What are your thoughts?

[farouk]

If anyone else would like to share more please feel free to do so, thank you all for your time and consideration of reading this material.

@MatthewG Philippians 4.8: "Think on these things..." is another relevant aspect... :)

 

[Robert Gwin]

This is placed in the bible study - So please let us not condemn or stab each other with scripture just because someone doesn't believe how you do.

Believe that faith, love, hope and freedom are most certainly needed in this walk of faith in having love for God and others even if we disagree.

In your life as a Christian; with everything you have come to realize or believe be it from the influence of others and their teachings, or your own personal study of the bible itself. What do you believe about everything you have learned walking with God by worshiping in spirit and in truth?

Are there essentials to the faith that are a must to do?

Are there non-essential issues that you believe that are consider minor issues because of the difference of others and how they may see the scripture instead?

Truth matters everyone would agree I would believe, and would say it does matter.

Though when you present your knowledge to someone; do you expect them to have to conform to your own knowledge otherwise you would deem them not a Christian (this is excluding the essentials)?

Just curious to know some of your thoughts.

Jehovah has always allowed a personal touch on faith. True His laws are exacting, but individuals have leeway in the way they are practiced, that is what free will is. Of course there are stepping over the line points where our leeway becomes sin.

Christians are identified by their fruits sir, according to Jesus. What are fruits? Conduct and teachings. All Christians teach the teachings of the new covenant to others who then become Christians and do the same thing. Most people have a grasp of what is wrong and right, and are able to recognize when someone is not practicing what Jesus did.

 

[MatthewG]

Jehovah has always allowed a personal touch on faith. True His laws are exacting, but individuals have leeway in the way they are practiced, that is what free will is. Of course there are stepping over the line points where our leeway becomes sin.

Christians are identified by their fruits sir, according to Jesus. What are fruits? Conduct and teachings. All Christians teach the teachings of the new covenant to others who then become Christians and do the same thing. Most people have a grasp of what is wrong and right, and are able to recognize when someone is not practicing what Jesus did.

Hello Robert Gwin,

Agreed on all peoples freewill of life choices.

What were some of the things that Jesus practiced in His life here on earth, as he went around preaching and teaching to others?

What do you mean that people can recognize when someone is not practicing what Jesus had taught and done in His life here on earth?

Fruits; can involve our conduct (sanctification); teachings. Are there any scriptures in the bible that do tell us what fruits are aside from you suggested?

Thank you for your time and commenting.

 

[MatthewG]

@MatthewG Philippians 4.8: "Think on these things..." is another relevant aspect... :)

Those are very good things to think about, thank you for sharing.

 

[Wynona]

I consider a physical resurrection of Christ and belief that Jesus is alive essential.

I believe a biblical grasp on what the gospel is to be essential.

I feel like there may be more but these two stood out in my mind.

 

[MatthewG]

@Wynona; Would absolutely agree with you on what you have said here. Would also consider those two which you mentioned essential. Thank you for taking a moment of time and sharing that with us here, that is true. :)

 

[amadeus]

...
Believe that faith, love, hope and freedom are most certainly needed in this walk of faith in having love for God and others even if we disagree.

I am definitely with the faith, love[charity] and hope, but I go cautiously with the word, freedom, because of what it apparently means to some people, who are or consider themselves as Christian believers.

In your life as a Christian; with everything you have come to realize or believe be it from the influence of others and their teachings, or your own personal study of the bible itself. What do you believe about everything you have learned walking with God by worshiping in spirit and in truth?

Jesus said that he is the Truth and I believe that. Most bearing the label of Christian will probably believe that, but how well do we know this Truth, this Jesus? I believe that most of us, [me certainly], are with Paul in seeing only as through a glass darkly [I Cor 13:12] with the face to face vision not quite there yet.

Saying or presuming that one sees His face clearly now, I believe, is sometimes done in error by many people. Perhaps some are really there, but if I have met one, I did not recognize it at the time... But then while my own vision is not face to face what can I see in others?

Are there essentials to the faith that are a must to do?

I believe that there are essentials but I doubt my own ability to list them although it surprises me that others here have not already put up their own established lists. Some here it seems act as if not only that there are ATs [Absolute Truths] but that they know them as opposed to simply believing them.

How many have moved already from faith fully to knowledge in their walk with God? Not me!

Are there non-essential issues that you believe that are consider minor issues because of the difference of others and how they may see the scripture instead?

What is minor to God? What is overlooked or forgiven by God because it is trivial to the point of not even considering it? How many thousands of Christian sects, denominations or group is it someone says there are today?

How many believers will forgive those differences in others and call them brothers and sisters in the Lord? Are members of groups like Catholics or Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses given the same consideration or are they regarded as lost or condemned or guilty without a trial because of their affiliations? Which Protestant or Other group is flawless in what they describe as their ATs? Which group can a person join and be certain that it will please God?

Truth matters everyone would agree I would believe, and would say it does matter.

This brings us back, I believe, to how well we know the Truth, that is, how well we know Jesus? Were there not instances in the written gospels when his closest followers did not recognize him? On the road to Emmaus? When a woman at the tomb took him to be a gardener? When Jesus on the water?

...but Then, face to face! When comes the Then?

Though when you present your knowledge to someone; do you expect them to have to conform to your own knowledge otherwise you would deem them not a Christian (this is excluding the essentials)?

Excluding essentials? How many agree on the essentials? Does disagreeing on essentials mean someone is lost to God?

Just curious to know some of your thoughts.

Without the correct ATs, what can one do?

Follow the lead of the man with the most degrees in Christian education?
Follow the lead of the church group with the most members?
Follow the lead of the church group claiming to be the oldest?
And so forth...

 

[farouk]

@Wynona; Would absolutely agree with you on what you have said here. Would also consider those two which you mentioned essential. Thank you for taking a moment of time and sharing that with us here, that is true. :)

@MatthewG In the end, the Spirit guides God's people 'into all truth' (John 16.13), right? :)

 

[MatthewG]

Farouk,

If a person is seeking then would agree with that statement.

Though if a person is not seeking they kind of create a blockage for God to lead them; wouldn't you think?

How can one be lead by the spirit if they do not have the spirit?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Robert Gwin]

Hello Robert Gwin,

Agreed on all peoples freewill of life choices.

What were some of the things that Jesus practiced in His life here on earth, as he went around preaching and teaching to others?

What do you mean that people can recognize when someone is not practicing what Jesus had taught and done in His life here on earth?

Fruits; can involve our conduct (sanctification); teachings. Are there any scriptures in the bible that do tell us what fruits are aside from you suggested?

Thank you for your time and commenting.

Our primary assignment is to make disciples by teaching them the good news of the Kingdom. Jesus stated very clearly the sheep would know his voice, and he would know them. Obviously a sheep (one of Jesus' disciples) will be able to recognize their brother simply from their teachings since we all speak in agreement 1 Cor 1:10.

Conduct can be a bit more deceptive as many who are not in the faith conduct themselves in a scriptural way, as most laws are based on God's laws. Conduct comes into play moreso in recognizing false Christians. For instance, a Christian would not commit fornication, molest children, kill others in warfare, do things that might harm themselves, etc. Some fruits are listed at Galatians 5:22,23

 

[farouk]

Farouk,

If a person is seeking then would agree with that statement.

Though if a person is not seeking they kind of create a blockage for God to lead them; wouldn't you think?

How can one be lead by the spirit if they do not have the spirit?

What are your thoughts?

@MatthewG The word of God is 'the sword of the Spirit'; its central theme is indeed Christ.

This is why prayer and the Scriptures lie at the heart of testimony and the Christian life. :)