tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post8704209053846977181..comments2023-12-07T08:49:58.481-06:00Comments on Politcs-Religion-Crypto: Grace, The Law, and WorksTRexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12478320068584212610noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-60329191237799677212008-09-08T16:04:00.000-05:002008-09-08T16:04:00.000-05:00I keep coming back and rereading this exchange. Be...I keep coming back and rereading this exchange. Been reading your comments and insights on politics and religion for quite a while now and I always have the same opinion of you weather or not I agree or understand. An honest man. I don't even rate a conversation with you. I said I was harmless. That is true. But I am evil.<BR/><BR/>dwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-70265531446045341972008-09-08T16:03:00.000-05:002008-09-08T16:03:00.000-05:00I keep coming back and rereading this exchange. Be...I keep coming back and rereading this exchange. Been reading your comments and insights on politics and religion for quite a while now and I always have the same opinion of you weather or not I agree or understand. An honest man. I don't even rate a conversation with you. I said I was harmless. That is true. But I am evil.<BR/><BR/>dwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-59148209736573069992008-07-21T19:05:00.000-05:002008-07-21T19:05:00.000-05:00The "thief on the right" had probably never done m...The "thief on the right" had probably never done much right in his life, and yet as he was dying on the cross, Jesus extended forgiveness to him. This shows it is never too late. <BR/><BR/>As for the man murdered, we go when it is our time to go. God is niether surprised nor thwarted. How many times have we heard "If that had been a minute earlier (or later) it would have been me that was killed" ? <BR/><BR/>God stirs the universe to keep us where we need to be, much like Minnisota Fats insured the balls on the pool table were where he wanted them. If a person is killed before they come to Christ, they wouldn't have come to Christ in another 5 years, or 15 years. <BR/><BR/>We can see something of this in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). The rich man, in the place of torment asked that Lazarus go tell his brothers, so that they would believe and not follow in his footsteps. Abraham said "if they do not believe the prophets, they will not believe even if one is raised from the dead" <BR/><BR/>Indeed One was raised from the dead. His name was and is Jesus. And still many do not believe. But God is merciful, and patient, to allow us much time to make up our minds (if all we need is time). <BR/><BR/>TRexTRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12478320068584212610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-31105723266345108342008-07-19T09:54:00.000-05:002008-07-19T09:54:00.000-05:00"He cried out with the usual "why?" and "why me," ..."He cried out with the usual "why?" and "why me," but refused to curse God."<BR/><BR/>I have cursed God and told him the words I use cannot express the contempt I hold, so 'read my spirit'. <BR/><BR/>I have asked you about the 'unpardonable sin' and that is why.<BR/><BR/>I would not even bother talking to you if I did not see that you are honest aside from what ever you do or do not understand. I think vice versa. It is only because of the good people I meet here and in the real world that makes me question my views and understanding. I have a soft spot for good people but I would be merciless upon the bad. What is the point of mercy and compassion for those that do not appreciate it. Hence I have condemned myself?<BR/><BR/>"He is merciful to allow us to even be here long enough to call on Him to forgive us." <BR/><BR/>Can I murder a man and deprive him of that opportunity and therefore I have the power to send him to God condemned? More to it than that I know, but to my thinking the question is valid.<BR/><BR/>Rex, even your admitting you do not understand something is enlightening.<BR/><BR/>I sit here hating God, but I respect his people. How is that? <BR/><BR/>I may need therapy but I am harmless. ;-)<BR/><BR/>dwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-77010684719556234012008-07-17T02:47:00.000-05:002008-07-17T02:47:00.000-05:00You are right, as usual, with your observations. ...You are right, as usual, with your observations. The Law cannot forgive, but God can. He is merciful to allow us to even be here long enough to call on Him to forgive us. <BR/><BR/>Why did God create us, earth and all else? I am not sure, but I suspect that the whole is a battle ground between Him and Satan. Satan could not leave it to God to be God. Satan wanted himself to be God. <BR/><BR/>So one purpose for making us is to show Satan that even fatally flawed humans can become more, by letting God be God. Don't know if that makes any sense, but that is why I belive He made us. <BR/><BR/>God didn't give Job any choice in the suffering, bringing it on through supernatural means. His house and family were destroyed in a flash of lighting and his health mysteriously departed for no reason. He cried out with the ususal "why?" and "why me," but refused to curse God. This showed that he understood that God was in charge and he knew there would be God's reasoning in it in the end (although he also understood he might have to wait till the next life to see God's purpose).TRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12478320068584212610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-10258921310723885932008-07-15T22:05:00.000-05:002008-07-15T22:05:00.000-05:00Always feel a lil' guilty talking Christianity as ...Always feel a lil' guilty talking Christianity as 'I do not nor ever have belonged to the Christian party' (maybe a bad joke)<BR/><BR/>Anyway, am I wrong in seeing that law cannot be forgiving, compassionate nor merciful. But a judge can in sentencing?<BR/><BR/>I understand the concept of being 'above the law', or better put 'not subject 'to' the law from a positive and a negative sense. But then again Christians risk it all here and now whereas the rest of us have plausible denyability? (bad joke to make a point and ask a question)<BR/><BR/>The will would kill us all. I think without a lil' forgiveness and grace this God would have nothing to to rule. But then again he needs nothing so why did he create this suffering mess? For us? Job asked why was I born, but he will be in heaven so the test and suffering was, ... worth it. I would defend myself from suffering and call it my unalienable right. I have some serious questions I cannot even articulate and in the same context believe I am wrong to ask them. Even so; Why have you made me/us thus?<BR/><BR/>dwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-50917965882806110512008-07-13T13:30:00.000-05:002008-07-13T13:30:00.000-05:00When it was first written, it was in a series of l...When it was first written, it was in a series of letters and books by various "Apostolic" authors. Most Church units were of the "house church" kind, and would have had one or two of the Gospels and one or two of the epistles. If they were well off, they would have also had a copy of the entire Hebrew Scripture (the Old Testament). They may have only had a partial copy of the OT. <BR/><BR/>It was much easier for them to understand much of it, as the language and culture had not changed much. It was also much easier to tell them apart from non-Christians, since they lived quite differently from the non-Christians, and were persecuted by them. <BR/><BR/>Persecution tends to reduce the number of insincere followers.TRexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12478320068584212610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723219.post-29549864335058904692008-07-12T02:29:00.000-05:002008-07-12T02:29:00.000-05:00"I also have more than a few disputes with other e..."I also have more than a few disputes with other evangelicals about their interpretation of how Christians are supposed to conduct their affairs."<BR/><BR/>I suspect that when the New Testament was first written it was easily understood by real Christians that study. Now, in a way it is up for modern/(secular?) interpretations the same as our Constitution.<BR/>dwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com