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Childish behavior |
Posted on 01/16/2013 8:57:49 AM PST by marshmallow
General audience, Benedict XVI defines the Incarnation as "something unimaginable, the face of God can be seen, the process that began with Abraham is fulfilled." The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he asks "for the great gift" to "proclaim together that Jesus is the Savior of the world."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The desire to know the face of God is in every man, even the atheists," but this desire is only realized by following Christ, in whom, in the Incarnation, "something unimaginable took place, the journey that began with Abraham is fulfilled. He is the Son, the fullness of all Revelation; the mediator who shows us the face of God. "
And "to proclaim together that Jesus is the Saviour of the world" Benedict XVI asked for incessant prayers for "the great gift" of Christian unity in the forthcoming week, which begins on the 18th of this month.
Previously, in his catechesis, he again reflected on the meaning of Christmas, in a commentary on John's Gospel in which the apostle Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. The answer of Jesus, "introduces us to the heart of the Church's Christological faith; For the Lord says: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9).This expression summarizes the novelty of the New Testament, the novelty that appeared in the cave of Bethlehem: God can be seen, he showed his face is visible in Jesus Christ".
The theme of "seeking the face of God" is present throughout the Old Testament, so much so that the Hebrew term "face", occurs no less than 400 times, 100 of which refer to God." The of Jewish religion which the religion forbids all images, "for God can not be depicted," and "can not be reduced to an object," tells us that "God...
(Excerpt) Read more at asianews.it ...
If I may, IMO, it's neither. It's WHO you know.
When I first got saved, someone made the comment to me that I need to be careful not to have faith in my faith but faith in Jesus. It's not faith in my faith that saves, but faith in Jesus, a person who saves.
It was an interesting distinction for a new believer to consider, but I got the point he was making.
Faith put in the wrong object (for lack of a better term) is not going to save anyone.
Wow! I went and looked that up. Thats getting really desperate in an attempt to disparage or demean. Of course I do understand the you did say you weren't trying to demean anyone so there's that.
Thow shalt believe in such and such denomination and thow shalt be saved?
Excellent point, dear sister in Christ, and very well put.
Thank you so very much for this truthful insight!
I just did too. No kidding. That's really grasping at straws.
Again, we see the same tactics as used by one particular Catholic in trying to pry information out of someone. If they won't answer the question directly, accuse them of something really over the edge and try to provoke an angry response that inadvertently divulges the information seeking.
Or perhaps, it's the process of elimination, figuring that with enough patience, they can get the person to deny charge after charge until there's only a few options left which they have not denied.
Not falling for it here.
Look at the text below. Notice that its not our faith but Christs faith in us that we live.
Paul says, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 AV)
It is Jesus faith working in us who believe. So, we see that our righteousness is not IN Christ, but OF Him. And if so, we become part with Him, and He IN us.
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31 AV)
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11 AV)
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9 AV)
When that sinks in cry Praise you Jesus and to God be the glory!
Yeah, well so do a lot of denominations. Does that mean they're cults, too?
And if the criteria for not being a cult is adhering to other writings of the *church fathers* and creeds and catechisms, then what they're saying by default is that Scripture alone is not enough.
Who wants to go there?
Jesus had some pretty strong words for the Pharisees who added to Scripture.
Being part of a denomination is no insurance against going into error. Individuals can go into error, and take themselves. Small home churches can go into error and take some others. Whole denominations can go into error and take lots more.
Might doesn't make right. Truth is not determined by consensus.
Our betters, of course. Those who have made the Nicene Creed the hallmark of Christian belief. The Bible does not require this thing.
I wonder if folks are aware that Nicea is the Greek feminine form of Nicholas... the root of 'Nicolaitian'... 'Those who Conquer the People'.
That same spirit of coercion is alive and well today, or so it seems... Even among our Protestant FRiends.
It is hard for some to consider Christianity without that coercion, and it's requisite exclusions. Join the club, or be a pariah.
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me.
God didn't ordain division or that believers would "belong" to different denominations. The Body of Christ is one entity, not many. I will not partake in the attempt to fragment God's church.
The word "OF" that you emphasized is not in the original manuscripts. It is interesting that you would apparently develop a concrete doctrine from a word that was interpolated by the men who translated the KJV. The ESV (which metmom referred me to as the source of all truth) interpolates the word "IN".
So which interpolation and hence which interpretation of the actual words of the original manuscript is correct?
Why have you "chosen" to develop your own theology based, not on the actual words of scripture, but on the interpretation of the scriptures as set forth by the MEN who comprised the committee that was delegated to interpret and translate the Ancient Greek manuscripts into Elizabethan English?
When that sinks in cry Praise you Jesus and to God be the glory!
No comment.
Yeah, and I went and looked up Methodism and what an eyeful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism
Try to figure THAT out.
And how is CB’s rendition of that verse not closer to Calvinism than the ESV?
Exactly what is the problem with it?
I'll take that as a no. You are non-Trinitarian or quasi-Trinitarian...neither of which is Trinitarian.
Now, as far as knowing about C&MA. I'm no longer a spring chicken, so I've run across a few things here and there. And Army Chaplains run across just about every denomination (flavor) imaginable. I'm also an Asbury Seminary Grad and there were CMAs there. (That's another clue if you're still trying to ID me, although you missed the noon deadline.)
Does that mean your answer was choice D?
So what’s with the deadline? Anyone who really wants to find me out will take their time.
It’s not like they have to do it by noon on any day to get it done.
I’ve met people who’ve prided themselves on knowing all about Protestant Christianity in the US and were SHOCKED to find out about the C&MA, one they didn’t know about.
You just never know who’s heard of it or not.
You are a very fearful person
Since Jesus is The Word, no one can say they believe in Jesus unless they believe in The Word as their Final authority.
Otherwise, they believe in 'another' as their final authority as no one can serve two masters.
There is only one way to KNOW JESUS and that is through His Word as He speaks through His Word as His Word is The Father's Will as they are ONE.
Man can only speak 'about Him' and one can't KNOW Him through 'another'. Jesus is our bridegroom and we/His Church are His bride - as one can't know one's spouse through another neither can one KNOW Jesus through another.
It's all about a personal relationship and not about a religion. And yet some are hell bent seeking an answer about a 'denomination'. There is nothing more to say on their clueless endeavor while they chase their tail over the cliff into the abyss. It's their choice.
I agree, metmom, the portrayal of the Trinity by finite, mortal minds is by its very nature incomplete and inaccurate but that doesn't stop those who follow 'man's lead to ask the question over and over.
How many of them haven't given a thought of following JESUS ALONE? What part when Jesus said 'follow ME' - goes over their head?
Two words and they can't even get that right.
Jesus is The Word.
Another Catholic tactic, trying to coerce the answer.....
*If you don’t answer, I’ll take that as meaning yes. (or no, or whatever answer it is the questioner would like to hear)*
Nope, won’t work on me either.
There’s a lot that churches require that God never did.
Small wonder churches in the US are dying and people lose interest in them.
The problem is, that in rejecting denominationalism, they are throwing out the baby with the bathwater and have ended up rejecting God as well. The churches have failed the people.
Knowing your denomination identity does not enable to judge your salvation, it enables to determine your likely doctrines and practices. That’s pretty much what a denomination is, a group with similar doctrinal distinctives and practices. So, even if you say, “non-denominational”, that doesn’t really fly. You will have distinctives and practices.
For example, do you believe “tongues” ended with the apostolic age or that they continue until today? Do you celebrate Christmas or don’t you? Do you celebrate the feast of Tabernacles or don’t you?
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