Posted on 10/17/2009 4:47:38 AM PDT by The Ignorant Fisherman
Many dear, professing “Christians” today, who are dear and sincere in their Christian traditions and personal beliefs, believe in a DIFFERENT Christ (i.e., they have “their own” Jesus). Therefore they - either knowingly or unknowingly - have rejected the CHRIST of the Holy Scriptures.I personally know how this works. I once had “my own” Jesus.
For years I was a practicing Roman Catholic. From the womb I was taught and raised in the traditions of the Catholic faith (ideology), and in true sincerity I went to church every week, prayed every night, and practiced the Golden rule, but I lived contrary to the moral teachings given by God in His Word. It wasn’t until just before my twenty-first birthday that someone shared with me from God’s Word the True Gospel (good news) and the True Christ of the Holy Scriptures. At that time it was very hard for me to humble myself and go against all that I thought, was taught and believed for years about Jesus. At first I didn’t want to accept the truth and have to change my way of seeing and doing things. Consequently, I ran from the Lord for three years. I had always known that God’s Word was true and the only source of ultimate truth. I knew in my heart also that I had to humble myself and let God and God’s Word be my authority and guide.
(Excerpt) Read more at theignorantfishermen.com ...
Many people actually know the scriptures and know Christ, but what people should be asking themselves is, “Does Jesus know me?”
Im ignorant of the catholic scriptures yet I know Christ.
Meawhile I forgive you for insinuating Im not saved.
That's nice. Why do you forgive somebody, if they do not face you and admit their fault and change their mind? Do you normally forgive others without any basis in justice? If so, then such a forgiveness is unjust and also sinful.
Will the real Jesus please stand up?
He is the one who was killed by good church people protecting their religion from a notorious trouble maker.
bump
Also it seems to me that we can think of forgiveness from the point of view of the forgiver and the forgiven. The forgiver can offer forgiveness, but the forgiven cannot receive it without admitting his fault and changing his mind.
So, at least in my view, that means that repentance is a constant (and refreshing) feature of the Christian life, because our minds don't stay changed and as long as we live in Christ we learn new things not only about His love but also about our need for it.
My problem with something this article seems to imply is the association between being brought up in a particular "religion" and hearing the Gospel. I know plenty of people from any number of denominations, including those who answered altar calls, who didn't hear the good news.
IMHO it is not only possible but possibly even common for the Gospel of the Love of God to be proclaimed with ringing clarity and yet remain unheard. I wouldn't blame it on a "religion."
And further, I think there's a problem with faithlessness in a particular way. My failure to be aware of God's acting in my life is not grounds to conclude that He is not acting. It may well be that the path God leads us along on our way to conversion is a path of years of effort to be good on our own, so that, finally, with the undeniable evidence of our failure burdening our to breaking, we are ready to hear and to reach out for God's love.
One can forgive through faith in Christ and what He did on the Cross or one can forgive independent of faith in Christ and what He did on the Cross.
We frequently confuse redemption with forgiveness.
The work on the Cross was purely Judgment. All sins were judged at that moment in time.
Forgiveness is a separate act.
That’s why all mankind as past condemned from the act of Adam, now has an opportunity through faith in Christ, for God to forgive us and regenerate the Human spirit of the believer. That death on the Cross provided full redemption by all of mankind’s sins being imputed upon Christ on the Cross and being judged once and for all.
Forgiveness for each unbeliever comes at the moment the unbeliever hears the Gospel, understanding it, and then believes in the sacrifice our our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus on the Cross.
Forgiveness for the unbeliever comes whenever we sin, then face back to God, and confess all our known and unknown sins to Him.
In both situations, all the sins had been redeemed by the work of Christ on the Cross.
Through faith in Him, we also are able to forgive the sins of our fellow man by placing them in the hands of God.
Then we well follow the lesson of Matt 18, through faith in Him.
Thanks for the little essay. I appreciate it. I’ll be thinking about it.
My friend, I Never stated that.... I do not know you or your biblical position... If you follow the clear cut teaching of salvation as presented in Scripture then your good to good!
God Bless
It’s never to late to learn them. They are written for an 8 year old. I encourage you to digg in my friend!!
http://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2009/04/take-gospel-of-john-challenge.html
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Thank you. This could almost be my exact testimony. Praise The Lord!
LOL be careful how fast you judge me.
No judgment made. Just discerning the meaning implied.
Glory!! All of Almighty God’s highest and best for you!
I would like to encourage you to study God's Word for your self and see for your self. Do not take my word for it.
Here is a link with countless studies. May Almighty God bless you on your endeavors!
Dave
Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Psalm 10:4
In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Acts 17:27
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
It’s that simple...it just take great humiliation on our part. When we do though.... we will see it clearly and rejoice!
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