Wesley L

Is your friend a born again christian?

In the Netherlands the government is discussing whether people who deny to get a vaccine will be denied certain freedoms/access to specific buildings/areas. The follow up question would be, how would they know who got the vaccine or not? This could lead to some kind of an electronic mark. My guess is that the vaccine alone is not the mark. But combined with health and security reasons, government will find a way to push people to get the vaccine and the mark. The only hole in this assumption is how it would become idolatry, worshipping the beast.

Responsibility Planning / time management Putting first things first You are responsible for your own life. You prayed, God blessed you with a child for you to take care of. So you can grow in being responsible. God blessed you with the opportunity to life together with your parents. Your parents, which you were entrusted to by God. I am not saying that you have an easy life and that all circumstances are your own doings. I can't say that. When things don't go the way you want. You should reflect instead of asking God to solve your problems. He is not our servant, we are His servants. Struggles in life makes you grow, IF you are willing to follow His ways. Not following His ways will only make things worse. When things don't go the way you want, it might be because you want too many things at the same time. You might have to prioritize things in your life. Leave out the clutter, the wordly things. When people around you don't behave as they should, you might consider asking how God would want you to view such a situation and how God would want you to act. You feel directionless, could that be because you have a wrong perception of God? You feel directionless, could that be because you still are following your own desires instead of trusting in God's words and following His will? Following Christ doesn't mean we will receive a flawless life. The problems are still there, but how we experience these worldly problems is in peace, full of gratitude and full of hope because of the received promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

They live in the Netherlands.

This is not a question. But just something which happened this week that I would like to share with you. On monday, I received this message in a group chat of friends who are mostly unbelievers. "Hi, I just wanted to tell you all that I will be offline for a while. Because my mother will die coming thursday and I will be busy arranging a lot of things. She will die by euthanasia." Most people will answer by:"take care", "all the best". I just stopped and didn't know what to say. Surely, there must be a tragic story behind, a story of pain and suffering. Who am I to say anything about it? I realized how us people on earth are culturally conditioned to be numb, to not see the truth. To see only the tragic reasons which is supposed to justify one taking their own lives. The real problem is not the suffering. But suffering without any hope. Suffering without gratefulness. Suffering in grudge. At moments like these, we know that there is no hope other than the hope of Jesus Christ. At moments like these, I realise how important it is that we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, anytime, anywhere, anyone. I tried sharing the gospel with my friend in the best possible way I could think of without being insensitive to the situation. Today is friday, her mother should have been killed by now. I just don't want to be numb anymore and tell everyone the truth.

I believe since I was born again I am already saved and God is the one Who will keep me saved. Not by any works that I do. I believe I am saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone. How can I lose my salvation by bad works if I didn't earn it by good works anyway? Salvation by true faith alone. But true saving faith never comes alone. Repentance is NOT the cause for our salvation. Only faith in Jesus Christ is. How can I say I follow Christ if I don't desire to obey His laws? When in true faith, there is a constant repentance, a constant prayer, a constant worship, a constant desire for following Christ, a constant peace in our hearts. There is this constant fire burning. There is the Holy Spirit. It is wrong to believe we have to run to Christ to wash away our newly acquired sins, otherwise we will lose our salvation. It is wrong to believe we can sin as much as we can, we are saved anyway. The person who thinks that is not in true faith and probably isn't saved to begin with. It is wrong to believe that the act of sin (the elephant in the room) is not counted as sin anymore, because we are not under the law anymore. The path is narrow. P.S. A believer knows the law, knows the truth. Our trespasses will be counted as more severe than when an unbeliever does the same. Our trespasses won't cause us to lose our salvation, but it will cause something else. Conviction of the Holy Spirit, disciplining by God, sanctification and spiritual growth. A believer desires not to commit any trespasses anymore, because of a new repentant heart given by God through faith in Jesus Christ.

It really is a matter of how you understand that "we are not under the law anymore". More importantly, what is God telling us about "we are not under the law anymore". First you state:"I have no sin". While trying to understand the truth beneath your claim. Then it was clear that you meant:"The law does not apply to me anymore". God is not a god of confusion. What you are claiming is indirect and confusing to believers and unbelievers. Even almost deceiving. While there is this elephant in the room, you say there is no elephant. Because an elephant does not exist anymore in my life. I believe "that we are not under the law anymore", but I see a totally different meaning behind this sentence. I believe a christian won't be judged by the law anymore, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. But he who truly beliefs in Him, will obey His commands. To love God with all our heart, mind and soul. And to love others as yourself. The law is derived from these two commands. Because the law is derived from these two commands, and we are to love as Jesus taught us, we are still to be following the law and even surpass that by loving our enemies. It becomes our desire to follow Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit and His words. But not meaning we will do that perfectly here on earth. We become perfect at Jesus' return. The path is narrow. You can fall off from the left side of the path by saying we have no sin. (which makes us lying christians) You can fall off from the right side of the path by saying we can sin without any consequences. (which makes us sinful christians) The truth is inbetween. On the narrow path.

I googled bulging disc. I think my mother has a similar problem. But her disc is more degenerated in stead of bulging. She is often in pain. Even sitting down for too long can cause pain. So she needs to move once and a while. Unluckily she is a bit overweight as well, which makes it only worse. There nothing we can do for her, that is another painful part. 2 Corinthians 4:16 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Now I start to understand what you mean by "I have no sin". But with all sincerity, I still don't agree with what you proclaim. My father is rich and paid for everything. The law doesn't apply to me anymore. My Father is merciful and full of grace. He paid for my tresspasses. I will do my best to follow the law, knowing that I will still fail sometimes but being forgiven through faith, by His blood. I prefer the second option.

Hi @JohnR7, I had previously shared a true story of myself playing soccer. I did not harm anybody with my sin of lying. I lied about having touched the ball which went off court. So we could stay in possession of the ball. It was a lie against the Holy God. Any sin is dead serious, even if it did not harm anybody. I had this 100% clarity in my mind of what was happening. I believe it was the Holy Spirit. At the end of the match, i got into a serious accident. My ribs were bruised and they had to take me to the hospital for it. For me it was clear what was going on.

I wouldn't challenge myself with getting corona or preparing myself for death. When it comes, it comes. But because we don't know when that day will come, I try to remind myself to do the most important things first. I try to serve the Lord as truthful as I can, sharing His words to anyone who has an ear. Matthew 6:19-20 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

I can't know it for you or other christians. God knows. But I know it of myself, although I hate sin, although I belief in Christ as my Lord and Savior, although I belief His words are true, although I desire following His will and not my own, although I know the Holy Spirit is in me, although I experience sanctification in my life, I am still prone to sin and I have sinned. Not having any excuses for it, not being proud of it, being convicted of it, being disciplined for it, having repented of it, being forgiven for it, having learned from it and being freed from it. I know, with the help of the Holy Spirit and faith in His words, I walk towards righteousness. 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? What is this test? To be sinless? If that is the test, then I certainly fail. Do I practice sin? Certainly not. Have I conquered old habitual sins? Certainly yes, thanks to the Holy Spirit and His words! Do I sometimes slip and sin? unfortunately, yes. I long for the day to be without sin. But I would be a liar if I told you I have no sin. I long for the day of Jesus' return, so that we can become complete again, without sin.

Cow was made to eat grass. Lion was made to eat steak (probably after sin entered the world, for the sake of keeping the conversation simple, let's overlook that part) Man was made to glorify God. At the end of day 6, God said it was good. Like a cow suddenly beginning to eat steak, man suddenly went off course and disobeyed God. Man came into an unnatural state. Once man chose to move away from the light, man could only stay in darkness. Sinful nature. I find free will an important aspect which we should not deny of having it. Can you blame a robot for killing a person? Or do you blame the creator? We can't blame God for our sins. Because we have free will. But it may cause problems in understanding God's sovereignty. But I don't think denying free will will fix the matter.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The solas is just a human way to make things more clear for people to understand. Some headlines, to describe what is being taught through the bible, His words. You may ignore it, but eventually you will find the same messages in God's words. Sola scriptura does not contradict Sola fide. One is describing the bible is from God. The other is describing salvation through faith alone. If I tell someone :"Jesus is the way the truth and the life". I can tell that person, these are not my words, but God's words. Even though it came through my mouth. If I write it on a piece of paper, I can say, this message originated from God, not me. The same with sola scriptura, the bible teachings came from God. Salvation through faith alone. Faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ as the Way the Truth and the Life, as Lord and Savior. Jesus = the Truth (John 14:6) Jesus = the Word became flesh (John 1:14) The Word is from God, the Word is God (John 1:1) The bible is part of the Truth, part of the Word, which came from God revealed to man. When we believe in Jesus, we believe in the Truth, we believe in the Word. Sola Scriptura supports Sola Fide. "How do you solve a problem when there is no problem?" I see no contradiction.

Hi @Peterlag, After reading your post and knowing that I can only ask you one question. Do you mean by you have no sin, that you can follow the law perfectly or that the law doesn't apply to you anymore?

Sidenote. Some teachers teaches that the old testament sacrifices were a representation of the future perfect Lamb of God. For us the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Those animals weren't the true saving element, but the faith of the people in God's words were. Salvation through faith alone, throughout the old and new testament period.

Hi @joe, Your beliefs makes me wonder. Does anyone need to belief in Jesus Christ to be saved? Is there any deadline when someone should do that? Is there any urgency?

Dear Joe, Did something cause you to write this? Or did you freely choose to write this? Did something cause me to answer you? Or did I choose to answer you? The verses you use tells us that God is sovereign. Just like when Jesus said: John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” Did God caused Jesus to be delivered? Or did the Jewish religious leaders delivered Jesus in their free will? Did God caused the holocaust to happen? Did God caused evil to happen? That is the result of your claims. Not intentionally maybe but eventually that would be blasphemous.

Dear Joe, It happened to me before... all texts gone... 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. God desires all men to be saved, does that mean all men are saved? God desires all men not to sin, does that mean that all men don't sin? God desires all husband to love their wives, does that mean all husbands love their wives? Is the sacrifice of Jesus sufficient to save all, certainly! But will everyone accept Jesus as savior, unfortunately not. Everyone can certainly make use of the bible to fit their own beliefs. But what is God trying to tell you? Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Another wrong teaching is that God is failing when some people don't get saved. How can an almighty God not save everyone? Can God save everyone, yes certainly He is God. If God is only just, nobody gets saved. It is God's mercy that some gets saved, the ones who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior. It's God's love to give us the choice of redemption. We can deny it, and many will. What you believe is called universalism, you should check it out and pray to the Lord to disclose you the truth. It is spread by the Word of Faith teachers. The problem with universalism is that it focus only on 1 aspect of God, all loving. But tends to forget that God is just and holy. It uses scripture out of context. Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. Joe, I am not doubting that you have a kind and loving heart. Deep inside, I too wished that everybody was saved. I still have a lot of friends and family who are unbelievers. But I know, not everybody is willing to repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ. The bible says, when we die, our body will go back to earth. Our souls will go back to God. And one day, we all will be resurrected in our new immortal bodies. That is when the judgement will come. That is when Jesus will look into the book of life. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (this verse is exclusive) John 14:6 [universalism version] jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; everybody comes to the father through me." (this verse became inclusive) Revelation 20:15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 [universalism version] And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. But will be saved afterwards. I understand that you believe that after this, unbelievers will still have a chance. It is our human will, our own desire that we think that when everybody is saved, that this would be the best solution to our problem. But God says otherwise. His will is clear through scripture. His will will be done, not our will, not our own desires. God is willing to forgive everybody. But His will is that only the ones are saved who are trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God giving us free will, even when we use it to deny Him, to choose to live without Him, that is love.

The bible also tells husbands to love their wives as themselves. Just as Christ loved us. Which husband is able to fully love his wife as Christ loved us? Which christian is able to fully repent? Which christian is able to fully obey God? How I see "repent and turn from your sins" is a matter of the heart. God knows our hearts. Willing to humble ourselves, bow down to our Lord, follow His will. Failing in trying. Persevering in trying although sometimes failing. Without faith, nothing we do pleases God. With faith, nothing we do will be perfect yet, but through faith our attempts pleases God and God gives us the Helper, The Holy Spirit to guide us in truth. Each christian should ask him/herself, am I in true faith? 2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Hi Joe, I may have concluded too soon about that part. Not purposely, but just impatience from my side. My apology. Now understanding that you believe some will be punished temporary and but will be saved anyway. (which is a false teaching) It is very hard for me to give feedback to all your points. Because they are an accumulation of misinterpretation of the bible. One misunderstanding leading to another. It may seem very arrogant of me to say that. But I truly say that in truth, as given to me through God's words. Not my own understanding. Let me just pick two other points. Certainly, bible verses mention fire in several verses. The lake of fire vs. God's fire. But both fires are NOT talking about the same things! My house is on fire. While playing basketball, that player is on fire. My father is angry and he is on fire. All talking about fire, but not the same kind of fire. Same as the lake of fire vs. God's fire. The lake of fire may be a metaphor for hell, not meaning real fire. God's fire in 1 Cor 3 is certainly not the same as the lake of fire. You conclude that God's fire saves all. Let's review adding a few more verses to see more clearly. 1 Cor 3:10-16 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? What is this foundation? What is this foundation that can be only based on faith in Jesus Christ? Who are the ones with this foundation, building on it? To whom is Paul talking to? Who are the ones with the indwelling of the Spirit of God which Paul is talking to? Who are the ones with the Holy Spirit according to the bible? Who are the ones that can build a bad building, but still be saved? Concluding: Lake of fire is for unbelievers. God's fire (1cor3) is for believers. It is clear that Paul is talking about born again believers who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as the foundation of their faith. Without faith in Christ there is no foundation and also no indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Born again believers have Christ as the foundation, through faith, they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, thus they are saved even though they may be bad builders. Born again believers can build bad structures on top of their faith, but nevertheless, they are still saved by faith. Quote:" However, because of our carnal minds, the contradictions will only end AFTER Christ gives us the "mind of Christ" and heals our spiritual blindness so that we can understand scripture. Spiritual eyes and ears are only given to us at the second coming of Christ (the latter rain). Until that time, a believer is spiritually blind and is lead by the hand by spiritually blind leaders. Paul's conversion "typed" this truth for us and it is shown to us again in these verses" This is just not true. We receive the Holy Spirit in our lives. Not after His return. When a born again christian has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Helper which shows us the truth. We are not spiritually blind anymore, on the contrary, we can see the truth through the Holy Spirit. Certainly, there is a bible verse about the blind leading the blind. But those are warnings for believers not to be like that. It is not a fact that applies to all believers. (context context context) A fact that applies to all true believers is that through the Holy Spirit, we are NOT blind, we can see the truth. Acts 2:38 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 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 that I said to you. John 16:13 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. Romans 8:9 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Romans 8:16 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, ONLY born again believers who are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit are saved. 1 John 2:22-23 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; God's words are clear, we are not blind. The Holy Spirit tells us so. To put things into perspective. From your perspective it doesn't matter what I say. Everybody ends up in heaven anyway. And I am just giving folks a good scare. Believing the truth is not of importance. From my perspective, it does matter what you say. Believing the truth is a matter of life and death. A wrong belief in Jesus Christ, who is the Word, the Truth, the Way and the Life, will be a matter of eternal separation from God or eternal life with God.

For clarification purposes. I believe that we are saved through faith alone. Repentance is not causing our salvation, but faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Repentance is a result of our faith in Christ. When one is truly saved, that person will eventually hate sin. Although still prone to temptations and prone to sinning, the truth is in that person. Knowing and hating sin, just as God hates sin. A true believer will never defend his sins eventually (pride), but will humble himself and repent. Pride is a sin, which can temporary dwell in a saved believer. But it will never stay long through the workings of the Holy Spirit. Unless, that person doesn't have the Holy Spirit. We can't know, God knows.

Will one unforgiven sin send you to hell? Depending what you truly mean by an unforgiven sin. Point is, one sin will send you to hell. Sin is a very serious matter to our Holy and Righteous God. So, by one sin, we are already condemned to hell. It is that serious. How are our sins forgiven? Not only by repenting. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ. Once someone truly put their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, God will give us the Helper, the Holy Spirit. We are marked by the Holy Spirit, our sins are forgiven. hebrews 10:26 says that if we deliberately go on sinning after we receive Christ then there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins and you can only expect judgement. My understanding is. God says if someone who identifies himself as a christian and still deliverately keep on sinning without any conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is clearly not in that person, thus that person is not forgiven at all to begin with, because his faith was not genuine faith. Or he put his faith in a fake christ. even if you accidently sin, your still guilty and must make a sacrifice. Can a true born again believer sin? Yes. And here it says a sacrifice must be made. Who is the perfect Lamb? Who is the sacrifice sufficient for all who has genuine faith in Him? Do you believe that? Is this a license to sin? Only a false believer would say yes. A true believer will not believe in vain. True faith comes with repentance, gratefulness, good works and fruits of the Spirit. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Do you realize that Bill Wiese is claiming to be a time traveler?

Hello @Peterlag, We both believe that the Creator exists. As you said, you are not on the same page as the ones that believe that a believer still can sin. As the Word became flesh is Jesus Christ. We believing in different words, meaning we believing in different christs. Logically, one of us believes in the wrong christ. Certainly you do believe you believe in the correct christ and we don't. One of us has a big problem when facing the true Christ due to wrongful preaching of His words. Let us all keep seeking the Lord with all our soul and all our heart. So that He will reveal Himself to us, His truth not ours. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.