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a wild and zen biblestudy
dawnnnny:
Kat, I agree. I'm fortunate that I wasn't in a church when I came to the BT site. I've NEVER felt totally comfortable with church - I think mainly its because I'm shy, but also - when I first started attending, I thought everyone was so perfect and it made me feel like a failure. Then I came to understand that most of them were putting on a "pretty picture" (much like myself). Then, as God showed me more (especially on His Sovereignty), the messages would annoy me. >:(
As far as the hell doctrine - this is NEW to me. But its amazing how much it falls into the doctrine of free will. I'm seeing more and more how this doctrine (free will) takes hold of people and deceives them. I had a conversation with my sister and she was almost angry at the thought of not being able to "accept/choose" Jesus. No matter what I said, she wouldn't even consider it.
I think most in the church are like that today. I have two grown children in their 20's who I've not spoken anything to YET. I know I need to have a firmer grasp on these truths before I share. I don't feel led right now, whatsoever, to share with them and I know that's why.
Justine - I'm not sure how long you've been studying these new truths but I do believe you have to do what you feel God is leading you to do. If you feel called to stay in church to share what you've learned, then God's power to you. Just make sure its God that is doing the leading. I know in my "excitement" I had that talk with my sister and I don't think it was being led from God. If its us, its going to fail. I'll wait for sure, when I know in my spirit, that its Him.
Interesting post. I do long for a time when God will use me to share with my family, with whomever he brings to me. I'm not the type to go looking though. BUT - if that's what He has in mind, I'm sure he'll make me that type. LOL
Blessings everyone for a wonderful 3 day weekend!
Dawn
Deborah-Leigh:
Two excerpts from Ray's Winning souls for Jesus http://bible-truths.com/souls.htm
Excerpt One:
GOD PREDETERMINES WHO GETS SAVED AND WHEN
"Now we are aware that God [Who? GOD. Men—ourselves? NO—GOD] is working all together for the good of those who are loving God who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also" (Rom. 8:28-30, Concordant Literal New Testament).
It is ALL OF GOD. It is not wrong to tell others of your knowledge of God and His Word. It is not, however, your responsibility to "get people saved." Only God can do that.
It is GOD who does the calling:
"For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen [Who? ‘GOD’] the weak things of this world to confound the things which are mighty…" (I Cor. 1:26-27).
It is GOD who does the dragging:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent Me, draw him [Gk: ‘drag him’]…" (John 6:44).
It is CHRIST Who chooses from those His Father dragged:
"Ye have not chosen Me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU…" (John 15:16).
Excerpt Two:
LIGHT AND SALT DON’T ARGUE OR MAKE NOISE
"Ye are the salt of the earth… Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:1,14,16).
Salt does not make any noise, and light does not argue Scriptures. Neither salt nor light makes any sound whatsoever. Maybe there is a lesson in there.
Peace to you
Arcturus
DuluthGA:
Great points Kat:
When we first come to the knowledge of the truth we may be in the church, are we prepared to teach others about this truth, at the time we first come to it ourselves? I don't think so. We are learning ourselves.....
To be a teacher and example of the truth to others, you must be very well grounded in understanding the truth of the scripture, which can take years (the disciples were taught by Jesus for 3 1/2 yrs, it may have been many years before Paul started teaching,
So right by my own experience thinking I've absorbed more than I thought I have, and this may answer why so many newbies join but do not post, or ask a few questions and move on... there is much to the matters of the truth when studying His Word. ;)
Thanks for insight,
Janice
insanezenmistress:
:)
Good verses, and they are to be folllowed.but we are not yet out of the world itself. The place of light walking around darkeness.Jesus prayed for us to be in the World but not OF the world. i treat the going to church just like i treat the going to the grocery store. Only at church i have a chance to show some love to someone and throw in a bible verse or conversation about The Lord. Paul went back to chruch after he was converted.
I am not suggesting being yoked in the way you seem to be meaning it. Because we cannot even be UNYOKED with the world till HE comes.
As to winning souls, i do understand it is not biblical, and i never knew that before, glad to be free of all that guilt, but it does not liberate me from having to represent the Lord as an Ambasitor at all points of my growing.
Leave the false belief definatly, and leave the group untill you are seasoned, indeed. but show and practice love and the gosple news with a being sanctified life no matter who you are talking with, pricesless.
And if this is an agree to disagree kinda thing it is all good i jsut echo David by saying where can we go, we cant escape the Lord and we cant escape the falsness of the world. And is it a bad thing to try to find that one other sheep?(seek those likeminded)
Kat:
Hi Justine,
Paul went back to chruch after he was converted.
Since you made this comment, I thought I would bring up this excerpt from the article 'THE DEPTH OF SATAN AND THE CHURCH OF GOD'
This explains Paul's going to church.
http://bible-truths.com/lake11.html -------------------------------------------
Did new converts to Christ continue to attend synagogues to be edified in their new-found-faith? NO! They were persecuted in the synagogues! They left the synagogues. They left the mother Church. Remember our lesson where Jesus said, "I will build My church..." (Matt. 16:18). Jesus didn’t say that He would purify or purge the existing Church. No, Jesus built a New Church—His Church, "MY Church" Jesus called it.
And so it was in the religion of Judaism that the people learned of God and the Law of Moses. But when they learned of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they were forced to "COME OUT OF HER…"
When we read the history of the Apostles in the book of Acts, they and their new converts to Jesus did not continue to worship Jesus in the synagogues. They now began to meet among themselves and in private homes. Paul’s habit was to go to the synagogues of whatever city he was evangelizing to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul did not go to these synagogues to worship Jesus Christ, but rather to teach that Jesus was the Christ. And those who were truly called of God left the synagogues and met with believers of like mind in private homes.
It is true that the Apostles continued for a time to go up to the Temple (not the local synagogues), but they were warned under threat of death that they should discontinue teaching in the Temple. But Peter, who denied Christ three times just weeks earlier, now spoke fearlessly:
"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to TEACH AND PREACH Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42).
THE CHURCH OF GOD IN PRIVATE HOUSES
There was a transition period where the disciples still went up to the temple, but God’s intimate dealings would now be found in more humble surroundings. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first Saints of Jesus, it was not in a synagogue, but in a house:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all THE HOUSE where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-2).
Church services were held in houses:
"Likewise greet the church that is in their house" (Rom. 16:5).
"The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house" (I Cor. 16:19).
"Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house� (Col., 4:15).
"Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in your house" (Philemon 1-2).
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mercy, peace and love
Kat
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