Something about prophets, that is true for every person who loves the Lord and seeks to please Him; all of us will at times be asked to do things we are unwilling to do, things that take us out of our comfort zone, things that stretch our imagination.
We have entered into an agreement with the living God of all, to obey His voice.
THIS IS THE LAW.
This is the ERROR of all false prophets.
You think you are in a COVENANT OF OBEDIENCE WITH GOD?
You believe that you are PLEASING GOD BY YOUR OBEDIENCE WITHIN A COVENANT OF WORKS.
And just as the Sporit spoke to the apostles and the elders,'telling them to go someplace they were not, and speak the words of life to someone they did not know, so He will have servants who will obey His voice again, as we enter into these last days.
4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
and why did Israel fail to obtain what it was seeking?
Romans 10
1 Brothers,a my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.b
Every person in error thinks they are pleasing God by what THEY are DOING.
This teaching of yours is nothing more than LAW with Christ's Name attached.
We are saved
by Grace through Faith, both GIFTS.
How come you're the only person on the earth that understands these "mystery "requirements"? Is this some super special hidden kind of faith?
God's heart is that none should perish, but that all come to the knowledge of the truth. Yet we know that most will not hear. What we have not understood is why they will not and cannot hear the truth.
Yes, we who KNOW Christ and His Word KNOW why they CAN NOT HEAR.
God's heart is that NONE should perish?
Isn't God powerful enough to save EVERYONE if that was His Plan?
Where did you learn that? (A misreading of Pete r- who was speaking
to the ELECT jews)
Paul said an amazing thing once. He said that he wanted to go where the name of Jesus had never been heard. The reason he felt this way is the reason most cannot hear. Here is that reason;
Chapter & verse please.
Jesus did all of His works, the works that the Father had given Him to accomplish, in the nation of Israel. And the most significant work, laying down His life so He could take it up again, He did in Jerusalem, during a religious feast that brought most Jews to the temple in Jerusalem. Jews were already spread throughout the known world at this time,'so when they went home, they naturally talked about Jesus and the things He did. But they spoke from the knowledge of the natural man, things seen and heard with the senses, understood with the mind. Jesus was a very well known name throughout the Roman empire within a few years of His resurrection. Yet, the knowledge of His works and His resurrection didnot work salvation in most of those who heard. Indeed,'this knowledge had the opposite effect,and even made them particularly resistant to the words of the gospel. This was especially true for the Jews, who has been schooled in the Law and the prophets.
WHAT? if unregenerate men didn't understand, it's because they were unregenerate.
the men who heard and BELIEVED at Pentecost went out and carried the Gospel to the nations they came from. Don't you know that? Don't you know that's what the miracle of the LANGUAGES WAS? Or did you think it was gibberish?
Acts 2
The Coming of the Holy Spirit 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and resteda on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.b 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
AND THE RESULT?38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Fellowship of the Believers 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awed came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 13:48
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
It took me a long time to understand this, to see how this could be. At first, I did not want to see, and then the consequences as I begin to understand were overwhelming in their enormity. However, God's wisdom cannot be denied, not with impunity. I will try to explain, but it is difficult to pit into words.
It shouldn't be: the gospel message and Christ's saving ability are powerful enough to save a child who has faith in Him.
There is more than one kind of faith. We see this in the children of Israel when they were in bondage. They cried to God to deliver them from their slavery. God sent them a prophet. (Any here not believe that Moses was a prophet?) and yet, at every turn, the people complained, about Moses, and the things that happened to them, and about God's plan to deliver them. They had faith in God, but we cannot call it saving faith. And we know that they all died without receiving the promise, for only one reason. They hardened their hearts against the voice of God.
And, as expected, here we are back at Moses (and the prophets).
And a COMPLETE misrepresentation of what faith and Grace are, and who entered the Promised Land and who did not and why.
Moses, on the other hand, had another kind of faith. I call this kind of faith the faith of the prophet. Moses was just like the rest of the people, until that day at the burning bush. There his faith in God was confronted with a reality that was beyond his comprehension. Moses now believed in the God he had seen and heard and spoken to. He was profoundly changed by this encounter with God. Therefore, Moses cannot take any credit for his faith, and he never did. He heard the voice of the Lord until the end of his days.
There is yet another kind of faith, that which we see in David. To David, God was everything. There was no more pecious thing in David's heart than God. And for this reason, God called David a man after His own heart.
But now, Jesus is raised from the dead. If one confesses Him as Lord, and believes in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead, that one shall be saved. But what kind of faith is this, that one believes in their heart? Is it faith like the children had in the wilderness? No, because God swore in His anger that they would never enter His rest. Doesn't sound like He was pleased with them.And we can believe that if He is not pleased with us that we will not enter His rest either, we will die in the wilderness just as they did.
So, what is the faith that pleases God, that brings one from death into life, from darkness into the kingdom of God's own Son?
I guess we need the prophet's kind of faith.
And apparently that's very rarely handed out.
It appears to have something to do with being in a COVENANT OF WORKS.
When will you ever know if YOU have done enough to please God?
Matthew 3:17
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
[/quote]
Is it the faith of the Jews of His day, who still believed in God, and knew His written word, but when the Son came, they rejected Him because He was just like them, only spoke differently so that they could not receive His words? [/quote]
What? reprobate rejecting jews "faith" is compared to Christian faith?
Oh....this is about people who actually believe and love and study God's written testimony of Jesus, right?
[/quote]
Is it
the faith of the scribes and the Pharisees, who knew the Law and the prophets, but when Jesus came to them speaking the truth, tried again and again to stone Him, and then delivered Him up to death at the hands of their oppressors?[/quote]
The "faith" of the vipers and serpents, the enemies of Jesus is compared to Christian faith?
[/quote]
Is it the faith of most of those in the assemblies, who have read and studied the word, but have never heard the voice of the Son, because He has finished speaking, and we have the whole consoul of God in written form?[/quote]
YES. THIS IS MY FAITH. The same faith that has sustained Christ's Church since he laid the foundation. The faith delivered ONCE for all.
I read and study the Word AND I hear my Shepherd's voice and i know Him. He NEVER finishes speaking through His Word. He is alive, and true believers commune with Him and each other.
The only trouble this theory of yours is,
the completed Word and the Holy Spirit provide EVERYTHING any believer needs.
Which is EXACTLY why we don't need PROPHETS today.
Ands that's what this is all about.
[/quote]
The faith which saves, which Paul wanted to see growing in those je preached to is that which says God is our Father, and I know that He wants me to draw near to Him in love for Him, so much that He sent Jesus to make the way for this
possible. This faith does not raise man to heaven,
nor does it bring God down to earth, but rather it brings together a great God with His children.[/quote]
Jesus Christ
reconciled us to God.
But for you, salvation is only maybe POSSIBLE, IF you are obedient in your agreement (covenant of works). But you will say it is about LOVE. IF we LOVE Him enough to stop thinking His Word and The Holy Spirit are sufficient.
We need a different kind of faith.
One the Bible NEVER MENTIONS: "faith of the prophets".
BUT: this "faith of the prophets" does indeed bring God down to earth. For apparently He is no longer able to sustain the church He purchased with His Blood and intercedes for moment by moment as he has for 1900+ years: He NOW needs to speak through the lips of prophets TODAY.
And He has apparently changed his mind about His Church. So much so, HE WILL NOT EVEN HEAR HER PRAYERS.
I hate your assemblies. I loath your offerings. I despise your service. Your prayers I do not hear
All this to say that the words I speak in His name are for one reason, one reason alone. God loves you all, and He wants you as His children, children who know Him and love Him.
If you cannot see that, then maybe you have the wrong kind of faith.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Perhaps we should rewrite God's Word then, for it declares that He does the saving, by Grace, through faith, and that the faith comes from Him, even unto salvation.
And that Christ is FULLY able to save to uttermost those who place their trust in HIM.
Romans 8
Life in the Spirit 1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
http://esv.scripturetext.com/romans/8.htm
Who are you to condemn those who are in Christ Jesus?