If this is all christianty has

[BarneyFife]

No, I'm saying He is the Father.

The nature of God is sacred ground and people who think they understand the Godhead scare me. When people say things like "Jesus is the Father" they don't know exactly what they're saying. I have my theories and opinions but I live in a world where 1+1+1=1 is illogical. I believe it but I don't understand it. In any case, arguing about it with a (possibly) discouraged brother seems inappropriate to me.

 

[Nancy]

Is your place with God, your understanding God, your understanding of the scriptures the same as mine or @mjrhealth or @Jane_Doe22 or @Stumpmaster or @Christophany ? Because we, each of us I have mentioned and others on this forum are in different places with God and have different understandings based on our experiences and what He has, or has not, shown us... none of us is qualified to draw such lines for others between what is essential and what is not?

Are we? If we can do it for ourselves because God has shown us, then that is in our heart. I really do not believe that any of us know what is in the heart of everyone else. That is what the verse I cited [ Luke 12:48 ] I believe, is saying! That is why no man is qualified to render final judgment against another man based on what he considers to be essentials for himself.

Agreed Sir John!! :)

Although I DO agree that John 8:24 is relevant and needs to be addressed. What you say is quite true.
There are Christians who can be miles ahead in their walks in many ways, there are those who are in just a few feet. And, the one's who is in just a few feet could have been attending bible studies, going to sermons every week for 20 years; whereas the ones who are miles into their walk could have just met Christ the year prior! As long as we are on the "narrow path", we will grow differently. God will reveal to us what He decides and when to do so. We play a part in how fast or slow we grow and the reasons can be quite a few but, I'd just say that He will fill open hearts and minds that are ready for the Truth.
If someone say's they they "know all they need to know", would God see fit to reveal Himself to such an attitude of stiffneckedness? (just added that word to my dictionary, lol) I don't think God would, Jesus didn't with the Pharisees...so, we cannot see where others are at unless we can observe their lives in real time on a regular basis, and even then there can be things you might not be aware of ;)

 

[justbyfaith]

I have my theories and opinions but I live in a world where 1+1+1=1 is illogical.

It is 1 x 1 x 1 = 1.

 

[justbyfaith]

@mjrhealth,

I think that Psalms 119 might be a good read for you.

 

[Nancy]

Christianity hasn’t lost anything. Many will not choose God’s provision for salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but Christianity is as strong as it was when the apostles received the Holy Spirit.

A big AMEN to that. The human condition has nothing at all to do with His provision and promises. He never changes. His promises are still the same and will remain that way...it's circumstances in our lives that are ever changing! And, who do we hold onto throughout those circumstances that make us want to faint? Our Port in the storm, our Rock who steadies us because He is ALWAYS there and remains the same :) Faithful forevermore!

 

[BarneyFife]

It is 1 x 1 x 1 = 1.

Yeah, I get that a lot. But I've yet to see an explanation from the Bible as to How God multiplies Himself within Himself. Not that I'm saying He couldn't do it, but I don't see any indication of it in Scripture. It's a half-clever way to try to reconcile the Almighty with the constraints of human logic, but that's about all.

 

[mjrhealth]

Agreed Sir John!! :)

Although I DO agree that John 8:24 is relevant and needs to be addressed. What you say is quite true.
There are Christians who can be miles ahead in their walks in many ways, there are those who are in just a few feet. And, the one's who is in just a few feet could have been attending bible studies, going to sermons every week for 20 years; whereas the ones who are miles into their walk could have just met Christ the year prior! As long as we are on the "narrow path", we will grow differently. God will reveal to us what He decides and when to do so. We play a part in how fast or slow we grow and the reasons can be quite a few but, I'd just say that He will fill open hearts and minds that are ready for the Truth.
If someone say's they they "know all they need to know", would God see fit to reveal Himself to such an attitude of stiffneckedness? (just added that word to my dictionary, lol) I don't think God would, Jesus didn't with the Pharisees...so, we cannot see where others are at unless we can observe their lives in real time on a regular basis, and even then there can be things you might not be aware of ;)

There is a reason why I dont talk much about revelation, dont know much about it at all. But time is short...

 

[Stumpmaster]

Really have you looked at this forum. What has religion and mens churches to do with Him

Ok. mjr. I'll cut you some slack and admit that the OT Prophets and Jesus Himself were vocal and expressive about the degeneracy of Israel, the writers of the NT sought to correct numerous errors and warned about false brethren, deception, and apostacy, and Christianity still offers the same correction and warnings, and will continue to do so until the very last before the Lord's return.

I'm just not into a lot of handwringing and "woe is me" about Christianity because we are told not to pull up the weeds (tares) so as not to disturb the wheat.

The Parable of the Weeds​

Mat 13:24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
Mat 13:25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
Mat 13:26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
Mat 13:27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?'
Mat 13:28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?'
Mat 13:29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

 

[mjrhealth]

Ok. mjr. I'll cut you some slack and admit that the OT Prophets and Jesus Himself were vocal

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ' "

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

certainly in the midst of it....

 

[FollowHim]

How does one have a relationship with one whom you cannot hear or speak, reading the bible is no relationship with the one who is lives.

Act_17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Would you even put down that bible for a moment and ask Him or is he not faithful in that He will ansewr you, or is it that you may hear His voice??. That quiet still voice that is drowned out by mens thinking and the devil who is so loud.

Listening and putting into action Jesus's words is our relationship.

All relationships have communication. People say I want God to speak to me.... He has in Jesus's words.

Put the same words in my mouth and I speak them, the words are the same. The question is are we listening.....

God bless you

 

[mjrhealth]

He has in Jesus's words.

He can speak

The question is are we listening.....

Nope because all men want to do is read the bible, and God is far much greater than ink stains dried up on the lines of a page. If all the books in the world could not contain the works of Christ how many more would one need to contain the mystery and wisdom of God. Oh ye thats right we can shrink wrap Him.

 

[FollowHim]

He can speak

Nope because all men want to do is read the bible, and God is far much greater than ink stains dried up on the lines of a page. If all the books in the world could not contain the works of Christ how many more would one need to contain the mystery and wisdom of God. Oh ye thats right we can shrink wrap Him.

I wonder do you hear Jesus's words.
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matt 17:5

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.
Luke 6:47-48

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28

Hearing Jesus and understanding is the start of knowing Him.
God bless you

 

[mjrhealth]

I wonder do you hear Jesus's words.
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matt 17:5

47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.
Luke 6:47-48

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28

Hearing Jesus and understanding is the start of knowing Him.
God bless you

You and I have had this discussion before and you where the one that told me, if I hear voices in my head, like all those who do not hear, so we know who is not listening. Go listen to your idol the bible, it has no life it cannot speak.

 

[FollowHim]

You and I have had this discussion before and you where the one that told me, if I hear voices in my head, like all those who do not hear, so we know who is not listening. Go listen to your idol the bible, it has no life it cannot speak.

There is a simple point to be made here. Truth does not matter who says it, it is still truth.

One can believe the words read from the bible have no weight yet other sources are more important.
Such a position is understandable, but meaningless.

It is like saying a book could tell you gravity exists, while someone tells you it exists so you believe it.
The truth of gravity is separate from the message, it does not matter how you hear it, it stays the same.

The bible has power because it covers 2,000 years of testimony, in many peoples lives and cultures.
It is stunning in its depth and breadth, which encapsulates the heart of God and His leading.

Take a simple story, the creation of the world. Two perspectives. A step days of creation and a layer of importance in creation.
Both are true, yet you could feel contradictory. So much of what God shares is layers of reality, one on top of the other, which show the interplay of reality. So it is easy to grasp one issue, murder is evil, and then miss war is killing, brutal, yet not murder.
Or God loves us, yet is Holy, unapproachable, yet through faith and cleansing in Christ we have access.

It is scripture that holds up these pictures and stories and helps paint this complexity, that is eternal.
God is one, yet 3, combined yet separate and defined.

The gospel is to use everything and see Gods hand at work. There is nothing that does not speak of Him and His ways, even in the worst and most evil circumstance, still His truth rings out.

God bless you

 

[Billy Evmur]

Yes but even that time will come to an end, but for those at His wedding, only those who made themselves ready in Him, has nothing to do with salvation. And so they will go to the high ways and bi ways, because many still refuse Him, where not talking about the unsaved here

That can't be right can it. Most've the church are now sleeping in the Lord ... how they gunna make themselves ready? If Jesus had an 100 billion sheep and 1 went astray He would go find that sheeps and bring him home rejoicing, of all the disciples whom the Father gave to Him has never lost one. His sheeps are His property. nobody can snatch them out of His hand.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Its no wonder so few wil be at His wedding, and He has to send the workers to the hi ways and bi ways, because "christianity"has lost its first love, and now I can too understand why He said, when I come will I find faith upon the earth, bit like looking for a needle in the Mariana Trench.

Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

so many wide ways...

Welcome to the church age of Laodecia!

1. Many churches have a form of godliness (nice doctrinal statements) but deny the power thereof.
2. Too man churches are "seeker sensitive" or feelings oriented.
3. too many are growth without depth.
4. Too many have abandoned sound doctrine for interpreting per what the culture desires.

But this is mainly America and Europe. In 2nd and 3rd world countries there is great revival breaking out and people living and dying for the faith.

 

[Truman]

Its no wonder so few wil be at His wedding, and He has to send the workers to the hi ways and bi ways, because "christianity"has lost its first love, and now I can too understand why He said, when I come will I find faith upon the earth, bit like looking for a needle in the Mariana Trench.

Mat 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mat 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

so many wide ways...

Many are called to the body but few are chosen to minister to the body.
Even fewer are elected from the chosen to make up the bride.
We are all part of God's pipeline of provision to a lost and dying world.
What an awesome privilege!
Picture holding a pencil, point between you left thumb and index finger and flat end between your right finger and thumb.
You read either left to right or right to left to get the surface message of God's word.
Now roll the pencil between your index fingers and thumbs so that you are now reading vertically.
This is the second dimension of God's written word.
Lay the horizontal line across the vertical line and you have a cross!
God is so creative!
The horizontal revelation of the written word is only found in the original Hebrew text which means we have a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional word of our three-dimensional God, aka Elohim (Genesis 1:26). :)

 

[Nancy]

Many are called to the body but few are chosen to minister to the body.
Even fewer are elected from the chosen to make up the bride.
We are all part of God's pipeline of provision to a lost and dying world.
What an awesome privilege!
Picture holding a pencil, point between you left thumb and index finger and flat end between your right finger and thumb.
You read either left to right or right to left to get the surface message of God's word.
Now roll the pencil between your index fingers and thumbs so that you are now reading vertically.
This is the second dimension of God's written word.
Lay the horizontal line across the vertical line and you have a cross!
God is so creative!
The horizontal revelation of the written word is only found in the original Hebrew text which means we have a two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional word of our three-dimensional God, aka Elohim (Genesis 1:26). :)

That's pretty awesome Ron!

 

[Truman]

That's pretty awesome Ron!

That's God for you!

 

[Nancy]

That's God for you!

Sho yo rite!!!!!! :)