Halloween Street Preaching

Around 50 times in the NT, Christians are referred to as saints. Not the Catholic kind of course. Consider the Bible calls you a saint. No dirty rags there. Cleansed by the precious blood of Christ. He did a lot for that. You should not let go of that very easily.

Giuliano said:

How could we regret and confess our sins unless there was a "good part" of us that wanted to be good? Find that -- it is like a piece of money you find in a field of dirt.

Click to expand...

It is something that does not come from the human spirit or anything inherently good in man.

It comes when we repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ.

This can only come through a work of the Holy Spirit.

It is written,

Jhn 3:19, And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jhn 3:20, For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jhn 3:21, But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

justbyfaith said:

It is something that does not come from the human spirit or anything inherently good in man.

It comes when we repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ.

This can only come through a work of the Holy Spirit.

It is written,

Jhn 3:19, And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Jhn 3:20, For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jhn 3:21, But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Click to expand...

This is sad. The passage you quoted contradicts what you said.

Giuliano said:

This is sad. The passage you quoted contradicts what you said.

Click to expand...

How do you figure?

justbyfaith said:

How do you figure?

Click to expand...

Read it again. Those who do the truth come to the light. Those who enjoy being in darkness remain in the darkness.

Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Giuliano said:

Read it again. Those who do the truth come to the light. Those who enjoy being in darkness remain in the darkness.

Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Click to expand...

Men, as a general rule, love darkness rather than light, is what I read there (in John 3:19).

It is written,

Jhn 6:44, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jhn 6:65, And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

A person must hear the gospel message and be convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment before they can repent and ever do any real good. Apart from the Holy Spirit drawing them to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, they cannot be saved. And apart from being saved, they cannot do any real good (John 15:5).

justbyfaith said:

Men, as a general rule, love darkness rather than light, is what I read there (in John 3:19).

Click to expand...

Do not add to it. It says only that those who love the darkness are condemned.

It is written,

Jhn 6:44, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Jhn 6:65, And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

A person must hear the gospel message and be convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment before they can repent and ever do any real good. Apart from the Holy Spirit drawing them to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, they cannot be saved. And apart from being saved, they cannot do any real good (John 15:5).

Click to expand...

What you may be missing is that God knows when someone is ready. When someone is ready, he is called. He receives the Light he desired. God does even try to draw some people when they are still enjoying their iniquities. What would the point be?

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Giuliano said:

Do not add to it. It says only that those who love the darkness are condemned.

Click to expand...

It says that this is the condemnation, that men loved darkness rather than light; because their deeds were evil.

I think you might agree with me that evil deeds are sins; and that sins are evil deeds.

It is written, very basically, that:

Rom 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All have committed evil deeds therefore; and therefore John 3:19 tells us very plainly that all men love darkness rather than light; because the deeds of all men were evil.

I am referring to Jews and Gentiles; while there are three people groups spoken of in scripture: Jews, Gentiles, and the church of God (see Romans 3:9, 1 Corinthians 10:32).

The church of God, being not under the law (Romans 6:14), is not subject to the indictments of Romans 3:10-18 (see Romans 3:19).

Such have been drawn to Christ and have received Him; having been convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and having been drawn to the Saviour.

Giuliano said:

God doesn't even try to draw some people when they are still enjoying their iniquities. What would the point be?

Click to expand...

God can and will draw people to Him who are steeped in iniquity. This is one of the reasons for hellfire and brimstone preaching. It is this kind of preaching that will convert the hardened sinner. Because people are selfish. They may not repent over the understanding that God loves them: but they will repent over the understanding that if they don't they will burn in hell for all of eternity because of God's wrath against and justice towards sin.

justbyfaith said:

It says that this is the condemnation, that men loved darkness rather than light; because their deeds were evil.

I think you might agree with me that evil deeds are sins; and that sins are evil deeds.

It is written, very basically, that:

Rom 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All have committed evil deeds therefore; and therefore John 3:19 tells us very plainly that all men love darkness rather than light; because the deeds of all men were evil.

Click to expand...

You forget that many people sin out of ignorance. Many are also deceived by the satanic. We cannot indict all sins equally. Remember how Jesus excused those who nailed him to the cross? I think most sins are sins of ignorance. I have done lots of things wrong in my life; but I also know most of them were the result of ignorance.

I am referring to Jews and Gentiles; while there are three people groups spoken of in scripture: Jews, Gentiles, and the church of God (see Romans 3:9, 1 Corinthians 10:32).

The church of God, being not under the law (Romans 6:14), is not subject to the indictments of Romans 3:10-18 (see Romans 3:19).

Such have been drawn to Christ and have received Him; having been convicted of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and having been drawn to the Saviour.

Click to expand...

Paul confuses me, and it seems he confuses you too. He says "none" and you say the church is not included in that "none." I suggest you base your beliefs more on what Jesus said since he spoke more clearly than Paul.

God can and will draw people to Him who are steeped in iniquity. This is one of the reasons for hellfire and brimstone preaching. It is this kind of preaching that will convert the hardened sinner. Because people are selfish. They may not repent over the understanding that God loves them: but they will repent over the understanding that if they don't they will burn in hell for all of eternity because of God's wrath against and justice towards sin.

Click to expand...

That is not full repentance then. That is wishing to avoid punishment. John the Baptist mocked that attitude, "Who told you to flee the wrath to come?" It may be a start; but if they do not progress and want to become good for the sake of being good and loving the way they were as children, they are stalled and their hearts are still hard. They still want to sin but are afraid to. Such a person will not enter the kingdom in that state.

True repentance means understanding why something is wrong -- how it hurts others and most of the time self too by damaging relationships. The person who is truly sorry will almost never repeat that mistake once he's received "knowledge" about it.

True repentance is the source of joy. When I see someone understand how a sin injured himself and others, I know he won't repeat it. It makes me happy. So what if he injured me in the past? I know he won't in the future. He has the truth about it now and is no longer being deceived by the lies of satan. Thus "repent" and "comfort" in Hebrew are related words. The captive has been set free. He is now free to behave like the innocent child he once was -- the way God made him and wanted him to be.

Giuliano said:

Paul confuses me, and it seems he confuses you too. He says "none" and you say the church is not included in that "none." I suggest you base your beliefs more on what Jesus said since he spoke more clearly than Paul.

Click to expand...

I understand what Paul was saying there; and I am not confused by him. You have to understand Paul's writings in light of the hermeneutic that he gives to us in 1 Corinthians 2:13; and you must study to show yourself approved. I do not expect you to take what I said as gospel truth in a moment of time; but I planted the knowledge as a seed that will produce fruit in time; as you continue to study. Romans 3:10-18 is what the law says about those who are under it (Romans 3:19).

Giuliano said:

You forget that many people sin out of ignorance. Many are also deceived by the satanic. We cannot indict all sins equally. Remember how Jesus excused those who nailed him to the cross? I think most sins are sins of ignorance. I have done lots of things wrong in my life; but I also know most of them were the result of ignorance.

Click to expand...

Sins of ignorance are not any less sins. This argument has no convincing power for your case that men are not totally depraved before receiving Christ. The fact that you admit that people commit sins of ignorance is evidence of the fact that you are aware that people commit sins. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. Therefore if I sin it is because I am a sinner and therefore I need to avail myself of the remedy that Christ offers for a lifestyle of sin.

Giuliano said:

That is not full repentance then. That is wishing to avoid punishment. John the Baptist mocked that attitude, "Who told you to flee the wrath to come?" It may be a start; but if they do not progress and want to become good for the sake of being good and loving the way they were as children, they are stalled and their hearts are still hard. They still want to sin but are afraid to. Such a person will not enter the kingdom in that state.

Click to expand...

No one can become good in their own power or strength.

It is written,

Jer 13:23, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

We present the hellfire and brimstone scenario so that the sinner will repent and give their heart to Christ out of fear of the damnation that awaits them. Christ will take them the rest of the way; when they receive Him and therefore His love into their hearts so that they will no longer be deserving of wrath.

Giuliano said:

True repentance means understanding why something is wrong -- how it hurts others and most of the time self too by damaging relationships. The person who is truly sorry will almost never repeat that mistake once he's received "knowledge" about it.

True repentance is the source of joy. When I see someone understand how a sin injured himself and others, I know he won't repeat it. It makes me happy. So what if he injured me in the past? I know he won't in the future. He has the truth about it now and is no longer being deceived by the lies of satan. Thus "repent" and "comfort" in Hebrew are related words. The captive has been set free. He is now free to behave like the innocent child he once was -- the way God made him and wanted him to be.

Click to expand...

You are assuming that people are basically good. People who don't have / belong to Christ are not concerned about the damage that their sins cause to others, even once they become aware of it. Such "knowledge" therefore, will not prevent them from committing the same sins again; unless they receive the Holy Spirit and thus the desire to obey the Lord and also the love of God to be shed abroad in their hearts.

07-07-07 said:

What amazes me is the fact that our Brothers who out on the streets declaring God's Word to a lost and dying world are being reviled by so called "Christians", yet they don't so much as say a word about the sins that are damning the Halloween revelers. Simple unbelievable. The Scriptures are indeed fulfilled in this generation, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

2 Timothy 3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Click to expand...

making them two-fold more the children of hell themselves.
Who are you to call these people the children of hell!??? Who are you to determine they are lost!? Judge, jury, condemnation....sounds like the son of Satan to me. You make a mockery of Christianity. It is people like you that turn people away from Christ and serve the Devil.

justbyfaith said:

I understand what Paul was saying there; and I am not confused by him. You have to understand Paul's writings in light of the hermeneutic that he gives to us in 1 Corinthians 2:13; and you must study to show yourself approved. I do not expect you to take what I said as gospel truth in a moment of time; but I planted the knowledge as a seed that will produce fruit in time; as you continue to study. Romans 3:10-18 is what the law says about those who are under it (Romans 3:19).

Click to expand...

I still reject the idea that "none" doesn't mean "none."

Sins of ignorance are not any less sins.

Click to expand...

I am not going to argue about this since the Old Testament and Jesus were clear on the point. You also should know that Satan has deceived many who sin unawares.

This argument has no convincing power for your case that men are not totally depraved before receiving Christ. The fact that you admit that people commit sins of ignorance is evidence of the fact that you are aware that people commit sins. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. Therefore if I sin it is because I am a sinner and therefore I need to avail myself of the remedy that Christ offers for a lifestyle of sin.

Click to expand...

This is sheer craziness to me.

What we do is what defines what we are. If you murder someone, you can be called a murderer. You don't murder people because you were born a murderer. Cain was also told that his evil urge was out there lurking, ready to pounce on him if he allowed it. God did not tell him, "You have sin in your completely depraved heart." He told him, "If he did not do well, sin was at the door."

No one can become good in their own power or strength.

It is written,

Jer 13:23, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Click to expand...

When people choose evil over good, the evil urge becomes stronger. When they choose good over evil, the good urge becomes stronger. Jeremiah 13 is about a people who had chosen evil so consistently, their evil urges were overwhelming.

10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

You ignore that part, presenting only the part that makes it look as if people lack the ability to choose. No one will be justified by God because he's afraid of punishment. He has to repent genuinely.

Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.

We present the hellfire and brimstone scenario so that the sinner will repent and give their heart to Christ out of fear of the damnation that awaits them. Christ will take them the rest of the way; when they receive Him and therefore His love into their hearts so that they will no longer be deserving of wrath.

Click to expand...

This contradicts what Jesus himself said.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

You say, "Flee the wrath to come. No need to have the sinful heart changed; just tell God you're sorry and hope not to be punished. Maybe God will change it later."

You are assuming that people are basically good. People who don't have / belong to Christ are not concerned about the damage that their sins cause to others, even once they become aware of it. Such "knowledge" therefore, will not prevent them from committing the same sins again; unless they receive the Holy Spirit and thus the desire to obey the Lord and also the love of God to be shed abroad in their hearts.

Click to expand...

This is a horrible lie. I know how I was before I became a Christian. I was not a depraved person. I was concerned about the damage I did to others. But speak for yourself. It may be true however for you. Perhaps you were a callous indifferent person. Perhaps you still are. I am left wondering if you sought the kingdom for the right reason or if you were trying to save your own hide -- another variation of love of self.

God did not create man in a defective way; and God does not punish the innocent while letting the guilty escape or punish children for the sins of their parents. You imagine injustice in God.

God justifies only those who turn away from sin sincerely and seek his righteousness. Justifying the ungodly and condemning the just are both abominations to God.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

Sinners can be justified then only when they don't want to keep repeating their sins. Fearing punishment doesn't work.

07-07-07 said:

What amazes me is the fact that our Brothers who out on the streets declaring God's Word to a lost and dying world are being reviled by so called "Christians", yet they don't so much as say a word about the sins that are damning the Halloween revelers. Simple unbelievable. The Scriptures are indeed fulfilled in this generation, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

2 Timothy 3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Click to expand...

I'd rather go to a bar and get drunk than be around that sort of self-righteous hypocrite who gets his thrills by condemning others.

07-07-07 said:

The Word is the condemnation, not me. Light has come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Therefore, do you despise me because I obey Jesus' words and esteem them more than my life, just as He taught? Jesus warned us to be zealous and repent; people would do well to heed His warning.

Click to expand...

And you may be aghast that I see you as still living in darkness and loving it while you preen like a peacock admiring yourself. "I think thee God that I am not like these other men celebrating Halloween." Ha, ha, I don't celebrate it either; but it doesn't make me feel more righteous than people who do.

If you don't esteem your own life, why are you here vexing us? Why vex children on the streets of America? Why not go to a non-Christian country and risk that life you say don't esteem that much? Go ahead. Shake the dust off your feet about America and go be a missionary somewhere else.

07-07-07 said:

Your accusations of me don't concern me, because my testimony isn't with you but with Him who called me out of darkness into His marvelous Light.



You would be amazed at the fruit that comes from street preaching. God gives grace to the humble, but resists the proud. As to those who are vexed on the streets of America, they are no different than those who gnashed their teeth on the prophets of old. Let their blood be on their own heads.

Click to expand...

they are no different than those who gnashed their teeth
Who says they gnashing their teeth at the Gospel? You justify attacking Christians with the Gospel. Gives you a sense of holier than thou!??? Again it is people like you that serve Satan and turn people away from Christianity!