New Member

[Brenda]

Hi all, my name is Brenda and I am from South Africa.  I have been blessed for being part of Bible-Truths for many, many years and have learned and gained many wonderful lessons from Ray's teaching as well as all the moderators input.  I fully agree with the rules of this website and wouldn't have it any other way... NO TEACHING.  I have read and re-read all the material on this website and continue to do so on a daily basis.  I miss Ray very much as he was a major part of my daily life with Jesus.  I am not very good with words, however my spirit is aligned with the truth (ALL OF IT).  I am fortunate to know like minded people (as yourselves) and by the grace of GOD, I will continue in his footsteps.  Many thanks for welcoming me as a member to the truth.

[Rhys 🕊]

Welcome Brenda. I spent 1 year in South Africa over 20 years ago, enjoyed my time there mostly in Capetown.

I miss him too but the teaching we have keeps on speaking to me over and over. Takes a while to get it all being brought up with the church teachings.

Glad you are here.

Rhys

[Rene]

Welcome to the forum Brenda.  It is nice to hear that you have been studying with us for many years and I am delighted you have decided to join the forum.

René

[Kat]

Hi Brenda,
I'm glad you have joined us 
I believe you will find this fellowship to be a real blessing, because we can gain so much in our discussing these truths together. This certainly is a interesting way to communicate, but I think it actually works very well... we have time to put our thoughts together and review and gather Scripture and carefully type out what we think. But it's the input of differing perspectives from other like minded believers that really gives us all the advantage of these discussions. So do join in and add your thoughts or make your own topic, this place can add much to your study and growth.

Also here is a guideline to help you with all the different boards on here and the additional info we have here at the forum as well.

Forum Rules- General info board
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3.0.html
Topic- Questions and Truth 
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4558.0.html
Topic- How this Forum is Moderated
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3614.0.html

Emails to Ray board
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,6.0.html

Introductions, Announcements, and More of Ray's Teachings board
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,8.0.html
Sub boards- http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,14.0.html
Topic ~Categorized list of Ray's emails~
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3108.0.html
Topic ~Outline of Bible-Truths Web Site~
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2808.0.html
Topic ~Paypal Address For Supporting Bible-Truths
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3718.0.html
Topic ~SPURIOUS PASSAGES OF THE NEW TEST.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6638.0.html
Topic ~Timelines
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,16067.0.html
Topic ~E-Sword and more study helps
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4470.0.html
Topic ~sending personal messages (PM)
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4618.0.html

Forum Indexes & Info.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,14.0.html

Ray's Videos
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,8227.0.html

Ray's Audios 
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2641.0.html

Ray's 2008 Audios
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,8256.0.html

Transcripts of Audios
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,12.0.html

General discussion board- to ask questions and discuss what is presented at the Bible-truths.com site.
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,3.0.html

Child board- FAQ (most frequently asked questions)- above General discussion board
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,23.0.html

Off Topic board- to discuss things that may not directly relate to BT, you will find a good bit of humor
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,4.0.html

child board- Inspirationals, Writings, Poems, Etc.- above Off Topic board
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,15.0.html

Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship board- mostly for personal posts
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,5.0.html

Child boards- Who Am I? (only available to members)- above Testimonies board, members pics and other stuff
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,16.0.html

Members Recipes- for sharing recipes and food tips
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/board,22.0.html

mercy, peace and love
Kat

[Brenda]

Thank you so much for making me feel welcome here.  One small thing.. I read somewhere where Ray spoke about the old fathers (Old Testament), that the promise was not given to them, but to us only.  Now this has really confused me, was he talking about the Holy Spirit or something else.  I apologise, could not find this email again and thus the reason I am asking.

[lilitalienboi16]

Welcome Brenda! Glad to have you with us.

Yes the old patriarchs all died and did not receive the promise that we new testament believers have. They will not be perfected without us. They will be raised to judgement.

http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,839.msg6638.html#msg6638
Dear Dave:

Your teachings are neither spiritual, nor logical, nor Scriptural. Perhaps you should study your bible a little more.

What did any of the ancient patriarchs know of "saving grace?"  Answer:  Nothing!  And why is that? Because: "For the LAW was given by Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH came by Jesus Christ"  (John 1:18).  Grace did not come before Christ, hence: No one was saved before Christ.  "These ALL died in faith [how many? 'ALL.'] in faith [did they all have faith? Yes.  Are we 'saved by faith?'  NO--'By  GRACE ye are saved....' Eph. 2:8.  Did they nonetheless receive the promise of immortal life?  NO....] NOT having received the promises..." (Heb. 11:13).

Could not the Patriarchs receive salvation through the faith that they had BEFORE Jesus came to die for their sins?  NO.  No Patriarch will be saved except through God's chosen elect: "And these ALL [how many? 'ALL'] having obtained a good report through faith, received NOT THE PROMISES: God having provided some better thing for US, that THEY without US should NOT be made perfect [Gk: 'complete.']"  (Heb. 11:13 & 39-40).

Well then, if their faith and good report did not and cannot make them 'complete,' pray what can make them 'complete?'  Answer:  "And ye ['ye' believers in Jesus, not those who knew not Jesus and did not have Jesus live in them, and who were not 'crucified with Christ,' etc., etc., etc.]...and ye are COMPLETE [how?] IN  H-I-M  [JESUS]"  (Col. 2:10), etc., etc., etc.

Sometimes, Dave, it is also good to have a 'teacher' to help you understand the things that you miss by studying on your own.

God be with you,

Ray

Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

God bless,
Alex

[Dave in Tenn]

Welcome, Brenda.

[lostANDfound]

Welcome!  Nice to have another sister around here. 

[Brenda]

Dear Alec et al, this is exactly what I was looking for, thank you, thank you!  And now my journey begins.  Thank you all for welcoming me, I feel really blessed. 

[Flanagan]

Welcome dear Sister Brenda. Look forward to your words of encouragement and your comments on discussions. Gods grace , Flanagan

[Nelson Boils]

Mzantsi in the house.Welcome Brenda.

[narroway]

Praise the Lord Brenda, I'm glad He guided you here. I hope you enjoy the Forum as much as I do. 

[virginiabm]

Hi Brenda, welcome to the forum. May God bless you in  your journey.

[Brenda]

Many thanks to all the welcome's I received.  I truly am blessed to be part of THE BODY OF CHRIST.  I have been going through many trials and tribulations all my life. Now I do not know the background of most of you on this forum but I feel like I have travelled the same road as Paul. My life has been mostly trials and tribulations (still is).  I always wondered why a loving GOD would cause so much harm to one person, how much more can one bear? Over 10 years ago GOD lead me to this Website, and gave me spiritual eyes and ears and it all came together, everything! I had to experience all of this to become what GOD wants me to be. For the first time in my life, I realized that I was special, special to GOD.  What a revelation!!!

[Musterseed]

Hi Brenda, I became a new member today also. I am so glad to finally speak with like minded people. I have been reading Rays works for over a year and I miss him to. He was such a good teacher and I feel like I am part of a family. It feels so good to know the real truth. Thanks be to our Heavenly Father.  I am from Canada.