Fearless: God wants you to have no fear

a reply to: ChesterJohn

I'm happy for you, that your fears have been in eased in your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God willing, others will find that same peace as they get to know God better themselves.
I feel God loves us as children, and sometimes individuals lose sight of that when they focus on the consequences of missing the mark.

a reply to: dffrntkndfnml

He loves all unsaved men equally. However he does not love all men as his children for we are not his children until we believe on the finished work of Christ. I hope these following verse help you see that

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Roms 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Roma 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Until we have faith on Christ finished work of the cross we are all the children of disobedience the children of the devil

Joh 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:2-3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1Thess 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
2Pet 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
1John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (spekaing of beleivers)

These verse are very clear that there are two sets of Children, those who are saved become the children of God and the unsaved are the children of the Devil. the later do not have to be, as long as they are alive in this present world it can be changed by simple belief on Jesus Christ finished work of the cross and the full payment of their sin.

I describe us as his children in the sense of that loving all men equally. That relationship is subject to growth and change. Those who are saved often do tend to have a much more closer relationship to God. For me, that perception has more to do with how one grows in faith, rather than the changes in the depths of God's love for us. Imo, God is Good and doesn't force anyone to love him.

Many feel very lonely and are afraid of things they don't understand.

They have to start somewhere. IMO, Loving God and the Golden Rule are keys to that. It helps one build their faith as they become more familiar with Love and all it represents. Those principles work, and in the face of the unknown, it's not necessarily always about where you're going but more how you get there.

Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who practices it will have neighbors. - Confucius

a reply to: dffrntkndfnml

No man can have a relationship outside of Jesus Christ. If anyone claims to have one it is with a false god.

And as for your confusious quote, many a religious following the the Golden rule were not very good neighbors according to Jesus.

Lu 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

I am sorry to say but an unsaved man practiciing the golden rule might have friends in this world but not with the true and living God.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

I think Jesus was using that parable to show insight into the nature of true compassion. Compassion rooted in genuine love for one another, beyond appearances.

I am sorry to say but an unsaved man practicing the golden rule might have friends in this world but not with the true and living God.

Idk, I find this beyond my paygrade. Jesus remembering that parable suggests that certain Samaritan caught his attention and suggests that he considers him a neighbor.

Some talk in black, some speak in red. Jesus told us that we'd be able to recognize his disciples by the love they had for one another.

Perhaps we're drifting off-topic?

The fire and brimstone version of faith never appealed to me. Life can become hell when we stray too far from that small silent voice that seeks to preserve us.

Fear, obligation, and guilt are too often used as tools of the ignorant to control.

I take comfort in the love God has shown for us. How can I not? Afterall, IMO God can bend the rules of time and space if required to reach out to us.

Matt 7:9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

I feel we can point others to the doors of the temple, though they must choose to enter on their own.

I've enjoyed friendships with people of all different religions, faiths, or some who proclaim having no faith at all. Good people who helped shape me for the better. Most of these people practice the Golden Rule and loved Good as best they can.

I got the impression from Out6of9Balance this thread was encouraging us to share our perspective on fear, in the context of building faith.

Your faith comes across, in your messages to our community. Please share any war stories or tips to help others confront their fears or see it more maturely.

When it comes to fears, prayer can be powerful.

When I've felt mortal danger, I've prayed. So far, I've been fortunate to have gotten that help when the odds were slim.

A recent story I heard comes to mind:

Meditation - Fear of letting go of my the tether to the physical (breath), is frustrating me. There is also nectar in a breath I don't understand what it is. If someone can help. thank you.

Do we rise above our own ego or that of others?

a reply to: glend

Since my son teaches Kriya Yoga and did work on the Ananda webpage, I will provide a link:
Paramhansa Yogananda and Khechari Mudra.

If you recall the hands together technique shown on another thread, that serves, at least can serve, as a tether so as not to lose yourself. It's like a tether.

Khechari Mudra may be like a tether too. The tongue and the little tongue touching.

That's the way I interpret it. Try not focusing on the breathing, breathe thoughtlessly.

Warning: The above suggestions are being made by a non-practitioner of Yoga, just some guy. Jack of few trades, master of none.

a reply to: pthena

Thats Interesting, thanks pthena. I do this laying down, the nectar happens when I have disengaged sensory of my body except for breath. So I cannot move hands or do anything with mouth. Mentally I think letting go of breath is letting go of the last safety line to this physical world. I have done it before but I have always found it extremely hard to do.

To stop thought I concentrate on body with what I call my watcher so I am not sure how I can breathe thoughtlessly. But I will give that a go. Try watching without becoming part of it.

I aprreciate your help

a reply to: Out6of9Balance

Eh, this kind of throws me for a loop.

I feel the more progress one makes with the former, the less one worries about the latter.

a reply to: dffrntkndfnml

a parable is a true to life story meant to convey a truth. However the scriptures of Matt 5-7 teach it and it is rules for living in the Kingdom, which never came and has been postponed since Acts 7.

Good if a saved person practices it because they get rewards for that but an unsaved person would be left wanting when standing before God at the Great White Throne trying to get God to let him into a his Holy Heaven without the blood of Jesus covering them.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

spoken like a true Paulian...

a reply to: ChesterJohn

No man can have a relationship outside of Jesus Christ. If anyone claims to have one it is with a false god.

Yet no man can pass the gates. That man, must die, before one is born again. So the God you seek from mind is a relative God in which your mind has painted. Its not the absolute GOD that cannot be known by mind.

Jesus existed in the spirit. Paul existed in mind. They were two sides of the same coin. Each appealing to audiences that were either of mind or of spirit. You needed Paul to save you from your own arrogance. But no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of spirit. So you need step beyond mind, beyond Paul, to make that happen.

The Genesis snake will convince you its not so. Because death of will of mind is death of will of the snake.

a reply to: Akragon

No A Christian. Paul and Barnabas called the followers in Antioch Christians first. No proof it was done by Roman’s as a derisional statement. And it is NT Doctrine verses clearly. Paul taught as he was taught by Jesus Christ or his angel.

a reply to: glend

One must die in the sense of letting his sin debt be on Christ through faith on his cross, substitutionary death and raising from the dead. simple faith is all it takes. We have the mind of Christ 1Cor 2:16 so we know the mind of God

originally posted by: ChesterJohn
a reply to: Akragon

No A Christian. Paul and Barnabas called the followers in Antioch Christians first. No proof it was done by Roman’s as a derisional statement. And it is NT Doctrine verses clearly. Paul taught as he was taught by Jesus Christ or his angel.

yet you mention a Roman coercion... which i didn't even suggest

One must die in the sense of letting his sin debt be on Christ through faith on his cross, substitutionary death and raising from the dead. simple faith is all it takes. We have the mind of Christ 1Cor 2:16 so we know the mind of God

where is this taught in the gospels?

aside from vague allusions of course...

a reply to: ChesterJohn

Thanks for explaining that ChesterJohn. I am guessing we have two different idealogies on sin. You look at sin as being inhereted from Adam and Eve. Whereas I see Genesis not as a historic representation but moreso a blueprint of human nature today. With Adam representing our spiritual nature and Eve reprensenting our physical nature with the snake being ego/mind. So I see salvation coming down to either serving our own will or the will of the Father.

Jesus in Matthew 7:21 stated that sin is not doing the Fathers will. He did not imply it was inherited nor did he imply he would own our sins (I never knew you). So to my mind it has to be something we attain in this lifetime before we die. Else Jesus words don't make sense.

My comfort is knowing the Father exists with me through hail and snow. Wanting and urging me to true to myself instead of self-craving for this and that. I am not sinless nor do I expect to be sinless by the time I die. But I am trying everyday to combat that which makes me sin.

I accept my understanding could be wrong but I have to follow my heart. I apoligize for throwing my ideologies at you.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

a reply to: glend

Only one is correct. I base mine on what the scriptures say, where I find them as they are written. No Interpretation, teaching or meaning just what does it say and how doe sit say it.

a reply to: Akragon

Which Gospel? Plural gospels in the NT? Gospel of the Kingdom taught to Israel alone? Gospel of the Grace of God for all men today in the church age? My Gospel for the church only,? (teachings for the church called "my gospel") or the Everlasting Gospel preached by an angel in Rev 14?

It is found in the NT. You can't eliminate 15 books of the NT just because you don't care for them or agree with them. If the teaching of Paul agree with Jesus it is for the church today, if not it must be placed in its correct place historically or Prophetically. The context let's you know where it is placed.