Taking advantage of God's mercy

[JesusLives]

Ok, I'm gonna say it...JUST because you are older doesn't mean you can't learn from the younger generations either. The respect requires mutual grounds in Scripture. The thing about respecting elders on here is that this is an online community where people can pretend to be any age they want just to keep their identity a little private. You can't just bash younger generations for "disrespect of elder authority" on here when there is plenty to learn from the younger generation. I've seen that on here as well. So the accusations have to go both ways.

Down there....Was not disrespecting anyone younger and did not really read any other post not much anyway....I was just stating that I didn't learn until I had some age on me....just speaking for me no one else.... God knows I wish I had learned this years ago it would have saved me so much trial and error in my life....but guess I am a slow learner......Thank God I do learn though.

You are right I have learned much from the younger generation....you guys keep me up to date on the tech stuff and my daughter tells me what lol and other short term letters are. We just said laugh out loud.....So God bless you as you seem to understand things and know more than me at a younger age.

 

[JesusChica1991]

No Jesuslives. My response was towards justus2. Not at you

 

[just-us-2]

Down there....Was not disrespecting anyone younger and did not really read any other post not much anyway....I was just stating that I didn't learn until I had some age on me....just speaking for me no one else.... God knows I wish I had learned this years ago it would have saved me so much trial and error in my life....but guess I am a slow learner......Thank God I do learn though.

You are right I have learned much from the younger generation....you guys keep me up to date on the tech stuff and my daughter tells me what lol and other short term letters are. We just said laugh out loud.....So God bless you as you seem to understand things and know more than me at a younger age.

Yes, it was me JesusChica1991 was responding to. I too have learned from some of the younger generation - particularly tech issues - computer stuff. My grandson is 20 and has taught me quite a bit of computer stuff. If a younger person respectfully approached me with a "correction" he/she thought needed to be made to my thinking, I would listen. And I would ask for Bible reference to it so I could study it myself as the Bereans studied what they were taught. But I will NOT just up and decide to adopt some comfy doctrine not based on scripture posed by someone who acts like he/she knows all there is to know and by gum I had better adopt their watered down doctrine. Not a chance!

It is possible to have decent discussion in these forums - just last week I had a conversation with psychomom that was very cordial. I don't know her but have seen her in the forum before. I can't say that she adopted my viewpoint because I don't know but the discussion should be noted as the kind God expects us to have with one another.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

Now, let me see – how did I write that so it was confusing??? “We have chosen to address God in prayer and conversation as “Father”, a title there is nothing wrong with but we have done it to the exclusion of seeing Him as He is in His Completeness – such as “LORD” and “Almighty God” and “The Great I AM” etc.
We are subconsciously more comfortable these days viewing God as a doting daddy who can hardly bear to discipline the child. This too is taking advantage of God’s mercy.”

Indeed! God has great balance – PERFECT in fact. It is ours that gets screwed up!

Yes, we will ALL stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be recompensed as He sees fit. He – God - the Great I AM - El Shaddai - El Elyon, just to name a few of His mighty names, requires those who claim to be His to conduct their lives in a manner worthy of association with Almighty God. Denying or ignoring traits we are supposed to have causes us to not fit the description. Personally, I would rather do my best in this life than take my chances at judgment because I was too proud to learn or didn’t like some of the requirements of Christianity which = making God into an image I like rather than accepting the true God as He is.

What is so hard to understand anyway?

I humbly apologize if I misunderstood you and still misunderstand you. Some people speak plainly and others speak around an issue and I fail to see why you even took my quote from another thread to begin with.

"Denying or ignoring traits we are supposed to have" - Have I done this? Have I ever said that we should not do our best to walk by the Spirit God has given us?

I am not to proud to learn and I do not make God into an image I like rather than accepting the true God as He is. God is my Abba, Father - that is my relationship to him. When I need discipline He disciplines - you show me where I am wrong to say this.

 

[crossnote]

Taking advantage of God's mercy? I think Bonhoeffer here gives a good perspective...

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

[just-me]

Taking advantage of God's mercy? I think Bonhoeffer here gives a good perspective...

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

That's really good!! AMEN!

 

[Ariel82]

The "respect your elders" sounds like a jab at me. I will say I do respect my elders but I do not always agree with them. "elders" should not be those who are older in physical age but those who have walked with God's Holy Spirit longer and show the fruits therein.

There are examples in the Bible where the "ELDERS" were wrong.

For example Paul writes to Timothy to not be intimidated by his youth but to speak the truth, no matter what.

Elihu waited for his elders to speak before telling them and Job that they all had it wrong and spoke out of pride.

There are two covenants mentioned in the Bible. If you can't make the distinction, then I'm sorry. If you don't want to listen to me because of my age, then there are plenty of elders who will discuss it with you.

 

[JesusChica1991]

But I will NOT just up and decide to adopt some comfy doctrine not based on scripture posed by someone who acts like he/she knows all there is to know and by gum I had better adopt their watered down doctrine. Not a chance!

That rule applies for the older generations as well. You can't expect us to automatically believe some doctrine simply because that's how it has always been. Just because a person is older doesn't mean that we cannot challenge them. I respect my elders but it is difficult to respect them when they look down upon my generation for not simply believing everything we are told. Sure, some are naive. We've all been there. But we all must learn from one another.

 

[Ariel82]

oh and my previous response played on the words "taking advantage"

it can be used in a positive or negative context.

For example you can "take advantage" of someone by stealing all their money (negative), OR you can "take advantage" of the opportunity provided when given a college scholarship and earn your degree (positive).

Personally I don't like using the "taking advantage" of God's mercy in the negative context because it implies that God can be a victim to be passively used by people.

sorry if you didn't pick that up as well.

 

[just-us-2]

oh and my previous response played on the words "taking advantage"

it can be used in a positive or negative context.

For example you can "take advantage" of someone by stealing all their money (negative), OR you can "take advantage" of the opportunity provided when given a college scholarship and earn your degree (positive).

Personally I don't like using the "taking advantage" of God's mercy in the negative context because it implies that God can be a victim to be passively used by people.

sorry if you didn't pick that up as well.

You didn't get the point. My all-powerful God cannot be taken advantage of. People who choose to ignore any of what He says in His Word are shortchanging themselves. Evidence that this happens abounds these days.

Matthew 7:16 (KJV)
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:20 (KJV)
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 12:33 (KJV)
[SUP]33 [/SUP]Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Luke 6:44 (KJV)
[SUP]44 [/SUP]For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luke 6:46 (KJV)
[SUP]46 [/SUP]And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Just look up all of the references in the Bible and see if you can find where nastiness, rudeness, disrespectful conversation, arrogance, pride, a know-it-all attitude, and the like, are characteristics people who claim to be Christians should have.

 

[just-us-2]

That rule applies for the older generations as well. You can't expect us to automatically believe some doctrine simply because that's how it has always been. Just because a person is older doesn't mean that we cannot challenge them. I respect my elders but it is difficult to respect them when they look down upon my generation for not simply believing everything we are told. Sure, some are naive. We've all been there. But we all must learn from one another.

In my post #7 I mentioned lack of respect for elders but just to let you know, the very young are not the only ones in here who can claim this fault. There are several who are much closer to my age who have the same affliction and display it regularly.

Furthermore, the point was not age – the point as stated in the op is taking advantage of God’s mercy by claiming to be His, living any way a person wants, and then saying that because God is a loving God He will forgive whatever he/she does…over and over and over again. The illustration in the op was very obvious but there are much more subtle ways the Adversary targets people’s minds – his favorite target – and thereby keeps real Christians weak and successfully deceives multitudes who think they are “saved” because they repeated the ‘sinner’s prayer’ after someone else… and the all-important act of repentance is MIA. People today are largely unaware of the huge scope of spiritual warfare and deception that is going on around us because we can only see the effects after the damage is done, assuming we look for them, and not the battle itself because it is spiritual rather than physical.

 

[just-me]

Continuing in life without a firm desire to esteem the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as supreme and unchanging while looking for excuses within religious doctrines continuing to patronize our own desires, is taking advantage of God's mercy and using His only begotten Son as an excuse. Under this precedence the end result is eternal death.

Hebrews 6:1-6
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit .
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame

 

[karen0123]

Q. My friend is saved, but he doesn't act like it. He lives a life full of sin.

I am saved I turned away from all the sin in my life and I hate sin now. When we sin it grieves God. I love Jesus more than anybody on earth, and the only thing that matters is the relationship I have with God nothing else.
I wept so much for my sin I was exhausted I was convicted by the Holy Spirit who showed me my sin.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

There r millions of Christians in hell who had been baptisted, go to church every weekend, pray, look and act rihteous in their friends and family eyes etc. So why r they in hell if they look and act so righteous. Jesus said "The protitues, theives will enter into Heaven before u." Christ isnt saying that to the religious leaders of that time but he is saying that to all those who call themselvs Christians, Muslim, Jews etc.

If they were born of GOD they would not enjoy sin and would not enjoy those things that they once did.
The change took place in the spirit and (new creature)they would no longer enjoy the things they use to,but they would need to renew their minds so that they can prove the perfect will of GOD or else I think post 4 applies.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

A lot of people believe you don't lose your salvation, but I would hope I would never presume upon God like that. I don't see how you can live a life like that and get the same benefits as somebody who honestly loves and obeys God.

The change took place in the spirit and then the spirit was sealed so that no sin can penetrate the spirit.
So when we sin the spirit does not participate.
Paul said that we should renew our minds.

 

[just-me]

How to understand that your salvation is approved. Prayer and study, study and pray.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

That is something that so many do not understand and see the necessity of. "RIGHTLY" is the key, not dividing the Word into categories that complements our pet agenda. Example. In order to understand the dynamics of the New, one must study the old along with the new.

Leviticus 26:10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

Q. My friend is saved, but he doesn't act like it. He lives a life full of sin.

BUT he has it in his heart to stop and he has tried many times. Each time he tries he last about a month then falls back into the same ole habits . . . he gets made at himself and at times hates himself for falling back into the same patterns. He keeps trying though believing that one day he, as he grows and matures with the help of the holy Spirit, these things will be conquered.

How many times does God forgive? Does God put a limit upon His forgiveness? Does God put a time limit upon a person change in behavior? Some people change automatically [or so they say] and others take time with habits that are so engrained . . .

 

[just-me]

Q. My friend is saved, but he doesn't act like it. He lives a life full of sin.

BUT he has it in his heart to stop and he has tried many times. Each time he tries he last about a month then falls back into the same ole habits . . . he gets made at himself and at times hates himself for falling back into the same patterns. He keeps trying though believing that one day he, as he grows and matures with the help of the holy Spirit, these things will be conquered.

How many times does God forgive? Does God put a limit upon His forgiveness? Does God put a time limit upon a person change in behavior? Some people change automatically [or so they say] and others take time with habits that are so engrained . . .

I have known people like that also. They have not been told the whole truth concerning the salvation of Christ. They weren't led to Christ as God intended. They were taught by people such as Jesus is referring to.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20

If their preaching produces the fruit that your friend has, I would suggest that he be led to Christ according to the truth. Obviously he doesn't have the strength of the indwelling Spirit.

Romans 8:36-37
36 As it is written , For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Galatians 3:24-25
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

I think we have discussed this once before. God bless sis

 

[peacefulbeliever]

I have known people like that also. They have not been told the whole truth concerning the salvation of Christ. They weren't led to Christ as God intended. They were taught by people such as Jesus is referring to.

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20

If their preaching produces the fruit that your friend has, I would suggest that he be led to Christ according to the truth. Obviously he doesn't have the strength of the indwelling Spirit.

Romans 8:36-37
36 As it is written , For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Galatians 3:24-25
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

I think we have discussed this once before. God bless sis

Apparently you have not had to deal with any hard issues in your life. As long as we are in the flesh - we will have issues that need to be addressed and we battle with these daily - once we get rid of one flaw it seems another is there in it's place. There is a reason we are told to renew our minds, to put on the new and put off the old, to cast down imaginations and every false thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God . . . we are in this body of death until Christ returns for his purchased possession.

Yes we have discussed this before - leading people to Christ through the law -

 

[just-us-2]

Apparently you have not had to deal with any hard issues in your life. As long as we are in the flesh - we will have issues that need to be addressed and we battle with these daily - once we get rid of one flaw it seems another is there in it's place. There is a reason we are told to renew our minds, to put on the new and put off the old, to cast down imaginations and every false thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God . . . we are in this body of death until Christ returns for his purchased possession.

Yes we have discussed this before - leading people to Christ through the law -

I happen to know just-me and I guarantee you that you are way, way off base saying he has apparently not had to deal with hard issues! He has what most of us would consider more than his share. You could ask him about when his family's house burned down when his kids were 2, 4 and 10 days old, or about when his son died at the age of 30, or what it is like to live with PTSD, or any of several other issues but I would suggest doing it in a PM. He very likely won't go into detail in a public forum.