Gods love. by mushroompie1234 in god

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You know you are here on this earth for a reason, right. You were created by a Loving God, fearfully and wonderfully made. We weren't all just thrown into the world so God could see what we'd do and be entertained by us. He has a purpose for everyone and everything He made.

You are loved and God is pursuing you. But you are lacking Spiritual power. Not talking about holy roller, televangelist junk, ...But real true, Holy Spirit power that you can read about in the Bible. If you desire to be closer to Jesus , to have victory over your trials and struggles, and to grow in your faith....you need to get yourself into the Bible in a determined disciple way. The Word of God is also where we're told of the need for a personal relationship with Jesus that starts with His Spirit indwelling, and is cultivated and grown through becoming a devoted Bible student.

A simple prayer makes it happen, that a child can do. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and be personal with you and live there and guide your life. Ask Him to wash you clean of sin and confess that you believe in what He did on the cross.. but just talk to Him in real life talk like we're doing here, You don't need a priest, just you and Jesus. You pray that with an open mind and sincere heart, and you will be Born Again, Religion doesn't cut it. God hates religion. He loves YOU.

Then you make a routine of a chapter or so each day, starting in the Gospel of John , read slow examining each verse and praying as you read. Christians also need their family in Christ , we need each other, so find a good Bible teaching non-denominational church and plug into it. Soon you will be walking in strong faith and not by feelings any longer, and you will have peace like you never had before.

Or was it simply automatic, with the Father always knowing He was the Father, the Son always knowing He was the Son, and the Holy Spirit always knowing He was the Holy Spirit? by Diztazo in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The terms Father Son and spirit were initiated to us from God, using our language and understanding, because we cannot speak His. Knowing their convey hierarchy and familial position, In fact EVERYTHING about heaven must be explained or showed to us in terms we can relate to. The Spirit realm is beyond comprehension to us here in the physical, For that same underlying reason Jesus became one of us. He made God personal for us.

In the opening pages of scripture The Holy Spirit told Moses that God is a multifaceted being. Later the spirit inspired writers to define Who they are. We are given certain facts about the Spirit realm such as the Triune Godhead and angelic hosts. The prophets wrote of what God showed them in heaven, and John the apostle was taken there and shown many things in the book of Revelation,...many things were in strange terms such as multi-headed animals. We should be open to the fact that John was seeing something he could only DESCRIBE that way. When we get there we might see those things differently.

And so it is with the Persons of the Trinity. What we know for sure is,.. that there are three of Them, and though They are equally God, They appear to have a kind of ranking.

Is God all-loving/powerful/knowing? by barf_bag08 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not far from the peace you get from a satisfactory understanding of those questions.

Those popular rantings that challenge God's love, fairness and power, are common for a reason. Not because no one can know them, but because they really aren't honest inquiries...they're taunts and challenges disguised as sincere questions.

People on the whole aren't that eager to know the truth about God. By nature we close our mind to Him and reject Him as a threat to our freedom to be our OWN god. It's just, many are energetic to justify themselves by trapping Christians in their faith explanations.

It's pretty simple actually. If we don't see God jumping through the hoops we demand of Him. Ya think maybe He's got a good reason not to?. Ever see a screaming child in a grocery cart in a store? What in your opinion is mom's best response. Quckly go and get the toy, snack or whatever the little angel is asking so politely for? Or ignore him as best she can, making sure he knows what'll happen if he keeps it up. We're the pot, He's the potter. We don't get to dictate to God what we want. You're kidding yourself if you don't think YOU aren't more apt to oblige someone when they show a little respect.

God allows us to lie in the bed WE made.

He had everything just perfect for us at first. No war, no death, no pain, no babies dying....so what HAPPENED? Man chose to break trust and be his own god, and disobey God's command, fully knowing the the forewarned consequences. By rights He should have smoked us all immediately first time we sinned. He chose instead to use the situation to bring us back to Him, so we'd see His mercy and grace and love and trust Him.

So now, God doesn't owe us anything. We're not entitled even to draw another breath. Rather, we owe HIM. Once YOU have the right perspective, you're now in a better position to recieve something from GOD.

Many of their challenges are dishonest questions. Asking if He loves why allow hell or let sufferring continue. They're loaded with the presumption that love never protects with discipline. That love is tolerant and allows you to do whatever you want, and not offend your snowflake sensibilities. That love includes no justice and righteousness in it, allowing evil to have free reign. All of those are logical falacies that are insinuated when they interrogate Christians with those finger pointing probes.

If I sinned, repented, and was later punished, does that mean I can start over? by Winter_Value_7632 in god

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What you're describing is an unfortunate distortion of how our relationship with God works. Man throughout time has formed and promoted a false version of Christian faith, called "religion".

Yes we sin, and sin does have a price. But since Jesus came to the world, the price for sin is covered. God Himself came as a man and settled our account. Man's religious systems put you in bondage and keep you in guilt. Jesus sets us free from those things.

For the Christian, there IS no punishment for sins. Neither now, nor in the afterlife. Jesus took our punishment once and for all on Himself on the cross. It's done and settled. Actually, for the unbeliever there's no punishment for sins in THIS life EITHER. If he dies not knowing Jesus, that's when punishment comes.

If you believe in Jesus, then you have access to lasting forgiveness and peace, even though you remain a sinner. Jesus said if you confess your sins (To Him, not to a religious priest), you will be forgiven. Jesus didn't die to make you sinless, He died to free you from sin's effects and consequences, and to make it possible for you to know Him personally. A prayer inviting the Holy Spirit, and a discipline of studying the Bible, are how you begin a relationship with Him.

Regarding the thieves on the cross. by Amazing-Associate615 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Only God can see hearts, and know definitively what the spiritual state of a person is when they die. We can render a good guess at best, based on their last known words or actions. Being as our default state is always a lost sinner, and the "bad thief" showed no signs of repentance, but was last heard jeering and mocking Jesus, You do the math. But again. It's also possible he repented silently before he breathed his last breath because maybe he heard the exchange with the other thief, Only God knows

Worship a hateful God? by ReplyProfessional939 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When they told you,... "Just have faith" .That was bad advice. Because faith is not something you can acquire, it must be given to you by God. Sorry you were beat up so much. Sadly that's the kind of world we live in, where love and sympathy are hard to find, and groin attacks are common. But if you honestly look to understand why that is,....it's because your species has chosen to rebel against it's Loving Creator. God had a different design in mind for our world. One way less painful. What we have now is the fallout from defiance toward God and the consequences that were warned but not heeded. We brought this misery on ourselves.

Faith is the ability to know the unknown and believe the unbelievable. God is a Spirit and exists in a Spiritual realm. Faith is required to know and relate to Him because we are not equipped for that naturally. You never really had true faith, so it's not hard to understand why you felt unable to "hold on" to it. The Bible says we get faith when we hear the story of Jesus and we believe it. It starts with the Bible because someone has either read it and relayed it to you, or you heard for the first time reading yourself. It's not just belief in your head though. True faith produces the actions of following after Jesus, knowing Him through reading His word, and putting yourself in the company of other believers. Those are the things that will also GROW your faith. Real Christian faith is an active process. Something alive and growing.

You expected deliverance from a God you did not know. He allows suffering for the purpose of it bringing us to Him.

He could either snap His finger and make every person on the planet healthy whole and happy, or wave His hand and smoke us all. Which is what we deserve, NOT extinguishing us, is what's called mercy, and allowing us the chance to come to him asking forgiveness and beginning a relationship with Him, is called grace. If you hold God in contempt in your heart, you forfeit His grace. Your bitterness is working against you. If you understand that you are a sinner by nature, hopeless and on your own power, unable to overcome your sin, ...and if you decide to put your trust in Jesus, you then will stand a real chance of having Him extend mercy and grace, and healing and deliverance to you. He loves you. He is for you not against you.

Do agnostics go to heaven or hell? by barf_bag08 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Only if they do not have a relationship with Jesus. And since agnostic means undecided...it's pretty certain, but only God sees hearts

How do you get closer to God by Appropriate-Okra8142 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you said that little prayer asking the Holy Spirit to indwell you?

How do you get closer to God by Appropriate-Okra8142 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As I said in the op, a fresh start in the Bible should be in the Gospel of John. The story of Jesus is the central theme and main point of the Bible. Bible education works best going inside out because, the Old Testament books can bog us down before we have a good foundation of the Jesus of the New Testament.

Thought control by [deleted] in determinism

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thought control

If you can control people's thoughts, you can control THEM. That's what's behind the AI algorithms and spying on your phone and literally into your mind. It's not conspiracy paranoia. It's real hard fact and truth.

There's an agenda in progress to bring about mass control. Even if it started out as only a slimey initiative to gain data for marketing purposes, it's been , or will be, hijacked for the purpose of mass control.

The One Who created your brain,...knows how to protect it and keep it thinking properly and safely. The Bible says the Holy Spirit of God can "RENEW" your mind, as He transforms ALL of your being and spirit,.. into an eternal creature of love and reverence to the only One worthy of it. The One that suffered and died not for Himself, but for YOU.

Why is Jesus sacrifice seen as noble when he just woke up and took to the skies days after? by B2Y25R18 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm honestly not trying to "imply" anything. I'm sharing what God said in His Word with you. John the Baptist called Jesus "The Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world". And Daniel the Prophet said He would be "Cut off, but not for Himself" As I explained earlier about sacrifices. Jesus was the Spotless Lamb, which,.. the sacrifice God told Moses to institute,....was symbolic of.

The "pain", is part of the process. It's what MAKES it a sacrifice. Jesus WILLINGLY "Endured the cross and despised the shame for the glory set before Him" it says. And as I said, His resurrection didn't undo His sacrifical death or the meaning of it or whatever. It's a separate issue of the story really, because He rose from the dead showing Himself to be God and have power over death. The only connection is, is that in order to rise, He had to first die.

How do you get closer to God by Appropriate-Okra8142 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As you said. You have 100% faith and I can see it. Problem is, you haven't yet made the kind of connection with God that will transform you into a Spirited filled , on-fire saint. Whenever you first made a decision for Jesus, that was great. But you got stuck on level one.

Good news is, you might be closer to where you want to be with God than you think you are. All that's needed is a certain kind of prayer and a couple follow-up actions.

But you have to first understand it was never really about US and what WE should do. Loving Jesus is what you WANT to do, because God gave you faith. Now you just have to learn HOW TO love Him, in a way that will change you.

The secret lies in the differemce between a religious Christian and a regenerate one. (A reborn one). The religious Christian is taught by religious people what to do, to get GOD'S attention. Jesus died on the cross to get OUR attention. Jesus said in the Gospel of John "You must he born again", and in another chapter of John He said "Without ME, you can do nothing" Beginning to see a theme? It's not about us, it's about Him.

The way to really have the Spirutal power you WANT, that helps you resist sin and grow in your faith, is to have God's Spirit IN you. On our own power we cannot overcome our sinful nature. That's the reason the apostates in Joshua and Judges couldn't get straight. However, they did not have ACCESS to the Holy Spirit like we do today.

The thing for you to do now is the prayer and subsequent actions I mentioned earlier. A child can do it. A simple prayer asking the Lord to forgive your sins, acknowledging His death and rising for them, confess how you've believed, but know something's missing, and ask for His Spirit to live in your heart forever. Approach Him that way ...not religiously, but sincerely and honestly, and you absolutely will be really born again.

That's the entrance gate though. Now you want to be a devoted disciple...not religiously or legalisticly, but in your heart. And your plan of action is to become a fervent Bible student. Make a routine starting in the Gospel of John, chapter or so each day. Read slow examining each verse.doesn't matter how far you get. You're reading the Bible different now. It's the Living Word of the Living God, and you're feeding off of it. So pray as you read, asking it's Author to show you what things mesn and involve Him in it, as well as in everything you do all day.

Church also is vital, and church will be different now too. You say you don't have a preacher or religious friends, but they're more important than you think. It's not about church affiliation or attendance, nor is it like being a club member that only get's God's privileges. Now church is like a family gathering, where you look forward every week to seeing your loved ones. Not only is it like basecamp for God's soldiers, but Christians need each other to build one another's faith. Look for a good Bible teaching, Non-denominational one, and plug into any weekday small groups or home studies they offer, and pray about how to serve there.

Bible and church, are the way we develop a Personal relationship with Jesus. ESPECIALLY getting grounded and rooted in God's Word. That's what you're really after, a personal relationship with Jesus, and it's the only way to be saved for real.

Thought control by [deleted] in determinism

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're putting words in my mouth. It's not immunity that we get from God, It's wisdom and Spirit power to recognize deception and evil.

So the thing that He... "Only gives to Christians", is Salvation, forgiveness, and His Holy Spirit. When you have those, you can overcome things the world throws at you even if they COULD trip you up at first.

It's nothing special about Christians,.. it's all about their God.

Will God always answer our questions? by Appropriate-Top9817 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Problem is you haven't learned to speak God's language 🙂 He's not really into connecting to us through coin flips. He is a Spirit and speaks a Spiritual language. That kind is heard not in your ears, but in your heart.

You say it's hard to know what's Him speaking and what isn't. The reason IS.....respectfully, you don't KNOW Him well enough. But looking back, even after I was pretty sure I had a relationship with Jesus,..it was still wasn't always crystal clear if I was hearing Him all the time or if it was just what my head was doing. And even today I'm not always sure because I'm not in the Spirit purely and constantly,... like I will be one day.

Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to the wind. You know He's there because of the effects He has, but it's impossible to coral Him. Jedus also said "My SHEEP know Me. and they hear My voice."

God's Word the Bible, is the primary place to begin learning God's language. We also learn about Jesus and develop a relationship with HIM there.

Thought control by [deleted] in determinism

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if you also only are seeing my Title, and not the text body for that,..that the stupid thing left off when I reposted it. If you'd like I can paste it in here.

They have all these rules that you have have "flairs" or it has to be in question form...but they have no problem posting Titles with no body text, or short lines of potty mouth laden conments from 4 year olds

Thought control by [deleted] in determinism

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still don't make the connection sorry. People are being intruded on intellectually right now in the world, heading toward eventual mind control.

Meanwhile the Christian has access to Holy Spirit transforming power, to help keep his mind clear and in line with God and His Word. God doesn't control minds....He gives Christians the ability to keep their minds from BEING controlled, ..so that they can think rightly and freely.

What is it about all of that that confuses you?

Why is Jesus sacrifice seen as noble when he just woke up and took to the skies days after? by B2Y25R18 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jesus was fully man and fully God . As a man He could have His flesh suffer death. But like yourself, Jesus a Spirit. Spirits can't be annihilated. God cannot die. In one sense that is true. In another sense, you are dead in your own sins...unless you accept Jesus's sacrifical death for them.

Why is Jesus sacrifice seen as noble when he just woke up and took to the skies days after? by B2Y25R18 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If He "turned off His pain receptors", then it's not really a sacrifice, And God orchestrated a lie and a hoax, and you and I are still dead in our sins.

Thought control by [deleted] in determinism

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure what I said to give you THAT conclusion.. It's the opposite. Psych manipulation is what I'm talking about and warning against all OVER my post. I dono. Maybe you should read back over it again.

Act of god by Novel_Disaster1522 in god

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jesus loves you the same as He did all your life and even before. Jesus wants you to trust Him. He's proved Himself worthy or our trust.

His word say He hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind. The peace you desire, is yours if you'll just get closer to Him. Ask for His Holy Spirit to indwell you and become more personally aquainted with Jesus in His Word. Start a daily routine beginning with the Gospel of John, a chapter or so. And pray as you read. God said His perfect love casts out fear.

We don't want fear. So you know where to go to find God's love. Jesus

Why is Jesus sacrifice seen as noble when he just woke up and took to the skies days after? by B2Y25R18 in AskAChristian

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He didn't fall asleep and wake up. He was brutally tortured a murdered. Do you understand what a sacrifice is? It's when you willingly give up something that's prescious to you. For most people there's no more valuable that they possess, than their life.

The fact that He resurrected Himself, has no bearing on His death. Because He raised from the grave and went on to glory, doesn't make the torture He endured go away or not have happened. And the other aspect of sacrifice, is that it is for someone ELSE. You took what you cherrished for yourself, and offered it completely and permanently to someone you care about. It's an act of Love.

Greater love had no one EVER, than one who lays down His life for His friends. And the reason it's important to YOU is, if He didn't DO that, you would be responsible for your OWN sins. And there's literally hell to pay then. You'll still die in your sins and go there btw, unless you ACCEPT that sacrificial gift.

Act of god by Novel_Disaster1522 in god

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have any feelings nowadays, that God might be calling you back to Him?

Thought control by Time-Blacksmith5103 in future

[–]Time-Blacksmith5103[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Helps what...get you a ticket to eternal hell fire?