Thief on the Cross

My answer was in keeping with the original post and discussion.   I do not understand the point of the proverb being posted in any other context.    If it was not directed at the woman of the OP , I dont see the point othervthan to cause contention,    im to sick and tired (literally) to go around in circles .   I was hoping to have civil discussion and fellowship on this site as Im shut in quite alot.   I dont think this is the place for me.   

I do not disagree with the Word of God.  But not what I would quote to an unsaved woman who happened to walk in to a service.   ??.  
Here is another good one from today.
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom. (Proverb 11: 2)
I need wisdom when dealing with the unsaved .  Just like the woman that first invited me to church.  She new my biggest issue was not undress , but unbelief.  

I was wondering what the veiws are as far as salvation after the rapture goes.    I guess I was a bit to influenced by the "left behind" movies.  Will people have to work for their salvation after the rapture?   All of my family members are lost , so this troubles me.    I realize this question may seem silly for someone who has been saved for 14 yrs.  I thought I knew the answer to this but have been hearing different things in past few years.   Thank you. 

Roselove, I struggled with this myself. My circumstances may have been different than your's (or your husband's) though.
Under heavy conviction, I went forward to be saved one Sunday. My pastor asked me, "Did you feel him come in?" (referring to Jesus coming into my heart). Well, no...I didn't. He told me to pray again. Afterward, he asked again if I felt him come in. No, I didn't "feel him come in". He told me to pray again...etc. I was very confused and didn't understand. I never did "feel him come in"...and I'm ashamed to say it, but I finally lied and told him that I did just so he would quit asking me and making me pray more. 
I left church that day thinking that I wasn't saved, because I didn't "feel him come in". That set a sad course for me for the next several years. I would beg God to save me, but I never felt him come in. It got to the point where I determined that I couldn't be saved...after all, I never felt him come in.
Interestingly during that time, when I would sin, I felt convicted about it.
When I couldn't take it any longer...I sat down with the Bible and a concordance...and looked up all of the verses I could find about salvation...
I found the truth.
I found that I had done what the Bible said one must do to be saved. I found that according to God's word, I was saved. No wonder I felt convicted of sin! 
Do you want to know what I didn't find? I never found one instance of having to "feel him come in"...and I still have never found one.
I was convicted of being a sinner, I believed on Jesus with all of my heart, and I confessed him as Lord. 
My problem was relying on what a man told me, and the devil used that against me for about five years.
One of the most important things to God is that we believe...him. When I saw what God said, it finally set me free from the doubts and fears that were instilled into me by man.
Read his word. Believe it, and rest upon it. Man will steer you wrong, but God won't. Believe God's word Roselove...believe it.
I'll be praying for you and your husband.

While I agree that there does come a time where people may be given over to a reprobate mind. I do not however believe because of Romans 1 that it somehow means homosexuals cannot be saved. This contradicts the scripture from Corinthians that I posted earlier today! 

@Brother Stafford. I have not been here long, but I appreciate your wisdom on issues. I may not  have seen things the same  but you have given me things to ponder.  Thank you for that.   I agree with you about the internet.    I will miss reading your thoughts on things.  

@Brother Stafford. I have not been here long, but I appreciate your wisdom on issues. I may not  have seen things the same  but you have given me things to ponder.  Thank you for that.   I agree with you about the internet.    I will miss reading your thoughts on things.  

How sad that our country has let all of this wickedness prevail in our country...Revive us again with the Son of Thy love, with Jesus who died and is now gone above.... God be with you brother.. If i had another source of news and weather I would leave this as well. I am only on facebook as my dearest friend wants me there....

We'll miss you. God bless.

My thoughts are much the same as Bro. Alan's. Please know that, although I will miss you, I wish you the best spiritually. May your walk with The Lord prosper and may He bless you as you have blessed others here at OB.

Brother Stafford,
I understand your thoughts, concern, and decision. If you decide to return, your comments, posts, and studies are welcomed.
It has been discouraging at times in posting studies and devotions on the internet and using it for other purposes. The number of false teachers, disgruntled saints with a personal agenda, denominational biases on most of the forums,  and many other types of filth on the internet is mind boggling. Just looking at any news channel, or other outlet on the internet, is full of the filth of the world.
Please feel free to to come back at any time. I will personally miss you.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Your friend,
Alan

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Thank you , I did not see it as an attack,    I realize he is a man and may have some things he believes that may not be right.  As a married woman I also don't have the choice as to where I  attend church.  There are a few things I have found are off.   But I love them dearly.    Where do you draw the line and say thats enough? !   Of course again as woman I dont have that say.  I will pray about these things and hope the Lord will correct them.  

Thank you for your replys.  I do love my church and the pastor, but there are things that either dont sit well with me or are completely foreign.   I had zero boundaries or rules of any kind growing up.  So needless to say I balked against any authority in my life, nor did I have any standards or build character.   So for me I need to check,   and ask myself  is this the Word of God or is me , my flesh  pushing against this. .  I am not an authority on the bible,  so I appreciate all your help. 

Thank you , I did not see it as an attack,    I realize he is a man and may have some things he believes that may not be right.  As a married woman I also don't have the choice as to where I  attend church.  There are a few things I have found are off.   But I love them dearly.    Where do you draw the line and say thats enough? !   Of course again as woman I dont have that say.  I will pray about these things and hope the Lord will correct them.  

I wish to commend that spirit of meekness and submission.
Please understand that my posting above was NOT intended as a direct attack against your pastor.  I do not know him.  Thus I would NOT seek to engage in attack against him.  However, my posting above WAS intended as an attack against a particular doctrinal position that I believe is Biblically false.  From that I am NOT stepping back.

As has been stated already, the statements concerning sheep not teaching sheep is NOT a Biblical concept.  In fact, I myself would be willing to contend that it is a doctrinally FASLE concept, standing in conflict with the teaching of God's Word concerning our responsibility to edify and exhort one another, as well as the responsibility of faithful men to teach others also and of older, godly women to teach the younger.  Sad to say; but even in Independent Baptist churches, false doctrine may be found.
On the other hand, the "under-shepherd" term has developed through an implication from God's Word.  Scripture DOES reference church leadership as shepherds.  Furthermore, Scripture refers unto our Lord Jesus Christ as the CHIEF Shepherd, and that in a context wherein instruction is delivered to church leadership. (See 1 Peter 5:1-4)  Thus the implication is taken that since our Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd, and Holy Spirit appointed church leadership are shepherds UNDER His CHIEF authority, then such church leadership may be referenced as UNDER-shepherds.  The term is actually intended to emphasize the submission, responsibility, and accountability of church leadership UNDER the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your replys.  I do love my church and the pastor, but there are things that either dont sit well with me or are completely foreign.   I had zero boundaries or rules of any kind growing up.  So needless to say I balked against any authority in my life, nor did I have any standards or build character.   So for me I need to check,   and ask myself  is this the Word of God or is me , my flesh  pushing against this. .  I am not an authority on the bible,  so I appreciate all your help. 

Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 
Nuff said...

5 years as a Southern Baptist and 41 years as an Independent Baptist and I ain't NEVER heard such  ---------- and I glad I haven't.

Sheep can't teach sheep is simply not found anywhere in the Bible. 

Can sone one answer a few questions for me then.  These are sincere questions , trying to understand.
I will use sone examples from people I know.
A couple comes to our church.  Both have been previously married, now living  as whats called  common law.  They have children from previous marriages and also a child from their union.   After they are both saved, They were told they should be married.   Should they be married?
Another couple,  both divorced,  get saved , told they should be married.  Should they be?  They have no children between them , but adult children from their previous marriages.   They were living together. 
The woman at the well.  Jesus said that she had five husbands,  are we to believe they have all died.  Or 4 have died , 1 is still alive and that is why he says the one you are with is not you husband? 
 

The doctrine of marriage for the New Testament Christian is found in 1st Corinthians 7.  Such a union as you describe is sin and sins can be and will be forgiven and you can continue on in marriage until the Lord calls y'all home.  Obviously the Lord will not call your husband to be a Pastor or Deacon but you can both faithfully serve in other ways.  Don't dwell on it. 

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
When we married, my wife tried to change me, and I tried to change her. To make a long story short, the truth of those verses finally dawned on me.
After I gave up my own desires and accepted her for who she was, life was much better.
Take it as you will. ?

I will forego giving you any particular 'signs' of the end times.
But, I will give you a passage of scripture that the Apostle gives us to show us a preview of the 'perilous' times that we live in.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, false accusers; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-4
"lovers of their own selves" would include the narcissism attitude of President Clinton, Obama, and many, many others in our world today.
"covetous" would include the inspirational preachers, the Charismatic preachers, and many other men, and women, in the ministry for wealth and fame.
"blasphemers." If a person would search the scriptures very carefully, starting from the Kings of Israel to the multitude of reprobates, heretics, internet theologians, and many others in our age, "blasphemy" includes false doctrine. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, blasphemy includes false doctrine. In our age, as in no other, every doctrine in the scriptures is being questioned, changed, and twisted by multitudes of men and women.
""without natural affection." Is not the wilful death, abortion, of ones child 'without natural affection?'
"false accusers." Check out any newspaper, in any country, for an example.
"incontinent." The meaning of 'incontinent' is: lacking self restraint, not under control. Our churches are filled with saints and sinners who lack self-restraint in their clothing, their character, their filthy mouth, their slanders against the pastor, their ungodly music (called CCM), multiple marriages, and a lack of personal integrity and character.  We are living in the day of age of where even the saints (much less the sinner), and some pastors in the Contemporary Movement, cannot even dress decently and modestly in church.
"lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." The church is filled with saints and sinners who love the pleasures of this world more than God. In fact, if you checked out the stadiums of the world on any given Sunday, you will probably find many of the church members filing the stands  of the stadium instead of filling the pew at church.
We are living in the perilous time that the Apostle Paul spoke of.