Luke and the Holy Spirit

[TheBlade]

22 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Some say 'The Book of Acts', others 'The Acts of the Apostles'. I say 'The Acts or Working of the Holy Spirit'; because He is the main character throughout the narrative, which was a primary point being brought out in the OP. "Holy Spirit" appears 41 times in Acts, 12 times in Luke, to only four times in Mark. This is how Luke's Gospel distinguishes himself from Mt/Mr. When you combine the two books of Luke, as the final point of the OP, it provides a dramatic presentation of how the Holy Spirit operates to illustrate the Lord's teaching with regards to the Holy Spirit in John. Luke and Acts are the "illustrated version", of much of the teaching in John 14-17.

Act's is Christianity.  

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, TheBlade said:

Act's is Christianity.  

In Christ. 

There is a Christianity not in Christ, not as an accusation towards anyone or an institution,

but by logical extension, and the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved

may be recognized among you.

[Michael37]

5 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

In Christ. 

There is a Christianity not in Christ, not as an accusation towards anyone or an institution,

but by logical extension, and the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved

may be recognized among you.

Nominal Christianity = In name only.

[Selah7]

10 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

There is a Christianity not in Christ

Huh?  Would you explain please?

[Mr. M]

1 minute ago, Michael37 said:

Nominal Christianity = In name only.

And while this exists as a truth, I thank the Lord that I am not to judge, but to keep myself from idols, by which I can continue in the sound comprehension that the Spirit of Truth provides us.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us the comprehension that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

[Mr. M]

11 minutes ago, Selah7 said:

Huh?  Would you explain please?

The expression "In Christ" is used to describe parts of a living body, fruit bearing branches. Another response made reference to a "nominal Christian"=in name only. The scriptures make clear that this would be the case. I also personally made it clear that I am not the one who will be deciding who is who, lest anyone take offense. I am personally commanded to keep myself from idols, in so doing am kept near by the "grace of God in Truth".

Edited February 5, 2023 by Mr. M
grammar

[Selah7]

 

28 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

In Christ. 

There is a Christianity not in Christ, not as an accusation towards anyone or an institution,

but by logical extension, and the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved

may be recognized among you.

 

7 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

The expression "In Christ" is used to describe parts of a living body, fruit bearing branches. Another response made reference to a "nominal Christian"=in name only. The scriptures make clear that this would be the case. I also personally made it clear that I am not the one who will be deciding who is who, lest anyone take offense. I am personally commanded to keep myself from idols, in so doing am kept near by the "grace of God in Truth".

But you can’t be a Christian in name only.  This would just mean you really aren’t a Christian at all.  I ain’t buying it.  

[Marathoner]

28 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Nominal Christianity = In name only.

I've always preferred "a form of godliness" myself, since there are scriptural references provided to us about that.

I'm careful to avoid judging the faith of others, proclaiming someone else to be a fake Christian, nominal Christian, and the like. I avoid this judgment since there was a time when I was declared to be such by others, and I remember the measure by which I was judged:

They compared me to themselves. The passage of time revealed the error of their judgment. 

We all can most assuredly be snared by error, finding ourselves smugly satisfied with that certain form of godliness, and this means one thing:

The Lord shall deal with us as sons and daughters in His time. It's never pleasant to experience.

It's good to avoid preaching the imperative of pejoratives, I say. I have found that those who preoccupy themselves with criticizing their neighbor are in for a sober awakening. Be gentle and compassionate! 

Edited February 5, 2023 by Marathoner
Typo

[Marathoner]

5 minutes ago, Selah7 said:

 

 

But you can’t be a Christian in name only.  This would just mean you really aren’t a Christian at all.  I ain’t buying it.  

I agree!

[Marathoner]

This calls us to remember that we ought to be an example, not a manager nor a dictator, speaking only for ourselves. 

Yep, it's true, I avoid politics like the plague. However, I speak only of myself where this is concerned because it's good that I do that. I shouldn't get involved. I cannot say to my brother or sister, "You shouldn't do that either!" How do I know that they shouldn't? Did the Lord command us all to avoid politics? 

Not that I know of. 

I believe that my brethren will get the spirit of the point I'm making, that we ought to focus upon our own conduct and remember our responsibility toward one another. I agree with my sister @Selah7 that there's no such thing as a "fake" Christian. Either we are, or we aren't!