Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Deborah Kuradal on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    When we die, where do our souls go to? Do they go straight to Heaven or Hell or they are floating around waiting for the coming of the Lord?
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That's for the chosen ones.
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Dear Vince, that is a commonly repeated phrase, but it's not what the Bible actually says. Paul said he would "rather" be present with the Lord. He didn't say that for 100% of all people in 100% of all cases that if you are absent from your body that you instantly 100% of the time will be present with the Lord. Link

    The Bible says the dead will rise and meet Jesus, then judged. So those who misinterpret that verse then have to explain all the other verses that contradict that. So, no one goes to hell then? Because 100% of everyone is with the Lord? Even Hitler will be in heaven with you?

    The Bible says several times that people will be asleep, awaiting Jesus' return. Link

    God bless...
  • Margaret rees - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    The Bible does not say that we will all be Judged. Jesus has saved us from the wrath of God. Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
  • Pastor-Ronnie Williams - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    2 Corinthians 5:10

    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Just letting you know it does. (This is for the comment that the Bible don't say Christians have to be judged). (KJV)
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Yes, it does. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10.
  • Margaret rees - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Thank you for correcting me Adam. God Bless you.
  • Deborah Kuradal - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Dear Jesse ,

    This is very helpful thank you very much.

    It was a question asked by many so I think this text is just what I need to help clarify to my friends.
  • Jesse - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Deborah,

    I believe that when we die, our soul departs the physical body. The physical body remains in the ground and awaits the resurrection for a glorified body, but we go to be with the Lord. Paul even said that to be absent from the body (Physical death) is to be present with the Lord. So wherever the Lord is, that's where we will be until we come back with Him to receive our new glorified bodies.
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Amen amen amen.
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello,

    1 Corinthians 15:51 - The dead will be sleeping awaiting Jesus's return, then will meet Him and await judgment.

    1 Thessalonians 5:10

    There's other verses echoing this if keep reading. Those who say people go immediately to heaven without Jesus coming or without judgment is inconsistent with scripture and I believe is just based on false assumptions about 2 other scriptures. People also feel better saying that at funerals, etc, so I think that's another reason for this commonly being said, despite scriptures not supporting it. This topic has been discussed before here if someone wants to search that. God bless.
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    The dead in Christ are all judged already. There will not be a second judgment for them on the last day. This is why they rise first and meet with the Lord in the sky. They have already experienced the first death and will not face a second. Notice I said the dead in Christ, not all the dead. God bless you
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello, I don't believe anyone is judged until judgment day Link unless God makes a special exception. I'm not aware of any scriptures saying you're too bad or too good to await judgment day. God gives everyone multiple chances during this lifetime to follow Him.

    The scripture support I have for this is: 1 Peter 1:13. It says we have hope for the end that grace is brought. It doesn't say we're already saved and can sin all we want and are already judged- I've heard a lot of people say that with no scriptures to back it up. The scripture seems to indicate we can be saved after Jesus returns and after we're judged. A lot of people claim they're saved now, that it's over and you have a hall pass to just kick back and do whatever. I don't believe it's over, nor that we have a hall pass for unlimited sin. 1 Peter 1:5 says "...salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." It sales salvation will be revealed in the 'last time', not now, or not after you respond to an altar call. I think those who become a Christian and genuinely follow Jesus can have confidence and assurance in salvation, however. But I just don't see the Bible saying that you're immediately judged and saved while living on earth, prior to judgment day. God bless.
  • SkipVought - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Adam,

    "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."Joh 5:24

    If God grants the believer EVERLASTING LIFE, it's not like the petals on a daisy: He love me, He loves me not...

    The TRUE believer will endure. Genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials.

    "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mat 24:13

    Otherwise, we are working to either GET or KEEP our salvation, which is totally at odds with Scripture.

    "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Tit 3:5-7
  • SkipVought - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Adam,

    I agree with most of what you say. "Shall we continues to sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" And, yes. Progressives want to cherry pick, redefine reality and justify sinful behavior.

    Remember, though, that although written by some 40 different authors across 1500 years, there is ONE timeless Author. The Bible CANNOT support opposing views as being true. The writer of Hebrews was addressing Hebrew believers who were being tempted to return to the old sacrificial system. He was arguing that Jesus was better than angels, better hope, better covenant, better promises, better sacrifice.

    In Hebrews 6:4, he is warning about Jewish people going back to the old system. There is no sacrifice for sin there. Jesus' sacrifice is better. The ones that did leave and go back were never really saved to begin with. That's why he says in vs 9, although I'm talking like this, in your case I'm confident of better things about your salvation. Gotta read the whole passage.

    In Hebrews 10:26, he's again saying that in the old sacrifice systems, "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." The Law was an instrument of judgement and death. There's no hope in The Law! Our only hope is in Jesus Christ!

    Anyhow, I think that we are in agreement about much more than you think.
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Selective focus and cherrypicking seems to be the common root of the argument for once saved always saved. Otherwise, scripture clearly refutes that through so many scriptures, like Hebrews 10:26, Hebrews 6:4, etc. And the next layer of selective focus is ignoring obedience to Jesus, but putting more focus on it being bad to do good 'works' and be 'legalistic' as if that's sin to be obey God. That twisted idea sounds awfully familiar as if it doesn't come from God, but the opposite of God. The father of lies absolutely loves twisting things- that it's 'bad' to do good. Does Jesus say it's 'bad' to obey Him? John 14:15.

    So, who will I listen to? Man, satan, or Jesus? Easy decision for me. It's good to do good, despite what 'progressive' Christian culture may claim. Doing good doesn't mean you're trying to 'earn' your way into heaven, as some claim. And some falsely assume you don't believe in grace either if you believe doing good is good. I hope people don't try to slander Christians who try to obey Jesus. If Jesus was alive today, some would probably accuse Him of being legalistic and works based too. The works vs grace is already explained in the Bible, James 2, Romans 11, etc. People end up being disproportionate emphasis on one or the other, but the Bible already predicted this difficulty which is why they wrote so much about it in the Bible to explain. Pray for God for wisdom and understanding and read the Bible not to confirm what you want to believe, or what you were already taught by men, but to understand what God's Word actually says. God bless.
  • SkipVought - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Carleton,

    The fact is that believers sin every day, maybe even every moment of every day.

    "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1Jn 1:5-10

    In this instruction, John uses WE/US throughout: WE believers.

    If WE walk IN THE LIGHT, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth US from all sin. IN THE LIGHT, I believe, refers to the knowledge that has been given to us by The Word of God enlightened by The Holy Spirit.

    If WE say that we have NO SIN, we are self deceived and are NOT walking IN THE LIGHT. Then if WE confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive US our sins, and to cleanse US from all unrighteousness.

    But WE haven't lost the WE/US relationship to God. We still HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

    How can you HAVE eternal life and then NOT. That's not eternal. That's CONDITIONAL eternal life, if you can keep it.

    "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."Joh 10:27-29

    Are you His sheep or not? Today but not tomorrow?

    Can YOU remove yourself from God's Hands?

    Jesus said, "MY sheep." How can a regenerate mortal remove him or her self from Jesus' Fold: MY sheep!
  • Carleton - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello Skip, I am happy that the Lord in His righteousness continues to cover my sin, even today. I am glad that I still have the opportunity to look by faith and be led by His Holy Spirit. However, I remain in the flesh and my flesh remains in this life, in time. Eternity is at the end of the race for my body, though my soul now has entered into his rest by faith. But more rest is to come for a changed body into immortality to match the peace of my soul in eternity.

    These verses speak to me related to our discussion.

    2 Peter 3:10

    1 Timothy 5:24

    Romans 4:25
  • Carleton - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello Skip, Consider if you will.

    Our accounts remain reconciled by God in His Holiness only because he is seeing us, the believer, through the finished work of His son, Jesus Christ in His righteousness. If our faith becomes weak and we fail to look to Jesus as our righteousness then God looks at our account, our own (self) righteousness directly, since that is our free will decision.

    Carleton
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Adam Adam Adam!

    Let me repeat, the dead in Christ will meet Christ Jesus in the sky on the day of judgment. They will not face a second judgment because when Christ Jesus was being judged and crucified, they were in Him.

    When God fills a person with His Holy Spirit, their new nature becomes one that will live in obedience to His will. They are not able to live according to their old nature. Some received the Spirit in the womb like John the Baptist, some as children like King David and Joseph son of Jacob, some in their senior years like Moses and last but not least, some receive it on the last day on earth like the thief on the cross beside Jesus.

    One can not receive the Holy Spirit on his or her own, God put His saving Spirit in those He choose to receive it and He choose them before the world began. This is done this way so no man or woman can boast themselves of salvation. All is God's and God's alone, Amen. God bless you
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello, maybe you've already made up your mind on this which is different than how some others interpret it. The verses you quoted before don't indicate anything different and support my interpretation. Scripture like 1 Peter chapter 1 are clear to me and countless other verses instruct Christians to not sin.

    "They are not able to live according to their old nature."

    Some believe that for Christians it's impossible to sin, which I think is a misinterpretation of the Bible that plays into the hand of the enemy. There are Christians who sometimes look at pornography- so does that mean that's not a sin, or some cheat on their wives- not sin? Some have probably even killed- not sin? Seems like a tough argument to make to claim that sin isn't sin. Or that Christians no longer have freewill to sin? We all likely know Christians who have drifted from the faith and have sinned or even denounced the faith.

    Not sure if you believe this, but I think the belief of "impossible for Christians to sin" originates from 1 John in 1 John 3:9 and 1 John 5:18, but if you read the context it doesn't say what some are assuming it says. The keywords are who is born of God don't 'practice' sin. Genuine followers won't continue to sin on an ongoing basis.

    If you read the whole book of 1 John it explains and shows the context, like right out of the gate in 1 John 1:8-10. So, which is it, can a Christian sin or not?

    In chapter 3, it clarifies that its only those who follow commandments. So, an action is required for Christians. It's not like you already won and can disobey and do whatever sin you want. ( 1 John 3:23-24) says that to dwell in Jesus the Christian must obey. If it was a given (automatic) then Jesus wouldn't have kept telling his followers (Christians) to avoid sin. He absolutely pounded this message in them. A true follower should not sin, they should hate it and avoid it at all costs. Matthew 5:30, John 14:15. God bless.
  • Margaret rees - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    In my own experience the Holy Spirit helps us not to sin. I may have a sinful thought at times but I have rebuked myself and that thought goes no further. Thus stopping me from putting my thought into action. This is the Holy Spirit guiding me away from sin.
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    We will always sin, saved and unsaved, till the day we die. The difference between a saved person who sins and a unsaved person who sins is, the saved ones are always uncomfortable living in sin and constantly warring in the flesh against his sins. Like Paul said," the things I don't want to do I do, and the things I do want to do I don't,"(paraphrase).

    We all can relate and agree that's what makes the Christian life hard. The unsaved on the other hand, is very comfortable in sins and actually looks forward to doing more. Look what anointed King David did with Bathsheba; adultery and murdered her husband. God bless you
  • Carleton - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hi Adam, the live links to scriptures are always helpful. I am still trying to figure out how to do it every time the correct way.

    Thanks again, Carleton
  • Adam - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hey Carleton, I suspect it just doesn't work for the books with a number in front.
  • Richard in Christ - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Hello Adam,

    Finding the fix for this issue as I've noticed the links are not live sometimes. If you put a period, comma, or parenthesis mark before the number it will be a live link. Also sometimes if noting several verses, even on different lines, just make sure to put an end mark, period etc, to separate from the other verse/numbers.

    God Bless.
  • Carleton - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Makes sense! Thank you Adam. I am glad you are feeling better.
  • Vince - In Reply on Genesis 3 - 3 years ago
    Can we all stick to Gen. ch.3 please!



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