This is the Dividing Line on BDF

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Depleted

Guest
#1
This is the dividing line for our entire lives.

Skip all the "iron sharpens iron." Skip all the "I have to teach them." Skip eschatology, works v. grace, homosexuality, righteousness, tithing, Sabbath, "I've got to fix them in the name of the Lord." Skip all the excuses endlessly parading on this forum to talk about God without worrying about listening to God. This is the dividing line!

From Spurgeon.

“And God divided the light from the darkness.”
Gen 1:4

A believer has two principles at work within him. In his natural estate he was subject to one principle only, which was darkness; now light has entered, and the two principles disagree. Mark the apostle Paul’s words in the seventh chapter of Romans: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.” How is this state of things occasioned? “The Lord divided the light from the darkness.” Darkness, by itself, is quiet and undisturbed, but when the Lord sends in light, there is a conflict, for the one is in opposition to the other: a conflict which will never cease till the believer is altogether light in the Lord. If there be a division within the individual Christian, there is certain to be a division without. So soon as the Lord gives to any man light, he proceeds to separate himself from the darkness around; he secedes from a merely worldly religion of outward ceremonial, for nothing short of the gospel of Christ will now satisfy him, and he withdraws himself from worldly society and frivolous amusements, and seeks the company of the saints, for “We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” The light gathers to itself, and the darkness to itself. What God has divided, let us never try to unite, but as Christ went without the camp, bearing his reproach, so let us come out from the ungodly, and be a peculiar people. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners; and, as he was, so we are to be nonconformists to the world, dissenting from all sin, and distinguished from the rest of mankind by our likeness to our Master.


So, what are we going to do about that dividing line? Because it comes in two ways.
1. Is the Light winning the battle for my life or am I letting the darkness lead?
2. Am I trusting the Light in another person, or am I following the darkness of the other?

Just because we say we're Christian, doesn't mean we are. Just because we argue some point about the Bible does not mean we're following the Light. We are capable of following the darkness even still.

WWJD? Did Jesus spend his time arguing grace versus works? Did he spend his time arguing over how the world would end? Did he spend his time arguing the question of homosexuality? Did he spend his time arguing creationism over evolution? Did he spend his time arguing reformed versus Wesleyism? Did he spend his time arguing Phariseeism? What does Jesus do?

He had one focus! The Light and the glory of that Light!

So how about giving up on arguing anything and come to the Light? Within our members. And within the members!

Even if you are on the winning side of your argument, but there is no light, it is merely the brass ring on a merry-go-round! It's never time to seek the brass ring. It is always time to seek the Light!

If you're here for frivolous amusement, get out! This is a place to learn about the Light and enjoy the Light with others seeking the Light. Not a place to foster the darkness!

This is a blackout-free zone! And the only way that happens is when we fill it with the Light!
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#2
Good word! I must confess though that I thought this thread would be about James White's program. ;)
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,395
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#3
Yeah I read it....more bias opinion.....how about.....

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι-->1864 epagōnízomai (from 1909 /epí, "focused on" and 73 /agṓn, "a contest, competition") – properly, to contend (literally, "struggle upon, appropriately"), i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God's persuasion).

WWJD...HAVE us earnestly CONTEND for the system of teaching lock, stock and barrel.......that is exactly what he would have us do......and like the Apostles....to the death!

How about You?
 
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Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#4
I think it's good to discuss "theology" especially eschatology, otherwise I'd still be a blasted, deluded futurist..:cool:
 
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Depleted

Guest
#5
Good word! I must confess though that I thought this thread would be about James White's program. ;)
Who is James White and how did he know the BDF needed a system? :eek:
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#6
Yeah I read it....more bias opinion.....how about.....

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι-->1864 epagōnízomai (from 1909 /epí, "focused on" and 73 /agṓn, "a contest, competition") – properly, to contend (literally, "struggle upon, appropriately"), i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God's persuasion).

WWJD...HAVE us earnestly CONTEND for the system of teaching lock, stock and barrel.......that is exactly what he would have us do......and like the Apostles....to the death!

How about You?
How about me? I won't be following your darkness!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#7
I think it's good to discuss "theology" especially eschatology, otherwise I'd still be a blasted, deluded futurist..:cool:
How does eschatology bring you or us to the Light?
 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#8
How about we do what Paul exhorted THE BODY of believers to do
 
Apr 23, 2017
1,064
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#9
without all the drama and arguing this forum would be dull and boring............... this is more entertaining
 

Zen

Senior Member
Sep 11, 2015
752
16
18
#10
If you're here for frivolous amusement, get out!
I agree. But I'd also add:

If you're here to treat Christians like garbage because you don't agree with them, you get out too.
 
Mar 23, 2016
6,732
1,630
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#11
without all the drama and arguing this forum would be dull and boring............... this is more entertaining
Really?

How would anyone know whether it would be "dull and boring"? Has there ever been a time when there was nothing but love, praise, worship toward God, where all were likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus and where all glorified God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one mouth (Rom 15:5,6)?

When we live on new heaven / new earth, do you think it'll be "dull and boring".
 

Locutus

Senior Member
Feb 10, 2017
5,928
685
113
#12
How does eschatology bring you or us to the Light?
In a way it can bring people who ain't close to the light to the light by sorting out all the bogus doctrines promoted by "futurism" and actually make sense of the bible rather than an unbelievable confused mess.

God is not the author of confusion.
 
Dec 9, 2011
13,703
1,715
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#13
This is the dividing line for our entire lives.

Skip all the "iron sharpens iron." Skip all the "I have to teach them." Skip eschatology, works v. grace, homosexuality, righteousness, tithing, Sabbath, "I've got to fix them in the name of the Lord." Skip all the excuses endlessly parading on this forum to talk about God without worrying about listening to God. This is the dividing line!

From Spurgeon.

“And God divided the light from the darkness.”
Gen 1:4

A believer has two principles at work within him. In his natural estate he was subject to one principle only, which was darkness; now light has entered, and the two principles disagree. Mark the apostle Paul’s words in the seventh chapter of Romans: “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.” How is this state of things occasioned? “The Lord divided the light from the darkness.” Darkness, by itself, is quiet and undisturbed, but when the Lord sends in light, there is a conflict, for the one is in opposition to the other: a conflict which will never cease till the believer is altogether light in the Lord. If there be a division within the individual Christian, there is certain to be a division without. So soon as the Lord gives to any man light, he proceeds to separate himself from the darkness around; he secedes from a merely worldly religion of outward ceremonial, for nothing short of the gospel of Christ will now satisfy him, and he withdraws himself from worldly society and frivolous amusements, and seeks the company of the saints, for “We know we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” The light gathers to itself, and the darkness to itself. What God has divided, let us never try to unite, but as Christ went without the camp, bearing his reproach, so let us come out from the ungodly, and be a peculiar people. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners; and, as he was, so we are to be nonconformists to the world, dissenting from all sin, and distinguished from the rest of mankind by our likeness to our Master.


So, what are we going to do about that dividing line? Because it comes in two ways.
1. Is the Light winning the battle for my life or am I letting the darkness lead?
2. Am I trusting the Light in another person, or am I following the darkness of the other?

Just because we say we're Christian, doesn't mean we are. Just because we argue some point about the Bible does not mean we're following the Light. We are capable of following the darkness even still.

WWJD? Did Jesus spend his time arguing grace versus works? Did he spend his time arguing over how the world would end? Did he spend his time arguing the question of homosexuality? Did he spend his time arguing creationism over evolution? Did he spend his time arguing reformed versus Wesleyism? Did he spend his time arguing Phariseeism? What does Jesus do?

He had one focus! The Light and the glory of that Light!

So how about giving up on arguing anything and come to the Light? Within our members. And within the members!

Even if you are on the winning side of your argument, but there is no light, it is merely the brass ring on a merry-go-round! It's never time to seek the brass ring. It is always time to seek the Light!

If you're here for frivolous amusement, get out! This is a place to learn about the Light and enjoy the Light with others seeking the Light. Not a place to foster the darkness!

This is a blackout-free zone! And the only way that happens is when we fill it with the Light!
Thanks depleted.Excellent.
+++
Ephesians 4:11-14
King James Version

11.)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12.)For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13.)Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14.)That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
 

miknik5

Senior Member
Jun 2, 2016
7,833
588
113
#14
Thanks depleted.Excellent.
+++
Ephesians 4:11-14
King James Version

11.)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12.)For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13.)Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14.)That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
That's EXACTLY what I was referring to

even John said to bring all our works into the light to see what is wrought in GOD
 
Apr 23, 2017
1,064
47
0
#15

Really?

How would anyone know whether it would be "dull and boring"? Has there ever been a time when there was nothing but love, praise, worship toward God, where all were likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus and where all glorified God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and one mouth (Rom 15:5,6)?

When we live on new heaven / new earth, do you think it'll be "dull and boring".
nah its never been like that even the disciples argued among themselves in the bible............. barbabas and paul if i remember right also in acts 15.......... but i dont think it will be boring in the new heaven and earth because we will have spiritual bodies so we dont have any carnality like fighting and fussin anymore u see.....
 
Dec 9, 2011
13,703
1,715
113
#16
That's EXACTLY what I was referring to

even John said to bring all our works into the light to see what is wrought in GOD
The Bible Discussion Forum IS a place for discussing but the flesh can be proud,I remember where apostle Paul said,by the mercies of GOD present yourself a living sacrifice ,which Is reasonable and don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of the mind so that you might prove that good and acceptable and perfect will of GOD.
+++
The only thing Is when It comes to a living sacrifice,the flesh keeps crawling off the alter.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#17
How about we do what Paul exhorted THE BODY of believers to do
For what purpose? If it's just because, it's useless. If it's for the Light, yup!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#18
I agree. But I'd also add:

If you're here to treat Christians like garbage because you don't agree with them, you get out too.
Well, that one is covered under "ban." :)
 
S

sevenseas

Guest
#19
I got what you are writing. what I don't get, is why some think this is not true or appropraite.

I mean honestly, it's like some WANT to be offended

this would make a good discussion if those who lack comprehension would just sit the hay back and maybe learn something

maybe understanding that scripture speaks for itself and God is really not as worried about being misunderstood as some seem to think He is would help.

I have my aluminum cap on so it's all good
 
S

sevenseas

Guest
#20
one of my all time favorite passages is


John 1King James Version (KJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

I never get tired of reading that. and thinking about it. it's so beautiful and speaks to what you are saying