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AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
Honored member of FReeper Leapfrog's "Enemy of Islam" list.
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links... by backhoe
Posted on 05/31/2004 9:00:49 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
You know, I have really been thinking about this as it pertains to possible future events for us as Christians. In Hebrews we read that the just shall live by faith. Denying our faith is denying what sustains us.
I don't claim to know what is transpiring between this man and God. I pray that he will be as Peter. Remorseful yet filled with such a love and zeal for Christ that he spends the rest of his life evangelizing or what have you.
And if this "neighbor" holding the knife were to repent and give his live to Jesus, he to would be saved and have eternal life. If God will give eternal life to this guy, I'm sure he will forgive the victim for his transgression. Thats the whole point of grace, NO ONE is without sin, and only by God's grace can we be saved.
Christ said that anyone who would follow him should love HIM more than his mother, father, sister, brother, etc etc. and that anyone who didn't wasn't fit to be His disciple. Your way of thinking is centered around man-made philosophy (i.e. utilitarianism), and not on what is plainly laid out in scripture.
Talk is cheap. We have many brave Christians here...fighting Satan at the front lines...of their keyboards!!!LOL. Onward keyboard warriors ;)
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
These people are evil; but, the expectation is clear from a Christian standpoint. From a Human standpoint, these people should be dealt with. But from a Christian standpoint, being ashamed of the gospel and of Christ in order to save one's neck.. big no no. Bad situation all the way around.
But that cuts both ways. Unless you are Him. It's not for you or I to decide if this man goes to Heaven or Hell. He said he lied to the moslem. What he said was not what he believed. If that's the case then he never rejected Christ.
This guy has just lost his eternal life. He'd better enjoy this one.
Something to consider ... one doesn't just deny Christ with one's lips.
One can also deny Christ with one's eyes, hands, feet, etc. ... in other words, ... by one's sinful actions (or inactions).Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:Everytime we give in to any temptation to sin, ... we deny Christ ... for our (subsequent) witness is that we are not christian.
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Fortunately, ... every sin ... except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, ... is forgivable.
We can be (and are) forgiven for our own denials of Christ ... and so can this man be.
Look. If you want a cafeteria style bible that just kind of skips over the passages about hell, you go right ahead.
I read the whole thing (even the fine print). God is not some fluffy bunny you put next to your pillow at night. He is your (at least my) Father. Fathers discipline and meet out punishiment as well as reward.
God, indeed, chastens His children.
But there is a big difference between being chastened by a loving Father ... and being judged as an unbeliever.1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
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Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Bookmarked and saved!
Bookmarked and saved!
Not everyone is cut out to be a martyr.
Glad you found it. Good luck with the review!
I hope I am never in that situation. However, I pray that if I ever were, I would stand for the name of Christ no matter the consequences to my earthly body
Peter denied Jesus three times and was in some pretty good standing with the Lord.
He did what he had to do.
OK!!!
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