Billiards Ball

If John 3:16's trust is a one-time act, salvation is permanent upon acceptance. In the Greek as I understand it is "If anyone trusts me now while hearing/reading this or trusted me in the past or will trust me in the future during their lifetime, they have eternal life." God, who does not lie, gave us this fine promise. We also have Romans that says two verses, "God's gifts are irrevocable" and "Salvation is a gift." Put together, "Salvation is an irrevocable gift." All gifts including spiritual gifts and salvation are permanent upon acceptance/receipt. We also have Ephesians 1, that says, "The Spirit is a deposit on salvation." Christians in Hell would bring the Spirit to suffer in Hell, which is impossible. We also have being adopted as God's children. Satan would need to resurrect my crucified, old, dead man, and make me Satan's child again to be lost. IMPOSSIBLE!

I have a SURE way to know. Witness, but ask God first for power to witness, for power to overcome fear, and to step into your mouth to give you fresh words for those you witness to. Those who witness often, see God's power so often, they know they belong to Christ and have His Spirit!

As a brother, the thank you is sincere. The Lord reminds us to be reconciled with a brother before offering on His altar(s), yes? Let us discuss powerfully and fully, let us do the wonderful thing we do with God's Word in each other's lives, in love, in truth. We may find eternal life studying either testament, yes. I'm certain many found eternal life before there was an NT or even an OT. I think John 5 is saying, "Search all you like, but you'll find me in the OT, not eternal life by being a Pharisee!" All Christian sects, some cults, even Islam, understand there are Hebrew scriptures and Greek scriptures. The NT says all scripture (regardless of testament) is inspired by God. "Inspired" sounds like "respiration" because the scripture is God-breathed. Jesus is the eternal Word of God. Where we can soak in this Word? Jesus is the logos or mind of God. How do we commune with this mind? The scriptures, OT and NT. I hear what you're saying, and I respect your stance, "Follow Jesus, and you've got it!" I follow Jesus in several ways, but by far and large, by studying and learning from and memorizing and obeying both testaments. Like most believers, I'm in the NT more and memorize that more that the OT at most times. Understand that like you, I never advocate keeping the OT or even NT law to be saved. The saving gospel is, "Per prophecy, Jesus Christ suffered, died and rose, and eyewitness saw Him rise!" To be saved is a two-word possibility, "Trust Jesus." Put another way, loving Jesus and loving people IS all the Law, but no person loves God and man 24/7/365 except Jesus. I cannot go to Heaven, even now as a believing, law-abiding Christian, because I still sometimes disobey my conscience. If I hurt even your feelings in Heaven, it's not Heaven, so I have to be CHANGED. When I meet Jesus in person, He will transform me to never sin against conscience. I will hear His voice but also "walk it out" 100% of the time. The formal term for believing law keeping gets you to Heaven is "legalism". Legalism isn't "Mom, why do I have to be home at 10 PM," it's confusing the all-saving cross of Christ for the not-all-obedience we have when keeping law from either testament. Also understand that if we agree on what John 5 says, it's saying "A Pharisee is saved trusting Me, Jesus, not being a Pharisee!" Pharisees, modern and ancient, are attempting salvation by law-keeping. I remain fully convinced that the 66 alone are the Word of God. I have many reasons for believing so, logical, scriptural, and otherwise. Your question, "Where does it say the OT is the Word of God?" can also be applied to the NT, "Where does it say the NT is the Word of God?" The answers to both our questions are found, of course, in both testaments. Thank you--thank you for reading what I've written, taking a moment to pray it out, asking God to discard what I've said that is false, to believe what I've said that is true, to ask what verses come to mind as you ponder the issues... ...One of the issues is that BOTH testaments say, "Trust God, and you've got it!" I'm open to any response you want to share.

If someone is a skeptic, they should: 1) Ask God for reasonable evidence for Jesus that they cannot refute or consider mere coincidence 2) Read the Bible, starting with the fourth book of the NT, John's gospel 3) Ask God, if He exists, for clarity and understanding as they read

When a collection of books (the 39) says in it nearly 7,000 times it is the Word of YHVH, uniquely in all literature... ...John 5 is not saying "Don't study the OT scriptures diligently." Peter affirms in his letters that studying the OT to learn about Jesus and doctrine is more valuable than his eyewitness experience of Jesus. Numerous NT passages emphasize OT study--in fact, over 90% of NT doctrine IS OT doctrine. The OT also is 35% prophecy, with important information for now and for the end times. Thank you.

The unpardonable sin is to reject Jesus as Savior (over and again, until you die). How do I know this? One way I know this is true, Jesus in an unpardonable sin passage says "There is only one thing you can do to miss eternal life." You need to be mature. To become mature, live in this order: 1. Facts (in the Bible) 2. Faith (trust in God/waiting on God's timing) 3. Feelings For example, fact--have you asked Jesus to save you? Do you understand His death on the cross and resurrection was for our sin, guilt and shame, and that those who trust Him now will be transformed later, to be able to live perfect moral lives in Heaven? Fact: You've trusted Jesus for salvation. Faith/Feelings: "Jesus, please help me to feel saved, I don't feel good today. But I know that per the Bible I am saved, and that faith and feelings sometimes come much later than facts."

Amen!

1) Be sure you and your family members have trusted Jesus for salvation, and can truly therefore bank on His divine help 2) Think about how to honor your parents in this situation, it could include listening patiently while being spare with advice (parents in general don't like to hear their children know more about them in relationships or any other area) 3) Ask your folks if you can pick up daily family prayer again, without mentioning the fighting or anything else--this will help bring God into the picture

Thanks for coming here. Understand that though you have a long road ahead due to past abuse, that Jesus Christ is skilled in bringing large chunks of healing to you, all at once. Jesus died for you and for me, a horrible death by torture, then rose from the dead, because you, your abusers, good people, me, all have this in common, we are morally imperfect and would ruin heaven. Abusers aren't allowed in Heaven, they'd ruin it for others. I'm disallowed from Heaven, if I hurt you or you hurt me even ONCE in 1,000,000 years... we must be changed to get to Heaven. Jesus will change a person so that they never again disobey their conscience and hurt another--but that transformation doesn't come now, in this life. It comes when we meet Jesus Christ. Start by trusting Him, not yourself, for salvation. Cry to Him, then ask Him for some big healing today and tomorrow and tomorrow!

A friend posted this today: Sometimes it's hard to think of our land as "sitting in darkness." I see darkness when I travel to Southeast Asia and the land is filled with idols, false religion and superstition. But in America, we mask our darkness behind our materialism, our entertainment, and our isolated living situations. But behind the masks, trouble is brewing. Consider: 1 out of every 6 Americans take antidepressant drugs 17% of high school students have seriously considered suicide and 8% have had a failed attempt at suicide in the past 12 months. More people will die of drug overdoses (mostly opioids) this year than died in the entire Vietnam War As many as half of all marriages will end up in divorce. 4 out of 5 full-time workers live paycheck to paycheck and 56% of Americans say they are over their heads in debt. 20 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol, and 30 million Americans have an eating disorder. Pagan, extreme, animalistic internet porn is now the leading way in which young people are introduced to sex -- often before reaching puberty. These are more than just shocking statistics. They refer to real people and real families that are suffering real pain. They reveal to us that multitudes in our land are sitting in darkness. Despite these realities, massive numbers of people in our country have been persuaded the answer to their problems has nothing to do with God, Jesus, or the Christian church. Many are convinced we are the source of their problems. And yet, to those sitting in darkness, a great light appeared. What was that light? It was the coming of Jesus Christ! He is the one to save us from our sins. He is the one who can heal all our diseases. He alone deals with our root problem of being alienated from God Himself; He alone can reconcile us to the Source of life -- our Creator God. But the solution is more than just Jesus. While HE is the answer, WE are the agents through whom the answer is delivered. Often, the first step in being that agent is simply showing we care. If there is someone in your neighborhood suffering from one of the problems mentioned above (and I can almost guarantee there is), it may be as simple as walking across the street, taking them a meal, letting them know you care, asking if there is any way you can help, offering to say a prayer for them, etc. It may mean inviting them over for dinner or asking a lonely person if he would like to watch the big game at your house. In a word, it begins by loving them. Love can open doors to lost souls. Love can get beneath the masks. True Christian love can change the world one soul at a time. Who do you know who needs to be loved? It may be inconvenient and costly, but will you love them? Will you do it today?

Can we start with this understanding? * The Hebrew Bible says nearly 7,000 times some variant of "This is the Word of the LORD" * The NT claims inspiration on a very regular basis, and also claims to be little more than commentary on the OT (regarding all its major and minor doctrines) * No apocrypha or other works bear God's divine stamp with the tetragrammaton name Thanks!

We are of great worth. So Jesus died and rose for us! God existed before this universe's spacetime and light. Before there was finite time passing here, God was/is. He is therefore "eternal". Does that help?

We are, if we've trusted in Jesus, adopted as children of God, and of great worth. It's comforting in the light of Earth's small place in God's universe.

That isn't the plan. When Messiah comes at the Rapture to lift away the church, my Jewish people will mourn for their mistake and loss. When Messiah returns, the least of them will fight like David and all will be saved. Romans 11:26 says all left at that time will be saved!

Why is going to protective services "a gamble"? Because you want to mend the relationship or want to give the relationship a pass and keep the home? Do you want to sell the home and split the proceeds? Write down what outcomes you want from this financially and relationally, and pray.

I think instead figures of history are types and shadow of the coming Antichrist.

Thank you, sincerely. Biblical faith/trust is relying on God for unseen things Biblical evidence is relying on God for seen things For example, because we can see a magnificent creation in us and all about us, we can trust God for the coming Kingdom Most Christians add very harmful jargon when presenting the gospel, making presenting the gospel scarier and more difficult than it should be: I never speak these jargon terms when sharing: faith, belief, repentance, repent, baptism, give Jesus your life, put Jesus in your heart, confess all your sins to Jesus, get right with God, make Jesus Lord, make Jesus your Savior… Healthy Terms to Share · Imperfection versus perfection · Trust yourself versus trust Jesus · Doing religious things versus receiving a free gift · The cross of Jesus Christ · Horrible death by torture, and resurrection · Trust Jesus · Jesus is trustworthy

Tell them why you think you aren't ready. Listen to their responses. Tell them you will be leaving soon, from that ministry, not the church, and need someone to take over by a certain date. It is NOT biblical that music worship MUST happen in EVERY service. It is better to have happy, qualified leaders.

We can observe a believer's (or unbeliever's) works to get a good concept regarding their lifestyle, but works are neither required for receiving salvation nor for keeping it. Consider carefully how Romans 4 teaches clearly that zero works are required for salvation (verses 1-5).

All born agains adhere to Jesus since they receive the Holy Spirit, permanently forever, as a deposit of their trust in Christ (Ephesians 1). Faith and belief are best understood as "trust".

Thanks--I use the term "trust or rely upon" Jesus at times, since "trust" and "rely on" are synonyms.

It's not a false dilemma: 1) The 66 contain codes, direct statements using the tetragrammaton, etc. that affirm their status as efficacious for life changes and eternal life 2) No person need spend a lifetime studying and obeying the apocrypha, Book of Mormon, Noble Qu'ran, etc. although I have a Bachelor's from a secular university emphasizing NT and textual studies, and have studied these and other texts more than most other Bible believers 3) I'm making a generalization based on decades in the texts--every NT doctrine with very few exceptions comes straight from the OT

My definition of ammaneunsis will help: "God used author's own voices/personalities yet ensured the text was perfect". There was some direct revelation to some of the authors of the Bible, not just the gospel authors. Paul died and went to Heaven. Isaiah and the prophets had visions, etc.

Yes.

To be Berean with the scripture is to search the OT carefully to help affirm NT doctrines. I find that most NT doctrine--over 95% IMO, is alluded to, hinted at, lifted at, etc. from the OT. We don't need to search, say, the apocrypha, except to see if a fragment of 1 Enoch is related to one NT concept. Should I spend my life in apocrypha or the 66, do you think? The statement that the Bible is not littered with extra-biblical sources is separate. God used ammanuenses to produce a scripture that is perfect. We Jews have four ways of reading scripture, only one is the face value of the text. The inspiration of the Bible is plain. Can you think of a reason why the gospel narratives differ in places, or have parts of the narrative only? I bet you can, without saying "contradictions". I deal with this assertion made by atheists all the time. We need to also parse the scripture. I don't think the four gospel authors had direct revelation from God re: the crucifixion. I think it was a mix of eyewitness accounts and the author of Luke investigating and interviewing eyewitnesses, etc. An ammaneunsis is a person who writes in their own voice and personality yet God makes the outcome perfect, the living Word of God.