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*Light*

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Posts posted by *Light*

  1. It's similar to a duplex, but just a little bit larger. It has 3 floors and at least 5 or 6 rooms which are rented out. People in California usually have a lot of roommates living with them to save money; or maybe it's just a "hippie" thing, which seems to be the norm around these parts. Cost of living is high, especially in the city area.

  2. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to [the acknowledging of the truth]; And that they may [recover themselves] out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

    If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, [receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed]: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 10-11)

    Should we invite (into our homes) those who teach doctrines and beliefs contrary to what the infallible Word of God says? And if no . . . where do we draw the line? One of the ways we can express our love to those who are led astray with false teaching is through the TRUTH. It would be *unloving* to let the said person "BE" if they are on the broad path to destruction (Jas. 4:17; cf. 1 Jn. 2:1-29; Jude 1:23). The Spirit-filled men of the Bible made it their life mission to admonish those who were in opposition to God's Truth (cf. Mk. 9:42; Lk. 13:3; Acts 17:30; Rom. 3:19; 6:23; 1 Tim. 2:1-15; Gal. 5:4; 6:7-9; Jas. 1:17; 1 Jn. 5:17; Isa. 59:2; Deut. 30:15-16; Ezek. 18:4, et al.)

    When it comes to most denominations and cults, I'm not sure there is much of a functional difference because none of them is truly SEEKING Christ, where the individual person therein is a believer or not (Deut. 32:18; Lev. 26:27-28; Ezek. 6:9; Isa. 28:22; Hos. 4:6; Jer. 1:16; 2:21; 3:20; Amos 2:4,5; Ps. 50:22; Jn. 3:36; Rom. 2:8, etc.). 2 John 1:10-11 is telling us not to PRETEND that individuals who pretend to be servants of Christ really are -- just because they say so -- and therefore not to support them in their efforts because their efforts are not of God. Telling someone "God speed" is a blessing of sorts, e.g., so we do not want to wish Mormon missionaries "success!" because what they are doing is wrong (cf. 1 Thess. 2:1-6; Matt. 15:9; 1 Cor. 15:14; Ecc. 5:3; Tit. 1:10). Does that mean we cannot try to persuade them to come to Christ? Not at all. That is not what the passage is saying. I will say that when it comes to *dyed-in-the-wool* members of these three groups, I am always very surprised when someone claims to have led them to the truth. In my experience, certain individuals in such groups are not convinced and are candidates for grace, but have to be led by the Lord into the right place or to the right person so as to come to the Lord. I would imagine that making a habit of inviting those who are out campaigning for their religions into one's home and attempting to demonstrate to them what the truth really is would be a very low percentage operation (these are the front-line soldiers we are talking about here, and if they had doubts they probably wouldn't be placed or be willing to be placed on the front line).  

    However, we all have our own individual ministries given to us by the Lord, and it is also true that He may choose to use us for such a purpose in a particular case (Eph. 4:11-13; Lk. 3:23;  Acts 20:24; Rom. 12:7; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 4:12; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 1:12; 2:7; 2 Tim. 2:12; 4:1-5; 1 Pet. 4:10). So on the one hand we have to be open to the possibility; but on the other hand we have to see things for what they are: the people ringing your doorbell most likely have very hardened hearts or they wouldn't be there in the first place. We all  have limited time and energy and resources, and there are things that we know for certain the Lord wants us to do pray, read our Bible, do Bible study with a good ministry, engage in the ministry He leads us to). So if we are not led by the Spirit to engage in depth and at length with a particular person in this category, we do need to keep those limitations in mind. All other things being equal, it's better than wasting our time on some pointless leisure time activity, but not necessarily better than doing that list of things we know the Lord wants done (Jer. 29:11; Matt. 7:21; Lk. 12:48; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 4:16; 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Jn. 2:17).

    God Bless!

  3. If the Holy Spirit is the One who will guide us into ALL TRUTH (cf. 1 Kgs. 17:24; Jn. 8:32; 16:13; 17:17; cf. 18:37-38; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Jn. 1:8; 4:6; et al.), then why are there so many doctrinal disagreements within the Body of Christ? I'm sure all of us have heard fellow believers tell us: "I know that I'm correct in my belief because the Holy Spirit told me so!"

    If a person is so arrogant, so lacking in basic humility, that they believe whatever they "feel" is right and that "feeling" is the presence of the Spirit validating their "feeling", then they are far out of the will of God and going their OWN rebellious way (cf. Gen. 6:3; Isa. 63:10; Ps. 106:33; Zech. 7:12; Acts 5:3; 7:51; 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 Thess. 5:19). In fact, the very idea that a person without the gift of teaching and without the preparation necessary to bring that gift to the point of valid functioning can make judgment calls on individual points of doctrine is arrogant in the extreme (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-4; Matt. 23:1-39; Rom. 16:17-20; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Gal. 1:6-9; 3:1-29; 6:3; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1; 3:16; Rev. 22:18-19). What placed teachers in the Body? Was it not the Spirit (Joel 2:28-30; Lk. 11:11-13; Rom. 1:11; 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; 14:1; Jas. 1:17; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Eph. 4:11-16). But this (hypothetical) person believes that he/she has no need of any teacher, has no need of any preparation, has no need of study -- just "feeling" something is right is correct (cf. Jer. 17:9).That clearly has nothing to do with the Spirit. If the Spirit did not gift that person, and if that person has not has gifted them and if indeed they were humble enough to follow the Spirit's guidance (cf. Mic. 6:8; 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 25:9; Prov. 11:2; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5; et al.), how can said person claim to be superior to those who have been gifted, who have prepared, and who have bothering to diligently study the matter out (2 Tim. 2:15). The fact that said person is not even willing to listen to the well-reasoned argument of someone who has consulted good teaching and who has at least bothered to search it out and test it out in the Bible just goes to show that the individual in question is arrogant and not humble (1 Jn. 4:1-6).

    If a person is arrogant, they are unteachable. If I -- who know nothing about engineering and very little about mathematics -- tell the math professor I will not listen because I "feel" I know that the answer should be, and if I tell the engineer to build the bridge a different way because I "feel" it is better, disaster will result. We may think that is worse because lives may be lost; but teaching and or accepting false doctrine because of an arrogant assumption that "anything I feel is right must be the Holy Spirit" is actually worse: because of course here we are talking about eternal repercussions (Matt. 15:14; 16:6; Acts 20:29; Gal. 1:6-9; 5:9; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; Rom. 16:17; cf. 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; Heb. 13:9; Jas. 3:1; 2 Pet. 2:2; 2 Jn. 1:7-11; Jude 1:4). The Spirit does not force or bully or act through emotions. The Spirit tells us things in our conscience and prods us to remember actual biblical truths, and the more we are willing to pay close attention, the closer He guides us -- not through shouting or proclaiming or emotional excess, but through His still, small voice. But if we make an idol out of our pride and our emotions and call this "the Spirit", there is no end to the trouble we may bring on ourselves. 

    God Bless!

  4. I had some fish and chips earlier today. The fish was tender and flaky! That was just a snack; I have several meals in my daily "regimen" (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dinner, dinner). The good part about it is that my BMI is around average. Tonight it's watermelon ice cream from Baskin-Robbins. :P :P :P

  5. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

  6. 12 minutes ago, Invicta said:

    No oregano or Parmesan Cheese?  That can't be Bolonese.

    I can see that, if that's your preference to add those ingredients to suit your palate. It's similar to a plain hamburger: in the sense that you can add extra cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. There are times when I add butter to the bolognese sauce to smooth out the flavor; in addition to taking time to mellow out the sauce's flavor by having it simmer for a few hours. And if you want to add an extra kick to it, you can add Sriracha sauce. But yeah . . . I would at times add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning to it.

     

     

  7. My bolognese sauce is easy to make. I saute some diced carrots and onions with olive oil, and combine it all with a can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes (sauce included) with salt and pepper. The I remove the casing from italian sausages and add them into the sauce. Yummy!

  8. I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)

    And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that [they may be one, even AS we are one]: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:22-23)

    Does John 10:30 teach us that Jesus did NOT claim to be Deity when proclaimed that He and His Father are ONE -- because we may also be ONE "even as" they are ONE? Why are there so many doctrinal disagreements within the Body of Christ if the Holy Spirit dwells in all genuine believers who possess the Truth?

    Jesus could not make the statement He made in John 10:30 if He were not God -- which the gospel of John makes crystal clear from the very first verses:
     
    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:1-5) 

    It is folly to discuss the Bible with unbelievers (unless they are truly seeking for salvation) or even with wayward believers involved in cult-like organizations, because such people have no respect for the Bible's authority (1 Cor.1:18; 2:14-15). Presenting them with the correct meaning of a Bible verse is liking placing a pearl before an angry hog. The word "one" is the numeral in Greek as in English, but as in English what it means has to be determined by the context. In Hebrew, adopted by the New Testament, God being "one" means God being "unique", and does not mean that Jesus and the Father are the same Person. As believers, we have come to "share in the divine essence" (2 Pet.1:4) because of our unity with Christ -- but we are NOT God. So our unity has to be different in quality and scale than that of the Trinity. The Trinity have never had an argument -- because they are perfectly aligned in their will even though God is three in person. Human beings are different and there have never been two human beings who have agreed on absolutely everything. Our unity as believers has to do with us "fighting on the same team", putting each other first before ourselves, and striving to do all we can to see that the whole team is successful "as one" by helping each other out through our spiritual gifts and ministries (cf. Ps. 133:1; Acts 2:44-45; 4:32; Rom. 12:16; 1 Cor. 1:10; 10:16-17; 12:4-11,27; Eph. 2:22; 4:13,16,25; Phil. 1:27; 4:14; Col. 3:15; Heb. 10:24-25)

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith [goal], and of the knowledge (epignosis) of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

    [verse 13] "unity" = enotes.  Literally, "oneness", here Paul uses this word to refer to the goal as collective growth, a theme near and dear to Paul's heart and returned to in this passage and in many occasions as well at the end where the body of Christ is to "the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love". This is all about spiritual growth if the Body of Christ is functioning properly as it ought to; as Christ Himself being the head as a collective organism whose purpose is to stimulate the growth of all of its parts so that by mutual support in order that all Christians grows up to spiritual maturity, progresses in their walk with Christ, and in turn helps (through the ministries and spiritual gifts and effects given by God) the rest of the Body of Christ to mature as well – ideally (e.g., Rom. 15:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:3; Phil. 2:2-4; Col. 3:14; cf. 1 Pet. 3:8-9).


    God Bless!

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