Galations 4:16 (Paul)
"...Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?"
Saturday, January 31, 2009
“I’m OK, I do good things, why do I need God?”
Proverbs 14:12
"...There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 21:2
"...All a man’s ways seem right to him but the Lord weighs the heart."
Proverbs 16:2
"...All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord."
Isaiah 57:12
"...I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you."
Isaiah 64:6
"...All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..."
1 Corinthians 4:4
"...My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me."
Galations 6:3
"...If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
Galations 2:21
"...I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
"...There is a way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death."
Proverbs 21:2
"...All a man’s ways seem right to him but the Lord weighs the heart."
Proverbs 16:2
"...All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord."
Isaiah 57:12
"...I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you."
Isaiah 64:6
"...All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..."
1 Corinthians 4:4
"...My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me."
Galations 6:3
"...If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
Galations 2:21
"...I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
"Why shouldn't I just do whatever I want?"
Galations 6:7
"...Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked (ie fooled). A man reaps what he sows. "
"...Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked (ie fooled). A man reaps what he sows. "
“Why did Jesus have to die for me, I’m not such a bad person?”
1 John 1:8
"...If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
Mark 2:17 (Jesus)
"...I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
[This does not mean the people who are ‘righteous’ are not called by God, but that unless they recognise that they are sinners too they will not beable to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins since they will not beable to understand it. Such a sacrifice would only mean something to them if they were able to acknowledge that without it they would be lost (the wages of sin is death; the soul who sins is the one who will die)]
"...If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
Mark 2:17 (Jesus)
"...I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
[This does not mean the people who are ‘righteous’ are not called by God, but that unless they recognise that they are sinners too they will not beable to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins since they will not beable to understand it. Such a sacrifice would only mean something to them if they were able to acknowledge that without it they would be lost (the wages of sin is death; the soul who sins is the one who will die)]
“I’m quite happy with my life, why should I believe in God?”
Jeremiah 2:27
"... They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' "
Jeremiah 22:21
"...I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me."
"... They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' "
Jeremiah 22:21
"...I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me."
“Why do you believe?”
Romans 10:20
"...I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
Acts 17:27
"...and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
"...I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
Acts 17:27
"...and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
"Who is Jesus?"
Romans 1:3-4 (Paul)
"...his Son, who through his human nature was a descendent of David, and through the Spirit of Holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God..."
2 Corinthians 4:6 (Paul)
"...For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
John 8:42 (Jesus)
"... for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.”
John 9:33
"...If this man (Jesus) were not from God, he could do nothing."
John 8:58
... “I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Luke 2:34-35
"...This child (Jesus) is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."
Luke 5:21
"...The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralysed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God."
"...his Son, who through his human nature was a descendent of David, and through the Spirit of Holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God..."
2 Corinthians 4:6 (Paul)
"...For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
John 8:42 (Jesus)
"... for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.”
John 9:33
"...If this man (Jesus) were not from God, he could do nothing."
John 8:58
... “I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Luke 2:34-35
"...This child (Jesus) is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed."
Luke 5:21
"...The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralysed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God."
“I know some people who call themselves Christians but they are no different than I am.”
Galations 6:15
"...what counts is a new creation."
1 John 5:10
"...Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart." (ie God’s testimony about his Son: Jesus Christ v9)
2 Corinthians 3:18
"...And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Philippians 2:5
"... Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing..."
1 John 2:6
"...Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
"...what counts is a new creation."
1 John 5:10
"...Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart." (ie God’s testimony about his Son: Jesus Christ v9)
2 Corinthians 3:18
"...And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Philippians 2:5
"... Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing..."
1 John 2:6
"...Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
“What is the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian?”
A Christian has eternal life which begins as soon as you believe in Jesus Christ as the saviour from your sin.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Hebrews 10:39
"...But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
John 14:12 (Jesus)
"...Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing."
I John 1:6
"...If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
2 Corinthians 5:17
"...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Hebrews 10:39
"...But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."
John 14:12 (Jesus)
"...Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing."
I John 1:6
"...If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
The aim of Christianity is not to scare people
2 Corinthians 10:9 (Paul)
"...I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters."
"...I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters."
“Which is harder, to have faith or to live your own life without God?”
A Christian must die to self.
Romans 6:2-4
"...We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may have a new life."
St Paul struggled with sin:
Romans 7:14
"... We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. v 18 For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."
Romans 14:23
"...and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
Romans 6:2-4
"...We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may have a new life."
St Paul struggled with sin:
Romans 7:14
"... We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. v 18 For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."
Romans 14:23
"...and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
“How can a single man take on the sin of all the world?"
Because it was the Son of God (an innocent and infinite life) who died for us, not a mortal finite man.
Hebrews 7:24-25
"...but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Romans 6:9
"...For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God."
"1 Peter 3:18
...For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
Hebrews 7:24-25
"...but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Romans 6:9
"...For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God."
"1 Peter 3:18
...For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
"How do we know if heaven is real?"
Our human body is a like a tent, our heavenly body; a building.
2 Corinthians 5:1
"...Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
v 5 "Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
“How does God judge us?”
Romans 14:12
"...So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgement on each other."
Romans 2:6
"...God will give to each person according to what he has done."
v11 "For God does not show favouritism"
2 Corinthians 5:10
"...For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
Ecclesiastes 12:14
"...For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
I Peter 1:17
"...Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear"
1 Peter 4:17
"...For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
Luke 12:47-48 (Judged in fairness)
"...That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." [V46 Christian who deliberately sins, assigned place with unbelievers]
"...So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgement on each other."
Romans 2:6
"...God will give to each person according to what he has done."
v11 "For God does not show favouritism"
2 Corinthians 5:10
"...For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
Ecclesiastes 12:14
"...For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
I Peter 1:17
"...Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear"
1 Peter 4:17
"...For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
Luke 12:47-48 (Judged in fairness)
"...That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." [V46 Christian who deliberately sins, assigned place with unbelievers]
"Who is the sinner?"
Galations 3:22
"...But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."
James 4:17
"...Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins."
Romans 3:22-23
"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"...But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."
James 4:17
"...Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins."
Romans 3:22-23
"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
"Can we earn a place in heaven?"
We are saved from hell not because of our good works but because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid the penalty for our sins not because we were chosen or were better then anyone else, but because He loves us, everyone of us, and wants us to live a life of love in relationship with Him.. ..our God who created each one of us with our unique talents and gifts to share with each other, who also created the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars and all life. He wants us to love Him of our own free will, not by force or intimidation; that is why love and salvation are both choices we make. Salvation from sin is a gift of God, it is up to each one of us to decide whether we will receive this gift or reject it. But by not receiving it, you are already rejecting it. And once you receive it, you must live by a higher standard, no longer your own, but God's.
Not by works:
Romans 11:5
... So too at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
But action is required as a result of belief (not to justify it)
Luke 6:46 (Jesus)
... ‘Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?’
Galations 3:3
...Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
“Who has the right to judge?”
Only God.
Romans 2:1
...You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things..
Romans 2:1
...You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things..
What is the foundation of Christianity?
1 Corinthians 3:11
...For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:1
... Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
...For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:1
... Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Questions For God
"How can I find out if God is real?"
John 7:17 (Jesus speaking)
... ‘If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.’
“What evidence is there for GOD?”
Romans 1:19-20
...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse...
Hope to see your comments/questions/answers..I am looking for feedback on the blog.
JT
John 7:17 (Jesus speaking)
... ‘If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.’
“What evidence is there for GOD?”
Romans 1:19-20
...since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse...
Hope to see your comments/questions/answers..I am looking for feedback on the blog.
JT
"Who is righteous?"
(Getting the hang of this now,... if your new to this blog please start reading from the bottom (1st post, then click on comments below first post as I am attempting this blog in a sequence of basic questions)
Romans 2:13
...For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Romans 3:10-12
...There is no-one righteous, not even one; there is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one who does good, not even one.
James 2:10
... For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Romans 3:22
...This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.... Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
For example? Romans 4:3 ...“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
How do we know if this applies to us?
Romans 4:23 ...“The words, ‘it was credited to him’ were not written for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 2:13
...For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Romans 3:10-12
...There is no-one righteous, not even one; there is no-one who understands, no-one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one who does good, not even one.
James 2:10
... For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Romans 3:22
...This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.... Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
For example? Romans 4:3 ...“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
How do we know if this applies to us?
Romans 4:23 ...“The words, ‘it was credited to him’ were not written for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Aside1
Note, I have just worked out I am supposed to "post" new entries rather than add via the "comments" section, so please click on the comments hyperlink to see recent entries before going forward!
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