I have read through some of the comments in this thread and to be quite honest, I do not know what the purpose of it is. What is it we think we are discussing, or what are we trying to accomplish by debating a term such as "easy believism"? Are we talking bout how easy it is to have or walk in Faith? Why Jesus said that if you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, then you should be able to say to that mountain be thou removed. If believing is so easy that we would criticize others in their faith, then it should be easy for you to say to that mountain be thou removed. Have you tried moving that mountain yet? How easy did you find it? Or do you even know which mountain it is that you should say be thou removed to?
A young girl I am mentoring at work was taking a few minutes this morning to finish up something she was working on for her church youth group. I asked her what it was she was going to be discussing. She told me it was the story about the faith of the man with palsy that couldn't get to Jesus, so his buddies cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man down upon his bed. I didn't recall the story the way she told it to me, so I asked her which book and chapter. She was referring to the story in Mark 2.
In a way, I think that scripture is quite appropriate for establishing what we wish define as "easy believism".
Which is easier: Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you? Or is it easier to say Rise and Walk, your faith has made you whole?
It is a question the Pharisees could not answer. It should be easy to say your sins are forgiven you, for those words alone can provide comfort; but to say rise and walk, that requires the power of God to back it up.
Jesus left us with a command, he said to forgive one another as I have forgiven you. How many people actually believe they have the power to say to another "your sins be forgiven you"?
Why it is so much easier for people to believe in the wrath of God against an unbelieving people than it is to believe His salvation has already been granted them?
I have read through some of the comments in this thread and to be quite honest, I do not know what the purpose of it is. What is it we think we are discussing, or what are we trying to accomplish by debating a term such as "easy believism"? Are we talking bout how easy it is to have or walk in Faith? Why Jesus said that if you had the faith the size of a mustard seed, then you should be able to say to that mountain be thou removed. If believing is so easy that we would criticize others in their faith, then it should be easy for you to say to that mountain be thou removed. Have you tried moving that mountain yet? How easy did you find it? Or do you even know which mountain it is that you should say be thou removed to?
A young girl I am mentoring at work was taking a few minutes this morning to finish up something she was working on for her church youth group. I asked her what it was she was going to be discussing. She told me it was the story about the faith of the man with palsy that couldn't get to Jesus, so his buddies cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man down upon his bed. I didn't recall the story the way she told it to me, so I asked her which book and chapter. She was referring to the story in Mark 2.
In a way, I think that scripture is quite appropriate for establishing what we wish define as "easy believism".
Which is easier: Is it easier to say your sins are forgiven you? Or is it easier to say Rise and Walk, your faith has made you whole?
It is a question the Pharisees could not answer. It should be easy to say your sins are forgiven you, for those words alone can provide comfort; but to say rise and walk, that requires the power of God to back it up.
Jesus left us with a command, he said to forgive one another as I have forgiven you. How many people actually believe they have the power to say to another "your sins be forgiven you"?
Why it is so much easier for people to believe in the wrath of God against an unbelieving people than it is to believe His salvation has already been granted them?
Jesus' words alone, no ONE of anyone else. It would be good to NOT pitch paul at another servants words against the master him Lord Jesus Christ. here is WHY easy believism doctrine is straight from the devil. Please reply with Christ's words alone /\ . after all the MASTER cannot be countered contradicted or explained by His servant.
Matthew 7:21 New International Version (NIV)
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 25 New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.
4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Jon 6: 42-----
48 I am the bread of life.
49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.
50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
John 14:15
"If you love me, KEEP my commands.
Matthew 18 New International Version (NIV)
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.