Woody Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 TU You're on the right track brother. Keep it comin. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Robert Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) is the largest transparently operated charitable foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 and doubled in size by Warren Buffett in 2006. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and, in the United States, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology." Okay, not to pick on Bill, etc...let's look at what he is doing (see red lettering). Can we read motive? No, but I can tell you this - if Christ isn't controlling Bill's human nature in this area of his life then all Bill does (even though outwardly good) is to bring attention to himself. If that's the case then in heaven's eyes his act is nothing more than filthy rags. I just read that Madonna gave a free concert....Sounds wonderful, but why free? Was it really free? No, not if you read the whole article. She did it for self-promotion. Now before we jump on Bill or Madonna let's look at our own lives. That job you have...how did you get it? Did you sell yourself to get hired? Did you compete? Well, then you are doing the same thing... Food for thought, Rob Quote
Woody Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Quote: Why the change? Because mankind is totally void of true righteous. He is unrighteous. Even the seemingly good things he does is filthy rags. Amen Amen Brother. No matter what good we do ... it is as 'filthy rags'. Just yesterday a wonder sister in our church came over and mowed our lawn. I told her she was a 'saint'. Her reply was ... "No. I'm no saint. Pastor "Redwood" tells us that what I've done is just 'filthy rags'." I thought that was good insight and Oh so true. Filthy Rags Folks. Just Filthy Rags. Speakin of "filthy rags". Hey whadja think of the lessons this week? I thought it clealy articulated the value of works as filthy rags. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Woody Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 How is it that we will be able to be with Him in Paradise? Not by works of the law. Gal.2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. " This is one verse the lesson referred to this week. I would add that when we are weak ... we are strong. We will be weak. But it is the times that we allow the strength of God in our lives .... it is then that we experience strength. When we are empty ... it is then that we are filled. And filled with that which is truly good. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Robert Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Self-righteous acts camouflaged or disguised in the name of Christ are exposed in the judgment and clearly identified as works of iniquity (i.e., works motivated by self-love). All Christians must consider this text seriously. Do our works originate from Christ and therefore motivated by agape, or are they the “fair shew in the flesh” [Galatians 6:12]? And I might add "self-righteous" doctrines....This idea that one goes to heaven after he dies is rooted in iniquity. Now I am not saying because some believer doesn't see it my way that he stands condemned. Jesus takes folks where they are at. He accepts them in their ignorance. Good thing for me because while I do understand the issue on the state of the dead I am surely ignorant in other areas of my life. But the subject is do we receive paradise the moment we die? No...nothing in us is good therefore nothing in us is immortal. I have a Baptist friend at work. One day I was telling him of our condition by birth. He stopped me before I finished my sentence. He wouldn't discuss it. He said I was wrong - that there is some good in us. Well, he was ignorant here. If he's truely ingorant I don't know....That's between him and God. In the judgment God will not examine how good we are...or examine if our good works is more than our bad works. No, He's going to look at the source of our works. Do they come from pride? Does it come from wanting credit? Do you want Christ to accept you into heaven based on your works? If so your works are works of iniquity. Rob Quote
Woody Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Good Stuff Rob. Does your Baptist friend at work ... allow you to do much talking? Why is he so resistant to hearing Biblical principles in opposition to his current belief? Perhaps this is an opening. Perhaps he is so unsure of his beliefs that he doesn't want to hear others. Keep us informed as to how your conversations with this person go. A question that the lesson asked this week was ... "How central is the cross to your own theology? Perhaps this would be a good question for your Baptist friend. Actually, I think this is such a good question that I am going to start a thread with it. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Robert Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Keep us informed as to how your conversations with this person go. I try to talk of only things we have in common....Otherwise it goes no where. It was years ago we had that conversation about what happens when you die. He took the stance that there was good in him. When I pressed him on it he said the Holy Spirit is good. I agreed, but I said "you aren't the Holy Spirit" and therefore in and of yourself there's nothing good. He said "no - I have become one with the Holy Spirit." I asked, "So you are claiming to be the Holy Spirit?" His face got red and so I knew he was mad....I said to him, "That's blasphemy....The Holy Spirit is not you and you are not the Holy Spirit. Yes, the two of you share the same body, but you are not one and the same. The HS is immortal; you are mortal." Anyway, he walked out....He didn't want to discuss it.....Rob Quote
Woody Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Quote: I knew he was mad....I said to him, "That's blasphemy Perhaps this is why your conversations are not going far. When someone is "mad" ... I wouldn't tell them they are speaking "blasphemy". The conversation would naturally stop. Could you break it to him more gently? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Robert Posted July 5, 2008 Posted July 5, 2008 Quote: I knew he was mad....I said to him, "That's blasphemy Perhaps this is why your conversations are not going far. When someone is "mad" ... I wouldn't tell them they are speaking "blasphemy". The conversation would naturally stop. Could you break it to him more gently? Actually, the mad part came before my comment.... Quote
LifeHiscost Posted July 7, 2008 Posted July 7, 2008 He is unrighteous. Even the seemingly good things he does is filthy rags. Rob "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 KJV "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" Galatians 2:20 KJV "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...." 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Not all of the works done in man are his own. "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." Matthew 12:31 KJV Regards! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
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