Search results

I don't think it puts the Holy Spirit on a higher plane. It puts a particular blasphemy on a higher plane. Let's just look at the text... “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a...

Again, it seems you are always looking for a way to convolute the discussion to avoid the plain, straight-forward answer. Who said they were in a mortgaged building? Maybe they are meeting in a gym that is donated or maybe it is a house church and they take collections to feed the poor. You...

I am sinful too and in need of grace. Yet that is not an excuse to indifference or not humbly challenging others and being challenged by others to live a holy life. There is no inconsistency here. In fact, I believe that if we take grace seriously, we will be serious about encouraging others...

Discipleship implies following another, namely Christ. This discussion began because some have questioned how we determine the voice of Christ and have claimed that the Scriptures are to vague to be interpreted definitively or that the local church is not a valid voice of authority either. I...

Personally, I think blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is very different than apostasy or final impenitence. Contextually, I just don't think Jesus is warning the Pharisees about persisting in unbelief. They were already without faith in Christ. It seems their attributing of Christ's miracles...

Well, you won't get any argument from me. Though I am not a Catholic, I strongly agree with that position. It seems to me there are hosts of Scriptures warning believers about the importance of perseverance and even that Paul, himself, did not take his own salvation for granted. In fact, it...

I like unicorns and fantasy stories too. Some great Christian thinkers in the past also did....such as C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia) and JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings). Idolatry is when you start to replace God and worship other things instead of God. So, unless you are praying to the...

True. I am not a Calvinist and I strongly dislike OSAS teachings. However, as far as this discussion is concerned, it is safe to say from either position that salvation can be described as a present status and a person can declare they are "saved." In fact, the notion that salvation can be...

I can hardly make out what you are trying to say. I don't mean this in a disrespectful way, but you just seem to type whatever comes to your mind which doesn't always lend itself to coherency. Anyway, I will try to muddle through what I think you are trying to ask, but I may be mistaken in...

1. This is not a local Church body and you do not know me. So, no, I don't see this as anything similar to a group of believers confronting another who has taken advantage of a brother or sister because of their unrepentant sin. What sin, exactly, am I guilty of in this discussion? Even if...

Richard, I don't think grace is rationale to take sin lightly. I believe God deeply desires us to be transformed by grace and to hold one another accountable. Discipline in the church is a means to help people grow in faith and to keep leaven out of the holy people of God. It isn't a means...

Says who? God can't use more than one translation? I think you have a very limited view of God if he is incapable of using anything other than one language and or one version of the Bible. My God is a God of all tribes, tongues and languages. I even believe he uses imperfect people. It's...

Hey Ed, I know this is very late, I just saw this original post. Just for clarification... While it is somewhat true that these pronouns originate from autos, it is not one word, nor is it strictly based on the translators discretion. The # and gender of these pronouns are determined by the...

waterlily, I believe you put too much pressure on yourself. We are saved by grace for good works. We are not saved by good works (including going to church). What that means is, we do good things and attend church not so we can become saved, but because we are saved and we love being...

I agree with you somewhat, but not entirely. Certainly salvation is an event that takes place when Christ rescues us from the coming wrath of God (which has not happened yet). However, in my opinion, salvation is a person, not merely an event. If a person is "in Christ" then they belong among...

“As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.” (1 Timothy 5:20–21, ESV) “This...

I read that a study was done (I believe at Baylor) where the diet was candy bars and the person lost weight simply because they were burning more calories than consuming. Ultimately, your body breaks everything down into glucose which provides energy to your body. Clearly the types of food you...

Totally misrepresenting my position and the text. I discipline my kids because I love them. That has nothing to do with slavery, abuse or oppression. Hebrews 12 says God "disciplines" those he loves and that if you aren't disciplined you are not a legitimate child of God. “It is for...

Stranger, I don't think you understand my position at all. I believe the Bible is inerrant and inspired by God. I believe it was written for all generations. However, if it wouldn't have made sense to original audience, then you likely are not reading it properly. The problem with many...

Well, if you believe his willful disobedience is part of the inspired Word of God, then I think all of church history and orthodoxy stands with me, not you. Can you find me a church father or prominent church teaching in history that validates your view that Paul's willful and sinful tendencies...