Stupid things 'Christians' do
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R
Very good points here. The Word clearly demonstrates repentance in regards to the gospel in another verse, in Jesus own words:
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
Again, many fail to take Scripture in context. Jesus is saying to these people to turn from unbelief to believing the gospel(obeying the gospel is a call to believe-Rom 10:16) One must be careful to take the repentance verses in context. For we see various different groups in the Word who repent. God repents in Gen 6:6(also other examples), unbelievers are called to repent, there is also national repentance(ie: book of Jonah), a call for churches to repent(ie: Rev 2 church of Ephesus), and a call for believers to repent. The word "repent" does not always speak of sin!(ie: God repenting)
A good example showing the basic meaning of the word "repent".(repentance, Greek-metanoia) Depending on the context of Scripture, determines what the changing of one's mind means. The following verse demonstrates the son changed his mind from not wanting to go, to wanting to go work in the vineyard. Note he showed he had repented by actually going!
"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went." Matt 21:28-29
"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15
Again, many fail to take Scripture in context. Jesus is saying to these people to turn from unbelief to believing the gospel(obeying the gospel is a call to believe-Rom 10:16) One must be careful to take the repentance verses in context. For we see various different groups in the Word who repent. God repents in Gen 6:6(also other examples), unbelievers are called to repent, there is also national repentance(ie: book of Jonah), a call for churches to repent(ie: Rev 2 church of Ephesus), and a call for believers to repent. The word "repent" does not always speak of sin!(ie: God repenting)
A good example showing the basic meaning of the word "repent".(repentance, Greek-metanoia) Depending on the context of Scripture, determines what the changing of one's mind means. The following verse demonstrates the son changed his mind from not wanting to go, to wanting to go work in the vineyard. Note he showed he had repented by actually going!
"But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went." Matt 21:28-29
Amen!..God convinces us in our hearts to turn ( repent - change our mind toward ) to the gospel of the grace of Christ. To me it's a natural things...comes automatically when I hear the truth about Jesus and what He has done. The Holy Spirit is constantly granting us repentance that leads to life.
I repent on a constant basis just about every day as I learn more about the true nature of our good, loving Father and the great salvation in Jesus and His finished work for us.
Repentance is a wonderful blessing from our Lord!
I repent on a constant basis just about every day as I learn more about the true nature of our good, loving Father and the great salvation in Jesus and His finished work for us.
Repentance is a wonderful blessing from our Lord!
The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.
Gen 6:6
Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:14 W
When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.2
Sam 24:16
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;
1 Kings 8:47
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the Lord.
Isaiah 59:20 (NIV)
A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD
Isaiah 59:20 (NAS)
It is absurd to suggest the Lord repented in the same way repentance is used is both the old and new testament.
It is obvious from scripture the Lord changed strategies, but does not necessarily say why.
There are ample descriptions of repentence, admiting sin and asking for forgiveness.
To be blind to this is just to not read the old testament.
Gen 6:6
Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Exodus 32:14 W
When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.2
Sam 24:16
and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’;
1 Kings 8:47
"The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins," declares the Lord.
Isaiah 59:20 (NIV)
A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD
Isaiah 59:20 (NAS)
It is absurd to suggest the Lord repented in the same way repentance is used is both the old and new testament.
It is obvious from scripture the Lord changed strategies, but does not necessarily say why.
There are ample descriptions of repentence, admiting sin and asking for forgiveness.
To be blind to this is just to not read the old testament.
S
I agree. I don't think that the 'thought = action' process is so easily separated. Perhaps I am confused or just caught up in semantics, but I change my behavior by changing my mind. And I change my mind generally only as a result of conviction and then change behavior empowered by His Grace. Its basically 100% God in function. He convicts, He empowers. I submit my will.
I can muster some strength over my flesh. Some. I can exercise and lose weight or tone up. But something of the spirit, not so much. Right? God's Word and Holy Spirit both changes our thinking and empowers us to change behavior. "As a man thinketh..." The two seem utterly inseparable. I might [carefully!] suggest that we could draw an analogy that the 'tree' is our thinking and the 'fruit' are our resulting actions.
If I encounter you in France then I don't even need to ask if you changed your mind about going to Spain.
Of course, the same is true if I encounter you in Spain!
God bless!
I can muster some strength over my flesh. Some. I can exercise and lose weight or tone up. But something of the spirit, not so much. Right? God's Word and Holy Spirit both changes our thinking and empowers us to change behavior. "As a man thinketh..." The two seem utterly inseparable. I might [carefully!] suggest that we could draw an analogy that the 'tree' is our thinking and the 'fruit' are our resulting actions.
If I encounter you in France then I don't even need to ask if you changed your mind about going to Spain.
Of course, the same is true if I encounter you in Spain!
God bless!
Do you know how many times it's mentioned in the bible to not acknowledge sins to GOD? ZERO!
Do you know how many times it's mentioned in the bible that the apostle John ever wrote anything to unbelievers? ZERO!!
Do you know how many times the teaching that 1 John 1:9 was addressed to unbelieving gnostics has appeared in the 2000-year history before Joseph Prince started teaching it? ZERO!!!
The silence speaks loud.
If you think sin acknowledgement is evil, you have an evil faith.
Do you know how many times it's mentioned in the bible that the apostle John ever wrote anything to unbelievers? ZERO!!
Do you know how many times the teaching that 1 John 1:9 was addressed to unbelieving gnostics has appeared in the 2000-year history before Joseph Prince started teaching it? ZERO!!!
The silence speaks loud.
If you think sin acknowledgement is evil, you have an evil faith.
S
Hello HeRoseFromTheDead. Nobody challenges my long held beliefs the way some of your, if you will, 'outside the box' posts have done over the last year or so. Love it. Its invigorating and definitely "iron sharpening iron".
I appreciate the response. I was grouping the actions by what He does and what we do. Not necessarily chronologically.
Repent *AND* turn around??? My own bias read "change your mind [repent] and stop sinning [turn around]", but by your parenthesis suggest (to me anyway) that you are saying stop sinning and change my mind. Since these are so directly linked together I see no difference here. (Unless I am the only one seeing them as inseparable??)
However, I am confused about how I am able to change my mind and actions and THEN God empowers me??? If I am following you correctly, I have already changed both mind and behavior. What is God empowering me to do at that point?
Perhaps you are not listing the steps chronologically either? Merely including some omissions that I made? (ie conscience) Or correcting a perceived inaccurate chronological order?
Keep shining your unique light brother!
I appreciate the response. I was grouping the actions by what He does and what we do. Not necessarily chronologically.
Repent *AND* turn around??? My own bias read "change your mind [repent] and stop sinning [turn around]", but by your parenthesis suggest (to me anyway) that you are saying stop sinning and change my mind. Since these are so directly linked together I see no difference here. (Unless I am the only one seeing them as inseparable??)
However, I am confused about how I am able to change my mind and actions and THEN God empowers me??? If I am following you correctly, I have already changed both mind and behavior. What is God empowering me to do at that point?
Perhaps you are not listing the steps chronologically either? Merely including some omissions that I made? (ie conscience) Or correcting a perceived inaccurate chronological order?
Keep shining your unique light brother!
Yes I am definitely outside of the box. A fine compliment, I might say. A lot of times I'm just trying to figure out things for myself, and am just following my nose, so to speak. So thanks for your gracious feedback. It helps to ameliorate some of the pain.
Well I based my "turn around" comment on Acts 3:19.
The King James has 'be converted', but the word actually means turn around.
First we are convicted (by the spirit and our conscience), then we repent (change our minds by our will), then we turn around (by our will), then GOD gives us the ability to do his will through his spirit. When Peter said the above, the turn around part came before baptism and receiving the spirit.
The word δύναμις (dunamis) is almost always translated power, but it actually means ability. So, "you will receive ability [when] the Holy Spirit has come upon you".
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
Power, δύναμις (dunamis)
I hope I covered all of your questions.
A fine compliment, I might say. A lot of times I'm just trying to figure out things for myself, and am just following my nose, so to speak. So thanks for your gracious feedback. It helps to ameliorate some of the pain. Well I based my "turn around" comment on Acts 3:19.
Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be blotted out, Acts 3:19
The King James has 'be converted', but the word actually means turn around.
Convert
G1994 ἐπιστρέφω epistrepho (ep-ee-stref'-o) v.
1. to revert
G1994 ἐπιστρέφω epistrepho (ep-ee-stref'-o) v.
1. to revert
First we are convicted (by the spirit and our conscience), then we repent (change our minds by our will), then we turn around (by our will), then GOD gives us the ability to do his will through his spirit. When Peter said the above, the turn around part came before baptism and receiving the spirit.
But you will receive power (δύναμις) [when] the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest part of the earth. Acts 1:8
The word δύναμις (dunamis) is almost always translated power, but it actually means ability. So, "you will receive ability [when] the Holy Spirit has come upon you".
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
Power, δύναμις (dunamis)
Words of this stem all have the basic sense of ability or capability. dýnamai means a. “to be able” in a general sense, b. “to be able” with reference to the attitude that makes one able, hence sometimes “to will,” and c. (of things) “to be equivalent to,” “to count as,” “to signify.” dynatós means “one who has ability or power,” “one who is powerful”; the neuter adjective signifies “what is possible or practicable.” dynatéō means “to have great ability.” adýnatos means “one who has no ability or strength”; the noun tó adýnaton signifies “impossibility” and adýnatón esti “to be impossible.” adynatéō means “not to be able.” dýnamis, the most important word in the group, means “ability,” then “possibility,” then “power” both physical and intellectual or spiritual. dýnastēs has the sense of “one who can do something” and was early used for “ruler” (including God as ruler). dynamóō and endynamóō both mean “to give power,” “to make strong,” “to strengthen.”
I hope I covered all of your questions.
S
Hello ForthAngel. Love the MacArthur quote. It reminds of another one I heard a long time ago... "its not the things in the Bible that I DON'T understand that bother me!" I think it was from Mark Twain?
Let me relay some direct person experience I have with the 'Tilton thing'. I made mention elsewhere of my mother including her belief in some of the WoF/charismatic beliefs, at least early, that she had. In the early 80s, I moved from Houston to a subburb directly connected to Farmers Branch Texas where Tilton had his big building. Use to drive by it daily. Up in Carrollton, he had rented some old unused grain elevators and plastered a huge advertisement on it to be seen from the interstate. When my mom heard where I was moving, she got excited and told me about Tilton. So I checked him out. End of story.
I worked with some Christians who I later learned got married in his church. I use to refer to them as "Tiltonites'. It was all in good fun because this was after they had left his church.
So I have some rather direct experience with this guy from a 'Christian perspective'. I was in Dallas and watched the humiliating chain of events as a well known 'heretic hunter' took him down.
I reconnected with an old high school friend in the Houston area about 15 years ago. Old motocross riding buddy from back in the day. I try to evangelize him but not only is he not interested, he gets angry, and when drunk, blasphemes and often cusses me directly. I no longer expose my light to his darkness. But sadly, that took too long.
Now the story he tells me is about two of his friends. I actually met them and sort of know them too. Unbelieving blasphemers. And they are always playing jokes on one another. So the one guy sends in like $20 to Tilton's ministry but gives them his buddy's address. Which starts to fill up with mailings. One included a prayer cloth. But he had that one sent to him. So the next time they are at the track, the one guy walks up right before the start and ties the prayer cloth onto the other guy's handlebar crossbar and tells him [mockingly of course] "this should protect you during the race". Complete and utter mocking. Which, well, Tilton opens up with his 'make a vow' nonsense. This went on decades ago even though I only heard of it fairly recently.
Gosh, recalling all this too reminds of my ex-wife. She use to tell me that when she was growing up that one of her favorite things to do was to get the mail. So I let her do that. But we were getting an awful lot of mail from Tilton during the late 80s. One day I felt strongly to open the mail from him. I opened something that looked like an invoice. And I saw where my ex-wife had pledged, increments, over $5000 to this guy and had already, unbeknown to me, paid off about $500 worth of it. I was then led into the scriptures to find if a husband disavowed a wife's vow before sundown, it would be cancelled. I sat on the front porch and waited. And waited. Mere minutes before sundown she arrives. I'm running across the front yard hollering "I disavow this promise". She's like "whaaaa?". So I ask her whats up? And she said she was wanting $50,000 so her father could rebuild his house that had burned down. Can't hate that reason. Her daddy was a good man. He never failed to stop and help a stranded motorist or anything that. But this, I explained to her, was NOT the way to go about it. Had let her handle the checkbook up to that point.
So while the mainstream media often spends more time glorifying the murders rather than memorializing the victims and perhaps some folks might find these videos as a means to mock Christ and Christians, I have to agree with HeRoseFromTheDead that there is a purpose to this thread. Those dirt bikes guy don't distinguish between the local solid preacher where you are, the Pope, radical muslims, these guys and all the rest. They just say "all the world's problems come from religion". And it is a lot of this kind of goofiness that brings such on.
Admitting that he gets/got messages from Satan might be the most honest thing he ever said?!
Let me relay some direct person experience I have with the 'Tilton thing'. I made mention elsewhere of my mother including her belief in some of the WoF/charismatic beliefs, at least early, that she had. In the early 80s, I moved from Houston to a subburb directly connected to Farmers Branch Texas where Tilton had his big building. Use to drive by it daily. Up in Carrollton, he had rented some old unused grain elevators and plastered a huge advertisement on it to be seen from the interstate. When my mom heard where I was moving, she got excited and told me about Tilton. So I checked him out. End of story.
I worked with some Christians who I later learned got married in his church. I use to refer to them as "Tiltonites'. It was all in good fun because this was after they had left his church.
So I have some rather direct experience with this guy from a 'Christian perspective'. I was in Dallas and watched the humiliating chain of events as a well known 'heretic hunter' took him down.
I reconnected with an old high school friend in the Houston area about 15 years ago. Old motocross riding buddy from back in the day. I try to evangelize him but not only is he not interested, he gets angry, and when drunk, blasphemes and often cusses me directly. I no longer expose my light to his darkness. But sadly, that took too long.
Now the story he tells me is about two of his friends. I actually met them and sort of know them too. Unbelieving blasphemers. And they are always playing jokes on one another. So the one guy sends in like $20 to Tilton's ministry but gives them his buddy's address. Which starts to fill up with mailings. One included a prayer cloth. But he had that one sent to him. So the next time they are at the track, the one guy walks up right before the start and ties the prayer cloth onto the other guy's handlebar crossbar and tells him [mockingly of course] "this should protect you during the race". Complete and utter mocking. Which, well, Tilton opens up with his 'make a vow' nonsense. This went on decades ago even though I only heard of it fairly recently.
Gosh, recalling all this too reminds of my ex-wife. She use to tell me that when she was growing up that one of her favorite things to do was to get the mail. So I let her do that. But we were getting an awful lot of mail from Tilton during the late 80s. One day I felt strongly to open the mail from him. I opened something that looked like an invoice. And I saw where my ex-wife had pledged, increments, over $5000 to this guy and had already, unbeknown to me, paid off about $500 worth of it. I was then led into the scriptures to find if a husband disavowed a wife's vow before sundown, it would be cancelled. I sat on the front porch and waited. And waited. Mere minutes before sundown she arrives. I'm running across the front yard hollering "I disavow this promise". She's like "whaaaa?". So I ask her whats up? And she said she was wanting $50,000 so her father could rebuild his house that had burned down. Can't hate that reason. Her daddy was a good man. He never failed to stop and help a stranded motorist or anything that. But this, I explained to her, was NOT the way to go about it. Had let her handle the checkbook up to that point.
So while the mainstream media often spends more time glorifying the murders rather than memorializing the victims and perhaps some folks might find these videos as a means to mock Christ and Christians, I have to agree with HeRoseFromTheDead that there is a purpose to this thread. Those dirt bikes guy don't distinguish between the local solid preacher where you are, the Pope, radical muslims, these guys and all the rest. They just say "all the world's problems come from religion". And it is a lot of this kind of goofiness that brings such on.
Admitting that he gets/got messages from Satan might be the most honest thing he ever said?!
Philippians 3
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [SUP]18 [/SUP]For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. [SUP]20 [/SUP]But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [SUP]21 [/SUP]who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. [SUP]18 [/SUP]For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. [SUP]19 [/SUP]Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. [SUP]20 [/SUP]But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [SUP]21 [/SUP]who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.