Discuss Romans 8 Page 14

Part 5.

But the skeptic says, "why did God do this when he knew in advance that the result of free will would be so disastrous? Did this God of love not care that war, murder, rape and so much senseless violence would be the result of his choice to give us free will?" A real life illustration will help us to understand.

The Love of a Mother

During my 15 years as a physician I have seen an enormous amount of physical suffering. During that time I have had five children in my practice die by disease and injury. All of these children came from Christian families. Several months after the death of one of these children, the child's mother was in my office and was very distraught over her loss. She asked me, "Why did God allow this? I love God. Why did this happen?"

What could I say in this situation? Rather than providing an answer I asked her this question. "You have three children. One of them has died. If you could go back to the time before you had any children, with the knowledge that one of them would die this horrible death, would you have children again?"

After a long pause, with many tears in her eyes and a broken heart she said, "Oh yes. Oh yes. yes I would. Because, you see, the love and the joy and the happiness I have received from my children far outweighs the pain, suffering and misery I experienced from the loss of that one child. Oh yes. Oh yes. I would have children again."

In this tragic story we see an incredible insight as to why God allows evil to exist. As discussed earlier, a loving God can allow an evil state of affairs to exist if, in allowing it to occur, it brings about an even better state of affairs. For this woman, the loss of her child was an unequalled and tragic evil. But, with the advantage of hindsight, she said she would do it all again because the love she received as a result of being a mother outweighed the evil state of affairs in the death of her child.

See Part 6.

Part 4.

God, Freedom, and Evil

The problem of human evil is rooted in the nature of God and the nature of love and the nature of mankind. I argued in last month's Personal UPDATE that God is a personal being because an impersonal force is an insufficient agent to create personal beings.2 What is the greatest passion of personal beings? I would argue that, above all else, personal beings desire personal relationships with other personal beings. So it makes sense that God, as a personal being, would desire to create us in such a way that He could have a meaningful, personal, and loving relationship with us. But this has a severe price.

Let us consider the nature of love and its consequences. I cannot experience love from you unless you have the capacity to do otherwise. If you have the capacity to not love me, and you choose instead to love me, then that choice has validity. It has meaning. You cannot have a love relationship with a computer. It is pre-programmed to serve you. Love requires choice: unencumbered choice. And that's where the problem lies.

When God created mankind, He too had a choice. If He created us as beings that were pre-programmed to follow and serve Him, there could be no love. But, if He created us with the capacity of choice, the capacity to love and serve Him, and the capacity not to do so, then there is the possibility of relationship: the possibility of real love. As a personal being with the capability of creating us in the first place, it makes sense that He would want to create us as personal beings with the capability of choice (free will) and, thus, the capability of love. But where there is choice and the capability of love, there is also the capability to choose wrong and to do great evil.

See Part 5.

Part 3.

Atheists often present the problem of evil to theists as if it is a fatal argument for the existence of God. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, it is an absolutely unsolvable problem for the atheist. How does the atheist explain evil-the sense of moral right and wrong-in the absence of a moral Lawgiver? They can't! If there is no moral Lawgiver, then there is no way to explain the sense of moral wrong and moral right we all possess. C.S. Lewis said that evil is God's megaphone to a non-believing world. Evil speaks of moral law. Moral law demands a moral Lawgiver, and it is He that we call God!

Evil Often Begets Good

A second principle of logic we need to consider is the fact that an apparently evil state of affairs will often bring about an even better state of affairs. The problem is that we often do not recognize this fact until we have the advantage of hindsight. In my own field of medicine I see this on a daily basis: the process of childbirth, surgical intervention, and many medical therapies often present physical pain (an evil state of affairs according to non-theists), and yet they bring about an even better state of affairs: improved health. Physical pain is often highly beneficial as well. When a child touches a hot stove, the nervous system sends a neurological signal to the brain which is perceived as pain (a form of evil). Yet without that sense of pain, an even worse state of affairs would arise: the destruction of the limb.

The skeptic might object that while this provides a partial answer to the problem of evil, it does not address some of the most disturbing forms of evil: war, murder, rape, incest and the senseless death of the innocent.

See Part 4.

Part 2.

Evil and Moral Law

When someone states that they do not believe in God because a good God would not allow evil, they make a fatal error in logic. First, the recognition of evil is the recognition that certain actions are "right" and certain actions are "wrong." But how do we determine what actions are morally right and morally wrong? We discern this on the basis of a moral law: a universal sense that certain states of affairs are right and others are wrong. Even most atheists will admit that certain actions are universally wrong and, conversely, universally right.

For example, no one could seriously argue with the statement that it is better to love a child than to torture it. The point is that there is an innate, universal sense of right and wrong within all of us. What is the basis of this moral sense? Some would argue that it is based on cultural customs or traditions. But can this be so?

The famous atheist Bertrand Russell once debated a Christian who asked him if he believed in right and wrong. Russell replied "of course." Then he asked him how he determined what is right and wrong. Russell replied that he determined right and wrong on the basis of his feelings. His opponent replied, "Well, in some cultures they feel it is okay to eat you, and in others they don't. Which do you prefer." The point is that social customs, attitudes, traditions or feelings cannot determine a universal sense of right and wrong.

A universal sense of moral right and wrong can only come from a source outside of ourselves: a transcendent source, a moral Lawgiver. So the recognition of moral law is by default the recognition of a moral Lawgiver. To argue that the existence of evil proves that there is no God is equivalent to stating that the existence of moral law proves that there is no Lawgiver! It's like declaring that the Chrysler automobile that I drive proves without a doubt that there is no Chrysler Motor Company!

See Part 3.

Hi Don.

Here's a interesting article from koinonia House.

Part 1

In my experience, it is the most commonly asked question by honest skeptics: "If God is real, if God is personal, if God loves us, why does God allow evil?" A proper understanding of this issue not only provides great insight into the nature of God, it ties together a comprehensive understanding to some of life's ultimate questions: the answers to my origin, meaning, morality and destiny!

Email from A Skeptic

The question of evil was brought into clearer focus in an email I recently received from a skeptic:

The Christian worldview is an impractical, even phony, view of the Cosmos because it embraces a God who is either incapable of stopping evil and suffering, and he is therefore not omnipotent, or is unwilling to do so and therefore a devil!

The skeptic's point is well taken because the Bible states that one of God's attributes is love. "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." ( I John 4:8) In the book of Romans, Paul the Apostle stated that the invisible attributes of God "are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead."1

However, what the skeptic is saying, in effect, is this: "If your God is love, I see no evidence of that attribute in creation. All the death, disease, pain and suffering seems to be out of place if this God of yours is love. Surely an all-powerful God could, and a loving God would, eliminate all evil. Since evil exists, then no such God exists."

To answer this objection we need to examine some principles of logic, the nature of God, the nature of man, the nature of love and the nature of evil.

See Part 2.

I agree Don, this subject can be very intriguing. Each one has to come to grips with it in his own way according to the light granted him.

My belief rests upon all the Scriptures I can bring together on theology; & even then I remain open to the many Truths that exist that I'm not privy to.

From what you've written, I always try to separate what man sees & understands and what God already knows & determines accordingly. My (human) view is that God has granted me free will, even as I exercise it continually, daily. In respect to spiritual conversion, I responded to His Spirit's bearing upon me. But did my free will & reception of Jesus catch God by surprise & compelled Him to alter His Plans for my life, both present & into eternity? No.

Because of God's View: He already knew I would exercise the free will granted me & the resulting paths I would tread in life, either destined for good or evil. Then as a believer, hopefully I will no longer exercise my Will according to carnal determinations but to the Spirit's leading.

And likewise with re-birth: as much as Christ's Sacrifice has availed for all mankind, not all will respond to the plea. Does God then select who He wants & who will be rejected? Or is His 'selection' fully based on what He already knows will transpire with each soul? Or else, how could it be said that "He is not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance"?

With that said, it can be erroneously assumed that God is partial & conducts a lottery to accept some & reject others. If a man is damned for eternity, it's because he has refused to turn from sin & to a waiting Savior & will not have excuse in that day of judgement saying, 'I tried to come but I was refused or was not destined by God to be saved '.

So Ron, I always try & understand such 'mysteries' from God's perspective & because of Who He is, because my human view will always lead me to error & confusion. May He lead you in your further thoughts on this.

Brother Don:

Man DOES NOT have free will.

Man was made to be a BODY; or a vessel.

Vessels, or bodies, have NO LIFE.

Bodies, or vessels, were made to HOLD the LIFE of GOD.

God is Spirit.

Spirit cannot be seen.

God created a BODY; Jesus Christ, that can be seen.

The body of Christ HOLDS the Life of the FATHER.

Christ came, as sinful flesh, and sinful flesh DIED on the cross, three days latter the Father resurrected, HIS (the father's) BODY, Christ.

1 Timothy 6:16 Who (Christ) ONLY hath immortality dwelling in the light .....

All mankind took part in that resurrection.

At some point in time God's creation will become the IMAGE (the body) of Christ.

Colossians 1:27 ...this mystery .....Christ in you .....

Philippians 2:13 For it is God (Christ in you) that worketh IN YOU (his body) both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.

1 Corinthians 15:38 For God GIVETH IT (his creation) A BODY as it hath PLEASED HIM, and to every SEED HIS OWN BODY ( the Father's body Christ).

HIS WILL, not man's free will, because man has NO LIFE outside of GOD, man is just the BODY of Christ (Life and Truth).

Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye (his body) are gods, the children of the most high.

Psalms 136:2 O give thanks unto the GOD of gods (God's body) .....

Daniel 2:47 .....of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods ....

John 17:21 That they (the bodies) may ALL be ONE, as thou, Father are IN ME (the body), and I in thee, that they (all bodies) may be ONE IN US ....

Ephesians 4:4 ..... ONE BODY ....ONE SPIRIT .....

Ephesians 4:6 .... ONE GOD ....FATHER OF ALL ....above ALL ....through ALL ....and IN YOU ALL .....

Hosea 4:6 For my people are destroyed for lack of KNOWLEDGE: because thou has rejected KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee (his body) ......

Amos 3:3 Can TWO (the LIFE and the BODY) walk TOGETHER without being agreed?

God Bless you, his body!

The only way I can slowly bring these two concepts together is God selected ( predestined) whole human race at creation to come unto Him and eventually to Christ, Romans 1:18-20. The human race has a bare knowledge of the existence of God based being created in His image. And later conformed to the image of His Son. Here is where " free will " comes into play, we can decide to believe and have faith in God and in Christ or not. God has built in to us the ability to know Him at creation but has also given us the " free will" to develop more knowledge or less knowledge of Him and Christ.

Jan Rene Ann Maudlin:

Exodus 4:13

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Corinthians 15:2

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:4

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Revelation 1:5

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Romans 8:9

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

I

Exodus 4:13

And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Corinthians 15:2

By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1 Corinthians 15:4

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Revelation 1:5

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 8:6

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Romans 8:9

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:15

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Don i know that Jesus said there wd be few that wd be saved...But that was under the old covenant the law....But under the New Covenant he says i will know them ALL which is an intimacy that is gona result in a birth of Christ in everybody....Thays y Isaiah saw KNOWLEDGE covering the earth as the waters cover the seas....Thus the lord will KNOW everybody UNDER THIS NEW COVENANT.

.....When Jesus spoke of the BABES AND SUCKLINGS which are his seed the words of the book, living words ....Those are the ones who are gonna be preordained and predestinated as Gen 22 : 17 speaks of his seed that are gona be as the stars of heaven in multitude which are the babes and sucklings....His seed which are spirits the H.G. plural an Israel of God....Mankind can only be a joint heir with the H.G. that Child of Promise....The H.G.

When ya interpret Romans 8 : 29 as being a few men then you are in essence saying that Christ only died for a few men which wd be a false doctrine...Verse 33 in ROMANS 8... Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods Elect,...Its only the H.G. that is Gods Elect...The ISRAEL of God....Its only the H.G. that is the Gift of God the Israel of God as Jesus told the woman at the well.

.....Mans carnal mind cannot comprehend the enormity of Gods love for humanity and his new Covenant...I will KNOW them all from the least to the greatest...Thus the babes and sucklings the Children of Promise..And thats who is preordained b/f the world was....I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and God was so passionate about this Promise that he swore by himself....Thats y Jesus was saying to whom the WORD came it made them Gods ....Don't believe Tulip doctrine its of the Devil its the result of taking the bible literal...mans carnal mind etc....ok lemme go

Sons of God:

Romans 8:14

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

If you are, please join me to pray and fast for the safety of Israel and the fullness of the Gentiles.

Romans 11:25

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Colossians 2:9

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Colossians 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don i hear ya....But we have to realise that it wd make God Almighty a hypocrite if he only saved a few....When the stain and the spot of adam was applied to ALL MEN no exceptions....We get into Tulip mans carnal doctrine of Gd only saving a few...And the rest of humanity going to hell...I know that Jesus said few will be saved...But this is only for LIL WHILE it was hid from the wise and prudent but revealed unto Babes and Sucklings....But our Lord said if i be belifted up I will draw all men unto me....This is what happened when carnal man tries to interpret the scriptures....We gotta realise that the greatest predestination Scripture is when God swore by himself that CHRIST wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven Genisis 22 : 17 kjv.

.....This Romans 8 : 29 is not about man being glorified but about Christ being predestinated and Glorified and man being a joint heir with Christ....Its Christ that is gonna be the 1st born of many brethren...If ya interpret Romans 8 : 29 as man being GLORIFIED and preordained you are in essence saying that satan is gonna be preordained....Thats how Tulip got started that only a few wd be saved and all the rest wd go to hell....In essence saying that Jesus wd only die for a few..In essence saying that God neva did love the whole world just a few which wd make God a respector of persons...This TULIP doctrine was the result of bible schools ( carnal teaching ) ... Zech 12 : 10 tells us that its Christ that is gona be the 1st born of many brethren.

.....Mankind can only be a Joint HEIR with Christ....Its only Christ and his seed that is gona be multiplied as the stars of heaven Gen 22 : 17 kjv...ALL of mankind carried the stain and the spot of adam which is our old adamic nature that HAS to go thru the baptism of fire and the H.G. As Jesus said every sinner has to have his part in the lake of fire...which is God as our God is a consuming fire that wants to consume mans Evil Adamic nature....Its only the babes n sucklings .

Chris,

Thank you for your nice reply.

I have always wrestle with the area, as I do with " free will" . In my feeble mind these two concepts tend to oppose each other.

If God, all knowledgeable , all knowing, has predestined ones to be His faithful sons and daughters, then he has predestined others to " hell". Based on this, do we truly have " free will", at least in this area.

By the way, I seriously wrestle with this, and have for many years, it is such a cloudy area for me.

Have a blessed day.

Hello Don. You asked, "has God preselected the ones who are to be saved through Christ?" I believe He has. But I don't believe that's the full story, because as you shared the reference Romans 8:29, those whom God has predestined were those He also foreknew.

If we then look at those aspects of God's Work in Romans 8:29,30, we see firstly, His Foreknowledge (a knowledge of all things past, present & future). Based on that knowledge, He predestined some to become His children (as His Son is & His adopted ones would be - Ephesians 1:5). Then God's Work upon us begins: those predestined are now called to come to Him/drawn to Him - John 6:44. Those whom He has called, God applied to them the outcome of the Cross, i.e. of Justification - the guilty declared not guilty by reason of substitutionary payment made on their behalf. And those so justified, have received glorification - in part now with the indwelling Holy Spirit (the "earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession" - our completed redemption & glorification fitted out for Heaven: Ephesians 1:14).

Then what part "does our faith in Christ Jesus do for us?" Those whom God has predestined, called, & justified, are those who would be blessed with the gift of Faith - Faith that is needed for God's Grace to do its mighty work ( Ephesians 2:8). What then is the Gift of God? It is both His Grace poured out upon us plus the Faith to apprehend it & fully rest in it. One might ask, 'Can such a person drawn of God resist Him?' I would reply with questions: 'Would God even draw one who wouldn't be saved? Would the one being drawn want to resist the Love of God in Christ & the Holy Spirit's Work of Conviction? And, even if barriers were set up by Satan to obstruct the passage of the sinner into eternal life, would not the God Who makes no mistakes, still bear upon the sinner that he might understand the Truth & find that his hope lay in Christ alone?' John 6:37-40 - none of His will be lost.

Romans 8 V 29 - 30.

So has God preselected the ones who are to be saved through Christ? Then, what does our faith in Christ Jesus do for us?

This, as I understand, is one of the main differences between Baptist and Presbyterian beliefs.

Hebrews 6, Hebrews 5, Hebrews 7, Romans 8:27, Romans 8:34, Psalms 139,

Romans 8:26,

Hopefully these are helpful

My Fellow Believers:

You would not believe that the Wisdom of Solomon is revealed to His saints as it is written:

THERE IS POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!

I prayed for wisdom and for those who truly have pure heart, will receive that wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I say that because when I read the Wisdom of Solomon, most of them are already imputed in my heart without knowing it. See Colossians verses below:

Trust, believe and have faith in what Jesus did on the cross. For the blood Jesus Christ shed is just like the OT Lamb without blemish sacrifices. Now He is that Lamb without sin and He already died for us ALL. Jesus Christ already won the Devil. He gave us a free gift: the gift of grace; the righteousness of faith; the grace of God.

Apostle Paul is the last Apostle God revealed what we Gentiles need to do ( the Book of Romans to Philemon).

Those who understand the mysteries of Christ/ God will walk in the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:9

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

You will know these people through the fruit of their spirit:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance

Ephesians 5:9

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Also make no mistake 1 Corinthians 13:2 ; Read verses 3-8; 13:

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Colossians 2:2

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Colossians 2:3

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Be saved: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

The truth is, nothing can stop you from serving God but you. Romans 8:38,39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor

powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Just serve Him, Becky. Serve Him no matter what. Pray for deliverance from your situation. Trust and believe, and He will get you out of that situation.

Hi Becky,

Praise the Lord for his meeting with you and revealing to you your sins, and causing you to fly to Jesus for salvation!

It is a GREAT sign to me that you are hating your sin and want to be free of it. That is exactly what the Holy Spirit's work in us does...it makes us hate sin and desire to please God! HalleluJAH!

It seems that it's a matter for you to 'grow in grace' and to exercise your faith. It would be so easy if God would just do a miracle and take all of our sinful inclinations away but He, in His wisdom, doesn't work that way. Paul the apostle tells us we must 'work out our salvation with fear and trembling.' It is WORK to kill the flesh, the inner motions of sin, and to chose instead to walk in the Spirit.

It's vital that you take God at His Word, and do it, no matter if you feel like it or not Becky, or if you 'feel' anything at all, for that matter. We walk by faith. I'm going to leave a few Scriptures here for you to meditate on, believe, and put into practice! The prayers will continue!!

Here are the verses for you:



1 John 3:8-9 -He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Whoever has God's Spirit cannot live in habitual sin, because God will give him/her no rest until he/she obeys! :)

Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Please read, and read, and re-read Romans 8:1-14, Becky.

In the love of Christ, with blessings....

Hello Becky! Jesus wipes our slate clean when we are saved, but we become sinners saved by grace who need to continue to ask God to forgive us every time we sin--and we born again Christians will sin because it is our nature--we even commit sins unaware and must ask Him to forgive what we don't know we've done wrong. I used to not understand this and was driven by guilt for everything I did, which delutes the power of Jesus' Blood. What I didn't understand lay in this verse Matthew 5:48

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." I thought I had to be without sin. That's not what that verse means. It does mean for us not to commit deliberate sins like breaking the ten commandments and knowing to do good but doing it not. So you see, 1 John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." And 1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Being remorseful for our sins is not enough. We must repent. Ever been walking down a sidewalk and decide to turn around a go the other way. That's repenting. We decide not to commit a certain sin ever again. You can quit smoking and all the rest. It's not easy, but you can do it by confessing, repenting, drawing close to Him, and cease fellowshipping with those unbelievers--not shunning them, for you should strive to be a witness to them in conduct and action.

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And there is nothing that can keep you from serving him. Romans 8:38,39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God bless!

This is the Bible's interpretation of the parable: The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Romans 8 Tells us how to be delivered from the body of this death. Romans 7 is not someone that is led of the Spirit. Romans 8:13,14 sum up the two chapters For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8 is what it means to be born again, converted or transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Sister Suze:

I happens because it was prophecied to happen.

Ezekiel 5:1-5

Zechariah 13:9

All the verses in Revelation that takes about the third part of man.

These are the called out, to be priest and judges.

Romans 8:19-21

Dear God, We ask You for divine order in the lives of Mrs. B's kids lives. And mine as well. We pray first and foremost for their salvation and Your will for their lives. You have plans for them and we ask that anything and anyone that hinders them would be removed. We ask You Father to order their steps. Please don't let them be alone. It's not good for a man (or woman) to be alone. Bring them spouses who will love You Father. So they can lead lives that glorify You. We pray it in Jesus name.

Help us & our children to love You

Romans 8:28

And put food in us so our steps can be ordered by You. psalms 37:23

In Jesus name.

John 13:13-14

Tammy:

God is LOVE; but how do you know what love is, without knowing what hate is?

God is LIGHT; but how do you know light, is without knowing what darkness is?

God is LIFE; but how do you know what life, is without knowing what death is?

God is TRUTH; but how do you know what truth, is without knowing what deception is?

God is WISDOM; but how do you know what wisdom, is without knowing what ignorance is?

The tree of KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL, are in the same TREE, when we eat the FRUIT we HAVE KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL.

Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold they have become like ONE OF US (Gods) to KNOW GOOD and EVIL.

Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods, the children of the most high.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son (God) ....

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind BE IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Philippians 2:5 Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be EQUAL with GOD.

Isaiah 66:9 Shall I not bring TO BIRTH, and not cause to bring forth? ......

Isaiah 66:8 ....for as soon a Zion travailed, she brought forth her children (gods: in the AGE TO COME).

God Bless YOU!

I'm reminded of a conversation I had on my job some years Go. Those Men knew how I believed, and they spent all morning trying to get a ride out of me. Quoting Scriptures, they didn't understand and their Doctrine. I told someone today,, most Christians can tell you what they be!ieve, but they can't tell you WHY. They'll say, , This is what my Pastor Preaches and He Preaches Truth. Okay,, He just might,, that's good. But why do you believe it? My Father in Law, said so many times. " Don't believe it because I said it, study it, show yourself approved and know if for Yourself. " That's why we have so many People following so much mess today.

But that Crowd was coming at Me with everything but the kitchen sink, with their,, I'm allright, He's allright, She's allright, Everybody is a sinner, We all sin. This thinking, crowd just wants to sins, and they want a clean conscience while they do it.

And finally I said" Look it's around 12:00 ,and I haven't sinner yet. I'm not telling you I want need The Grace of God before the day is over. But I didn't get up this morning to see how much sin I could get by with, I got up trying not to sin.:And then I dropped this Bomb from The Holy Ghost: I said" I guess that's like my Brother in Law, He doesn't go to Church, pay his tithes, he is abusive to His Children. He drinks, smokes, does drugs fights everybody, cuss you out in a heartbeat, beats His Wife, He runs around on Her all the time. You know when He gets to Heaven He won't have any rewards at all will he? "

And they all looked at Me like I was crazy, and I said" What,, He's going ain't He, ain't that what y'all been saying all morning long, He can't never get out. And then I said" Do you see how crazy that sounds? Nobody even responded ,, and The Lord put them all to silence. Listen if the Righteous scarcely be saved, by the skin of our teeth. Where Shall the Sinner appear?

Mikey Out. Biscoe House of Mercy

Romans 8:1-8 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

James 2:9-12 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

Shirley;

There are TWO resurrections.

Those God GAVE to HIS Son Jesus, The CALLED and CHOSEN, were resurrected with Christ.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and Holy is he that hath PART in the first resurrection ....

Luke 20:34 Neither can they DIE ANYMORE: for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION.

Those not Called and not Chosen, will die and lay in the grave, along with those that have die from the beginning.

At the second resurrection EVERYONE in the graves will be resurrected back to their earthly flesh; AND JUDGED.

Psalms 149:9 To execute upon them (those at the second resurrection) the JUDGEMENT WRITTEN, this HONOUR hath all his SAINTS (those in the first resurrection).

Isaiah 26:9 .....when thy JUDGEMENTS are in the earth (second resurrection) the inhabitants of the world WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature WAITETH (in the grave) for the MANIFESTATION of the Sons OF GOD (those in the first resurrection, that will be their JUDGES).

Romans 8:21 Because the creature ITSELF shall be DELIEVERED from the bondage of corruption (the grave) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

1 Corinthians 15:28 ...that God may be ALL IN ALL.

God Bless YOU!

The Natural Man.

Part 2.

In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul uses the word natural to refer to someone still in his original (sinful) state. The Greek word psuchikos ("natural") can be defined as "animal," as opposed to "spiritual." Natural men are those who are occupied with the things of this material world to the exclusion of the things of God. They are led by instinct rather than by the Spirit of God. They intuitively choose sin over righteousness. They are the "pagans" Jesus refers to in Matthew 6:32 who only seek after the things of this world.

The supernatural work of God is to change the natural man into a spiritual one. When a person trusts Christ, God exchanges what is natural (received from Adam) for what is spiritual (received from Christ). "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" ( 1 Corinthians 15:22). The Christian life is, therefore, a supernatural one. We do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit ( Romans 8:1). Interesting find.

Back to 1 Corinthians 1:18. For the preaching of the cross is TO THEM THAT PERISH FOOLISHNESS; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

If you notice, them that perish doesn't have much to say about the preaching of the cross! Why? Because it's foolishness to them.

To us which are saved our Hope, Redemption, and Salvation is tied to it,

Here's how the natural Man/Tares voids out the productivity of the cross in their false teachings.

God Love is on display when I slew his only begotten Son in our place, So there must be a damnable consequence to those who don't accept "This sacrifice"

He'll would have to be a real place for those who don't receive Christ. or the Love of God on display would be in vain!!

They say there is no Hell and all will go to Heaven by fire!

They replace the productivity of the cross with the fire prescribed for Satan as the means by which we are saved!

1 Corinthians 2:14.

God bless.

Sister Kay:

I know you are a child if God because the WORD says you are a child of God.

I think we all want to know as much about the Kingdom of God as revealed in his WORD.

God is Spirit, God is the LIFE, The Father gave the Son to have LIFE in himself, God gave the Son the inheritance of all nations of the world.

God gave his son a chosen few (which could be millions) to be a royal priestshood, the ones who share in Christ's resurrection.

Christ and these Sons of God are going to judge the world at the second resurrection.

WE CANNOT be a righteous judge without becoming exactly like Christ, this in the new creation, being born of Spirit, but having the glorified body of Christ.

Romans 8:19 For the earnest EXPECTATION of the creature (man) WAITETH (in the grave) for the manifestation of the SONS OF GOD.

Romans 8:21 Because the creature (man) ITSELF shall be DELIEVERED from the bondage of corruption (the grave) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

All this happens after the second resurrection when the Kingdom is established here on earth.

Mosses and the first children were a shadow: this time Christ is the KING and ALL WILL OBEY.

Zachariah 14:29 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses (THE PRIEST), HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, and the pots in the Lords house, shall be like bowls upon the alter.

Zechariah 1:21 Yea every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness unto the lord of host: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein, and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of host.

God Bless YOU!