The Climb

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Dec 19, 2009
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#1
Jesus commanded us to repent. Indeed, he explained to us that repentance and heaven are the same thing:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

One group of Christians is hard at work climbing that ladder. Another group is poking fun of the first group. I think I’d rather belong to the first group.
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#2
All who believe in Jesus Christ have repented.
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
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#3
The thing to remember about repentance is that it is not just saying your sorry - please forgive me... It is a turning away from sin an about face sort of thing. Instead of walking toward sin you do an about face and walk toward God.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#4
Jesus commanded us to repent. Indeed, he explained to us that repentance and heaven are the same thing:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

One group of Christians is hard at work climbing that ladder. Another group is poking fun of the first group. I think I’d rather belong to the first group.
Aren't we supposed to be helping each other climb the same ladder? How about a little less me and theming it? You cannot change anyone. With God's grace, you can start changing you. And part of the change we're working toward is an we're-all-in-this-together approach. After all, God's ladder and God's strength getting us higher, so it's not like any group can stop us. The contest was rigged by God himself, and in a good way.
 
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BeyondET

Guest
#5
Jesus commanded us to repent. Indeed, he explained to us that repentance and heaven are the same thing:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17 RSV

One group of Christians is hard at work climbing that ladder. Another group is poking fun of the first group. I think I’d rather belong to the first group.
Right,, sound logic but it's not the truth sorry..
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
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#6
The thing to remember about repentance is that it is not just saying your sorry - please forgive me... It is a turning away from sin an about face sort of thing. Instead of walking toward sin you do an about face and walk toward God.
Amen.

Lots of bad guys are sorry when they get caught, but it is only happens after they get caught, and because they get caught, and because they learn that they are going to have to face the music.

Their heart does not necessarily change one bit.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
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#8
Aren't we supposed to be helping each other climb the same ladder? How about a little less me and theming it? You cannot change anyone. With God's grace, you can start changing you. And part of the change we're working toward is an we're-all-in-this-together approach. After all, God's ladder and God's strength getting us higher, so it's not like any group can stop us. The contest was rigged by God himself, and in a good way.
Actually, we’re not supposed to climb the social ladder. That is pridefulness. We let the Lord lift us. We don’t lift ourselves.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#9
Right,, sound logic but it's not the truth sorry..
Oh, I think it is the truth. I'm waiting for someone to tell me that they've repented of their sin and didn't find their lives transformed into something miraculous.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#10
It isn't good enough to believe in Jesus. We need to repent of our sin. Jesus told us to do that.
You have a point here. Anyone can believe Jesus is real and that he is God that he died for our sins even I believed this before I was saved but something was missing. I have seen people play church I have seen some who study the bible who pray who serve and give offerings ect. But they show a complete lack of Love not love as we humans know of but the love that comes from God's heart alone and when I speak of an intimate and deep love and relationship with God they think I am insane.

It seems that there is something more needed to truly be saved than believing in him and the cross
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#11
Amen.

Lots of bad guys are sorry when they get caught, but it is only happens after they get caught, and because they get caught, and because they learn that they are going to have to face the music.

Their heart does not necessarily change one bit.
And what ladder is this
 
Feb 9, 2010
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#12
When we climb that ladder,let us not be like the people of the world,like businesses,or anything else where they try to get ahead,where they climb ladders,where the rungs of the ladder,are not wood,or metal,but people,as they climb atop of them trying to get to the top,carrying a baseball bat,and wearing a pair of cleats.

This cannot actually apply to the kingdom of God,for our way up has nothing to do with the trouncing of people,to get ahead,but I thought it was funny.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
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#13
When we climb that ladder,let us not be like the people of the world,like businesses,or anything else where they try to get ahead,where they climb ladders,where the rungs of the ladder,are not wood,or metal,but people,as they climb atop of them trying to get to the top,carrying a baseball bat,and wearing a pair of cleats.

This cannot actually apply to the kingdom of God,for our way up has nothing to do with the trouncing of people,to get ahead,but I thought it was funny.
I started several threads today and suddenly discovered I was speaking of two different ladders, the "social ladder," and the ladder you might think of figuratively as a ladder you climb to become the person you ought to be. The second ladder makes me think of the ladder in Jacob's dream.

In other posts, I strongly criticize people climbing the social ladder. It is very painful to those laboring for the Lord, watching others take shortcuts in an effort to gain status. But in the end the Lord levels the playing field, and those who are guilty of social climbing will find they haven't gained an inch.
 
T

Tinuviel

Guest
#17
You have a point here. Anyone can believe Jesus is real and that he is God that he died for our sins even I believed this before I was saved but something was missing. I have seen people play church I have seen some who study the bible who pray who serve and give offerings ect. But they show a complete lack of Love not love as we humans know of but the love that comes from God's heart alone and when I speak of an intimate and deep love and relationship with God they think I am insane.

It seems that there is something more needed to truly be saved than believing in him and the cross
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19 :)
 
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FreeNChrist

Guest
#18
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19 :)
Why do people continue to quote that verse as if it applies to believing in Jesus Christ for salvation?
 

AllenW

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2016
1,450
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#19
Oh, I think it is the truth. I'm waiting for someone to tell me that they've repented of their sin and didn't find their lives transformed into something miraculous.
We cannot repent of our sins before we are saved.
If we could, we would no longer need Jesus.
Repenting of ones sins comes after salvation, through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
 
J

JustWhoIAm

Guest
#20
Why do people continue to quote that verse as if it applies to believing in Jesus Christ for salvation?
The segment in its entirety reads like this:

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.