Bummer. Contact the north American Mission Board for a mission opportunity?
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Does anyone else feel like an alien when it comes to other people?
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View PostSo what is it about church? I probably miss the fellowship. Teaching is always good. Yet these are possible without church.
However, as I inferred, what if the answer is fundamentally wrong? What if eternal life is not immortality, but a way of living, with results that do not rust or perish, unlike all the other tasks we undertake? After all, even the wicked will live forever, but in the smoking section. And the text does say that those who have faith have already passed from death into life. In other words, eternal life is entered now, not when you die, in the sweet by and by.
And the eternal mode of living must have something to do with the promise made to Abraham, that the world would be blessed through his descendants. I know that the going wisdom is that this means we tell people about the Gospel, sometimes in dangerous conditions, and that is the extent of our courage and faithfulness and blessedness, but is that the whole picture? What was the content of Nicodemus questions to Jesus? Did something happen that convinced him that blessings were indeed taking place? Was the entering of eternal life by Jesus responsible for it? Why did Nicodemus believe Jesus was living life in the eternal mode?Last edited by footwasher; 07-30-2020, 10:23 AM.
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Originally posted by Chiefsinner View PostAbout good teaching: is it possible that it's good teaching about irrelevant issues? For example, the Jews were super concerned about eternal life, spending every waking moment scouring the Scriptures to find a way to gain it. Nicodemus even overcame hostile feelings towards Jesus, in his desire to get another opinion, hoping for a definitive answer. Any port in a storm, right? Today we know that eternal life, immortality, is gained by simply believing that Jesus can give it by merely asking Him for it, and then asking Him for it. Very good teaching exists for this topic, with very compelling explanations.
Originally posted by Chiefsinner View PostHowever, as I inferred, what if the answer is fundamentally wrong? What if eternal life is not immortality, but a way of living, with results that do not rust or perish, unlike all the other tasks we undertake? After all, even the wicked will live forever, but in the smoking section. And the text does say that those who have faith have already passed from death into life. In other words, eternal life is entered now, not when you die, in the sweet by and by.
And the eternal mode of living must have something to do with the promise made to Abraham, that the world would be blessed through his descendants. I know that the going wisdom is that this means we tell people about the Gospel, sometimes in dangerous conditions, and that is the extent of our courage and faithfulness and blessedness, but is that the whole picture? What was the content of Nicodemus questions to Jesus? Did something happen that convinced him that blessings were indeed taking place? Was the entering of eternal life by Jesus responsible for it? Why did Nicodemus believe Jesus was living life in the eternal mode?"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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Originally posted by Christianbookworm View PostBummer. Contact the north American Mission Board for a mission opportunity?"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View PostI don't know what Nicodemus believed about Jesus living the eternal life. When you read John 3, you see Nicodemus came to Jesus because he believed Jesus was sent by God.The whole passage, John 3:1-21, concerns salvation and not a lifestyle.In fact, in John 17:3 Jesus defines eternal life as "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." So eternal life is a relationship with God and not a life style. I suppose you could extend by saying because I have this relationship, I therefore do these things to have a certain lifestyle. I find you need to keep that connection to God explicit in your life and say so. Sometimes I think too many Christians do the right thing but forget to connect the doing back to God.
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View PostI have sat through every combination of good/bad teaching on relevant/irrelevant issues in my life. It's a pretty bad sermon that I don't get something beneficial from.
I don't know what Nicodemus believed about Jesus living the eternal life. When you read John 3, you see Nicodemus came to Jesus because he believed Jesus was sent by God. The whole passage, John 3:1-21, concerns salvation and not a lifestyle. In fact, in John 17:3 Jesus defines eternal life as "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." So eternal life is a relationship with God and not a life style. I suppose you could extend by saying because I have this relationship, I therefore do these things to have a certain lifestyle. I find you need to keep that connection to God explicit in your life and say so. Sometimes I think too many Christians do the right thing but forget to connect the doing back to God.
Not of stoic "not sinning" according to this world, but of one filled with love, joy, peace, patience, and I think you know the rest. In a very real way, we should all examine our lives regarding simply what we are, to just "be." Do we like what we see? Did God indeed build in me what I see Christ is? Do we have an infectious joy and confidence amongst the tragedy of life? Christ did, and I want Him to wrought that in me more and more.
You are correct though, it is one thing to do the right thing from compulsion, verses doing the right thing because it is now in your nature. The nature the Spirit is flaming within us, letting the new man eclipse the old man.
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Originally posted by Maranatha View PostSalvation does indeed infer a lifestyle. As a proof for oneself, if you will.
Not of stoic "not sinning" according to this world, but of one filled with love, joy, peace, patience, and I think you know the rest. In a very real way, we should all examine our lives regarding simply what we are, to just "be." Do we like what we see? Did God indeed build in me what I see Christ is? Do we have an infectious joy and confidence amongst the tragedy of life? Christ did, and I want Him to wrought that in me more and more.
You are correct though, it is one thing to do the right thing from compulsion, verses doing the right thing because it is now in your nature. The nature the Spirit is flaming within us, letting the new man eclipse the old man.Originally posted by Maranatha View PostSalvation does indeed infer a lifestyle. As a proof for oneself, if you will.
Not of stoic "not sinning" according to this world, but of one filled with love, joy, peace, patience, and I think you know the rest. In a very real way, we should all examine our lives regarding simply what we are, to just "be." Do we like what we see? Did God indeed build in me what I see Christ is? Do we have an infectious joy and confidence amongst the tragedy of life? Christ did, and I want Him to wrought that in me more and more.
You are correct though, it is one thing to do the right thing from compulsion, verses doing the right thing because it is now in your nature. The nature the Spirit is flaming within us, letting the new man eclipse the old man.
return from exile to home, inhabitation of residency, one which was yet to be entered. Jesus taught that He was the real Jerusalem from above, the real Rest, entered by eating of His flesh...
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Originally posted by Chiefsinner View PostAgain, the Kingdom of God, eternal life type of living, is not the product of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, but of eating the flesh of Christ, doing what He did, picking up the cross everyday. It is how you are rescued back from spiritual exile, separation from God. Israel knew that even thogh she was back in Jerusalem, which was an important condition, God sending lions to punish inhabitants who did not follow its requirements, Torah was teaching about a different
return from exile to home, inhabitation of residency, one which was yet to be entered. Jesus taught that He was the real Jerusalem from above, the real Rest, entered by eating of His flesh...
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Originally posted by Maranatha View PostI will rest in the transformative power of the Spirit, resting from my own labors. It's a beautiful thing.
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I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well, here I am. I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer. I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the Cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!
https://faithalone.org/journal/1997ii/Wilkin.html
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Originally posted by Christianbookworm View PostCan y'all take this to a new thread please? It's getting too debatey for a light hearted thread about being homesick for heaven and feeling like one is an alien.
We shouldn't have been discussing how the heroes of faith had been given glimpses of how future believers would live lives blessing the world, turning people to submit to God, by being included in the new humanity in Christ, solving the problem that Camus called living the absurd life, that being in the old Adam resulted in.
Hebrews 11:13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
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Originally posted by Christianbookworm View PostProbably should have put that in past tense. Since June, we've been able to meet for worship, but we have to wear masks and no hugging or shaking hands! So, still no fellowship.
It's been a few more weeks of no services for me. Some of the churches are reopening for services. I've heard attendance is sparse."For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6
"Theology can be an intellectual entertainment." Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
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Originally posted by Chiefsinner View PostHow do we know that the Spirit is the source, the motive power behind our good works? Sproul highlights the dilemma:
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I went to my room and began to read the Bible. On my knees I said, "Well, here I am. I can't point to my obedience. There's nothing I can offer. I can only rely on Your atonement for my sins. I can only throw myself on Your mercy." Even then I knew that some people only flee to the Cross to escape hell, not out of a real turning to God. I could not be sure about my own heart and motivation. Then I remembered John 6:68. Jesus had been giving out hard teaching, and many of His former followers had left Him. When He asked Peter if he was also going to leave, Peter said, "Where else can I go? Only You have the words of eternal life." In other words, Peter was also uncomfortable, but he realized that being uncomfortable with Jesus was better than any other option!
https://faithalone.org/journal/1997ii/Wilkin.htmlIf it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!
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Originally posted by Thoughtful Monk View PostHow are your church services doing? I'd guess the restrictions haven't been lifted yet.
It's been a few more weeks of no services for me. Some of the churches are reopening for services. I've heard attendance is sparse.If it weren't for the Resurrection of Jesus, we'd all be in DEEP TROUBLE!
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Originally posted by Christianbookworm View PostWe are indeed the light and sapt 9f the Earth! And that still makes me reoate to fictional alien superheroes. Because we aren't of this world, but we should still be a good example and help others.
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