Effective faith

I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that so many on this forum devote to pointless and fruitless discussion. I confess to getting caught up in some discussions, mostly because I am concerned that some might be misled or overly troubled by some of the posts. The Lord reminded me of this passage this morning:
Philemon 1:6
"I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ." Amplified

"Sharing" in this sense has to do with fellowship. So if Christians want to be a blessing to others, they need to know "every good thing" that is ours in Christ. Arguments about evolution, flat earth, the Antichrist, rapture, tribulation, dispensations are hardly "good things that are ours in Christ".

Obviously people are free to discuss whatever they like within forum rules. I just hope that some will take God's word to heart and focus on who we are in Christ and who Christ is in us.

People like arguing the most.

I enjoy Philemon 1:6 and it always takes me back to Philippians 1:6 as well to Luke 22:26, knowing that it is God that does the good work in each believer until they too have the testimony of Jesus Christ confirmed in them as well, (1 Cor 1:6, Rev. 19:10). God's work in each of His own teaches us patience in being as the younger, knowing as His work manifested in us will also manifest in all that seek him and why I also enjoy Paul's exhortation and admonishment in Philippians 2:1-4 and Ephesians 4:13-15.

How do you personally focus on who you are in Christ ------and who Christ is in you ?

“I am amazed at the amount of time and energy that so many on this forum devote to pointless and fruitless discussion”

are you aware it’s a Bible discussion forum ?

“I just hope that some will take God's word to heart and focus on who we are in Christ and who Christ is in us.”

thats why people discuss the Bible and want to understand it we have to hear first and understand then can believe and walk it out

a you should find the scriptures out what your saying there present them and start a discussion maybe someone will hear and benefit and move towards that

I'm afraid your question can't be explained in one or two words.

What I have observed and found is that Christians can't make a distinction between not love the world and God so love the world.

People either hate the world and everyone else, or they still don't get it.

Christians tend to overestimate their identity , but actually do and say the same things as unbelievers in the world.

Think about how Jesus treats sinners.
Jesus was gentle with sinners and He did not face the sinners as a judge.
Yet many Christians are already on the bench to judge the world and someone else, which is not the right thing to do at this time.
One should not preach the Gospel and at the same time condemn and judge people.

Luke
5:22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

I don't think most Christians really understand what that means.

We are in Christ working with Christ,not judging others for our own justice,So be patient.

Many people gave me the feeling that "I have been saved, the rest of the people should be punished and judged."

Acts
13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
13:37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

The first step was to make God's Word my absolute authority. I spent way too long worrying about myself, how I felt, was I good enough, what was wrong with me and so on. God's word says that I am dead. So why should I care about a dead man? I am also raised together with Christ. I am a new creation in Him. That truth is now written on my heart, not just a verse in the Bible. I start each day with Lord Jesus. I thank Him for my new life. I confess Him as my Lord and my Life. If I sin, which I am still able to do, I confess and get clean in His precious blood. I no longer beat myself up.

I ask Lord Jesus to live out His life in me and through me, instead of me. Then I assume that He is. My Christian walk becomes His responsibility, not mine. My job is to choose. His job is to perform. The sermon on the mount is called the "Beatitudes" Notice the first two letters - "Be". God calls us to "be" not to "try". So we could say "Be-attitude".

I am still tempted and I still experience tribulation. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous........." The difference is that I don't let troubles get me down. I was disappointed this morning. Where I live reelected someone that I and many others hoped and prayed would lose. So I told myself that the sun still rose, the birds still sing and Lord Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of lords. Men come and go; Lord Jesus rules and reigns forever. I reign in life in spite of the world because Jesus lives in me.

If you want to know this for yourself, I suggest that you read "The Life That Wins" by Watchman Nee. Ask God to make it real to you and in your experience. When the truth finally dawned on me, it was the second best day of my life. Only being born again was better.

Perhaps we should differentiate between arguing and discussing, because I personally feel that the rapture is indeed a good thing that is ours in Christ.

It's really not that hard. It is in God's Word, as plain as day. The problem is that few believe it. For example, Galatians 2:20 is one of the best known verses in the Bible, but how many believe it? Colossians 3:3 likewise. 2 Corinthians 5:17. That's just a start.

How about the gospel ? Wouldn’t the gospel cause us to focus on Jesus and who we are in him ? Like this I mean suppose we were to focus on this

This would speak to who we are in him

“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

at he whole gospel is about hearing and believing what Jesus is teaching about God the father and believers his children o they are and how God sees us , what God wills and calls for from us , what God has done to save our souls , warning us of the dangers in the world , teaching us his righteousness in truth ect

of we focus on the gospel we’re focused on the right thing that’s where we learn from Jesus

I am. And I stand by my comment.

aim yeah but you are dealing with many different people eith many different lives at many different stages of what they understand how long they have even believed , how often they have even read the Bible or went to church to hear some good message from it


ect it seems like your trying to set what you yourself know a everyone else’s standard and if they don’t already know and understand it they should t be learning it or discussing it or something

a thats not how it works there are people who’ve had time to learn and grasp and grow a little bit there are others who are mature and have a decent grasp on understanding others are just now being born just now realizing things they come here to discuss and see in scripture and consider and think about

we can’t learn if we already know everything and anyone who knows everything in the Bible should be our healing and transforming peoples lives shaking the world around them for Jesus

Evenagizing with power or whatever great gifts god gave them and would be here complaint that people are discussing the Bible

a what we think we know for sure can change pretty quickly when we open our thinking to the Bible if everyone knew it perfectly we wouldn’t need a discussion forum but I have my own reservations that any of us know much at all compared to what’s there myself included

I think it’s a good thing for people to study and show the saw lives approved and free discussion where people are allowed to think and speak freely is part of that study and also teaches us to hear what other may have to say they we didn’t consider before

I con only speak for myself but I’m about a year and a half or so being here I’ve learned quite a bit and many thoughts occurred to me that never had before and has helped me understand better , and also realize I know about a drops worth in a pretty huge bucket

a yeah that’s understandable but I was just saying ……it’s a Bible discussion forum , so I wouldn’t be surprised ot troubled to find people discussing the Bible here a lot

a on offense intended brother just was a basic thought that occurred after reading your op

I agree that the simple Gospel needs to be set forth, but we are also called to build on that foundation.

I posted a thread on The Many Facets of the Gospel recently. It was generally ignored. So the interest lies in peripheral subjects.

I agree with your statement here ------many read the Word but don't believe in the Word enough to make it their authority -----many believe that the Scriptures are not the authority of God but of man which goes against what the Scripture says ----

The Old Testament is a Prophesying Book about the coming of the Messiah -----and many believe they are just stories that were passed down from generation to generation ---and therefore they do not see them as God's inspired word -----very sad but true -------


Great news to hear -----focusing on Christ who lives in you --------





Here is where we disagree -------His job is done ------it is OUR Responsibility to live out His Life through Him -----

So here is what i mean ------Jesus said on the Cross ----IT IS Finished ------His Work is DONE -----the Scriptures give us the tools and the knowledge to live out the Righteous Life -------so we are to put the knowledge that God has provided for us to live a Righteous life into action by and through our Faith in what He accomplished on the Cross for us -------and the tool we have been Given is the Holy Spirit who can direct us and give us the power to live out our righteous life -------

It is our Job to Mature in our Faith walk with Christ ------Jesus Provided all that is necessary for us to live out His Will for us ----but we have to do the work =

The scripture clearly says ----we are to work out our own Salvation -----Jesus did His job -----now we have to do ours ----When we receive the Holy Spirit in us ----our Spirit is Renewed only ----our Flesh which is our way of thinking is still there -----God does not change our old way of our worldly thinking for us --we are responsible to do that ---

The scripture clearly states ----that we have to change the way we think -------that is our Job and Jesus provide the way to do that in His Word -----we are responsible to do that ------our Spirit is Holy and Heaven Bound but our minds are still in thinking Worldly ---as we mature in our faith walk with Christ which is our job our minds will become more focused on living a more Righteous life ------

Also Satan still has full reign to access our thoughts ---and Jesus has provided the way to keep Satan at bay in our lives and we have to keep the Gate closed to stop him from influencing us ------Jesus Defeated Satan's death sentence on us ---but Satan is still the god of this would -----

Scripture says we have to cast down evil thoughts that can enter into a True Christians life from giving Satan access ---that is our job ------





My job is to choose. His job is to perform.

I again disagree with this -----Jesus already preformed all He can do for us --------He has given us every tool to become mature in our walk with Him ----His Performance is Finished -----our job is to master performing His Will for us ------

I agree with the 2 letters you say are to BE --are the first 2 in the Be -atitudes -----but have no idea how you perceive that it is Jesus job to perform them for us -----we have to do the performing ---not Jesus ---So confused here with your comment -----

Jesus can't preform you being meek in your character ---your job is to squire meekness

you have to master being meek in your Character ------

--that is one of the Be---attitudes------the Meek will inherit the earth ----

To be Meek is to be gentle and mild in your attitude -----and there are many Christians on here who haven't master meekness in their attitude ----Jesus didn't preform yet in them did He --------just saying ------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For me -------I stay focused -on Jesus ---by keeping my mind and heart set on the things above where Jesus is seated on His Father's right hand -----
--
I keep my focus by studying the Scripture-----

John 5:39 NIV
39 You study[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,

I have developed a prayer life and follow the scriptures on How to pay and get answers -----there is protocol for answered prayer ------

I Keep my Focus on how I can cultivate love --joy --peace ----happiness and -wholeness etc by maintaining a close relationship with Jesus -------

I keep my eyes and face focused on Jesus ---so that the things of the earth become dim by and through His light and Grace which shines through ------

I keep my Focus on Jesus by giving Him praise and thanks for all He had done for me in this life I live ---

i actually think I read and liked and replied to that post and was ignored lol but I could be wrong.

But regardless the answer remains the answer for everyone even if I’m not interested

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the same offer of salvation for every creature under heaven. The gospel is this which is why we need to believe the gospel

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s a form of meditation When people like to vent.
‘The earth is flat.
Jesus is coming tomorrow.
‘Vaccine is killing the world.
‘Go Trump !
Guns.

Etc.

People claim to believe and obey God's word. Sure. Arguing is ungodly, at least that's what my Bible says. There is a difference between discussion and arguing. That line gets crossed. Often.