Nebuchadnezza10

Any Christian who says he/she has all of the answers are only fooling themselves. I admit that I do not have answers for the following questions. I found these questions on an atheist site. I'm looking for some help answering them. Thought I may not have all the answers I know that we can find them no matter how hard the question. 1. Why does God allow charlatans to use His name to extract money, sex, attention and even their very lives from devout believers, who truly, honestly believe that they are listening to the word of God? Firstly, free will is a large factor of this. God will never force us to do something, even if it is for our good. If He did then he would just be treating us as a means to an end. Secondly, as humans we love to have our ears tickled. If something sounds right and would suit us best we will often go that direction even if it is against Gods will. 2. If God knows the future and the past with perfect certainty, why did He create me knowing that my fate is to burn forever in Hell? Again, free will. He loves us so much that he will not take away our power of choice. 3. Of the millions of species of insects, arachnids, and other bugs on earth, did Noah actually collect two (or perhaps seven?) of each, and how did they survive for 10 months when some of them have a lifespan measured in hours? Well, for all we know Noah could have got two of each kind of animals and insects in an infant form. This would have freed up some space. And also what is stopping God from putting those insects and animals in a forced hibernation state so that they could all last that long. 4. (For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.) Genesis 3:5 How were Adam and Eve supposed to distinguish between good and evil acts if they didn't understand the concepts until they ate the fruit? What this means is that they did not know of all the things that we consider sins now. For example, sex before marriage. Adam and eve may not have known that sex before marriage was a sin. However they did know that eating of the fruit was a sin because God told them not to eat it and they went against his will. They knew what they were doing when they ate the fruit. Thought Adam and eve did not know of every good and evil they understood the Consept of doing what was against Gods will. Hope that helps

I can see where you are coming from. It can seem a bit strange at first. If I may uses your statement to answer your question, Paul was telling them to desire the gifts but was also telling them that they were temporary.

hubertdorm these are some excellent points. My understanding of these vs

Hey everyone, I am back. This has been a very interesting debate. I have forgotten where we left off but I think we have covered a lot of ground. I would like to say that everyone has had great comments and ideas. I think I have pretty much said everything that I have to say but if anyone want

Hey People! Two more weeks and i will have finished my exams!!! Then i will be able to reply to ya'll.. C you then

Hey guys. Give me a couple of weeks to get back to ya. I am doing some intensive studying. Love in Christ Ryan

Well in this instance the Holy Ghost fell upon the people as the Apostles hands were placed on them... It doesn

Scudbuddy, you

Thanx traveller, I think the reason that this has stayed so civil is because people know that this is not a personal thing. We are just trying to find an answer to a question. Right people? Anyway. Probably the best place to continue is where we left off. I know you have seen these vs many times before, but I would like you to answer the question below each vs. Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money Was the Gifts of the HS given by the laying on of the apostles hands? 2 Timothy 1 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. How did Timothy receive the gift from God? Act 8 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[3] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Why did Peter and John have to travel so far to lay hands on them if the laying on of hands was not nessesary? Let me know what ya think.

Oh, hello people. I thought it was my last post since people where not posting any longer. Guess I was wrong. (There

This will be my last post by the looks of things. I would like to thank everyone that participated. I would also like to say that I will be thinking over everything that has been said with an open heart. I pray that you will all do the same. In love Neb His will be done.

Anyway? Obviously wanted her ears tickled. She apparently does not want to be challenge what she believes but is comfortable with her faith. Just remember, God never called us to be a

Well I am just saying what I read. I could be wrong. Its just that where does it say that 120 received the gifts of the HS? If you look at Acts 2:7 it says that the people speaking in tongues where all men and Galileans. Who where all men and Galileans? The apostles. Also in vs 14 it says: 14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

Nevertheless, the word dunamis is still twice removed from the word used in Acts 9:22. They are two different words. You are trying to apply a meaning to a word that does not have that connotation. Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money Was the HS given by the laying on of the apostles

Give me a couple of days to reply. I have tests happening right now. Speak to ya soon

I was just curious because the word in Greek is not Dunamis. I had a look and it is endunamoo. Made up of Two words. , en and dunamoo. En means a fixed position in time place or state, and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively). Dunamoo means to enable:--strengthen. This word comes from dunamis which means a specially, miraculous power. You did some good research but it was just a little mixed up. The definition of "miraculous power" is twice removed from the word endunamoo. This word just means (increase in) strength, be (make) strong. Dunamis is not the word used. Well if I said that then I was very wrong. Can you remember where I posted that? Well that

You are now using the word to mean both miraculous powers and strength. Grammatically this does not work.. It either means one or the other. Where did I say that? I said that the apostles passed on the HS. Where have you drawn that from. It simply says: Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. There is no previous context of gifts in this vs therefore your definition of the word

Yes, the gifts that the people receive are chosen by th HS by they are passed on by the Apostles. If what I say is true does that make what I am saying correct then? maturity." He was learning how to trust God in everything more and more. So are you saying that he grew in strength with regards to maturity? That's what I said. Have a look: (italics added)

It

Maybe if I give you the vs

Yes! They layed hands on people ad then what happened? I think I must have misunderstood where you were coming from with regards to Ananais. Ananais did not pass on the Gift of the holy spirit but he did have the ability to heal. Right? So Ananais could very easily have received the gifts from the apostles at a certain time. Just because it is not mentioned does not mean it did not happen. The three vs

Acts 8:18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 2 Timothy 1 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. Act 8 14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into[3] the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Therer are the vs

What do you mean at the home of Cornelius? At Pentecost it was a one of thing along with when the apostles received the Gifts. The reason behind why the gentiles at Pentecost received the HS in this way was to prove that the gentiles had also been offered repentance. Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." I will also post something from a previous post that talks to this statement.

Go back a couple of post. I