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S
I cannot count the number of problems that I have made 5x worse because of what I did after the problem occurred.
Or the old "well, I messed up. I was going to read the bible 1 hour everyday, but I only did for the whole hour on day one, then 30 minutes day 2 and 3 and since I didn't stick to my whole hour, I might as well just quit all together."
Brilliant!
I love the concept of "posthuman".
BTW, I really appreciate your response a lot. I was trying to have a little fun and was worried I might have gone a little too far? To your original premise, it is truly amazing the things we can squander our time on that are trivial.
I tell you the truth... I *KNOW* of the opportunities that I have been given and how much time that I have squandered. I WILL BE ashamed on Judgment day. And, sure, everyone can say this to some degree but it would be divulging too much info in order to make my case, but I have foolishly squandered a generous allotment of time and resources that most did not ever have. But I have purposed myself to live out the rest of my days differently. Its such a short time remaining now. Lets finish well!
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
[SUP]14 [/SUP]I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
S
Iron sharpens iron. Been there, done that. Only a mature believer could receive this and respond as you did. Very impressive.
As to not being fully saved yet, am not onboard with you, but by the time a few of my new friends here get done with me, well, who knows? God knows they're trying to straighten me out!
As to not being fully saved yet, am not onboard with you, but by the time a few of my new friends here get done with me, well, who knows? God knows they're trying to straighten me out!
J
"As to not being fully saved yet, am not onboard with you, but by the time a few of my new friends here get done with me, well, who knows? God knows they're trying to straighten me out!" (secondtimearound)
Hard to save someone from drowning before they're even in the water. You can't be "saved" before the time comes (before the return of Christ or the "second death"). And according to Christ, himself, "No one can come to [understand] Me until/unless the Father Who sent Me draws [enables] him." (John 6:44 and 6:55) (NKJV). And from Matthew's account: "He that endureth to the end, shall be saved" (10:22) (KJV). I think we're friends already.
Hard to save someone from drowning before they're even in the water. You can't be "saved" before the time comes (before the return of Christ or the "second death"). And according to Christ, himself, "No one can come to [understand] Me until/unless the Father Who sent Me draws [enables] him." (John 6:44 and 6:55) (NKJV). And from Matthew's account: "He that endureth to the end, shall be saved" (10:22) (KJV). I think we're friends already.
It was always my opinion that people who were biblically illiterate were probably functionally illiterate. I got saved my second year in undergrad studies, and I picked up my Bible and started reading it cover to cover every year from 1980 on. When I was studying French, I added the Bible in French to my reading. I had two bad years with depression and pain where I didn't read. But God got me reading, and then he called me to seminary, where I was reading books in one sitting, and reading in 5 different translations for each book. Then I learned Greek and started reading the NT in Greek and the OT in Hebrew.
So I sincerely thought that everyone had an overwhelming hunger for the Bible, and if they didn't, it was because the couldn't read well enough to get through. Well, I was totally wrong! First, my husband is not a "reader." He reads the Internet, but no books, except the Bible. When I first met him, he was happily reading KJV and is still more of an OT scholar than I will ever be.
I have always ways tried to encourage people to read the Bible, and people have told me they didn't know it was even possible to read the whole Bible till I showed them. The last church I was in, the pastor spent a year encouraging people to read the Bible in sermons and Bible studies, before he went on to spend a year on prayer.
I started mentoring a woman in her 40's in my church this September. I was shocked to find out she had been a Christian for 15 years and had never read it through, and didn't see the value in doing it. I was also shocked to find out she is a lawyer, so it was not her reading skills holding her back!
Our churches, small groups need to encourage people to read the Bible. Of course, Bible study is also important, and going deep into the text. Learning Biblical languages was so exciting for me, and I am so blessed God called me to start studying Greek again. We are going through chapters, learning the grammar, syntax and vocabulary, but also exegeting and applying the theology.
Anyway, if anyone wants some encouragement to read the Bible, please send me a pm! You can do it, and the benefits are for eternity!
So I sincerely thought that everyone had an overwhelming hunger for the Bible, and if they didn't, it was because the couldn't read well enough to get through. Well, I was totally wrong! First, my husband is not a "reader." He reads the Internet, but no books, except the Bible. When I first met him, he was happily reading KJV and is still more of an OT scholar than I will ever be.
I have always ways tried to encourage people to read the Bible, and people have told me they didn't know it was even possible to read the whole Bible till I showed them. The last church I was in, the pastor spent a year encouraging people to read the Bible in sermons and Bible studies, before he went on to spend a year on prayer.
I started mentoring a woman in her 40's in my church this September. I was shocked to find out she had been a Christian for 15 years and had never read it through, and didn't see the value in doing it. I was also shocked to find out she is a lawyer, so it was not her reading skills holding her back!
Our churches, small groups need to encourage people to read the Bible. Of course, Bible study is also important, and going deep into the text. Learning Biblical languages was so exciting for me, and I am so blessed God called me to start studying Greek again. We are going through chapters, learning the grammar, syntax and vocabulary, but also exegeting and applying the theology.
Anyway, if anyone wants some encouragement to read the Bible, please send me a pm! You can do it, and the benefits are for eternity!
I think the attitude towards the bible for many believers has been greatly influenced by the idea that the old testament
is not as important as the new. It is quoted for proof text in regard to the ministry of Jesus and for parts relating to the second coming but that is as far as it goes. People fail to realise that what we call the old testament was the Christian Bible for about three hundred years. The whole Bible is about Jesus many debates and misunderstandings would be settled if more people read and studied it as a complete revelation instead of being hung up over the law and covenants. Jesus said You search the scriptures because in them you believe you will have eternal life and they speak about me (Paraphrase) Many today dont even search them. Another reason is the long history of Anti Semitism within the church.
Although this is seldom verbally expressed now. I believe there is still an unconscious prejudice about all things Jewish and it is a factor that still affects attitudes towards the Bible.
is not as important as the new. It is quoted for proof text in regard to the ministry of Jesus and for parts relating to the second coming but that is as far as it goes. People fail to realise that what we call the old testament was the Christian Bible for about three hundred years. The whole Bible is about Jesus many debates and misunderstandings would be settled if more people read and studied it as a complete revelation instead of being hung up over the law and covenants. Jesus said You search the scriptures because in them you believe you will have eternal life and they speak about me (Paraphrase) Many today dont even search them. Another reason is the long history of Anti Semitism within the church.
Although this is seldom verbally expressed now. I believe there is still an unconscious prejudice about all things Jewish and it is a factor that still affects attitudes towards the Bible.
Reading the bible is a good thing but most start out and quit because they are going about it all wrong. Certain parts of the bible can be very tedious to read.
Reading the bible is not about getting through it in a given period of time or multiple times in a year. Reading the bible is about taking the time to read with understanding and comprehension. It requires that it be read prayerfully and meditated upon to allow God to change our hearts.
How many times have we read a passage that we are very familiar with and God reveals some small detail that we never considered before?
Study through your bible don't just read through the bible. Pray over your bible and ask the Lord to give you something from it everyday. Something that you need and that will be a blessing.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Reading the bible is not about getting through it in a given period of time or multiple times in a year. Reading the bible is about taking the time to read with understanding and comprehension. It requires that it be read prayerfully and meditated upon to allow God to change our hearts.
How many times have we read a passage that we are very familiar with and God reveals some small detail that we never considered before?
Study through your bible don't just read through the bible. Pray over your bible and ask the Lord to give you something from it everyday. Something that you need and that will be a blessing.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
man rejects Gods plan for redemption shown in his holy days
Most churches teach that Christ finished the plan of redemption when He was crucified.
But the very first event in God’s great plan for man’s regeneration was the death of Christ
Prior to the Law of Moses We find the operation of this great sacrifice beginning in Eden,
when God killed a lamb or goat, in order to cover the nakedness (type of sin) of Adam
and Eve with skins.
We find it operating when Abel sacrificed a substitute lamb. And so the Passover is
the first of these events picturing to God’s children year by year His great plan.
annual sabbaths were not part of the law of Moses, but were observed before
the ritualistic ordinances contained in the law of Moses were given.
23rd chapter of Leviticus we find a summary of these annual holy days, or set feasts.
To be observed year by year and forever. These days,were given to keep God’s children in
the true memory and worship of God by keeping us constantly in the understanding
of God’s great plan of redemption.
For these annual days picture the different epochs in the plan of spiritual creation
—mark the dispensations, and picture their meaning.And, as the beginning of our
salvation was wrought by Christ’s death on the cross, so God said,
“This month [in the spring] shall be unto you the beginning of months …” (Exodus 12:2).
-Christ fulfilled passover by shedding his blood.
Therefore let us [keep the feast], 1 Corinthians 5:8
-Feast of unleaved bread represents putting away sin (transgression of Gods law)
God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.” we have to start this jurney
Exodus 12:14 “And this day shall be unto you for [a memorial];
and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations;
ye shall keep it [a feast] by an ordinance [for ever].
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread.
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation …”
a memorial—not a shadow, a memorial—a feast—to be kept forever
A memorial of deliverance from Egypt, which pictures to us deliverance from sin!
-He fulfilled the wave shelf , and by being accepted by our father back in heaven.
-fulfilled pentacost [50 days]or spring firstfruits, starting church and sending H.S.
this holy day, after Christ was back in heaven, was one of those [things to come]
-
there are 7 annual holy days, some are completed, but not all have come to pass.
there is still future meanings in these days God created, for us to study and understand.
Most churches teach that Christ finished the plan of redemption when He was crucified.
But the very first event in God’s great plan for man’s regeneration was the death of Christ
Prior to the Law of Moses We find the operation of this great sacrifice beginning in Eden,
when God killed a lamb or goat, in order to cover the nakedness (type of sin) of Adam
and Eve with skins.
We find it operating when Abel sacrificed a substitute lamb. And so the Passover is
the first of these events picturing to God’s children year by year His great plan.
annual sabbaths were not part of the law of Moses, but were observed before
the ritualistic ordinances contained in the law of Moses were given.
23rd chapter of Leviticus we find a summary of these annual holy days, or set feasts.
To be observed year by year and forever. These days,were given to keep God’s children in
the true memory and worship of God by keeping us constantly in the understanding
of God’s great plan of redemption.
For these annual days picture the different epochs in the plan of spiritual creation
—mark the dispensations, and picture their meaning.And, as the beginning of our
salvation was wrought by Christ’s death on the cross, so God said,
“This month [in the spring] shall be unto you the beginning of months …” (Exodus 12:2).
-Christ fulfilled passover by shedding his blood.
Therefore let us [keep the feast], 1 Corinthians 5:8
-Feast of unleaved bread represents putting away sin (transgression of Gods law)
God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.” we have to start this jurney
Exodus 12:14 “And this day shall be unto you for [a memorial];
and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations;
ye shall keep it [a feast] by an ordinance [for ever].
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread.
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation …”
a memorial—not a shadow, a memorial—a feast—to be kept forever
A memorial of deliverance from Egypt, which pictures to us deliverance from sin!
-He fulfilled the wave shelf , and by being accepted by our father back in heaven.
-fulfilled pentacost [50 days]or spring firstfruits, starting church and sending H.S.
this holy day, after Christ was back in heaven, was one of those [things to come]
-
there are 7 annual holy days, some are completed, but not all have come to pass.
there is still future meanings in these days God created, for us to study and understand.
Naturally, I've read all the Bible... that seems to be one of the proper and expected things you do when you become a Christian... at least in the churches I grew up in. But, I never got as much out of doing that as I did topical or word studies. I just didn't stop to search and research and cross-reference when I was doing that marathon reading.
Before you start, you should have a spirit of humility knowing that there will be many things you won't comprehend or even know how to pronounce. I read anyway knowing that God is doing a work in my mind. I have read the Bible through at least 15 times the past 5 years. It has given me more familiarity with the Bible. This helps me in my study time. You should have a balance, read, study, and memorize.
I would suggest you visit a bookstore, or a library, and get a commentary, or study book on one of the Gospels. Start there. The book of John is especially good, as it deals with how believers should love one another. Commentaries are good, in that you are getting someone else's (usually a true Bible scholar) understanding, and you can compare it with what YOU understand when you read it.
If you run into questions that pertain to the Old Law, or something that happened in the OT, then you can research that tangent, then come back to the Gospels.... those books are the TRUE good news about Jesus, and who He was. From there you can go into the letters to the early churches, or read the Acts of the apostles. All of that helps to explain, and build on the first 4 books... the good news.
While the OT is good and valuable to read, and has all the background about WHY Jesus came, and why it was necessary, the NT is what impacts our lives, and our understanding the most.
If you run into questions that pertain to the Old Law, or something that happened in the OT, then you can research that tangent, then come back to the Gospels.... those books are the TRUE good news about Jesus, and who He was. From there you can go into the letters to the early churches, or read the Acts of the apostles. All of that helps to explain, and build on the first 4 books... the good news.
While the OT is good and valuable to read, and has all the background about WHY Jesus came, and why it was necessary, the NT is what impacts our lives, and our understanding the most.
The NT body of believers grew because the apostles made disciples of others, raising them up with the ability to teach others . . . those disciples then in turn raised up others . . . then those raised up others . . . etc. I don't believe that most churches do that anymore. I was in my 30's before I ever even knew what a concordance/lexicon was - never even knew how to study nor was ever told to study on my own. I think there is more knowledge available now but even in church; there's not many I see that even crack a Bible to follow along with the sermon!