jc2chat

I believe that in this matter you have to choose and fix your heart on what it is you really believe on. If Jesus is your Lord, then you will not accept that you belong to a symbol of a serpent or even what it represents. If Jesus is your Lord, then you belong to God, your Heavenly Father, and nothing man made, like those Chinese signs, can label you as anyone other than a child of God. You are under God's authority, not the authority of the Chinese dragon/serpent.

We all have a shameful past we can not erase. However, we will do well to acknowledge that God is the only one who can erase it. He erases is from His records (if I may use the word "records" to make the point). And that is what ultimately matters, that it is erased from our having to pay the price for the spiritual debt we have incurred. Jesus paid the price, so when things come up in our lives that cause us to be ashamed, we have to take the perspective in our minds of how Jesus paid the debt for what we did. Yes, we are not proud of what we have done, but let us not compare our sins to others sins, because they are ALL sins against God for which Jesus paid the price for us to be exonerated from guilt and shame. I hope that helps you.

In response to the quote below: Yes, this is not only so true, but it a true to not be taken lightly. God has been impressing on me lately, how we don't have much time on this earth. It is really as a vapor in the wind. Here...then gone. Let us avoid stress, strife and live to make it worth it. "So to finish up, dear saints. Let us be reminded of where we are seated. We are seated

Interesting...In reading the question to this poll I knew immediately the scriptural answer to it is to have fellowship with other believers, because the Bible doesn't call it church, it says to not forsake the gathering of ourselves together. At the same time, I realized my personal reason for attending has been to be fed scripture and serve fellow believers. I am making no point really except to share that thought.

Here is my take on explaining it: We are created in God's image. We are made up of body, soul and spirit. (on the earth, we have a body, of course. we will have glorified one in heaven too) We are a tripart being, not three persons. Same goes for God. He is a tri-part being...except in 3 persons: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit... 3 people unified...one being. amazing and beyond my whole comprehension, yet true and available to us, even in our limited comprehension and revelation.

Have you ever had you 'heart' broken or hurt? Have you ever been hurt or disappointed in a way where it affected you in a deeper way than normal. That is your spirit. I say 'your spirit', but we ARE spirit. But to say it understandably, that is your spirit being hurt, or aka that is 'you' hurting. On the flip side of the coin: Have you ever been so relieved or happy or blessed that it affected you in a deeper way than just in your thoughts? That too is spirit/you being affectted.