SteveR wrote:
Those 'apostate churches' are only reaffirming how Paul applied the Law. Further, you misunderstand or your Church doesn't properly teach what Paul means. Paul means that Pastors should share in the SPIRITUAL benefits of their preaching, as an OX treading out the corn
You should be praying for your Pastor and give with a joyful heart, not criticizing his labour and vacations

1 Cor 9
7 .........who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap YOUR CARNAL THINGS?

Jim Lincoln wrote:
...
The answer is apparently, nothing! [URL=http://www.biblebb.com/files/CAESAR.HTM]]]http://tinyurl.com/zwg8o3o (Rendering To Caesar---A Biblical Perspective On Government)[/URL]

Connor wrote:
SteveR wrote: "Why is psycho depression nutbagness an acceptable excuse for failure around here, but shyness and fear of human interaction isn't?"
Let's be serious Steve, "psycho depression nutbagness" really? I think you need to take a course on logic, go to faithdefenders.com, Robert Morey's ministry, and buy his series called, "A course in logic"

John for JESUS wrote:
Romans 9 .....He shows mercy on the faithful because that is whom He will show mercy on....

Look at the verse immediately preceding the ones I cited viz:

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

Tell me again how Jacob was faithful and that's why God chose him?!

The difference between folk is determined by God - he has mercy on whom he will have mercy when there is no one good no not one. He calls those he will save even though they have no ears to hear. His call is what brings them to life.

John 10
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

They had to be his sheep before they could hear!! Get it? I doubt it.

John for JESUS wrote:
...
Acts 10:34‭-‬35 NKJV

9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 9

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.

Gotto go.

Lurker wrote:
Good point, bro.
Another which this text brings to mind. Most say there was no law before the exodus from Egypt. Yet Hagar is a figure of the Sinai covenant. How could this be if the law didn't exist in Abraham's day? And then there was Abraham's circumcision in the flesh. Circumcision (flesh and heart) brought the circumcised under the bond and yoke of the two covenants. If the two covenants didn't exist in Abraham's day... to what end was he circumcised?
I know you know these things, brother, but I often wonder why so many just go with their denotational flow never taking the time to search for answers.

Thanks for the comment.

Its a shame, but most who read the Bible miss the joy because they consider it a chore and read it with their brains switched off. Far easier to follow the denominational line and live with an easy conscience.

Blessings bro.

=======================

Bro Mike NY

Since in your view God is Sovereign but not in choosing between sinners in the application of grace, the answer Rodney gives will, I suspect, not be satisfactory to you.

Frank wrote:
...
Let me say it my way; it is impossible for a Christian to understand catholicism and still attend a catholic church.

I agree with all that you said about catholicism.

John for JESUS wrote:
It's not coy. If you believe, it doesn't mean you converted yourself. Apart from the preaching of the gospel and the work of Christ in securing salvation, I could not believe.
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
Acts 17:26‭-‬27 NKJV
God has preappointed our times and boundries so that we should seek the Lord, in hope that we might grope for Him and find Him. He isn't trying to hide from people. He reveals His will to all. I believed the truth, others hid from it. I knew Jesus was real, others know and procrastinate and others know and reject Him because they want to continue in sin. All things being equal, I didn't pretend the gospel wasn't true and I obeyed Him.

Rodney K. wrote:
No different? Then how do you explain the outcome? Were you wiser than those who do not respond? Were you more sensitive to spiritual things? Were you exposed to greater stimuli? Have you a greater strength of will? How do you explain the fact that while others turn away, you ran to the Savior? If so, who provided the greater strength of character, sensitivity, wisdom, spiritual stimuli, etc.? Who made you to differ? Do you claim this for yourself? Or were even those things gifts of God? If the gift of salvation is aquired by clearing the hurdle of belief and repentance, where is the grace in that? How is that not a wage?
No, grace is only grace when it's freely and sovereignly dispensed.

Kev wrote:
SteveR wrote:
Why is psycho depression nutbagness an acceptable excuse for failure around here, but shyness and fear of human interaction isn't?
Steve I try to be understanding and not judgemental but with comments like that what is one suppose to think?

John for JESUS wrote:
I did nothing to earn my salvation. Salvation is still a work of God to those who believe.

You managed to overcome your natural revulsion to the things of God, your love of and bondage to sin, the blindness of Satan etc to decide to follow Christ. Why, you pretty much converted yourself! Why wouldn't Christ accept you, eh?

John for JESUS wrote:
I heard and decided to follow Jesus or not. No different from anyone else.

ladybug wrote:
...
No true child of God will continue sitting in a dead church where Christ isn't present, and where His truth is twisted beyond belief, where idolatry is practiced and unregenerate 'priests' spew out their ritualistic religion. So, if one is saved, they WILL eventually leave the churches that fail to preach truth. If not, they prove they are disobedient and have not Christ as their first love.

I have yet to meet anyone from the RCC who knows God.

Those I have met who claim to follow the Bible are woefully ignorant of the Bible and understand nada. IOW they are blind. Their attachment is to a "Christ" of their own making - NOT the Christ of the Bible!

Christopher000 wrote:
...
I've never once seen him say anything about wanting to attend or make any changes. Maybe I missed it, but leaving before the sermon begins? Pointless.

JY and SteveR demonstrate by their actions and words that neither knows anything about a change of nature. They are still dead in their sins and tresspasses.

Dress a pig how you like, but don't expect it not to wallow in the mud!

Rodney K. wrote:
Ah. The accusor knows no bounds.
I fail to see how my summation of J4J's remarks can be construed as swearing. I suspect your opposition to my remark is because it rips a big hole in your Romish doctrine.
If I'm wrong, I'll accept admonishment from one of the brethren, but not from an unbeliever like SteveRoman.

"WP was correct. He needed to apologize or else he would eventually be nagged into it

Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a
very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."

Seems the hypocrite must always add to his own condemnation.

Rodney bro, just ignore this contentious woman!

BTW, J4 showed his true colors by his statement. What a proud peacock he thinks himself that he chose right!

===================

Jim Links On

SteveR wrote:
The Heathen are Raging.
Its pretty simple, all use of the LORDs Name that is not accompanied with deep reverence and the genuine spirit of piety is here condemned
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

And let me guess, you can read Rodney's heart to judge whether reverence and piety accompanied his post?

Rodney K. wrote:
Ahem.
I did NOT take my Savior's name in vain. J4J made an extremely arrogant statement. He needs to be called on it.

Christopher000 wrote:
Uh-oh.

Jim Lincoln wrote:
Progressive Revelation, Observer.
...

====================

Sister penned - don't know why but I missed yours from earlier today. Spot on.

====================

Hey bro James

Thanks for chiming in.

John for JESUS wrote:
1) I'll tell you so you don't have to guess. The sinner's will operates within their fallen nature.
2) But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
Ephesians 5:13‭ NKJV
The Light exposes the darkness of their mind.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
John 1:9 NKJV
The Light gives light to every man coming into the world.
Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
John 12:35‭-‬36 NKJV
The Light must be used before it goes out.

You can shine all the light you want on a pig, it doesn't change his nature.