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WHY THE MISSIONAL MOVEMENT WILL FAIL
indianabob:
Dear friend Loretta,
God has a plan, which is laid out in the O. T. and it is our job to learn about it and patiently wait while God carries it out. The New Testament and especially the letters of Paul add to the O. T. facts that had not been previously shared with anyone, not even the 12 apostles. So it is our privilege and responsibility to explore those mysteries or spiritual secrets in order to prepare ourselves for the work to come.
Of course it is not our work but rather the work of God in us, so we proceed at the pace that God allows. What a tremendous opportunity we have been given.
Indiana Bob
Dave in Tenn:
--- Quote from: loretta on June 12, 2013, 11:22:59 PM ---Is the call to repent and believe the gospel for the church or the world? Are we first chosen by God, then subjected to judgment and finally called to repent and believe the gospel. Or are we chosen after we repent and believe the gospel? Clearly, the latter is the bedrock of current missional movements. If it is the former, then we know that those under judgment are chosen of God and we must pray that they will repent and believe the gospel. We don't really bother about the rest of the world, except maybe to pray for God's grace and mercy upon them. I hope I'm being coherent! :)
--- End quote ---
Read the 17th Chapter of Acts, Paul's 'sermon' to the "world". In it, he says that "...but now (God) commandeth all men every where to repent:" However, pay attention to what he is delivering the message that ALL MEN repent FROM and TO. The church is no less guilty of the 'ignorance' he mentions than the world is, and even less 'without excuse' because they have been 'given much'.
In the first chapters of the Gospel according to John, John writes:
Joh 1:9 He was the true Light; He enlightens every man coming into the world.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know Him.
Joh 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name,
Joh 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.
That's everybody in your list...the world at large, the church and His church. It's not that we shouldn't bother about the rest of the world. We have a ministry to them. And we don't know who God is choosing, as we don't do the choosing. He does. I find it compelling to note that at the end of Paul's sermon, some scoffed, and some said "we'll hear more of this" and Paul left them. But some believed and stuck with him. It's another picture of this world, the church (called) and His church (chosen).
Ray said he is not aware of anybody who has come directly out of the world and into the deeper things of God without having come through the church to be corrupted in some manner. Many are called...few are chosen. That's the way He does things.
loretta:
Acts 17. Repent and turn from idol/idle worship to the Living God ? Not repent from our sins as the church today preaches?
--- Quote ---Ray said he is not aware of anybody who has come directly out of the world and into the deeper things of God without having come through the church to be corrupted in some manner. Many are called...few are chosen. That's the way He does things.
--- End quote ---
Definitely true. It was foreshadowed in the age of Israel, with the people being taken into captivity to Babylon and only a few choosing to return. Except, perhaps that we, the elect, don't really choose, but are chosen. :)
Tks again, Dave. I'm still learning.
Dave in Tenn:
Loretta, I believe there are different 'types' of repentance taught in different portions of scripture. You asked about the 'world', and as best as I have been able to find (and I've wondered the same thing as a crusty old "evangelical" since my beginnings at BT) this was the message of repentance that Paul preached to 'the world'.
As I've looked at the New Testament, maybe the most common 'commandment' is 'don't be deceived'. That's also repentance. We read the letters of the Apostles and James and see other areas where we might need to change our ways or 'repent'. Another 'type' of repentance would be 'love your enemies' or to have an 'unfeigned love for the brethren' or learning that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. There are more like this. This requires a change of heart, and 'changing hearts' is not something we can simply will to do. I'm betting that you are experiencing this 'change of heart' at least to some degree that you can see growing in you since you've come to believe the truly good news. Jesus saves and this will continue if you don't turn back.
God be with you every step of the way as Jesus continues to save you and continues to Create you in His image. He's not finished with any of us.
Patric:
Definition of METANOIA
: a transformative change of heart; especially : a spiritual conversion
Origin of METANOIA
Greek, from metanoiein to change one's mind, repent, from meta- + noein to think, from nous mind
First Known Use: 1577
not quite from the days of Christ but it gives me a better definition of repentance. Mostly I find I go kicking and screaming in repentance!
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