Mike.

What does it mean that we are saved by his grace through faith?

Does it mean that by his grace through faith we are made perfect and sinless or does it mean that by his grace he saved us through faith even we are not perfect and not sinless?

In His love

James S.

Tom, we should stop sinning because sin is the root of all human misery and unrest, and it caused the death of Jesus on the Cross. To stop sinning all we have to do is experience the miracle of rebirth and stay connected to Jesus.

James, both. We are born again without our former defective traits of character.

Then I am definitely not born again. I will say some bad words when I get really angry at some things that are beyond comprehension, and that is not what a Christian does.

God Bless,
Will

An interesting question was asked in our Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide under Tuesday, October 6th.

quote:

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What needs to happen witin us, to the other "powers" within us, in order to truly follow the Lord as we should?

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As I was teaching that particular class, I asked another most interesting and most revealing question: "How many of us are true followers of Jesus Christ?"

Nobody raised their hands, however, the discussion that followed revealed that nobody felt they were a true follower of Jesus Christ.

Why would practically everybody there give the impression that they are not true followers of Jesus Christ?

What needs to be done to turn that impression around?

I beleive this confusion of whether or not we are true followers of Christ could be at the root of this Conversion Controversy topic.

Could this also be the reason why our church is in such a Laodicean state?

If you ask the question, "Are you a true follower of Christ?" that question is likely to be interpreted as, "Are you like Christ in every aspect?" No one will answer that question yes. If you ask the question like this, "Do you really believe the teachings of Christ are true?" then you'd be likely to get a lot of yes answers.

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Edited to remove my own last previously quoted post. Looks like I may need to remove the quoting feature once again. - Daryl

[ October 10, 2004, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Tom,

Wasn't it Christ Himself who said on more than one occasion for one or more people to follow Him?

Wasn't He asking each one of them to become true followers of Him?

I suppose it's the word "true" that causes the trouble. Christ called ordinary men to follow Him from normal occupations such as fishermen, accountants (so to speak) and so on. So He calls us. He calls everyone. Whosoever will may come. So in the sense that anyone who hears His voice and responds to His invitation, that person is a follower of Christ.

I suppose a "true" follower would be one who truly follows. This is where the problem of the word "true" comes in, as it carries the implication to many of being like Christ in every respect, and no undeluded person will say that.

How about if we ask this question, "Has Christ called us to follow Him?" That question we can answer yes. And here's a follow up, "If we answer that call, will He turn us away?"

I think it's good, very good, for us to learn to frame questions and issues so that they are not centered on us.

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Quote of my previous post removed. The quote a post feature has also been suspended once again. - Daryl

[ October 11, 2004, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]

Let me ask another similar queston that was asked by one of our campmeeting speakers a few years ago:

How many of you have the assurance of salvation? Please raise your hands.

In an auditorium of about 1,000 people, hardly anybody raised their hands.

Could this almost nil response also be the reason for this Conversion Controversy?

How about this question, "Do you believe that God wants you to be saved?" And follow up, "Do you believe God will save you if you don't persitently resist His efforts?"

The Spirit of Prophesy has a quote in reference to the fellow that wanted Christ to heal his son who said, in response to Christ's remarks, "If you can believe, anything is possible to him that believeth" "I believe. Lord, help Thou my unbelief" She said that if will pray this prayer, we will never perish, never. (She repeated the never).

That's not too much to ask, is it?

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Removed quote of my previous post. - Daryl

[ October 11, 2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]