johnP

Hello Called. Adam was free to eat of any tree but one. Do not touch that tree was the command. Where is the free will in this? Adam made a choice but he was not given the choice. He was commanded not to. But, it is a difficult question. If Adam had free will what was it worth? A bit of Calvin.

Hello Tako, nice to meet you. Adaption within a species is of course obvious. Yes of course Jesussaves, but some passages need working out. The scriptures are not always clear and straight forward especially when the full weight of society comes to bear. The objections to a six day creation need to be taken seriously and dismissed with scripture. If a person believes in evolution it just means that a proper understanding is lacking. It does not mean that a person is not Christian. Have you understood everything He says? Php 3:15-16 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. That is what we have been called to do, hold fast to what we have. There is bound to be differences among us and the bond of peace is broken by saying who is and who is not Christian. Eph 4:3-7 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. A person who is weak in faith needs reassurance and this will come through love. They will be more willing to listen if we are gentle with them. johnp

This might be the thread to do it for both of us Kyle! The fact that God gives us time to repent does not mean that He is saying we can of our own volition. This is Elihu speaking. Does he really speak for God? I did not say we were unable to choose. I said we had no free will. Man interceding for others is what we are called to do. Nevertheless our times are in His hands. You disagreed with my understanding of those accounts. You said that God hardened his heart after Pharaoh hardened his own heart. I showed you that it was God's intention from the start to harden Pharaoh and did so, Exodus 4:21. Where am I wrong in this? With respect this is wrong isn't it? Acts 4:26-28 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Are we restricting free will to mean that we have the choice to choose God or refuse Him, to choose right or wrong? And so do I, let us continue in this attitude and I too am sure we will all benefit. Called. Just for now Called let me leave Adam out of this otherwise the post will get too long. As for free will, what is free about it. God says, "Do as I tell you or go to Hell." Where is the freedom in that? Coercion is being applied is it not. A free will choice has no threat involved otherwise it is not free. If you drop the free and leave choice then I still say we have no choice to make in and of ourselves. We are incapbale of the correct choice even when we know it is in our best interest. johnp

Hello jcm. I believe that we are all growing in grace and knowledge. To say that a person is not a Christian because he believes this or that is not a right thing to do. A Christian is a person that has been saved by Christ and is in the process of growing in wisdom and knowledge. We should not alienate ourselves from those who think different from us. Holding to the view that a person is not our brother because of evolution I think is wrong and schismatic. We seem to get more offended than God does by those who are holding differing opinions. Maybe He is testing us and our response to error. When it is all over we will probably find we were all wrong on most of it anyway! I think George that Jesus was talking to the Jews who were well versed in the OT. He was not discussing evolution but what Moses wrote about Him. Of course I think that Christians are making a mistake and denying the word of God when they believe that evolution is the way we got here but I am a Calvinist and I could say that Arminians are not Christians on this basis. I don't because God teaches us and He teaches us at His pace and not ours. Love one another. See, old A Stone has a gap theory? There are more theories than Christians, are we to treat those of other ideas at this time as 'not brothers'? All that God requires of us is that we put our faith in Jesus Christ and go from there. So to answer the question, I believe that a Christian can believe in evolution. I don't. I believe in the six day creation as told by Moses and I think it a reasonable thing to do. Yours in Christ. johnp

Hello Kyle. A free will offering is just an offering over and above that which is commanded. The NIV does not have it translated as free will. In fact free will is not in the NIV or KJV. What bible is being used? As for Pharaoh, the whole purpose for his reign was to show that men have no free will. Exodus 4:21 The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. God made sure Pharaoh would not cede to Moses request. It is God's will that is sovereign. It is God that made absolutely sure that Pharaoh's heart would be hard at the asking. Romans 9:16-18 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Reason alone should have been enough for Pharaoh to let God's people go just through self presevation. To carry on resisting in the way he did proves that God was actively hardening his heart and not allowing Pharaoh to make the right choice. Rom 11:7-8 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." johnp

Katholish. (Lekcit) Firstborn means preeminent. It is often applied to the first one born such as a child. A girl could be firstborn but will lose the title if a boy is born into the family. It is a title such as given to Israel in Egypt; Exodus 4:22-23 Then say to Pharaoh, `This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.' " Israel was not the first created nation but did become the preeminent-most important- nation because God chose them. That is the meaning of firstborn. Charlie. You are excused. Butt away old chap. Thanks for your reply. Of course God can do anything He likes, He brought Samuel back for a chat with Saul. Isaiah 28: Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Show me one place in scripture where praying to the dead is encouraged. Samuel asked Saul why he was not talking to God. As Katholish's reply at the beginning of this thread implies, I should put my faith in miracles and reading up on Lourdes it would seem, (Jesus cannot manage His house alone), people put their trust in visions dreamed up by dreamers. Show me a place in scripture that talking to the dead is reckoned a good thing. Just one will do. I bet there was the same fight between the Devil and Michael over Mary's bones as there was over Moses. He does not change his ways. The vereration of people is Satanic as is the praying to dead men and women. Since Mary was just as much a sinner as the rest of us and did nothing special except give birth to children what makes her special? Jesus was asked, "What must we do to do the work God requires." The answer was simple. "Believe on the one He sent." John 6:28-29. End of story. He said that if you believe in Him He will make His house with you. He lives in His temple, we who are chosen are His temple, what or who else do we need? Fancy that! They put a dead girl in a glass case and people worship it! Isaiah 8:19-20 When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Sola scripture. Forgive me ServingHim if I mistake what you say. It is faith in Christ not just faith in anything, no matter how much faith you have in anything it will be of no use. Faith in Christ and in Him alone is what counts. johnp

Hello Katholish. Good to meet you. Thanks for your replies. I must admit to a bit of skimming over most of what has been said but I want the official teachings rather than your personal views.

That's a cheap salvation I'll be bound! Is there a discount for bulk? johnp

I've just returned home for the day so I've missed it all! How much do these scapulars cost? johnp

Hello Katholish. Nice to meet you. I was wondering if you are associated to www.newadvent in any way? I would like to know if you are going to give your own answers or the official Church beliefs. I don

War has been declared by your President. The normal rules of war should apply. Anyone giving information to the enemy should be shot. The role of the free press in times of war is to keep its mouth shut and print lies. johnp

Cor your posh ain't yer Botz! Hello Cindy Lou. I came from Bermondsey London originally. Left when I was 25 and worked in hotels and holiday places all over the country. I never went to N.Ireland though! I live in Nottingham now with my wife and three kids and life is pretty great. Nice to meet you all

Adstar it is important to discuss this. It

Hello Angel. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/007/14.18.html There's a load of stuff if you type 'Daniel McGivern' into google. I could not find a home website for the expedition. If they have one you might find their address in one of the articles. johnp

Hello nebula. I don't think it a wise thing to be actively looking for the anti-Christ as such. I think it more important to have the scriptures in your mind and the Lord will reveal the stage that we are at when He thinks fit. I think that we cannot unravel the end times by ourselves before these things come about, there are more theories than Christians. It has more to do with seeing how the prophecies have been fulfilled rather than how they will be fulfilled. Basically I feel that it is not a bad thing to defend our states against anyone wanting to snatch power. If we have to take up arms against our governments then it must be in line with scripture, not our preconceived ideas about the end times. That is that they have overstepped their God given authority. Non-controversial wouldn't you say? johnp

There is no leader of the E.U. But we have 25 Prime Ministers, 25 Ministry of Defences, 25 Foriegn Affairs, 25 Home Affairs...in fact we have 25 ministries of everything. Do you need any politians over there, some we want to get shot of here, we have enough trouble sorting the paper work out, there's 25 languages! Their best defence is their own defence and they do fine. Let the wall stay.

I have Mormons visiting me! They keep coming back and we have struck up a relationship. The time before last there were four of them. After they told me that I should ask God to prove to me that the book of Mormon was of God I have explained the meaning of faith to them and why I would not be in faith if I did that. Four times now they have had the heart of the Gospel preached to them and they paid attention. They have heard much of the whole counsel of God. JN 9:41 Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. I have not called them to repentance but have explained to them the way of salvation and why I don't think it is a good idea at the moment. There appears to be no resistance - I have not witnessed this reaction before from others. I have no concerns because it is not my place, but the word hardens or softens. Pray that in this case it softens. Thank you.