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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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Welcome to Jesus Spoken Hear.
Personal email welcomed at JesusSpokenHear@rockinga.org
Bible. We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, the revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
God. We believe in one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has always been and will always be the only God. There were none before Him and shall be none after him.
The Father. We believe that the Father created all things in heaven and on earth. He created human beings out of a love for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.
Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven.
Holy Spirit. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, making them aware of their sin and the salvation available through Jesus. He regenerates, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.
Man. We believe that man was created in the image of God and sinless, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and subject to judgment. There is nothing man can do to save himself from this judgment, but he can accept the death of Jesus as punishment in place of his own eternal death by acknowledging God and accepting the free gift of salvation.
Salvation. We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ provides the only way of justification and salvation for all who believe. Any who attach additional works of man as a requirement for salvation are false in that they infer Jesus' death is insufficient in and of itself to save and that human beings somehow have the capability to save themselves.
Accepting the Sinner, Denouncing the Sin. We believe that no sin is too big for God to forgive. Therefore, as Christians we should be open and eager to share the Gospel with everyone regardless of their sin or affliction. However, making Jesus Lord of our lives means striving towards holiness and turning from our sinful ways. Therefore, while being open to all sinners, Christians ought not accept, ignore, or promote any sin as permissible.
Non-Essential Elements. We believe the above tenets make up the basis of Christian faith on which all Christians believe and agree. We have intentionally omitted any statements regarding areas of legitimate disagreement (i.e., baptism, predestination, end times) on which agreement is not essential for salvation. brbruce
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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 4,062 Location: WI
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rockingA wrote:Welcome to Jesus Spoken Hear.
Personal email welcomed at JesusSpokenHear@rockinga.org
Bible. We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, the revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
God. We believe in one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has always been and will always be the only God. There were none before Him and shall be none after him.
The Father. We believe that the Father created all things in heaven and on earth. He created human beings out of a love for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.
Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven.
Holy Spirit. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, making them aware of their sin and the salvation available through Jesus. He regenerates, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.
Man. We believe that man was created in the image of God and sinless, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and subject to judgment. There is nothing man can do to save himself from this judgment, but he can accept the death of Jesus as punishment in place of his own eternal death by acknowledging God and accepting the free gift of salvation.
Salvation. We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ provides the only way of justification and salvation for all who believe. Any who attach additional works of man as a requirement for salvation are false in that they infer Jesus' death is insufficient in and of itself to save and that human beings somehow have the capability to save themselves.
Accepting the Sinner, Denouncing the Sin. We believe that no sin is too big for God to forgive. Therefore, as Christians we should be open and eager to share the Gospel with everyone regardless of their sin or affliction. However, making Jesus Lord of our lives means striving towards holiness and turning from our sinful ways. Therefore, while being open to all sinners, Christians ought not accept, ignore, or promote any sin as permissible.
Non-Essential Elements. We believe the above tenets make up the basis of Christian faith on which all Christians believe and agree. We have intentionally omitted any statements regarding areas of legitimate disagreement (i.e., baptism, predestination, end times) on which agreement is not essential for salvation. brbruce May I ask what religion you are. I heard (read) you mention the Salvation Army. Are you part of the Salvation Army? If I'm being too nosey, don't answer. "If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music in which he hears, however measured, or far away.” Henry David Thoreau
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Rank: Advanced Member  Joined: 7/23/2008 Posts: 2,085
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Terry it's obvious what religion Bruce is of and promoting. All you have to do is read what he posted here or elsewhere to understand he is promoting Christianity. What else could he possibly be talking about ?
To be clear, Bruce is promoting Christianity only and exclusively. Thus he is not in any way promoting hinduisim, islam, buddhisim, new age beliefs, jehovah witness or mormon cults, or any other world religion....just and only Christianity.
Cylon force inbound, all Vipers engage ! Weapons free...Fire, Fire, Fire ! - Battlestar Galactica
Today IS a good day to die ! - Commander Worf, Star Trek the Next Generation
I'm not anxious to die, i'm just anxious to make a difference - Character in Pearl Harbor, movie.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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Let us try to not focus on denominations.
Feel free to share your faith and personal questions.
I ask that we not attack any one within this thread.
If you don't agree with the opening statements
of this thread than feel free not to post here.
I am sure that you can find a place on the forum.
I thank you for respecting this request.
brbruce
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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TerryD :
May I ask what religion you are. I heard (read) you mention the Salvation Army.
Are you part of the Salvation Army?
If I'm being too nosey, don't answer.
...............................................................
I will send you a P.M.
I go to the Salvation Army in many towns.
Mostly one on one outside, and there are times in the chapels.
I normally bring socks and Bibles of All kinds.
A brief talk with the Chaplin is all that is needed.
We normally have a Bills place meeting ( A A ) at the drop of a hat.
I am amazed on how many know me from the street ministry.
Then its not me they know its the Cristian within me.
Thank you for the question.
Jesus Spoken Hear
brbruce
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 4,062 Location: WI
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kihisho wrote:
Terry it's obvious what religion Bruce is of and promoting. All you have to do is read what he posted here or elsewhere to understand he is promoting Christianity. What else could he possibly be talking about ?
To be clear, Bruce is promoting Christianity only and exclusively. Thus he is not in any way promoting hinduisim, islam, buddhisim, new age beliefs, jehovah witness or mormon cults, or any other world religion....just and only Christianity.
There are many denominations of Christians and they all have different interpretations of the Bible. If not, there wouldn't be denominations. I have a problem with that. I believe in the Golden Rule. I think if I do my best to follow that, that should be enough to please God. If not, so be it. "If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music in which he hears, however measured, or far away.” Henry David Thoreau
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 7/23/2008 Posts: 2,085
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TerryD wrote:kihisho wrote:
Terry it's obvious what religion Bruce is of and promoting. All you have to do is read what he posted here or elsewhere to understand he is promoting Christianity. What else could he possibly be talking about ?
To be clear, Bruce is promoting Christianity only and exclusively. Thus he is not in any way promoting hinduisim, islam, buddhisim, new age beliefs, jehovah witness or mormon cults, or any other world religion....just and only Christianity.
There are many denominations of Christians and they all have different interpretations of the Bible. If not, there wouldn't be denominations. I have a problem with that. I believe in the Golden Rule. I think if I do my best to follow that, that should be enough to please God. If not, so be it.
My apologies....I could have sworn you asked " which religion "....not " which denomination "....since religion and denomination are two completely different things.
But, just for clarification ok....all Christians belief in the exact same core central doctrines regardless of thier denominational dogma differences.
Yes as you say it is indeed true that many different denominations interpret a few things differently here or there....but those things are all non core....in other words they don't matter as far as central Christian Doctrine.
As for " the golden rule "...no it isn't enough at all and shouldn't be in the interest of fairness and justice. But you of course do have the right to believe as you wish 
Cylon force inbound, all Vipers engage ! Weapons free...Fire, Fire, Fire ! - Battlestar Galactica
Today IS a good day to die ! - Commander Worf, Star Trek the Next Generation
I'm not anxious to die, i'm just anxious to make a difference - Character in Pearl Harbor, movie.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 4,062 Location: WI
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There are many denominations of Christians and they all have different interpretations of the Bible. If not, there wouldn't be denominations. I have a problem with that. I believe in the Golden Rule. I think if I do my best to follow that, that should be enough to please God. If not, so be it. [/quote] [color=darkviolet][size=6] My apologies....I could have sworn you asked " which religion "....not " which denomination "....since religion and denomination are two completely different things. My apologies too. Whenever I have seen the question What religion are you. The expected answer was Catholic, protestant, Methodist, Mormon, JW, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, etc. "If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music in which he hears, however measured, or far away.” Henry David Thoreau
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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rockingA wrote:Welcome to Jesus Spoken Hear.
Personal email welcomed at JesusSpokenHear@rockinga.org
Bible. We believe the Bible, consisting of 66 books, to be the inspired Word of God, without error, the revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
God. We believe in one God existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God has always been and will always be the only God. There were none before Him and shall be none after him.
The Father. We believe that the Father created all things in heaven and on earth. He created human beings out of a love for us and desires a personal relationship with each of us.
Jesus. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Furthermore, He arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven.
Holy Spirit. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict men, making them aware of their sin and the salvation available through Jesus. He regenerates, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.
Man. We believe that man was created in the image of God and sinless, but fell into sin and is therefore lost and subject to judgment. There is nothing man can do to save himself from this judgment, but he can accept the death of Jesus as punishment in place of his own eternal death by acknowledging God and accepting the free gift of salvation.
Salvation. We believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ provides the only way of justification and salvation for all who believe. Any who attach additional works of man as a requirement for salvation are false in that they infer Jesus' death is insufficient in and of itself to save and that human beings somehow have the capability to save themselves.
Accepting the Sinner, Denouncing the Sin. We believe that no sin is too big for God to forgive. Therefore, as Christians we should be open and eager to share the Gospel with everyone regardless of their sin or affliction. However, making Jesus Lord of our lives means striving towards holiness and turning from our sinful ways. Therefore, while being open to all sinners, Christians ought not accept, ignore, or promote any sin as permissible.
Non-Essential Elements. We believe the above tenets make up the basis of Christian faith on which all Christians believe and agree. We have intentionally omitted any statements regarding areas of legitimate disagreement (i.e., baptism, predestination, end times) on which agreement is not essential for salvation. brbruce
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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I have an answer to brbruce: AMEN!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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rockingA wrote:TerryD :
May I ask what religion you are. I heard (read) you mention the Salvation Army.
Are you part of the Salvation Army?
If I'm being too nosey, don't answer.
...............................................................
I will send you a P.M.
I go to the Salvation Army in many towns.
Mostly one on one outside, and there are times in the chapels.
I normally bring socks and Bibles of All kinds.
A brief talk with the Chaplin is all that is needed.
We normally have a Bills place meeting ( A A ) at the drop of a hat.
I am amazed on how many know me from the street ministry.
Then its not me they know its the Cristian within me.
Thank you for the question.
Jesus Spoken Hear
brbruce AMEN
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to Father but by Jesus. A person may not get to do a lot of good works, as we don't know how much time we have. The thief on the cross didn't have time to do any good works or study religion, but today he is in paradise, because of his trusting the only BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 7/23/2008 Posts: 2,085
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TerryD wrote:
My apologies too. Whenever I have seen the question What religion are you. The expected answer was Catholic, protestant, Methodist, Mormon, JW, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, etc.
Wow, seriously ? I'm sorry your audience or whomever you were talking to was uneducated or misinformed. For the future though if someone you ask that question of starts to respond with the confusion you have encountered thus far, maybe this will help get them on track;
Catholic, Methodist, and Protestant are all denominations...not seperate religions. They all believe in exactly the same core central doctrines and thus are all of the Christian Religion.
Mormons and Jehovah Witness are each completely seperate from Christianity and from each other as seperate religions. Secular sources tend to group them under the heading of Christianity simply because they both claim to believe in Jesus. Unfortunately this is extremely misleading as both the Mormon and Jehovah Witness definition of who and what Jesus is....is completely different than what all Christian denominations believe Him to be. So again they are actually completely seperate from Christianity and from each other.
The last three you named are in fact seperate religions....Jews, Hindus, and Muslims. But believe it or not there are seperate " denominations " of each of those as well...lol.
Anyway, hopefully the above will help you educate your audience if they try to ever tell you that denomination is the same thing as seperate religion. Another thing even many Christians tend to get confused by is what is Doctrine and what is Dogma, and those are completely different too.
Cylon force inbound, all Vipers engage ! Weapons free...Fire, Fire, Fire ! - Battlestar Galactica
Today IS a good day to die ! - Commander Worf, Star Trek the Next Generation
I'm not anxious to die, i'm just anxious to make a difference - Character in Pearl Harbor, movie.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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Apologetics:
What is Apologetics?
Apologetics is the reasoned defense of the Christian religion. Christianity is a faith which hinges upon reasons for that faith. Faith is not reason. Reason is not faith. But Faith cannot be dislocated from reason or faith ceases to exists. It is the mind's understanding and assent to that understanding that lays the groundwork for the Spirit of God to regenerate the soul and implant faith. As God is rational in His dealing with men, so He made men rational thinking men. That does not mean Christians are to be rationalists, but rather, rational. Apologetics is the Rational Biblical Defense of Jesus Christ and His Word against Satanic philosophies (the cults (like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses), atheism, agnosticism, Stoicism, Socinianism, Roman Catholicism, etc...) which contest His veracity and His revealed will contained in the Bible.
It is not surprising that the Puritans excelled in the rational biblical defense of Christ and His Word, being entrenched in Ramean logic (which is often unappealing to the mass of contemporary readers who cannot think because they have never been taught to think.) Ramean logic affords the writer the ability to parse every point considered in great matriculation and with preciseness. In doing so, not only is the truth given to the saints for their edification, but objections are answered to the satisfaction of the bible. These, though, are not answers which are simply textural quotes, but rather expositions of the text exegeted in such a way as to render the hearer stunned with amazement feeling as though every point has been covered, or almost exhausted. It is having (if such a thing were to exist in its fullness) a mastery of the biblical text at hand.
Hand in hand with the biblical prowess one ought to posses as an able exegete of the Word of God, is the hand-maiden of apologetics--this is rational philosophy. Philosophy is the Hagar to the Sarah. So long as Hagar does not exalt herself over Sarah, she is useful as a hand-maiden. Rational Biblical Apologetics will wed both the truth of the Word of God with the truth of the natural laws of rational philosophy in order to refute, attest to, and convince the gainsayer of his error.
The vain philosophy of the world will always contain these 5 elements:
1) An attestation (or acquiescence) to the Bible as a helpful book, but not the inspired Word of God (although Catholicism will attest to the Bible as being divine, yet their tradition is placed upon an equal, and most of the time, greater level than the Bible--the church decides what the Word means.)
2) The denial of the Biblical Gospel message of Christ's vicarious substitutionary atonement on behalf of his elect people which is limited in scope but not its power.
3) The denial of the sinner as morally corrupt, dead in sins, without any ability to will spiritual good, or turn to Christ to repent.
4) The denial of God's absolute sovereignty in all areas of the created order.
5) A deranged or warped view (or no view) of God in general.
It is the duty of every Christian to be an apologist. Some Christians immediately balk at this, not even aware of the meaning of the word. Simply, an apologist is not someone who "apologizes" for his faith, but rather, is someone who defends the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3). It is commanded by God that all Christians follow 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." A ready defense is required of the Christian. That does not mean he must be a "professional theologian" in order to have an answer for the gainsayer. However, the Christian should at least be well prepared, or ready to give a defense.
The predisposition to fall into a kind of post-Gnostic theology is the plight of much of evangelicalism today. To lean on a kind of faith-centered feeling and experience is far easier for the contemporary Christian to appeal to than it is for him to prepare a reasonable defense of the faith he claims to hold. It is easier for him to say with the blind man, "All I know is, once I was blind, but now I see" relying on what he feels and experiences rather than what he is able to explain. Yet he will still, in a primal kind of way, appeal to the absurdity of one questioning his experience with the "Who are you to question my experience..." defense. Though in reality this is simply a kind of "red herring", even the evangelical Gnostic will appeal to some kind of defense if it is needed. But Christ calls true Christians to more than this. He calls us to a readied defense of the faith entrusted to us. This means we need not only to have a readied defense, but we need to know what we are defending to a comfortable extent. Paul the Apostle reasoned daily in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10). He reasoned with them. He did not make simple appeal and then ask them to give their lives over to Christ. He appealed to their rational intellect time and time again (See the Sermon on Mars Hill and the debate with the Greeks in Acts 14 and 17). Paul knew his Old Testament well, but he also engaged them in the consideration of natural theology. The debates he engaged in to convince the gainsayer would have been quickly over if he did not know his Bible well or was unable to appeal to the intellect.
There are two elements to being ready to give a defense of the faith. The first is a thorough knowledge of the faith we profess. This seems almost silly to purport. The fact is, many Christians who have been professing Christians for long periods of time (years and years) would not know where to find the historical narrative of Isaiah's exposure to God and the angel's chant of "holy, holy, holy." Or even the prophecies concerning Christ's death in the Psalms, where the faith chapter is located in the New Testament, or even where to find the parable of the prodigal son. These are pivotal texts that are often neglected. Secondly, the ready apologist should have some idea of the corrupted philosophies and ideologies which desire to exalt themselves over the Scriptures. This is not necessarily needful, but quite helpful. Why do I say this is not necessarily needful? It is hypothetically possible that a Christian could be so well versed with the truth, that when error springs up before him he will be able to refute it thoroughly by the word of God. But this is the exception rather than the rule. And within the context of today's aversion to the rational, it is even more needful that Christians have a well-rounded defense of the faith for the glory of Christ.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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“Lord, consume me. Take it all.”
According to John, all of God’s love dwells in Jesus, He writes, “And of his fullness have all we received…” (John 1:16). How have we received the Father’s love? We’ve obtained it by being in Christ.
But, you may ask, what’s so important about knowing God’s love is conveyed to us through Christ? How does this affect our everyday lives?
How does God’s love impact our lives? We have to look to Christ as our example. Jesus has already told us the Father loves us in the same way he loved the Son. So, what impact did the Father’s love have on Jesus?
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…” (1 John 3:16). Here was the fruit of God’s love in Jesus: He gave of himself as a sacrifice for others. The second half of this verse tells us the purpose of God’s love in our own lives. It reads, “…and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” God’s love leads us also to present our bodies as living sacrifices.
Have you ever thought about what it means to truly lay down your life for your brothers and sisters? John isn’t talking about becoming martyrs on foreign soil. He isn’t referring to being an organ donor. And he doesn’t mean we’re to take the place of some condemned criminal on death row. Christ alone made that sacrifice. No, the only kind of Christian who can bring life and hope to his brethren is a dead one. Such a servant has died to this world—to all self, pride and ambition.
This “dead” Christian has allowed the Holy Ghost to take a spiritual inventory of his soul. He sees through the corruption and ungodliness in his heart. And he willingly goes to God’s altar, crying, “Lord, consume me. Take it all.” He knows that only through being cleansed by Christ’s blood can he give his life for his brethren.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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rockingA wrote:
Apologetics:
What is Apologetics?
Apologetics is the reasoned defense of the Christian religion. Christianity is a faith which hinges upon reasons for that faith. Faith is not reason. Reason is not faith. But Faith cannot be dislocated from reason or faith ceases to exists. It is the mind's understanding and assent to that understanding that lays the groundwork for the Spirit of God to regenerate the soul and implant faith. As God is rational in His dealing with men, so He made men rational thinking men. That does not mean Christians are to be rationalists, but rather, rational. Apologetics is the Rational Biblical Defense of Jesus Christ and His Word against Satanic philosophies (the cults (like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses), atheism, agnosticism, Stoicism, Socinianism, Roman Catholicism, etc...) which contest His veracity and His revealed will contained in the Bible.
It is not surprising that the Puritans excelled in the rational biblical defense of Christ and His Word, being entrenched in Ramean logic (which is often unappealing to the mass of contemporary readers who cannot think because they have never been taught to think.) Ramean logic affords the writer the ability to parse every point considered in great matriculation and with preciseness. In doing so, not only is the truth given to the saints for their edification, but objections are answered to the satisfaction of the bible. These, though, are not answers which are simply textural quotes, but rather expositions of the text exegeted in such a way as to render the hearer stunned with amazement feeling as though every point has been covered, or almost exhausted. It is having (if such a thing were to exist in its fullness) a mastery of the biblical text at hand.
Hand in hand with the biblical prowess one ought to posses as an able exegete of the Word of God, is the hand-maiden of apologetics--this is rational philosophy. Philosophy is the Hagar to the Sarah. So long as Hagar does not exalt herself over Sarah, she is useful as a hand-maiden. Rational Biblical Apologetics will wed both the truth of the Word of God with the truth of the natural laws of rational philosophy in order to refute, attest to, and convince the gainsayer of his error.
The vain philosophy of the world will always contain these 5 elements:
1) An attestation (or acquiescence) to the Bible as a helpful book, but not the inspired Word of God (although Catholicism will attest to the Bible as being divine, yet their tradition is placed upon an equal, and most of the time, greater level than the Bible--the church decides what the Word means.)
2) The denial of the Biblical Gospel message of Christ's vicarious substitutionary atonement on behalf of his elect people which is limited in scope but not its power.
3) The denial of the sinner as morally corrupt, dead in sins, without any ability to will spiritual good, or turn to Christ to repent.
4) The denial of God's absolute sovereignty in all areas of the created order.
5) A deranged or warped view (or no view) of God in general.
It is the duty of every Christian to be an apologist. Some Christians immediately balk at this, not even aware of the meaning of the word. Simply, an apologist is not someone who "apologizes" for his faith, but rather, is someone who defends the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 1:3). It is commanded by God that all Christians follow 1 Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..." A ready defense is required of the Christian. That does not mean he must be a "professional theologian" in order to have an answer for the gainsayer. However, the Christian should at least be well prepared, or ready to give a defense.
The predisposition to fall into a kind of post-Gnostic theology is the plight of much of evangelicalism today. To lean on a kind of faith-centered feeling and experience is far easier for the contemporary Christian to appeal to than it is for him to prepare a reasonable defense of the faith he claims to hold. It is easier for him to say with the blind man, "All I know is, once I was blind, but now I see" relying on what he feels and experiences rather than what he is able to explain. Yet he will still, in a primal kind of way, appeal to the absurdity of one questioning his experience with the "Who are you to question my experience..." defense. Though in reality this is simply a kind of "red herring", even the evangelical Gnostic will appeal to some kind of defense if it is needed. But Christ calls true Christians to more than this. He calls us to a readied defense of the faith entrusted to us. This means we need not only to have a readied defense, but we need to know what we are defending to a comfortable extent. Paul the Apostle reasoned daily in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10). He reasoned with them. He did not make simple appeal and then ask them to give their lives over to Christ. He appealed to their rational intellect time and time again (See the Sermon on Mars Hill and the debate with the Greeks in Acts 14 and 17). Paul knew his Old Testament well, but he also engaged them in the consideration of natural theology. The debates he engaged in to convince the gainsayer would have been quickly over if he did not know his Bible well or was unable to appeal to the intellect.
There are two elements to being ready to give a defense of the faith. The first is a thorough knowledge of the faith we profess. This seems almost silly to purport. The fact is, many Christians who have been professing Christians for long periods of time (years and years) would not know where to find the historical narrative of Isaiah's exposure to God and the angel's chant of "holy, holy, holy." Or even the prophecies concerning Christ's death in the Psalms, where the faith chapter is located in the New Testament, or even where to find the parable of the prodigal son. These are pivotal texts that are often neglected. Secondly, the ready apologist should have some idea of the corrupted philosophies and ideologies which desire to exalt themselves over the Scriptures. This is not necessarily needful, but quite helpful. Why do I say this is not necessarily needful? It is hypothetically possible that a Christian could be so well versed with the truth, that when error springs up before him he will be able to refute it thoroughly by the word of God. But this is the exception rather than the rule. And within the context of today's aversion to the rational, it is even more needful that Christians have a well-rounded defense of the faith for the glory of Christ.
I think you have made some points here. Especially about knowing what others believe. Jesus always knew what Satan was up to, so he could never take the Lord by surprise.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Members of some cult, could claim to believe everything that Christians believe, but a person's lifestyle would soon
show what that person really believes. This is not saying that Christians are perfect, but that they are at least moving in that direction. John 3:16 can be quoted, but the same Bible also says, "Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish." The word "Christian" means little Christ, or Christ-like, so a Christian's light should be shining before mankind, and a Christian should strive to be "Christ-like".
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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The Antichrist is in power.
Paul wrote, “We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
Scoffers point out, “See, someone in the early church shook up believers with the message that Christ was about to come. And Paul told them, ‘No, don’t worry about it. Don’t let it trouble or concern you.’”
But that is not what the original Greek reveals. The root word is “[be not shaken]…that the day of the Lord has come.” What disturbed the Thessalonians was they thought Christ had already come, and that they’d missed it. Paul reassures them in the next verse, “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (2:3). Paul was only addressing their fears when he said, “Don’t be worried, because two things have to happen first.”
So, what was Paul’s primary theology about Christ’s return? We find it in two passages: “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand” (Romans 13:11-12). “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5). Paul is crying, “Wake up! It’s past midnight already. The Lord’s coming is drawing near, so stir yourself. Don’t be slothful. Jesus is coming for those who expect him.”
Skeptics may ask, “But what about Paul’s own words? He did say two things had to happen before Christ returns. First, the Lord can’t come until a great apostasy takes place. And second, the Antichrist has to rise up and proclaim himself God. We have to see the Antichrist sitting in the temple, demanding that people worship him, before Jesus will come.”
First of all, you have to be willfully blind not to see a raging apostasy gripping the whole world. Unbelief is sweeping through nations, with believers falling away from faith on all sides. The apostasy Paul refers to has clearly arrived.
Some may say, “Paul clearly says Jesus can’t come until the Antichrist is in power.” Consider what Scripture says: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). According to John, the Antichrist is anyone who denies the Father and the Son. Moreover, he says, the increase of such Antichrists is proof we are living in the very last days.
In short, nothing is holding back Christ’s return!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 637
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Satan like any other snake can crawl into a place through a really small hole. He is unable to do ANYTHING in a FAIR manner. Everything he does is through deceit. He is always looking for a tiny crack of ignorance he can squeeze through to destroy someone's life. Whether it's through false religion, or no religion, deception is all he knows.
He is unable to win a fair battle, so he cheats. He will gladly let blame someone blame Jesus for something he (satan) did.
That is why it is so important to be armed with the word. That is how JESUS defeated him, through the word. Although JESUS could have easily destroyed him with his power. The saying that satan never won a fair fight, is still true today.
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Rank: Advanced Member Joined: 10/7/2008 Posts: 2,847 Location: Caldwell Tex
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Abraham Lincoln is said to have "freed the slaves" with the Emancipation
Proclamation. This legal document declared that slavery was dead and all the
slaves were set free.
When this news first spread through southern plantations, many of the slaves
would not believe it. They continued slaving for their masters, convinced their
promise of freedom was a hoax. Numbers of unscrupulous landowners told their
slaves it was just a rumor and kept them under bondage. But little by little,
the truth dawned on them as they saw former slaves walking about, happy in
their newfound freedom. One by one, they threw down their loads, turned their
backs on slavery, and walked away to begin a new life.
Maybe you haven't heard yet, or maybe it sounds too good to be true, but Christ
emancipated all the slaves to sin at Calvary. You can now "walk out" on the
devil! You can throw down your load of sin, walk away from Satan's dominion,
and enter into a new life of freedom.
Let me show you what the Bible means when it talks about dying to sin. When
Lincoln emancipated the slaves, the "issue" of slavery died. Not the slave
master—not the slave. The slave could walk away free, saying to himself,
“Slavery is a dead issue.”
Now the slave could slip back into the field and pick a few more rows of
cotton—perhaps through fear or instinct—but that in no way made him a slave
again. He was free, but he had to exercise his freedom. The proclamation
couldn't force compliance, and neither could the slave master force him to
return. It was a matter of the will of the slave.
The Bible says, "...he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with
Christ, we believe we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:7 ).
What that means is simply this: Since the matter of your slavery to sin is a
dead issue, seeing that Christ has already declared you emancipated, you are
now free to live as a new person in Christ by thinking of yourself as
unchained.
Christ can't make you do right, and Satan can't make you do wrong. Christ
declares you are free by faith, but you must act as a free person.
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