God is. Jesus is His anointed one, because none of the rest of us measure up. Everything else is commentary, so go study.
As Job once said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Job 13:15, KJV)
Then the question remains, "Are we believers, who seek after Christ until He stops providing for our wants and needs, are we followers of Him until the the price gets a little high and persecution comes knocking at our door, or are we disciples who will give that last measure of love for the sake of His testament?"
I love this:
Lord Jesus, I am going to obey You and love You and serve You, and do what You want me to do as long as I live, even if I go to hell at the end of the road, simply because You are worthy to be loved, obeyed and served. And, I am not trying to make a deal with You.
It is the difference between trying to get something out of God (humanism), rather than allowing God to get something out of me (consecrated life). The prime product of my relationship with God is solely for His glory. The byproduct of that relationship is the blessing(s) I receive in return. But, what if I should not receive any blessings in this life, like so many of the early Christan martyrs? Have I then been cheated out of my reward by God? No! For I am not the one who is worthy.
God does not exist for my happiness and well being, but rather it is I who exist for God's own good pleasure and purpose.
Does anyone see the difference?
That the Lamb that was slain may receive the reward of His suffering!
That the Lamb that was slain may receive the reward of His suffering!
Wonderful! You watched the video too!
I review it every few months just to glean a little more from it's basic doctrines on how my attitude toward Christ and my fellow man should be expressed in my life.
The Revival Hymn
Here is another good video:
Wake Up
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It makes no difference whether you study in the holy language, or in Arabic, or Aramaic [or in Greek or even in English]; it matters only whether it is done with understanding. - Moshe Maimonides.
Indeed. I used to speed and race the engine on my car. And then I discovered a law at work. A law that says these things cost and take from me. Whether in tickets or in repairs or complete replacement of vehicles there is a law that I am fighting against and I always lose.
The same goes for every other law of God. It is no more... do it this way or you'll be punished... but it is an understanding that living one way only continues to bring destruction and loss into my life. Living God's way only brings peace into my life and steers me away from the pitfalls of my fallen nature that only desires to take from me.
As HaShaliach said... Does anyone see the difference.
Yes... there is a vast difference.
He was my judge.
He is now my redeemer.
.
Very well said, D4T.
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Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it. ~Chinese Proverb
When I was young and clever, I wanted to change the world. Now that I am older and wiser, I strive to change myself. ~
...promised to us in the Bible. If the Bible never mentioned hell. If God never promised walls of Jasper, gates of pearl or a street of Gold. If the Bible never mentioned a lake of fire or "hellfire and damnation". If at the end of this life there was nothing but death. No afterlife. None.
If... Would we still serve God if there was no heaven to gain? Would ywe live like the devil if there was no hell to shun?
Are we following Him for the loaves and fishes He gives? Do we follow Him for His promises, or out of sheer love for His gift of salvation provided for us at Calvary?
Are we just followers of Jesus, or are we really His disciples?
Just musing...
I think I'd be mad! I'd feel seriously gyped! Not now, but once upon a time. Everything I did back then was to keep out of hell and try to be good enough to make it to heaven. It would be irritating to think that I tortured myself for no purpose!
Of course, now I don't think of myself as "following" him per se. I try to do what's right, I try to love those around me, and if God tries to talk to me, I try to listen.
Yes. The answer is "Yes". I'd want to live my life for God even if there was no heaven to gain or hell to shun. Well, at least thats what my answer should be. The blessings he has bestowed on us down thru the years should be enough to cause us love Him even if there is no afterlife. His dying on the cross to redeem us should be enough to warrant our undying love for Him. So, yes, I'd serve Him anyway. Well, at least thats what my answer should be.
Well, maybe it's not "yes" in the conventional sense. And yet, it doesn't necessarily have to be "no" either. Sometimes, you have to make your own way and find your own definitions.
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Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it. ~Chinese Proverb
When I was young and clever, I wanted to change the world. Now that I am older and wiser, I strive to change myself. ~
Of course I would not be a Christian if there were no Heaven or Hell. I dont believe anyone would. Paul said if there were no eternal life we are of all men most miserable.
Sometimes, if you figure out that some things you believe aren't true. you find there is no reason to continue with the misery. So, you change and you get happier.
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Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it. ~Chinese Proverb
When I was young and clever, I wanted to change the world. Now that I am older and wiser, I strive to change myself. ~
I review it every few months just to glean a little more from it's basic doctrines on how my attitude toward Christ and my fellow man should be expressed in my life.
The Revival Hymn
Here is another good video:
Wake Up
Thanks for sharing.
I've seen The Revival Hymn before but, as you have said, it bears repeating from time to time.
Paul said in the same chapter if there is no resurrection......eternal life let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 1 Cor. 15:32
Jesus did not present himself as some self help teacher to give you a good life in this world tho you may certainly have one because he is good.
Jesus said you must hate your life in this world or you cannot be his disciple.
12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. John 12:25-26
Jesus is eternal life. The topic on the thread is just speculation and has no connection to the teachings of Jesus since he presents nothing of the sort.
Last edited by Michael The Disciple; 12-30-2010 at 01:50 PM.
If... Would we still serve God if there was no heaven to gain? Would ywe live like the devil if there was no hell to shun?
Just musing...
Didn't St Paul talk about this once-- saying that if we were following made up stories then we would be "most miserable" of all men.
That misery would stem from the fact that life would not have any meaning, any purpose at all.
So I probably would live for today, because tomorrow we die and that would be it-- if there were no heaven and no hell.
Is Christian living a good way to live one's life? Sure! It's a great way.
However, there are the bad times, times of testing, times of persecution. If I did not have a hope of His Promise, made real by the faith that He lived, died and rose again for me, why would I live righteously?
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"The choices we make reveal the true nature of our character."
I think I'd be mad! I'd feel seriously gyped! Not now, but once upon a time. Everything I did back then was to keep out of hell and try to be good enough to make it to heaven. It would be irritating to think that I tortured myself for no purpose!
Of course, now I don't think of myself as "following" him per se. I try to do what's right, I try to love those around me, and if God tries to talk to me, I try to listen.
Not sure, but I think you are answering a different question from the one he asked, which was what if the Bible didn't promise a heaven or a hell (and they didn't exist). No reason to feel gypped. (Unless, of course, there were people who told you about them! People other than the writers of the Bible, I mean. )
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
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