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Tribulation Right Here

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jakfr0s:
  Kent you said,    "Or, Gods' will is going to be done, so I'll just go along for the ride. It gives a person some kind of justification to do nothing. I'd like to know what scripture tells us to just do nothing, and let God do everything. Seems He has something to say about cowardice and slothfulness."

 That confuses me cause Iam one of those who believes that he cant do a thing without God willing it. Am I misunderstanding these verses or misunderstanding you?

  John 15:5 (New International Version)
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Proverbs 16:9
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

  Maybe Im wrong but it sounds like God is the driver and Im the passenger just going along for the ride and I have no choice or say with what happens. This is something that has been on my mind for awhile now. I admit Im lazy,but is it not God that wills me to be this way for now?  Please help me understand Who decides ultimately wether I do something or do nothing? I honestly thought God has planned for each and every life to be the way it is and where it is. Please understand that im just trying to understand what you said. I think I would have understood you  when I still believed in free will. Not to contradict you or anything but im asking cause I honestly want to know what you mean and what the above verses mean. 

 

Kent:
By answering that, I am walking a fine line by "teaching". I dont want to do that, and I know that the mods here dont want me to do that. I am not a teacher. I just expressed an opinion.

I'll just say this: What if Ray was just along for the ride, and didnt bother putting up this website, figuring "it all comes out in the wash", and didn't bother doing the work he does continually. Faith without works is dead. James Ch 2. We are blessed by the work he has done here. I am not just saying that.

You wouldnt believe how much nonsense I sifted thru to find the answers here on this site. I am talking everything from mainstream doctrines to blatant racism to some new age ideas to lizard people.

It is in plain view. That is one of the mysteries I do not totally understand. I know the answer, but I dont understand it. If the answers are so obvious, why cant most other people see them? Why do they get so hostile?
Why did I struggle so hard?

Did God bless Rays' work? In my OPINION he sure did. Did God direct his steps? IMO He sure did. But he still worked.

That is how I see it.  ;)

And, on what basis are people going to be rewarded? Isn't it based on work(s)?

It's all my opinion, and that is all it is. And like I said earlier, I have my faults too, believe it.

winner08:
JakfrOs let me tell you what I told my friend who ask me a question on free will and making choices. I said that God creates the circumstances we find ourselves in at any given moment in time. We however make the choices that God's circumstances creates. God is responsible for creating the circumstances and we are responsible for the choices we make,due to the circumstances we find ourselves in. For instance, Let's say God creates the circumstances for me to buy a Harley, (Bike). Maby a really good job that Pa's real well. God created this situation for me. I however make the choice on my own to buy a Harley.  I buy a helmet,But it is too hot to ware it so I make the choice not to ware the helmet. God created the circumstance by creating the weather I made the choice not to ware the helmet.God gave us a brain so that we may process information and then make a decisions or choices. Ultimately we are responsible for making the choices we make. Does this make any since to you? It took a very long time before I grasp this. Remember I am just relaying a story I told my friend.I am not a teacher, and most of the time I Way off on many things. I hope this is not one.


                                   Thanks,

                                           Darren

iris:
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index,php/topic,492.0.html

Hope this helps a little. Ray says in an email...


Your struggles is no different from many other saints that have gone before you. Here is the simple truth about whether it is all a done deal in our lives, or whether there is something for us to do as Believers in Christ:
 
"For by GRACE are ye saved [that's a true statement] through FAITH [that's also a true statement]; and that [that 'faith'] not of yourselves: it is the GIFT [and that too is a true statement--a gift can't be 'earned'] of God. NOT OF WORKS [that certainly is also a true statement] lest any man should boast.  For we are HIS workmanship [the Greek is 'His achievement'--and that again is certainly true, we can't make ourselves spirituall converted and mature], created in Christ Jesus UNTO GOOD WORKS, Which God has before ordained that we SHOULD WALK IN THEM [now where did that come from?  Are we now to assume that that statement is NOT TRUE?  That there are NO WORKS involved in our salvation, when God ordained that we MUST WALK IN GOOD WORKS?]" (Eph. 2:8-10).
 
God gives us FAITH, and God grants us GRACE, and with that He works out His achievement in us by causing us to DO GOOD WORKS, and don't let any two-faced lying hypocritical false prophet ever tell you differently.
 
Our "good works" will not save us, but God will save no one in whom He does not ORDAIN GOOD WORKS that they must walk in.



Iris

Vangie:
I feel so wishy washy, because as I read everyone's posts, I'm like, "I get what he's saying, that makes sense".  Then a different person says another thoughtful viewpoint, and I'm like, "Wow, that's good too."  I agree with everyone.  What a mush I've become.   ;)  Great thread, thank you all for being here.

Love in Christ,
Vangie

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