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what wretched snobbery. "then, and only then".
who is really claiming to have the backstage pass?
funny how it's always a slight put down of the God-breathed scriptures.
that way i can say i have a subjectively more intimate relationship with Jesus than anyone else.
okey dokey.
like anyone knows anyone else's relationship to Christ.
hahaha.
who is really claiming to have the backstage pass?
funny how it's always a slight put down of the God-breathed scriptures.
that way i can say i have a subjectively more intimate relationship with Jesus than anyone else.
okey dokey.
like anyone knows anyone else's relationship to Christ.
hahaha.
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C
As I was pondering this whole thing, I remembered the relationship between myself and my little brother as we both attended school together. We played sports together, traveled together, hung out with the same group of friends, had the same taste in clothes music & sports, etc. We were so close that we new exactly how the other would respond to a situation and finish each other's sentences. In fact, friends and family hated to compete against us in sports or even card games because we knew exactly what the other would do without saying a word to the other thus giving us a huge advantage.
As I read scripture teaching us the why and how we are to "put on the new man (which is Christ)", I have no problem what so ever understanding the concept and it's effects on our lives because I know what it means to be so close to someone.
"Abiding in Christ" means much more than just spending time or hanging out with someone. The bible is packed with language that equates the relationship Christ desires to have with us as a marriage, often times referring to Christ as the bridegroom and the church as His bride. Christ already knows the inner most details of our hearts & lives because nothing is hidden from God. However, it appears that very few dare to get close enough to Christ to know the intimate details of His heart. What bride, head over heals in love with her husband, doesn't remember the anniversary of their first date, their first kiss, etc. Could it be that the call to be the bride of Christ is more than a call to just get acquainted?
I will be the first to admit that there was a time in my walk with the Lord when I became content with just spending time with Christ. However, looking back it was obvious to me that the relationship that I had with Christ during that time was no more significant than the relationship that I had with a fellow coworker. Sure I went to church every Sunday and Wednesday, I spent time reading the word and in prayer daily however, to be completely honest, my heart was elsewhere.
Praise God that He is faithful to finish the work He has started and snapped me out of my slumber however, I can help but wonder how many other Christians are in "cruise control" and if this is the cause of all the damage that the "Church" has caused in my area.
It is my sincere hope & prayer that if the Lord convicts the heart of anyone reading this, that you don't waste time beating yourself up. Rather, run to God for He is faithful to forgive those willing to humble themselves and repent. After all, restored fellowship with God is the entire reason Christ went to the cross in the first place.
As I read scripture teaching us the why and how we are to "put on the new man (which is Christ)", I have no problem what so ever understanding the concept and it's effects on our lives because I know what it means to be so close to someone.
"Abiding in Christ" means much more than just spending time or hanging out with someone. The bible is packed with language that equates the relationship Christ desires to have with us as a marriage, often times referring to Christ as the bridegroom and the church as His bride. Christ already knows the inner most details of our hearts & lives because nothing is hidden from God. However, it appears that very few dare to get close enough to Christ to know the intimate details of His heart. What bride, head over heals in love with her husband, doesn't remember the anniversary of their first date, their first kiss, etc. Could it be that the call to be the bride of Christ is more than a call to just get acquainted?
I will be the first to admit that there was a time in my walk with the Lord when I became content with just spending time with Christ. However, looking back it was obvious to me that the relationship that I had with Christ during that time was no more significant than the relationship that I had with a fellow coworker. Sure I went to church every Sunday and Wednesday, I spent time reading the word and in prayer daily however, to be completely honest, my heart was elsewhere.
Praise God that He is faithful to finish the work He has started and snapped me out of my slumber however, I can help but wonder how many other Christians are in "cruise control" and if this is the cause of all the damage that the "Church" has caused in my area.
It is my sincere hope & prayer that if the Lord convicts the heart of anyone reading this, that you don't waste time beating yourself up. Rather, run to God for He is faithful to forgive those willing to humble themselves and repent. After all, restored fellowship with God is the entire reason Christ went to the cross in the first place.
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The problem is not keeping those in the church saved. The problem is that there are many in the church who are NOT saved, and never were. When I say church, I am talking about congregations of believers, not Christ's Church, because no one will enter Christ's Church without being saved.
Many church congregations are overly concerned with increasing their numbers, and have forgotten the importance of the cross. As such, they preach a message to unbelievers which is unbalanced and diminishes the power of the gospel to bring about salvation. While preaching God's love and willingness to forgive sins, they neglect the "weightier things of the Law", and need for repentance. Many people enter congregations not having been taught that they must forsake their former life of sin, and become a new person in Christ. Their true love continues to be the world and worldly things. They are the tares which are spoken of in the parable.
Many church congregations are overly concerned with increasing their numbers, and have forgotten the importance of the cross. As such, they preach a message to unbelievers which is unbalanced and diminishes the power of the gospel to bring about salvation. While preaching God's love and willingness to forgive sins, they neglect the "weightier things of the Law", and need for repentance. Many people enter congregations not having been taught that they must forsake their former life of sin, and become a new person in Christ. Their true love continues to be the world and worldly things. They are the tares which are spoken of in the parable.
Well he is not a friend to me, i remember how he spoke of a person being closer than a brother..... i don't know what i would call him because my words cannot describe how deeply my heart loves him. I only know him because he revealed himself to me so saying i know him doesn't feel right either because while he may have revealed his heart to me but i know there is so much more of him i want to know too. So all in all i don't know him near enough
Actually, I have stopped there many times. It is just a good spot to stop and view the mountains and valley along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I don't believe in purgatory. Are you saying that I need to change my Avatar
i have some sins that need to be taken care of.
i hope my family has tons of money.
davester...if yer done with it, i'll take it
i have some sins that need to be taken care of.
i hope my family has tons of money.
i have some sins that need to be taken care of.
i hope my family has tons of money.
However, becoming saved DOES mean to repent of our old lives, forsake them, and take on Christ, become a bond slave to Him, and to try to do His will. We will continue to fall into sin, for we are unable to reach perfection in this life.
Surely you would not advocate that someone who is committing adultery can continue in that lifestyle after becoming a Christian?
The only thing that I am advocating is that we experience godly repentance, and have a desire to serve God and forsake our sins. I understand that sanctification is a lifelong process and no one reaches perfection. Jesus said that there is no one that is good except God, and that includes Christians without the blood of Christ covering their sins. But, unless we understand our need for a Savior, we can never accept and truly be thankful for what He has done for us.
We, as Christians, are not under the Law. But those who have never accepted Christ are.
Are you saying that repentance is unnecessary?
Paul would disagree, (Acts 20:21); as would Jesus, (Mat. 9:13, 4:17, Luke 13:3-5).
It is common for many to exclaim in our culture that there is no difference between the way a Christian acts and the way the unbeliever acts. How can this be so when we are made new in Christ?
If you are saying that all that we have to do is believe in Christ, claim to accept Him, and continue to live as we did before, then I must vehemently oppose such a view. Many people coming into church congregations today believe just that. I truly believe that the power of salvation is such that we are forever changed, not completely forsaking sin because of our sinful nature, but seeking always to do the will of Christ, who's spirit now resides within us.
