October 9, 2009 5:14 PM
Sam wrote:
TO Dustin....you'll ALWAYS be my friend, even though we may never see each again in this life. I enjoyed watching you grow (from an outsider's point of view). Don't get discouraged about the church.....YOU try to change THEM! That is what Paul would have done. I suggest maybe you write a (friendly) letter to the pastor/main preacher/evangelist/whatever, and mention in a nice way that it doesn't seem like the church is very 'warm'. And that although it is 1/2 YOUR job, no one really approached you (a newcomer). Even long-standing Christians need a boost now and then as we tend to get into ruts and forget WHY we are Christians in the first place. If you do this, let me know his response. (Don't sound too negative, but more in a 'what the heck?' tone!
October 9, 2009 5:26 PM
Sam wrote:
Paul is SO glib. I LOVE how he talks about Israel's unbelief. They tried to obtain grace by working for it (the Law) instead of simply having faith. They did DEEDS instead of simply having faith. We definitely, as you all know, do NOT EARN our way to Heaven by deeds, but is given to us in the form of a gift called GRACE. If you accept this gift, that is, if you decide to change your ways after believing in Jesus as THE only One who can save you, then you have chosen the right path. Note I did not say that you are already saved...by no means, however, you now have the tools at hand to BE saved. Accept Jesus into your heart. Learn His commandments and follow them (not LAWS, but HIS COMMANDS), change your life of one of constant sin to one where you FIGHT sin daily. Get yourself baptized when ready to commit your life to Him, and at that point He will deliver to you the Holy Spirit to assist you in REMAINING IN His grace. Too many Scriptures out there to even mention that definitely say you can 'fall from His grace' to even list them. We need daily help from God Himself, the 1/3 of Him we know as the Holy Spirit. When you pray, talk to God and always keep asking for Him to allow the HS to work within you, to make you grow, to make you stronger.
TO Dustin....you'll ALWAYS be my friend, even though we may never see each again in this life. I enjoyed watching you grow (from an outsider's point of view). Don't get discouraged about the church.....YOU try to change THEM! That is what Paul would have done. I suggest maybe you write a (friendly) letter to the pastor/main preacher/evangelist/whatever, and mention in a nice way that it doesn't seem like the church is very 'warm'. And that although it is 1/2 YOUR job, no one really approached you (a newcomer). Even long-standing Christians need a boost now and then as we tend to get into ruts and forget WHY we are Christians in the first place. If you do this, let me know his response. (Don't sound too negative, but more in a 'what the heck?' tone!
Mac
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Paul is SO glib. I LOVE how he talks about Israel's unbelief. They tried to obtain grace by working for it (the Law) instead of simply having faith. They did DEEDS instead of simply having faith. We definitely, as you all know, do NOT EARN our way to Heaven by deeds, but is given to us in the form of a gift called GRACE. If you accept this gift, that is, if you decide to change your ways after believing in Jesus as THE only One who can save you, then you have chosen the right path. Note I did not say that you are already saved...by no means, however, you now have the tools at hand to BE saved. Accept Jesus into your heart. Learn His commandments and follow them (not LAWS, but HIS COMMANDS), change your life of one of constant sin to one where you FIGHT sin daily. Get yourself baptized when ready to commit your life to Him, and at that point He will deliver to you the Holy Spirit to assist you in REMAINING IN His grace. Too many Scriptures out there to even mention that definitely say you can 'fall from His grace' to even list them. We need daily help from God Himself, the 1/3 of Him we know as the Holy Spirit. When you pray, talk to God and always keep asking for Him to allow the HS to work within you, to make you grow, to make you stronger.
God IS Good.
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