Trump, once Presbyterian, now says he’s a ‘nondenominational Christian’
“Though I was confirmed at a Presbyterian church as a child, I now consider myself to be a nondenominational Christian,” Trump, who has repeatedly identified as a Presbyterian in the past, said in a written response to RNS.
Saying that his parents “taught me the importance of faith and prayer from a young age,” Trump went on to say that “Melania and I have gotten to visit some amazing churches and meet with great faith leaders from around the world. During the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, I tuned into several virtual church services and know that millions of Americans did the same.”...
There has been a plethora of good and edifying points from mature brethren in the like precious faith, presenting the truth of the gospel and the working of the Spirit in the hearts of sinners, symbolised by baptism in water, whereby the sinner dies to his old life and rises up to a new and different life in Christ Jesus, now motivated and led by the Spirit, giving evidence of having been born again and sealed by the Spirit.
In my daily reading today:-
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14 KJV)
As the text says, one of the main purposes of Christ's oblation is to "redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people who are zealous of good works".
It is a tremendous work of God in the soul, not attainable in any other way. Faith and good works emerge after regeneration not before.
Adriel wrote: Hey John; We missed you. Great to hear you are still battling on and hope to hear your news and comments again soon. God Bless. Stay on top by grace.
The Quiet Christian wrote: May the seed you sow, Brother John, fall on good and fertile soil with a tremendous yield. Your fellowship is missed. Glad you are doing relatively well. Keep us informed.
Outstanding answer and explanation, US. Might I add that the fruit of the Spirit or the character traits that grow from faith in 2 Peter 1 are evidence of the Lord at work in the heart of the believer to begin to conform him or her more perfectly to Himself. This is an ongoing process incomplete in this life. No one at any time can say he or she earned anything from God but a swift kick and a quick trip to Hell. Still, no forward motion likely equals no Holy Spirit.
Brother U.S., I have told this story before and it is a true story. There was this fellow I worked with that claimed he was a Christian. I happened to know that he was living with this lady and they weren’t married. I asked him how he could do that and claim he was a Christian. He responded by saying that he had been saved by grace and because of that he could do whatever he wanted to do. That is the antinomian position. No born again believer would espouse this.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
I have always felt that if Jesus is my Lord and Savior, then He deserves my utmost obedience. At the same time I realize just how short of that I fall. Does that effect my position with Him, of course not, but that is my desire and I think the desire of all those who have been born again, from above. I know with certainty that I had eternal salvation and was positionally perfect from the moment I came to Christ and nothing can change that.
Anyway, I want to thank you for arguing our position so well.
There is a difference between positional and personal holiness. Any gins in holiness by the believer is done through the work of God. (I Cor 15:20. Phil. 2:12,13). If you’re not more holy in life than when you got saved, I would question the genuineness of your conversion. I John 1 says we walk in the light and confess sin and fellowship with Christ. Walking implies progress. I John 2 tells us the goal of not sinning. Paul said he pressed toward the mark and had not obtained.
Christianity is not a let go and let God. We are commanded to strive, to fight, to mortify, to put off, to put on, to war against the flesh, to not make provision for it, to lay aside, to pray, to study, to meditate, to draw nigh to God, etc. These are all actions. We are what we by the grace of God, so there should be no self glorying
God’s Word commands you to pursue holiness if you have a problem with that I am not the one to whom you should speak
Heb.10:16- the heart IS the mind... Heb 10:16--- Strong’s Definitions καρδία kardía, kar-dee'-ah; prolonged from a primary κάρ kár (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively)**the thoughts or feelings (mind)*** Concerning hating evil, what evil? 'every false way' is a good definition, which includes false gospels. Concerning the pursuit of holiness, is that something YOU do, or is it something Christ has done? Strongs defines it as 'sanctification' which means 'set apart'. Do you set yourself apart or has Christ done that? read vs. 10'that we may be partakers of HIS 'holiness '.... so how is it we are sanctified? 'But out of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who has been made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption' 1 Cor. 1:30. Notice 'righteousness, sanctification and redemption are in wrapped up in Christ and come from HIM, not from what you think you do. What do you do personally US that makes you 'holier' today than last week? Last month? How much 'sin' do we need to repent of before we are acceptable to God? How do we know when we've repented enough and when we've become holy enough? the problem with organized religion is that it always, always points the sinner to 'self' and 'works'...never to Christ alone....
May the seed you sow, Brother John, fall on good and fertile soil with a tremendous yield. Your fellowship is missed. Glad you are doing relatively well. Keep us informed.
John UK wrote: It's all okay brethren, I am very well. And serving the Lord joyfully despite lockdowns. But I thank you for your concern and Christian love. I rather tire of the continuous comments by speculating fear-mongers concerning the virus and its purpose.
Hey John; We missed you.
Great to hear you are still battling on and hope to hear your news and comments again soon.
Colin wrote: John from U.K. I pray you are doing well sir. Have not seen you in a bit.
Adriel wrote: John hasn't been on the board since the 13th October. I hope all is well with him. God be with John and Y'all.
It's all okay brethren, I am very well. And serving the Lord joyfully despite lockdowns. But I thank you for your concern and Christian love.
I rather tire of the continuous comments by speculating fear-mongers concerning the virus and its purpose. Maybe if it calms down I will return to the forum to chat, debate, enjoy fellowship, learn new stuff, engage with heresies and heretics, be amazed at how far the professing church has fallen, observe the antics of the Antichrist, in between ensuring that the gospel goes out to many souls in an Asian country, and praying that my fellow workers will be protected by the Lord in the dangerous work they do in the name of the Lord.
If Trump was Presbyterian, why did he do that photo op at a Episcopalian church? Is Paula White nondenominational? At any rate, it doesn't really matter unless you consider him to be a Christian, which I have a hard time believing.
ladybug wrote: NOT so fast, look what Paul says in Romans 7:19-"For the good that I desire, I do not do; but **the evil that I do not want, this I practice**". Look what I discovered when I looked at the original language on the word 'practice' - prássō, pras'-so; a primary verb; to "practise", i.e. perform *repeatedly or habitually*. It's in the present tense as well, meaning it is 'ongoing'. Paul's usage of 'hate' in verse 15 doesn't refer to a loathing, or any emotion actually. Instead, the context better fits this definition-'renounce one choice in favor of another'. He renounces what is right for that which is wrong. ...
Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way Prov 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Hebrews 12:14 is a command to pursue (follow) holiness. This is not positional holiness but personal. We know that because the verb is in present tense (already noted as a continual action) and active voice (the subject is the DOER of the action)
Salvation is not just a change of mind is a change of heart (Heb. 10:16)
Lurker wrote: —- Jim, you can't hide your hypocrisy. It's time to move on and start thinking about the next chapter which will begin November 4th. BTW, I already voted for Trump so your Biden vote is cancelled out. Get over it.
Jim Lincoln wrote: Trump is interested in prosperity Gospel, slightly, at least the prosperity part he was something of a fan of Peale and of course Paula White Verses from the Bible that Trump avoids like the plague.❗👎💰 Colossians 3:5-11
Neither Trump nor Biden are born again Christians, imo, so why single out Trump and criticize him for not living like a Christian? Oh I know. You can't help it.