Recognizing "The Voice of God"

[thatguy]

Sorry, but what I have presented is that the Holy Bible is the STANDARD by which other religions and "interpretations" should be compared to regarding The Truth about the Deity of Jesus Christ and the essential fundamentals of how to receive Salvation through Christ alone. When you compare all other religions to the Holy Bible you will find that they speak of a different Jesus, different set of rules for obtaining Salvation and pretty much say what you chide me about - They claim to be The Truth! Why are you not posting your complaints to the Catholic participants as well as the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Advetists, Moonies and Muslims who each all claim to have the right interpretation of God? Your complaints about my "Truth" should apply equally to all others and you should be "chiding" all the religions cited with the same complaint.

Regardless of my (or anyone else's) thoughts, and whether you like it or not,
At the end of the day - THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH! (John 14:6)

the reason i am "chiding" you about htis is that you continually call out others beliefs as being outside of what is written in the bible, mean while everything that you have posted to defend your position is simply your denominational spin. When i point to the obvious conflicts with actual scripture you ignore it.

so as long as you are here making posts about others beliefs, i will be hear to hold your One truth according to S. Michael Houdmann to the same standards.

funny to me that you dont really have a defense for the obvious interpretations your religious beliefs rely on.

 

[Starman3000m]

the reason i am "chiding" you about htis is that you continually call out others beliefs as being outside of what is written in the bible, mean while everything that you have posted to defend your position is simply your denominational spin. When i point to the obvious conflicts with actual scripture you ignore it.

so as long as you are here making posts about others beliefs, i will be hear to hold your One truth according to S. Michael Houdmann to the same standards.

funny to me that you dont really have a defense for the obvious interpretations your religious beliefs rely on.

If you really knew about "obvious conflicts with actual scripture" then you would be in total agreement that all the religions who have a different perspective on who Jesus is, how to obtain Salvation, eternal life in the hereafter, etc. each have a different interpretation and then you would agree that not all can be right and that
There Is Only One Truth!

Now, in your opinion - please tell us what you consider to be "actual scripture" and could you please present what you believe to be The Truth - or do you really know?

 

[thatguy]

If you really knew about "obvious conflicts with actual scripture" then you would be in total agreement that all the religions who have a different perspective on who Jesus is, how to obtain Salvation, eternal life in the hereafter, etc. each have a different interpretation and then you would agree that not all can be right and that
There Is Only One Truth!

Now, in your opinion - please tell us what you consider to be "actual scripture" and could you please present what you believe to be The Truth - or do you really know?

what is actual scripture is obvious.....

the problem is in your interpretation. YOU rely onthe one truth according to S. Michael Houdmann . And eventhough you have been shown that he misinterprets scripture and then represents his opinion as that of god, you refuse to acknowledge the falacy of your position. (even when only held to your own standard the 'got questions denomination' is debunked)

as for the "truth" I beleive that you are no closer to understanding it or being ale to recognize it than a mormon, a witness, or any other cultist.

 

[Starman3000m]

what is actual scripture is obvious.....

the problem is in your interpretation. YOU rely onthe one truth according to S. Michael Houdmann . And eventhough you have been shown that he misinterprets scripture and then represents his opinion as that of god, you refuse to acknowledge the falacy of your position. (even when only held to your own standard the 'got questions denomination' is debunked)

as for the "truth" I beleive that you are no closer to understanding it or being ale to recognize it than a mormon, a witness, or any other cultist.

Sorry, but as I have mentioned before, I post articles from the gotquestions.org that are meaningful, scriptural and have good insight into reflecting on developing a right relationship with God. In those instances, the integrity of The Word of God is neither breached nor compromised. The articles are well written and have sound Biblical basis. Meanwhile, you have totally gone "ga-ga" on thinking that because I post articles from that site that my truth is based on everything S. Michael Houdmann writes. Then you take sides with his critic who happens to be former Roman Catholic who wrote the scorching article against the RCC Doctrine and which ItalianScallion and I have been challenging as well in regard to Biblical correctness. Are you going to chastise that former Roman Catholic as well?

The basis of my truth is the fundamental teaching from the New Tesament that all men and women fall short of the Glory of God and are in need of the Saving Grace that is only provided by the New Testament Jesus Christ. Not the Jesus of the Mormons, or of the Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Jesus that Muslims believe in because they are counterfeit representatives of the True Jesus Christ. There Is Only One Truth and that is the Truth I hold on to and know without a doubt that Jesus Is the Son of God and Saviour of mankind. He alone, not anyone else, is the One who paid the penalty for your sins and mine. I am a born-again Child of God through faith in Christ and by the Grace of God - not of my own merits. God offers that same opportunity of Salvation for you as well - if you are ready to give your life to Christ.

It is up to you to reflect on that Truth and I pray that you will find the Truth in The New Testament Jesus Christ, the Son of The Living God, as I did.

 

[thatguy]

Sorry, but as I have mentioned before, I post articles from the gotquestions.org that are meaningful, scriptural and have good insight into reflecting on developing a right relationship with God. In those instances, the integrity of The Word of God is neither breached nor compromised. The articles are well written and have sound Biblical basis. Meanwhile, you have totally gone "ga-ga" on thinking that because I post articles from that site that my truth is based on everything S. Michael Houdmann writes. Then you take sides with his critic who happens to be former Roman Catholic who wrote the scorching article against the RCC Doctrine and which ItalianScallion and I have been challenging as well in regard to Biblical correctness. Are you going to chastise that former Roman Catholic as well?

The basis of my truth is the fundamental teaching from the New Tesament that all men and women fall short of the Glory of God and are in need of the Saving Grace that is only provided by the New Testament Jesus Christ. Not the Jesus of the Mormons, or of the Jehovah's Witnesses, or the Jesus that Muslims believe in because they are counterfeit representatives of the True Jesus Christ. There Is Only One Truth and that is the Truth I hold on to and know without a doubt that Jesus Is the Son of God and Saviour of mankind. He alone, not anyone else, is the One who paid the penalty for your sins and mine. I am a born-again Child of God through faith in Christ and by the Grace of God - not of my own merits. God offers that same opportunity of Salvation for you as well - if you are ready to give your life to Christ.

It is up to you to reflect on that Truth and I pray that you will find the Truth in The New Testament Jesus Christ, the Son of The Living God, as I did.

YOU started this thread with a cut and paste from your prophet, and when I countered you with the FACT that the author of your source was paraphrasing (EXACTLY what you demonize in others) you ignore and pretend it doesn't affect the validity of his position. You are being hypocritical in this respect.
next, i havent taken sides. I am simply quoting someone that you referenced, and again you are being hypocritial to quote him when it suits you and then dismiss anyhting that doesn't back you up.

 

[Starman3000m]

YOU started this thread with a cut and paste from your prophet, and when I countered you with the FACT that the author of your source was paraphrasing (EXACTLY what you demonize in others) you ignore and pretend it doesn't affect the validity of his position. You are being hypocritical in this respect.
next, i havent taken sides. I am simply quoting someone that you referenced, and again you are being hypocritial to quote him when it suits you and then dismiss anyhting that doesn't back you up.

But, aren't you doing the same thing - using the Internet info of someone else's information as a counter to my posting articles from someone else?

As stated before, the author is not my prophet and in fact he is not a prophet at all but an individual who posts Bible topic articles. As mentioned, the articles I have posted, like the one of this thread, are right on, scriptural and Biblically sound in their context. There is NO misleading anyone in this article at all.

So, that said, you are only taking the critic's word for it about some of the articles being misguided - but how do you know whether the critic isn't misguided himself? After all, he was a former Roman Catholic and his articles certainly are in complete agreement with ItalianScallion, mine and other posters challenges to the accuracy of Roman Catholic doctrines.

If you agree with him on that then you obviously agree that the Roman Catholic Church is in error on many of their teachings that are not based on the Holy Bible but on papal pronunciations and decrees.

As far as your not "taking sides" on any issue here, you will be called on to do just that someday in regard to what you believe to be true about the Divinity of Jesus Christ and His ability to be your Mediator who can forgive your sins.

There Is Only One Truth and that Truth is found in what the New Testament Jesus is able to do to save you from God's Wrath that will come upon a defiant and unbelieving world made up of those who rejected God's Offer to be saved when it was presented.

I hope you will take the time to reflect on your eternal destiny and trust in the Love that God offers you right now through the Saving Grace that Jesus has to give you. He will not turn you away if you invite Him into your life to guide you and be your Lord and Saviour.

As of now,

 

[thatguy]

But, aren't you doing the same thing - using the Internet info of someone else's information as a counter to my posting articles from someone else?

As stated before, the author is not my prophet and in fact he is not a prophet at all but an individual who posts Bible topic articles. As mentioned, the articles I have posted, like the one of this thread, are right on, scriptural and Biblically sound in their context. There is NO misleading anyone in this article at all.

So, that said, you are only taking the critic's word for it about some of the articles being misguided - but how do you know whether the critic isn't misguided himself? After all, he was a former Roman Catholic and his articles certainly are in complete agreement with ItalianScallion, mine and other posters challenges to the accuracy of Roman Catholic doctrines.

If you agree with him on that then you obviously agree that the Roman Catholic Church is in error on many of their teachings that are not based on the Holy Bible but on papal pronunciations and decrees.

As far as your not "taking sides" on any issue here, you will be called on to do just that someday in regard to what you believe to be true about the Divinity of Jesus Christ and His ability to be your Mediator who can forgive your sins.

There Is Only One Truth and that Truth is found in what the New Testament Jesus is able to do to save you from God's Wrath that will come upon a defiant and unbelieving world made up of those who rejected God's Offer to be saved when it was presented.

I hope you will take the time to reflect on your eternal destiny and trust in the Love that God offers you right now through the Saving Grace that Jesus has to give you. He will not turn you away if you invite Him into your life to guide you and be your Lord and Saviour.

As of now,

there most certainly is paraphrasing in the "got questions" article you linked. You just dont believe it is misleading because you have been fully indoctrinated into S. Michael Houdmann's line of thinking.

and you also continue to fail to understand that i am not telling anyone that they are wrong, or that their faith is incorrect. I am simply applying the standards you have set forth to your own christian denomination and the writings of your prophet S. Michael Houdmann. if you can see that the catholic writings are out side the bible, it should be clear to you that S. Michael Houdmann's are too. that is if you are being intellectually honest.

 

[Starman3000m]

there most certainly is paraphrasing in the "got questions" article you linked. You just dont believe it is misleading because you have been fully indoctrinated into S. Michael Houdmann's line of thinking.

and you also continue to fail to understand that i am not telling anyone that they are wrong, or that their faith is incorrect. I am simply applying the standards you have set forth to your own christian denomination and the writings of your prophet S. Michael Houdmann. if you can see that the catholic writings are out side the bible, it should be clear to you that S. Michael Houdmann's are too. that is if you are being intellectually honest.

Please give the specific lines within the article where you believe that any of the "paraphrasing" is incorrect. Most of the comments cite a specific verse of scripture to make reference and as a back-up for anythng that is paraphrased. There is nothing wrong with that at all as long as the paraphrase is in agreement with the cited text, albeit in a persons own words rather than a direct word-for-word quote.


Once again, thatguy, at the end of the day and at the end of one's life:
There Is Only One Truth!

Do you own a Holy Bible? You can trust The New Testament Jesus for the Truth that's proclaimed in John 14:6

 

[thatguy]

Please give the specific lines within the article where you believe that any of the "paraphrasing" is incorrect. Most of the comments cite a specific verse of scripture to make reference and as a back-up for anythng that is paraphrased. There is nothing wrong with that at all as long as the paraphrase is in agreement with the cited text, albeit in a persons own words rather than a direct word-for-word quote.


Once again, thatguy, at the end of the day and at the end of one's life:
There Is Only One Truth!

Do you own a Holy Bible? You can trust The New Testament Jesus for the Truth that's proclaimed in John 14:6

as i did at the beginning of this thread, i will point to the "translaton" of the Titus passage.

When we have a question about a certain topic or decision in our lives, we should see what the Bible has to say about it. God will never lead us or direct us contrary to what He has taught or promised in His Word (titus 1:2)

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began

that is certainly not a word for word translation. At the very least your prophet is taking a lot of artistic license. But more accurately, he is using a very short and only marginally related passage as a reference for his premise and his personal denominational teahing, one you seem to have swallowed without question.

Additionally, there are numerous instances in the bible where god deceives his followers and even prophets, kind of rebuking the premise of your prophet.

Jeremiah 20:7
O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived.

Ezekiel 14:9
And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

 

[Starman3000m]

as i did at the beginning of this thread, i will point to the "translaton" of the Titus passage. .. that is certainly not a word for word translation. At the very least your prophet is taking a lot of artistic license. But more accurately, he is using a very short and only marginally related passage as a reference for his premise and his personal denominational teahing, one you seem to have swallowed without question.

You missed it! The author is referencing the thing God Promised in His Word:
Titus 1: 2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Additionally, there are numerous instances in the bible where god deceives his followers and even prophets, kind of rebuking the premise of your prophet.

Jeremiah 20:7
O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived.

Ezekiel 14:9
And if a prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

You need to read the context of why God "deceives" them in the Old Testament - and in the New Testament, why they are sent a strong delusion. God sends that against those who blatantly refuse to acknowledge Him and are going about following after false gods or wanting to choose a worldy life rather than repenting and turning to God for Forgiveness and Salvation. God patiently gives people a chance to repent but there is nothing He can do for them if they turn away:

BTW: Read the context of Ezekiel 14, and then you'll understand:

1: Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2: And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
3: Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4: Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5: That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6: Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7: For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
8: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
9: And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10: And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
11: That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.

Then, also read the context of 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2:

7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.13: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15: Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17: Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

The point being made is that God continually calls people to repentance but not all respond because they don't want to have anything to do with God at all. The Bible cites other similar instances:

2 Timothy:

1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6: For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Again, at the end of the day, There Is Only One Truth.


Mankind is given the choice to believe in God's Plan of Salvation through the Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ or to not believe in God's Plan of Salvation. The context of the cited passages indicates that there are those who don't want to follow God at all because they love worldy pleasures more than God even though God had continually called them to repent. You should understand why God would then just let them go and send them strong delusion -because they rejected God by not responding to the opportunity that they had to be saved when it was offered time and again.

That's the decision you will have to make of which category you want to be in? If you are seeking Truth, you will find it by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.

 

[shorti]

i'm new to this forum & had stumbled across this thread & had to post my beliefs on this...

Original - do we hear from God? Absolutely! I believe He speaks to us through His word, as well as through others, circumstances, etc. However, if the others, circumstances, etc doesn't line up with His Word, then I am being misled.

On all the rest - simply put... as a Bible believing NT, born again Christian, I take EVERYTHING I hear, learn back to the Bible - if it lines up with Scripture, then ok. I do not subject myself to others translations, however i use various study Bibles with notes from respected Biblical scholars which basically just give me the culture of that time & how certain things in Scripture related then.

As long as it has been around & heck if you go back to the life of Christ - this has been highly debated. And it will continue to be debated until He comes again. As Christians we are called to preach the Gospel to all. We are also called to live the life we preach about. The worst thing is someone who claims to be Christian yet lives a very worldly life. IT's the fruit of ones life that can lead to you believe if they are truly saved - yet none of us has the authority or ability to judge either. We can only make an educated assumption. However, as Christians we are to love the sinner, not the sin. So we are to share Truth in Love. And sometimes it's not what people want to hear, but as long as it's Truth based in Scripture and it's delivered with the right heart, it comes down to the other person rebelling against hearing it. All this said - NONE OF US will EVER convert ANYONE. We only plant the seeds - God does the rest - in His time, for His purpose.

 

[thatguy]

You missed it! The author is referencing the thing God Promised in His Word:
Titus 1: 2: In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;




You need to read the context of why God "deceives" them in the Old Testament - and in the New Testament, why they are sent a strong delusion. God sends that against those who blatantly refuse to acknowledge Him and are going about following after false gods or wanting to choose a worldy life rather than repenting and turning to God for Forgiveness and Salvation. God patiently gives people a chance to repent but there is nothing He can do for them if they turn away:

BTW: Read the context of Ezekiel 14, and then you'll understand:

1: Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2: And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
3: Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4: Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5: That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6: Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7: For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
8: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
9: And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10: And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
11: That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.

Then, also read the context of 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2:

7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.13: But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15: Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17: Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

The point being made is that God continually calls people to repentance but not all respond because they don't want to have anything to do with God at all. The Bible cites other similar instances:

2 Timothy:

1: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6: For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7: Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Again, at the end of the day, There Is Only One Truth.


Mankind is given the choice to believe in God's Plan of Salvation through the Atoning Blood of Jesus Christ or to not believe in God's Plan of Salvation. The context of the cited passages indicates that there are those who don't want to follow God at all because they love worldy pleasures more than God even though God had continually called them to repent. You should understand why God would then just let them go and send them strong delusion -because they rejected God by not responding to the opportunity that they had to be saved when it was offered time and again.

That's the decision you will have to make of which category you want to be in? If you are seeking Truth, you will find it by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.

you seem to be the one missing it.....

your prophet's "referenced" to titus is no more valid than those i quoted. Infact, you had to further reduce the titus quote to make it fit your prophets interpretation. All the while you insist that the other passages must be read with context to understand.
when you do that with the titus quote you will see that NO WHERE is consulting the bible for the answers to your common day to day problems indicated. THAT IS THE MISREPRESENTATION.


but i guess the rest of the world needs to read in context, while the Houdmannics are to reduce passages down until individual words are slightly related to the prophets interpretation. so it is written in the Houdmannic website, so sayeth the lord

 

[Starman3000m]

i'm new to this forum & had stumbled across this thread & had to post my beliefs on this...

Original - do we hear from God? Absolutely! I believe He speaks to us through His word, as well as through others, circumstances, etc. However, if the others, circumstances, etc doesn't line up with His Word, then I am being misled.

On all the rest - simply put... as a Bible believing NT, born again Christian, I take EVERYTHING I hear, learn back to the Bible - if it lines up with Scripture, then ok. I do not subject myself to others translations, however i use various study Bibles with notes from respected Biblical scholars which basically just give me the culture of that time & how certain things in Scripture related then.

As long as it has been around & heck if you go back to the life of Christ - this has been highly debated. And it will continue to be debated until He comes again. As Christians we are called to preach the Gospel to all. We are also called to live the life we preach about. The worst thing is someone who claims to be Christian yet lives a very worldly life. IT's the fruit of ones life that can lead to you believe if they are truly saved - yet none of us has the authority or ability to judge either. We can only make an educated assumption. However, as Christians we are to love the sinner, not the sin. So we are to share Truth in Love. And sometimes it's not what people want to hear, but as long as it's Truth based in Scripture and it's delivered with the right heart, it comes down to the other person rebelling against hearing it. All this said - NONE OF US will EVER convert ANYONE. We only plant the seeds - God does the rest - in His time, for His purpose.

Amen to your complete post shorti and welcome to this discussion. Indeed, all things need to be compared to the New Testament Scripture in order to know how it compares to the Truth of Jesus and our relationship to God through Him. Glad to know that you are a born-again believer and I can sense by your words that you truly know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. Your participation will help exemplify the concern and love that you have for those who do not know Christ as you do. Welcome.

 

[shorti]

thanks for the welcome starmann!