%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
A Blog on Biblical thoughts |
|
Biblical Thoughts and questions from reading God's word. |
| Several news articles of late caught my eye from todays the death of another fairly well-known evangelical preacher to a story earlier this week asking what Israel would do without US friendship, God Forbid. The US is used by God, but Israel will not only survive but thrive because God has put it where it is. As for the death of another Christian icon the influence of Christe's Church is waning in the world not because of lack of power but because Christ has allowed it and in the end all nations hate true believers. We also had the ridiculous claim that Christ was coming this Jewish feast- while there is some biblical backing for Christ to come at such a time such predictions are wrong unless absolute revelation because they bring discredit in the worlds eyes, but scripture does say men in the last days will say where is the promised coming which has been foretold. |
| There are obviously men who are first to spread the gospel to unreached groups. and based on one of Websters definition of apostle they fit the criteria, however biblically the question of modern apostleship and its authority is far trickier. Apostles of scripture as noted in the gifts of the Spirit are defined as more than missionaries. Nevertheless, even Paul acknowledges that the mark of his apostleship was those he was called to reach (1 Cor 9:2). Many point to the 11 and how they replaced steven, which I believe by the way was not God’s will as Paul was later an apostle and by this grafting as it were the twelve would have been complete. If apostle is defined by one of the twelve or one who was with Jesus during his earthly ministry, then apostles can’t exist today. Paul also battled false teachers and apostles as found in 2 Corinthians 11. Likewise, whatever the answer we battle false claims of authority today from the inherited power of Rome, which is shown to be false by the unbiblical teachings various officeholders have espoused, to smaller heresies Whether true modern apostles exist or not there are certainly counterfeits and this gives one cause to consider. There are certainly places in scripture which could be used for the support or denial of such of more apostles. One such place of indirect support is found in Romans 1 Where Paul referred to a "we " which refers to more than one apostle to the gentiles, unless of course this is a miss translation. It is noteworthy that if an apostle is a special office of someone specifically designated by Christ himself then though rare why would some not exist today. This is supported by the question, why are 12 Thrones for the direct apostles of Jesus as found in Matthew 19:28. In the end this question like all biblical questions comes down to the nature and acts of God which are important so that we give him and those he appoints to various offices due respect while rejecting and spurning and who would seek to falsely appropriate God’s glory. |
| There are similarities and differences between talents and spiritual gifts. Both come from God and grow in effectiveness with use but are not the same. Spiritual gifts are given to believers at or after salvation as seen in Ronas 12:6 and 1 Cor 12:1-11. While these gifs given for the good of the body of Christ. We are given talents or other advantages at birth which come from genetics and environment. This is why I always laugh when churches give out tests like personality tests to find peoples spiritual gifts because while these tests are great at discovering personality and bent but they are irrelevant when diagnosing true gifts. Some gifts such as Teaching might be confused with the talent of teaching even these two are different though complimentary things. The talent of teaching is honed and based on facts and personality while the gift enables individuals with or without training to connect and convey learning beyond their natural abilities and this is with the more so called lesser giftings or callings. If one is truly gifted prophetically, for instance I know of no test that can determine this! |
| I saw a story today that Senator Tim Kaine thought rights coming from God rather than government was equivalent to Theocratic Iranian thinking. This commonsense acknowledgement of course is the total opposite. If our rights come from the Creator of life, then government has no business taking these away. Just as we are told in scripture to uphold government should not infringe on what has been given to the people. It was nice to see some politicians still are educated in this nations birth as Senator Ted Cruz who cited the Declaration of Independence which read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. |
| Salvation or the trusting in Christ and believing he rose from the dead is simple; being a Christian not so much. Today there is a great confusion about what it means to be a Christian or one who has a personal relationship with Christ as both his Lord and Savior. Hence though less on the forefront there is an uncertainty about what is salvation. Satan has done a masterful job of high jacking this name. Some think the title Christian is synonymous with being religious and others think they can be Christian without being religious. Both positions are untenable. Being a Christian or “little Christ” is also often confused with the religion of philanthropy or one of social gospel. Satan loves this twist because the gospel is stripped of its uniqueness and robbed of its power. To bear the title Christian is a great honor and we should oppose those most fiercely who take it unjustly. We seek to rescue others from the fire while pursuing God’s continual purging of our own impurity. Scripture makes it clear that Our works can't and will not save us as s it is by grace from first to last. In all afflictions and good times, we remember that no matter the burden of the responsibility the cost of rebellion is much greater than any current price. You can be a member of any denomination or cult and not be bought with the blood, but you can't remain a Christian and stay a part of many groups. Ultimately the World hates Christians because they testify as Jesus did that much of what it does is wrong. Nobody likes their pet beliefs or practices to be called evil or perverse. The prayer of every Christian should be that the Spirit of God is on them is such a way that their life is a testimony and hated or loved people know without being told that man or woman is a child of God; they are Christian. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
