All Discussion PAGE 994

Bobby, I hope this was helpful. Many times people answer such a question in very simple ways. And that is good. But I also think it is good to seek to answer this question in a deeper and broader way. As believers, we should know what we have received in Christ and be able to share the greatness of our life in Him with others who as us to give a reason for the hope we have in Him.

Have a wonderful day. I hope you get many more replies from others. May you be blessed in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord of all.

One Eighty,

To add to your thoughts, GOD created us in HIS image, & said: Mark 11:23,24, Mark 9:23, Mark 11:24, Mark 16:17-18,

Into a Three Sixty?

Bobby, in my conclusion

Pt.5

When I consider if I do think that life with God forever is worth believing in Jesus and all that the Bible says of Him, I say yes!

When I read that God loves the world enough to come and die for me & all the evil things I have done can be forgiven and removed from me, that makes me understand that God is truly good and has only good in store for those who believe in Jesus and come to God through His great sacrifice.

I think, do I like it when people do good to me or do evil? I prefer good. I think, do I want to live eternally with those who are evil and unbelieving or with those who are made righteous in the place Jesus has prepared for us where no sin will ever be done again? I desire the latter.

And I now know that the only way I can have this eternal life (the latter) is by believing in Jesus and trusting that He is indeed the Truth (and all that He said and promised is true) and that He is the Way (the only avenue to gain eternal life with God) and that He is the Life (the only Life that will satisfy all of my needs and sustain me forever).

I know that in order for any sin of mine to be forgiven, Jesus chose to die in order to take it and all of my sins away) and in order for me to have victory over sin in me and my life, Jesus raised Himself from the dead to secure this victory and bestow on me His Life, which is eternal and always pure.

I know that in order for me to be able to stand before God and not be condemned for my sin, I must abandon all of myself to Jesus and his work of salvation for me, for He alone is the source of salvation. I can't save myself or ever be perfectly righteous on my own to deserve to live with a pure and good God forever.

I know that in order for to lay claim to any of the promises and actual efficacy of the work of Jesus Christ, I must believe in Him as my sole Savior and accept the gift of salvation that is brought to me by His Holy Spirit who works in me to be converted and dwells in me.

Dear friend in Jesus, you have already been blessed with all the spirit-like blessing in the heavenly world, in Jesus name. He is with you in all your way. In deep valleys and high mountains. In joy and in sorrow is He there. Everything you do will grow in quantity and you will always stand strong in the Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray that fear is far from you, it is buried with the sin that Jesus took on Him! Go in peace and preach the word, sing and play in your heart night and day. You have already been blessed, He is with u.

In the name of Jesus we pray that fear is far from you, it is buried with the sin that Jesus took on! Go in peace and preach. And know that there is great joy in heaven for every man who repend to the name of Jesus. And know that there is great joy in heaven for every man who go from dead deads to the living God Jesus. Lord we do ask for a good friend who will go in the Streets and preach, with Richard H Priday, Thank You Jesus for answer our pray. Amen

Thank you, god bless!

Thank You so much and everything you said is right. I told him the enemy is attacking him because he wants to kill, steal and destroy him. I told him he needs to ask for forgiveness for himself and GOD's grace and mercy brings him home when he leaves because he loves him and want him to be better. I am thankful that I sent this request because it has blessed me more than you will ever know. This has been such a shameful life for me and I am happy to be "SET FREE" GOD bless you!

Bobby, bear with me please.

Part 4

So,, I come to believe that Jesus was the sinless Son of God who became human in order to be the sacrifice needed to take away the sins of the world for all time. The next question I have is: "Why did my sin need to be taken away, and especially by the death of Jesus?"

So, I read in Romans 6:6-10 says

"..knowing this, that our old man (sinful self) was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him, For the death that He died, He died to sin once and for all, but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

and further in this chapter, Paul writes. " For you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. but now having been set free from sin, you have, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit of holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ( Romans 6:20-23)

This tells me that the difference between being a believer in Jesus or a disbeliever is that sin brings death to all, but those who believe in Jesus receive eternal life.



Well, my next question is: Why is it so good to have eternal life with God in Jesus Christ?

And for me, I guess the answer to this question is, first, the alternative is eternal death without God in hell. Revelations (20:11-15)

But the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ which is the result of His sacrificial death on the cross to take away my sin and reconcile me to God, who is absolutely pure and sinless. Is this something I desire?

...continued

LaNette M. Tolliver

Please read : John 11:1-53,

Luke 16:19-31, someone I believe it was "Chris" in previous discussion multiple months ago, pointed out most Parables, if not all were without name, but this one, perhaps being about Lazarus.

John 12:1-18,

The sisters have much also mentioned it appears : Luke 10:38-42,

Matthew 27:56,61, Matthew 28:1, Mark 15:40,47, Mark 16:1,9, Luke 8:2, Luke 24:10, John 19:25, John 20:1-18,

Possibly even: Romans 16:6,

Hopefully these are helpful

Thoughts on the Great Commission.

I have been part of a home Bible study fellowship; which I had to break out of eventually because of doctrinal issues; and improper personal attack. Nonetheless; there were many things that went on there (with an elderly gentleman that used to be a Pastor and his wife and son hosting meetings) that were commendable.

The first thing that comes to mind is opening their home to those believers that were part of a group met over a number of years from other states and cities and vice versa. The home was sufficient and comfortable; certainly not over the top luxury wise. The only offering taken was for occasional missionary needs (for a time a brother was in Uganda and others were sent funds who were actively preaching in Indonesia; etc.) Some of those individuals went with a group where people were martyred somewhere in the Middle East some years back representing a group from Africa. The father was retired from work; his son does manual labor. They would with a small number of others go witnessing whenever they could (TV was out btw). That would encompass several days a week on the streets downtown; at the Universities; and on several "blitzes" to a number of cities for the better part of a week a couple times a year. Prayer also was very crucial; one member said they used to pray about 9 hrs a week; one hour for every hour witnessing (he also has kids and works full time). Another friend who since has broken out of that group has a study I had attended before moving; he has 6 kids but also street evangelizes and shares with those on his secular store job. I stayed over his house more than once as well.

Once I started going to the spinoff group; the individuals joined a local church and therefore are more balanced. It seems that there are less churches out there evangelizing. I found that during COVID in 2020-1 many were wide open in the food lines.

Lets ask God to hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Addendum.

I thought I should ask for continued wisdom with my time and responses here; and better discipline praying for others. That would include my local church where I believe a real push for more prayer is needed. Also my calling for preaching on the end times for venues to open up.

Agape; Rich P and thanks...

Dear folks: I have frequented this sight and they have approved my volunteer efforts. I moved home with my parents almost a year ago now as I am an only child and they have many needs. I have learned of patience needed for day to day issues. For now; the Lord has blessed me with a part time job during the school year. Here are my requests:

1) boldness. I am blessed to be part of a good church; but my plans to go out and hand out literature with a fellow church member last week fell apart as apparently he forgot to call or meet me; and he has a habit of doing this. I want to be able to be more disciplined with the time I do have passing out tracts; and have someone more reliable get a regimen to continue saturating the area with the Gospel. I was with many who did regular witnessing when I stayed in Pittsburgh; now I need to do the same here in Philly. In the same token; there are some situations which I am avoiding as it gets my mom upset and I have to balance prudence with my need to take care of them with at times witnessing in unsafe areas.

2) Fear. I know I have the Lord; and His Spirit but succumb too often to the flesh. I am living with unbelievers which can; if I allow it to drive me crazy. I have to trust God in overcoming evil with good; and ultimately stop fearing death so much.

3) Personal vision. I have always felt my calling primarily to witness in this country. I am starting after a 40 year hiatus guitar lessons; and am asking God if there are others serious about the Gospel that I could join in a group someday. I also have started a close correspondence with a missionary in Bangladesh. There are a number of short term (2 weeks or more) ministry oplportunities. That would as I see it now have to wait a few years; but I want to continue to understand how He is leading me to go places I'm not comfortable with in the flesh.

4) Writings. I have an outline of a book; and read much international news. Proper venue for outreach

Also to add that if we don't provide our lamp with oil like the 5 unwise virgins then our light will eventually go off and we will be eventually left out of the Marriage. Providing oil or not to our lamps (as well as how much) is a choise we do, it's not a work that God does for us.

Very well said Gigi. Thank you. God bless you.

Bobby, here is Part 3

continued

Jesus had a brain that thought and reasoned and controlled his human body.

So this convinces me that Jesus indeed was both fully God and fully man.

So then I ask, why did God become a man?

In John 1:29, John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus says, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

And Jesus, Himself, says ( John 3:15-17) "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved."

This tells me that Jesus became a man to take away the sin (all sin) of the world by being a "sacrificial lamb" and the one by which anyone can be saved from their sinfulness and the condemnation that comes with it by believing in Him.

Therefore, since He is Truth, I believe that He is the only one who can save me from my sins.

The Gospels tell me that Jesus told people that their sins are forgiven. Only God can forgive sins. So, if I want my sins forgiven, I must believe that they are forgiven by and through Jesus.

The next question I ask is: If Jesus came to take away the sins of others, did He have sins to be forgiven?

I must admit that God does not have any sin in Him, and if Jesus is God, He is without sin.

I am also told that in 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (NIV)

From this passage, I am told that Jesus never sinned, but to make us righteous before God, He became sin for us (in His death)

Before this verse, Paul says in 1Corinthians 5:14- 15 that Jesus died for all.

...continued

"He who knew no sin became sin

Hello again Bobby

Part 2

Then we go to John 1:14-18 which tells us that the Word (spoken of in verse 1) "became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld

His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (NIV)

This tells me that The Word spoken of in verse 1 is Jesus. This tells me that Jesus existed before He became flesh, being the Word of God and with God and is God.

So here we have the Word becoming a human person but still being God. Whoa!

But it says Jesus was full of grace and truth, so what is said about Him by John is to believed as true.

So now I know why Jesus was unique and singularly special. Well, then I ask, "What did He do to show His deity?

I read the accounts of His life and works in the Gospels and I find that He performed miracles that only God could do.

I find that He had power of demons, which only God can have.

I find that He expanded on the Law in the Sermon on the Mount that only God can legitimately claim to have authority to do.

I find that He was one with the Father and if one has seen Him they have seen the Father, which is a claim to be God.

I find that He was transfigured on the mountain with His disciples present to witness. Only God can have such glory.

I find that He said He had the authority to lay down His own life and to take it back up again. Only God can raise someone from the dead, and He said that He would raise Himself from the dead.

I find that He predicted His death and resurrection ahead of time and it happened just as He said, even being in the grave for three days before rising again.

Then I ask, how do I know He was human as well as divine? Again I go to the Gospel accounts.

He was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, grew within her and was born as a baby. He had flesh, bones, and blood. He grew and matured, He ate, slept, got tired, was able to be injured, and die. He did all of the things that humans did and had a body made of matter, DNA. -continued

John 17, Jeremiah 30:18-21, John 6:44, John 15:16,19, Romans 8:28-30,

Numbers 16:5,

Matthew 20:16, Matthew 22:14,

John 6:70, John 13:18, Acts 1:2,

Hopefully these are helpful

Brother Spencer,

Very well laid out and great use of scripture. Amen!

Amen Gigi

Thanks for your reply.

This is such a important are of scripture.

God bless you.

Good afternoon, Bobby.

You will probably get many responses that vary somewhat. That is o.k. I think there is a link of this site that is How To Become a Christian.

Part 1

For me, I have often tried to write down what it means to believe in Jesus and found that it has broad and deep meaning.

Foremost, in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 gives the essence of what the gospel is:

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and that then He rose again on the third

He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over 500 brethren at once...

After that He was seen by James, the by all of the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also...

In this passage, we are to believe that Jesus Christ did die for our sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead and was seen

by many eyewitnesses alive after eyewitnesses saw him die and be buried.

To believe this is to accept as fact and wholly true of Jesus Christ.

But then, I ask myself, what is it about Jesus, (besides rising from the dead) that sets Him apart from any other spiritual leader in all of history?

For that, I go to John 1:1-4

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. he was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men." (NIV)

This verse tells me that Jesus was the eternal Word who existed with God and was in fact God. He existed before anything was creed with God and He is the Creator of all things. This also tells me that He was both God and with God, telling me that God is a Godhead, consisting of more than one person in one God. (I wish I knew what the Greek words used here for with God and was God so we can distinguish what two persons are being spoken of here in this verse.) But, when it comes to believing in Jesus, it does include this, that He is God. Whoa!

continued to part 2

Billy,

In Luke 14:34, When it says salt is good, the word good means useful. In those days, salt was a preservative. You put salt on things rather than refrigeration to keep it from putrefying. But if salt does not contain the proper ingredients, what is it good for?

Verse 35 says "It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."



And I've seen pictures of wagons going through the streets of Jerusalem and salt is alongside of the road where the people just come out and just throw it out in the street.



It is not good for anything. Once salt loses its seasoning and it doesn't serve its purpose, it's no longer effective, or useful. Do you see what Jesus is saying?



He is saying here's the reason why I tell you all of these hard things. Because if your life is so entangled with the cares of this life, to where your life is no longer effective for Christ, we are good for nothing. Now our family might not agree with that. Oh you are good for something. Give me a few minutes and I'll think of something!

You see, we were created by the Creator for His purposes. But if my life gets so entangled with the things of this earthly life, where my life is no longer effective for Christ, where I can no longer say with the apostle Paul that whether I will live or whether I die may Christ be magnified in my body.



If I can no longer say that, I am really good for nothing. There will be nothing eternal, and nothing that represents the truth.



People around me won't see Christ in me, and they won't see my love for Him, my dedication to Him. They won't see my sacrifice and the surrender of my life to Him. They might see the Jesus sticker on my car, but I am "too busy" doing other things to follow him. The salt will be good for nothing, not even to pour on the dung hill.

The time frame of the book of Acts, appears to be many years. Starting right about the time of the Resurrection of Jesus CHRIST. Please note Acts 1, Acts 2, - Acts 4:34-35, shows time passage, because those events cannot be done in one day, but over time. Acts 7, young man Saul, Acts 8,

Acts 12 again shows process of time, note Acts 12:25, Acts 14:21-28, again Acts 15, note Acts 15:33,36, Acts 27, Acts 28:11,

Acts 18:11,18, Acts 19:10,22, Acts 20:3, Acts 24:27, Acts 28:30

Hopefully these are helpful

Well said, GiGi.

Hi Billy Luke 14:35+36 In eastern culture households had containers of salt for preserving food and seasoning, but when it rained or if the salt

became contaminated it was rendered useless i.e. like dung. Gods words are salted or pure when we allow things of the world to

break down the words in oiur lives we become useless. thats why we need to continually put it on and stay fresh spiritually in

our walk with God. Look up all things pertaining to salt in eastern culture in the bible very enlightening. Also Jesus Christ many

times explained spiritual truth according to the manner and custom of eastern culture and life.

Dear Gigi,

Thank you! That is so sweet of you.. and I love your name too. It sounds joyful.

I have indeed received many answers already but to receive this one from you is nonetheless a sweet blessing from God. I feel so happy upon seeing this longer reply from your name.

I agree and accept the enlightenment through you because I felt God is using you to help me. It is true that we have to use our will and actions to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to work within us and in our lives. I pray for the Holy Spirit to dwell within me and in in my loved ones life.

I keep asking the Holy Spirit of God to guard my heart.

I was also wondering: is it right to address the Holy Spirit in your prayers ? or should we always say it to the Father in Jesus Name ?

Please pray for my son. He has grown to be a young man of this world .. he is a good kid but is so vulnerable to the present world. He thinks he knows everything and insisted to not to listen anymore to my advise because he knows.. He is not reading the bible. I think only God can do the work for him.

God bless you,

Mae

Bobby Read Romans 10:8-11 and do remember its not just hesaring that delivers us its doing what God instructs

us to do.

Bob,

The book of Acts covers approximately 30 years. Luke is the author and he wrote to present what Jesus did and taught through His human body. In Acts Chapter 1 Verse 1, it says that this was written to present what Jesus continues to do and to teach through His Spiritual body, the church.

Dear Ronnette,

I agree, Acts does present differing accounts of what happens when God brings someone to salvation. Some hear the gospel, believe, are baptized in water and receive the Holy Spirit; others hear the gospel, believe, receive the Holy Spirit and then are water baptized; others hear, believe and receive the Holy Spirit in a powerful way as to be called baptism.

But in every case, it is the Holy Spirit who acts first to regenerate those whom God knows from before creation are His. the Holy Spirit provides the regeneration of our deadness to God, the person or means by which pronouncement of the gospel comes to us, the faith to believe it, the repentance to cause us to turn from our sinful life to God, and the power of His grace to sustain our eternal walk with Him. God is truly unchangeable in these matters, but even so, He treats each person individually as to how He brings one into union with Himself through salvation.

Gigi,

Hi sis ! Thank you!

God bless you !

S Spencer,

Thank you for your encouragement to help me grow spiritually. I haven't seen yet my reply to you posted.

It might be still undergoing screening.

God bless you!

David,

Yes, I agree. That's what the scripture teaches.

( 1 Corinthians 15:53).

Thanks!