What folks have learned via CC discussions:

[GWH]

I enjoy deep discussions, and have been a part of many deep discussions and debates here on CC. I have learned that one needs to begin with the Word of God and deeply dive into the meaning of the text. I have seen how most that come here begin with their church's (or their own) doctrinal creed. If one begins with a doctrinal creed, then it is pointless to discuss the text itself. From the many discussions about OSAS and Calvinism I have been involved with, I have rejoiced greatly that my assurance of salvation comes from the Word (and thus from an active faith in Jesus), and not from a man-stated doctrine.

Thanks for sharing that, but do you also have an example of learning something new from deep discussions that caused you to amend your previous beliefs in some way?

 

[studentoftheword]

Several months ago, I was the victim of terrible abuse here on CC because I stand against Donald Trump. It got so bad that I took time out as it was so hurtful.

This statement here is important for true Believers to take note of ------People only can hurt you with the words they speak IF YOU ALLOW Them To Hurt You -----this signifies that you are in people bondage- --you are enslaved by their words -----your held captive by their hurtful words ---
they have the control not you -----

Breaking free from people bondage is very difficult and takes much maturing in Christ's Faith ----and practicing letting go of the offensive words instead of internalizing them and allowing them to take root in your heart -----

Scripture --says Guard your heart and Mind in Christ ----and that peace beyond all understanding will prevail -----Phillipans 4

When you can Mature to that stage then the Chains of your People Bondage and all other Yokes will be broken ----and believe me it is very Freeing when you can get to that point ------

That is what I have learned---

Not from the discussions here but from actually Putting Christ's Faith into action and doing what the Word says to do to ---Put that guard up to protect your heart and mind from nasty words that could hurt you if you allow them in to take root in your heart and mind -----focus on Christ Jesus not the words spoken to you -------


LIVE FOR JESUS ------Not For People ------

 

[GWH]

This statement here is important for true Believers to take note of ------People only can hurt you with the words they speak IF YOU ALLOW Them To Hurt You -----this signifies that you are in people bondage- --you are enslaved by their words -----your held captive by their hurtful words ---
they have the control not you -----

Breaking free from people bondage is very difficult and takes much maturing in Christ's Faith ----and practicing letting go of the offensive words instead of internalizing them and allowing them to take root in your heart -----

Scripture --says Guard your heart and Mind in Christ ----and that peace beyond all understanding will prevail -----Phillipans 4

When you can Mature to that stage then the Chains of your People Bondage and all other Yokes will be broken ----and believe me it is very Freeing when you can get to that point ------

That is what I have learned---

Not from the discussions here but from actually Putting Christ's Faith into action and doing what the Word says to do to ---Put that guard up to protect your heart and mind from nasty words that could hurt you if you allow them in to take root in your heart and mind -----focus on Christ Jesus not the words spoken to you -------


LIVE FOR JESUS ------Not For People ------


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Good advice, but do you also have an example of learning something new on CC that caused you to amend your previous beliefs in some way?

 

[lrs68]

In my short time here I have learned that the Reformed Doctrine evolves around each specific individual follower and everyone has variations that differ between the beliefs in the 4th Century, the 15th Century, and today's modern day version.

I'm positive in time I will see another version of it and this will end up in a 10k page discussion like the others.

 

[GWH]

In my short time here I have learned that the Reformed Doctrine evolves around each specific individual follower and everyone has variations that differ between the beliefs in the 4th Century, the 15th Century, and today's modern day version.

I'm positive in time I will see another version of it and this will end up in a 10k page discussion like the others.

I also have learned a lot about the RD/tulipism since joining CC going on two years ago. Discussions with tulipists have caused me to view various passages of Scripture in that light. For example, just now I was prompted to view 1Cor. 2 from the tulipist angle, and I realized that the epistle was addressed to sinners who had become Christians per John 3:16, so in 1Cor. 2 Paul is urging Christians to cooperate with the HS rather than revert to thinking like those without the Spirit (v.14).

 

[lrs68]

I also have learned a lot about the RD/tulipism since joining CC going on two years ago. Discussions with tulipists have caused me to view various passages of Scripture in that light. For example, just now I was prompted to view 1Cor. 2 from the tulipist angle, and I realized that the epistle was addressed to sinners who had become Christians per John 3:16, so in 1Cor. 2 Paul is urging Christians to cooperate with the HS rather than revert to thinking like those without the Spirit (v.14).

You are saying that the decision Paul made to not have understanding of the people he was going to evangelize and share the Gospel with whom were eventually converted that Paul is saying he did this by the leading of God and they should do the same?

And this is something you learned from the Reformed?

 

[GWH]

You are saying that the decision Paul made to not have understanding of the people he was going to evangelize and share the Gospel with whom were eventually converted that Paul is saying he did this by the leading of God and they should do the same?

And this is something you learned from the Reformed?

I don't understand your question, but I would note that what Paul cited in Acts 28:26-27
is the same as what Jesus cited in Matt. 13:14-15.

I learned from Calvin when I read his Institutes years ago and have mostly forgotten,
so what I have learned lately is from the tulipist denomination on CC.

 

[GWH]

Christian Chat exists for the purpose of providing Christians the opportunity of learning from one another as they discuss their understanding of Scripture. I think it might be interesting and edifying for us all to share significant truths we have learned that have caused us to amend some belief(s).

For example, being raised in a Baptist church from infancy, I had always believed that souls are saved by faith or trusting in Jesus as Savior,
but while discussing the role of faith and works regarding salvation after joining CC, I gained the following insight:

There is no qualitative difference between a soul's/sinner's faith that accepts God’s saving grace at conversion and a saint's/saved sinner's faith that accepts God’s working grace while walking/living, but only a quantitative difference as each additional moment passes–and of course faith remains non-meritorious during the saint’s lifetime. (Eph. 2:8-10, 1Cor. 15:10, 2Cor. 5:7, Rom. 1:17)

Please share one example at a time of how participation on CC has blessed your life with new or amended understanding of God's Word.
Thanks!

Thanks to those who have shared examples of how participation on CC has blessed your life with new or amended understanding of God's Word. Here is another example from me.

As those who have interacted with me on CC know, my main sermon is about the need for Christian unity via agreement about the essential Gospel or Creed. Discussions have prompted me to fine tune my five-point version of the Creed/GRFS by adding a word here and there, but the largest addition and amendment of my belief was the following sixth point per Rom. 1:20, which I did recently after someone prompted the insight of connecting it with 2Thes. 2:10-13:

6. This creed summarizes revelation of the NT Gospel/Truth (Matt. 26:13, John 14:6), which fulfilled the OT revelation (Matt. 5:17, John 19:30, Heb. 7:11-10:10) and culminates the search for salvation by souls who know only general revelation (Rom. 1:20, 2:14-16, Matt. 7:12). Seeking begins when souls love truth/repent of false beliefs (2Thes. 2:10&13, Matt. 4:17, 7:7), which is the Way to eternal life God wills, who is the Lord Jesus (Matt. 7:14, John 1:14, 4:24, 14:6). Lacking this love leads to believing lies and debauchery (Gen. 3:1-7, Matt. 7:6, Rom. 1:18&25-26, 2Thes. 2:11-12).

Does anyone else have an example of learning GW, gaining insight and amending belief due to discussion on CC?

 

[lrs68]

I don't understand your question, but I would note that what Paul cited in Acts 28:26-27
is the same as what Jesus cited in Matt. 13:14-15.

I learned from Calvin when I read his Institutes years ago and have mostly forgotten,
so what I have learned lately is from the tulipist denomination on CC.

Are you saying the new generation of Reformed here have it correct?

And Acts 28/Matthew 13 pertains specifically to the Jews of that day because they heard and witnessed their Messiah but never understood it was their Messiah.

 

[JohnDB]

Politics and religion....
BOTH lack adherents who research anything properly.
They just dont.
And the intellectual ability of the people interested....that's also a problem in this modern age. Always has been through the ages.
Jesus's Apostles were not "gifted" intellectuals by any measure of that word. There were NUMEROUS comments by outsiders to that effect. Some even in our modern age involved with translation duties....the expression "box of rocks" has been pulled out more than a few times. The two guys who were slightly smarter than the rest? (Luke and Paul) people do all sorts of things with their writings that are unseemly and unsettling.

And as my wife and I write this book and study lessons for both intellectuals AND pew warmers discussing how to perform proper hermeneutics.....
We find ourselves having to hit that "dumb down" button quite frequently. (Clarkson's Farm during Christmas was not inspirational when Jeremy read from the Bible)

Feelings, appearances, who told you and your feelings about them seem to be the driving force of what people believe and why they believe it.
Actual facts, science, history and etc......completely not relevant towards anyone's opinion about anything written or collated together to form a theology.

For instance....when people read about "going down to Jericho" they somehow believe the people were traveling South....the whole concept of going downhill doesn't compute. (They were traveling generally East on a very winding mountain road)

Then theres the problem with publishing reality....
Of course we are going to be branded as heretics....even though we are trying hard to not publish any theological position on anything or at least commonly held beliefs of 95% of Christiandom....
But 95% of Christiandom's beliefs will be challenged by the methods we explain.
Everyone has errors in theology.
Everyone gains more errors when they collaborate.

But we got to make some friends.....

 

[GWH]

Are you saying the new generation of Reformed here have it correct?

And Acts 28/Matthew 13 pertains specifically to the Jews of that day because they heard and witnessed their Messiah but never understood it was their Messiah.

No, I am indicating the need to narrow discussion down to tulip rather than include the rest of Calvin's Reformed theology.

Yes, Isa. 6:9-10 was addressed to Jews, but the sin of not being TSers also applies to Gentiles with hard/calloused hearts
(2Thes. 2:10-13).

 

[GWH]

Politics and religion....
BOTH lack adherents who research anything properly.
They just dont.
And the intellectual ability of the people interested....that's also a problem in this modern age. Always has been through the ages.
Jesus's Apostles were not "gifted" intellectuals by any measure of that word. There were NUMEROUS comments by outsiders to that effect. Some even in our modern age involved with translation duties....the expression "box of rocks" has been pulled out more than a few times. The two guys who were slightly smarter than the rest? (Luke and Paul) people do all sorts of things with their writings that are unseemly and unsettling.

And as my wife and I write this book and study lessons for both intellectuals AND pew warmers discussing how to perform proper hermeneutics.....
We find ourselves having to hit that "dumb down" button quite frequently. (Clarkson's Farm during Christmas was not inspirational when Jeremy read from the Bible)

Feelings, appearances, who told you and your feelings about them seem to be the driving force of what people believe and why they believe it.
Actual facts, science, history and etc......completely not relevant towards anyone's opinion about anything written or collated together to form a theology.

For instance....when people read about "going down to Jericho" they somehow believe the people were traveling South....the whole concept of going downhill doesn't compute. (They were traveling generally East on a very winding mountain road)

Then theres the problem with publishing reality....
Of course we are going to be branded as heretics....even though we are trying hard to not publish any theological position on anything or at least commonly held beliefs of 95% of Christiandom....
But 95% of Christiandom's beliefs will be challenged by the methods we explain.
Everyone has errors in theology.
Everyone gains more errors when they collaborate.

But we got to make some friends.....

I am right there with you, which is why I tend to play dumb until I think I can trust people by sharing something deeper than the pablum to which they have grown accustomed. I express the problem in terms of not being a TSer per 2Thes. 2:10-13 & 1Tim. 2:3-4.

Do you have a truth to share that you learned via discussions on CC that caused you to amend a belief?

 

[JohnDB]

I am right there with you, which is why I tend to play dumb until I think I can trust people by sharing something deeper than the pablum to which they have grown accustomed. I express the problem in terms of not being a TSer per 2Thes. 2:10-13 & 1Tim. 2:3-4.

Do you have a truth to share that you learned via discussions on CC that caused you to amend a belief?

Nope....no biblical truths.
Just what level to use for the lesson plan and book.

 

[PaulThomson]

Christian Chat exists for the purpose of providing Christians the opportunity of learning from one another as they discuss their understanding of Scripture. I think it might be interesting and edifying for us all to share significant truths we have learned that have caused us to amend some belief(s).

For example, being raised in a Baptist church from infancy, I had always believed that souls are saved by faith or trusting in Jesus as Savior,
but while discussing the role of faith and works regarding salvation after joining CC, I gained the following insight:

There is no qualitative difference between a soul's/sinner's faith that accepts God’s saving grace at conversion and a saint's/saved sinner's faith that accepts God’s working grace while walking/living, but only a quantitative difference as each additional moment passes–and of course faith remains non-meritorious during the saint’s lifetime. (Eph. 2:8-10, 1Cor. 15:10, 2Cor. 5:7, Rom. 1:17)

Please share one example at a time of how participation on CC has blessed your life with new or amended understanding of God's Word.
Thanks!

I have learned that arguing with people who do not engage with my questions to them, or the ideas I post, but merely repeat their own opinions is futile, and I have found that the ignore button has saved me wasting a lot of time engaging with such trolls and their adamantine opinions. I have learned to state my case as clearly as possible and answer questions as truthfully as possible, but not to repeat myself where my interlocutor is clearly not interested in engaging candidly with what I have written.

I learned a lot of new insights from the Greek text while moving through Ephesians verse by verse in our Bible study, GWH. But you raced ahead at a time when I was busy with other matters in my life, and I ended up so far behind that we would be posting on completely different chapters and books if I had continued, so I dropped out.

 

[GWH]

Nope....no biblical truths.
Just what level to use for the lesson plan and book.

That is too bad, but perhaps you will have some new insights if you persevere on CC, so it won't be boring.
Do you want to post part of the book on CC for us to preview?
HAND

 

[GWH]

I have learned that arguing with people who do not engage with my questions to them, or the ideas I post, but merely repeat their own opinions is futile, and I have found that the ignore button has saved me wasting a lot of time engaging with such trolls and their adamantine opinions. I have learned to state my case as clearly as possible and answer questions as truthfully as possible, but not to repeat myself where my interlocutor is clearly not interested in engaging candidly with what I have written.

I learned a lot of new insights from the Greek text while moving through Ephesians verse by verse in our Bible study, GWH. But you raced ahead at a time when I was busy with other matters in my life, and I ended up so far behind that we would be posting on completely different chapters and books if I had continued, so I dropped out.

I had learned the futility of arguing while participating in an AKO forum with atheists and homos in 2005, and that lesson has been reinforced by participation on CC with "Christians", during which I have learned to bet and switch topics.

I learned a lot from our systematic study of Ephesians, and I respect you and everyone whose knowledge of biblical languages produces reliable translations, so that we can concentrate on harmonizing Scriptural revelation in English.

I realized you were busy, so I forged ahead and studied Revelation. I am now studying John's gospel in the Systematic Scripture Study thread for anyone who is bored and interested in participating.

It is nice to be retired. Hope you have good crops/profits.

 

[PaulThomson]

I had learned the futility of arguing while participating in an AKO forum with atheists and homos in 2005, and that lesson has been reinforced by participation on CC with "Christians", during which I have learned to bet and switch topics.

I learned a lot from our systematic study of Ephesians, and I respect you and everyone whose knowledge of biblical languages produces reliable translations, so that we can concentrate on harmonizing Scriptural revelation in English.

I realized you were busy, so I forged ahead and studied Revelation. I am now studying John's gospel in the Systematic Scripture Study thread for anyone who is bored and interested in participating.

It is nice to be retired. Hope you have good crops/profits.

We are getting great reviews by friends and passers-by on how we have transformed the orchard with our Lord’s help over the last year and the production is bumper this winter. God is good. Thanks for your wishing us well.

 

[GWH]

We are getting great reviews by friends and passers-by on how we have transformed the orchard with our Lord’s help over the last year and the production is bumper this winter. God is good. Thanks for your wishing us well.

The OT would view that blessing as a sign of salvation. May it continue as you persevere!

 

[JohnDB]

That is too bad, but perhaps you will have some new insights if you persevere on CC, so it won't be boring.
Do you want to post part of the book on CC for us to preview?
HAND

Cant....
It's a whole system. Book plus lesson plans plus instruction.
If we go with video instructions for the lesson plans....well....I have a face made for radio and a voice made for vows of silence.
My wife?
She got a lot of the publishing brainpower behind a lot of this. I just have the technical skills....she does as well but I'm not skeered to say them. Then she is editing...and we have been editing for a while. That's what we are in the middle of currently.

Let me tell you....trying to teach hermeneutics without teaching theology is a very careful dance.
It's kinda nuts....but necessary.

And with the internet....some of this stuff is easier than ever before. I'm kinda surprised about some of the things I still see posted on YouTube with internet preachers.....I know that a lot of them are largely ignored.
Nobody really watches sermons on YouTube.....not really. I've been "in the booth" broadcasting. We can see live the location of everyone watching as they watch us. We spend thousands to broadcast the sermons. Cameras, editing, the whole shebang. 3-8 unique IP clicks each week. That's it. With a congregation of over 2,000.

But....
You want something unique?
Who carried Jesus's cross? Remember his name?
Now walking the via de la crusa (way of the cross) you know that this spot is at a crossroads VERY close to a main thoroughfare....one of the most expensive places in the market. (Spices and herbs traditionally)

Where was this guy that carried the cross from?

Now....
(Because we are cheating) I'm kinda pointing you. Look at this city this guy was from in ancient times and see what was significant about this city. (Besides the large Jewish settlement there)
Look at the drachma (silver coins) from that city. What's on it?
What was that plant used for?
Why would it be in the spice market?

Why would a soldier (away from home months at a time) be looking to make this guy from that place selling that herb carry the cross?

Tell me what YOU find?

What do you think it means?

 

[GWH]

Cant....
It's a whole system. Book plus lesson plans plus instruction.
If we go with video instructions for the lesson plans....well....I have a face made for radio and a voice made for vows of silence.
My wife?
She got a lot of the publishing brainpower behind a lot of this. I just have the technical skills....she does as well but I'm not skeered to say them. Then she is editing...and we have been editing for a while. That's what we are in the middle of currently.

Let me tell you....trying to teach hermeneutics without teaching theology is a very careful dance.
It's kinda nuts....but necessary.

And with the internet....some of this stuff is easier than ever before. I'm kinda surprised about some of the things I still see posted on YouTube with internet preachers.....I know that a lot of them are largely ignored.
Nobody really watches sermons on YouTube.....not really. I've been "in the booth" broadcasting. We can see live the location of everyone watching as they watch us. We spend thousands to broadcast the sermons. Cameras, editing, the whole shebang. 3-8 unique IP clicks each week. That's it. With a congregation of over 2,000.

But....
You want something unique?
Who carried Jesus's cross? Remember his name?
Now walking the via de la crusa (way of the cross) you know that this spot is at a crossroads VERY close to a main thoroughfare....one of the most expensive places in the market. (Spices and herbs traditionally)

Where was this guy that carried the cross from?

Now....
(Because we are cheating) I'm kinda pointing you. Look at this city this guy was from in ancient times and see what was significant about this city. (Besides the large Jewish settlement there)
Look at the drachma (silver coins) from that city. What's on it?
What was that plant used for?
Why would it be in the spice market?

Why would a soldier (away from home months at a time) be looking to make this guy from that place selling that herb carry the cross?

Tell me what YOU find?

What do you think it means?

I understand, because I have my own book published on line that I use as a resource,
but I have no idea whether anyone else ever finds and uses it.

Re your questions: A man named Simon from Cyrene. I have no idea what it means,
but I also wanna die like Grandpa.