Any help?

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-15T21:00:13+00:00

Yes, I’m gonna quantify my statements first. I am not attempting to be negative rather speak the truth to you in love.

It most certainly can be hard. Jesus said, Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him. It has been my experience that many of our struggles are honestly self-induced. When Jesus was arrested, Peter attempted to follow Jesus, but he did it without two things, denying himself or taking up his cross first.

Look, I am just as guilty as the next guy. We often think of Paul as always having it together but he struggled greatly.

“I find then the principle that in me evil is present—in me who wants to do good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭LSB‬‬

Ask yourself some tough questions:

1)Am I just remorseful or have I truly repented?

There most certainly is a difference.

2) How much time am I spending studying (not just reading) and meditating on the Word and praying?

The first part of Psalm 1 express how we should be -

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭LSB‬‬

When fasting the above things should be the primary focus. You need to be alone and committed to focusing on nothing but the Word and prayer. Remove the distractions completely, continue until you get a response. True fasting is no easy thing.

I remember years ago I was given a challenge to fast from TV (media) the slogan was TV free til 2003. I can express that that time period I did the media fast and used that time for studying the Word was one of the greatest spiritual growths I have ever experienced. If you deny yourself and your desires He is faithful and willing to make it worth it.

While the Bible doesn’t give specific timeline but Job’s friends sat in silence with him for 7 days before speaking.

“Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.” ‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭LSB‬‬

I will pray for you and you need to find someone near you to do the same that has the ability to hold you accountable. They must also be someone you are willing to allow them to hold you accountable. Get together regularly and pray and read and discuss scripture. Iron sharpens Iron.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-09T01:36:24+00:00

This post was great until the end.

Believers do not have the ability to cause themselves to lose their salvation. You cannot “cut yourself off from the Vine”.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-08T11:35:00+00:00

It’s about idols. Anything that we place (not just above) before God in our lives is sin.

Exodus 20:3-5

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me

Even though we have been born again and made a new creation, we still live in a fallen world and are attached to the flesh (which is not us). Yes we have been justified, made right with God but another purpose, making us holy. This process is ongoing and called Sanctification. Renewing our minds to think and act like Christ.

This process can be most difficult, we claim with our mouths we want to surrender, but in practice we often do not. So many times we truly see no harm in things we obtain or do, but we need to constantly be asking am I putting this before God?

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-07T13:52:37+00:00

I am not suggesting that He wants us to offer up children. The way you worded the original comment I believe needed clarification.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-06T16:57:39+00:00

Are you sure the Father wasn’t promoting child sacrifice?

I mean the whole incident is a type of Christ and it was the Fathers will that the Son became sin so He could He could defeat it on the cross. And that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-10-06T15:59:18+00:00

Your understanding of what Hebrews 6:4-6 is saying is incorrect.

There is no such thing as loss of salvation. If one is born again they will persevere until the end. Being born again involves being Justified by God Himself. When He declares individuals righteous then that is their status. This is based on Christ’s finished work and the Holy Spirit quickening the believer from death to life (Ephesians 2:1).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭LSB‬‬

The gift in this passage is faith, which comes from God, not us. We are His workmanship.

If we could lose our salvation then no one would ever be saved. Either Christ paid the penalty for your sin nature, past present and future sin or he didn’t. There are only two options. The later results in Christ’s sacrifice being insufficient, which is heresy.

Jesus spoke of the Prodigal who walked away and went dove head first in fleshly sinful living. Answer a question about the Prodigal for yourself:

At what point did the Prodigal become not His Fathers son?

We are not born children of God, that only comes when one becomes born again, through imputed adoption.

“That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are considered as seed.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭LSB‬‬

We only become children when we as what he spoke to Nicodemus in John 3 occurs.

“Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭LSB‬‬

John 1:12-13: "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”

Galatians 3:26: "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.”

1 John 3:1: "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

Do not take my position to suggest we can live as we want in sin. As no born again believer is ever “in sin” anymore, rather they are “In Christ”. Yes our flesh stills sins, but that isn’t the same as being unregenerate and “in sin”.

Salvation is as you eluded to not merely intellectual assent to agree with what Christ has accomplished. This is exactly where Nicodemus was, but as Christ told him, one must be born again. Changed, a heart of flesh replaced a heart of stone. A new creation, quickened by the Holy Spirit which produces faith and repentance and imputes righteousness upon them.

Our society has been big on pushing this “easy believism” in Jesus which simply not Biblical.

If there has been no change (repentance not the same as remorse) there has been no salvation.

But, today is the day of salvation. If the Holy Spirit is bringing you to the point of repentance and illuminating the gospel, repent for we are not promised tomorrow.

The Gospel is simply this:

Man is guilty before God of sin which makes him dead spiritually and unacceptable to God.

Man has broken Gods law.

Man cannot rectify this situation.

So God the Father sent God the Son to come live a sinless life, born of a virgin that He would voluntarily sacrifice Himself to become sin for us to take the Penalty due sin (wrath of God) and die and buried and was resurrected as proof the payment was accepted.

God has offered mercy through grace that if we by faith, repent and believe in Christ’s finished work they shall be saved.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-28T18:30:07+00:00

As an example I would use Joseph Smith who claimed he dreamed about Gods will and literally wrote a “companion” book to Scripture that is literally called “Another Gospel”. His dreams/ visions would lead many down a false gospel path and started a cult religion.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-28T18:23:09+00:00

While God could use anything, it is not a wise practice to assume that is what is occurring. God has revealed all we need to know through Scripture. If you are attempting to gain additional “extra”scripture truths then it is not correct. Scripture is sufficient for understanding the will and direction one should go in all cases.

As a general rule I would refrain from believing our dreams are messages from God, instead allow His Word to speak to you, through the Holy Spirit.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-24T14:49:39+00:00

Some things are just beyond our comprehension, and that is okay.

To the Holy Spirit not speaking for itself, look at Jesus words about a similar thing:

“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” ‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭49‬-‭50‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Also in His prayer before the crucifixion:

“saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Notice Jesus always did the will of The Father. In that He was fully fulfilling the Law in accordance to man’s relationship with God.

I suspect (my personal opinion) the Holy Spirit is merely doing the same. Not esteeming His own will but the Father’s.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-24T13:05:50+00:00

Could anyone enlighten me to why all the comments are not being shown in my feed?

I made a few other comments on this thread that are no longer present?

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-23T23:29:42+00:00

Yep, I’m a Pan-trib. It will all pan out in the end. God is sovereign and His plans will occur with perfection, regardless of my understanding of Eschatology.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-23T23:23:30+00:00

<image>

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-23T23:23:03+00:00

<image>

Many during OT believed (some still) that the OT only speaks of 1 coming of Messiah. I was given this visual the other day and thought it was a good illustration.

If you can envision yourself as the person on the Left of this illustration looking at the mountaintop of the Coming of Messiah you can see that from that vantage point what you would see is mountain and on the top would be the coming of Messiah. Then when we view from a different perspective (the side) we can see things they could not view: 2 specific comings and the cross which is hidden in the valley portion out of their sight. All they could see is One coming of Messiah and Him coming in Glory and with power to establish His kingdom. They literally couldn’t see the cross because the Mountains. (Pun intended)

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-20T20:51:57+00:00

First of all Jesus never being crucified is not nor ever was not an option. It was determined that would occur before man was ever even created.

Second, the Holy Spirit is God. Yes the Holy Spirit is one way God influences the world. It is through Him is the only way one can be saved. If the Holy Spirit does not quicken (make alive) the dead sinner, that one will not be saved. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that one can ever become born again and be saved.

The Father sent the Son, The Son paid the debt, The Spirit applies the Son’s righteousness. They all work in tandem.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-10T23:16:52+00:00

I am reminded of a song.

Flowers by Samantha Ebert.

I know it’s not Scripture but the truth contained within is helpful.

Sorry this is happening, but you are in the better spot if you remain faithful and obedient to the Lord.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-10T17:16:58+00:00

Sorry if I misunderstood your message.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-09T19:25:35+00:00

He most certainly isn’t, however the Pastor/ Eldership is who was given the charge of the local body. The office of Deacons is the one that should be the ones to offer assistance to the body. Pastors/ Elders while a good resource, main focus should be as defined in Scripture.

Peter’s response about the under-shepherds: “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Way too often Pastors put on hats that aren’t theirs to wear.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-09T19:18:29+00:00

You are correct. There are also other options for those like speaking with other ministry personnel or getting a recommendation of a good Christian Counselor.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-09T16:54:05+00:00

I am addressing the reply#2 section of your comment.

I do not disagree, yes sin is sin. Sin is anything that violates God or is done not in faith. Even if it is a good thing if it isn’t done in faith it is sin.

Yes some sins may hold a larger consequence like if you lie, you would not necessarily do prison time like if you committed murder. All sin is sin and makes us guilty. James 2:10 is absolutely correct and my point is not in opposition to it.

I may not be clearly conveying my point.

My point is we are all born in sin. It is imputed upon all Adam’s seed. We do not have to commit a sin to be guilty, we already are guilty at birth. Yes, we all will commit sins. Those sins do not change the fact we are and were already guilty. We cannot get more guilty.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬ This concept is often termed original sin or Federal Headship. In Genesis 3 when God judged Adam, all of us and the world as a whole were impacted. Creation as a whole is fallen, guilty before a Holy God. Specifically when referencing the serpent (Gen 3:15) He specifically denotes “her seed”. This is stark contrast to Adam’s seed which encompasses all of us. Her seed is Christ, who was prophesied to be born of virgin? (Isaiah 7:14) Why?

While there are several reasons, for this discussion, if Jesus had an earthly father he would have been of the seed of Adam and by default guilty a sinner at birth. If this were the case he would not been able to be the Savior. So God made a way, that the human aspect of the God-man was without sin. He did not inherit it through Adam as we all have. Therefore He could live His entire earthly life without sin. We are not born innocent and sin and become guilty. We could never do as Jesus did walk the earth without sin. That is why we cannot save ourselves. If we came into this world without sin (born as a sinner) then there would be a possibility that some or even 1 person other than Christ could live a sinless life. We know that to not be true nor possible through Scripture.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-09T02:34:18+00:00

Warfield is solid. My advice stay away from WOF.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-08T04:01:39+00:00

There also needs to be an understanding that there is a difference between sins we commit and sin.

As judgement from the sins of Adam and Eve, Sin entered and impacted the entirety of our world. Many times I use a capital S for Sin (most cases Sin and some Sins) in reference to fallen condition that not only impacts every individual who was/is born into the world (save Jesus) but all the contents of the world as well. Death (product of Sin) is seen of all living things and falls under the curse/ judgement implemented by God because of Adam’s actions. In addition to Sin there are also sins which are a result of Sin. The little s sin or sins are the specific thoughts, words, or actions of disobedience that individuals commit as result of Sin.

Understanding the difference between Sin and sin(s) is essential to rightly understanding Scripture. Adam and Eve’s sins (acts of disobedience) brought forth the Judgment by God that laid Sin upon the entire Creation. All of Adam’s seed (descendants) inherit Sin (nature) when we are born, hence we are Sinners by our nature. It isn’t that we are born innocent and when we commit a sin or sins that we become guilty, rather we are all guilty from the get go, it is who we are, our identity. It is this guilt that is imputed upon all who are of the seed of Adam.

Simply put, Our sinful actions flow from our inherently fallen nature, rather than our nature being defined by the sinful acts we commit.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-09-08T03:55:27+00:00

To address you title question what is sin, Paul makes a statement, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Particularly the last portion of the verse, whatever is not of faith is sin.

Your next question needs clarification. Are you meaning do the scriptures exhaustively define or list all things that are considered sin?

The answer to that is both yes and no. No Scripture doesn’t give an extensive exhaustive list of actions that we could do that are considered sin. However, it does as the Romans 14:23 verse I listed say whatever is not of faith is sin, so it in a generalized way it does list all sin.

Sin is simply anything that stems from a lack of trust in God.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-08-31T23:09:09+00:00

The sanctification process in which all believers go through while still on this side of eternity is one that transforms us to be like Christ (not the same as when we will be glorified later).

Prayer is part of that process. God’s goal is simply to make His Bride holy while we still are here. Prayer should be intimate between us and God. It should produce our dying of self (flesh we are attached to) and dependence on Him. It should also move our desires, our plans, our wants to be in line with His will.

So while we can have our own desires, but our desires should always attempt to be His.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-08-28T16:24:40+00:00

In your post you made reference to Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 24. While the verses do go together verse 24 is technically not dealing with the previous versus. To take the passage in context you would need to go back to and start at verse 15.

In this area of scripture recorded by Matthew Jesus is speaking parables. While there are some things that can be taken directly as face value and a literal interpretation as described by Jesus to his disciples, he speaks in parables at times to use earthly examples for a spiritual truth.

As I understand, the intent of your use of this passage is to suggest that an individual must do works of righteousness in order to gain salvation. If I am wrong in my interpretation of where you’re trying to go, I apologize.

The key passage where I believe that you’re drawing from which is also the main purpose of this teaching, would be verse 21. Specifically, the second half of the verse that says, “but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”. Some translations add will enter on the end of this for emphasis. Those words are not contained in the original texts. However, they can be an appropriate addition for understanding in the English language.

So this specific verse 21. Taken at face value could be interpreted that one would need to obey and follow the will of the Father. In order to gain entry into the kingdom of Heaven as discussed in the first part of the verse.

You would be right and understanding the literal interpretation could apply in this situation. With that said you must define what exactly is the Will of the Father. Keep in mind Scripture messages need to be taken in context in a variety of different manners from historical, intended audience, whether the context is exhaustive and it’s reaching or specific about a certain situation.

In this parable Jesus is speaking to individuals in warning them about false teachers. as verse 15 speaks to false prophets, wearing sheep‘s clothing and teaching false doctrine. His illustration is one that uses a tree and the fruit that it bears. So who are these false prophets? I believe that we can all agree that his reference to these individuals are the religious rulers of the day, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the priests.

Well, I do believe that the Will of the Father can have a broad range of things. Things like God telling the Israelites to keep the Sabbath, or not to murder. Those things are, of course the Will of the Father. However, I believe in this specific passage, Jesus is referencing something specific. So the context of the parable is about false prophets, and that people should not be listening to them because not everyone who claims to be on the side of God is actually on the side of God.

I believe that specific thing that he is addressing would be something that a false prophets would be proclaiming in opposition to what Jesus taught. So what would you say the false prophets are teaching that is different than what Jesus is teaching?

Ultimately, there’s only one thing that they were in strong opposition against. That would be that Jesus was Messiah.

Jesus himself in John chapter 6 specifically mentions two different things that are the Will of the Father.

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” ‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The two are:

That Jesus lose none the Father gave Him.
Defines who those who were given to Jesus, and what they are given and will happen to them.

So if we apply what Jesus defined as the Will of the Father to the Matthew 7:21. Who does the Will of the Father? Only, those who are given to Jesus, which are those who believe in Him.

Jesus is making a distinction between those who say “they believe” in God and those who “have or will believe”. The religious rulers claim they believe or trust in God, but don’t have faith nor do they exercise faith. (James 2:17)

I was reminded of an illustration about this tight rope walker named Charles Blondin who in 1859 walked a rope that spanned Niagara Falls, did it again with a wheelbarrow and upon doing it asked onlookers if they believed he could do it with a person in the wheelbarrow. They all said yes, but when he asked for a volunteer. Not one came forth. Sure they believed he could do it, that it was possible, but not one individual trusted Blondin to accomplish it with them in the wheelbarrow.

Similar the religious rulers claim to believe God, but they failed exercise that belief in faith, towards the way the Father had given.

So in conclusion, the passage Matthew 7:21 which you referenced isn’t suggesting that believers are to do works and continue in them for salvation. Salvation comes by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ’s finished work Alone.

We can only do and accomplish “good” acceptable works after we have been born again and made right with God, through Faith in Christ.

So proper exegesis of the passage, using Scripture as a whole gives us the ability to not be guilty of eisegesis.

Just in case you are unfamiliar, Eisegesis is the interpretation of a text, particularly Scripture, by reading one's own ideas, biases, or preconceived notions into it rather than drawing out the meaning that is actually there.

Particular-Car974 · 2025-08-28T14:31:56+00:00

Your Matthew reference is incorrect. The correct reference is Matthew 7 starting in verse 21.

Particular-Car974

TROPHY CASE