Bible Discussion Thread

S. Spencer,

I think we speak about loving God and our neighbor often on here. It is the command of our Lord for us to obey continually in our lives. I don't think that bringing the topic of loving God and man into a discussion about water baptism shuts the thread down, They are different aspects of the Christian experience and both should be discussed on here. We refine our thinking when we wrestle together with such topics.

The love of God is the key to all things. If He was not Love we would not be. If He was not Love He would not have planned for our salvation before creation. If He was not Love there would only be Wrath for us sinners. If He was not Love, we would never have any good in our lives, only misery.

But He is Love and Life and all the other attributes that are inherent in Him as the Supreme and only truly necessary Being in all creation. If there was not creation, He would still BE and continue to be satisfied within Himself. He does not need us, but we need Him in the most fundamental way. Only He can give Life. It does not exist outside of Himself.

When I think of His magnificence and transcendence, I am awed. When I think of His love and mercy, I am thankful. When I think of His greatness and power, I am assured that He will answer prayer. When I think of His holiness and perfect goodness, I am reminded of the depth of my sinfulness. When I think of His perfect justice and wrath, I am satisfied that He will do what is right. When I think of His truth in His Word and righteousness of His will, I am encouraged to seek to know Him more fully and obey Him. When I think of His infinite wisdom and worth, I am led to worship Him. When I read what Jesus has commanded, I develop a love for what is truly good.

So, there are a myriad of things we can discuss about our "beyond what we could ask of think" God.

Like Paul, I love the commands of God. They are good. They are a guide to us. They show us what God determines as morally righteous or good.

Hi Gigi.

Thanks for the reply, however it is far from what I meant when I posted, I never mentioned anything about the love of God, I'm sorry but you missed this one by a mile! Nowhere close to the context.

Here's the verses I have given. John 13:34-35. and 1 John 2:1-11. 1 John 4:20-21. and yes these topics has shut down debates whether it's about the trinity, eternal security, baptism, etc. because I've posed these during several debates and no response afterwards.

Please read and go over the response I gave to Bro Dan that you're replying to again.

It's getting late, I will cover this tomorrow.

God night and God bless.

S. Spencer

One last thing I thought of before I retire for the night.

I re-read the entire thread as you suggested. In your post beginning this thread you did not ask "Is water baptism essential for salvation? But Texsis responded to the thread with such a query and I responded to her response. So that is how I became involved with this thread. Sometimes people take a thread in a direction that differs from the original poster. I am o.k. with that. But, even so, I hope you are not too frustrated that your original post has gone the way it has.

Also, when you spoke about the command to love God and love others, I thought about 1 john 4:7-16, my favorite Bible passage. So in speaking about obeying these two commands Jesus gave us, we can only love Him or others because He is Love and loved us first. That is why I responded as I did. I don't think I was way off in my response, but it seems you thought so.

We can talk more on this tomorrow, if it seems good to do so. For now, I have spoken into this conversation the best way I can tonight. I am tired and need to be off to bed. God's blessings to you tonight, Steven

Have a good evening, S. Spencer. I think that for now I will rest from this thread, as I feel I have said all I feel led to share.

Dear GiGi, I am still concerned when you use a phrase like "depth of my sinfulness" that there are things you are not dealing with in your life that makes you feel guilty. I just don't see those phrases by the writers of the Bible when you take the context. 2 Tim. 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Dear Doug,

Please do not worry about me and my spiritual condition. I am "good to go".

When the Bible speaks about all of our works are like "filthy rags" before God the Word is telling us that even at our best, we are far from being righteous, pure, and holy like God. But, thankfully, be Jesus imputed to us so that we are no longer under condemnation for our sins. This means, although we still sin, our sins are forgiven and removed from us. However, the sinful nature still resides in each of us as long as we live in this earthly life. This sinful nature continually is at work to lead us to sin. Although, as believers, we endeavor to avoid consciously and deliberately sinning, we often become aware that we sinned after the fact, such as: speaking a sharp word back to our spouse, being impatient with our children, being boastful, gossiping, and so many other ways we sin unconsciously. Even so, these unconscious sin reveals to us the depth of our sinful nature, which we are to put to death daily and choosing to live by the Spirit instead.

Have a good day, Doug, and do not be so worried about me. I do not judge you, so pleases do not judge me, as we do not have personal knowledge of each other to do so. It is fine if you disagree with what I have said or my viewpoint. But I think it is inappropriate to pass a judgment on the spiritual condition of another believer on this forum when we do not really know each other well.

Amen... my favorite verse, i think this is the one that really hit home with me... Ro 4:17 (KJV) (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.