Oh and good luck with that? For noone has ever pleased God in the flesh, but Christ Jesus alone
Without the resurrected Christ, we are still in our sins, and Christ is risen for us here and now in Spirit and truth only[/QUOTE No one has ever pleased God in the flesh , but if you take out the word "flesh" yes then many have pleased God.Which is true. I have thought about this ,like you, alot. Many things have gone through my mind, Maybe its like a spiritual turrets syndrome, I mean the way we jerk and change context and the train of though. May be we have people here who just are still spiritually illiterate and will grow. Iv" thought about not all being the same member , The eye can not say to the hand ' I have no need of you". Sometimes It makes me feel like I want to never listen to this rehashed, same old,Prideful,contentious ect. stuff any more . And there are a few other topics. One seems to be lately the Sabbath,The thread can be on"Jesus wept" and some how the seven day sabbath comes out of it. Then how the Sabbath really is not the first day of the week , then a hundred ways to divide the law up to prove a point," oh thats really not the law, no the law stops here, oh that a civil law ,no its only the ten commandments, I feel I know the scripture moderately well, But after reading what's being said my mind fill with confusion and contention and probably some other "quenching the Spirit" type thoughts, all to my own doing, You get my point, it is ridiculous.Some of us are young in Jesus ,some older, Some or all with some pre christian personal baggage. "Knowledge puffs up but love edifies"Why do I or we insist upon proving our doctrine and ourselves always right? We might say oh we have to speak the truth, or Thats just wrong and might send some one down the wrong path,Did you ever meet people who have to constantly make drama ,to start a division even when there is not one, Do they have to much spare time or what? Maybe this time should be spent in ministering to others, the poor ,Or really studying the scripture as some thing new, asking God for new insight that we did not have before. Sometimes I think people here think it's their ministry to cause these divisive contentions. We would be better of having a few mistakes that God will reveal , Than to "sow discord among the brethren".And where does it fit in where bro Paul says we know the idol nothing and can eat the meat offered to it with a clear conscience but then goes on to discuss a weaker brother,who because of his weaker conscience would be embolden to sin because of our fuller understanding?Will we be all things to all men that we might save some, would we never eat meat again so that some one else doesn't perish ,because of my "knowledge?" Conscience ,yes but not your own but of the weaker person.That takes place here every day.Some one is offended. Many are not receiving Jesus.Many go away confused when looking for love and support.I should stop and let other talk pray for me . My health is about at it's end. God bless