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John 17
Mar 15, 2022 15:58:25 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Mar 15, 2022 15:58:25 GMT -5
Hello! I am a little confused on the subject of death that is discussed above. I mean… I am not sure if we will experience pain or not. Isn’t it possible to experience pain since we will be still here in our mortal bodies until we meet the Lord?
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John 17
Feb 26, 2022 14:23:07 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 26, 2022 14:23:07 GMT -5
Can you give an example of this, if possible?
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John 17
Feb 26, 2022 14:10:54 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 26, 2022 14:10:54 GMT -5
I know what you mean Barbara. I have a similar problem of not sleeping at night or not getting enough sleep at night. You should see what my face looks like without my glasses on! It's the first time in my life that I've been thankful that I wear glasses, because I have big dark circles under my eyes that won't go away. You're lucky that you can at least sleep during the daytime. I can't do that for some reason. The few times I have slept during the day, I was pretty sick, so Bruce knows that if it happens it's a warning signal.
It's just as well you didn't post here anyway as we need to wait for Eva to post. I do want to add something I've been thinking about, and that Eva had commented on too. I wanted to share something one of my commentaries said that I think you'll like.
Like Jesus, the Apostles took time for individuals. The best defense of the truth of the Christian faith is a changed life. The healed beggar was “Exhibit A” in Peter’s defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Methodist preacher Samuel Chadwick used to pray for “a Lazarus” in every campaign, some “great sinner” whose conversion would shock the community. He got the idea from John 12:9–11. “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.” (John 12:9–11)
God answered his prayers in meeting after meeting as infamous wicked men trusted Christ and became witnesses through their changed lives. Let’s go after the “hard cases” and see what God can do! God has promised to bless and use His Word, so let’s be faithful to witness. Jesus even prayed that our witness would have success (John 17:20), so we have every reason to be encouraged. There is power in the name of Jesus, so we need not fear to witness and call sinners to repent. The Bible exposition commentary
To say that the unsaved will see our life and want what we have, is very true, even those who never accept Jesus. Who doesn't want peace instead of worry, stress and anxiety? A Christian that is living their faith and is somewhat mature will have that peace. When financial troubles come along, they won't panic. In fact it reminds me of a verse: “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” (Psalm 112:7)
It reminds me of what happened to me many years ago. Due to my ex-husband's mishandling our money, our house was in foreclosure. My best friend was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to find any place to live before the bank took our house, but I was at peace and kept telling her it would be all right because the Lord would find us a place to stay in His time, not ours. This went on for a month, then, just two days before the bank took our house and we would be out on the street, I saw an ad for an apartment and went to see it. It was the only place in our town that was asking for an amount that I could actually afford! Everyone I had talked to had said that no place in our town would rent for that low of a price, but this one man did! When I got saw the apartment I told the man I wanted it. He said another person was coming to see it and he would give it to whoever gave him the money first. I wasn't worried because I knew God had shown it to me because it was where He wanted me to live. So I went to the bank, got the money in cash and brought it back to the man. I think I was only gone maybe 15 minutes. The other person was there when I came in with the money. I simply apologized to them and handed him the money and the apartment was mine. We moved in with one day to spare! My friend told me later that she had been amazed at how calm and peaceful I was about finding a place to live and asked me why I wasn't anxious and worried. I told her it was because of Jesus, and knowing that I could count on the Lord. She's saved and has told others this story a number of times too.
What that taught me was that we never know who's watching or listening to us, and who may be affected by the things we do or say. Hello ! I read the above story and the story of Barbara next (wasn’t sure how to quote both), and.. Actually I am thinking that I dont have that much faith that everything will turn out good, even though I know that God is in control. Only when I see the results eventually I say that was because of God, but I have short memory and then worry again. I wasn’t that way some years ago. I had more faith but after the events that happened in my life that I have told you about in private, I have difficulty to trust, its like always waiting for a battle or for something bad to happen and that I have to fight. I am not calm. And that’s one of the things that needs to get fixed. I mostly feel like a person who has been in chains and beaten for years and suddenly was set free but does not know any other way than to be waiting for the next attack. I have the knowledge, but yet I dont feel calm, I cannot fully experience this. And it is sad
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John 17
Feb 24, 2022 17:22:21 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 24, 2022 17:22:21 GMT -5
Good one Barbara!
We are sanctified by God's spirit and His Word. As we study it and learn more about Him, our love for Him grows as well as our knowledge. What's crucial to know is that every time we ignore the Spirit's promptings, our hearts are hardened a little bit, until eventually, if we continue to ignore Him, we won't hear Him any more. Doing that is one of the things that will "grieve the Holy Spirit. The other thing that grieves Him is when we disobey the Word. This next scripture is command and not a suggestion, for a very good reason: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
And of course, we aren't living sanctified lives when we refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit or refuse to obey God's Word. Looking back on my life now, I can easily see the way the Lord disciplined me for not obeying His Word. I could have avoided many bad experiences in my life if I had simply obeyed God instead of trying to live the way my mother did. I'm amazed that I didn't get it then...that I didn't put 2 + 2 together and realize that the Lord was disciplining me. And He continued to do so until the moment I turned back to Him and repented of my sins. (Hebrews 12:5–11)
It's also true that the more we obey Him (or try to obey) the more sanctified we become; the more we grow in our faith. And each time we obey, we'll be able to hear Him a little better the next time, until eventually we have no problem at all hearing Him. There's very real danger in this world, but God will protect us from it, IF we are abiding in His Word and obeying it. Otherwise, He generally allows us to get caught by the danger, in order to turn us back to Him. If people realized how much God does for us when we spend plenty of time in His Word every day, they would all have their Bibles with them constantly and be reading them every second they could. Most of us are very familiar with this verse, and yet we ignore it to our peril: “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4) God's Word, the Bible, is our spiritual food that strengthens our new nature that we were given at salvation, and causes us to grow in our faith. Yet most people only nibble at God's Word. They literally are spiritually starving themselves to death. They're the ones that think spending 5 to 15 minutes a day in God's Word is all they need to do. My heart breaks for them because they're only hurting themselves. It's kind of ironic too because people like that will often say they don't have any more time they can spend in the Bible, yet they still spend hours watching TV, or being online, or reading fiction books, etc. They don't seem to realize that what they spend the most time doing is what they have made the most important in their lives; they make it first in their lives. But God tells us that we are to make Him first in our lives. Many people say they do, but very few actually do it. I also really needed to read this one !
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John 17
Feb 22, 2022 17:55:38 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 22, 2022 17:55:38 GMT -5
I have 2 questions on this but they are partly related to these verses. Maybe I have mentioned before that my family used to attend some churched that denied the Trinity. That led me in the first years to be confused because I heard so many theories and so many false teachings as a child. Now… I cannot even understand their claims. And I didn’t even remember them for sure. But I cannot understand how, for something that obvious that is mentioned clearly so many times in the bible there are… theories… Cindy you mentioned this ”Because it's through knowing and applying God's Word, loving His Word, that our love for God increases and our love for others increases. It's through knowing and applying His word that we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. The unsaved see this and want what we have.” And I saw many times you referred that the unsaved want what we have. But do they? Do they or they are becoming enemies because we are not like them and we are different from the world? It’s good to be different and to have the Holy Spirit changing you. But I don’t think that the unbelievers would like that , except of the ones that are going to be saved eventually. Yes, What I should have said is that those the Father has called and chosen, the people who will one day be saved, will want what we have because of what they see in our lives. However, that doesn't mean that the people who don't respond by wanting what we have won't ever be saved. Each will be saved at the perfect time for them, not when we think they should be. For example, in all the years of being an adult, from age 18 until about age 40, I only met couple that lived their faith and who tried to show me the love of Christ. Instead of listening though, I made fun of them. (even though deep inside something was drawing me to them). It wound up taking many more years before I was finally truly saved.
And that's a good picture of who unbelievers act. There are some who will see our life and want what we have, and they may act on that. Others will act hatefully toward us, just as Jesus said they would. So it's in general only those who are elect that will want what we have. But seriously, even if no one ever wanted what we have in our life, we still must live our life as an example to others of what being a Christian is all about.
Yes I understand what you mean
You mentioned the trinity, but I couldn't tell if you had a question about it or not... I hope I answered your question, but really you answered it yourself lol
Actually it was mostly a comment and not really a question
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John 17
Feb 15, 2022 9:09:47 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 15, 2022 9:09:47 GMT -5
Looking at John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:14
Earlier Jesus had said concerning the hatred of the world of unbelievers:
18 If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
25 But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause' John 15:18-
So Jesus understands being hated.
But one of the reasons the world hated the apostles, and hates Christians now is: because of the 'Word'. (the Bible, the gospel).
They don't like hearing about everyone being a sinner. They love their sins, so therefore, the Word, is not agreeable to them, so they call it: judgmental and 'hate' speech today.
Furthermore, they are doing everything possible to make their sins seem perfectly fine and acceptable. They are busy making laws stating the right to sin ( be it sexual, murdering babies in the womb, stealing etc.etc.) The have parades, and make movies and songs praising their rebellion against God. And they teach the youngest of children, to be accepting of all manner of sins.
Another reason they hate Christians, is believers are not 'spiritually' of this world. On some level, unbelievers know this, and it infuriates them.
Little sleep again, so done for today.
14Εγώ τους έδωσα το δικό σου μήνυμα· ο κόσμος όμως τους μίσησε γιατί δεν ανήκουν στον κόσμο, όπως και εγώ δεν προέρχομαι από τον κόσμο. 15Σε παρακαλώ, όχι να τους πάρεις από τον κόσμο, αλλά να τους προστατέψεις από το διάβολο. 16Δεν προέρχονται από τον πονηρό κόσμο, όπως και εγώ δεν προέρχομαι απ’ αυτόν τον κόσμο. 17Με την αλήθεια σου ξεχώρισέ τους από τον κόσμο· ο δικός σου ο λόγος είναι αλήθεια. 18Όπως εσύ έστειλες εμένα στον κόσμο, έτσι κι εγώ έστειλα στον κόσμο αυτούς· 19και για χάρη τους αφιερώνω και προσφέρω τον εαυτό μου σ’ εσένα, ώστε κι αυτοί, με τη βοήθεια της αλήθειας, να είναι αφιερωμένοι σ’ εσένα. Actually I am thinking of what I mentioned before. The world is going to hate everyone is not like them. I am dealing with people everyday because of my work and see their behaviours over the years. The world speaks about “diversity” and “the right to be different”, but at the same time if you are not following the worlds ways you are not accepted. And in fact if we were accepted by the world that would not be a good sign of where we stand as Christians.
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John 17
Feb 15, 2022 8:18:58 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 15, 2022 8:18:58 GMT -5
Sorry you're having trouble staying awake hon. You did a good job on the verse though. I would like to add something if you don't mind though.
““I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” (John 17:11)
Jesus is doing in this verse what the prophets before Him often did, and in fact, what He has done before when making a prophecy. At times like that, the prophet states something that is in the future as though it had already happened. God has them do that to show that what they're speaking about can't be changed, and is definitely going to happen. Sometimes it surprises people to realize that Jesus was also a prophet. He prophesized that Jerusalem and the rest of Israel would fall and the Temple be destroyed which happened in AD 70. Among other things, He prophesized what will happen during the Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom and afterward, and of course about His own death and resurrection.
I'd also like to talk about what it means when Jesus or the apostles speak of "the Name" or "Your Name" etc. He's obviously speaking about a lot more then just a name. A name represented the nature of the person being spoken about. In this case "Your Name" would be speaking about God the Father, including all of His attributes and His character. But Jesus continues, saying, “the name, which you have given to me” which is a claim to equality with God the Father, and so is Jesus again reminding us that He is God.
I've found that today there are many people who think Jesus is just another person, maybe a great one, but just a person. Because of that, I started making a list of every time I noticed that Jesus said He was God (like in this verse) or someone else said it. I thought I'd find a few places, but have been absolutely amazed at how often Jesus said it! I have well over 100 times in my list so far! The reason we don't notice it at first is simply because we aren't Jews and aren't used to thinking like they did and still do. For example, every time Jesus stated that He was God's son, or called Himself that, or said that God was His Father, He was claiming to be equal to God, to being God, according to how the Jews believe. In fact, that's exactly why they wanted to kill Him, because He insisted He was God! One of the many that have become very obvious to me now is this one: “I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:30) and in the next verses it talks about them trying to kill him for that: “Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”” (John 10:31–33)
Jesus prays that believers will be one just as the trinity is one. I'm afraid that we don't see much of that today, mainly due to all the unbelievers in church claiming to be saved. But unity doesn't mean we're not different too. Jesus is talking about the unity of loving each other the way He loves us, and the way the Father loves Him and He loves the Father. To be truly in unity requires that we each know God's Word and study it daily until we know it very well. Why? Because it's through knowing and applying God's Word, loving His Word, that our love for God increases and our love for others increases. It's through knowing and applying His word that we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. The unsaved see this and want what we have. Hello guys! I have 2 questions on this but they are partly related to these verses. Maybe I have mentioned before that my family used to attend some churched that denied the Trinity. That led me in the first years to be confused because I heard so many theories and so many false teachings as a child. Now… I cannot even understand their claims. And I didn’t even remember them for sure. But I cannot understand how, for something that obvious that is mentioned clearly so many times in the bible there are… theories… Cindy you mentioned this ”Because it's through knowing and applying God's Word, loving His Word, that our love for God increases and our love for others increases. It's through knowing and applying His word that we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. The unsaved see this and want what we have.” And I saw many times you referred that the unsaved want what we have. But do they? Do they or they are becoming enemies because we are not like them and we are different from the world? It’s good to be different and to have the Holy Spirit changing you. But I don’t think that the unbelievers would like that , except of the ones that are going to be saved eventually.
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Post by evafromgreece on Feb 7, 2022 11:59:09 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy and Barbara! Amazingly this was yesterdays message at church! I saw it online because as you know I have to stay home, but this was the exact message of the yesterdays sermon!
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John 17
Feb 4, 2022 12:41:36 GMT -5
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 4, 2022 12:41:36 GMT -5
1Αφού τα είπε αυτά ο Ιησούς, σήκωσε τα μάτια του στον ουρανό και είπε: «Πατέρα, έφτασε η ώρα· φανέρωσε τη δόξα του Υιού σου, ώστε κι ο Υιός σου να φανερώσει τη δική σου δόξα. 2Εσύ του έδωσες εξουσία πάνω σε όλους τους ανθρώπους· έτσι κι αυτός θα δώσει την αιώνια ζωή σε όλους αυτούς που του εμπιστεύτηκες. 3Και να ποια είναι η αιώνια ζωή: Ν’ αναγνωρίζουν οι άνθρωποι εσένα ως τον μόνο αληθινό Θεό, καθώς κι εκείνον που έστειλες, τον Ιησού Χριστό. 4Εγώ φανέρωσα τη δόξα σου πάνω στη γη, αφού ολοκλήρωσα το έργο που μου ανέθεσες να κάνω. 5Τώρα λοιπόν εσύ, Πατέρα, δόξασέ με κοντά σ’ εσένα με τη δόξα που είχα κοντά σου προτού να γίνει ο κόσμος. 6»Εγώ σε έκανα γνωστό στους ανθρώπους που τους πήρες μέσα από τον κόσμο και μου τους εμπιστεύτηκες. Ανήκαν σ’ εσένα, κι εσύ τους έδωσες σ’ εμένα, κι έχουν δεχτεί το λόγο σου. 7Αυτοί τώρα ξέρουν πως όλα όσα μου έδωσες προέρχονται από σένα· Hello Since I am a bit confused from the above I will post what I see from the first 7 verses. I posted above the Greek text because I don't have my Bible at the hospital as I explained in a message, and it helps me to see the Greek text also. In the first 2 verses Jesus says in His prayer that the time has come. It's time to defeat death once and for all in the cross. I think when He says that He will reveal the glory of the Father means that He will free humanity from sin with His death. Jesus as a human had His power given to Him from the Father, that was Father's holy plan in order to save humanity from death and give us eternal life. And Jesus is the eternal life and to see the Lord as the one and only God is the eternal life. I saw that both you mentioned above that Jesus is the tree and we are the branches and no branch can live without the tree. I want to mention also because He says that eternal life is to recognize the Father as the one and only true God, I believe He mentioned there that there might be idols that lead humans away from eternal life and this danger might be a part of His prayer to protect us from idols (all kind of idols and modern times idols). 4. Jesus by His works on Earth revealed God and it was time to go back in Heaven were He was before our existence. And He revealed God to people the Lord new from long before and that they belonged to Him. I believe in 6 it talks also about election. How the disciples were elected to follow Him and be a part of His plan Yes, very good! He does defeat death on the cross, but the only way that could be done was to pay for the sins of the world, because death is the consequence of each and every sin, no matter how small we may think that sin is. So when He died on the cross, He defeated sin and death and Satan. Yes, because He was willing to give His life for our sins, that brought glory to the Father.
The only thing I'm not sure about is that it sounds to me like you think that predestination and election is about God knowing what would happen before hand. But that's not true. Many people make this mistake because of how this scripture is worded: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29) Let me share how MacArthur explaines the word "foreknew": Foreknew is not a reference simply to God’s omniscience—that in eternity past He knew who would come to Christ. Rather, it speaks of a predetermined choice to set His love on us and established an intimate relationship—or His election. The word "predestined" is literally “to mark out, appoint, or determine beforehand.” Those God chooses, He destines for His chosen end—that is, likeness to His Son.
If I misunderstood what you are saying, I apologize. I hope this helps make things clear though.
Hello! I am a bit confused now. Isn’t it both? I mean God knows what will happen before hand but at the same time He chose His people?
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John 17
Jan 29, 2022 14:59:44 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 29, 2022 14:59:44 GMT -5
1Αφού τα είπε αυτά ο Ιησούς, σήκωσε τα μάτια του στον ουρανό και είπε: «Πατέρα, έφτασε η ώρα· φανέρωσε τη δόξα του Υιού σου, ώστε κι ο Υιός σου να φανερώσει τη δική σου δόξα. 2Εσύ του έδωσες εξουσία πάνω σε όλους τους ανθρώπους· έτσι κι αυτός θα δώσει την αιώνια ζωή σε όλους αυτούς που του εμπιστεύτηκες. 3Και να ποια είναι η αιώνια ζωή: Ν’ αναγνωρίζουν οι άνθρωποι εσένα ως τον μόνο αληθινό Θεό, καθώς κι εκείνον που έστειλες, τον Ιησού Χριστό. 4Εγώ φανέρωσα τη δόξα σου πάνω στη γη, αφού ολοκλήρωσα το έργο που μου ανέθεσες να κάνω. 5Τώρα λοιπόν εσύ, Πατέρα, δόξασέ με κοντά σ’ εσένα με τη δόξα που είχα κοντά σου προτού να γίνει ο κόσμος. 6»Εγώ σε έκανα γνωστό στους ανθρώπους που τους πήρες μέσα από τον κόσμο και μου τους εμπιστεύτηκες. Ανήκαν σ’ εσένα, κι εσύ τους έδωσες σ’ εμένα, κι έχουν δεχτεί το λόγο σου. 7Αυτοί τώρα ξέρουν πως όλα όσα μου έδωσες προέρχονται από σένα·
Hello Since I am a bit confused from the above I will post what I see from the first 7 verses. I posted above the Greek text because I don't have my Bible at the hospital as I explained in a message, and it helps me to see the Greek text also.
In the first 2 verses Jesus says in His prayer that the time has come. It's time to defeat death once and for all in the cross. I think when He says that He will reveal the glory of the Father means that He will free humanity from sin with His death. Jesus as a human had His power given to Him from the Father, that was Father's holy plan in order to save humanity from death and give us eternal life. And Jesus is the eternal life and to see the Lord as the one and only God is the eternal life.
I saw that both you mentioned above that Jesus is the tree and we are the branches and no branch can live without the tree. I want to mention also because He says that eternal life is to recognize the Father as the one and only true God, I believe He mentioned there that there might be idols that lead humans away from eternal life and this danger might be a part of His prayer to protect us from idols (all kind of idols and modern times idols). 4. Jesus by His works on Earth revealed God and it was time to go back in Heaven were He was before our existence. And He revealed God to people the Lord new from long before and that they belonged to Him. I believe in 6 it talks also about election. How the disciples were elected to follow Him and be a part of His plan
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John 17
Jan 28, 2022 10:15:04 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 28, 2022 10:15:04 GMT -5
Your's is very good! You kind of got what I was going to say : This next verse is a definition of eternal life!
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Eternal life is a Person, Jesus Christ. Eternal Life should be capitalized because it's another name for Jesus. The Bible documents this in 1 John 1:1-2. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” (1 John 1:1–2)
This passage reveals that Christ & Eternal Life are one & the same. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) In other words, "I am...the life" And "In Him was life" (John 1:4). "When Christ, who is our life, appears ..." (Col 3:4). So Eternal Life is a person, Jesus Christ. When you came to Jesus, He did not "come into your life"; He exchanged His powerful, obedient life, for your old rebellious, independent, self-serving life. Jesus Christ is our life, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11–12) “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)
John Ankerberg says, One Person alone has lived an overcoming life on earth: Jesus Christ. That one Person said, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Christ is the vine in this metaphor; we Christians are the branches. Branches have no independent life. Branches "live and move and have their being" by the life of the vine. So long as branches abide (draw their life from the vine), they experience a fruitful existence. Notice that Jesus says branches "bear" fruit. That’s because branches never produce fruit; branches bear the fruit that is produced by the life of the vine through them. Should they try to live independently, they will die. Without vine life, they "can do nothing." Jesus said that without His life flowing through us, we are impotent, powerless. What if our salvation encompasses a new kind of life in addition to the forgiveness of sins? What if eternal life is not a mere extension of our old life, but a literal, new life? What if eternal life is actually the life of Christ? What if the Spirit of Christ who indwells us is intended to express life through us? What if it is His life through us that gives us power over the world, our own flesh, and the devil? If this were the case & a Christian husband understood how to let Christ live through him to minister agape love to his wife, would this make a huge difference in their marriage? Would Christ through him treat his wife like a precious gift from God? Would the fruit of the Spirit begin to become evident in this man behind the closed doors of his home as well as publicly? That’s a no-brainer. Christ living through this man would radically change his behavior for the better. Folks would want to find out more about the secret to such power.
When you came to Jesus, He did not "come into your life"; He exchanged His powerful, obedient life, for your old rebellious, independent, self-serving life. Jesus Christ is our life, folks, and we have the glorious privilege of cooperating with Him by trusting Him to express His life through us on earth. What a magnificent difference that makes!
Hello! I am here. I read up to this post. Please slow down a bit so I can catch up and post my comments on the above.
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Post by evafromgreece on Jan 6, 2022 15:33:31 GMT -5
I think now the terms of election and predestination are clear to me :) I was wondering when was the time I was saved when I was reading the above post. I am not really sure. It's wonderful when someone does remember and know
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Post by evafromgreece on Jan 1, 2022 15:39:30 GMT -5
Hello and have a blessed new year! About election and predestination . I try to make my thoughts simple . I cannot express what I think in too many words, because it is a difficult topic, and also the language makes it even more difficult. But to say what I believe I understand from all this, as simple as possible… God created us. He know the hearts of every single one of us. We are sinners from the very start of our existence, and our nature leads us to hate God and to avoid Him . We are His enemies. But He knows our hearts and the ones that knows that can saved and used for His glory, He leads them to know Him, He elects them. Why doesn’t He make people who are His enemies to turn to Him and worship Him? Couldn’t He ? He could , but He will not actually make someone to do something. We are free. And this reminds me of the time that Jesus was on the cross and the guards mocked Him and say, “if you are the Son of God, save yourself!” , He could actually. But except of the plan to save us all by His death, He would not do anything to make them stop what they chose to do. It was up to their will.
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 27, 2021 17:32:37 GMT -5
About election. I would say… once you belong to God you belong to Him. Even though , sadly , someone chooses to turn his back to God, if he belongs to God the person will come back sooner or later… The same way a person who pretends to have faith, if it is fake it will be revealed sooner or later.
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 22, 2021 16:58:44 GMT -5
Hello!
I have read this 2 times and it seems really difficult to me to understand so I believe I need some more time. I am not sure if the subject makes it this hard for me to understand, or the language or maybe both. So before I read it the 3rd time, I think I understand that God created us and because He is God He knows what we were going to do, but that does not mean He made us choose sin let's say. He created Eva and He knew that she would sin, but He did not make her make that choice for example.
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 16, 2021 16:23:57 GMT -5
And false teaching is extremely popular... Loud prayers... Very loud prayers. Miracles that are not really true. Of course I am not saying that miracles cannot happen... But no. I won't believe anyone that says he touched someone and suddenly healed in a moment. It seems a lot of them are trying to create a show.... And it's sad. For me tongues are also part of false teaching. Again it happened back then. It was a way for the disciples to spread the word. But... When we are saved we have the Holy Spirit in us. Not by the time of speaking tongues. And all these are extremely popular. Because it is a show.... And people are attracted by this. And Jesus had nothing to do with creating a show. Hard times are not popular...
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 15, 2021 16:48:35 GMT -5
I have never thought of this this way. Jesus indeed mentioned the all the thing that someone had to give up and all the trials. And since there are a lot of Christians that preach prosperity gospel and I wonder actually what they had read to lead them there. And one thing. We might have talked about in the old forum. God created us and He knew in advance what we were going to do. Could this mean also that we are "programmed" to be saved or not? I doubt that but I have to understand this better
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 14, 2021 15:49:10 GMT -5
So now we have:
1. if they love God
2. if they love spending time in their Bible.
3. if they see that some of the fruit of the Spirit is increasing in themselves
4. if they see that some sins are decreasing and next:
5. if they see their prayer life growing 6. if they see their love for other people growing 7. if they persevere (don't give up their faith) when they go through hard times or a crisis.
Finally, the last one I can think of off the top of my head would also be only for someone who has been saved for a number of years, not a new or baby Christian. (by a "new Christian" I mean someone recently saved; and by a "baby Christian" I mean both someone newly saved and someone who has not obeyed the Lord and grown in their faith yet.) The last one would be that they would notice that instead of hating someone who had hurt them badly at one time, that they felt love for them and wanted to reach out to them and tell them about the Gospel so they wouldn't go to Hell. They do not approve of what the person did, they just forgive the person the way Jesus forgave them. So now we have:
1. if they love God
2. if they love spending time in their Bible.
3. if they see that some of the fruit of the Spirit is increasing in themselves
4. if they see that some sins are decreasing and next:
5. if they see their prayer life growing
6. if they see their love for other people growing
7. if they persevere (don't give up their faith) when they go through hard times or a crisis.
8. if they feel love for a person who harmed them in the past.
9. There's one other thing too, that is kind of obvious. When you really love someone or something, you want to talk about it all the time, whenever you can. People who love sports talk about it every chance they get. If they love video games, they talk about them whenever they can. If they have fallen in love, they talk about them every chance they get. So someone that loves God and His Word, will talk about God and His Word every chance they get. Like me, that's almost all I talk about lol. But if I'm talking about the weather or something else, like maybe my cats, like I try to do in the chat thread, I'm not very excited about whatever I'm talking about. I love my cats, and my husband, but I love the Lord more! For people who have Facebook, it's very easy to see what's first in their lives. All you have to do is look and see what they usually post about. Christians that rarely post anything about the Lord, cause me to wonder if they're actually saved. I used to check Facebook before I let someone onto our old board, and I often blocked people who said they were Christian after I saw what they posted on Facebook. I see a lot of people who say they're Christian, but who mainly post stuff about politics. If they are saved, they're sinning, because God is certainly not first in their life like He's supposed to be. That's one good thing about facebook. It makes it pretty easy to tell what or who is first in a person's life!
I hope these help answer the question for you. If you don't see these qualities or characteristics in a person, then they may not be saved.
It is very helpful indeed. And what I am thinking 💭 these days is what is the cost of the really unnecessary pain of having unbelievers as friends and the relationships with them. And that if I have stayed close to God instead of experimenting with sin I would not have experienced all this unnecessary deep emotional pain. I am not sure why it happened… I still have my notebook 📒 😊 😊
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 13, 2021 16:29:45 GMT -5
The secular unbelieving world continually advertises, sins as: exciting, fun, your 'right'to do whatever you please, glamorous you are a free spirit to live, love, laugh etc. sin can be profitable (sometimes...for a short time) etc. etc.
Drinking, drugs, sex are what free spirits, independent. strong, woke, hip, etc etc. people do...
Many of these unbelievers feel prideful and superior to Christians they scoff at them. And they view those Christians who refrain from all the freedom and fun as: uptight, boring, goody two shoes,nerds, dweebs, dull, etc. people.
And to a certain extent, this might actually 'seem' true until... its not....
But.....once you are a full blown alcoholic, or drug addict, or with some sort of sexual disease.... and are so addicted to your pet sins, you are a 'slave' to your sins, it is no longer fun
But more than that, it is dark and dangerous in this world
you could get to the place where you are having to steal to keep up your habit maybe you will become homeless, and very sick etc.
And most frightening of all these unbelievers are heading to eternity without God.
I've been hypothyroid for years...... ( there are two major thyroid issues....hypo or hyper)
Hypo is when your thyroid does not produce enough of certain crucial hormones therefore your energy level is turned way down, you are often way more sensitive to the cold you often cannot lose weight, you lose you hair ( or it thins a lot) etc. etc.
They give you medicine, but I have been taking it for years and never felt peppy, with tons of energy. I think ( for me) it just is keeping me alive so far...
my problem is I 'thought' or rather had higher expectations of what the meds would do. which for me, that was not what they actually did.
Even unbelievers are frustrated now with their lifestyles… See how much their are talking about narcissism and how bad is this. But it turns out it’s sin and evil… Not just one mental health condition. I know much about thyroid. I ve been hypo but fixed with medication. Now I don’t have thyroid after the surgery but it takes time to find the right dosage . And calcium also. Write me in pm about the meds. Most of the time it’s ok with the pills. If not maybe the doctor didn’t prescribed the right dosage
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 12, 2021 16:53:04 GMT -5
I can relate to what you said about your hair and thyroid pill I have been taking them for about 30 years or more, give or take a few years.
I have never felt strong, energetic etc as a result. I 'suppose' they maybe have kept me alive, and that I should be grateful and that is enough.
My disappointment in them was somehow I got the wrong idea,that I would get my old hair back, and be energetic etc.
That was a great insight about how a 'storm' will show us the real believers....that you for that!Remind me also of your thyroid problem.
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 12, 2021 16:50:37 GMT -5
I hate not being able to stand up straight, and always being bent over so much. I hate having to use a cane all the time, just to hold myself kind of upright and keep my hip from rubbing against my ribs. I hate the way I've been losing my hair for so many years that there's very little of it left. Unless the Lord grants me another miracle I'll wind up bald. The thyroid pill that I'm on doesn't seem to make much difference since I'm still losing my hair, although I guess I'm not losing quite as much as I was before. It's most likely the RA causing the hair loss as well as my thyroid, so the thyroid pill only gets rid of one of the problems. The meds for RA not only don't help with hair loss, they cause even more hair loss, so I'm not going there lol. OK, that's enough of that. I'm unwilling to continue this line of thought. Instead I'd rather look ahead to my future which is a whole lot closer now than when I first believed!
Remind me of what exactly the problem is with your thyroid. Maybe I could think of something helpful or ask my doctor to get her opinion.
MacArthur's sermon was about The Wise and Foolish Builders. here's the scriptures he spoke about: ““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”” (Matthew 7:24–27)
I thought I knew what these scriptures meant, and I did, but there was one thing that I never thought about. Jesus wasn't just telling us that we needed to know and obey the Lord's Word. He was also telling us how to know the difference between a real believer and a fake. He said we often can't tell until after the storm has come. It's the storm that shows the difference. Read the scriptures again and see for yourself. The storm represents all the things that we would consider "bad" that happen to us in this life; all the hardships, the trials, the pain, the suffering, everything. Someone who is really saved will persevere through the storms.
Maybe the storms are used to turn us to God when we are getting away.
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 12, 2021 16:41:34 GMT -5
In suffering and persecution, our comfort, hope, peace, perseverance etc. is to:
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2
and
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Plus
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day 2 Timothy 1:12
This is a fallen, sinful, broken, trouble filled world. Both Christians and unbelievers are going to suffer.
But the unbeliever has no where to go ( without God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit) for hope, salvation, comfort, peace etc.
They are lost in a dark, and getting darker world they cannot pray to God now ( because they say they do not believe in Him) they cannot put hope in eternity, because they think' there is none after death.
Today's world is dark, and getting darker it seems to me, by the day. That alone is discouraging.
I listen to the 4 teenagers I see almost daily, and listen to what unimaginable things are going on for them.
Things like being daily bombard in school, to embrace all types of sexual perversions also ( and many middle school kids are doing so.... in droves) violence in school has greatly escalated, and many more discouraging, depressing things of that nature.
What is going on in the schools alone, causes a type of suffering for me... I am greatly concerned for kids.
( I however, am able to pray and know that God is still on the throne He is not unaware of any of this)
Still trying to shine any light or truth, on those issues can evoke a very hostile response:
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4
Like beating your head against a wall
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it John 1:5
The darkness has become very boldly seductive to kids and adults. It has always been seductive....it lures you in promising pleasures and treasures and more:
In today's secular world the 'him' in this verse can be any 'pronoun' you wish which is madness, depravity, insanity in itself
With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him Proverbs 7:21
but the end is:
Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. Proverbs 7:23
Yet in the past the seduction has never been as bold, violent, demanding, in your face, over the top as today.
Nevertheless the unbeliever should know that this still holds true:
all that glitters is not gold and in many cases it turns out to be death...
And for the unsaved, what looked so fun, enticing, exciting, 'golden' etc. seems to be true... until... it turns to death...
However, death for the unsaved, is not just the end of sorrows that path will lead you to...
it is only the beginning of eternity of sorrows and worse.
One thing I am not sure about… The world and sometimes we describe living in sin as fun and exciting and golden. But the results are not only ending to hell after life but suffering eventually in this one as a result of sin .
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 12, 2021 16:28:04 GMT -5
Thank you both; I greatly appreciate the prayers! But please know that although the Lord has shown me how to face this time in my life, and even though He helps me deal with it, I don't always handle it the way I should. I'm not perfect by any means! I often have to confess my sin of not dealing with it the way He tells us to. But little by little He is showing me that He is really with me and really giving me strength, comfort and encouragement. I tell you honestly that I could not do this without Jesus. Speaking of that, I can also say that this is yet another way that I know that everything the Bible says is true. I've done exactly what this scripture says: “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” (Psalm 119:140) I have literally tested His promises (as only a believer can do) and found them to be true, just as He says.
I'm studying Luke 12 right now and again some of my notes were on this subject, so I'd like to share a couple with you. Though He is called “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6), Christ will have no one deluded into thinking that He calls believers to a life devoid of all conflict. and Jesus was pointing out that conflict occurs when light and darkness meet. This division can range from mild insults to murder. We really need to think about the fact that "conflict occurs when light and darkness meet." Light and darkness reminds me of John 1:1-5, which I'll post at the bottom. John tells us that Jesus is the Word, and He is light and life. We know that Satan is death and darkness. He's the opposite of all that Jesus is. So when Jesus and Satan meet, conflict occurs; when life and death meet, conflict occurs; when light and dark meet, conflict occurs. We know one other thing too: from the moment we are saved, the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
Having the Holy Spirit dwell within us means that whoever is around us, is also around the Holy Spirit (God), even though they aren't aware of it. This makes unbelievers very uncomfortable. I'm sure you have also noticed that simply saying the Name of Jesus, also makes unbelievers very uncomfortable. That's why they use it as a cuss word. The Name of Jesus is very powerful. And if His Name is powerful, His presence is even more powerful! And Jesus is also always with us. (He also dwells within us as does the Father.) So everywhere we go and whatever we are doing, we are causing light and darkness to meet (unless we are sinning), and that is making every unbeliever we are around uncomfortable.
This creates a big problem when we live with someone who isn't really saved. (the problem is there whether the person we are living with is a friend, a brother, sister, parent, or boyfriend, or spouse.) That's one of the major reasons the Lord tells us not to marry an unbeliever. We shouldn't even date a person if they aren't saved and living to please the Lord. I think if you read this article I wrote about this subject, it may help you understand this better too:
Mixed Marriages.
There is one other very important part of the hardships that happen to us that every Christian needs to know about. How a person deals with the hardships of life can tell us if that person is really saved or not. Someone who is really saved, will not completely lose their faith because of the hardships and trials they go through. They will persevere and continue to endure them, even though there are times when they feel like giving up, or even do give up for a time; but they always come back to the Lord. Those who give up and then later return are like a little child that throws a tantrum because they don't like their parents rules, but later comes back for a hug. Those who leave and don't return show us that they were never really saved at all. Let me show you some scriptures about this. keep in mind that the word translated "perseverance" can also be translated, endurance, having patience, constancy, steadfastness, forbearance, and longsuffering. It's even a fruit of the Spirit where it's called "patience": “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23) Please read the following scriptures, but don't just read them. Take your time, read one and then really think about what that scripture is saying; then go to the next one and do the same thing. OK?
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6–7)
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:16)
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” (2 Peter 1:3–9)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2–4)
“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:10–11)
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35–36)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
We need to persevere, because Jesus did: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5–6)
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:3–5)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1–5)
Thank you for these scriptures. They were very helpful. And some of them reminded me of a notebook we used to use some years ago . I recognized some of them. Mixed marriages, relationships and friendships can cause a real mess. I think that a non believer because they are being used by satan in various ways , and because satan want to turn us away from God , these people are used this way. And at first we think they love us and slowly we allow sin in our lives and we face the results of it
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 11, 2021 17:06:00 GMT -5
I am here. I am reading your posts. I will write my comments tomorrow. It’s been hard again these days
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 4, 2021 18:56:12 GMT -5
Hello 😊 When I read the above I was thinking also of the hard times of the apostles and all the first Christians who suffered to form the church. We take for granted that we can speak about Jesus without having to fear that we will end up in jail or tortured, but this was the reality of the first Christians. Or at some muslim countries, I wonder how hard it is there being a Christian. But all of this are beyond my imagination. I cannot even imagine how hard could this be. Just like how Jesus suffered for our sins, for the sins of humanity, without having any sin.. Cindy, I sorry to read that you are in so much pain and that you face all these difficulties. But I admire the courage I saw in your post. Even in this hard times you know that God's promises are there and you don't fear. This is a perfect example for me. I will have you in my prayers
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Post by evafromgreece on Dec 3, 2021 17:12:54 GMT -5
Hello 😊 I will catch up tomorrow. I am here. It's been crazy these last 2 days, I went to the hospital also I will tell you more in private about this. I just wanted to say I am here.
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Post by evafromgreece on Nov 30, 2021 16:52:41 GMT -5
Hello, I will try to find the books, but I’m not sure if it’s possible to find them in Greek. I think it would be easier to find them on e-books in English. I read story of Jeramiah above. And the similarities that his life had compared to the life of Jesus. And I believe one of the trials one person can have, is that some people approach him or her in order to earn something. Recently I read again in John chapter 6:26 The part that Jesus it that people were following him not because of what they saw and what they understood, but because they gave them food to eat. So they were not following him, at least some of them, because they saw some thing and understood what he was doing, but because they gave them bread to eat. Maybe, Some of them could be Also curious. And this reminds me of our times, people tend to “follow” others when something is popular, And Jesus was very popular at his in his area , But this didn’t mean anything except of curiosity in the sense that they wanted to belong somewhere by following famous person of the time. Just like our times when we tend to follow ideas and people without even understanding what they represent. People just do this, because everybody else does. So, if you’re talking about not being accepted,truly accepted, Jesus was the perfect example of somebody that wasn’t accepted by others.
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Post by evafromgreece on Nov 28, 2021 15:23:28 GMT -5
I did not know you had black Fri in Greece, we have it here in the Us. I don't know if they line up in your country hours and hours before the stores open ( and all the stores open way earlier than they normally do) But I guess sometimes people even kind of camp out.
And then, sometimes people even 'fight' over the products.
I never went to a black Fri sale....even the name is kind of creepy ( as in an almost spiritual darkness, love of the world and money and if waiting for some unhappy folks to push, grab) etc.
The thing is, there are in fact, some awesome sales...but...um...no thanks.
What kind of store do you work at?
Yes there is, but it does not seem like US Black Friday. No people fighting and running or sleeping out of stores. The prices are not that low either. I am in a technology store like the past years , but in a different company these past 2 years
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Post by evafromgreece on Nov 28, 2021 15:19:54 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy for reminding me the above about the definition of sin. One thing that I believe I should start practising every day again is to take my thoughts captive and replace them with Gods truth. I remember we used to have a thread on this. I want to have again a look at it . I will search for it, but in case you have the link please post it here 😊
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Post by evafromgreece on Nov 28, 2021 14:52:21 GMT -5
Eva, I understand doubts, especially when it's coupled with all types of pain.... ( mental, emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual.
I think that's why God started the Bible with Genesis. We need to know, there is a universal problem ( sin).
However, another question is, is the Bible, truly from God, the Creator, or is it a mix of myths, fairy tales, some history, poetry, with some good thoughts and some crazy ones?
If, the Bible is infallible (which I think we three agree, it is), then you are right, in wanting to find Biblical answers to pain, evil, hurts, etc. in God's Word.
What is interesting is all 3 of us, have had our share of all types of pains
( of course, this is true for most people, but it does 'seem' like some folks, avoid a lot of it).
I think another thing even Christians sometimes wonder about, is why doesn't God...just fix it?
But God is not my servant, he is not a genii in a bottle, to do my will, exactly how I say, and when I demand it.
There was a time, when I just wished God would make everybody loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, etc.
Of course, God could have done that.... but love has to be a choice, if it is not chosen, we would be a type of robot, an kind of AI.
Also, we know in the secular world, if one wants to be an athlete...we would have to stretch the body often to the point of pain, in order for it to grow stronger and stronger.
I think that is true in all aspects of our lives. Nobody much likes pain, and yet, it can actually have some benefits.
When we are have a wonderful easy time, we tend to ignore God, the Bible etc. less and less. So we have not hid God's word in our heart:
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you Psalms 119:11
So in times of sorrow we can say this:
This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me Psalms 119:50
When we are hurting, we are more apt to turn to God. Sometime, I think God allows some pain in our lives, to get our attention...so He can do this:
He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalms 147:3
and
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted Matthew 5:4
I feel certain Cindy will have some thoughts
I remember there was a Psalm that it was saying that the wicked prosper and have an easy life on earth, and the writer was wondering why he was going through trials and his enemies mock him. But I don’t remember which Psalm was. But I will search for it. I am sure that this prosperity of the unbelievers is temporary and with things that don’t actually matter and fill the soul. But in fact it’s easy to feel tired while you wait and believe that God will heal you.
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