! moment. Lol

When I first really read David, I totally didn't see his greatness. The big picture is as Willa stated After rereading and seeking or having that hunger to understand. I asked a very similar question here on WCF, but mine was much more harsh. However despite the way I came off in my question, God sent his people to open my eyes and allowed me to reread from a different view. This is how I see the Story of David and how great he is. David was an ordinary Man, just as you or I. He sinned constantly, repeatedly, yet God forgave and chose him to have purpose in God's ultimate plan. God made him great despite his sinful nature. This is comforting to a sinner that may feel they are not worthy of God or they don't see how God can use them. One lesson. Now speaking of God ultimate plan. David's genuine repentance and his want to be God's and be right by God is the model relationship that God wants from us all. He is a key component in the foundation of one's relationship with God. Some many may only think his greatness was that he was a King of God in his time. Even David might have thought this for his time. Yet God had greater plans, way greater than anyone could imagine. David's Story shows all who seek God how to do it. Trust in God, keep a relationship with God, repent wholeheartedly and true. Understand and own up to one's sin and work to set it right with God. Always try and live by God and even when we slip up. Go to God honestly and accept God's judgement. We don't have to fear him. David truly is the prime example of the relationship between MAN and God. Well this is what I got out of it so far. I find the more I reread the more is revealed. Now this is only my experience and understanding. Jesus has given you the Holy Spirit to guide in your learning. Get comfortable with the Holy Spirit and the questions will be answered.

This is WISDOM. Works of The Holy Spirit. Thank you!!!!

You should definitely leave it for God. If you attempt to seek vengeance, you place yourself for judgement. Don't let the wicked taint your soul.

"MAN" has a way of wanting to control everything. Even the poor or how they should be poor. It is sad.

It doesn't matter exactly what you say nor the information you bring. They are set and do not care to allow any other point of view. There is no discussion, unfortunately. The different passages you have provided, themselves shown slight variations and yet none mention Jesus face. They mentioned a voice in the first. Seeing a light in the second but the voice heard no one understood. The last passage didn't mention any others hearing anything nor seeing anything. I get what you are saying. Stay Blessed WMFLAB Thank you for your info.

You are not alone!!! I enjoyed your thread. It was a good question. I like Kwik's answer regarding growth or lack thereof. Even with the strife insightful information has come about. Thank you!!!!

"we aren't required to be designed to standards of others." Unfortunately this only applies to some. Exactly Cobalt1959. That is the problem. But all in all, it is all useful. The Spirit uses all of it to teach.

Best thing is to go with God's direction. I have felt similar here, not from ALL nor the site itself. However it seems if you don't follow a certain criteria of how to believe, question, or seek information then some do get upset and attack. Pretty much their way or the highway. They don't notice how they push more away then bring into God. We represent him and if we are harsh towards others we look just as those that get criticize as being uppity, uptight Christians. I enjoyed your contribution to discussions here, but it should not disturb your inner peace. A break maybe warranted. As you stated go with God. Thank you!!!

Jests is not Paul nor Peter nor any Apostle. I follow Jesus, infallible, sinless, God in flesh, JESUS. You can follow fallible, sinful MAN if you want. No MAN, no matter how much inspired by The Spirit means more to me than JESUS. JESUS IS CHRIST, My Christianity, my faith is in him. I didn't call any liars nor invalid. I just said PAUL don't sit right with me so I test. Upon my testing I seeked his background, and from seeing where he came from, I now understand why he don't sit well with ME. The adding to what Jesus said and the way PAUL FOLLOWERS use his teachings are very similar to the way he was as a Pharisee.

Sad thing is whether you give a truthful Yes or No. Some will still question you or your motives. Even a no reply leaves them ready for a slip up. Examples Yes Well you don't seem like a Christian because a Christian would not be afraid to answer right away. No Well now I can see why you choose to play games. I rebuke you for stirring up conflict and wasting time. No answer Humm now how can I catch him???? Throw scripture out there and see the response. Since there are sensitive people out there. I am giving EXAMPLES, thus the heading examples. I am not saying anyone has done this. Just examples to the context of this particular discussion that was posted.

According to whom in the NT.

If people feel I'm judging Paul fine. I never said he wasn't God inspired nor of God. I just don't like the way he comes off in his teachings. That's my opinion. Maybe that's where the issue lies. Some hold the Bible to be God's Word not Inspired Word. To me there is a difference.

Paul's people Titus. The highlighted for correction. Jesus corrects, man shouldn't. Man tries to correct but judges in the process. Not all but many.

Oh and Yomn, I wasn't directing that you were judging me. Just I quoted you and then the reply rolled from there. As I have stated, Here and in other posts. Jesus teaches we should not judge. Paul teaches we can with stipulations. The additional stipulations don't sit well with me. The we should judge as long as we are rightly so and doing it with love. Paul paraphrasing. That doesn't sit with me and causes me to question him. Jesus cleary said we are not capable of judging because we are sinners ourselves. Our thoughts are not his and so our judging is not rightly so. Now some here will bend what Jesus says to mean more. That's their choice. People have even tried to excuse away the clear examples Jesus gave with clear context with something Paul says. So maybe it's not Paul, maybe it is those who use him to force their views. My OP was to say, Saul the Pharisees who believed and enforced a systematic religion really bares no difference to Paul the Apostle who teaches God inspired Word with a hint of a systematic control. At least that how some of his followers try and control. Maybe not him, but his followers believe, if you don't read it, accept it, live by it and follow it as it is written then you are not of Christ. Why not leave the judging to Jesus. God gave that to him. Yet man wants to control, turn away, outcast, and condemn and use teachings, usually Pauls to do so.

No, I never said one is purer or truer than any other. Nor less inspired. They were inspired and wrote. That is what they were to do. How those written are interpreted and translated and taught can only properly be taught by The Spirit. If the Spirit that Jesus pulled me to him. Tells me question I will question. Any and every MAN. 12 Apostles and Paul. I have even stated in this thread. That maybe it's not Paul but how people who follow him use it to explain their judgemental views. I mentioned that in my journey for the truth is Jesus see error in me, he will correct. Instead I get more Paul followers attacking who I am, where I stand in my belief in Christ. Twisting my words to make it seem more and more their view. Which actually has proven my point and increased my fear that individuals who use Paul to pass judgement, they do not have authority to, upon others just because they believe in a systematic way to seek God. My journey is mine. If it calls me totest.Paul Peter John, dude next door. It doesn't matter, I will test. NO MAN CAN TELL ME I CAN'T. NO MAN CAN TELL ME I AM WRONG. NO MAN CAN JUDGE ME. NO MAN CAN SAVE ME....... BUT JESUS CAN! HE HAS AND HE LEADS MY LIFE. MY JOURNEY AND MY TEACHINGS. QUIT CONDEMNING BASED ON YOUR SYSTEM OF RIGHT OR WRONG RELIGION. JESUS IS BEYOND A BOOK GOD IS BEYOND MAN'S WRITTEN LAW OR TRADITIONALLY PRACTICED LAW. Isn't that what Jesus said and proved to the Pharisees.

Exactly, I test it all and the Spirit guides me in what is right and what is questionable. Something about Paul doesn't sit right with me. I said repeatedly REPEATEDLY. I AM not saying his writings are not God inspired nor useful. But I have a right to test. Them all because they all are men. My faith is to Jesus, not MAN.

As I have always stated. The Bible is a God inspired TOOL. valuable for teaching and guiding. I never said it wasn't. Yet my faith lies in JESUS. Not a book. Whoever believes otherwise, Jesus gives them that right as he gives me the right to seek him myself. Not under another MAN's control of how to do so. Sharing info for the sake of discussion is fine. Forcing ones views as Law of another's salvation. We are not authorized. That's between the individual and God.

None, FACTUAL. A lot of considered and accepted by MAN based on MAN'S wisdom. Ever played the telephone game? Whether knowing or unknowingly, messages get mixed. If Scripture was the complete unfallible Law, no need for The Spirit. Deny The Spirit and where are you? Without the Spirit what is Scripture? Words are nothing, without The Spirit. Even God inspired Words led by false Spirits mean Nothing to God. It's false. Reason for testing? Man trying to tell what they believe scripture to be, force, that is Pharisees tactics. Jesus came so each individual can have their own connection with him and God without having to rely on another's Man's interpretation. Yet so many STILL WANT TO DENY MANY THAT GIFT FROM JESUS. And for what? What is the true motive behind MAN in bypassing the very gift Jesus gave and gives? I live by THE TRINITY, and through them and only through them (not MAN) is pure direction. So we can talk books about how MAN came up with all sorts of MAN knowledge, wisedom and criteria. That's Man's. Even the 12 Apostles had difficulty understanding Jesus WHILE THEY WALKED WITH HIM. MAN had 1st hand direction and instruction and still could not understand with their MAN abilities. Now some will say I contest the Bible. NO I DON'T. I BELIEVE IT IS A TOOL, TOOL, TOOL, TO BE USED BY THE SPIRIT TO TEACH AND GUIDE. However, I also take into account the many times Jesus in the bibles points out how MAN is flawed and that only THROUGH JESUS can one be saved. So for me Jesus' teachings come first. Whether the Apostles agree or don't agree, my salvation comes from Jesus. MAN'S words are fallible. I am not saying my beliefs are for anyone else, but Thank you Jesus for allowing me to learn from YOU and not HAVE TO, solely rely on MAN. Sorry for all the bold, but working off of mobile, it's difficult going back and forth, from top to bottom. Over and over. Sorry!

Factual can get very deep and scary, if you would research the origin of the Bible. Solid facts, there are none to prove. We all have to give account of our words before the Lord. True indeed. I have gone to the Lord about this issue since the Word has been brought to my attention by God. I consult with him daily on all of the Written Word, each verse from beginning to end. He patiently teaches me, bringing me to more and more understanding of right and wrong. What is him, who he is and how I should be? If even after doing this in my journey of seeking Him, he finds I was in error and he can not forgive me for being in error. Then I would just have to take my punishment as he sees fit. I trust that He leads me. If I am in error. I trust that he will correct me. I trust that since he brought me to him, because I wasn't really seeking him before. I trust that since he brought me to him and repeatedly has kept me near him, even as I ran from him in fear that I was not worthy. I trust that he will do exactly what he sees fit. I don't fear his judgement because I know that no matter what it is, it is justly so. People may have a problem with my reply here also, because I don't fear him. He taught me, from me running from him, that I do not need to fear him. I can come with all my sin stacked against me and if he wants he can wipe it all away. His Will, His Grace, His Gift.