Are You Ready?

[for_his_glory]

You are a great illustration of why I never debate, these days, the timing. I'm in for the whole deal no matter the timing. If I'm obsessed with my cute self I just grin ;-) and tell them, I'll wave at you as we both lift off to meet Him. The case for all three of the realistic ideas can. clearly, be made from the scriptures, so why7 fight about it?

Days and timing can never be number by man as even Christ does not know when He will return for His Bride, but God only. Like the OP says, are you ready as we need to be Spiritually prepared to be part of that Bride Jesus is coming back for. John 3:3-6; Romans 10:9, 10.

 

[th1b.taylor]

I don't get ya Bill ?

I find the greatly disliked Barna Foundation, Survey of the American Church to hold true to the point that the numbers are, very possibly, worse than the survey found them to be. This survey, from the mid-eighties, taken by only the faithful (the ten to fifteen percent that is there 3 or more services a week and do all the admin. work) demonstrated that that less than 10% of them believe the basic belief structure required to be a Christian.


These folks were all, well instructed and studied but they denied the essentials of the faith. As close as I can recall today (rough estimates) less than 20% believed in the virgin Birth, without which Jesus could not have been sinless. Less than 15% believed in the death of Jesus as payment for their sins. Less than 10% believe that Jesus is returning t take them to Heaven and it went down hill from there I recall.

These stiff necked people are guilty of failure to surrender and Jesus was quite clear when He said, paraphrase, if you love me you will keep my commandments. If we look at John 1:1-3 we learn there is nothing in this world that He did not create and then when we look to Mal, 3:6a we see that not only is Jesus the God of the Old Testament, He never changes, period, a the great Pretender in the Oval Office is famous for remarking.

Because a bloke's name name appears on the Church Directory and because he has been dunked by the Pastor, doesn't make them saved with their names recorded in the Book of Life. Over the past 24+ years of Prison Ministry, Computer Ministry and Children's Ministry I have helped better than 600, reported, to make professions of faith. I'm certain one or two of them were true!

May God bless and I pray you see why you are seated in a mission field, white for the harvest this Sunday.

 

[agua.]

I find the greatly disliked Barna Foundation, Survey of the American Church to hold true to the point that the numbers are, very possibly, worse than the survey found them to be. This survey, from the mid-eighties, taken by only the faithful (the ten to fifteen percent that is there 3 or more services a week and do all the admin. work) demonstrated that that less than 10% of them believe the basic belief structure required to be a Christian.


These folks were all, well instructed and studied but they denied the essentials of the faith. As close as I can recall today (rough estimates) less than 20% believed in the virgin Birth, without which Jesus could not have been sinless. Less than 15% believed in the death of Jesus as payment for their sins. Less than 10% believe that Jesus is returning t take them to Heaven and it went down hill from there I recall.

These stiff necked people are guilty of failure to surrender and Jesus was quite clear when He said, paraphrase, if you love me you will keep my commandments. If we look at John 1:1-3 we learn there is nothing in this world that He did not create and then when we look to Mal, 3:6a we see that not only is Jesus the God of the Old Testament, He never changes, period, a the great Pretender in the Oval Office is famous for remarking.

Because a bloke's name name appears on the Church Directory and because he has been dunked by the Pastor, doesn't make them saved with their names recorded in the Book of Life. Over the past 24+ years of Prison Ministry, Computer Ministry and Children's Ministry I have helped better than 600, reported, to make professions of faith. I'm certain one or two of them were true!

May God bless and I pray you see why you are seated in a mission field, white for the harvest this Sunday.

Ah ok I see. How does this fit with Matthew 13 ? Are you talking about intruction in righteousness and not separation ?

Mat 13:27-30 KJV So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? (28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Days and timing can never be number by man as even Christ does not know when He will return for His Bride, but God only. Like the OP says, are you ready as we need to be Spiritually prepared to be part of that Bride Jesus is coming back for. John 3:3-6; Romans 10:9, 10.

Yes mam, that is the long and the short of the matter and far to many are missing in action.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Ah ok I see. How does this fit with Matthew 13 ? Are you talking about intruction in righteousness and not separation ?

Mat 13:27-30 KJV So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? (28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? (29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. (30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

I view this passage as the description of the Bride, the Church, of the past, present and future. I was not in the Church of the past. of course, but in the Church today there are dozens of reasons for membership in the Church that have nothing to do with God. I have known people that were there for the handouts and as soon as the people get tired of the never ending ¿need? and refuse to be continually abused, they go to the next Church. One gentleman was a member because it was profitable for his Tire Shop and the list, just,goes on.

These people there for the range of reasons having nothing to do with submitting their will to the will of God are not on safe ground and I worry about their salvation. And then there are the great number of Sunday Christians. When I still played and sang in the joints these were always present trying to get the girls to take them home for a Quicky and always assuring the lasses that they were
god fearing Christians, in good standing at Church, and never mind why they would not take her to their house to meet the wife.

So, yes, this passage has bearing on this issue also.

 

[agua.]

I view this passage as the description of the Bride, the Church, of the past, present and future. I was not in the Church of the past. of course, but in the Church today there are dozens of reasons for membership in the Church that have nothing to do with God. I have known people that were there for the handouts and as soon as the people get tired of the never ending ¿need? and refuse to be continually abused, they go to the next Church. One gentleman was a member because it was profitable for his Tire Shop and the list, just,goes on.

These people there for the range of reasons having nothing to do with submitting their will to the will of God are not on safe ground and I worry about their salvation. And then there are the great number of Sunday Christians. When I still played and sang in the joints these were always present trying to get the girls to take them home for a Quicky and always assuring the lasses that they were
god fearing Christians, in good standing at Church, and never mind why they would not take her to their house to meet the wife.

So, yes, this passage has bearing on this issue also.

Yeah tares are inside the Church but the interesting thing is Jesus said to let them grow and leave them alone until He returns. It's a bit of a dilemma really.

Oh by let them alone I don't mean not to teach them as you've suggested or address sin etc.