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36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Using one person as an example is far from explaining whether or not all Jews are the chosen people and what God had to say about them as a people.
Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by Deetermined
Dear Deetermined,
Using one person as an example is far from explaining whether or not all Jews are the chosen people and what God had to say about them as a people.
Actually I didn't use one person, I mentioned three that we knew were saved although I did not mention their names. I also referenced how all had evidence. As for the Israelites being the chosen people, what do you think that means? It did not say that they would all have salvation, it did not say that life would be wonderful for them. They were chosen to fulfill a purpose. It does not say that God loves them and hates everyone else. Read the story of Jonah. Jonah promised God to preach and help people to find salvation, God sent him to preach to non-Jews, Johan did not want to and when he finally did it, he pouted that he had helped the people of Ninevah rather than his own people and God said, "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?". There are those who follow Kabbalah that believe non-Jews are a lesser person; but, this is not in the old testament.
As for love, yes the word is tossed around much and it doesn't mean that if you go to church and give ten dollars to charity you are loving. Love is an action word, if you truly love someone you will forgive them for any harm they do you and you will actively dedicate your life to be of service to others. That is love not some emotional watered down concept of lust. The problem with todays church is that it is more defined by what it is against, that is because there are too many people preaching that forgot about love.
Somebody, and it could have been you; but, it doesn't matter, said that I sounded like Joel Osteen. I researched him a bit on line and spoke to another Pastor I know. Apparently the man prefers to focus on what we can do to be better rather than beat people up over past sins. Yep, I agree with that. Nobody is perfect, not the Jews, not the Christians, not the Muslims and not the Atheists. The focus should be on how we can be better and by that I mean be more forgiving and more giving.
Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by Deetermined
Dear Deetermined,
The reason I don't just quote chapter and verse is because too many take verses out of context. I prefer to give context and reference the bible. There are two types of responses. Either people know the stories in the bible and don't need the reference or they don't know their bible and the references don't matter.
As for sin, simple, it is anything that falls short and I am not afraid to discuss it; but, it should not be our focus.
Our focus should be on salvation, forgiveness and service.
Again, I have don't have sufficient information regarding Mr. Osteen; but, I will continue to learn about him. It is important to remember that there is only one unforgivable sin and not worry too much about pointing out the spec in your brothers eye.
Which is the bigger sin, adultery or not loving others? Sin is not just our actions, it is our intent. Jesus sought to have people focus on their intent and forgave the adulteress. His comment was simple, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. As you know your bible, you do not need the reference.
If they don't know the Bible, they need the reference along with an interpretation from you to guide them! Let them consider the two together to make a determination for themselves if they think it's trash or not! That's what you're there for! You are supposed to guide them! It's not up to you to decide for them how to decipher the information! Or to withhold it from them in case you think they will!!! Step up! Be a leader!
Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by Deetermined
Dear Deetermined,
What I write on ATS and what I say on Sundays is different and I am dealing with different audiences. Endlessly quoting the bible to people who are atheists does little other than make them angry. It is not our job as Christians to chase people down and win them over, we are to have an answer for why their is hope within us. An answer for why we believe, that presumes a question from them.
The purpose of the old testament was to show that we could not attain perfection, that we couldn't meet the rules. Jesus came to show that we could circumcise our hearts and that the mistakes were paid for.
We are to correct other Christians when they are off course; but, we are not told to correct non-Christians.
I deal with the people who attend my services or tell me they are Christians, not non-believers. For non-believers we should have and answer for why we believe. You might wonder why I mention this. That is not why I am there, I am not there to give references. I am there to get them to read the bible and ask questions about it. By the way, I was asked to pastor this group, it was not something I sought out, I already have a full time job. I am not there to be their leader, too many leaders. I preach (hate that word) to people who don't want to go to the type of churches that seem to predominate. Our services are interactive and I ask more questions than I answer. It is my responsibility to show them how to decipher the bible for themselves. As for withholding things, I can't, I tell them to read their bible and be ready to discuss it.
As for being a "leader", no thank you, we have enough of them.
It is not for me to sit between people and God, it is for me to help them on their journey as questions arise in their lives. The OP was about who was right, Jews or Christians. I believe we have gotten off track and don't wish to hijack the thread. If you wish to discuss more then please U2U me, unless it is specifically related to this thread. Peace.
Who's chasing people down trying to win them over? If you'll notice, there are plenty of Atheists who come to these religious threads without having to seek them out. If you look closer, in some of them you'll probably even notice that they're the ones who hang around the longest.
There seems to be different versions of a very similar story.
Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by jmdewey60
Dear jmdewey60,
Actually he did, it is from Matthew. You are no doubt thinking of the book of Luke.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
I have never been an adherent to the orthodox version of the Trinity, having been brought up in a church which at the time was decidedly Arian. What this means practically is that the congregation I attended was populated by people who took the Bible in a very straightforward way and held no creed, or doctrine of Trinity other than what could be presented by actually just quoting the Bible, and no added philosophical treatises.
I believe in the Holy Trinity. I think I saw someone make the statement on here that the Holy Trinity wasn't confusing, but obviously it is for some people. I also believe the Bible when it says that God created everything. Maybe you don't.
What this is telling me is that God is in charge of the ethirial things such as concepts, including things like justice and government. So if you read in Revelation people praising God for making all things, you should see it in this light, that God is the ultimate judge and ruler and will rescue those He sees as having been unjustly persecuted or whatever.
COLOSSIANS 1:15-18 NKJ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The reason people are so upset with me, seems to me anyway, is my criticism of their posting style. I find it annoying in the extreme how people post, and here is a good example. What scripture, and in what post? If you already quoted it, then it should be pretty simple to copy and paste it instead of me having to go back and guess which post you are referring to and exactly which verse. I wish someone would read this and understand this is just common courtesy. Especially people who pretend to be Christians who should, I would think, have consideration for others. Anyway, back to your comment, I have to guess you mean something about idols made of wood. I don't see how that has anything to do with anything and was about something that was maybe a concern in ancient times where Israelites were worshiping idols as a common practice. Now in Paul's day, there were temples but I don't think those gods were worshiped any differently than say a Catholic cathedral or something.
I posted scripture for you, did you have trouble understanding it? I'm beginning to believe that you don't understand what's written in the Bible or maybe you're trying too hard to teach yourself the Hebrew language and connecting it altogether.
It is pretty simple, either someone believes in the old covenant, or they believe in the new covenant. This is actually what is behind the Christian practice of designating part of the Bible as the Old Testament, and the Christian part as the New Testament. If someone holds to the old covenant, then automatically they are not Christian. Really quite simple. Those who do hold to the old should put little disclaimers on their signature or in their posts warning readers that they are Messianic Jews, and are not actually Christians, in the classical sense of the word, such as for example, one poster here going by the user name, Superior Ed.
In any case, will you do me one small little favor and refrain from telling someone else that they're not a real Christian based on statements that you clearly didn't understand when you read them either?
Originally posted by jmdewey60
I have never been an adherent to the orthodox version of the Trinity, having been brought up in a church which at the time was decidedly Arian. What this means practically is that the congregation I attended was populated by people who took the Bible in a very straightforward way and held no creed, or doctrine of Trinity other than what could be presented by actually just quoting the Bible, and no added philosophical treatises.
Here is what we should look at, in my opinion, in regards to creation:What this is telling me is that God is in charge of the ethirial things such as concepts, including things like justice and government. So if you read in Revelation people praising God for making all things, you should see it in this light, that God is the ultimate judge and ruler and will rescue those He sees as having been unjustly persecuted or whatever.
COLOSSIANS 1:15-18 NKJ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things
He may have the preeminence.
The reason people are so upset with me, seems to me anyway, is my criticism of their posting style. I find it annoying in the extreme how people post, and here is a good example.
What scripture, and in what post? If you already quoted it, then it should be pretty simple to copy and paste it instead of me having to go back and guess which post you are referring to and exactly which verse.
I wish someone would read this and understand this is just common courtesy. Especially people who pretend to be Christians who should, I would think, have consideration for others.
It is pretty simple, either someone believes in the old covenant, or they believe in the new covenant. This is actually what is behind the Christian practice of designating part of the Bible as the Old Testament, and the Christian part as the New Covenant.
If someone holds to the old covenant, then automatically they are not Christian. Really quite simple. Those who do hold to the old should put little disclaimers on their signature or in their posts warning readers that they are Messianic Jews, and are not actually Christians, in the classical sense of the word, such as for example, one poster here going by the user name, Superior Ed.
I was using him as an example because I was, after a lot of harassment on my part, able to get him to admit to it. He was using terminology which if you looked it up on Wikipedia, you could find out that only Messianic Jews use it. The point being is that here is one person and even then was hedging around and not actually calling himself a Jew but that his system or whatever included Jews, or something like that, where the main point is that people want to pretend to fit in and I believe the intention is to pull Christians into being virtual Jews by giving up the fundamental beliefs of Christianity.
Just a suggestion. If you think someone's speaking from the viewpoint of a Messianic Jew, just ask them if they are.
Originally posted by Foxy1
]
on page seven the op states he does not follow an invisible god and lives by his own rules, So he did not start this thread to seek knowledge but to troll everyone who posted.
Originally posted by AQuestion
The purpose of the old testament was to show that we could not attain perfection, that we couldn't meet the rules. Jesus came to show that we could circumcise our hearts and that the mistakes were paid for.
John 5:19
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 3:3-7
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’
John 8:34, 36 Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin...If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. And we know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
I John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Rom. 6:14 Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
John 14:12
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.