[Gamecock]

GRPL Ping

[Califreak]

Almost everyday, I am truly amazed that He hasn’t given me what I truly deserve.

[wmfights]

...a real Christian sees that you are totally in debt to God, but a religious person is someone who is working hard and making an effort and trying to be good, going to Bible studies and just saying "no" everywhere, and denying themselves a lot of pleasures, and so forth, and a religious person is someone who is trying to put God in their debt.

I think this is a great explanation of how we should view works.

[Gumdrop]

“And the way you can tell the difference is that a Real Christian is somebody who sees everything that comes as a gift. In other words a real Christian sees that you are totally in debt to God, but a religious person is someone who is working hard and making an effort and trying to be good, going to Bible studies and just saying “no” everywhere, and denying themselves a lot of pleasures, and so forth, and a religious person is someone who is trying to put God in their debt. That is the difference. A religious person is someone who is trying to save themselves through their good works. A religious person is somebody who thinks they are putting God in their debt since they have tried so hard. A Christian is somebody who sees themselves as in God’s debt.”

I am not certain how to answer this erroneous conclusion. A true Christion ought by reason of imitating Jesus Himself - be doing works of mercy. We are called, after all, to be the eyes, ears, hands, and heart of Jesus on earth. That is why He established a church. That is why he left us with the Holy Spirit. So, when people do charitable works no Christian ought to criticize or judge why the Christian is being charitable. Jesus also taught the following - when each of us is called to judgement, we will be asked when we fed the poor, clothed the naked, etc.. So, it is obvious that Jesus expected that we do charitable works. He also told us to be a light to the nations, to not hide our light under a basket.

How on earth have Christians become so judgemental against other Christians who do acts of charity? I wish someone would explain this clearly to me.

[Col Freeper]

Good read.

Thanks for the post.

[Campion]

Here is the acid test: If you are a Christian you have a spirit of wonder that permeates your life. You are always saying "how miraculous", "how interplanetary", "how unreal". You are always looking at yourself and saying, "me a Christian ... incredible, miraculous, unbelievable, a joke!!!

This is teaching not found in Scripture.

Our Lord was very clear on how the world would know his disciples, and it didn't involve going around babbling about how "unreal" or "interplanetary" it all was ... whatever that means.

" but a person who is trying to put God in their debt - there is none of that spirit of wonder at all.

Someone who is "trying to put God in their debt" has much bigger problems than that.

[Between the Lines]

Good article.

Here is the acid test: If you are a Christian you have a spirit of wonder that permeates your life. You are always saying "how miraculous", "how interplanetary", "how unreal". You are always looking at yourself and saying, "me a Christian ... incredible, miraculous, unbelievable, a joke!!!

Perhaps this is not so much of test of who is a Christian, but who has been forgiven much. A passage from Luke in the story of the sinful woman comes to mind:

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47

As one who has been forgiven much, the fact that He would do anything for me, keeps me in awe.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Beautiful sermon, Gamecock!

"Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"

And what is even more amazing is that the atoning death of the Good Shepherd for His sheep was decreed by God from before the earth was formed by the one-time sacrifice of the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

From before time began God decreed His specific, personal, named-and-numbered salvation by Christ on the cross.

"Be not afraid; only believe." -- Mark 5:36

[narses]

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[count-your-change]

Jesus said those doing the will of his Father would enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Matt. 7:21. It wasn’t lack of wonder that barred the way.

[Titanites]

Matthew 25:34-46 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I [was] naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed [You,] or thirsty and give [You] drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take [You] in, or naked and clothe [You?] 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 4"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

[Tennessee Nana]

WOW

It’s all good

I couldnt find a part I liked better than the others...

:)

[wideminded]

“I’ve always subconsciously looked out for the total Christian and when I found him he turned out to be a non-practicing Jew.” - William F. Buckley, Jr.

[P8riot]

From, of all sources, Charles Wesley:

Nothing have I, Lord, to pay,
Nor can thy grace procure,
Empty send me not away,
For I, thou know'st, am poor:
Dust and ashes is my name,
My all is sin and misery;
Friend of sinners, spotless Lamb,
Thy blood was shed for me.