Here's a question for you: What were the names of the monks involved in this skirmish? Why was it that they became monks? If you are going to argue that their lives are 'characterized' by thorns and thistles, I want you to demonstrate it in this particular case. You would need to show that there is a marauding group of monks that goes around terrorizing hapless victims. You would have to know the particularities of their lives. And I daresay you are not omniscient.
What you say doesn't make sense because you're not consistent and you can't possibly have the knowledge to justify your conclusion. I believe it is what Christians call 'Pride'.
BYSNE-According to the words of Christ, 'a good tree bears good fruit, a bad tree bears bad fruit'. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Though a Christian sins and stumbles, their life is characterized by good fruit, not thorns and thistles. A person is either in the flesh or in the Spirit, they are either regenerate or unregenerate. Those in the Spirit are alive in the realm of the Holy Spirit, God is Spirit and is accessible ONLY in the Spirit. To understand regeneration, you must be born from above. Those who do not understand cannot understand because they are still spiritually dead {1 Cor. 2:14-16} This is why what I say makes no sense to you.
Alright. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree about this. I think you have completely misunderstood my point because you are arguing two points simultaneously, one of which you continue to contradict. Whether you like it or not, your position is that Christians can't sin, which isn't true according to your Scriptures. And if you say that a Christian would repent after sinning, that would still mean that they sinned in the first place. If you say (as you have) that the Christian will sin less, that means that they still sin. If you say that they are regenerated and repent, that means that they still sin. Your standards keep moving and are incoherent in the first place.
The Apostle Paul had to deal with a bunch of problems in the Corithian church and others. He deplored their tolerance of immorality and fighting among themselves. Were the misbehaving people in those congregations unsaved? Maybe they were, maybe they were not. All we have before us today is the Bible with which we can compare today's events to its contents and one thing is certain: the way in which these monks behaved is contrary to the teaching of the Lord and His apostles, and the churches to which these monks belong could certainly get more in line with scripture alone. However, that is difficult because their tradition is pretty much on par with scripture when it comes to deciding what is an authoritative witness. Now, if they had used Scripture alone, this brawl probably would not have happened? Why? Because that in which they are participating is not found therein....holding such importance to a facility of worship, or a ritual or graven image.
Doctrine and behavior has everything to do with Lance's comment. You fail to understand the doctrines of justification and regeneration. A born again believer is a NEW creation, a NEW man; one that is freed from the bondage of sin; the violent actions of these monks prove they are unregenerate, not to mention the doctrine they adhere to. Your defending them says much about your own belief system, whether you acknowledge it or not. Read this carefully; "I will give you a NEW heart and put a NEW spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and CAUSE YOU to WALK in MY STATUTES, and you will be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will LOATHE yourselves in YOUR OWN SIGHT for your iniquities and your abominations" Ezekiel 36:starting with verse 25
Perhaps that should have read "I've never denied nor affirmed him to enough already". So, it appears we have to indicators of non-Christianity: brawling, and not being up front on Sermonaudio what ones religious beliefs are. Guilty as charged I suppose, although I don't think I've ever brawled. Once again, this doesn't really have anything to do with Lance's original post and your response to it.
Thanks Jim. So, if I pray to your pastor, will I be saved? Or do you worship him post-salvation?
enough already wrote: To neither deny nor affirm Christ is to still be in your sins.
I accept NO Commendation from ANYONE. I am a worthless wicked sinner saved because God looked upon me with favor, He drew me to Christ, and broke my prideful heart. He humbled me and saved me, and I boast only in the Gospel of Christ. That's the difference between a born again believer and someone who has some form of 'religion'. To neither deny nor affirm Christ is to still be in your sins. Read Revelation 3:14-22. A 'new creation' in Christ means one is NO LONGER what they once were, there is a DRASTIC change that has taken place, all by His power. Keep your stuffy religion, I'll keep my Jesus, who loved me and gave Himself for me, cleansed me with His blood, and is transforming me each moment into His image. May He be forever praised!!
In all honesty, I appreciate your well wishes and your zeal, e.a. For that you are to be commended.
But, I've never denied Jesus, nor affirmed him. You still don't know my overall religious orientation. But the answer to this question is still not the solution to poor reasoning. It's not a good idea to jump to conclusions about people.
enough already wrote: Your avoidance of this question says MUCH!!!! A lover of Christ would jump at the chance to tell the story of the gospel. May God humble your sinful heart, bring you to your knees, and cause you to cry out "O GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME, for I am a wicked, vile lost sinner without any hope"........I pray for you, my heart breaks for you, for you are truly not aware of your own condition, you are in Danger!!!! Humble yourself before a Mighty God, eternity is too important to lose over pride, arrogance, and denial of what truly is the problem of EVERY human being, an incurably wicked heart, and a nature that is infested with sin. Only the power of God can save you and transform you from the inside out, apart from His grace and mercy, you have NO HOPE! Do you understand that?
Your avoidance of this question says MUCH!!!! A lover of Christ would jump at the chance to tell the story of the gospel. May God humble your sinful heart, bring you to your knees, and cause you to cry out "O GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME, for I am a wicked, vile lost sinner without any hope"........I pray for you, my heart breaks for you, for you are truly not aware of your own condition, you are in Danger!!!! Humble yourself before a Mighty God, eternity is too important to lose over pride, arrogance, and denial of what truly is the problem of EVERY human being, an incurably wicked heart, and a nature that is infested with sin. Only the power of God can save you and transform you from the inside out, apart from His grace and mercy, you have NO HOPE! Do you understand that?
Since it's irrelevant to the discussion/argument that you presented, and a forum like this is probably an improper place for your specific brand of spiritual mentoring, I don't feel it necessary to answer. My objections to your argument and muddled thinking stand for themselves, whether or not I answer your question.
enough already wrote: Just answer the question BYSNE- what do YOU think it takes for a lost sinner to be saved?
You've answered your own question a number of times here. What are you trying to do, force a conversion? If I say something with which you disagree, you'll throw more Bible verses at me attempting to convince me I'm a lost sinner in need of a savior (see your posts below). If I say something with which you agree, it doesn't change the point of this whole discussion. So, I'm not sure why you keep asking this question.
enough already wrote: BYSNE- I am asking YOU personally, what do YOU say it takes for a lost sinner to enter heaven?
I suppose you're looking for something in your Bible like Matthew 19:18-21, correct?
enough already wrote: BYSNE- I have already addressed that. Go back through all my previous posts. Now, let's quit dancing around this question... How does a lost sinner gain entrance into heaven?
BYSNE- I have already addressed that. Go back through all my previous posts. Now, let's quit dancing around this question... How does a lost sinner gain entrance into heaven?
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Dr. Alan Cairns | 5/18/2009
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