Amen

Amen 2

XD ... There is a common misunderstanding even among Christians about this ... here is something for you to consider:

There are two different kinds of people: one kind does evil, and the other kind does good. According to good and evil, these two kinds of people are absolutely different. Yet in the matter of putting God aside and not giving God any place, they are absolutely the same. Just as those who do evil put God aside, so those who do good also put God aside. Just as those who do evil do not give God any room, so those who do good also do not give God any room. These two kinds of people behave differently-one does good and the other does evil; nevertheless, they have exactly the same kind of attitude toward God. Those who do evil give up the law, thereby rejecting God, and those who do good keep the law, thereby also rejecting God. The former forsake God by violating the law, while the latter forsake God by observing the law. Both groups of people have problems because of the law. The first group of people gives up God because they have broken the law, whereas the second group forsakes God because they consider that they have kept the law. Hence, we can see that both these conditions of rejecting God are related to the law.

GOD DESIRING US NEITHER TO DO EVIL NOR TO DO GOOD

Then what should we choose? Should we choose good or evil? Should we choose to break the law or to keep the law? On the surface, it seems that it is much better to keep the law than to break the law, because it appears that breaking the law alienates us from God while keeping the law might bring us closer to God. Thus, it seems that we should choose to do good. However, although doing good might appear to be a worthy goal, yet it is not the right goal, and in fact it is the wrong goal. Doing evil is an unworthy goal and the wrong goal as well. Therefore, both good and evil are wrong. Of course, God has absolutely no intention for us to do evil, but neither does He intend for us to do good. God's intention is neither for us to be responsible to do evil nor for us to be responsible to do good.

Those who sin and do evil, such as bandits, robbers, and fornicators, put God aside and do not care about God. If they were aware of God, they would be afraid to do evil things. The reason they dare to do evil things is that they do not acknowledge the existence of God; they have put God aside. Those who conduct themselves in an upright and proper manner are moral and good in others' eyes. They are often boastful, saying, "What are heaven and hell? Who is God and who is the devil? Such things do not exist! Everything depends on our conducting ourselves according to our conscience. We should do things according to proper reasoning. We should not do things that would hurt others, nor should we do things that would harm ourselves. We should take care of others as well as ourselves. It is good enough that we conduct ourselves in an upright way." People like this have good behavior, their words are trustworthy, and their character is good, but they do not acknowledge the existence of God. This is to be good. People who are good in this way are commendable but mistaken because their goal is incorrect.

MAN BEING CREATED TO CONTAIN GOD

In the beginning God created man neither to do good nor to do evil. Rather, God created man for His purpose. He wanted man to have fellowship with Him, to be filled with Him, to live in Him, and to be mingled with Him as one entity. Man was created for God as a vessel to contain God (Rom. 9:21, 23). This is similar to a glass being made as a vessel to contain water. It is wrong to put dirty things into the glass, but even if we put gold into it, it is still wrong. This is because the glass was made as a vessel to contain water, not other things.

Human beings were created neither to contain evil nor to contain good. We were created neither to be evil persons nor to be good persons. Then what kind of people should we be? How can a living person do neither evil nor good? Can anyone escape from good and evil? None of us can. A person who is without God cannot escape from good, evil, and death in his life. Only a person who has died does neither good nor evil.

BEING NEITHER GOOD MEN NOR EVIL MEN BUT GOD-MEN

In the garden of Eden there were two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9). Concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Bible says that he who eats of it shall surely die (v. 17). When someone eats of this tree, it may seem to be evil, but it is actually death, or it may seem to be good, but in reality it is still death. The issue of evil is death, and the issue of good is also death. These three-good, evil, and death-are inseparable. Then what is the tree of life in the middle of the garden? This tree of life is life itself. What man sees is life, what he eats is life, and the issue of his eating is also life. Who is this life? This life is God Himself.

Please remember that in the garden of Eden the first tree- the tree of life-is God Himself, and the second tree-the tree of the knowledge of good and evil-is good, evil, and death. People on earth who do not have God choose the second tree instead of the first. The result of choosing the second tree is good, evil, and death. They are good men, evil men, and eventually dead men. These three kinds of persons are all in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then, as saved ones, are we good men, evil men, or dead men? Praise the Lord, we who have been saved have the life of God in us, so we are God-men.

However, is our real situation like this? Are we God-men in our daily living? This is a big problem. It is very difficult for us to be freed from the law in our human living. We are always turning back to the law, and the law is always following us. Even today, having become Christians, we still cannot easily break away from the law, and instead of living to God, we still live before the law to be people of the law. Although we have been saved and we have God in us, we do not live to God.

As human beings we were created for God Himself. We are vessels to contain God. We should not take good or evil into us; rather, we should take God into us. How can God be put into us? It is by means of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures tell us clearly that when the Holy Spirit is in us, God is in us (1 John 3:24; 4:13; Rom. 8:9a, 11). What does God want us to do? God wants us to be dead to the law so that we may live to God. Before we were saved, we lived to good and evil; that is, we lived to death. Now that we are saved, we should start learning to live to God. This means that as vessels to contain God according to His purpose in creating man, we should live to God instead of living to the law. We should be neither good men nor evil men but God-men.

Amen.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ.

The meaning of Salvation is not just being saved from Death and into eternal Life but complete restoration to God.

Complete restoration also makes us heirs to the Kingdom of God meaning we have access to God's full blessing to all, Healing, Deliverance, Providence, Peace, Joy, etc etc.

Have Hope Wintersun.

Be transformed Wintersun by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Mar 6 2012, 11:30 AM

Hi Pehkay,

don't mind me if I just add this.

True we still live in this body that was in Sin but now that freedom from sin comes from Christ does it mean we can be free of it's sinful influence?

I can say boldly yes.

How? By Right Believing because right believing will produce right living.

Many New or young Christian are still bondage of thinking they still need to do this or that to be right before God.

Doing this and that is under the Law of Moses, the 10 commandments.

The way to breakthrough this is to understand we are righteous by Faith.

Galatians 2:16

know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith

So if we have been made righteous by our Faith in God, We have Right standing before God not because of our own effort but by our faith.

If we have right standing before God, we are no longer under the Law. You MUST believe in that. That truth will set you free from any bondage.

I give Glory back to God, this is something He taught me.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Mar 6 2012, 11:51 AM

Good Morning Bro n Sis in Christ.


Your Faith must stand Trial.

1 Peter 4:12-19.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good






Count it a Joy my Friends, I know it's not easy but there's a reason and purpose in each trial. I believe it's what you call a little Attitude test. Because if you pass the test, great is your reward in spirit and breakthrough.

Trials are never ending. Once you past a test God will bring you the next level for higher opportunity. Nobody likes tests but our God's test is not to bring you down but to bring you up. Don't let the Devil lie to you otherwise.

Have Faith and Hang On tenaciously.

God Bless.

Night Devotion.

Parables of the lost sheep.

Luke 15:4-5

Suppose one of you has a 100 sheep and lose one of them. Does he (Jesus) not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts in on his shoulder and goes home.



You are important friend. This parable shows how deep God loves you when you lost your way and given up.
He goes out to find you.

Take Heart.

God Bless.

Bro Wintersun, you were in control with the previous replies until you started to lose it slowly and ended with this post.

I was wanting to see more legit discussions from someone who believes and someone who don't.

And yes "unknown warrior", you do sound like a hypocrite online with those words. I believe it is not your fault though because you haven't learn the way to approach non-Christians by straight stuffing down their throats with scripture verses, that is not how God approached sinful men in the first place.

I am not saying you are wrong, just be more approachable next time.

And yes, I am a Christian. I've seen alot of hypocrites in real life too, but that's a separate issue.

This post has been edited by Metallics: Mar 8 2012, 05:55 PM

A christian which body? protestant or catholic? or later saint church?

haha i didnt lose or wat just lazy to reply anymore

maybe when mood come or someone quote me then will continue

I believe our own words has no meaning. But God's word is alive and powerful. (Hebrew 4:12)
I don't know which part is hypocritical because it was a knee jerk reaction to abhor sin not the sinner.
That is what exactly happened. If you feel it's beyond that, then I would like to know what is.

Quoting Scriptures has it's time and place. Yes Jesus is loving but He wasn’t afraid to rebuke someone when he knew there was a need. (Matthew 16:21-23)

Correction is not judgemental, the Bible says that we should correct, rebuke and be bold to those who are sinning. (James 5:20.) I would not want to suppress the truth either because it could mean eternal death instead of eternal life for that person.

I know confrontation is a delicate and a sensitive matter and I believe you're seeing from this point that arrogant and self-righteous people trying to show their “superior spiritual knowledge.” (I suppose you're pointing that to me but since when did I claim that I am? You assume?)

On the other hand, there is a tendency by some to ignore sin when they see it or hear it in an effort “not to offend or judge.” That is crowd pleaser mentality which is not right either.

One thing though about calling anyone hypocrite, I learn is not to judge my fellow brother in Christ by saying it out loud. So far by God's grace I have yet to voice out to another brother or sister who are serving God because I am reminded of Jesus saying there's a huge plank in our own eyes before accusing one another. Whatever I feel indignant about another believer, it's between Me and God. I keep it behind close doors. Perhaps this teaching is something you missed?



This is not about who win or who lose.
I hope you understand anyone who loves sin may be eternally separated from God.
God loves you and so do I. Don't wait until it's too late.

Night Time Devotion.

What do you do when your prayer is not immediately answered and you see the situation is getting worse at times you feel like all hell is breaking lose?

Answer: Pray again. Don't give up. Have persistent Faith.



Luke 11:5-13

Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.


Here is Jesus parable very well explain for believers who keeps on praying but is yet to be answered.

The first paragraph denotes you have an urgent need of a solution to a situation. Could be Financial Needs, Break Though, Healing, Salvation for someone, whatever.

The second paragraph denotes your prayers aren't answered yet. Seems like God is telling you don't bother him. The situation is still the same. At times this are the moment we might feel maybe we have done something wrong, or maybe you feel God is so far away, etc but Jesus beautifully continue with the next verse and YET because of the Man's boldness.

The Greek word for boldness is the noun anaideia which means unabashed persistence. He will get up!

I believe Jesus is telling us to be persistent in having a powerfully positive outlook and attitude because all trials and tribulation are God's test to see how we will react. God will bring us to the next level from glory to glory only when we have the right attitude and character. Because not everyone can stay at the upper levels of life with the wrong attitude when things go wrong.

They get easily sour, angry, bitter, etc.

I believe God is looking for people who are willing to change for the better.

God Bless.

Day Time Devotion

Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I AM God.

This spoke to me in the morning and I want to share what actually happened.

I had a very rush morning, so many things I needed to do and I don't have the time, I got stressed out and panic to the verge of being very unsettled.

I know if things continue, I would not be able to make it and would need to miss out some of the things I got to do. It involve other people and it will upset them as well.

Then this verse came to me and I meditate on it. Slowly peace and calm settled in. I pray about it and to my amazement every single thing worked out like a charm and in harmony. Praise n Glory to our Lord Jesus. Thank You God.

I got my peace back.


What I understand from the verse.

Be Still - Means Don't worry have a very solid trust in God. It's also an act of Respecting God is able and above whatever our circumstance.
And Know that I AM God - Means God is in control of everything for believers in Christ. This is a promise you can claim.

Good Song.

Impossible is just a reason for someone not to try.

Christians have no right to wear cross at work, says Government
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9...Government.html

Signs of more persecution?

Romans 8: 1-2

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.


God's goodness leads to repentance. Question is which one comes first? Repentance that leads to God's goodness or God's goodness that leads to repentance?

Consider when the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery to Jesus while he was teaching. We all know that they wanted to stone her according to the law of Moses and at the same time trap Jesus to bring him to accusation to put him to death. We also know that Jesus said in effect, those who are without sin, let him cast the first stone. One by one they left beginning from the oldest to the youngest. And this is the interesting part. Look below:

John 8:10-11

Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.

How is it that the Church emphasize so heavily on repentance first when we can see clearly here Jesus is depicting the Goodness of God that empower and leads us to repentance and Sin no more.

Back in the days of old it has always been ministry of brimstone and hell and sin condemnation. That has cause Christian to be so sin cautious they become afraid to approach God when they fall short of righteousness. That is a lie and deception of the devil to brainwash your thinking that your works is able to give you salvation. That is exactly what we see in all the religions of this world. Salvation in human effort or works.

Do you see the deception?

John 1:17. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

We all have been saved by grace not by works.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Mar 12 2012, 10:04 AM

It does not matter.

God lives in us not in costume jewelry cross that people wears.

The Power of Gospel and God's Might is in the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

That is more important that whatever outwardly symbolic things or religion.

u r living in a book. Without that book, your conversation seems to b very limited

The Book of God tells us to bless all those who persecute us.

I understand you're opening your own business?

I pray to God to bless your business and for you to be in good health as well.

God Bless.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Mar 12 2012, 10:17 AM

wow.. after all i challenge your faith u still pray for me?



instead of just praying can u use actions to show support?