Q: How do you know you are saved from death, hell, and the grave; and, you have been spiritually born again into a spiritual kingdom of God? What is the proof that your salvation is real and legitimate?
A: The "proof" of your salvation may only be something revealed to your spirit by the Holy Spirit.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8:16)."
In my life, the proof of salvation was an increased interest in things of the Lord that I didn't have before. Studying scripture and biblical topics, in general, are just a couple of areas I noticed changed in my life. The biggest difference was the turning away from sinful and destructive behaviors that I didn't even recognize in my life prior to salvation. Have you noticed anything like this in your life? If so, that could be the "proof" you are looking for in your life. While there is no universal proof we all share, one thing we all have in common is the indwelling Holy Spirit. The very life of God indwells us for all eternity. He will lead us and guide us from within. The individual relationship we all have with God reveals itself in numerous ways. Sit back and take note of whatever changes that have happened in your life since you were saved. Then you will have the "proof" you seek.
Q: I have had a strong conviction about not smoking/drinking pretty much my whole life but I have a best friend who used to study the bible but turned away from God, and she smokes marijuana everyday. What scriptures could I show her to show what she is doing is not good for her spiritually? I'm thinking that she is idolizing that drug. But I would like to know for anyone who ask me in the future so I am more prepared.
A: Your friend has a bigger problem than smoking marijuana. If she is saved she probably doesn't understand the fullness of the Gospel and her identity in Christ. If she is not saved, simply quitting smoking isn't going to do anything for her spiritual health. She is dead in sin and needs the saving life of Christ. I wouldn't focus too much on the marijuana as I would those two issues. As she matures in the faith or accepts Christ as her savior things like smoking will fall away over time as she realizes they are not representative of who she is as a child of God. She will begin to realize that she is the temple of God and if she wouldn't smoke marijuana in a church building why do it to her physical body? Hope this helps.
Q: I was wanting to know if you had some advice on what is the best way to study the Bible, if any?
A: There are some questions that I try to ask when I’m reading through the scriptures. First, I try to ask, what does this passage say. Second, what does this passage mean. Third, how does this fit into the scope of the Gospel? Fourth, and most important, what can I learn about who God is through this passage? In addition to that I try to read whole blocks of the Scriptures. There are natural separations as subjects change or situations open and close. If I don’t read everything together, it can be easy to come up with something like, Judas went forth and hanged himself, go thouest and do likewise. It’s easy to take things out of context when you meditate on only a single verse or a few of them at one time. For those who are not very scripturally literate, I usual encourage them to just read through the Bible as a historical text first, to understand what took place and the issues that were raised and addressed (Answer written by A. Budjen).
Q: Why should we hold lent when it is not scripturally based?
A: One thing I see missing in all of this talk about Lent is an understanding of what is clearly layed out in the passage from Luke 4 where the tradition of Lent originates. Right from the start it says Jesus was led into the desert to be "tempted by the devil."
When you fast you are abstaining from something. But, if we are honest, all we think about during this time is what we are trying to avoid. And the devil is right there tempting us. Now, I fully agree that God's power is displayed in our weakness, but I don't believe giving the devil an opportunity is what a Christian should be doing. All this does is prove that we have indwelling sin. I also wonder what it is people are praying for during Lent. A Christian has been given everything they need for life and godliness as well as having received every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. Therefore, if you have everything, what more do you need?
Lastly, if one is taking the time during Lent to try and get "clean" before God or get all their sins forgiven, it is evidence of a misunderstanding of the finished work of Christ on the cross. God has already reconciled Himself to us, in Christ, and we are urged to be reconciled to Him. Asking for forgiveness is a clear sign that one doesn't believe they are forgiven and, perhaps, that Christ's death didn't take away all their sins from the eyes of God. My prayer is that people will see that practices like Lent, no matter how long they have been around or how "holy" we believe them to be, do not bring us closer to God and are nothing more than a shadow of the realities we have in Christ. A believer cannot get any closer to God than they already are since the Holy Spirit indwells us. The Holy Spirit is not going to lead you into a practice designed for you to achieve through human effort what you have already freely been given by God through faith in Christ.
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
Q: Please define Christianity in one short sentence?
A: "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
Q: Does anyone have some scripture that might help in dealing with anger? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
Anger is a secondary response to fear. If you are angry perhaps it is because you are afraid of something.
For example, if a parent becomes separated from their child in a department store, they become afraid that their worst fears are being realized. However, when they find their child playing in the toy section they become angry for what the child has put them through.
Christians often become afraid of God because they are fearful that He doesn't love us. But, the truth that we are forgiven, holy and blameless removes the barrier of fear. Applying that same lesson to your own situation may help you discover the root of whatever it is that is making you angry.
Q: Do you consider the Two Greatest Commands as discussed by Jesus in Matt 22 and Mark 12 to be "rules and laws designed to modify behavior"?
A: We can't love God with all our heart or love our neighbor as ourself apart from understanding how much God has loved us first and letting Him live through us. Otherwise, we are left to determine, on our own, what entails living out these commandments. And that opens the door for religion and legalism to enter the equation. Because the obvious question becomes, "How do I love God and my neighbor?" You see, love is a fruit of the Spirit, not our fruit. We bear the fruit of God, we don't produce it. And when we are trusting in the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us we won't be violating our neighbor, which is loving our neighbor, and we will be loving God, because we realize, apart from Him we can do nothing; dependency.
No comments:
Post a Comment