Golgotha

Thanks for replying Brother Alan,

"Golgotha, I have four suggestions. That you find a good Independent, Fundamental, Baptist church and join it, listen to some of the brethren here on OnLine Baptist as they discuss the issues, start your own thread (or lesson), on subjects that are on your mind." ~ Alan

Thanks for the suggestions, Alan.  I may respond as Christ leads me to.

Thanks to Jesus Christ for the devotion by you, ScottM84.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

"There are most certainly bad things that come into the lives of believers. Death is not good. Sickness is not good. Pain is not good. " ~ ScottM84

And certainly suffering wrong & grief from others is not good either, but He can help us through it for the good.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Christ has set the example for us & since He is in us, our confidence is in Him that we shall serve Him His way.

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

So our suffering by His grace & by His help may lead sinners to believe in Him.

""The wonderful truth of the matter is, however, that an almighty, sovereign God can take bad things that were not a part of His original creation and use them to work for our good." ~ ScottM84

And the other wonderful truth is that death, sickness, pain & even suffering can work for the good in order for us to relate to sinners going through those events in their lives that He may gain some.

1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Thanks to Jesus Christ for the devotion that you have shared by Him, Jim_Alaska.

"   Mat.5:6. shows that becoming righteous by the grace of God is no accident. The words, “hungering and thirsting”, as it pertains to righteousness, comes only as one desires it. There must be an active choice on your part, salvation is no accident, and those who receive God’s salvation have made the choice to do so. It is also not just a determination on your part to become religious, the Pharisees were religious and Jesus condemned their religion. "  ~ Jim_Alaska

Although there is a seemingly active choice on our part, I cannot help but have my sights be lifted up higher by Him in regards to that seemingly active choice on our part to believe in Him. 

I agree that our believing in Jesus Christ by the grace of God is no accident.  John 3:18-21 testifies how God the Father knows whom is seeking Him from those that prefer their evil deeds as it is God the Father that reveals His Son to those that prefer Him ( Matthew 11:25-27 ) & the Father gives them to the Son to keep ( John 6:37-40 )

So I do not see it as an active choice on my part when my believing in Him is a work of God as well.  John 3:21

There wasn't even an active choice on anyone's part to choose to follow Him as His disciple.  John 15:16

The hardest thing for any believer & for myself to accept that I find is that there are vessels unto honor in His House AND there are vessels unto dishonor in His House.  2 Timothy 2:19-21  And although, one reads the vessel unto dishonor as mayhap pertaining to Israel, in Romans 9:11-21 , I cannot help but see by His grace that He is talking about believers that do not follow Him as His disciples as they shall be the vessels unto dishonor as well for not departing from iniquity.

Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

Feeling small as I should & I am, I hope in Jesus that He has chosen me to be His disciple, as I am recognizing that my hoping in Him that He has chosen me to be His disciple is also a work of God as well.  Even one of the fruits of the Spirit is faith ( Galatians 5:22 ) as that testifies to His workmanship in me for it is by Jesus Christ that I have faith in Him & He is keeping me when I continually have faith & hope in Him.  Philippians 1:6 &11

Many wise men after the flesh, the mighty, & the noble do respond by making an active choice of determination; of commitment; of promises to be seen by men to receive the praises of men, but not the elect. 

1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I give thanks to the Father in Jesus's name for my believing in Jesus Christ as I give thanks to Jesus for keeping me in the faith as I continually hope in my Friend that He is keeping me as His chosen friend in following Him as His disciple by abiding in Him & His words in loving others & bearing fruit by Him.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hi Brother Alan,

Thank you for the devotion.  

There are some questions I have towards the application for church building.

Wouldn't you say that exclusivity has a way of interfering with building the church?  Granted, that one should keep out heresey by citing the truths that the particular church agrees on, but if there is no rapport, then how does one lead another to agreeing with the truths that the congregation agrees on?  Of course, a one on one meeting with the pastor is necessary to avoid interruptions in the church services & even Bible studies in building that rapport & learning process, but yet an outreach is required also for church building.  

As it is, most visitors are content to not ask questions to avoid looking like a novice or looking like one trying to make waves even.  How does one church build that believer?  By leaving slips of paper for them to ask questions on and hand it in anonymously when the collection plate passes & the pastor or elders will try to answer the questions that Sunday or next Sunday if research is required?

Also, I would think that a forum should be open to church building to non-members of Independent Baptists.  Like the topic on Revelations;  why Independent Baptists only?  Granted, having responses from everybody that are "likeminded" does help cut down the responses that may veer off topic, but I would think the forum should allow you to post a duplicate thread in that part of the forum for non-Independent Baptists to reply to with Independent Baptists members also sharing their relevant replies to that duplicate thread to practice church building in outreach, but generally, such a duty seems off putting.

Maybe the forum should find a way to have a caption underneath members name & avatar to signify when a Independent Baptist Member is replying or just a christian?  That way, one can avoid confusion by the replies.

I agree with your appeal to church building, but I wonder in application, if exclusivity has a way of getting in the way of that? 

I even wonder about how the churches are addressed in Revelations by the city they are in.  Even Thyatira was addressed, but also exposed the notion that not all believers were meeting in the same place in that city as not all followed after that errant doctrine & practice of what the majority of the believers were doing in that city.

I do not know how a forum can church build me, a fellow believer, if exclusivity prevents me from joining in on your studies in Revelations just because I am not an Independent Baptist yet.  I have yet to discern what that actually mean since I have come across "Baptists" elsewhere that are more Pentecostal in nature & practice.

Anyway, I think the exclusivity of membership in churches & forums has a way of preventing church building.  I am not sure how that can be resolved, if at all, but there it is.