leah777

Hey, if you dont, as it seems, believe the scientific evidence about mask wearing protecting others thats your choice. Mask wearing is standard in many cultures, including mine, if we have any respiratory infections, and has been for years, to protect others from our germs. I am making a general point, stating my truth.

still not understanding me. I do not wonder about the moment in terms of what actually happens or not. Perhaps I cannot explain. You and others take this too literally in cold hard words without the emotions of the heart involved in all of this change. Thank you for trying to understand.

Have you heard someone talking about their Calling to a vocation? Its who they are, its part of their entire being, its an overwhelming compulsion and need. Like falling in love. Its not a cold choice, without it they will want to die. That is what God does to us to when He calls. Our souls respond and we come home to Him. I cannot explain more.

I cannot find my words enough to explain, but I dont think it is mans choice. I think God sees us and chooses the time and place for us when He knows we are ready. For some, they are never ready. God is Love, perhaps is part of the way God lives outside of human time and can dip in and out of timestreams, so he can be in our past and future at the same time, knowing our end and beginning, knowing who will say yes. Paradox.

I am not meaning anything about that. I mean that moment between salvation and unregenerate. Not to do with a time of being free from sin between states. A person can be unregenerate, then something happens and Jesus is revealed to him in his heart and he realises God. What causes that? Who causes that sudden change from death to life? I remember vividly the moment of change, but still do not know why THAT moment, instead of many other times when I knew of gospel. Perhaps it is different for each, just as each birth is different.

many heard the Gospel in Jesus time, even heard it from Jesus Himself, but were not saved. They did not change direction. There must be more than simply hearing the words spoken.

what is your definition of love?

I love to learn and the debating gives me much to pray about and ponder on. I have learned so much on here. All of it good in the end, though sometimes it doesnt feel like it. Even the heated threads teach me much about other humans, interactions, and how different people can see the same thing in different ways. If someone is in error in their learning or teaching, then it is important to look at scripture to find truth and unity. The Bible IS the Word of God. It is very important to know what it contains, and not what others tell us it contains. To stifle discussion and examination of scripture is what leads to false teaching and cults. Often, the wording, and audience being spoken to in scripture, and the tenses used are vital as they can alter a whole meaning in scripture. I thank God for the posters on here sharing their understanding and knowledge. Yes, there are disagreements. There were disagreements in Bible times, we will not know fully and correctly until God reveals some things, but we can strive to know His Word as well as possible. I have had several things shown to me which I would have declared absolutely to be in the Bible, but the debates have opened up to me that I had been taught in error. The debates may sometimes feel uncomfortable, but all of them bear fruit in one way or another. Examining and challenging our knowledge is good, not bad. The enemy wants us in ignorance.

I am not in America. My world is not North America. I wear mask to protect others, not to protect myself. People make their own choices.

before we are saved - we are unregenerate sinners then we are saved there must be something which changed the first into the second, a change of heart, desire, focus. something happens to make that change of direction.

Peace and blessing to you. Sometimes we need to sit with a thought for a while, in prayer, and wait for Him to speak to us. xxx

John 8:44 New International Version 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Not all are Children of God. Unless I misunderstand you? If so, I apologise.

perhaps (just speculation around birth) that it is like the moment a mother wakes in the night for no reason, just before her child needs her. That moment in silence when, out of nowhere, a deep sensation of a silent call happens. Maybe that is like when God calls us and we wake and listen to His voice, when the time is right? I do not know. We know the silent child call happens to mothers, we dont know how.

maybe I didnt explain properly. I mean what triggers the desire to be born again and turn from sin? something must happen for our sinful selves to want to turn to God, be born again.

Please expand - how does the sinful person turn from that sinfulness to wanting salvation and having faith? turn to God?

Ephesians 2:19–22 The New King James Version Christ Our Cornerstone 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

I thought we were the Temple since Jesus death

when we are unsaved we are reprobates when we accept salvation we are the elect. same person, but moved into new life from reprobate to born again elect. Does that help?

so we are already saved, we claim that salvation through our faith? I had to say yes to God, though. Hence my confusion. I accepted His outstretched hand and said i want to walk with Him. That was a work - no?

I find this confusing. Would you mind expanding please?

nope. not clear. Please answer the question more clearly. To me also you are saying that anyone who died before Jesus is not saved. Perhaps re-visit your comments to clarify. Sometimes we write something we think is clear, but the wording is muddy.

your book? what is it called?

He didnt need to be. Jesus is God. God saved certain people before Jesus death judging the righteous.

You do know this is a letter, not divided into sections after every verse (and verses are modern construct anyway) to the Churches around Ephesus? Yes? Even I know you dont change audience after every sentence without warning.

Thank you. I was reading this passage today, and struggling with it. Thank you for this clear opening up of the wording and tenses.