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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17235
04/06/06 04:52 PM
04/06/06 04:52 PM
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OP
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What is the most convincing evidence that God’s law/character is love? If Jesus fails to perfect 144,000 translation-ready saints would He be able to say, “The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature,’ and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin." (MH 180)
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17236
04/06/06 08:44 PM
04/06/06 08:44 PM
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What is the most convincing evidence that God’s law/character is love? If Jesus fails to perfect 144,000 translation-ready saints would He be able to say, “The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature,’ and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin." (MH 180)
MM, yes, this is *an* issue to consider. But not the most important issue. The most important issue involves God's character. Not just in this one situation, but in general. God has been accused of being arbitrary, harsh, severe and cruel. This is, indeed, the idea that most people, including most Christians, have of God's character. As EGW put it, the earth was dark with misaprehension of God's character. In order for the shadows to be lifted, God sent His Son, the only being in the universe who could represent Him, so reveal Him. This revelation was made manifest throughout Christ's life, and especially at His death. This revelation was not just for us, but for unfallen worlds as well.
The central problem that we have is being alienated from God in our hearts and minds. God reconciles us to Himself by revealing His character, His love, to us by Jesus Christ, especially through the cross. This is the centerpoint of the Gospel. If this is not front and center in our understanding and presentation of the Gospel, our efforts will be blunted.
To emphasize that Christ will perfect the characters of the 144,000 is a good thing, but this should be emphasized in the context of an overall understanding and presentation of the Gospel.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17237
04/06/06 08:48 PM
04/06/06 08:48 PM
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Quote:
What is the most convincing evidence that God’s law/character is love?
I guess I didn't answer this question. The answer is Jesus Christ. He is the most convincing evidence, and the only convincing evidence, that God's law/character is love.
He is the truth that we are to lift before others. Jones and Waggoner began to get a glimpse of how the message of Christ our righteousness should be presented. Unfortunately their message was, and has continued to be, resisted. However, the good news is that this is still the message that *is* to lighten the earth with glory, so the message which they began to proclaim (I say "began" because EGW referred to their message as "the beginning" of the latter rain, "the beginning" of the loud cry of the third angel's message) will some day be proclaimed.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17238
04/07/06 02:46 PM
04/07/06 02:46 PM
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Tom, Jesus lived a long time ago. Most of my non-Christian friends are not impressed with Him. At best they think the Bible is a good fairytale. The Christians they know or know about lead them to conclude Jesus is a bad idea. The assertion that Jesus is the only right way, and that all other ways are wrong, strikes them as bigoted, narrow-minded, and the cause of most religious fighting.
What can we do to help these people understand that Jesus is kind and loving, that His strict laws and prohibitions are good, that He really is the right way, and that all other ways are wrong?
Isaiah 43:12
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
AH 32
The greatest evidence of the power of Christianity that can be presented to the world is a well-ordered, well-disciplined family. This will recommend the truth as nothing else can, for it is a living witness of its practical power upon the heart. {AH 32.2}
AH 36
A well-ordered Christian household is a powerful argument in favor of the reality of the Christian religion--an argument that the infidel cannot gainsay. {AH 36.2}
ML 124
One well-ordered, well-disciplined family tells more in behalf of Christianity than all the sermons that can be preached. {ML 124.4}
RC 168
A well-ordered Christian household is an argument that the infidel cannot resist. He finds no place for his cavils [trivial faultfinding]. {RC 168.2}
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17239
04/07/06 05:13 PM
04/07/06 05:13 PM
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Active Member 2012
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The things you quoted are evidences that one is converted. It doesn't point out how to be converted. It won't do any good to do the right things without being converted. This describes what conversion is about: Quote:
How, then, are we to be saved? "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew in the image of Him who works in us to subdue all things to Himself. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God." Ps. 40:8.(DA 176)
This describes mans problem, and the solution:
Quote:
The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2.(DA 22)
People need to know Christ. It is Christ who leads people to the Father. It is by beleiving the truths which Christ presented that we are reconciled to God, which is exactly what we need.
What our obsession should be is to know the truth about God and share that truth with others. To know God is to love Him.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17240
04/08/06 07:38 AM
04/08/06 07:38 AM
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Jesus is coming soon because His cup of iniquity is almost full. The 1000 years are almost upon us. "I know that my Redeamer liveth and I shall see Him with mine own eyes, not anothers." Another reason probly more important is that there will be one more Pope than our Pope Benedict. That final Pope will lead to distruction and will die when fire rains down.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17241
04/08/06 03:13 PM
04/08/06 03:13 PM
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Tom, I agree with the description of conversion you quoted. I also agree Jesus is the solution to the polution. But would you mind helping me explore the following insight and question?
Jesus lived a long time ago. Most of my non-Christian friends are not impressed with Him. At best they think the Bible is a good fairytale. The Christians they know or know about lead them to conclude Jesus is a bad idea. The assertion that Jesus is the only right way, and that all other ways are wrong, strikes them as bigoted, narrow-minded, and the cause of most religious fighting.
What can we do to help these people understand that Jesus is kind and loving, that His strict laws and prohibitions are good, that He really is the right way, and that all other ways are wrong?
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17242
04/08/06 03:18 PM
04/08/06 03:18 PM
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Doug, please start a new thread explaining why you believe the next pope will be last one. I am interested in learning about it. Thank you.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17243
04/09/06 08:23 PM
04/09/06 08:23 PM
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Active Member 2012
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Quote:
Jesus lived a long time ago. Most of my non-Christian friends are not impressed with Him. At best they think the Bible is a good fairytale. The Christians they know or know about lead them to conclude Jesus is a bad idea. The assertion that Jesus is the only right way, and that all other ways are wrong, strikes them as bigoted, narrow-minded, and the cause of most religious fighting.
What can we do to help these people understand that Jesus is kind and loving, that His strict laws and prohibitions are good, that He really is the right way, and that all other ways are wrong?
It seems to me the way your are phrasing the question may make God seem to be arbitrary, and I think your non-Christian friends may have good reason to think of the religion you are presenting as bigoted and narrow-minded. It seems to me the thing to do is to present the truth that God is not arbitrary, the issues involved are not arbitrary, and the solution is not arbitrary.
Consider the following quote:
Quote:
The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan's deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world's dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, "with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2.(DA 22)
Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. It's not that there was some other way in which God could make Himself known, and God on a whim chose one way. Only Christ knew God well enough to make His character known.
There is no need to teach others that all other ways are wrong. Once a person knows God, by believing the revelaion of Jesus Christ, that is enough.
Quote:
Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,--to set men right through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paternal grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his crucifixion, he declared, "I have manifested thy name." "I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." When the object of his mission was attained,--the revelation of God to the world,--the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. (ST 1/20/90)
Man's problem is being alienated from God in heart and mind. The truth is that God is like Jesus Christ. By presenting Jesus Christ as He is in truth, we may help others to be reconciled.
Last edited by Tom Ewall; 04/09/06 08:24 PM.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: Why do you believe Jesus is coming soon?
#17244
04/10/06 04:23 PM
04/10/06 04:23 PM
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TE - It seems to me the thing to do is to present the truth that God is not arbitrary, the issues involved are not arbitrary, and the solution is not arbitrary.... Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known.
MM - Is quoting the Bible to prove that Jesus is the epitome of God the best thing to do when dealing with people who reject God and the Bible?
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