Bible Discussion Thread Page 2

Hello Jesse,

Thanks for sharing that. Since you feel that way then it doesn't sound productive to continue discussing such things then. I think any conversation should be edifying and mutually beneficial.

I'm not familiar with a past discussion you are referring to. It's possible I forgot or maybe it was a different person. I've seen others posting using the same name before, which with a common name I figured may periodically happen.

It sounded like you characterized my comments as quite negative. That's hard to hear that as I've spent many hours helping people find Bible-based answers to their questions in the Word, researching and sharing Bible verses, and defending Christ against attacks and false teachings.

What you shared about me sounds negative, but I have seen plenty of others have a positive response. Jesus is worth defending. He's worth even being persecuted for or risking being unpopular over. The Bible and the truth is worth defending. Satan is real and he does deceive. I am in prayer for wisdom for when it's appropriate to defend against false teaching and when to refrain. Where we spend eternity is a big deal, we are close to the end times, and its apparent that many Christians instead of following Jesus are following the world. Some aren't taking this seriously. Verses like Matthew 10:28 should be shared, especially when prompted by the holy spirit. Praying for wisdom and understanding of the Word is important.

God bless...

Adam,

I would much rather converse with you on things we can both agree to. And I know that there are some things we both agree on. I know that from reading your posts. I truly believe that you have a genuine love for the Lord and I admire that. That discussion I mentioned that took place a while back, I believe was you, but that's neither here nor there. If my memory serves me right, it was along the same lines of this discussion, something to do with me believing it was okay to sin all I want because I was saved no matter what. Whoever that Adam was came after me because I believed in the eternal security of a believer, and that a believer could not lose their salvation. That's why I thought it was you. Whoever it was, their name was Adam. I also remember that after my 72 hour "probation period" from this website was over, I came back and immediately apologized to someone named Adam. Maybe it wasn't you. Either way, that's past, I apologized, and someone named Adam accepted my apology.

My hope is that you and I can still discuss things with each other. If I've offended you, then I am sorry for doing so, and I truly mean that. Like I said, there are things we agree on, and things we don't agree on, but I respect your views and I hope you would respect mine. I belong to Christ, and I'm confident in saying that I believe in my heart that you belong to Christ. With that being said, who are we to take God's word and fight amongst each other on who's right and who's wrong? Have you ever thought to yourself that when two believers get involved in an argument over who's right and who's wrong, that maybe the Lord is up in heaven with His arms crossed, humored by it, and looking down and saying "you're both wrong?" That thought has crossed my mind before.

Adam, I don't know about you, but I am not ashamed to admit that I can be wrong in my understanding of God's word. His word alone is truth, not what either one of us says. Thanks for the blessing. God Bless you also!

Brother Jesse. I believe most of us here have truly appreciated yours & Adam's contributions to the various questions & involvement in debates. Since we hold onto a Book of Truth, which cannot change, the only recurring factor is that of interpretation & the Scriptures we use to support that belief. Unfortunately, the other obvious reason for not accepting another's belief, is because we are fully convinced of our own or maybe our pride getting in the way.

And this is not something new: disagreements & debates over most of the issues we discuss here have gone on for eons & often by more worthier, well studied folk than ourselves. So, I see this medium kindly provided to us, mainly to present our understanding in the best way we can & leave it to others who are interested or indeed, have no opinion, to judge. Both of you, as a few others, have done very well, & if I were coming as one unfamiliar with such teaching, would have to admit receiving good supporting arguments from both of you. Or, as you say, only one can be correct, or maybe neither is correct, & in any case, we must continually be subject to the Holy Spirit, Who generally can even break through, or break down, the most stubborn of barriers.

One more thing: when a 'real' believer is under any test, even the severest of them, pertaining to his faith & love for the Lord, the Holy Spirit within truly gives the wherewithal to stand firm, unflinching, under spiritual duress. We might wonder about this, if persecution comes to us, whether we will hold up, whether we will be counted faithful & worthy by the Lord. Without adding further to this, I do earnestly believe, that a believer will be empowered, full of joy & confidence that whatever the outcome, the Lord is in control, He is present with us; that our lives are "hid with Christ in God" & we see His Face & not man's. Remember Stephen? Any claim to be a Christian, without the presence of God, will certainly result in a recanting. Thank you brothers.

Brother Chris,

Please know that I am not ignoring you. I've read what you wrote and have been pondering it all day. I needed some time for the things you wrote to sink in. I know that God's word alone is truth. We can only understand what he allows us to understand. He knows our hearts and He's not going to reveal to us what He knows we're not ready to handle. As far as letting pride get in the way, I admit I've been guilty of that. I must always be able to differentiate between the flesh and the spirit, but at times I let the flesh get in the way.

I'm not afraid to admit that I can be wrong. None of us have the mind of God. We study His word, we think we know, but do we really? We come on here and say "the Holy Spirit is our teacher," which I fully agree. But when we study God's word, and we are convinced that we know what it is saying, and we're convinced that the Holy Spirit confirmed it to us, how do we know? How do we know it was from the Holy Spirit?

I've witnessed arguments between two believers who couldn't agree on something. In fact, they were in completed opposition of each other on what one section of scripture was teaching. They both claimed that the Holy Spirit revealed to them what it was saying, and yet they were still in complete opposition of each other. The Holy Spirit's not going to teach me one thing, and teach you the total opposite. So how do we know?

I know the Holy Spirit is our teacher. But whatever my understanding of His word is, whatever I think I know to be true, in the back of my mind I always know I can be wrong. One thing I will never waiver on is knowing that Christ is in me, He is the truth, and I am eternally secure in Him, never to be lost again. One day, when we stand in His presence, we will come to the full understanding of the truth. Will there be any of us who will stand there and hear the Lord tell them that their understanding of His word was perfect?

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Thus, the Armour of God ( Ephesians 6:13) given to us by the Spirit is not only for our daily spiritual battles but for the most severe of battles, so that we can always be confident & strong in the Lord against all odds: not only to "withstand in the evil day, but having done all, to stand". If all who claim to be Christians are so accepted, then we do great disservice to God's Word which reminds us in Romans 8:9: "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Therefore, if the Spirit is resident, He won't leave rather will strengthen the believers' resolve to stand against all of the enemy's attacks, whether from doubts, fears, considering other philosophies, or the pull of the world. This then becomes a very personal question & one for introspection: how have I handled such 'attacks' by the evil one? Was it just a passing temptation that I was able to deal with, with the Spirit's Presence & Power, or did I start to succumb & give in? Resisting anything not of the Lord is not just the joy of the 'super-spiritual, super-strong believer', but of all who have the Holy Spirit indwelling. It's the Spirit's Work in the believer to always make us aware of the nature of the battle & the Divine Resistance that we have against that evil. Victory is our goal & the Spirit is given to us to ensure that. We might falter in getting there, but getting there we must. Those without the Spirit, offer no resistance to the evil. Every blessing Jesse.

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Thank you brother Jesse. I wasn't expecting a response, just wanted to state how differently we can understand the same Scriptures, or how we can bring them together to form a belief, & maybe yet find 'holes' that may make other interpretations worthy of consideration. With a believer's eternal security, I can only understand that state where the believer doesn't just believe in the Cross of Christ & the salvation that Jesus gives, but when true faith exists, the Spirit of God is given to secure him for eternity. So, with the question of someone leaving the faith (or the example given of those on that ex-Christian Site), can one assume that they ever had real faith with the Spirit dwelling within? That of course is beyond our vision, except for evidential gifts & fruit; but even now, there have been many imposters & many thus deceived.

When I see how the apostles stood firm in faith, even to martyrdom, having the singular goal to alert lost souls to their real need & to strengthen those in Christ, we get a true view of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-secured life. Or, even the many who went to their executions or to be burned at the stake, undeterred by the looming agony of death, remained faithful to the Lord Who bought them. The same Spirit of God Who emboldened them & gave them heavenly power to stand, is the same One Who will do likewise for us if we go under any persecution for our faith. Those who shirk away, denying the Lord under such testing, clearly have not God's Spirit.

Chris In my observation at any given point any comments given we can be correct biblically in one area and incorrect in another, not that any of it is intentional, I figure we do the best we can and God covers the rest. I keep in mind we are dealing with perfect knowledge, the knowledge of God, hence we are not perfect but He is. Also as I stated before we have a saviour who walked via the spirit 24/7, I'd be thankful to pull that off for 3Hrs. a day. Thank God we agree that He paid for all our short comings i.e. sins. In His Service

Thank you brother Rick. I fully agree with your comments - may we remain sensitive & obedient to the Spirit in every area of our lives.

Im love oll yours bood pepol not undorstend greek wos 200.b.c.e atack. Land of Israel now ...wee livig in domineyshion of Rom in kein greek book

Not Holly not at oll ..

Romen kill greek kein kill Abel ..

Land of Israel and Maszaiah wos and ist living with oll same Hem wos sand to techig as Fathers God a Kingdom ..

Not conver not pray to image or Christmes ist not a pray IDOLGIA ..

son of lama ist ospring 20/21 march and 23 /24 ist passower lam Ares ..

Louck lord ist a belzebub 90 times i. Greek hele-niz-tik text took aby blood and 4 :2 Dervin/ Deunotrome ist not to chenc ..

Oll im seem 325 and Holly 3 Shatan .diabel and Lucyfer 1 big bank of religie ist mamy bissness and liys ..

Jesse Because of your comments before I figured how you would answer this. Thumbs up It Is Written