Real love is the result of a lot of hard work over a long period of time. It is developed through trust and loyalty and patience, learning not to say a harsh word or even show disrespect when we are provoked. -- Eknath Easwaran, "Words to Live By," June 28
There is the hard nut to crack..."learning not to say a harsh word or even show disrespect when we are provoked." That is and has been my inner goal for lo these many years. And, hey, I can generally do that today...I can not say a harsh word or even show disrespect. That's what I call not responding in kind when I am feeling disrespected.
But the Lord has some rough road ahead if we're going to get my thoughts pacified. I was walking Ruckus this morning and my head was really chewing someone or other a new one. I was peeved and getting peeve-der.
And the situation I was peeved about has never happened...and the chances of it ever happening are slim to nil. (But s/he would do it if s/he ever thought about it, shouts my ego...it's always something with my ego.)
Clearly, that's where the bottom line pays off...the "love and laugh" line. Because when one's thinking like a butt-head, and it is so very obvious, realistically, what else can one do?
Thank you.
PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS OR SPEAKING LIES?---BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteAre those who teach the doctrine of perseverance of the saints (also know as once saved always saved) proclaiming Biblical truth or are they speaking lies in hypocrisy?
1 Timothy 4:1-3 Now the Spirit expressly says that is latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrine of demons, 2. speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (New King James Version)
The Holy Spirit says, men will fall from the faith. Calvinists and most Baptists say it is impossible to fall from grace. Is the Holy Spirit correct or are the followers of John Calvin the accurate teachers of truth?
1 Timothy 4:1 But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas.(The Living Bible-Paraphrased)
The Holy Spirit tells us that church members will turn from Christ. The Holy Spirit does not believe in once saved always saved.
Unsaved people cannot apostatize from the faith. Only Christians can fall from grace.
1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teaching of demons.(Darby Translation)
The nemesis of Calvinists who advocate perseverance of the saints is the Bible. Without believing the written words of John Calvin and other men, there is no support for the doctrine of once saved always saved.
1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit says clearly that in later times believers will desert the Christian faith. They will follow spirits that deceive, and they will believe the teaching of demons. (God's Word Translation)
Are those who believe the doctrine of perseverance of the saints believing the truth taught in the Bible or are they being deceived by the teaching of demons?
1 Timothy 4:1-2 God's Spirit specifically tell us that in later days there will be men who abandon the true faith and allow themselves to be spiritually seduced by teachings of the devil, teaching given by men who are lying hypocrites, whose consciences are dead as seared flesh.(The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips)
Is the Holy Spirit a hypocritical liar when He says men will abandon the true faith? False Christians cannot abandon a faith they never have experienced. Only true Christians can abandon their faith. Can an atheist abandon being a atheist if he never was an atheist? Of course not.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the later times people will stop believing the faith. They will follow spirits that lie and teaching of demons.(New Century Version)
If the Holy Spirit says Christians will fall from the faith, then who is telling you that Christians are once saved always saved? Who is telling Christians they can never be lost?
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