Talk is Cheap

[Rosenberg57]

On 6/3/2020 at 12:20 PM, JTC said:

We all know how easily some people say things that aren't true, but was it always like this, maybe not. I recently took the online course about the book of Acts, offered by DTS. The professor wanted to explain why Paul tells the story of what happened to him on the road to Damascus 3 separate times and the reason surprised me. The professor said that 2000 yrs ago a person's verbal words were considered to be honest and reliable, more reliable than the written word, or someone else telling you the story 2nd or 3rd hand. That's interesting in more ways than the professor meant it to be. This becomes critical when applied to salvation. I'm going to guess that 2000 yrs ago a person would never say that someone was his Lord unless he absolutely meant it. 2000 yrs ago a person could be killed for declaring someone, other than the king, as his Lord. Therefore, I'll also guess that anyone who publicly declared that Jesus was his Lord knew very well that he was expected to prove that statement with his actions. Furthermore I think that 2000 yrs ago a person's actions were more suspected to have false motives than his words were. This would be especially true if you were a slave and you had to do many things you didn't agree with just so you weren't beaten. It's very curious how things managed to turn around by 180 degrees, in the last 2000 years. This doesn't change how or why we get saved but it does reinforce the idea that your behavior proves you are saved.

So why does not one account of the 3 that Paul gives us agree with another?

[Gideon]

On 6/3/2020 at 3:20 PM, JTC said:

We all know how easily some people say things that aren't true, but was it always like this, maybe not. I recently took the online course about the book of Acts, offered by DTS. The professor wanted to explain why Paul tells the story of what happened to him on the road to Damascus 3 separate times and the reason surprised me. The professor said that 2000 yrs ago a person's verbal words were considered to be honest and reliable, more reliable than the written word, or someone else telling you the story 2nd or 3rd hand. That's interesting in more ways than the professor meant it to be. This becomes critical when applied to salvation. I'm going to guess that 2000 yrs ago a person would never say that someone was his Lord unless he absolutely meant it. 2000 yrs ago a person could be killed for declaring someone, other than the king, as his Lord. Therefore, I'll also guess that anyone who publicly declared that Jesus was his Lord knew very well that he was expected to prove that statement with his actions. Furthermore I think that 2000 yrs ago a person's actions were more suspected to have false motives than his words were. This would be especially true if you were a slave and you had to do many things you didn't agree with just so you weren't beaten. It's very curious how things managed to turn around by 180 degrees, in the last 2000 years. This doesn't change how or why we get saved but it does reinforce the idea that your behavior proves you are saved.

Maybe I am reading into your post, or perhaps others are not getting the jist of your message. But if I am correct, you are simply reiterating what James said. 

You show me your faith without your works and I will show you mine BY my works.

 In today's spiritual climate, people on cue will start shouting "legalism!" Let me be perfectly clear. We so not earn our salvation by works. Nor do we keep it by doing works. So how do we align James statement with grace? Where are the works to originate?

The answer? The indwelling Holy Spirit who has promised to cause us to will AND to do of His good pleasure. God being the potter in our lives. 

But this does not satisfy the dilemma. It exacerbates it many-fold. Why? Because it reveals our great lack. 

We are supposed to love one another as Christ loved the church.  We do not. Many try to defend our indefensible position. We are lacking the promise Our God has clearly made to us to  fill us with spiritual fruits, to sanctify wholly, body soul and spirit, so that by the changes God brings about in us, the world can see that our God is THE God. And guys, we are far far from that, as the world simply mocks us for our shallowness and religious hypocrisy. 

Yet here is the truth that most cannot admit. We cannot set see it. Bur here is rhe truth.

We are those who draw near to Him with our lips but our hearts are far from Him.

We are those who are healed only slightly, saying 'peace, peace' when we have no peace

We are those possessing a form of godliness, but our lives deny  the power of it to a world desperately in need of light from a city set on a hill. 

We are playing church, with our hearts totally unburdened from the weight of men's eternal souls bound for an eternity without Christ. 

We hear the Word "Laodecia" and our spiritual hackles go full ballistic, never realizing that such a response is exactly what the Laodecians would do. 

God has promised to restore what the cankerworm has eaten, but only when we finally have had enough of religion, of head knowledge of doctrines with no heart knowledge of servanthood.

Saints, a revival IS coming.  An outpouring unprecedented since the day of pentecost. Tbe sheep and goats have been kept in the same pasture long enough. The valley of decision is fast approaching. Here one decision is to be made. Just one. Will we love our lives, our goals, our dreams, our religious correctness,our ndealt with and secret sins, or will we fall at the feet of our master, saying

"The day is far spent, the night is at hand, and we are not still not saved from evil' power and grip. . Deliver us from US, O Lord. Subdue our iniquities, change us, fill us, free us, even as you promised!

Even so Lord Jesus, restore us to a church without spot or wrinkle.

Blessings, Gideon

Edited July 12, 2020 by Gideon

[Gideon]

On 6/3/2020 at 3:20 PM, JTC said:

We all know how easily some people say things that aren't true, but was it always like this, maybe not. I recently took the online course about the book of Acts, offered by DTS. The professor wanted to explain why Paul tells the story of what happened to him on the road to Damascus 3 separate times and the reason surprised me. The professor said that 2000 yrs ago a person's verbal words were considered to be honest and reliable, more reliable than the written word, or someone else telling you the story 2nd or 3rd hand. That's interesting in more ways than the professor meant it to be. This becomes critical when applied to salvation. I'm going to guess that 2000 yrs ago a person would never say that someone was his Lord unless he absolutely meant it. 2000 yrs ago a person could be killed for declaring someone, other than the king, as his Lord. Therefore, I'll also guess that anyone who publicly declared that Jesus was his Lord knew very well that he was expected to prove that statement with his actions. Furthermore I think that 2000 yrs ago a person's actions were more suspected to have false motives than his words were. This would be especially true if you were a slave and you had to do many things you didn't agree with just so you weren't beaten. It's very curious how things managed to turn around by 180 degrees, in the last 2000 years. This doesn't change how or why we get saved but it does reinforce the idea that your behavior proves you are saved.

Hi again JCT. I apologize for my last post. The content is truth, but this is your post, and I did not mean to hijack it. If you wish, I will be glad to delete it and post it as a stand alone. I realize the words I wrote can sound harsh, bur any who know me well also know it was written with tears and a burdened heart. 

blessings, 

Gideon

[TheBlade]

Talk is cheap.. I already gave my 2 cents.