Reviving Biblical Christianity (The Way) Part 2

[ProDeo]

I'm not convinced that even the most mature and holy saint will understand every jot and tittle of scripture correctly. I believe their testimonies, but consider that their doctrines always need to be examined/ tested. Unless there is a point at which growing and learning ever ceases in this life.

Amen.

Just recently (at the age of 76, image that) I became aware of the depth of 2 sins in my Christian life, I cried and repented. What more is there? I wonder.

 

[ProDeo]

As per usual, my thread is being overrun with carnal religiosity.

As per usual, you could not resist the temptation to bully participating members.

 

[Hepzibah]

I read Guyon more or less made quietism popular. I am trying to understand, you kneel into a prayer of silence, waiting for the Lord to speak or to experience His presence. Am I close?

I think that is about it. A good few thought that it brought one too near far eastern practises.

 

[Episkopos]

As per usual, you could not resist the temptation to bully participating members.

People always accuse me of what they are doing. If you see pointing out the flesh as bullying...then where are you living from?

My point is to wake people up to reality...eternal reality...not torment people before the time.

 

[marks]

Then therre is the myth about gradual sanctification that will gradually take place till death perfects it. The Bible does not say this. It emphasises today.

It does in fact speak to this.

Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
12) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

This is a Present Tense Active Voice showing ongoing action.

Philippians 1:6 KJV
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Future tense, telling us the same thing, this work continues throughout our lives.

We are set apart being baptized into Christ, and then we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Much love!

 

[Hepzibah]

Philippians 1:6 KJV
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The Day of Jesus Christ is not interpreted in the way you mean, according to the theology I am explaining.

The Day of the Lord, rather refers to the day of transformation/transfiguration, or the day of baptism by the Spirit. The very early church taught this as the day when Theosis would be fulfilled in us and we would become one with Christ in this life not the next..

George Fox in the west taught it very clearly as the Day of the Lord.

There are many scriptures that mainstream Christianity interpret in the same way. It is so because the Lord wishes it to be something that is revealed to those who are truly seeking holiness. It is thereofre not a subject to be argued about.

 

[marks]

It is thereofre not a subject to be argued about.

There is no need to argue about this verse, and it is not the only one to make such statements, others using different language indicating the same truth.

Theosis, while you may have a body of writing about it, is not Scriptural, while the transformation by the renewing of the mind is Scriptural. As an aside, I don't see that unity with Jesus Christ is something for the afterlife only.

Concerning the 'day of Christ' indicating a day in which one receives theosis, I'd point to this place:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 KJV
1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
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.

We do need to keep our interpretations consisitent, don't we? Let Scripture interpret Scripture?

Much love!

 

[IndianaRob]

Amen. The part of the Mark 4 verse that I underlined was to show the concept of different phases of growth until the ear was fully ripe. The fruit can be seen/discerned, but the process itself is not visible as such.......I think that is what is meant by "he knoweth not how". We go through our trials etc but even we don't know how it is working in us. We may only see the results in hindsight later, but don't know exactly how the fruit was wrought.

Just my own rambling thoughts here, but I believe God will judge at least partly based on how well or whether the person (believer) was running their race with the time they had. As long as they are in the race (narrow path) and not backslidden or avoiding the altar through disobedience. Like a child growing, we wouldn't expect a two year old to walk as well as an adult running a marathon. Like children in school are "graded" according to their grade level, not against university level standards. But conversely if an able-bodied 40 year old, for example, is still living at their parent's house toddling and stumbling around in diapers, 38 years later, well.....that one is not likely to be rewarded I would think. Whether such a one is still even saved or not, I think we need to let God decide that, since He is the only one who knows all the ins and outs of any person's situation. But the danger of not growing is that they can more easily fall away....as Heb 6 seems to imply. And as we sadly seem to see that happening with the modern church in general.

Suffering is key to growth.....".it is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of heaven".....but who can even say why some suffer more than others, and others seem to sail along with fewer bumps in the road... I don't know. Whether that is just an element of chance or God's doing per se, or some of each, I dont' know.

I needed the reminder about suffering recently, reading something in a little book by Watchman Nee (Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit).....it was strengthening. I haven't tended to suffer well.....too much murmuring, complaining and struggling and wriggling against it instead of accepting it and submitting myself to God IN it.

I appreciate you sharing that, Lizbeth. I just want to say though, the joy of the Lord is our strength, not our suffering and not our performance. His burden is supposed to be light.

You mentioned Hebrews 6 earlier, what do you think that passage is actually warning about? Do you feel like it’s about a believer losing salvation?

 

[IndianaRob]

for it is written be YE HOLY for I AM HOLY .
He who
has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin that he no longer should live in sin but UNTO the HOLY GOD .
For by HIM we have been given the divine nature by which we can overcome the flesh my friend .
Now to the trenches one and to the trenches all . Jesus never has , or ever will support ANY sin .
And that DARN sure includes UNBELIEF . Unbeleif is to call GOD a liar .
Lets go ahead and get this said .
So allow me to say it .
HE who recieves HIS testimony has set to his seal that GOD IS TRUE . JESUS SAID that LOVELY TRUTH
and john would also remind us
bUT he who bELEIVES NOT the testimony that GOD gave of the SON , HE CALLS GOD A LIAR .
So its darn certain that inclusive ecumeincal intefaith IS THE LIAR .
And as such we cannot have any part in its fornicational false love cup .
WE cannot join hands with it or any other that does it , for all who do so
are co helpers to A LIE and NOT THE TRUTH . and the blood of every man and every woman
will be on their hands . OH IT BE WARNING TIME .
Cause for all this JUDGMENT , the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT and WRATH is gonna come upon all
who loved a lie and had rejected the TRUTH . And no man
wants to be trying to explain to JESUS on HIS DAY why they WERE in any way co helpers to THAT LIE .
cause it wont BODE well for any of them .

Amigo you still haven't told me whether Christ's righteousness was enough for the thief.

And here's why I keep asking. Everything you've written puts the weight on what you do. Suffer, overcome, cease from sin.

So let me ask what Paul asked the Galatians: having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Flesh there isn't drunkenness or adultery. It's a man trying to make himself acceptable to God by his own effort.

 

[marks]

I just want to say though, the joy of the Lord is our strength,

I've been thinking on this line in regard to this thread. I hate to see people suffer the loss of the joy of their salvation.

Much love!

 

[IndianaRob]

I've been thinking on this line in regard to this thread. I hate to see people suffer the loss of the joy of their salvation.

Much love!

Me too! Jesus came so we could have that and sadly too many believers don’t allow themselves to enter into that rest.