The deepest human desire. - The longing to be safe at home.

[TazzJazz]

Who knew that AI could be so smart? This is exactly what we know to be true.....Scripture interprets Scripture.....

We have Amazon's Alexa which is AI too. And some of the conversations I have with it .... from evolution to God's Kingdom w? Christ & His brothers ruling .... are fantastic!!

He (Alexa) has actually confirmed that my understanding of evolution, explains / fits the evidence better than the Common Descent version promoted by mainstream scientists! I love that!

 

[Jack]

Ain't no evolution in the Christian Bible!

Psalm 33:6
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

 

[TazzJazz]

Can you tell us why Jesus warned us of EVERLASTING FIRE?

You mean the Fire that "death and Hell are cast into"? (Revelation 20:13.14)
How can you burn death or Hell?

 

[Jack]

You mean the Fire that "death and Hell are cast into"? (Revelation 20:13.14)

I mean Jesus' several warnings of EVERLASTING Hell Fire.

How can you burn death or Hell?

By the Word of the Lord! Death NEVER means 'cease to exist' in the Bible!

Rev 20 They will be TORMENTED day and night FOREVER ...

Including Billions of humans who do not believe in Hell!

 

[Brakelite]

A change in an individual can be seen in a wide range of scenarios, where such an individual simply made a choice to clean up their lives. AA for example, uses whatever “god” you accept as your own, to help you facilitate change in your life and then whoever your god is, will get the credit and maybe you will become attached to that one in your choice of worship? You changed your life by modifying your behaviour with good results, but is that proof of God being the reason for the change? Or was it simply self motivation?

Interesting tack you are taking here. You are writing a lot of words, but saying very little. We are all aware of the many in all churches, including your own, that attend church and go through the motions without any conversion experience. They have a form of godliness, but their hearts are far from God. They may appear to worship even. They say the prayers, they sing songs.

However, I see worship not so much as something we do, although that plays a part, but rather as something we are. Not a state of doing, but a state of being, and it is what we are that motivates what we do.

There are secular people in the world who wouldn't dream of breaking God's commandments. While they might not keep them all, there are certainly some who would find utterly repugnant that they should cheat on their wife or husband, nor even consider looking upon any other to lust after them.
There are others who are meticulous in honesty, they would never lie , cheat on their taxes, nor steal from anyone.
There are others who are so content with their lives that covetousness may as well be a foreign language.
And there are still others who may do all of the above and also dote on their parents and love and care for them right up to the grave.
Yet none of this could be construed as worship. Obedience yes, but our righteousness is as filthy rags.

There are church-going people who sing hymns. Yet they then go home and beat their wives and watch pornography on television.
There are still others who 'religiously' attend church every week but live the rest of the week pursuing money, fame, and reputation at the expense of others. There are even some who attend church every week because it benefits them to have the contacts for sales and business. None of this could be considered in any sense worship.

Worship is a surrendered life. Worship is a recognition that God is alone worthy to rule and reign in the life. Worship is a state of being where one is completely submitted to the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit fills the person to the extent that one's very nature is changed , sometimes radically. Worship is a state of being where one's will becomes one with the will of God. A state of being where one hates the things God hates, and loves the things God loves. A state of being where one is conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, identical in character, identical in motives, identical in hope and faith and love. Then, and only then, everything we do,
even our secular labour, is infused with the love of God, both for Him and others. Everything we do is then an expression of the overflowing love of God and can be used of Him as a vehicle for the sharing of the gospel and for providing for the needs of others.
The concordance in both the Greek and Hebrew reveals the word worship means to prostrate oneself, to crouch down even face down upon the earth before God. That is the outward physical expression of the submission and surrender that is required .... when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:23.
So why do we worship God and not something, or someone else? Because of who He is. The Creator of heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them is worthy. He who created all things, became a man and died on behalf of mankind is Lord of Lords and deserves the fidelity and love of all His creation. Greater love hath no man than he who lays down his life for a friend. There is a greater love however, and that is the love that motivated Jesus to lay down His life even for His enemies. Laying down our lives for our Creator is the very least we can do.

Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

[quietthinker]

I mean Jesus' several warnings of EVERLASTING Hell Fire.

By the Word of the Lord! Death NEVER means 'cease to exist' in the Bible!

Rev 20 They will be TORMENTED day and night FOREVER ...

Including Billions of humans who do not believe in Hell!

Rev 20 They will be TORMENTED day and night FOREVER ...
Including Billions of humans who do not believe in Hell!

Even those who do!

 

[Jack]

Rev 20 They will be TORMENTED day and night FOREVER ...
Including Billions of humans who do not believe in Hell!

Amen!

Even those who do!

Some, no doubt. God knows how many.

 

[St. SteVen]

However, I see worship not so much as something we do, although that plays a part, but rather as something we are.

Wow. Fantastic post, thanks.

 

[St. SteVen]

Even those who do!

I have a theory that EVERYONE will be surprised at where they end up.

 

[St. SteVen]

--- PARODY ---

A believer in hell.

Believer: Where am I?
Demon: Welcome to hell.
Believer: What?!! I'm not supposed to be here!
Demon: Why not?
Believer: I'm a Christian!
Demon: Did you really think that would keep you out of hell?
Believer: Yes, that's how it works.
Demon: Explain.
Believer: Become a Christian and avoid hell.
Demon: Did it work?
Believer: This is a nightmare, something is wrong!
Demon: Jesus sent you here because you need a tune-up.
Believer: What?
Demon: The fire here is meant to refine you, redeem you.
Believer: I thought I was already redeemed.
Demon: Like I said, you need a little work.
Believer: Are you going to torture me.
Demon: It's not like that. I'm here to help.
Believer: (suddenly wakes up from nightmare)
Believer: I think I need to do some work.

 

[quietthinker]

I have a theory that EVERYONE will be surprised at where they end up.

Really? I'm confident I'll be translated when Jesus comes.

 

[St. SteVen]

Really? I'm confident I'll be translated when Jesus comes.

Do you really trust translators?
There can be doctrinal translation bias.

 

[Brakelite]

I have a theory that EVERYONE will be surprised at where they end up.

I think we will all be surprised at where others end up.

 

[quietthinker]

Do you really trust translators?
There can be doctrinal translation bias.

Yeah yeah. In my early years that stuff generated some confusion but since it has settled in my understanding that Jesus genuinely likes me (even though the idea still blows me out) the translation stuff is not such an issue.
Since being assured that Jesus is the ultimate authority makes me take particular notice of what he says and its context. Understanding scripture has become far less complicated. I see folk thrashing around in issues which I consider straw men and am surprised at how unnecessarily complicated they make it for themselves. It's like they don't understand or don't want to understand the weightiness of, 'Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so'

 

[Jack]

Yeah yeah. In my early years that stuff generated some confusion but since it has settled in my understanding that Jesus genuinely likes me (even though the idea still blows me out) the translation stuff is not such an issue.
Since being assured that Jesus is the ultimate authority makes me take particular notice of what he says and its context. Understanding scripture has become far less complicated. I see folk thrashing around in issues which I consider straw men and am surprised at how unnecessarily complicated they make it for themselves. It's like they don't understand or don't want to understand the weightiness of, 'Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so'

Enjoy what Jesus said!

Matthew 24:38-39
38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Nothing of what you have said counters or contradicts the born again experience. All you are doing is adding fluff in an attempt to deviate people away from the main issue. People need a change of heart. A change of mind. True repentance. A turning away from the world in mindset and choosing to embrace the principles and truths of the kingdom of God and His Gospel. You filing out the story of Nicodemus and Cornelius doesn't explain the miracle of the radical about turn, along with the willingness to face persecution and loss of position either in court or the military, for the sake of truth.

What you fail to discern with Cornelius was that it wasn’t a radical turn around in his case....Cornelius had been favouring the Jews for some time...he was obviously drawn to their God and to his worship, which in turn allowed God to “draw” him to the teachings of his son. (John 6:44; 65) No one can come to the son, unless it is granted by the Father. So what are you missing here?

You are writing a lot of words, but saying very little.

LOL...for someone complaining about writing a lot of words and saying nothing, you did a great job of doing that yourself. How about you deal with the Scriptures offered instead of using a lot of words that are not addressing the subject we were discussing.....being “born again”.

We are all aware of the many in all churches, including your own, that attend church and go through the motions without any conversion experience. They have a form of godliness, but their hearts are far from God. They may appear to worship even. They say the prayers, they sing songs.

So....? God knows who they are, so what has that got to do with the subject? God doesn’t read labels.

However, I see worship not so much as something we do, although that plays a part, but rather as something we are. Not a state of doing, but a state of being, and it is what we are that motivates what we do.

And what motivates humans to change their course and alter their behaviors? There are a number of reasons why people choose to alter their lifestyle, and not all of them are about God.

Why do you think that Jesus sent out preachers to take his message to the people? (Matt 10:11-14) If the Holy Spirit was just going to sneak up on people unannounced and uninvited, then what was the point of that?

Paul told us the reason...
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:13-15 NKJV)

“The Lord” here is Yahweh as Paul was quoting Joel 2:32, where the Tetragrammaton appears in that original verse. So calling on the name of the right God is important. It’s the name Jesus said he came to make known (John 17:25-26)....the one he highlighted in the Lord’s Prayer when he said “hallowed be THY name” ....not “my name”.

What does the Word “gospel” mean Brakelite?

Unless the people hear the message and it’s “good news” to them, they cannot respond to what they have never heard.
Who are out there preaching this “gospel” “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations” before God brings the curtain down on this poor excuse for a world? (Matt 24:14)

Do members of your church engage in this preaching work? If so what is “the gospel of the Kingdom”?
Can you explain what you would tell them to make them want to come to Christ?
Can you make it one story from Genesis to Revelation?

 

[quietthinker]

What you fail to discern with Cornelius was that it wasn’t a radical turn around in his case....Cornelius had been favouring the Jews for some time...he was obviously drawn to their God and to his worship, which in turn allowed God to “draw” him to the teachings of his son. (John 6:44; 65) No one can come to the son, unless it is granted by the Father. So what are you missing here?


LOL...for someone complaining about writing a lot of words and saying nothing, you did a great job of doing that yourself. How about you deal with the Scriptures offered instead of using a lot of words that are not addressing the subject we were discussing.....being “born again”.

So....? God knows who they are, so what has that got to do with the subject? God doesn’t read labels.

And what motivates humans to change their course and alter their behaviors? There are a number of reasons why people choose to alter their lifestyle, and not all of them are about God.

Why do you think that Jesus sent out preachers to take his message to the people? (Matt 10:11-14) If the Holy Spirit was just going to sneak up on people unannounced and uninvited, then what was the point of that?

Paul told us the reason...
“For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom 10:13-15 NKJV)

“The Lord” here is Yahweh as Paul was quoting Joel 2:32, where the Tetragrammaton appears in that original verse. So calling on the name of the right God is important. It’s the name Jesus said he came to make known (John 17:25-26)....the one he highlighted in the Lord’s Prayer when he said “hallowed be THY name” ....not “my name”.

What does the Word “gospel” mean Brakelite?

Unless the people hear the message and it’s “good news” to them, they cannot respond to what they have never heard.
Who are out there preaching this “gospel” “in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations” before God brings the curtain down on this poor excuse for a world? (Matt 24:14)

Do members of your church engage in this preaching work? If so what is “the gospel of the Kingdom”?
Can you explain what you would tell them to make them want to come to Christ?
Can you make it one story from Genesis to Revelation?

Just to bounce off your second last question AJ, you have never said anything which would want me to come to Jesus AJ. Don't you think that is rather odd?
Rattling on about your bible knowledge and the lack others have has no drawing power. All it does is tell me of your need to let others know how informed you consider yourself to be.

 

[St. SteVen]

New topic:

What do you reverence? - misplaced worship?

Should we reverence anything but God? What sort of things are reverenced inappropriately? What behaviors of others illicit indignation on your part? Due to their perceived irreverence. Is it blasphemy to speak irreverently about things other than God? The church, the Bible, a...

www.christianityboard.com

 

[Aunty Jane]

Just to bounce off your second last question AJ, you have never said anything which would want me to come to Jesus AJ. Don't you think that is rather odd?
Rattling on about your bible knowledge and the lack others have has no drawing power. All it does is tell me of your need to let others know how informed you consider yourself to be.

What makes you think that anything I say would draw you to Jesus, QT? It isn’t me who reads the heart’s response to the message of the Kingdom, and “draws” anyone to Jesus....it is Yahweh.

Read Matthew 10:11-14 and see what Jesus’ said to his disciples, whom he sent out to all the local towns and villages with these instructions.....

“...whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” (ESV)

Jesus instructed his disciples collectively, who in turn instructed others, personally.

Was everyone going to listen to the message, or to receive these disciples hospitably?....Was everyone going to be happy to hear what they had to say?

What does it mean when Jesus says...”if the house is worthy”? Doesn’t it mean that their visit was well received?....and as result, “peace” would come, to the disciples as well as to their households, indicating the presence of God’s spirit. (John 6:44)

But if they were turned away, how were the disciples to react? They were to “shake the dust off their feet”. Why was that significant? It was customary for a household to greet their guests with the washing of their feet, but since the household rejected the messengers, they had to ‘shake the dust off their feet’ and move on to the next house.

The next verse tells us why many would not welcome their visits....
15 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

The preaching work assigned to Christ’s disciples was clearly not something that was going to be easy...the majority would send them away, many of them angry at their audacity to approach them personally. Their religious leaders would have warned them about this Jesus and his disciples, claiming that they were apostates, when in reality, it was the religious leaders themselves who were the defectors whose worship was unacceptable. (Matt 15:7–9)

But that didn’t cause the disciples undue concern, because as Jesus said.....
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20 ESV)
It was a command....not just a suggestion.

When was this preaching about God’s Kingdom going to stop?
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:14)

Jesus was going to be “with” them in this work, right to “the end”.....how were the disciples going to find as many as possible? They did what emergency service workers do when a natural disaster is looming...they go door to door to warn people, so that they don’t miss anyone. (Acts 5:42; Acts 20:20)

Two questions for you QT....what is “the Kingdom” that is “coming”?.....and how is it tied in with “the end” which is also “coming”?

 

[quietthinker]

What makes you think that anything I say would draw you to Jesus, QT? It isn’t me who reads the heart’s response to the message of the Kingdom, and “draws” anyone to Jesus....it is Yahweh.

Read Matthew 10:11-14 and see what Jesus’ said to his disciples, whom he sent out to all the local towns and villages with these instructions.....

“...whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.” (ESV)

Jesus instructed his disciples collectively, who in turn instructed others, personally.

Was everyone going to listen to the message, or to receive these disciples hospitably?....Was everyone going to be happy to hear what they had to say?

What does it mean when Jesus says...”if the house is worthy”? Doesn’t it mean that their visit was well received?....and as result, “peace” would come, to the disciples as well as to their households, indicating the presence of God’s spirit. (John 6:44)

But if they were turned away, how were the disciples to react? They were to “shake the dust off their feet”. Why was that significant? It was customary for a household to greet their guests with the washing of their feet, but since the household rejected the messengers, they had to ‘shake the dust off their feet’ and move on to the next house.

The next verse tells us why many would not welcome their visits....
15 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

The preaching work assigned to Christ’s disciples was clearly not something that was going to be easy...the majority would send them away, many of them angry at their audacity to approach them personally. Their religious leaders would have warned them about this Jesus and his disciples, claiming that they were apostates, when in reality, it was the religious leaders themselves who were the defectors whose worship was unacceptable. (Matt 15:7–9)

But that didn’t cause the disciples undue concern, because as Jesus said.....
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20 ESV)
It was a command....not just a suggestion.

When was this preaching about God’s Kingdom going to stop?
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:14)

Jesus was going to be “with” them in this work, right to “the end”.....how were the disciples going to find as many as possible? They did what emergency service workers do when a natural disaster is looming...they go door to door to warn people, so that they don’t miss anyone. (Acts 5:42; Acts 20:20)

Two questions for you QT....what is “the Kingdom” that is “coming”?.....and how is it tied in with “the end” which is also “coming”?

There two things I need to repeat in reply....

1.....You have snowed yourself with your own rhetoric, ie one deduction (form of logic) rolls into another and continues. Subsequently the inevitable truck load of words...... to say what otherwise can be said in few words.
2.....Re God's Kingdom, it is both in 'you', amongst 'you', and coming in the future. Any further explanation is futile, not because there is an unwillingness to explain it but rather the structure of your entrenched paradigm wont allow vision.