Posted on 05/07/2007 11:36:09 AM PDT by bedolido
CBNNews.com - Virginia Beach, Va - Before the celebrating came the turning of tassels and accepting this charge:
"I want you to strive for greatness through service," said CBN founder Pat Robertson.
The largest class in Regent's history sang a hymn bowed their heads in prayer.
"Father," prayed Pastor Jack Hayford. "We come with hearts of gratitude for each of these graduates."
{snip}
Some say they were initially skeptical about having a Mormon address a Christian audience.
"There were some people who were alarmed," said Regent graduate Cassy McLauchlin. "I was surprised because I just didn't think he was the speaker we would have here, but they let us know he wasn't coming to speak on any theological issues but he was coming to address us at graduation."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbn.com ...
No, He wasn't. That's for darn sure.
Amen.
Trinitarian Christianity bump.
“There’s always a bad apple in every family.”
“Maybe...but Satan isn’t a part of God’s family.”
How do you know?
That is New Age gnosticism.
No part of us is made up of the same substance as God.
God is within believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit. But it is always God and not us. The difference is profound.
Only believers can be adopted through faith in Christ. Unbelievers and Satan have never been and will never be part of the family.
I'm not Mormon, so I wouldn't know
The "New Jerusalem" is symbolic of Christ Himself who comes down to meet His Bride the Church.
True, but I believe it is literal and well as allegorical.
Mathew 24
40 Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
That is New Age gnosticism.
No part of us is made up of the same substance as God.
God is within believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit. But it is always God and not us. The difference is profound.
Yes, it is.
I think I remember reading that the Manichees also believed this in the early centuries AD.
As for your second question I believe that God (Heavenly Father) created all of us as His spirit children. He loves us and wants us to grow and progress and have joy. Just as a child can grow up to be like his father or her mother, it makes sense that we can progress and become more like Heavenly Father over time. The doctrine is that God was once like us and we may become like Him. I do not know all of the details of what that means. I know that if I live a good life and follow the teachings of Jesus I can return to His Kingdom and gain my reward. We probably couldn’t comprehend all that awaits us even if God tried to tell us.
And you are also correct on the spelling of "Manichean". Interesting that Augustine was one of these before his conversion.
In a sense I guess he believed some of what the Mormons believe about the divine "spark". But he sure changed his tune on that. Thank God.
Not "opinion" if it is a FACT, which it is.
Mormons are insisting publicly that they are Christians yet disagree with most Christian doctrine. They also are not even Deist (believing in only one God.)
They honestly believe that Christians are NOT Christian and that they are the "ONLY TRUE FAITH," yet now wish to be "included" as part of the very faith that they have separated themselves from since their foundation, in the 1830s.
Either they "are Christian," as they are now claiming to be, or they are NOT.
Just like once refusing to admit black males into their "priesthood" because of the "Curse of Cain," they capitulated due to society's changing acceptance of blacks after the 1950s.
Perhaps they will not dip a toe further into the Christian faith and allow "non-Mormons" to take the sacrament, to attend weddings and for them to attend other "Christian" churches.
Who knows, God may be on the move inside the former closed LDS society, we can all pray for this to happen.
Actually, the only way to achieve Heaven is to believe that you are a sinner and that Christ's righteousness (not your own striving) is your only hope.
what about people who died before ever hearing the Gospel, or babies who died early?
you're pretty certain you have the key to eternal life. sounds like a piece of cake.
If they don't know the historical Jesus (like those born before Christ), and if they still have faith in God's righteous provision rather than their own efforts, they too will have eternal life. (Like Isaiah for example who prophesied of Christ but didn't know the Jesus of history.)
Babies who died early...God knows their hearts too. It's my belief that a will is exercised from the moment of conception. In effect, God knows each individual's heart.
Actually, it is very simple.
Believe in Christ's righteousness...not your own...and you will be saved.
Reasoning for the Trinity
John 15: 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me : [KJV] [and if that isn‘t a clear picture of all three in one sentence of Jesus’s teaching the oneness in three --and the Hebrew word for ‘one‘ can also be translated ‘unity‘-- try reading the following sequence of scriptures … Deuteronomy 6:4 then John 1: 1; 14 then John 14: 5 - 11 then remind yourself with the Baptism blessing ‘in the name of the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John14 5 - 11: 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
So when Christ appeared to the apostles after his resurection, as God, & told them to feel the prints in his hands & the wound in his side, he was a spirit? Have you read the scriptures re: the resurection? The plain part about it is that the body & spirit are reunited in immortal glory.
Was Christ resurrected or not? Were the prints in his hands that of a sprit? Is a sprit tangible? You see, that’s what I’m talking about, nothing is quite as plain as you say. A lot of it is strictly interpretation. Is your interpretation correct? Well maybe. But what if you’re wrong?
Wouldn’t it be cool to go straight ot the author of all this & find out for sure? The Lord asks us to do just that several times in the scriptures. He wants to answer those questions. He answered those questions for those in the bible. Does he love us any less? I think not. But that’s my interpretation. Gotta go, see ya next time around.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.