I understand them because the first thing God did was send the Holy Spirit to provide me a new heart, making me capable of understanding spiritual things. It is with that heart, and the continued presence and guidance of the Spirit that I understand scripture. It was with that heart, through the Spirit that I understood that I am a sinner. I was the same gift, by the grace of God that I repent, etc., etc., etc....
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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The order of events in one's salvation.("ordo salutis")
- Thread starter Cygnus
- Start date
I understand them because the first thing God did was send the Holy Spirit to provide me a new heart, making me capable of understanding spiritual things. It is with that heart, and the continued presence and guidance of the Spirit that I understand scripture. It was with that heart, through the Spirit that I understood that I am a sinner. I was the same gift, by the grace of God that I repent, etc., etc., etc....
Christ_empowered
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We're not going to resolve this thru online debate, lol. To me, the big thing about being saved is that...well, I'm saved. I'm inclined to think that regeneration precedes faith because of my own salvation experience and also my upbringing (PCUSA), but...I'm no theologian. The theologians don't even agree.
- Apr 22, 2011
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God draws us to Him by that of Jesus and His finished works on the cross, John 6:44. Faith says yes we do believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we are sinners needing Gods forgiveness and that only comes by Gods grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8. Faith according to Hebrews 11:1 is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith says I can only hope at first until it is revealed to me by the Spiritual rebirth/renewal of my inner man until I gain Spiritual knowledge to understand in full why Jesus died for me.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee taught under the teachings of the prophets in the OT but like all the Pharisees he too had no Spiritual understanding and after hearing what seemed to be strange teachings to him he asked Jesus how could these things be, pertaining to the rebirth. Jesus ask him since he was a master or another word a priest of the Temple why he could not understand that of the rebirth as it was taught by the prophets. Nicodemus then by faith became Spiritually reborn again, but had to hide it from the other Pharisees as he feared what they might do to him.
- Apr 22, 2011
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This is a discussion and debate forum so what can one expect, but discussion and debating as long as no one gets
and reba has to bring out the 
. There will always be confusion and indifference's, but the common factor is that we love the LORD and one another.How did the natural man understand Jesus works? We agree that he doesn't understand spiritual things.
Whether we understand "it is the gift of God" to refer to grace or faith, that faith that "says yes" is still expressing an understanding of spiritual things; which the natural man can't do.
I see nothing in the grammar to indicate that there is a hierarchy of the substance and evidence. Faith is both of these things, with no indication that one depends upon the other in time or logic. If one has faith it is the substance of his hope; if one has faith it is evidence of things that can not be seen.
So my question remains; what is that which creates:
understanding of Jesus works,
faith that says yes,
the substance of hope,
the evidence of things not seen?
It is that which God uses to draw. And that is that which has drawn everyone who has, does, or ever will believe; it is a new heart given by God through the Holy Spirit. And that is what makes a new man, a regenerated man.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee taught under the teachings of the prophets in the OT but like all the Pharisees he too had no Spiritual understanding and after hearing what seemed to be strange teachings to him he asked Jesus how could these things be, pertaining to the rebirth. Jesus ask him since he was a master or another word a priest of the Temple why he could not understand that of the rebirth as it was taught by the prophets. Nicodemus then by faith became Spiritually reborn again, but had to hide it from the other Pharisees as he feared what they might do to him. [/QUOTE]
Do we know that none of the Pharisees have spiritual understanding? What about Paul? Sounds like a new thread to me.
Amen again!This is a discussion and debate forum so what can one expect, but discussion and debating as long as no one gets
I don't really know Reba like you guys do; Is she mean, or is she as nice as my first impression indicates? I'm going with the nice side.
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AirDancer
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Malachi
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If this is indeed the case, and every creature must believe since God desires the salvation of "the whole world", then the whole world would be regenerated in order to receive the gift of faith. And that is patently false. The truth is "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:17). The spiritual gift of faith is entirely another matter.
I bet she has a 3" thick foam pad she wraps around that thing.She's a sweetheart! Don't let that rolling pin cause you to think otherwise
AirDancer
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Well....actually, no. It's solid marble.
However, she's not actually clobbered anyone with it........as yet!
WOW! ... Thanks for the heads-up.
That will certainly add an extra note of nice in my posts.
smaller
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Acts 14:27
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
God is "supposed" to be "active" in the members. Showing Himself So, therein, and uniquely so to every member, because every member is in fact a unique part of Him.
Even if/when we don't see this, it remains true. Some may term this the invisible church, but in reality it's the Invisible Spirit of Christ in us, our hope of glory. The Head orders the parts, regardless of their perceptions of that activity. My arm has no awareness of my mind telling it to move, as far as I can tell.
We might have some confidence knowing that we are not necessarily "in charge" of the "collective" body. And who wants that Seat anyway? I certainly don't have that kind of power, nor would I want it. Would anyone give up their bodies functions to their little toe on the left foot? Probably not a good idea. Even if the little left toe had that fallacy of doing so it would be meaningless and can't happen because it's not put together that way. As soon as the MIND said otherwise, it would perform as it was meant to do.
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
God is "supposed" to be "active" in the members. Showing Himself So, therein, and uniquely so to every member, because every member is in fact a unique part of Him.
Even if/when we don't see this, it remains true. Some may term this the invisible church, but in reality it's the Invisible Spirit of Christ in us, our hope of glory. The Head orders the parts, regardless of their perceptions of that activity. My arm has no awareness of my mind telling it to move, as far as I can tell.
We might have some confidence knowing that we are not necessarily "in charge" of the "collective" body. And who wants that Seat anyway? I certainly don't have that kind of power, nor would I want it. Would anyone give up their bodies functions to their little toe on the left foot? Probably not a good idea. Even if the little left toe had that fallacy of doing so it would be meaningless and can't happen because it's not put together that way. As soon as the MIND said otherwise, it would perform as it was meant to do.
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She's a great lady with a heart for the Lord. Since she is one of the moderators her job is to keep harmony between all of us when the replies get heated. That's why we use the rolling pin, LOL
AirDancer
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Malachi
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There's no contradiction. There is saving faith and then there is the spiritual *gift* of faith (which not all will receive).
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (1 Cor 12:7-9).
Malachi
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Do you really think that this is all so complicated? Terms can only be defined as used in Scripture, and frequently worldly definitions fail. *Regeneration* is foreign to the world and world religions, and it is only Christ who proclaims it as an imperative: "Ye MUST be born again".
Abraham believed God and THEN it was imputed to him for righteousness. We must first believe (1) God, (2) Christ, (3) Scripture, and (4) the Gospel, in order to receive imputed righteousness. And when we receive imputed righteousness we are justified, and when we are justified we receive the New Birth. That's the meaning of "saved through faith" (Eph 2:8).