89 chapter project: Matthew

[Luce NDs]

What should be raised in respect for lack of irrationality?

Where is there a lack of irrationality? Maybe some thin space without aires ... Hermes being Aaron 'd out ... breezy sols in sobriquet? Naming of the chip ... a gritty process!

That lucky old S'N ... flaring w/o concerns ... chaos blossoms ...

 

[unsafe]

This is my view -----

Revelations 3:20 ------it is us who have to open the door by and through Faith ----we do the receiving by allowing Him access by our opening of the door -----Jesus is knocking -----but we have to open the door in Faith and give Him Access ------we have free will to choose to keep the door shut or open it --we need the right kind of Faith to help us open the door ------

It is our Faith that opens the door ------Sanctification is included in Sozo ----Salvation ------


Revelation 3:20(EXB)
20 ·Here I am [L Look; T Behold]! I stand at the door and knock. If ·you [L anyone] hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.

unsafe says -----
So we can say by my Faith which comes from hearing the word of God ---Which gives God the Glory --- I opened the door that Jesus was so greatly knocking on and I accepted His Free Grace Gift of Salvation -----which gives God the Glory -----


It says IF YOU OPEN THE DOOR -------

 

[Jaebius]

as I said above, I have never ever heard anyone making claims for themselves, but if it makes you more comfortable to use different wordings, you are free to do so.

What I've heard a lot of is people claiming that all of the credit goes to God - but then also making all kinds of, "I..." "I...." "I..." statements. This individualism is, imho, also reflected in much of the music that gets sung. As one example, there's a dreadful tune called, "Above All." Perhaps you've heard it - "...and thought of me above all." Ugh.

 

[blackbelt1961]

What I've heard a lot of is people claiming that all of the credit goes to God - but then also making all kinds of, "I..." "I...." "I..." statements. This individualism is, imho, also reflected in much of the music that gets sung. As one example, there's a dreadful tune called, "Above All." Perhaps you've heard it - "...and thought of me above all." Ugh.

but that's all the above really is, your humble opinion, if you don't like a song, who cares, I certainly don't, the danger comes when we feel we have to have the right words as you posted earlier, that's control, not freedom, when we do that we begin to tread into legalism.

 

[blackbelt1961]

It says IF YOU OPEN THE DOOR -------

and this I agree with, that has been my personal experience, this is not to say that God does not have sovereign authority to do as he wills, and call one that has not opened the door, or that God has not helped the believer to open that door, ultimately without God placing the door in our faces and rd signs along the way to find the door in the first place , we would never have the ability to enter it.

how much the believer is involved in entering the door, I really don't care, im just happy that believer has

and that is what ultimately important

 

[Jaebius]

but that's all the above really is, your humble opinion, if you don't like a song, who cares, I certainly don't, the danger comes when we feel we have to have the right words as you posted earlier, that's control, not freedom, when we do that we begin to tread into legalism.

Words have power, and the messages that words convey are important. It is not about legalistically saying only the right words blackbelt - no one's salvation is at stake for using the wrong ones. It is about using words to truly give God the glory, praise and honor.

 

[chansen]

I really don't care who "Born Agains" think they are crediting. Here's what I think this boils down to:

If you had to be trapped in an elevator for an hour with either a "Born Again" Christian, or a Satanist, I think it's quite obvious that most people, including many Christians, with no other information, would choose the Satanist.

"Born Again" is a phrase that elicits facepalms across age, race and religious divides. Unless you are a "Born Again" yourself, your group is popularly regarded as judgmental and insufferable. That is simply how you are seen.

But don't worry, you Born Agains here are *totally* rehabilitating that image.

 

[paradox3]

For folks continuing to discuss "Being Born Again", is the parable of the workers in the vineyard important when considering what happens when one is born again?

There are several other parables about the kingdom of heaven. How relevant are they to the concept of being born again?

 

[Jaebius]

and this I agree with, that has been my personal experience, this is not to say that God does not have sovereign authority to do as he wills, and call one that has not opened the door, or that God has not helped the believer to open that door, ultimately without God placing the door in our faces and rd signs along the way to find the door in the first place , we would never have the ability to enter it.

how much the believer is involved in entering the door, I really don't care, im just happy that believer has

and that is what ultimately important

It's important to note, I think, that verse is part of a letter the missionary John is to write to the church in Laodicea. That is to say, to the gathered believers in Laodicea. That this is the case indicates that the verse is speaking of sanctification and not salvation. The Laodiceans were running hot and cold. Thus, these words are to implore them to open up their hearts more to Christ, that their coolness might go away.

 

[paradox3]

I really don't care who "Born Agains" think they are crediting. Here's what I think this boils down to:

If you had to be trapped in an elevator for an hour with either a "Born Again" Christian, or a Satanist, I think it's quite obvious that most people, including many Christians, with no other information, would choose the Satanist.

"Born Again" is a phrase that elicits facepalms across age, race and religious divides. Unless you are a "Born Again" yourself, your group is popularly regarded as judgmental and insufferable. That is simply how you are seen.

But don't worry, you Born Agains here are *totally* rehabilitating that image.

You do have a way with words.

 

[Jaebius]

I really don't care who "Born Agains" think they are crediting. Here's what I think this boils down to:

If you had to be trapped in an elevator for an hour with either a "Born Again" Christian, or a Satanist, I think it's quite obvious that most people, including many Christians, with no other information, would choose the Satanist.

"Born Again" is a phrase that elicits facepalms across age, race and religious divides. Unless you are a "Born Again" yourself, your group is popularly regarded as judgmental and insufferable. That is simply how you are seen.

But don't worry, you Born Agains here are *totally* rehabilitating that image.

Personally, I'd rather be trapped in an elevator (if I had to be) with someone who is not making a pitch to me - a stranger - about how I must be born again.

That said, I have friends who identify as born again who I love spending time with.

 

[paradox3]

Read somewhere recently that Jesus speaks plainly when it comes to ethics and compassion but uses parables to describe the kingdom of heaven. Is this completely true? I don't even know but I should have an opinion about it when I finish reading the 89 chapters of the gospels.

The project is a bit daunting (69 chapters to go) but I have been thinking about including the book of Acts in my plan . . . that will be 28 additional chapters .

I am still wondering about the relationship between being born again and the parables re: the kingdom of heaven.

 

[blackbelt1961]

Words have power, and the messages that words convey are important. It is not about legalistically saying only the right words blackbelt - no one's salvation is at stake for using the wrong ones. It is about using words to truly give God the glory, praise and honor.

for your sake then you better make sure you say the proper words

 

[paradox3]

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus might be saying that God will call us according to our abilities and settle with us as God chooses. I think the laborers who were picked at the beginning of the day would have been the strongest and most capable of the lot. God treats them fairly, i.e. pays them as promised, but does not afford them any special status. They grumble when the workers picked later in the day are paid the same amount.

Lots to think about here. I was indeed mulling this parable over on the subway earlier today.

 

[Jaebius]

for your sake then you better make sure you say the proper words

Every Christian, imho, should speak in ways that honor Christ.

 

[paradox3]

@unsafe. You seem to be quite convinced I am seeing certain things incorrectly.

What if we are two laborers who did not get picked at the same time of day to work in the vineyard? Say one of us got picked at the sixth hour and one of us got picked at the ninth hour? According to the parable our toil will be of equal value to the landowner.

 

[paradox3]

Every Christian, imho, should speak in ways that honor Christ.

Could you be more specific please?

 

[Jaebius]

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus might be saying that God will call us according to our abilities and settle with us as God chooses. I think the laborers who were picked at the beginning of the day would have been the strongest and most capable of the lot. God treats them fairly, i.e. pays them as promised, but does not afford them any special status. They grumble when the workers picked later in the day are paid the same amount.

Lots to think about here. I was indeed mulling this parable over on the subway earlier today.

The parable, I think, is about righteousness. When Jesus saves someone, they are seen by God as through the lens of Christ. Hence, those who are saved early on are not worthier of a greater reward than those saved later. That is to say, all are inheritors of heaven.

 

[blackbelt1961]

Every Christian, imho, should speak in ways that honor Christ.

Which was not what we were talking about

 

[Jaebius]

Could you be more specific please?

Well... @blackbelt1961 and I have just been discussing it here on your thread (which may mean we've been derailing - sorry for that). Imho, too often in evangelical churches, people speak as if they want to claim credit for themselves when it comes to spiritual matters. They say things like, "I decided for Christ," "I led so-and-so to the Lord," etc. I believe what we should say are things more like, "Christ saved me," and, "Christ saved so-and-so." I feel this way because I believe that people have no power to accept Christ, decide for Christ, etc.