Nope, she was a lost child of the Catholic Church, trusting in her works to get her to Heaven. She rejected much Scriptural truth, and made people happy/comfortable dying in their own false religions. AND no lost person can ever do "GOOD WORKS" in God's eyes. All her righteousnesses are as filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6) compared to the pure, sinless blood of Jesus which was shed on the cross to redeem us from our sins.
Yes, and we see that exact result in those listening to Stephen's message, to some people during the time of Jesus' ministry - the fact that some people can clearly reject the Lord also means some can receive Him. If we are too dead to respond positively (ie. of you still equate physical death with spiritual death), then we are too dead to reject Him too.
I am sorry I forgot to post an update. He came home from the hospital last night, and is doing much better. I almost wrote "He went home last night" - but thought that might not be the best way to word it!
Women are not to lead a church spiritually. Quoting an OT passage about a woman leading/directing them physically into battle during a time of apostasy is not the same thing as a woman leading a NT church spiritually - especially when the NT has clear guidelines on the leadership of the church. A woman can play music - but I think the passages about her not leading the church would also apply if she was leading/directing the church in the worship of the Lord.
(Also, minor point Robert, but the NT teaches that elders are the same as pastors. Elders (indicating maturity), bishops (which means overseers), and pastors (which are shepherds, leading and guiding the flock) are all different terms emphasizing different aspects of the same role of leadership in the churches.)
From Broken To Beautiful
From broken to beautiful;
Made with the Potter’s own hands,
Transformed into gold and silver -
Part of God’s wondrous plan.
Vessels of the Lord’s mercy,
Of His forgiveness and His grace;
From a past of brokenness
To true beauty in its place.
Once separated from God’s family,
Now adopted as a child of the King;
Precious treasure in earthen vessels -
To the Lord, worth more than anything.
Vessels of honour, fit for the Master,
Sanctified, forgiven, and set free;
From forsaken to accepted in His sight -
Beloved, and transformed for eternity.
From broken to beautiful,
Given a new purpose for His glory,
Renewed, and made righteous in Jesus Christ -
That is salvation’s story.
April 15th, 2024
Jerry Bouey
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.