Trust & Obey

Because Jesus said He is the ONLY way to God: Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. And, Jesus rose from the dead thereby verifying His authority over death and validating His ministry. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. All of the leaders of the other so-called religions are still dead in their graves, bodily. Spiritually I don't want to think about where they are.

Man is born into this world spiritually dead. This is due to sin that entered through Adam. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Thus, the need for the spirit to be quickened (or, made alive). Jesus said that we must be born again. Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. God makes our spirits alive when we come to Him in faith through Jesus Christ. Eph 2:1 And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, Eph 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; Eph 2:3 among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us Eph 2:5 (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), Eph 2:6 and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, Eph 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Eph 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, Eph 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Coming to God through Jesus Christ means that you must surrender yourself to the Lordship of Christ. Luk 6:46 And why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? Joh 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. Joh 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep My Words, and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Mat 10:38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Mat 10:39 He who finds his life shall lose it. And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it. Following Christ means you have come to the end of your own life: Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. So, it is by recognizing your sinfulness, confessing it to God, repenting of it, and submitting yourself to God that one is born-again. It is a spiritual event that happens in a moment. There must come a time when your heart is receptive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon one's life and thus you become willing and obedient to do what God tells you to do. Mat 8:19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Mat 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. I would recommend the book The Gospel According to Jesus for a wonderful examination of what it means to follow Jesus.

Brother/Sister, what is holding you back from surrendering all to God? Your life is much better off in His mighty hands than it is in your feeble ones. I know it is tough to triumph over the flesh. Paul struggled with much the same thing (see Romans 7). The answer to the dilemma of the flesh isn't to strive against it. You will never defeat the flesh by warring against it. You must STARVE the flesh and FEED the spirit. It is only when you turn on the light that darkness flees. Light dispels darkness. You'll never beat the darkness out of the room. But, you can fill the room with light. Thus, darkness will inevitably flee. Jam 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Jam 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Jam 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Amen, Fiosh. God isn't looking for "the able." He's looking for "the available." There is nothing like being used by God in the salvation of another.

The "somewhat important" minimizes the option. The salvation of others is of the utmost importance, and I witness where and when I can.

Christianity did not "evolve" out of Judaism. Judaism, as the religion we know now, did not come into existance until 72 A.D. after the Temple was destroyed. Christianity IS the product of the faith of the OT. The Christian faith finds its roots in the Israelite religion of the OT. The New Testament is written out of OT knowledege. The Apostles had only one set of Scriptures to preach from, the OT. The New Testament is written in the language of the Festivals and the Sacrificial system of the OT. Jesus did not eradicate the OT laws, but rather he brought them to fuller expression. The OT were created by God, and Jesus as God has no reason to eradicate them. They are not Jewish laws, they are God's. The OT commandments were never the problem. What Jesus came against was the extra-biblical laws and commandments that some of the Pharisiees had created and made more important the Word of God, and the hypocritial ways they enforced them. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree. Also, Jesus came against the Pharisees for observing the laws outwardly, all the while ignoring their spiritual applications. Thus, they were white washed sepulchres full of dead men's bones.

From our perspective it might seem that way. But, understanding that God is infinitely holy it would seem as though man could never, ever, fully repay the debt owed for one single sin. Annihilation does not incorporate the supremely infinite justice of God. It would in essense allow mankind a lifetime of sin and rebellion against a righteous and holy God with no punishment whatsoever. Heaven is a reward to the faithful. Not receiving the reward is not enough to make up for a lifetime of sin.

Zayit, These chips are not altogether safe to have in your body. An example would be if a person was in an auto accident and needed an emergency MRI. A chip anywhere in your body could do great harm to both the person that it was in and anyone else that might be in or around the room. Likewise it would not be good to be around any serious microwave or radio energy with one for fear of serious burns or exploding parts. I am not sure what an exray would do, if anything, but early computer chips were damaged by the exray machines at airports (personal experience tells me this). For this reason many who deal in researching these chips are saying that there will be a mark outside the body that will inform whoever needs to know where the chip is located and what frequency it responds to. thus we would likely have both the chip and the outward mark that would show to everyone...... basically the worst of both thought lines...... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not true. The chips that people are receiving today for various purposes are "MRI safe." _________ The chip is expected to last at least 10 years based on pet experience. Halamka says it's safe for MRI scans, and he sees no evidence the chip can be deactivated through magnetic energy. "I have flown to several dozen cities since the implant and have not triggered any airline security systems," he notes. The chip is not a GPS. The unique ID transmitted by the VeriChip human-implantable chip isn't encrypted, so it could be read by a compatible reader. But unauthorised reading of the chip doesn't disclose any specific health information, he adds, because that's on a closed Web site. Excerpted from this article. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not everyone agrees: http://www.drugresearcher.com/news/news-ng...table-rfid-chip <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, surely technology will arise that will solve the problem. I don't think the MRI is going to thwart God's prophecy.

But.....what if there either are no men ( or no qualified men ) or there are no men willing to take the role of Pastor in a particular church ? Is God going to fill that position with a qualified woman, or is He so legalistic that He'll just let the church fend for herself without any leadership ? Should an unqualified man take the position over a qualified woman for the sake of gender roles ? I see nothing wrong with a woman pastor if she's been called by God to lead. If it's based on some "women's rights" movement or if she's trying to prove some point to herself- yeah, that's the wrong reason... but who are we to say God hasn't called her to serve in leadership ? ( I'm sure there have been many a men who over the years entered the ministry for the wrong reasons...yet their motivation is never called into question ) I'm sure I'll come under fire for my position here, but it's how I feel about the subject. Blessings, Tim <{POST_SNAPBACK}> God has declared in His Word that a woman is not to do the job. If God is for the formation of this Church body then He'll provide a competent man to lead it. Being a Pastor is a calling from God. God does not call women to be Pastors simply because He said they weren't to serve in that capacity. Is God legalistic? Perhaps. But, what He says goes. If you want Christ to be the head of the church you have to let Him reign.

Here's an excellent article on the subject by Charles Finney:

God never created Hell for man. God created Hell for the devil and his angels. Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: If man rejects God on this earth and insteads follows Satan then he will also follow Satan to his eternal destination... which is hell. Why would God force someone to go to heaven and spend eternity with Him when that person demonstrated their entire life that they wanted nothing to do with God?

Gentle, the Bible forbids women pastors. 1Ti 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 1Ti 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. It's an easy decision seeing that the Word of God is pretty specific.

Yomo, God will excuse all 007s. Christ paid the penalty for your sin. This morning as I was spending time in the Word I came across something in a commentary of mine that is so very applicable to this. I also just ordered the commentary on CD-ROM and was going to wait for it to arrive to "cut and paste" it. But, seeing as it is relevant to this discussion I'll go ahead and retype it. It is lengthy, but a grand read from Pastor Jon Courson's New Testament Application Commentary.

Well, we are called a peculiar people: 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: And, God calls us out of the world. Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Or.....you could simply be a good steward with what God has given you, use His gifts judiciously and be blessed for your obedience to His Word. Just another option to isolation Be blessed my friend, Tim <{POST_SNAPBACK}> NOT a nice thought to a 14-yr-old...... not watching anything.... Oh, I confess, I'm addicted to videos!!!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

A:Yes, I watched an episode or two. I didn't care for it. I'm really trying to eliminate as much TV out of my life as possible, so perhaps that is why I didn't enjoy it. My wife really enjoys it. However, there's quite a bit of objectionable content which is to be expected from Hollywood. The show is full of deceit, greed, fornication, etc. You know, typically Hollywood values.

It is all too common, Yomo. When another Christian finds out that you're a Christian, the inevitable question that follows is "where do you go to church?" or something like that. I'm proud of where I fellowship and do not hesitate to share it with others. This is because I am fully confident in the integrity and biblical-basedness of my fellowship. If you are "ashamed" of "your denomination" you need to ask yourself this: 1) Is it simply due to the peer pressure of someone else? 2) Is it because you don't agree with much of what your denomination does? If it is due to peer pressure, then take note of what Paul said in his epistle to the Galatians: Gal 1:10 For now do I persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Being a servant of God means that we are not to be men-pleasers. Even in the church it is possible to fall into the "men-pleaser trap." If it is due to disagreements with the denomination then I would suggest you evaluate your presence within that denomination and seek God as to where He would have you. In Christ...

As a Christian, I will agree that Christianity is a religion. The reason for the "religion vs. relationship" discussion is to differentiate Christianity from the other "religions" that seek to reach God through self-effort and good works. Christianity can best be illustrated as showing God reaching down to mankind. God condescended to our level to reach us. All other religions could be illustrated by men reaching up to God. Thus, they are attempting to reach God through various good works, ordinances, etc. That is the difference between Christianity and other religions. Christianity is God coming down to man because man could never come up to God. Other religions are attempts to reach God which is an impossible effort for sinful man. Christians shouldn't be afraid of the word "religion." James uses it in his epistle: Jam 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Jam 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Pax, here's an interesting article from the Catholic News Service: <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Especially interesting in that it clearly demonstrates that the RCC promotes and supports the reading of the Bible by the faithful. Thanks! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yeah... I think they changed their stance on it a while ago. What I can't fathom is why in the world would they didn't encourage Bible reading for the great majority of their tenure.

Pax, here's an interesting article from the Catholic News Service:

And what about: Mat 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Isn't this what "Hail Mary" and "Our Father" prayers are? You know, "say 10 Hail Marys and 10 Our Fathers and you will be forgiven." <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The operative Greek word here for "vain repetitions" is battalogeo, or babbling. That is, the heathens had a magical perception of prayer and thought the more they babbled to their gods, the more that that god would respond: I Kings 18:26: "And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered." Christ Himself prayed in repetitions. Matthew 26:44: "And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words". Mark 14:39 reads: "And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words." Do you believe that the Father heard Him the first time? I don't think Jesus ever went and just recited something over and over. Prayer is to be meaningful dialogue with God. The example we have of Jesus praying are Him pouring out His heart to the Father. That's what prayer should be. Not recitations of a formulized "prayer."

There is a difference with being exposed to evil by being in the world and intentionally exposing yourself to evil for "entertainment/pleasure." No, I don't think you need to do that. Just stay away from those places on the net that are evil. The same goes for the TV. Now, if you lack self-control and cannot own a computer without the temptation being too great, then perhaps you'd be a candidate for getting rid of it. Remember, the context of this thread is "entertainment." So, the question should be "should I entertain myself with that which God calls sinful?" I say the answer is "no."

Jesus' existence is provable because of the substantial written accounts from various sources of His life here on earth. Also, Jesus has personally changed my life from the inside out. He did in me overnight what people in 12 step programs fail to attain after years and years of self-effort. Jesus continues to change lives on a daily basis and this, I feel, is the most convincing evidence of His existence, both past and present.

I agree that those examples do not pass the "no graven images" test.

What if you can't read?? You claim that one can only be "Born again" from reading the word of God. So all the illiterate, mental handicapped, people who can't read are just out of luck??? This idea makes no logical sense. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was born-again largely through Christian radio ministry. I only bought a Bible after getting saved.