Posted on 09/27/2022 10:53:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Since around 1900, we entered the Laodicean Church Age in the which Jesus is seen OUTSIDE the church knocking on the door for them to let him in.
Do not despair. From the previous glorious Church Age, we have enough Philadelphia churches to impact the world in these last days.
Makes me think of John 5:43 which is basically: “I come in My Father’s name and me you do not accept; if another comes in his own name, him you will accept.”
Nowadays, anyone can be called an “evangelical” for polling purposes.
Can’t help but wonder how they decide who is an “evangelical”?
If you don’t believe in the divinity of Christ can you say you’re a Christian? Can you be an evangelical if you aren’t a Christian?
the trinity is a mystery, for God is both all 3 and 1. We will have to wait to get to heaven for this to be clarified.
“Before Abraham was, I Am.”
This is nothing. The deity of Christ was the issue the Nicene counsel assembled to address.
my own personal guess.
Jesus declared that he was “the light”
I interpret that as the light in Genesis 1:3
quote “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
So light has been with God since the beginning. And Jesus is the light. Just my personal belief.
When was the last time you would have thought someone who said he was God was a “great teacher”?
More like a looney.
He was who He said he was, or he was a liar and a psychopath. There’s no middle ground.
Choose.
It could be.
Catholic?
Protestant?
Other?
Maybe the “other” gets put into the Evangelical rank?
35 years ago our small rural Presbyterian church got a new pastor. He brought in a new associate as well. The associate preached on how the virgin birth of Jesus was just a story as obviously that kind of thing doesn’t happen. But the story is even more important than it actually happening. (No - I don’t recall how he argued that point).
I asked him after the service that probably means you don’t believe that Jesus was resurrected either? “Well of course not”. I turned to the head pastor and told him to take us off the members list as we would never be returning.
Attended for many years, sang in the choir, got married in that church - sad.
Disclaimer - we have been back twice on our visits across the country in the last 6 years. New pastor seems to preach the Bible.
If Jesus is not God, then he is either a liar or a lunatic. And if he is either of those things he certainly is not a great teacher.
People who deny his divinity, especially people who call themselves Christians, are just simply foolish.
Matthew 7:22 - On judgment day many will say to Me “didn’t we prophesied in your name...
I use a capital "S" for Sodomy because it is the name of a religion. In fact the official religion of the ruling class, even those whose sexual tastes do not run in that direction.
The late Rev. Bill Randles who used to post here on FR had a great sermon where he listed the attributes of God.
God is love
God is light
God is eternal life and then one more
Jesus Christ came down to us in the flesh and remains so.
Can’t help but wonder how they decide who is an “evangelical”?
Since there isn't a definitive definition of "Evangelical" that everyone agrees on or a recognizable, visible and official "Evangelical Church", pretty much anyone can call themselves an Evangelical-- and who's to say (aside from personal opinion) they are not?
The Catholic Church has a similar but different problem with those who call themselves Catholic but are really Catholics in name only. The difference is that the Catholic Church has a clear body of core beliefs that, if you obstinately deny them, by definition (heresy) your status as a Catholic is forfeited (latae sententiae), or is at least in doubt. And yes this goes for the Pope, the bishops, and priests.
It’s not called the “Great Apostasy” for nothing.
The “right hand” is seen as a place of honor and status throughout the biblical text. When the Bible makes statements that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it is affirming that he has equal status to the Father within the Godhead (Hebrews 1:3, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 7:55-56)
wy
I don’t agree with the concept of original sin.
We might inherit a sin nature, a tendency towards sin. But we’re not condemed until we sin. It’s just we all sin, except for kids who haven’t reached the age of accountability.
If you look at Jesus’ reply to the Rich Young Ruler who asked how to have eternal life, Mark 10:17-27. Jesus basically said, keep the commandments and named 5 of them. The Ruler said he had kept them all from youth. And Jesus replied, you lack one thing, go and sell all that you have and follow me. Jesus’ answer showed the ruler that he was putting his riches before God, so he hadn’t kept the law.
If you look at Jesus’s reply to the lawyer, Luke 10:25-37, it’s even more direct. Jesus asked what is written in the law? The lawyer replied, ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And Jesus replied “Do this and you shall live”.
If you keep the law, you shall live. But we know the law saved nobody. Nobody kept it. But if you did, you would live, which means you’re not condemed because of original sin. You’re condemned because of your own sin.
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