salvation

[Jethro Bodine]

In the verse you quoted from Ephesians, what does " in Him we have redemption through His blood" mean?

His blood is the agent through which we are forgiven/justified and saved from the bondage and penalty of our sin.

"through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:12 NASB)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If you want to believe that you can break the seal of the Holy Spirit and become lost again, then you are trampling under your feet the blood of Christ and counting it an unholy thing.

Actually, what the passage says is if you continue to sin willfully after being sanctified by the blood of Christ that is when you are trampling the blood of Christ counting it as an unholy thing:

"26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:26-31 NASB)

And notice, he's talking to born again people, as the very next paragraph shows us:

"32But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." (Hebrews 10:32-36 NASB)

 

[Papa Zoom]

And she acted on her faith.
Faith unaccompanied by action is mere agreement. Even the demons believe that Jesus is the son of God but they do not combine that belief with appropriate action.
Thus, faith without works is as dead as a demon's faith.

Would you agree that works could be defined as actions consistent with confession? So that if we say we believe something, but act as if we don't, it's more likely that we don't actually believe what we profess. OTOH, if one's actions are consistent with a profession of faith, such actions demonstrate our faith and are works. Thoughts?

 

[chessman]

what the passage says is if you continue to sin willfully after being sanctified by the blood of Christ that is when you are trampling the blood of Christ counting it as an unholy thing:

True. Good thing it's Him who made us holy and not ourselves. Because it was by Him we have been sanctified (made holy, perfect) we don't need to do it through earthly priests over and over again. Yep, because it was Christ doing it for us brothers (His bodily sacrifice ripped that ole curtain thru, from top to bottom) we are assured to be once sanctified always sanctified (OSAS).

Hebrews 10:9-10, 14, 19-23 “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second, by which will we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.
​

Surely once saved people should have confidence and assurance in always being saved, right??? I mean, He has perfected for all time those who are made holy, right??? Therefore, what a confidence we SHOULD have.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
​

Unfortunately, there are those that have not held fast to this confident and assured OSAS confession. They 'waver' back/forth and do not realize that the One who promised is faithful.

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.
​

It's a shame, really.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.

Christ's faithfulness is not what is in question.
Whether or not you're going to hold fast to the gospel is what's in question.
You are not presently saved if you are not presently holding fast the word of the gospel:

"the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)

The condition for having Christ's perfectly faithful and effective ministry at work on your behalf in heaven is that you continue to hold fast in faith to that ministry. If you stop holding fast to it you lose it effectiveness for you and you cease to be saved.

 

[Papa Zoom]

Christ's faithfulness is not what is in question.
Whether or not you're going to hold fast to the gospel is what's in question.
You are not presently saved if you are not presently holding fast the word of the gospel:

"the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)

The condition for having Christ's perfectly faithful and effective ministry at work on your behalf in heaven is that you continue to hold fast in faith to that ministry. If you stop holding fast to it you lose it effectiveness for you and you cease to be saved.

What if you go back to holding fast?

 

[chessman]

You are not presently saved if you are not presently holding fast the word of the gospel:

Nah. You are wavering (not holding fast) to your salvation if you think Christ's promises are not faithful. Anti-OSAS is like that.

Fortunately, Christ is not wavering. He's faithful to the end and has perfected those He's saved for all time. As posted:

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy. ​

 

[Jethro Bodine]

What if you go back to holding fast?

If God hasn't turned the former believer over to their unbelief they can continue to have the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice.
The danger is when the former believer rejects all efforts by God to bring them back to faith in Christ and God hardens them in that unbelief forever. There is no repentance possible in that case (Hebrews 6:6 NASB).

You are wavering (not holding fast) to your salvation if you think Christ's promises are not faithful.

The former believer who has fallen into unbelief is not doing that because he considers Christ's ministry not faithful. They're doing that because they simply don't want to be believers anymore and long to return to the life they left. Perhaps to avoid persecution and suffering for the Name.

The sacrifice and ministry of Christ is utterly perfect and faithful. That's not in question. Whether or not you hold fast to the perfectly effectual sacrifice and endure in that faith is what is in question.

 

[chessman]

The sacrifice and ministry of Christ is utterly perfect and faithful.

I know. Which is why that utterly perfect and faithful sacrifice has perfected for all time those who are made holy by it.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.​

How long are your suggested/hypothetical 'former believers' perfected for on your anti-OSAS view??? All time???

Whether or not you hold fast to the perfectly effectual sacrifice and endure in that faith is what is in question.

Then don't waiver in your faith that the perectly effectual sacrifice is, ... well perfectly effectual. Hold fast to what's stated by Hebrews. Let's repeat 10 times:
"For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy." ... "For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy."

Now, quick, how long have those He perfected been made holy? Yes, that's right! For all time! Good job! Now hold fast and don't waiver from that faith.

 

[JLB]

hello JLB, dirtfarmer here

You seem to be calling Paul a liar: 1 Corinthians 15:1 " Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you.

Verse 3 & 4 is the gospel he preached.

Here is 1 Corinthians 15, written out.

Please point out the verses which you believe are the Gospel that Jesus preached and taught His Apostles to preach?


Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8


Heretics, were teaching the Church that there is no Resurrection of the dead.

The context of 1 Corinthians 15, is Paul refuting this heresy, and teaching them about the Resurrection of the dead.

Paul establishes the foundation of His teaching, on Christ and His Resurrection of the dead, which He starts out doing in verse 3.

• The following verse's are Paul establishing the fact that Christ Jesus has been raised from the dead, by proving it with the testimony of witnesses.

...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.


Paul is establishing his teaching of the Resurrection of God's people, by establishing that Jesus Christ was Resurrected from the dead first, and was seen by many, Paul included.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

• From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

• 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

• 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32

• 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:12-13

• Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

This is the Gospel that will be preached in all the world as a witness, then the end will come.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14





JLB

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I know. Which is why that utterly perfect and faithful sacrifice has perfected for all time those who are made holy by it.

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.​

How long are your suggested/hypothetical 'former believers' perfected for on your anti-OSAS view??? All time???


Then don't waiver in your faith that the perectly effectual sacrifice is, ... well perfectly effectual. Hold fast to what's stated by Hebrews. Let's repeat 10 times:
"For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy." ... "For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy."

Now, quick, how long have those He perfected been made holy? Yes, that's right! For all time! Good job! Now hold fast and don't waiver from that faith.

"Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25 NASB)

'One-time, for all-time' does not mean that Christ's ministry ended for the believer, and therefore, they can stop believing in his ministry and they will still be saved by that ministry, as you are suggesting. As we can see from the above, it is essential that Christ's ministry continue for the believer. Now for that ministry to not continue one of two things has to happen: Either Christ quits the ministry and moves to Albuquerque, or the believer stops having the continuous ministry of Christ applied to them through a continuing faith.

Christ has his part covered. That's not what's in doubt here. The author of Hebrews makes that crystal clear. What is still in question here is whether or not the believer will always trust and believe in the one-time for all time sacrifice always faithfully ministering on his behalf in heaven. If they stop believing they will no longer have Christ's never-ending, faithful ministry applied to them and they will be lost. But we knew this already when Paul told the Corinthians that the condition for being presently saved was that they be presently believing (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB).

 

[dirtfarmer]

Here is 1 Corinthians 15, written out.

Please point out the verses which you believe are the Gospel that Jesus preached and taught His Apostles to preach?


Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8


Heretics, were teaching the Church that there is no Resurrection of the dead.

The context of 1 Corinthians 15, is Paul refuting this heresy, and teaching them about the Resurrection of the dead.

Paul establishes the foundation of His teaching, on Christ and His Resurrection of the dead, which He starts out doing in verse 3.

• The following verse's are Paul establishing the fact that Christ Jesus has been raised from the dead, by proving it with the testimony of witnesses.

...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.


Paul is establishing his teaching of the Resurrection of God's people, by establishing that Jesus Christ was Resurrected from the dead first, and was seen by many, Paul included.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

• From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

• 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

• 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:32

• 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. Mark 6:12-13

• Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

This is the Gospel that will be preached in all the world as a witness, then the end will come.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14





JLB

hello JLB, dirtfarmer here

I agree, the heretics were teaching there was no resurrection. That was what made their belief vain.

The gospel of the kingdom that you are preaching from Matthew 24 is not the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus our savior by which believing, we are saved.

There is nothing to discuss that we have not already discussed.

 

[chessman]

25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25 NASB)

Let's repeat Heb 7:24-25 ten times. Now ask yourself; How long does Jesus live to make intercession(s) (prayers)??? Good. Always. Now you've got it.

How do people draw near to God??? Good. Through Him (who lives always to make intercession (prayers).) Good.

John 17:20-24 “And I do not ask on behalf of these only [His 11 disciples], but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word [saved people], that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory that you have given to me, I have given to them, in order that they may be one, just as we are one— I in them, and you in me, in order that they may be completed in one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me. “Father, those whom you have given to me—I want that those also may be with me where I am, in order that they may see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. ​

What things does Jesus pray/interceed for us???

That we may be complete and see His Glory and so the world may know that The Father has loved us just as He loved Jesus.

 

[chessman]

If you stop holding fast to it you lose it effectiveness for you and you cease to be saved.

Besides the fact that this passage doesn't say "you cease to be saved", you consistently misrepresent this passage's logical conditions (there are two conditionals presented rather than one). Here, I'll hightlight them for you:

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NASB) Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. ​

IF, THEN, ELSE (logical syntax):

IF you hold fast (stand firm) to what Paul preached AND you received

THEN you are saved (presently)

ELSE you believed (past tense) in vain

Therefore, logically speaking a person is NOT saved IF:
1. The person believed (past tense) something other than what Paul preached.
2. The person did not receive (past tense) what he preached (believed in vain)

This passage does NOT say 'you cease to be saved if you stop holding fast'. Which is an oxymoron (illogical) anyway. To "hold fast" literally means to stand firm (anchored and steadfast) against the currents/winds.

 

[dirtfarmer]

"Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:24-25 NASB)

'One-time, for all-time' does not mean that Christ's ministry ended for the believer, and therefore, they can stop believing in his ministry and they will still be saved by that ministry, as you are suggesting. As we can see from the above, it is essential that Christ's ministry continue for the believer. Now for that ministry to not continue one of two things has to happen: Either Christ quits the ministry and moves to Albuquerque, or the believer stops having the continuous ministry of Christ applied to them through a continuing faith.

Christ has his part covered. That's not what's in doubt here. The author of Hebrews makes that crystal clear. What is still in question here is whether or not the believer will always trust and believe in the one-time for all time sacrifice always faithfully ministering on his behalf in heaven. If they stop believing they will no longer have Christ's never-ending, faithful ministry applied to them and they will be lost. But we knew this already when Paul told the Corinthians that the condition for being presently saved was that they be presently believing (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB).

hello Jethro Bodine, dirtfarmer here

What is the difference in what you believe, that we keep our selves saved and the tabernacle in the wilderness in which sacrifices were offered? When you do all that you can do to be saved and then your conscience make you feel guilty about feeling guilty, because you wonder if you had done enough, what is left? A life of ,"if you have endured until the end you will be saved"?

Only faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can move us from "dead works". Nothing that we do can remove from the body of Christ.

If you read Hebrews 9 the earthly sanctuary had a "curtain" that separated the Holy from the Most Holy. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy place and that was only once a year and he had to have blood from a sacrifice. When Jesus Christ was on the cross, that "curtain" vail was torn from top to bottom, not from the bottom to the top, signifying that God had remove that obstacle and every one could come into his presence by the blood of Christ. In verse 14 it is stated that the blood of Christ purges our conscience from dead works.

In the Exodus from Egypt the Israelites had to apply blood to the door posts and the lintel of the door in order to be saved from the death angel, did they ever have to repeat that, or was it a once and done thing? They commemorated every year after that with the eating of the Passover lamb, but not ever applying blood to door posts and lintel ever again.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

What is the difference in what you believe, that we keep our selves saved

Where does Paul ever speak of continuing to have faith as being a work that if you think you have to do it in order to be saved you are trying to justify yourself in God's sight? Faith is in fact the very thing we are to 'do' to be justified. But somehow in the Protestant church, 'faith' got moved over to the side of 'the works of the law' that can't justify in Paul's faith vs. works for justification argument. And so when church folk hear you talk about the necessity to continue to believe to the very end to be saved in the very end they instantly call that a damnable works gospel.

Don't misunderstand, I'm not beating you up. I just know that you have been indoctrinated along with the rest of us by misguided teachers in the church that insist there is absolutely no condition whatsoever to be saved on the Day of Wrath, or else that would be a works gospel. But we can plainly see in the passage below that the condition for presently being saved is that you are presently holding fast the gospel which you heard in the beginning and were originally saved by:

"1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)

 

[Jim Parker]

Faith is in fact the very thing we are to 'do' to be justified.

From the Orthodox Study Bible note on faith (in Romans) p.1529 "For Orthodox Christians, faith is living, dynamic, continuous - never static or merely point-in-time.Faith is not something a Christian exercises only at one critical moment, expecting it to cover all the rest of his life. True faith is not just a decision, it's a way of life."

But somehow in the Protestant church, 'faith' got moved over to the side of 'the works of the law' that can't justify in Paul's faith vs. works for justification argument.

I have repeatedly seen that confusion of "works of the law" and "works" in general.
Hebrews 11 gives an overview of people who "by faith did" things.

But we can plainly see in the passage below that the condition for presently being saved is that you are presently holding fast the gospel which you heard in the beginning and were originally saved by:
"1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 NASB)

Exactly.

And Paul prescribes "works" that a believer will do if he truly has faith in Christ.
From Romans:

Rom 2:7-10 (God) will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 6:12-13 … do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Rom 12:1-2… present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Rom 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Rom 12:9-13:1 [Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Rom 13:5-8 Therefore [you] must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes [are due], customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Rom 13:13-14 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to [fulfill its] lusts

Rom 14:1-3 Receive one who is weak in the faith, [but] not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats [only] vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in [our] brother's way.

Rom 14:15-16 Yet if your brother is grieved because of [your] food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

Rom 14:19-21 Therefore let us pursue the things [which make] for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed [are] pure, but [it is] evil for the man who eats with offense. [It is] good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor [do anything] by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Rom 14:22-23 Do you have faith? Have [it] to yourself before God. Happy [is] he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin.

Rom 15:1-2 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please [his] neighbor for [his] good, leading to edification.

Rom 15:7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

And that's just Romans. He didn't stop there!

iakov the fool

 

[Jim Parker]

dirtfarmer here

Howdy Dirtfarmer!

You had mentioned the symbol over my name. The symbol is about the salvation that Jesus accomplished as described at 1 Cor 15:51-57.

The center of the symbol is a cross. It is by the cross, which tells of His sacrificial death and His resurrection, that we are saved.

The letters at the top of the symbol are IC and XC which are an abbreviation of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ." The first and last letters of the words are used to represent the words. So: "Ἰησοῦς" (Jesus) Χριστός (Christ) is abbreviated IC (Jesus) XC (Christ.)

The word at the bottom is the Greek root "NIKA". The Greek word for "victory" is "νῖκος" (NIKOS)
νῖκος refers to Jesus' victory over death.

So the symbol tells us that, by the cross, Jesus Christ has victory over death which victory is our salvation.

iakiov the fool

 

[dirtfarmer]

hello Jim Parker, dirtfarmer here

OK, thanks for the explanation. It is also a symbol of the Greek Orthodox Church.

 

[Jim Parker]

hello Jim Parker, dirtfarmer here

OK, thanks for the explanation. It is also a symbol of the Greek Orthodox Church.

It's used by all the Orthodox churches. (Greek, Russian, Romanian, Armenian, Antiochan, etc.)
The word "Greek" just tells us that the particular Orthodox church is attended primarily by Greeks and the services are probably i Greek and reflect the culture of Greece. The word "Orthodox" refers to the doctrines accepted by all Eastern Orthodox churches.

iakov the fool