tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post4127622711512042900..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Jesus is the door: what do these famous testimonies reveal about their understanding of Christ?Elizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-45760458309501982642015-11-24T15:46:30.261-05:002015-11-24T15:46:30.261-05:00Don and to whom it may concern,
You write:
“I am ...Don and to whom it may concern,<br /><br />You write:<br />“I am not sure if God's invisible attributes talked of in Romans 1 would be enough understanding of God to get one to turn to Him or not. What would be your take on this?”<br /><br />My response:<br />Men and women have an innate knowledge of God, but the absolute vast majority still shun God and live wicked lives. These same people will worship false gods of their own makings, and will pursue anything which makes them feel good - what a deception, and they are given over to a reprobate mind (good for NOTHING!)!<br /><br />As I believe it was John MacArthur that said, “ if people would respond to the light that they do have, then the Lord God would reveal more Truth”. Bottom line - people MUST hear Biblical Truth, AND it IS the Holy Spirit ALONE that will give one “repentance and belief in Jesus Christ!<br /><br />In regards to Billy Graham, and perhaps some other frauds as well. I believe that they have preached enough truth - but mixed in with lies and deception, that God has used in order that His elect would be saved.<br /><br />“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.”<br />Philippians 1:15 ESV<br /><br />Glad to have read you follow up comment. Stay in the Bible daily Don, and thank you for your testimony!<br /><br /><br /><br />Rick : > )<br />Metro Atlanta<br /><br /><br />PS, Without the gospel (Biblical TRUTH) and the drawing of the Holy Spirit, nobody could or would be saved!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-87748588656249198642015-11-22T23:33:46.703-05:002015-11-22T23:33:46.703-05:00Evidence that both people involved are saved: disc...Evidence that both people involved are saved: discernment and grace -- truth in love. <br /><br />That's encouraging to me more than all the perfect a priori agreement in the world.Hakam Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10114741274619345717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-33837879662381521322015-11-21T20:38:28.533-05:002015-11-21T20:38:28.533-05:00"The preaching we had was always based on the..."The preaching we had was always based on the assumption that we were all Christians"<br /><br />This sort of thing galls me. I'm a fan of qualifying my statements, and so unqualified statements to an audience, when there is no logical requirement that they all belong to one category which may be addressed the same way, is to cause confusion.Hakam Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10114741274619345717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-26731552882840693912015-11-21T10:57:13.219-05:002015-11-21T10:57:13.219-05:00Thank you for this insightful piece. I have purch...Thank you for this insightful piece. I have purchased and watched the Logic on Fire! film about Dr. Lloyd-Jones, and it is wonderful. Your quote from Dr. Lloyd-Jones sums up my experience exactly: "For many years I thought I was a Christian when in fact I was not. It was only later that I came to see that I had never been a Christian and became one." Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-20558050992180293802015-11-19T13:34:20.102-05:002015-11-19T13:34:20.102-05:00I apologize, one would need to have to have a rudi...I apologize, one would need to have to have a rudimentary understanding of the Word which gives one at least a crude understanding of who God is in order to realize that they need to repent. I am not sure if God's invisible attributes talked of in Romans 1 would be enough understanding of God to get one to turn to Him or not. What would be your take on this? Therefore I was not being precise enough and assuming that most have heard the bare bones gospel or know that they need to turn to God for forgiveness. Without the Gospel being put forth from the start of the church, we would not know who to turn to. I was thinking of sitting more under active preaching at the time of one's repentance when this was written. I can only speak of my own conversion. I knew of Christ and the cross and the bare bones gospel from my childhood but it had no effect on me whatsoever for over 40 years. During a family crisis, I turned to God and begged Him for forgiveness for several days before He made it known to me that I was right with Him. I was not looking for the gift of eternal life or trying to avoid hell, I just wanted Him to forgive me. He gave that gift to me, I did not ask for it nor was I looking for it. It was a gift. It is funny how you mention Billy Graham. When I made my testimony known to a group who follows his form of evangelism, they told me I could not get to heaven that way. I needed to repeat their prayer. Did I believe His word after I was converted, absolutely. The Lord's words are His Fathers words and His words are eternal life. In order to be His disciple, we must continue in His word. His words are the foundation of anything we do. They supersede any work He has us doing. If we are not listening to Him, our works are in vain. Did His words make a difference to me before? Probably not as I don't even know if I opened a Bible more than once or twice before that. I guess the question would be then how much does one need to believe and or have knowledge of in order to repent or be turned. Probably not much, but probably some. It is always good to remember what went forth from Christ's early church(Acts 1:8) and continues to do so through the word they wrote which is now proclaimed. Thank you for reminding me of this. I would not call "begging God for mercy" a work or equate it with what goes on at most modern crusades and alter calls however where man often claims sovereignty over the Spirit. I will try and be more precise and see the whole picture in my future diatribes. thanks again, donAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-86220845353505860282015-11-18T17:02:11.043-05:002015-11-18T17:02:11.043-05:00Concerning a statement made by the first commenter...Concerning a statement made by the first commenter identified as Anonymous<br /><br />You write, “A person may also turn to God and beg Him for mercy without preaching or and understanding of His word.”<br /><br />What is your authority in making such a statement?<br /><br />I seriously question your statement. In fact, I will go as far as saying that this view violates sound Biblical doctrine. <br /><br /><br /><br />1Brothers,a my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.b<br />The Message of Salvation to All<br />5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?c And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.<br /><br />Romans 10: 1-17 ESV<br /><br />As preachers, teachers, bloggers, genuine Christians, evangelist (or you could say soul winners too) KNOW and GET OUT Biblical Truth - which includes the solemn warnings of the doctrine of hell, sin, judgment, eternal death, repentance, and grace alone, faith alone, Jesus Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, THEN God will save those whom HE will. <br /><br />To say that “ A person may also turn to God and beg Him for mercy without preaching or and understanding of His word.” is in harmony with the Billy Graham deceptions, and seriously undermines the authority of scripture. People must hear the Biblical TRUTH!<br /><br />YES, it is the Holy Spirit that gives one repentance and belief in the Jesus of the Bible, but through HIS WORD.<br /><br /><br />Rick<br />Metro Atlanta<br /><br /><br /><br />PS, One can not build a case for not hearing the Biblical gospel by using the parable of <br />..the tax collector in Luke 18, verse 13.<br /><br />Further reading: Question: "What is the meaning of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector?"<br /><br />Excerpt:<br />Answer: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Temple (Luke 18:9-14) is rich with spiritual truth. In fact, it contains the very essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As verse 9 tells us, Jesus spoke this parable to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others” (NKJV). Jesus spoke often of the issue of righteousness, pleading with His hearers to understand their utter inability to be righteous enough to attain the kingdom of heaven. This knowledge was essential if they were to understand His mission on earth, which was to save sinners—those who knew they could not save themselves. Continue reading at;<br />http://www.gotquestions.org/parable-Pharisee-tax-collector.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-16270799837558032692015-11-18T08:30:15.621-05:002015-11-18T08:30:15.621-05:00Interesting that adult Beth's "call"...Interesting that adult Beth's "call" was to ministry, not to Jesus Christ. No mention of her sin or her repentance or her trust in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. And that even though she considered herself saved from her childhood, she describes herself at that time as "troubled."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-31470741914479305082015-11-18T07:07:55.622-05:002015-11-18T07:07:55.622-05:00Absolutely! Itis all of God. And well said.
I'...Absolutely! Itis all of God. And well said.<br /><br />I'm just sad that Moore and Graham's testimony in latter years, when they'd been matured supposedly,failed to acknowledge anything close to what you have rightly said.Elizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-89020043121542037082015-11-18T06:52:06.165-05:002015-11-18T06:52:06.165-05:00It has long been doctrine that the preaching of th...It has long been doctrine that the preaching of the gospel is the means to lead a person to repentance. This is true, but it is also true that repentance leads a man to believe the gospel. See Mark 1:15 . Can God only save a person through preaching? If we look closely at the parable of the sower, we see the 'good soil' is actually a soil prepared by the Father ( Matthew 13:8,23 ). Remember 'I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser (John 15:1 ). Also 'No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him' (John 6:44 ). A good way to recognize true repentance is if one listens to Him. This theme is repeated throughout the book of John. There are many places in His word that may convict a person of sin and drive a person to repentance. A person may also turn to God and beg Him for mercy without preaching or and understanding of His word. God has the power to do these things! We do not! Without the cross none of this would be possible and everything else would have had to die except God Himself. This is why God could only do this with Himself, no other sacrifice would save anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com