God's Love: Don't leave home without it!
A note about the picture-I've started a project and a half, cleaning out a junk room full of 40+ years of accumulation. Many treasures are now found, some of which may show up here at FDW.
The picture was originally a black and white negative, which turned sort of sepia in the interim. I don't look like that anymore.
But on to Righteousness.
"21He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21
"23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God." James 2:23
How to begin on the path of Righteousness? Believe God, accept the sacrifice of Christ Who died in your place...and you're on our way.
Is there a set of behavior (not beliefs) by which you would identify someone as a "believer" or a "non-believer" even if they profess to be a believer?
I've heard some say that "Well, so-and-so is guilty of the sin of 'x', so they can't POSSIBLY be a Christian".
Do you buy that?
One thing that I "buy", James, is that God knows who is or isn't one of His children.
He sets guidelines for us in His Word to determine who is true, and who is a false Christian. Paul's letter to the Galatians reprimands the Christians there to not follow the teachings of 'false brethren'. He also waned the Corinthians to be wary of false believers. Peter and John each warned of false believers.
I know that that doesn't answer your question, James, but I wanted to lay a bit of ground down to stand upon.
"Is there a set of behavior (not beliefs) by which you would identify someone as a "believer" or a "non-believer" even if they profess to be a believer?"
No.
"I've heard some say that "Well, so-and-so is guilty of the sin of 'x', so they can't POSSIBLY be a Christian".
You and I can't judge who is or isn't a Christian by behavior alone. Here's an example from my life. I used to belong to a strict legalistic denomination that considered it a sin to play games with cards. Or dance in public.
By their rules, I was a sinner. But the more I studied, the less their rules made sense, and eventually I left that church.
Let's take a shot at alcohol. I'm a lifelong abstainer. If Christian "A" is an alcoholic, it would be sin for him to get drunk, as that would be giving into temptation. For me, it wouldn't be sinful to get drunk, as there is no temptation. It would be stupid, but not sin.
We may fail to accurately judge behavior, but God judges every man's heart.
Another interesting article from Chrystal:
http://slaughteringthesheep.word...e/#comment-
2090
I thought you would be better acquainted with Doug's views James. As Doug wrote, God knows who is and who is not His child. We do not, but are commanded to treat all as though they were. It really is not difficult.
As Doug wrote, God knows who is and who is not His child. We do not, but are commanded to treat all as though they were.
As far as I can tell Doug thinks he does know. See 4/28 post among many others.
Hello Lu~always the contrarian, never a 'contritian'. 
Here, let me put it this way:
God is all knowing.
Man is all guessing~but God does establish who belongs to Him.
As a Christian, I know that God does the choosing, as He is Sovereign in all things.
When there is still life, while a person is still living, there is a possibility that God will grant Salvation, saving faith, to even the most unlikely of sinners.
James was asking me to pick out behavior which would be evidence that someone is not a Christian.
It's not behavior, it's not being good (I would be in hell when I die if I had to win Heaven based on my own 'goodness'.)
But
there is evidence that shows where people's hearts are-I'll use my old friend Bill Maher for an example. He despises Christ, Christianity, God-I know this because he has made it quite clear over the past few decades.
Is he going to Heaven? If God has decided that he will, then God will grant Bill Maher the faith to believe, and yes, he will become a Christian.
But
right now, as he is, Maher is doomed, and I would be a fool, Lu, to suggest that that isn't the case.
While there is life, there is hope. I know of actual "deathbed conversions"
where, right before death, when the reality of heaven and hell is right in a person's face...lost souls cry out to God and He saves them.
Never give up Hope, Lu, that God will grant you the faith to believe. I'd love to buy you a cup of coffee in Heaven.
Once again, Doug, you claim to know that I am not (yet) saved, and that if not saved I will go to hell. The Bible very specifically says that 1) the state of anyone else's soul is not your business 2) you're not qualified to make this judgment anyway 3) you should instead concern yourself with your own relationship with God.
You maintained in a recent post that you were full of love. To me you seem full of pleasurable contemplation of the everlasting torment awaiting everyone who disagrees with you.
Calm, Lu. Deep breaths. I have no pleasure that anyone goes to hell. None.
It is a terrible thing to reject Christ, as I know that the consequences are real.
I also know that God calls whom He will-there's a strong possibility that most of my family and friends will not be with me in Heaven. That hurts, but I will not ignore that hurt and pretend that everything is all right, God is love, so loving that He won't send anyone to Hell.
"you claim to know that I am not (yet) saved, and that if not saved I will go to hell."
I know that if you were 'saved', Lu, if you had been granted the Grace by God to believe, you wouldn't be so antagonistic towards Christ, Christianity, or me. God is very clear in His Word (which you also reject) as to how someone can be saved.
Do you feel, Lu, that I have misjudged you? That you are actually a Christian, and I'm too ignorant to recognize the fact? You know yourself best.
Memorial Day-heading out to the graveyard with the family, and then BBQ.
Doug's small-mindedness and religious bigotry to resume tomorrow. Have a good day, everyone.
Second verse, same as the first: the state of a person's soul (be it mine, or Bill Maher's, or President Obama's, or anyone's) is between that person and God. No one else gets a vote. You can look it up.
That's a LULU, Lu-
And God Said: "I will make you my children, save you from your sins...just don't offend anyone, keep quiet about it! Don't bother anyone!
Don't mention Jesus! Someone might have hurt feelings!"
The fish market must have given you a deal on red herrings this week.
Of course you can mention Jesus. In fact, as you point out obliquely, as a Christian you are called upon to mention Jesus.
What you cannot do is presume to know what goes on between me (or Bill Maher, or President Obama, or anyone else) and God.
Lu, my presumption matches yours, that I have no right to say who is or isn't a Christian. Mine is based on Scripture, which I can quote till the cows arrive, but Scripture won't persuade you. Your presumption is based on...?
You lost me. Are you agreeing that you have no right to say who is or isn't a Christian?
No,Lu-The Bible clearly states who is or isn't a Christian;also, a Christian has spiritual discernment which non-Christians lack. My 'presumption' is based on Scripture- you, Lu, are making a presumption based on something else.
Based on what, Lu? I've avoided loading this column with Scripture quotes to support my belief, as you've rejected God's Word...while still being willing to argue about what it says.
Here, let me state your case for you:
"It is supreme arrogance to suggest that someone knows for certain who is or isn't a Christian. Either that arrogant person is deluded, or pretends to know to cover up how scared he is, or is a con man, making book on simple people, taking their money with empty promises of Heaven."
You've got it about right. But you are leaving out the fact that Scripture enjoins us from judging each other (Mt. 13:24-30, Rom. 14:4, Rom. 14:10-13).
I think you're actually on pretty firm ground with me, because you know me fairly well by now, and I freely admit I'm not a Christian. From your point of view I'm gravely ill and you know what will cure me. But how can you have any idea what goes on between God and President Obama, or Bill Maher, or anyone else you don't know? You can't. And since you spend a lot of time condemning people you disagree with, and very little time talking about those positive Christian traits you mention, I infer that condemning is what warms your Christian heart.
(When I say you're on pretty firm ground with me I mean of course according to your own lights. I'm not a Christian because I've tried to believe and I can't. I reject [your understanding of] God in the same way that I reject Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.)
It sounds to me like you're judging.
Perhaps this alone will indicate where you actually stand?
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