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Amen. :)

BJ: The spiritual experience. Respectfully, Learner

Dear Readers I personally have found great value in the following statements of Paul, as they indicate a reality that cannot be overlooked in contemplating a definition of a Christian:- * In his very first letter, that is, when no other (New Testament) “scriptures” existed as the “Word of...

Dear Everyone in Christ, Please allow me this indulgence. While writing my previous post, I ran a hot bath. When I left the computer, as per habit I randomly selected a book from the shelf to read from---to soak in. I opened on this very paragraph (italics mine): “Respectful listening and...

Dear Caimanson, I was not aware that I was desperately defending the resurrection due to a deep-seated uncertainty about it---so I'll consider that and reflect on that some more. I thought I was simply expressing my current understanding about the topic of the thread. As you seem to have an...

I understand what y'all are saying to me. Thank you. I would, however, point to the fact, as confirmed by some here, that Jesus' teachings were not really new, and therefore could not be the prime motivation that made the wannabe martyrs so zealous. And if it were not the teachings, or the...

Dear Readers and Writers, I have read through the whole thread in its entirety for the first time this evening, and while there is this whiff of clean start/fresh air, I might take up discussing the topic again, that asks if the resurrection of Jesus Christ was an historical event. Perhaps...

Dear all, Thank you for your various responses. I find it most uncomfortable being in the box (witness stand), but, of course, we may be called upon to be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us at any time, in any setting. I wonder if hope, or love, can also be...

Dear Alvaro, I appreciate you asking, but I am not sure that it is appropriate to answer on this thread (not on topic). Not that I see anybody else ever having to explain themselves, or that the guidelines as set forth by the one whose house this is, is clearly understood by all. We are all...

Alas! The learner has leprosy! Really, wil--yes, I am. Do you mean, on the matter, "What defines a Christian?" . It seems I have offended and transgressed by offering what I see as the very essence of what/who would define a Christian, and I did so as a "liberal" Christian. What makes me...

Dear cavalier, I am a Christian. From that certainty I have in no uncertain terms stated: * The Lord Christ would surely know His own; * Those who share His Spirit would recognize one another as being in Him, and also recognize those of a contrary spirit, if allowed by the Lord (that is...

Please accept that I am far too weak to supply you with adequate, satisfactory answers. The contrary spirit I referred to was one that was contrary to the holiness/ godliness that a faithful and true life in the Spirit of Good and Truth would bring about in the person's spiritual "condition."...

cavalier Your own experience should confirm to you that the Teacher's terms are simple: "Believe in Me, believe my teachings, and do them (then you'll know them as the Truth and the Truth will set you free); deny yourself, and love one another as I have loved you." Since it is a spiritual...

In considering what (or who) defines a Christian one should look at three possibilities: Christians who are called that by others; those that call themselves Christians; and those who would be considered Christians by Christ Jesus. "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (Acts...

I will respect that. Thank you. Learner

Good reflection, Dondi. :) The picture on the box always indicates the pattern. The pattern we should seek is not the deck of cards already in hand. We are to seek that pattern from beyond ourselves, from the revelation (glimpse) of the heavenly pattern as expressed in both earth...

Re: Jesus, Christ et all. Dear Readers and Writers, I once had the opportunity to build a very large picture puzzle, depicting a scene of an olde English country garden, containing a myriad of flowers. Of course, you know how one starts to build a puzzle: you select all the easy-to-identify...

Dear Friends, In my part of the world, (academic) theologians who began to write about their new liberal or progressive views on the need to reinterpret Biblical doctrine in view of scientific knowledge available to us, were soon forced to resign from their churches, and before long...

Indeed, Dondi. The NT book known as the Acts of the Apostles might as well be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. It is the account of real men taking the message into the real world, simply armed with the conviction of their hearts and the words of their mouths. And this Spirit-directed...

Nowadays, when I see a youngster flaunting a cigarette, and I feel it appropriate to caution him in a friendly manner, I would point to a car, and ask, "Do you see that car? If you see smoke coming from the engine, don't you agree that it indicates a problem?" Then I would point to a house, and...