SpiritSong

Not all preachers say that, and this scriptural promise is for those who are already in Christ. How can you be in Christ if you are living life outside of Him? Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. You cannot live your life out in the flesh and expect to be spiritually connected to Christ. The more we dwell in His Spirit, in His Word, in worship of Him, in prayer to Him,in His presence, the more we are a part of Him. No one else can sever that connection, but we can but walking away from Him and live in the dictates of the flesh, which are sin and death.

The Bible says that nation will rise against nation. This gives me a picture of different wars all happening simultaneously, not like previous world wars with two clear sides, allies and axis. Just war and chaos. It is out of this chaos that the enemy wants to rise out of and appear to bring order. That's what I think anyway.

Before the Lord comes back, the gospel shall be preached to the ends of the earth, and an angel will proclaim the gospel: Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— I believe there is going to be a huge awakening, and those who do awake will literally experience the gospel, like in Joel 2:28 because of this angel's preaching. God will be giving people the choice to believe the Truth or stay bound in fears and lies through this, drawinghe dividing line. I believe that this last revival will be the greatest one, and the Lord will come to gather His harvest. The tares will be dealt with first, according to the parable in Matthew 13, but He will gather His harvest into the barn.

If the only thing we need to know is Jesus, but then promptly forget His Word, forget His commands and forget what He wants, what do we really know?

With regards to the OP I have always seen things in this way: my spirit has become born again, but my body has yet to catch up, being a fleshly vessel. That's why we must crucify the flesh and its passions. One day, though, our bodies will be changed, and we will be fully compatible for Jesus and heaven. You can cook meat in a shoe if you like, but that vessel is not only incompatible but also inappropriate. It's actually a pretty disgusting thought, there's bound to be some melting, just yuck. Bring on the new wine skins! 🙏🙏🙏

Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord will be allowed into heaven - and He is the one who tells us that. Just because we call Him Lord doesn't mean we have made Him Lord of our lives. He is not only Saviour but Lord, and so if He is our Lord why should we have excuse not to obey Him? No one is perfect and we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory, but that doesn't mean we can get away with disobedience. Also, if we choose not to live lives aligned with Him, why would we want to spend eternity with Him? Maybe just because someone says they are saved, doesn't mean they've really accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

It's hard when it comes to due rewards. With my three I try to be fair, especially as they grow out of toys and things that would so easily entertain them before, and with more mature entertainment being what it has come to be. I have three kids and my oldest is into tech, which is expensive, and my youngest is easiest to shop for, so they are going to feel outdone at some point. But growing up the way I did, and remembering what I had to grow up in, I am very careful not to show partiality, but I do try to meet each of my kids exactly where each of them are. Each of us are special to God, each of us reflect His image and we all have a purpose. Did Jacob's sons know they were heads of tribes? Did they know the Messiah would come from them? Not that they needed to be reminded every single day, but once again this thread isn't about God's favour, but man's favourtism. I just wonder if any of Joseph's brothers ever really considered their own worth instead of concentrating on his, when that's what they saw from their father. I really am not trying to throw Jacob under the bus here, he experienced such a unique walk with God and was chosen for a reason. But the Word of God is there for us to learn. While we do have to guard against pride and arrogance, it's not arrogance to know we are special to God, or anyone else, or to know that we all have a purpose. There's so much discouragement out there, why add to it?

I agree, and strongly, but again that's not what the OP is really about. Also, what three holy things above were you referring to? I I'm trying but I can't exactly understand what you were explaining there. It is definitely dangerous to tamper with what God calls holy, 100%. Best thing is just not to do so 👍

Excellent points, and I love how merciful God is. I have no disagreement here, but once again, these are not the things I was concerned about. Thank you for pointing them out though, as in these we do always need to remember God's sovereignty in everything. My thoughts on the issue, however, are concentrated more on man's free will, which is also God-given, and which also means man has responsibility. In Jacob and Esau's case, I think Esau did not value his birthright enough, and was willing to give it away in exchange for a bowl of lentil soup, and it is this which Esau displeased the Lord with. Whereas Jacob literally did not give up the fight, even when his hip was out of joint. We choose when to give up and when to move on, and I don't think we see responsibility in the same way that God does. What I do know is that the impact our actions have can be generational. We are not God but we can still have an effect on each other and future generations. Jesus even said that every idle word we say would be taken into account. We have a real responsibility. Bless you. 🙏

Fair is not promised but isn't what we should all be after? Not as entitlement but bestowing the same grace on others that has been bestowed on us? Not trying to be naive, just... wouldn't it be nice?

Posting as a non American, I love my American brethren. Blessings from UK 👍 Life is indeed not fair but that doesn't not mean we shouldn't try to be. Nothing can compare to God's mercy and grace, but we can try to be gracious to all 🙏

We don't have a play by play of Jacob's parenting, but we do get the general idea. As I pointed out above in my reply to @AdHoc, Jacob experienced the exact same treatment himself from his own parents. Going even further back, Isaac was favoured over Ishmael. It seems to be a generational thing. What about Cain and Abel? God wasn't even rejecting Cain, though He did reject his offering and attempted to even parent him into making better choices. That was enough to make Cain commit the first ever murder. Life isn't fair for sure, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to be, especially with our children, right? I'm not trying to cast judgement, just trying to understand the the choices that were made, and gain some wisdom in the process.

Interesting perspective, I hadn't really thought about it from that angle. Of course God can do what He likes, but it is up to the individual once their in the job to do the job. Saul had a choice, just as Solomon did. I wouldn't call that a case of favourtism but personal corruption. It's not God's favour I have a concern with either, it's man's judgement. I guess I just don't think favourtism from man helps anyone; either the favourite or the ones who suffer with the jealousy. Having been on both sides (I was the youngest child who then grew into the black sheep) I just find it super careless and unnecessary. It was a cultural attitude for us for sure, but that didn't make it any better. I can only imagine the issues Joseph's brothers sat with in order to feel justified in doing what they did to him. I don't have sympathy for them in that regard but I do understand that resentment is a real thing. Even Jacob knew what that was like with Esau and birthright shenanigans and his father and mother showing open favourtism to them both. It just doesn't seem healthy. I'm glad God used it for Joseph's good but I wouldn't wish what he went through on anyone.

So last night my kids and I were reading through Genesis 43 as we have been following Joseph's story. In the ensuing discussion the subject of favourtism came up and we all agreed that while Goa allowed it and worked it in Joseph's eventual favour, it could be pretty damaging in our family relationships. The thing is, birthright and age in Joseph's time made a huge deal in how people related to you, so favourtism was to be expected and obviously did not seem as unfair as it does in modern Western culture. Also, being the black sheep of my own family (which is something I don't discuss with my kids) I insist on being and appearing as fair as possible, and to reassure all three of my children that I love them all in their own individuality and all of them the same, which is hard because the youngest will get more attention and the oldest will get more responsibility and the middle one with the least drama will feel more ignored. All this has led me to seek answers in God's Word, which in itself (Himself, really) is rich in promise of favour as well as a staunch advocate of justice and fairness. Was Joseph's descent and ascent fair? Moreover, was Jesus's? Was it fair for Joseph to put his brothers through the ringer like he did? Was Jacob a fair father, especially for his time and culture? What do you all think? I hope this isn't a triggering topic, I have my own issues with it. I just want an honest discussion. Be blessed all 🙏

Unfortunately there are people out there who feel the need to be validated by winning arguments. It's not pleasant, not edifying and it's just a waste of energy and time. People are bound to have opposing viewpoints because we are all different and have had different experiences, even of similar this to one another. However it's perfectly possible to learn things from one another simply by listening to each other without the need to argue. Even God Almighty in Isaiah 1:18 chooses to reason with us. Imagine His patience! I think the sharpness we are to bring is the precision brought about by more available knowledge giving a more complete picture. Just my thoughts

Enoch walked 300 yes with God. This tells me that it's not impossible.

As I understand things, Christ has set us free from the bonds of sin because of His work on the cross. However sin is still all around us in this fallen world, and we still have a vessel of flesh which seems to be very attracted to sin indeed. It's like the worst curse or spell ever cast. It tempts and ensnares and binds. And our flesh doesn't even care that the inner spiritual man, the living soul, is afflicted by sin. If we had zero self-control or zero free will, we would be deranged and depraved beyond any same belief. Praise God, that He has given humans free will to temper sin with sanity, which is why the enemy actually has to convince us and tempt us into it via the flesh. Praise God that now as Christians we have a relationship with Him, we can ask Him ANYTHING in His Name and He will answer us. Grace is available! Strength is available! And if we think to ask to be hidden in Him, He is more than willing to oblige!!! And the times we do give into the flesh and, which should become fewer the more steady our relationship with the Lord, we can and must repent. Philipians 1:6 tells us the good work Christ began in us He will complete. It's a process. Philipians 2:12 tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We have our part to play. Not only do we need contribute faith, but also willingness to obey, which if we have accepted Christ's sacrificial work, and His Lordship in our lives, should be the next natural (or spiritual) step. God doesn't want robots He needs to push buttons on so He can get the required result, He wants us to be in relationship with Him out of our own free will. And like all relationships, this one takes work - or else it wouldn't be worth it. Let's work in grace and truth and peace, especially in these times. The devil is working on overtime trying to accomplish his plans.

Someone once said: "Only those who are greedy and those who are naive side with those in power." Seeing as the world cares nothing of God and only about feeding the flesh, I am highly skeptical that anyone in power has purely good motives. It seems far more likely that exposition of this human trafficking is genuine. However this not the slave trade of old, as it doesn't just include forced labour. They don't get paid in food. These human beings are treated as objects of willful, deliberate abuse. Literal vessels of flesh. The majority of them are children, or definitely started out as children. We know that the devil is busy trying to implement his plans because his time is short. Let us not be so ready to be deceived that such evils cannot or do not exist. What an insult to them for the suffering they have to bear, especially because nany of them are countries and continents away. Out of sight, out of mind, doesn't change the reality of the situation. Let's have compassion instead, and pray. As Christians we understand the power of these two weapons, as the Lord wields these on our behalf at all times against our accuser: Romans 8:34 Slavery may not be a new fangled concept, but there are extremes to everything. I think we'll all be surprised just how evil this world can get Come, Lord Jesus. Make all things new. Amen.

I agree, prayer and worship and sharing God's Word together will definitely make our unity stronger. It's also good to know that the Lord already knows those who are his, and He is coming back for them. Unfortunately there are among the fold wolves in sheep's clothing, as the Lord Himself, along with Paul's epistles, did warn us. There are some out there who simply like to stir up division. We've all come across people like this who claim to be Christians. That's why if we don't walk in the Spirit of God but instead in flesh and pride, as others here have rightly pointed out, we will succumb to that conflicting division, and ultimately, to the great falling away. It reminds me of Jesus' Words of not bringing peace but a sword. He is giving us the choice.

I think that before the church is raptured there will be great revivals all around the world. God will gather His harvest, but remember that the wheat and the tares grow together until then. What is clear is that all humanity will be given the choice who to follow. Fortunately we don't have to be Borg to be of one mind in Christ! Deception is futile, and the truth will set us free. Not only will we live long and prosper, we are already in eternity. The Lord is coming soon, so not long now until we know the fullness of that reality. In the mean time, I'm setting my sights on agreement with the truth, as all these arguments - big and small - are just a distraction from the truth, and they are certainly not where we find freedom, which is especially important as we have a responsibility to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Hopefully this is a good place to find agreement in the truth of God's Word, and maybe even some encouragement. We are living in interesting times, for sure.

This is just one of those things that can be quite divisive, and I don't have a concrete answer. I just know that I myself don't like them, but that's just my opinion. I know what the poll is getting at but I just didn't want to engage with it. Sorry my friend, but that's about all I can say about it.

In reply to the OP, I am Christian because once I was a slave to sin but now I am free in Christ, I was blind but now I see, I was lost but now I am saved by the blood of the Lamb of God which was shed for all the world. You can't be born a Christian physically, but only by spiritually becoming born again in Christ Jesus. That takes faith, and the fruit of that faith are the good works that include taking care of the poor, etc. That's why I am a Christian. 🙂

The Word does say that all those who call on the Name shall be saved. Maybe that's all it takes? No other name higher 🙌

At which moment did he become born again and receive Christ's Spirit? He received no baptism of water or of fire, he did speak in tongues or demonstrate any operation in the gifts of the Spirit. Just asking with regards to the OP

What about the thief on the cross who Jesus promised paradise to the very day they were crucified together?