Hebrews 6
- Thread starter DawnDe
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Romans 8~~ 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Life can't separate us. So don't look at your choices in life to separate you from His love. Can't be done.
Nor any created thing. So don't look at yourself to separate you from His love. Created things can't separate Him from you.
Nothing can separate you from His love.
The Holy Spirit is in the business of restoration. Satan is in the business of doubt, accusing and condemnation.
Life can't separate us. So don't look at your choices in life to separate you from His love. Can't be done.
Nor any created thing. So don't look at yourself to separate you from His love. Created things can't separate Him from you.
Nothing can separate you from His love.
The Holy Spirit is in the business of restoration. Satan is in the business of doubt, accusing and condemnation.
-
1
- Show all
Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh, sent to pay our sin debt, died, was buried, and rose to life on the 3rd day?
If yes to those questions then you are a Child of God. End of story.
If you committed the unpardonable sin you wouldn't care one tiny bit if you did. It wouldn't bother you at all.
Did the pharisees that apparently committed that sin even for a second think they sinned in that manner?
NO! They proceeded to plot, and successfully kill Him.
The Enemy constantly tries to get in our head and tell us such things. Because he hates us. He is a liar. And he wants to make us ineffective Christians because an effective Christian will bring others to Christ.
Your Heavenly Father LOVES YOU! His little girl. THAT, is what should fill your mind and heart.
Be Blessed and at ease. And Welcome!
If yes to those questions then you are a Child of God. End of story.
If you committed the unpardonable sin you wouldn't care one tiny bit if you did. It wouldn't bother you at all.
Did the pharisees that apparently committed that sin even for a second think they sinned in that manner?
NO! They proceeded to plot, and successfully kill Him.
The Enemy constantly tries to get in our head and tell us such things. Because he hates us. He is a liar. And he wants to make us ineffective Christians because an effective Christian will bring others to Christ.
Your Heavenly Father LOVES YOU! His little girl. THAT, is what should fill your mind and heart.
Be Blessed and at ease. And Welcome!
-
3
-
2
- Show all
She already has doubt despite what people have shared. All are right to encourage her that she need not doubt and share scripture as to why. It is still going to take the Spirit to take the 18 inch trip of this information to go from her head to her heart. Until such time, she will not have peace concerning the matter. So watching, waiting, and praying is appropriate.
-
1
- Show all
30 years in a back slidden state is a long time. here's the truth: depending on the severity of a sinful life you possibly led, you may not have been born again "for real" in the 1st place. being born again, always, is a 1 time deal. back sliding for a short while while still holding fast the profession of your faith & trust in Jesus, can occur but you never lose your salvation. only you know if you were truly born again 30 years ago. study these verses: Hebrews 11:6, John 3:5, 4:24, 1st John 5:10, 13, Romans 8:16, 10:9. a born again Christian is known by his or her action, more than words. when Christians sin, immediately, they will recognize the Holy Spirit's conviction or their own conviction & act on it then & correct it. if someone says he or she is born again & is committing WILLFUL sin, that's the all-tell sign that said person IS NOT born again. UNREPENTANT SIN IS NEVER PART OF A CHRISTIAN'S LIFE. the correction of sin in a born again person's life is always on top of the list. blessings to you.
-
1
- Show all
~
According to Eph 4:11-15, Christ supplies his own with God-given instructors.
But they have their limitations, i.e. there's only so much they can do other
than stuff people's heads with information.
No matter how competent; they cannot provide the Lord's followers with CC&R
to wit: Confidence, Conviction, & Reality. Those three benefits require the
assistance of something supernatural with just a bit more oomph than humanly
possible.
● 1John 2:26-28 . .These things I have written to you concerning those who
are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received
from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but
as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you: abide in him.
There are a number of armchair experts circulating the web insisting that
verse says they can get by okay self-taught, but no. The Lord's followers
need to take advantage of his God-given instructors in order to avoid the risk
of stunting their growth. And besides; it would be an insult to Christ's providence
to refuse; but the anointing takes the reins where the others cannot go, to wit:
the core of one's being.
_
According to Eph 4:11-15, Christ supplies his own with God-given instructors.
But they have their limitations, i.e. there's only so much they can do other
than stuff people's heads with information.
No matter how competent; they cannot provide the Lord's followers with CC&R
to wit: Confidence, Conviction, & Reality. Those three benefits require the
assistance of something supernatural with just a bit more oomph than humanly
possible.
● 1John 2:26-28 . .These things I have written to you concerning those who
are trying to deceive you. And as for you, the anointing which you received
from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but
as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you: abide in him.
There are a number of armchair experts circulating the web insisting that
verse says they can get by okay self-taught, but no. The Lord's followers
need to take advantage of his God-given instructors in order to avoid the risk
of stunting their growth. And besides; it would be an insult to Christ's providence
to refuse; but the anointing takes the reins where the others cannot go, to wit:
the core of one's being.
_
Most people read this text as if it said "For it is impossible for such a person to be brought to repentance " rather than "For it is impossible to bring to repentance such a person."
Let me illustrate the difference. A teacher asks his class,
"Is it possible to swallow a one metre long fish whole?" They would answer,
"No, it is impossible to swallow a one metre long fish whole."
He then asks,
"Is it possible for a one metre long fish to be swallowed whole?" They would answer,
"Yes. A much larger fish could swallow it whole."
Paul is the teacher wanting to move on to deeper spiritual teachings that the more mature saints can process, but in his class are also people who have had the elementary level doctrines explained to them, but have jettisoned them, and need to repent from their turning away. Paul knows that he cannot bring such people to repentance by repeating what they have already understood but have willfully abandoned. So he moves on to the weightier matters.
However, God is bigger than Paul, and He is able to work in the back-slider's life potentially to shepherd them back into the faith.
So, no. No one breathing is beyond the reach of God's mercy, if they will become willing to surrender to Him and submit to Jesus afresh.
Let me illustrate the difference. A teacher asks his class,
"Is it possible to swallow a one metre long fish whole?" They would answer,
"No, it is impossible to swallow a one metre long fish whole."
He then asks,
"Is it possible for a one metre long fish to be swallowed whole?" They would answer,
"Yes. A much larger fish could swallow it whole."
Paul is the teacher wanting to move on to deeper spiritual teachings that the more mature saints can process, but in his class are also people who have had the elementary level doctrines explained to them, but have jettisoned them, and need to repent from their turning away. Paul knows that he cannot bring such people to repentance by repeating what they have already understood but have willfully abandoned. So he moves on to the weightier matters.
However, God is bigger than Paul, and He is able to work in the back-slider's life potentially to shepherd them back into the faith.
So, no. No one breathing is beyond the reach of God's mercy, if they will become willing to surrender to Him and submit to Jesus afresh.
26¶For if we are sinning wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is remaining no more sacrifice for sins,
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
This is saying that as long as we are wilfully living in rebellion, the cross is of no effect as far as furnishing forgiveness for that wilful sinning. But if we repent from that wilful sinning and resubmit to the lordship of Christ, this text no longer applies to us. We are no longer wildully sinning, so the sacrifice for sins remains to redeem us.
Inadvertent sin is aitomatically covered by the sacrifice for sins.
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
This is saying that as long as we are wilfully living in rebellion, the cross is of no effect as far as furnishing forgiveness for that wilful sinning. But if we repent from that wilful sinning and resubmit to the lordship of Christ, this text no longer applies to us. We are no longer wildully sinning, so the sacrifice for sins remains to redeem us.
Inadvertent sin is aitomatically covered by the sacrifice for sins.
Most people read this text as if it said "For it is impossible for such a person to be brought to repentance " rather than "For it is impossible to bring to repentance such a person."
Let me illustrate the difference. A teacher asks his class,
"Is it possible to swallow a one metre long fish whole?" They would answer,
"No, it is impossible to swallow a one metre long fish whole."
He then asks,
"Is it possible for a one metre long fish to be swallowed whole?" They would answer,
"Yes. A much larger fish could swallow it whole."
Paul is the teacher wanting to move on to deeper spiritual teachings that the more mature saints can process, but in his class are also people who have had the elementary level doctrines explained to them, but have jettisoned them, and need to repent from their turning away. Paul knows that he cannot bring such people to repentance by repeating what they have already understood but have willfully abandoned. So he moves on to the weightier matters.
However, God is bigger than Paul, and He is able to work in the back-slider's life potentially to shepherd them back into the faith.
So, no. No one breathing is beyond the reach of God's mercy, if they will become willing to surrender to Him and submit to Jesus afresh
Let me illustrate the difference. A teacher asks his class,
"Is it possible to swallow a one metre long fish whole?" They would answer,
"No, it is impossible to swallow a one metre long fish whole."
He then asks,
"Is it possible for a one metre long fish to be swallowed whole?" They would answer,
"Yes. A much larger fish could swallow it whole."
Paul is the teacher wanting to move on to deeper spiritual teachings that the more mature saints can process, but in his class are also people who have had the elementary level doctrines explained to them, but have jettisoned them, and need to repent from their turning away. Paul knows that he cannot bring such people to repentance by repeating what they have already understood but have willfully abandoned. So he moves on to the weightier matters.
However, God is bigger than Paul, and He is able to work in the back-slider's life potentially to shepherd them back into the faith.
So, no. No one breathing is beyond the reach of God's mercy, if they will become willing to surrender to Him and submit to Jesus afresh
~
Well; I'm not surprised. Tara-Leigh's commentary isn't seminary-depth. It's
a casual journey thru the Bible similar in purpose to an old stand-by called
Our Daily Bread.
For the hard-core stuff, I'd recommend Thru The Bible (ttb.org) wherein its
now-deceased host covers every book, chapter, and verse in five years. The
whole shebang is catalogued online making it easy to rummage its contents
for specific information. Just click on PROGRAMS at the top of their page, or
follow my link.
Thru The Bible
_
Well; I'm not surprised. Tara-Leigh's commentary isn't seminary-depth. It's
a casual journey thru the Bible similar in purpose to an old stand-by called
Our Daily Bread.
For the hard-core stuff, I'd recommend Thru The Bible (ttb.org) wherein its
now-deceased host covers every book, chapter, and verse in five years. The
whole shebang is catalogued online making it easy to rummage its contents
for specific information. Just click on PROGRAMS at the top of their page, or
follow my link.
Thru The Bible
_
-
1
- Show all
~
Mankind's mortal enemy the Devil has the ability to tamper with the human
body and the human mind in ways not easily detected; e.g. Luke 13:16,
Mark 5:1-5, and Eph 2:2.
However, there are moments of spiritual clarity given us so that we can make
decisions about the things of Christ on our own without mental interference
from the greatest of all sophists and deceivers.
For example: I was baptized an infant into the Roman Catholic Church; and
anon completed enough catechism to make it to First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.
So I knew about the crucifixion, but had somehow been led to believe that it
was due to unfortunate circumstances. In other words: I pitied Christ, but
beyond that I saw nothing practical in what he endured.
So I remained loyal to Rome's beliefs and practices 24 years until one day
back in 1968 a Protestant man asked me-- in so many words --whether I
knew that Christ died to atone for my sins. Well; I never once in all those 24
years had even so much as faintly considered that the cross might be to my
advantage until that man said so.
It was my first real moment of clarity and I could almost feel some sort of scum
being removed from the windows of my mind as I instantly realized that safety
from divine retribution was not only a distinct possibility but well within my grasp.
The thing is: I had not been told that God was thinking of me when His son
went to the cross for the sins of the world. I had assumed that he went to
the cross because of the sins of the world but had somehow never caught on
that he went for anybody in particular until that man talked with me; which
was really good news because at the time I had a lot to answer for.
I sincerely believe moments of clarity like that are not happenstance; no,
they are calculated so as to give people a fighting chance to do their own
thinking about Christ, viz: without assistance from a higher power, we would
remain forever shackled to the unseen world's manipulation.
_
Mankind's mortal enemy the Devil has the ability to tamper with the human
body and the human mind in ways not easily detected; e.g. Luke 13:16,
Mark 5:1-5, and Eph 2:2.
However, there are moments of spiritual clarity given us so that we can make
decisions about the things of Christ on our own without mental interference
from the greatest of all sophists and deceivers.
For example: I was baptized an infant into the Roman Catholic Church; and
anon completed enough catechism to make it to First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.
So I knew about the crucifixion, but had somehow been led to believe that it
was due to unfortunate circumstances. In other words: I pitied Christ, but
beyond that I saw nothing practical in what he endured.
So I remained loyal to Rome's beliefs and practices 24 years until one day
back in 1968 a Protestant man asked me-- in so many words --whether I
knew that Christ died to atone for my sins. Well; I never once in all those 24
years had even so much as faintly considered that the cross might be to my
advantage until that man said so.
It was my first real moment of clarity and I could almost feel some sort of scum
being removed from the windows of my mind as I instantly realized that safety
from divine retribution was not only a distinct possibility but well within my grasp.
The thing is: I had not been told that God was thinking of me when His son
went to the cross for the sins of the world. I had assumed that he went to
the cross because of the sins of the world but had somehow never caught on
that he went for anybody in particular until that man talked with me; which
was really good news because at the time I had a lot to answer for.
I sincerely believe moments of clarity like that are not happenstance; no,
they are calculated so as to give people a fighting chance to do their own
thinking about Christ, viz: without assistance from a higher power, we would
remain forever shackled to the unseen world's manipulation.
_
~
What I'm about to say next may seem a hoax to some folks but it's a matter
of public record published in a book based upon Mother Teresa's private
letters compiled by Brian Kolodiejchuk MC titled: Mother Teresa. Come Be
My Light. ISBN: 978-0-385-52037-9
Brian Kolodiejchuk wasn't Teresa's enemy. In point of fact he was a long
time friend, director of the Mother Teresa Center, and a Postulator in favor
of her canonization.
The thing is: for virtually the entire five decades Teresa was a missionary in
India, she felt not the slightest glimmer of the Lord's presence. It became so
persistent that in time she began referring to him as "the absent one" and she
even began wondering if there really is a God out there.
Some of Teresa's remarks are quite remarkable coming from someone so
recently sainted. For example:
"If there be God . . . please forgive me"
"I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness & coldness &
emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul."
"The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment
with the loss of God. In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I
feel that God does not want me, that God is not God; and that He does not
really exist."
"When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting
emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my
very soul. How painful is this unknown pain-- I have no faith."
"The place of God in my soul is blank-- There is no God in me-- when the
pain of longing is so great-- I just long & long for God-- and then it is that I
feel-- He does not want me-- He is not there-- God does not want me--
Sometimes-- I just hear my own heart cry out-- "My God" and nothing else
comes-- the torture and pain I can't explain"
So: was her experience normal? NO; of course not because Jesus promised
his own that he would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18) and the
Bible says that God's spirit is supposed to be on hand to prevent feelings of
abandonment. (Rom 8:16)
We're told it's possible to quench the Spirit. (1Thess 5:19) so I really have
to wonder what exactly Teresa could possibly have done that was so bad it
resulted in that quenching going on, and on, and on, for five decades. And
where was Jesus all that time? Why was her spiritual life that of an orphan?
In the final weeks of her life, Teresa became very agitated; so at the urging
of Henry D'Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta (a.k.a. Kolkata), the poor
woman finally agreed to an exorcism-- performed by Father Rosario Stroscio
--if perchance demons were clouding her mind.
NOTE: Ironically, though she was never really confident a God exists, Teresa
feared that if one did exist, it wouldn't like her, and might be quite disposed
to condemn her. In other words: the most illustrious nun the 20th century
produced departed this life at the age of 87 unsure of her afterlife
destination.
If someone out there reading this is experiencing a lengthy dark night of the
soul similar to Teresa's, I sincerely hope you know your spiritual condition is
in serious trouble; and that you consider seeking assistance now while there
is still time to do something about it.
_
What I'm about to say next may seem a hoax to some folks but it's a matter
of public record published in a book based upon Mother Teresa's private
letters compiled by Brian Kolodiejchuk MC titled: Mother Teresa. Come Be
My Light. ISBN: 978-0-385-52037-9
Brian Kolodiejchuk wasn't Teresa's enemy. In point of fact he was a long
time friend, director of the Mother Teresa Center, and a Postulator in favor
of her canonization.
The thing is: for virtually the entire five decades Teresa was a missionary in
India, she felt not the slightest glimmer of the Lord's presence. It became so
persistent that in time she began referring to him as "the absent one" and she
even began wondering if there really is a God out there.
Some of Teresa's remarks are quite remarkable coming from someone so
recently sainted. For example:
"If there be God . . . please forgive me"
"I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness & coldness &
emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul."
"The damned of Hell suffer eternal punishment because they experiment
with the loss of God. In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this loss. I
feel that God does not want me, that God is not God; and that He does not
really exist."
"When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven, there is such convicting
emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my
very soul. How painful is this unknown pain-- I have no faith."
"The place of God in my soul is blank-- There is no God in me-- when the
pain of longing is so great-- I just long & long for God-- and then it is that I
feel-- He does not want me-- He is not there-- God does not want me--
Sometimes-- I just hear my own heart cry out-- "My God" and nothing else
comes-- the torture and pain I can't explain"
So: was her experience normal? NO; of course not because Jesus promised
his own that he would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18) and the
Bible says that God's spirit is supposed to be on hand to prevent feelings of
abandonment. (Rom 8:16)
We're told it's possible to quench the Spirit. (1Thess 5:19) so I really have
to wonder what exactly Teresa could possibly have done that was so bad it
resulted in that quenching going on, and on, and on, for five decades. And
where was Jesus all that time? Why was her spiritual life that of an orphan?
In the final weeks of her life, Teresa became very agitated; so at the urging
of Henry D'Souza, the Archbishop of Calcutta (a.k.a. Kolkata), the poor
woman finally agreed to an exorcism-- performed by Father Rosario Stroscio
--if perchance demons were clouding her mind.
NOTE: Ironically, though she was never really confident a God exists, Teresa
feared that if one did exist, it wouldn't like her, and might be quite disposed
to condemn her. In other words: the most illustrious nun the 20th century
produced departed this life at the age of 87 unsure of her afterlife
destination.
If someone out there reading this is experiencing a lengthy dark night of the
soul similar to Teresa's, I sincerely hope you know your spiritual condition is
in serious trouble; and that you consider seeking assistance now while there
is still time to do something about it.
_
-
1
- Show all