|
| Conditional Faith |
|
| |
Conditional Faith There are conditions to our faith! I keep hearing that salvation is free, and unconditional. But when I really read the word, and not leave out portions of the verses, then I see a different picture. There is a VERY high price for salvation, and the cost is my life! its amazing what pearls we find when we REALLY read the WORD. Matt 6:12 forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Matt 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. |
|
| To add a comment to "Conditional Faith" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| April 12, 2009 |
 |
|
|
Hi Gary, and everyone:
its amazing what pearls we find when we REALLY read the WORD.
Yes, it is. In an ethics course at the company I work for, given by a college professor, the following story of an experiment was told.
She said in any culture the results are the same. Nine people are gathered and shown two lengths of string. They are told to say that the shorter of the two strings is the longest when asked. A tenth person is brought into the room. Each of the original nine people are asked "Which of these two strings is the longest?" Each person indicates that the shorter of the two strings is the longest.
She said that the tenth person may laugh when the first couple of people answer but 74% of the time, when they [the tenth person] are asked that question they will indicate that the shorter string is the longest! She said that the other 26% are what she called "leaders." They would usually say something to the affect: "Wait! Lets get a ruler!" But no matter what they would not give in.
I call this Consensus Orthodoxy! Whatever the majority of people say is the truth is what defines the truth. This is true of every single denomination and non-denomination! The people who get the ruler out are the ones who usually end up being stoned or asked to leave! If a given tradition is the truth then it will bear the test of being compared to what is actually written in the scriptures.
Consensus Orthodoxy is evident in every aspect of our Christian Culture; all the way from the Internet messages that are chain-emails [urban legends and outright lies about the people, e.g. Obama] to virtually all interpretations of the Greek text of the Bible. Gospel, Apostle, Christ, Baptism, and on and on, are all transliterated Greek that could easily be "translated" into English, by aren't. They are given a new religious meaning by the various interpreters of the New Testament Greek texts, that just happen to match the "Consensus Orthodoxy" of whatever denomination the "interpreters" [rather than translators] happen to be associated with.
Anyone can pick up an interlinear Greek-English Bible or even a reverse-interlinear English-Greek one. Anyone can get resources like Vines Expository Dictionary of New(Old) Testament Words. There is really no excuse not let the words speak to, and change us, rather than letting people speak to, and change, them meaning of scriptures.
Heresy happens three basic ways:
1) The Greek text is interpreted in such as fashion that it changes the meaning of what's is actually written in Greek.
2) A doctrine is invented that makes various themes and scriptures irrelevant to believers today [dispensationalism: no miracles, gifts of the spirit, etc.]. This allows our doctrine to match our experience--no actual faith or Living God is required.
3) Whole sections of the scriptures are said to be completely false [Book of James or even all of Paul's letters (e.g. Yahuah.org)].
Best regards,
Craig |
|
|
| April 12, 2009 |
|
|
|
Gary,
That is very true. I was so thankful to be saved that I completely ignored everything I gave up to be with Jesus. I was happy to give up house, car, wife, daughter, etc. just so that God could keep me from ruining my life with sin. I fled to God, not out of fear OF Him but fear of what I had been doing with my life.
When the dust settles and the smoke clears, you look around and notice that you don't live the same life you used to. I'm not too sure how healthy that is, though. 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Abraham and Sarah never gave Ur of the Chaldea's another thought. Sometimes I remember where I came from - the good times. Sometimes I remember what God saved me from and I shout, "Thank you, Jesus!!!" Perspective is everything.
Faith is the only way to get anything in the kingdom to manifest in the natural. Paul told us that we have every blessing but that they were all locked up in the heavenly places. 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:
To get those blessings to manifest in the natural, we have to have faith; faith that God wants us to have them. We also have to have obedient faith (is there any other kind?) that forces us to play by the rules. we don't beg God to give us more blessings because the word says that He's already given us every blessing. God is spirit and He can only give spiritual blessings. It's up to us to translate them into the physical world (where we live).
Jesus said to speak to our mountains and so we speak to them. Jesus showed us that we are to speak to threatening weather and so we speak to the wind and the storm. Jesus told us that we have to believe that we have already received what we ask for and it will manifest. Faith is bold, not meek. Faith is confident, not timid. Faith looks like courage but it's really submission to the will of God.
I prayed for a guy outside my church this afternoon. He was in pain from an accident. Jesus said that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. So I laid hands on this guy, rebuked his pain, reinforced it with, "By His stripes we have been healed", bid him "be thou warmed and filled", and sent him on his way. Hahaha!! Although, I'm a bit of a smart Alec, I sure do love the new power God has given me. It's easy to submit to this stuff because it benefits everybody.
Rob |
|
|
| April 12, 2009 |
|
|
|
Earthenvessel, this is so true, every christian holiday we have here in the US, is a time of controversy in my family. I try every year to explain to my mom, brother, and wife why I don't want to hide the easter eggs, or go with them to get Santa pictures. and every year they have the same excuse.... You did it as a kid, and it is just fun for the kids. Hopefully the Lord will allow them to see what I see in the practices. Is it sin? For me it is playing with fire, and no matter how careful you are, eventually the house will burn down. Rob: I too look back from time to time, and see where I have come from. At times I shutter. We have been given such a huge gift, I just hope that soon I can share more of His gift with others. I often feel like an old miser, hording my wealth, because I don't share more of what the Lord has given me. I do try, while on-site at customer's homes and business, I know that I am planting seeds, but it would be nice to see more of the harvest, but I guess that there are planters, waterers, tenders, and harvesters. |
|
|
Follow this blog
