Motivated By Grace

It's been my experience that this cyber-environment can be hard to properly communicate in, given we are absent voice tones and body language, which does about as much in the process of communication as the words themselves... I haven't read this entire thread yet... Just my two cents is many times we may mis-understand each other even when we're saying the same thing...

Isn't THAT the truth!

Amen Miss Ruth. I agree!

I do hope the ground of Paris' mind is plowed to such a state so that she would look to God instead of Mom... She is arrogant... just like just about all of us... She is lost... She needs Jesus. I pray that the circumstances in her life will draw her to the "real" Jesus.

"For the Grace of God has (A)appeared, (B)bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and (C)worldly desires and (D)to live sensibly, righteously and godly (E)in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the (F)appearing of the glory of (G)our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who (H)gave Himself for us (I)to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to (J)purify for Himself a (K)people for His own possession, (L)zealous for good deeds." - Titus 2:11-14 God's love: Sent His Son to us, Teaching us and reconciling us unto Himself even while we were yet lost in sin. My appreciation of the awesome power in which Jesus dealt with the sin of the entire world (for both lost and saved people), I stand in awe every waking moment of my God who I can't begin to understand in His totality. It is the recognition and awe-struck appreciation I have for Him that will motivated me to learn, think and do any good thing. Bless the Name of God! He is so far beyond worthy it isn't funny...

Everywhere I go, my bible goes. You'd be surprised at how much time you have here and there to investigate the Word...

Wow Ol' Fresno. Do you know how to pull one trigger at a time instead of letting both barrels go at one time?

So God can lust? I mean, you could try and categorise lust as being exclusively a sin rather than an emotion, but the Bible states more than once that God is capable of jealousy despite jealousy/envy being a deadly sin, so it seems just as reasonable to conclude that, working from this basis, God can feel "sinful" emotions, too, rather than just pure ones. Which raises the question: if God is perfect but can feel lust and jealousy, then are these emotions inherently sinful no matter who feels them, or are they only sinful for mankind, and not God? Lust isn't an emotion. Lust is an overwhelming desire for something. At best, it can be the misuse of an emotion (desire). Arguably, jealousy fits this definition, too - an overwhelming desire for something. But the Bible doesn't say God is a desirous God; it specifies jealous. So, once again, if jealousy, why not lust, and as asked above, does this mean these emotions are only sinful for humans, and not God? Bearing in mind that my initial line of inquiry was sparked by Floatingaxe's comment, I still think the question stands beyond it because of the jealousy precedent. God loves all men generally, but due to His knowledge of everything past, present and future, He may individually pronounce His hatred for this one or that, as He did on Esau (Romans 9:13 and Mal. 1:2). God knows all things we are, things we will be, and the things we will never be. In this knowledge He can pronounce His judgment if He so desires... Very few sins are classified as "abominations", but homosexuality is one of them (Leviticus 18:22 ). Homosexualism is not "gay". Far from it. In our New Covenant with God, Jesus provides the homosexual an avenue to overcome (Romans 5:6) his sin. Any born again Christian will now live in the "newness of the Spirit". This is an ongoing process. Christians may struggle with homosexuality, but God will lead them through the red sea. To elaborate though, if you're a practicing homosexual in the pulpit with no repentance in your heart and mind for your sin, you need to be born again of the Spirit... Concerning emotions: Emotions are simply "responders" to what we are thinking. This is a very deep subject that requires much thought. Many victories can be gained by internalizing the truth of the above statement, simplistic as it is. To distinguish God from man concerning emotions? God's emotions will only follow God's thoughts, knowledge and wisdom. In the same way, man's emotions will follow man's limited and fallen thoughts, knowledge and wisdom. Will there be a difference in the two? You better believe it!

Het Walla? You might find "Bible Explorer" interesting also!

In the past I've used many different translations, but now it the NASB (I wouldn't mind the NKJV either)... But they only serve to point me into critical word studies in the priginal languages... So much can be learned from that, to avoid it (word study in original language) is doing one's self a great dis-service...

Minnow? You've asked alot of interesting questions. Please edure me as I slowly catch up on this thread and others. My time is somewhat limited through the week... But in answer to: "And what commandments are being referred to?" Jesus didn't give us but two commandments under the New Covenant., and they were both matters of a transformed heart in the born again believer. He was identifying the new "desire" within the hearts of those that have accepted HIM as their Savior!

I do understand what you're saying Miss Vicki, and I wouldn't dis-agree with that for anything... I would only like to add, for the purpose of maybe clarifying some fine lines in understanding, that "obeying from the heart" is not so much a "command" as it is a "desire" within the heart of the born again believer in Christ. In other words, born again Christians will now obey (or attempt to obey) because they "want" to, and not because they "have" to. Born again believers in Christ are now "Motivated By Grace" in all that they try to learn and do (Titus 2:11-14) .

Amen, Miss Ruth... Well said...

Any emotion is only a "responder" to what we are thinking. I've often wondered the same thing about God. I'm quite certain He possesses all the emotions we have... But I think anytime we are afforded happiness in the form of humor or laughter, it's in the guise of being able to ignore all other things in the world, or we are simply ignorant of much by default. With God seeing things on a much broader scale than any of us could imagine, I think He may well be pleased with some things at times, but He is witness to so much evil in this world toward everyone (whom He loves - He loves ALL people), that I don't think it would ever be dominant enough to move Him to laughter or free in spirit jollyness... I do think thjis will change though once this world is gone and we reside with Him forever more... All tears will then be wiped away, and I think we'll see a side of God we have never before known... Just my two cents...

I think that was well said, Ron. Well said indeed.

Miss Crystal? I think this is an OUTSTANDING question for each of us to ponder personally! My hat's off to you for provoking thought on this very important subject, for I think the realities of this is the major reason there is over 33,000 different "religions" in the world today, not to mention all the political correctness that is a form of religion in itself! I don't think the answers to this is anything that can be deemed simple, but off the top of my head, I think we need to recognize we are "personally" responsible for any and every decision we make in what we believe and why. Even though a man (or a woman) may stand and boldly proclaim what they "say" is the truth, it could well be a lie from the pit of the lake of fire. Many times we are so willing to accept rhetoric as truth just because some news anchor-person says it is this way or that... But truth is? There are many evil forces at work in the world and GREED is the intelligence behind much of what we hear today! It will take much pondering to even scratch the surface of this valuable topic. I look forward to the responces! God bless you for bringing this forth! amen!

Surely you aren't saying they must remain difficult for a lifetime... I have already stated that for a great many years I DID find them difficult... But not anymore... Could it be because I... "tried"? Yes, I am saying that some of Paul's writings will remain difficult no matter what. We've had 2,000 years to figure them out and haven't come close. Some stuff can become clearer, but other portions of it will never be truly understood. Ever. With that? I 100% agree. But I think it fair that God expects us to get the basics... Amen...

Surely you aren't saying they must remain difficult for a lifetime... I have already stated that for a great many years I DID find them difficult... But not anymore... Could it be because I... "tried"?

Oh no... We are expected to "learn" to obey... We will now obey because we "want" to (living by the spirit), not because we "have" to (living by the Law). God also already knows everytime we will fall short. Our entire lives, past, present and future, are known to God like history is known to us... In all things, He already knows and has "sealed" us eternally unto Himself... Disobedience will result in hurt, pain and anguish for the born again Christian, and you can expect chastizement from our Lord, along with His guidance to help us learn to do better... For HIS Glory and Honor and will in our lives... P.S. You can check out my siggy... It's the "roadmap to maturity in Christ". Or in other words, it provides our "motivation by Grace".

I thi9nk they were all struggling with understanding eternal security, sealed by the Spirit. They were struggling with the idea of being saved by Grace, while being removed from the judgement of the Law... Shoot... We still struggle with it today, don't we? I'm not saying it is particularly easy to come to terms with. It's hard for the flesh to understand it can't screw something up when it comes to a relationship with God. It's hard for the flesh to understand that only God can seal this thing and NOTHING can pluck you out of His hand... It's hard to get past these points... it is a tremendous struggle... But once you do clear that break in mind and heart, alot of things start to make sense that never did before...

Shalom Ruth, Very simple of you read my entire post, not just the one sentence that you picked out of context. The answer to your question about that ONE sentence is in my post, please read the whole thing. Our righteousness is not based on our works. Please, go back and read my entire post and let me know if I need to clarify something overall. I think Ruth was confused, as was I, in your statement splitting the hair of "being released from the judgment of the Law" as opposed to "being released from the Law'. You said primarily that we are released from the "judgment of the Law", when scripture specifically said we are "released from the Law"... I think we are all saying the same thing: That we are released from the Law (or judgment thereof), and are now to "live by the Spirit" (with God's Law written on our heart)... May be one in the same? Just a tad confusing in drawing the fine lines necessary to prevent error.

The flesh is the only thing that struggles with Paul's teachings of God's Amazing Grace. Peter was a Jew, was he not? It's always hard to shed what you've been taught all your years in your youth in "religion" and/or the "Law"... As long as you struggle to insert the teachings of the Law into what Paul taught, you will find them (Pauls writings) difficult, if not impossible to understand... Not trying to be dogmatic... It's just that's the only way I can explain it... So should we throw out the epistles of Peter? Should we ignore them because he was a Jew? Paul was a Jew too...more so than Peter was! What? Essentially, what I'm saying is, you're wrong. Peter said Paul is difficult to understand and that the uneducated are the ones who misinterpret him. I'll trust Peter far more than I'll trust your whole "grace" theory (which, honestly, makes no sense). If someone is going to understand Paul's writings, they're going to have to get commentaries, they're going to have to think, they're going to have to explore, and they're going to have to accept that Paul's writings are confusing and difficult to understand. I understand that's your opinion, and you are very set in your ways... I respectfully dis-agree... Enjoy your difficulty!

The flesh is the only thing that struggles with Paul's teachings of God's Amazing Grace. Peter was a Jew, was he not? It's always hard to shed what you've been taught all your years in your youth in "religion" and/or the "Law"... As long as you struggle to insert the teachings of the Law into what Paul taught, you will find them (Pauls writings) difficult, if not impossible to understand... Not trying to be dogmatic... It's just that's the only way I can explain it...

Normally I would whole-heartedly agree with you Eric... I want so very much for that to be true in every case... But with over 33,000 different formal "interpretations" of the Bible these days, that "could" be hard to come by... But? As you say, the Holy Spirit is more than capable... I pray the Truth reside in your heart, DNW. May God bless you with the Truth knowledge of the Truth (Jesus Christ)...