Church Bashing

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amadeus

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I think I worded that poorly.

The story of the parable conflicts with what the Bible tells us about those who are the body of Christ.

Much love!
Who are those... those who are the Body of Christ? Until they are perfectly formed to fit into the Body of Christ are they really a part of it? Does Jesus already have a place to rest his head? When will his Body be ready and fully subject to the Head?
 

stunnedbygrace

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You had to learn for yourself that you couldn't do it.

Yes. Foolish galatian!
But…can God do it? Men say no. They say my flesh will always prevent it. But…I think they’re not speaking the truth. So…I was frightened about the parable of being thrown in prison but…now I’m not. I really, really trust God and think He can make me righteous in my heart. I think if I keep trusting Him He can help me die. Oh…see there - I was scared when I saw I couldn’t do it and tried to explain it away as hypothetical. But I’m not scared now that I believe He will do and can do all He said and all He commands me. So I should keep asking and waiting, right?
 
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marks

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Who are those... those who are the Body of Christ? Until they are perfectly formed to fit into the Body of Christ are they really a part of it? Does Jesus already have a place to rest his head? When will his Body be ready and fully subject to the Head?

Your question is fully answered here . . .

Ephesians 5:29-32 KJV
29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

Much love!
 
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marks

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I LOVE listening to the Smucker Family! And I LOVE every word of this beautiful hymn!

. . . those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true!

 
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Nancy

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If you walk in the Spirit, you will not do the works of the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit stops sin in it's tracks. I believe our difficulty is remaining in that Spirit walk. A contrary thing happens - external threat, internal desire, or fear, or whatever it may be - and if we maintain our trusting in God, we will maintain our walking in the Spirit. But then we hear a flesh-thought in our minds, and fail to stop it, and instead let it continue, and grow stronger.

What we don't realize is that this is the mind of the flesh, a man long gone, but his patterns remain. So then, the check engine light comes on, and I twinge over it, the smallest fear response, it's not Spirit, it's fleshy. I can either remind myself God is caring for my needs, and I don't have to worry about a thing. That's taking the thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I'm serving Christ, not the fears of my flesh.

Or I can let the next thought come in . . . what will this cost, and can I afford it? Is my car going to leave me stranded? Will I even have a car? What will I do to get around?? And the flesh comes in like a flood.

I think the common Christian experience is to live in these fleshy thoughts much of the time, failing to realize that fully trusting Jesus brings a very different inner life.

Much love!

Thank you Marks,
Sure needed to hear that today, yesterday, day before...etc :D It's exactly how it works with me and it ALWAYS starts in the mind, and always a negative self defeating thought, thoughts of God not really loving me, He cares in material ways with the just and the unjust but it is the Spiritual that we all should be wanting to be blessed with. Funny how we (some) have no issues with trusting Him with our needs like, food, shelter...BUT...what I see missing in my life is Spiritual "sight", so as not to stumble. I stumble daily brother, and it is the most horrible thing as it's always the same thing, leaves me very weak in spirit.
Learning to walk in The Spirit WHILE being led by Him is ALL this gal desires yet, still eludes. Money and material things never meant anything to me, even in my B.C. days yet, He has made sure I can take care of my self alone, monetarily.
Sometimes it seems as though I'm going insane, for real...alone almost 100% of the time now...do not watch tv. One can only read the word for so long, be on this site for so long, play stupid mindless golf and bowling games on the phone for so long.


There is no Church around me that I will go to, or return to as, waste of time to myself as just cannot get close with folks and that hurts. So, choosing to stay home on Sunday makes me no difference. We can get our teaching, worship, and prayer done just fine at home but, it is the fellowship that is sorely missing here...never thought it would be so difficult to find Christian friends...in the flesh (You know what I mean, "IRL")
It's not healthy for mind, body or spirit to be so alone for the lions share of time but, what to do? Prayers for this very thing have gone unanswered for years so, what is one to think about that? I have much to give! Edification, empathy, rides for those too old or infirm to drive to church, Dr.'s visits, shopping, pray with, study with on and on.
I have to wonder why this prayer has not been answered? Unless I'm just fooling my own self and He has NOT "chosen" me? Yeah, INSANITY right now bro. Thanks for the post.


 

marks

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Thank you Marks,
Sure needed to hear that today, yesterday, day before...etc :D It's exactly how it works with me and it ALWAYS starts in the mind, and always a negative self defeating thought, thoughts of God not really loving me, He cares in material ways with the just and the unjust but it is the Spiritual that we all should be wanting to be blessed with. Funny how we (some) have no issues with trusting Him with our needs like, food, shelter...BUT...what I see missing in my life is Spiritual "sight", so as not to stumble. I stumble daily brother, and it is the most horrible thing as it's always the same thing, leaves me very weak in spirit.
Learning to walk in The Spirit WHILE being led by Him is ALL this gal desires yet, still eludes. Money and material things never meant anything to me, even in my B.C. days yet, He has made sure I can take care of my self alone, monetarily.
Sometimes it seems as though I'm going insane, for real...alone almost 100% of the time now...do not watch tv. One can only read the word for so long, be on this site for so long, play stupid mindless golf and bowling games on the phone for so long.


There is no Church around me that I will go to, or return to as, waste of time to myself as just cannot get close with folks and that hurts. So, choosing to stay home on Sunday makes me no difference. We can get our teaching, worship, and prayer done just fine at home but, it is the fellowship that is sorely missing here...never thought it would be so difficult to find Christian friends...in the flesh (You know what I mean, "IRL")
It's not healthy for mind, body or spirit to be so alone for the lions share of time but, what to do? Prayers for this very thing have gone unanswered for years so, what is one to think about that? I have much to give! Edification, empathy, rides for those too old or infirm to drive to church, Dr.'s visits, shopping, pray with, study with on and on.
I have to wonder why this prayer has not been answered? Unless I'm just fooling my own self and He has NOT "chosen" me? Yeah, INSANITY right now bro. Thanks for the post.

Praying for you Nancy!

Much love!
 
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Lambano

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Thank you Marks,
Sure needed to hear that today, yesterday, day before...etc :D It's exactly how it works with me and it ALWAYS starts in the mind, and always a negative self defeating thought, thoughts of God not really loving me, He cares in material ways with the just and the unjust but it is the Spiritual that we all should be wanting to be blessed with. Funny how we (some) have no issues with trusting Him with our needs like, food, shelter...BUT...what I see missing in my life is Spiritual "sight", so as not to stumble. I stumble daily brother, and it is the most horrible thing as it's always the same thing, leaves me very weak in spirit.
Learning to walk in The Spirit WHILE being led by Him is ALL this gal desires yet, still eludes. Money and material things never meant anything to me, even in my B.C. days yet, He has made sure I can take care of my self alone, monetarily.
Sometimes it seems as though I'm going insane, for real...alone almost 100% of the time now...do not watch tv. One can only read the word for so long, be on this site for so long, play stupid mindless golf and bowling games on the phone for so long.


There is no Church around me that I will go to, or return to as, waste of time to myself as just cannot get close with folks and that hurts. So, choosing to stay home on Sunday makes me no difference. We can get our teaching, worship, and prayer done just fine at home but, it is the fellowship that is sorely missing here...never thought it would be so difficult to find Christian friends...in the flesh (You know what I mean, "IRL")
It's not healthy for mind, body or spirit to be so alone for the lions share of time but, what to do? Prayers for this very thing have gone unanswered for years so, what is one to think about that? I have much to give! Edification, empathy, rides for those too old or infirm to drive to church, Dr.'s visits, shopping, pray with, study with on and on.
I have to wonder why this prayer has not been answered? Unless I'm just fooling my own self and He has NOT "chosen" me? Yeah, INSANITY right now bro. Thanks for the post.

Aw, Nancy. Sometimes I wish I could reach through the computer screen and give someone a hug.
 

Lambano

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Yes. Foolish galatian!

Since you were mentioning Galatians...

20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20-21)
 

stunnedbygrace

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Oh, Jen, don't you see? Jesus came in the flesh to identify with you in your flesh. His death IS your death. His Resurrection and His Life is your life.

So…it’s hypothetical or ethereal or…not for real until later? Or He can actually and will actually give me the power to stop murdering so my righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees?
 

stunnedbygrace

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Since you were mentioning Galatians...

20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20-21)

Pauls flesh was crucified. If I still fulfill the lusts of my flesh, is my flesh crucified just because Paul’s was?
 

marks

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Romans 6:3-11 KJV
3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are told to "reckon" because our walk is by faith and not sight.
 
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Lambano

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So…it’s hypothetical or ethereal or…not for real until later? Or He can actually and will actually give me the power to stop murdering so my righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees?
What He will give you is this:

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
 

stunnedbygrace

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What He will give you is this:

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

There it is again! So that we might become…
Is that for here and now?
 

BarneyFife

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I think I worded that poorly.

The story of the parable conflicts with what the Bible tells us about those who are the body of Christ.

Much love!
Still sounds like dispensationalism. Also a distinction without a difference, maybe? :):p
 

stunnedbygrace

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Oh, good heavens no. Your flesh was crucified because Jesus's flesh was crucified.

If my flesh is already crucified, why do I fulfill its lusts? Murder in my heart, unforgiveness in my heart, angers, resentments?
 
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