....henceforth and towith continued...
ADOPTION[/u] This is one I like, but for the sake of not confusing
toooooo much, I'll be brief. Er. Ok. I'll just teach.
Anywho...during the time that God used His people, the Children of Isreal, any who came to Him, came through them. They became a
prostelyte. They took the sign of the covenant and became Jews. These, where God's children. His people. So. What of the Gentiles? We know that the gospel message was first to the Jew, but
also to the Gentile, so how do non-Jews become children of God? He
adopts them! There are cultural aspects to consider in this as well in that the adopted child was given full sonship as it were, but the thought of
being God's child and His provision for ensuring that are the point. Now, there are "neither Jew nor Gentile." We are His.
SANCTIFICATION[/u] While we are justified by the blood of Christ, and
counted righteous as a result in God's eyes, He doesn't want to leave it at that. Rather, He conforms us to the image of His Son, Jesus, that we can be bearers of that glory, and draw others to Himself. We are made like Christ, to live righteous lives indicative of the state of righteousness God has placed us in. Whereas justification removes us from sin's
penalty, sanctification removes us from sin's
power.
GLORIFICATION[/u] I love this one most! Whatever you're take on the passage, that's fine, but consider this. God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. He justified us to make that possible. He sanctifies us to bring us further along, and to bring others to Himself. He glorifies us when He finally makes us like Christ in Heaven one day. Whereas sanctification removes us from sin's
power, glorification removes us from sin's
presence. The end goal of being made like Christ is completed. We become image bearers that reflect the glory of God as Christ did on earth.
I believe the average “saint” today cannot write out their salvation experience and have it match the doctrine laid down by Paul.
I've heard many believers try. I've read many who have the understanding, but have not the ability to communicate it. They're
growing. They later learn how to communicate the great work God did in their lives. My first testimony was got profound. "I got saved."
My testimony now, is far deeper.
I believe the average “saint” today doesn’t even know where he is going when he dies. They are not sure whether or not they are going to heaven, an earthly kingdom, or the New Jerusalem.
Sad, but true. I find that the confusion, again, comes from a growing believer who encounters the book of Revelations for the first time. They must be shown. I've seen postings here where people have gotten it confused! But I know that they know in the end, they're with Jesus.
Do I know where I'll be? Yup! Unless I've got some Jewish blood in me and that factors in somehow...
I believe the average “saint” today cannot verbally give a clear, biblical plan of salvation to another person that lines up with Paul’s gospel.
I believe the average saint today does
not verbally give
any plan, biblical or otherwise of salvation. But this I do know. If God's working, it works. He'll take a newborn believer, take the simple message of what He did for them, and enlighten an unbeliever. I've seen it happen. It just takes a heart willing to share the love of Jesus with another.
I believe the average “saint” today has no absolute final authority for his doctrine – all he has is multiple, reliable or unreliable modern versions which contradict one another which has led to doubting and almost total confusion. His multiple authorities range from, the “Bible” (whatever or wherever that is), his church, his church leaders, Greek/Hebrew manuscripts, language scholars, professors, the ‘word of God’ (whatever or wherever that is), and finally his own Adamic nature.
And what is your absolute authority? The KJV? I say, GREAT!!! Mine is the word of God as well. I'll not argue the versions here, as that should not be the argument. We agree that the final word is God's word. We just don't agree on which
translation of that word is absolute. Personally, if my pastor, assembly, books I've bought or anything else agrees with God's word, then I'm fine. If not, then I'm not in agreement with it or them.
I believe the average “saint” today will do almost anything to get along with everybody else so as not to upset his or her standing amongst the “brethren”. This has lead to shallow bible study, compromise, and weak, anemic, saints with no convictions or true courage.
AAAAAAAAMMMMEEEEEEENNNNN!!!!![/b][/u] Fortunately, I don't worry about such things.
It would do us all alot of good if we all practiced being doers of the word and not hearers only.
I believe the average “saint” today has cast off the old hymns that built up the lives of saints and have replaced them with worldly, man-centered, fleshly, and fluffy songs written primarily to make money that during the coming tough times will not be enough to get the true saint through.
I believe that the hymns of the past dealt more with teaching and admonishing than they did with worship. I love some of the old hymns.
Be Thou My Vision,
The Old Rugged Cross,
Victory In Jesus,
Amazing Grace,
It Is Well With My Soul to name a few. Many can be worshipful as well. But I'll take worshipping God for Who He is and what He has done in song, and listening to a Godly Pastor exposite the Word anytime.
We have replaced individual efforts with monster, worldly, business-like, man-centered, methods designed to bring in the masses while compromising Biblical convictions so as not to “offend” the sinner with such things as sin, hell, and judgment.
AMEN!!!!Big is better – gain is godliness – small is unspiritual is the motto.
AMEN!!!!I believe the average “saint” today has replaced the great writers and writings of the past for the modern “fluff”, moneymaking, soft, weak, shallow, books of the today designed to be read quickly and easily. The motto, “Make people happy, make them feel good about themselves, nothing negative, make them feel how wonderful they are” while ignoring what the Bible actually says about them.
I believe that adherence to one over the other is a problem. However, I do know that many of the newer authors deal with modern
psychology more than ancient
theology. I've always said that the Bible doesn't make you feel good without first making you feel truth.
Sound, doctrinal, expositional Bible preaching and teaching has been replaced with entertainment, choirs, Super Bowl parties, family life buildings, sports, gyms, dating clubs, singles’ classes, divorcee classes, young married couples’ classes, old married couples’ classes, nursery schools, dramas, filed trips, and a lot of other unprofitable junk that the old saints never had or would ever touch with a ten foot poll and they accomplished a lot more for God without the above than we do with all the above!!!
Bottom line - I believe most of Christianity today is made up of unregenerate folks. Because of the above we are living in the most carnal, weak, fleshly, worldly, unfruitful period of Christianity that there ever has been. If you do not believe the above then one of two things is possible:
1. You are unregenerate.
2. You are regenerate but your standard of judgment is today’s “Christianity”.
I've seen all of the above. But I've also seen it through different eyes. Mine are far less judgmental. (You already said you were judging so I didn't mean that as an accusational insult Brother). But, with all that said, I still have issues with entertaining believers in the pews. I'll leave it at that.
...to be continued yet again...
