heartstrings

......and he must have been just like Zaccheus, ...........anyone who would "bill Dad" must be a greedy money collector

absolutely

Every person who has posted in this thread, including myself of course, is STILL a sinner. Assuming all of us are saved, does God love us? Of course He does. And when Jesus went to the cross, who were the sinners then? Everyone; the whole world. Yet He loved sinners then too. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.............."John 3:16 Plainly, God loved us when we were sinners(and still are)........But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8

I believe that 1 Timothy 2:9-10 is being addressed to believers. Maybe I'm wrong. I've seen church ladies and preacher's daughters, in an IFB church, come in the house of God with cleavage displayed and "slits" way up their thighs and nothing was ever said about it from the pulpit That verse should be preached from the pulpit along with verses to the men. IE "men shouldn't look.....ladies shouldn't solicit looks". Also, back in the Sunday School rooms, Godly ladies should be teaching all the younger lady-believers how to dress and behave, while Godly men teach men how to dress and behave. When all the church folk are doing right, the visitors will stand out like a sore thumb. I mean, guys, how would you feel when you walk in in casuals and everyone else is dressed in three piece suits? A little out of place huh? It's probably an even bigger deal when a woman wearing revealing clothes walks in and everyone else is dressed modestly. Just that is a huge statement to the visitor without having to say a word.

Don't stop doing what you're doing. You know, this very thing turned my son off from the last church he was a member of. My son was in charge of the bus ministry at his IFB church and had begun bringing some kids like that. But one day his pastor called him aside to tell him, during "fellowship", to have these kids sit in a separate room and bring them takeout plates AFTER everyone else had gone through the line. When my son later went to him to question him about this, the pastor began a progression of retaliation towards my son and ended up taking him off the bus ministry. THAT is the "Behavior" which "stinks" in the nostrils of God. James 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Continue treating your lady visitor, and the rest, like honored guests. It is LOVE that draws people to Christ.

absolutely

WOW! ...and what if you didn't? That sounds like more emphasis on the "outside of the cup".

Brother Jordan, I didn't get an answer. What made you "change your mind"? Faith did. One does not just decide one day to repent. Repentance takes faith. Repentance is part of faith. They are inseparable. Salvation is not a step one, step two thing. Otherwise it would be works.

What would I do? Love her, keep my eyes looking up and thank God she is coming to church. She might get saved.

Brother Jordan, what is it that made you "repent"?

I disagree on this point; Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something. During "Godly sorrow":, they are confronted with what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun. I disagree on this point; Repentance and faith ARE one thing. Salvation is not a "Step one, step two" process. To "repent" is to turn against or away from something in your heart. During "Godly sorrow":, a sinner realizes what a lowdown sorry sinner they are, headed for Hell and deserve it, and when they realize the holiness and righteousness of Christ and they simply turn from sin and self to Christ as their only hope , they are saved. The turning from sin and self to Christ is ALL by faith and takes place in the heart.. THEN a process of ongoing repentance or "progressive sanctification" is begun.

Catholicism is a sham and there are child molesters even in some independent baptist churches. Whether your sister realizes it or not, by condemning sin in others she is acknowledging that true righteousness does exist. So there is hope. She will have to realize her OWN unrighteousness and that true righteousness can only be found in Jesus Christ.

My son's Russian father-in-law has been visiting here for the last month and was at our church last night. He says that our church was much different from what he has been used to over there. He says whereas, there, churches are ritualistic, solemn, serious and strict, our church is "like family". You can't have much real "liberty" of the Lord in a dead religion and neither can you have it with "controlling" people in charge.

I've only been a member of two churches; the first didn't have a "politician" but had a rich businessman with his own little power clique. One Sunday night they called out the pastor during a service, speaking very harshly, and I was shocked that they would do such a thing, even for them. They did the same thing to the next pastor during a business meeting. One later died of cancer and the other was run off by the next pastor. I hate to say it, but I was not sorry to see him go. He had a know-it-all, controlling and bitter spirit. But I have also known a couple of pastors with the same spirit as well. As to politicians, the church I am a member of now has a tax collector member and he doesn't assert any power or cause any trouble at all. I don't know of anyone there who does.

The teaching of "baptismal regeneration"(by the act of physical baptism) is false doctrine. Like I said, the "universal" church is NOT a physical entity, but one is already "baptized"(not physically) into Christ at the moment of salvation. Physical "Baptism" is only a testimony to others, done at and into a local church as in Acts 2:41-47 In order for you to "assemble yourself together" with other believers, as the Bible commands, you MUST be a member of a "local church". You cannot meet in the "universal" church until Jesus comes back and, since you live "Down Under," it would be extremely impractical for you to travel here to Florida and meet at my local church next Sunday to fellowship with me. However; the term "universal church" isn't in the Bible and neither is "local church" so, why is this a contention?