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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: teresaq]
#111196
04/03/09 06:55 PM
04/03/09 06:55 PM
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Active Member 2012
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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Ty Gibson wrote something I really like a lot. I don't have the actual quote, so I'll have to present the idea as best I can.
He said that God has set things up so that those who sincerely desire to know what He is like can discern His true character in Scripture. Our understanding of His character and likeness to Him dovetail as one process.
By beholding we become change.
Apprehending God's character is key.
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: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: Tom]
#111197
04/03/09 07:04 PM
04/03/09 07:04 PM
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Ty Gibson wrote something I really like a lot. I don't have the actual quote, so I'll have to present the idea as best I can.
He said that God has set things up so that those who sincerely desire to know what He is like can discern His true character in Scripture. Our understanding of His character and likeness to Him dovetail as one process.
By beholding we become change.
Apprehending God's character is key. very good point. we can study the life of Christ- and the old testament- but if our view of God is less than true or accurate.....we will become whatever our view of God is.
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: teresaq]
#111199
04/03/09 07:22 PM
04/03/09 07:22 PM
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Active Member 2012
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Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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Yes. There's a psalm which brings this out: 25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. (Ps. 18:25-26) I like the KJV here because it uses the same word for both parts of the verse, which brings the point home, that being that we perceive God according to our own character. This is a pretty bad Catch-22. If we perceive God according to our character, and our character is defective, then our picture of God will be defective, apparently putting a wrench in the whole "By beholding we become changed" plan. We want to be changed by beholding the truth about God, not a defective facsimile, made so by our own character. I think the first step is to realize that this paradox exists. When we realize it, we can ask the Lord (more than willing to give good gifts to those who ask) that He reveal that truth about Himself to us, being willing to made aware of our errors. So often it seems that once one hits upon a picture of God, that picture becomes cast in stone; nothing will change it. I think this is a problem the Pharisees had. A God who was like Jesus Christ was too much for their minds to bring in. Even today the idea that God is really like Jesus Christ is shattering. Most Christians would enthusiastically profess to believe this truth, but in reality the concept of God (powerful, just, wanting vengeance; someone we fear, but don't really want to be like) is very different than of Jesus Christ (kind, forgiving, merciful; what we would like to be like). I think recognizing we have a need for heavenly eye salve is a key first step.
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: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: Tom]
#111200
04/03/09 07:32 PM
04/03/09 07:32 PM
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I think recognizing we have a need for heavenly eye salve is a key first step. you mean i might be wrong in what i perceive to be truth? 
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: teresaq]
#111201
04/03/09 07:46 PM
04/03/09 07:46 PM
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Active Member 2012
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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We're all wrong. God is much better than our perception of 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: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: Claudia Thompson]
#111209
04/04/09 02:57 AM
04/04/09 02:57 AM
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I think I see what you mean. While we dont want to focus on our sins because that wont get us anywhere, its by beholding we become changed... beholding Christ, we should have confidence in the merits of Christ, but at the same time when we look at Jesus this makes us see our own shortcomings so that we will know what needs changing. So we dont want to be smug or well I dont know what the word for it is. Like the Pharisee verses the Publican story. Yes, I think you understood me. 
By God's grace,
Arnold
There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. RH 12/20/1892
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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: Tom]
#111248
04/05/09 03:35 AM
04/05/09 03:35 AM
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Apprehending God's character is key. I agree with this. But I think it is possible to apprehend God's character without knowing it was God's character you were apprehending. I believe there will be people in heaven who have never heard the name of Jesus, but have reflected His character anyway.
By God's grace,
Arnold
There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. RH 12/20/1892
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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: asygo]
#111252
04/05/09 04:19 AM
04/05/09 04:19 AM
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Active Member 2012
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,795
Lawrence, Kansas
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I agree. Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God.(DA 638)
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: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: Tom]
#111255
04/05/09 04:38 AM
04/05/09 04:38 AM
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wont that be the neatest thing???
seeing all these people wake and being taken to heaven when they never heard of God as we know Him?
i cant wait to see the shock!!
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: PERFECTION OF CHARACTER -What is it exactly?
[Re: teresaq]
#111286
04/06/09 07:08 AM
04/06/09 07:08 AM
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SDA
Active Member 2023
5500+ Member
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,583
California, USA
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What if we woke up and it turned out that we get to go to heaven in spite of our ignorance? Actually, that won't be much of a surprise.
By God's grace,
Arnold
There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. RH 12/20/1892
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