|
Forums118
Topics9,194
Posts195,567
Members1,323
| |
Most Online5,850
Feb 29th, 2020
|
|
|
S |
M |
T |
W |
T |
F |
S |
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is a link to show exactly where the Space Station is over earth right now: Click Here
|
|
|
3 registered members (ProdigalOne, 2 invisible),
2,886
guests, and 18
spiders. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49569
04/08/05 02:42 PM
04/08/05 02:42 PM
|
SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
This thread is talking about the corporate body of believers - the SDA church. Yes, of course, each member of the SDA church must have a personal relationship with Jesus, otherwise it would be impossible to share Him with others, to lead them to Jesus. But the primary duty, mission, purpose, etc, of the SDA church is to seek and save the lost. It is what causes the church to grow into a healthy tree bearing much fruit.
DA 389
To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ is to receive Him as a personal Saviour, believing that He forgives our sins, and that we are complete in Him. It is by beholding His love, by dwelling upon it, by drinking it in, that we are to become partakers of His nature. What food is to the body, Christ must be to the soul. Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being. So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His love, His grace, must be assimilated. {DA 389.3}
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49570
04/08/05 06:37 PM
04/08/05 06:37 PM
|
Dedicated Member
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,009
Ohio
|
|
Well that would be correctly asked as, "what is the mission of the SDA church?"
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49571
04/08/05 09:22 PM
04/08/05 09:22 PM
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mountain Man:
This thread is talking about the corporate body of believers - the SDA church. Yes, of course, each member of the SDA church must have a personal relationship with Jesus, otherwise it would be impossible to share Him with others, to lead them to Jesus.........
I wholeheartedly agree with this statement of yours.
I would be very interested in reading your description of what a "personal relationship with Jesus" entails.
I have discovered in my own "personal relationship with Jesus" that it is possible to walk and talk with Him as a personal friend. I speak to Him and He speaks to me.....directly.
If I have a question as to what is "Truth" or not, all I need to do is ask Him "directly" and He leads me to the Truth..."directly". I have discovered that I can now depend on Him, solely, for my understanding of Truth, because He is "Truth" and the "Source of all Truth".
Jesus is my focus.
If someone presents something to me that they claim to be "Truth", I need only take it to Jesus, and He informs me as to its validity or error.
If someone claims to be a prophet and claims that they have received messages from God, I only need to ask Jesus, directly, and He informs me as to whether they are His prophets.....or not.
Yes, my focus rests entirely upon Jesus....and Jesus alone.
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49572
04/08/05 10:01 PM
04/08/05 10:01 PM
|
Most Dedicated Member
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,332
BC, Canada
|
|
Amen Bob, without Christ we are nothing.
God Bless,
Will
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49573
04/09/05 04:47 AM
04/09/05 04:47 AM
|
SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
Bob, please clarify what you mean by "directly". I get the feeling you mean Jesus speaks to you personally, in the same way my wife and I speak to each other - audibly and in person. I also noticed that you didn't say Jesus points you to the truth in the Bible. Does Jesus bypass the Bible when He speaks to you "directly"?
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49574
04/09/05 01:01 PM
04/09/05 01:01 PM
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mountain Man:
Bob, please clarify what you mean by "directly". I get the feeling you mean Jesus speaks to you personally, in the same way my wife and I speak to each other - audibly and in person. I also noticed that you didn't say Jesus points you to the truth in the Bible. Does Jesus bypass the Bible when He speaks to you "directly"?
Jesus speaks to me directly through His Holy Spirit which is in a much different then the way that you and your wife speak to each other.
Jesus speaks to us through the "Spirit" while we speak to each other through the "Flesh".
When an individual surrenders themselves to Jesus and enter into a personal relationship with Him, it is of the utmost importance that this individual seek to "discern" the voice of the Holy Spirit as it speaks to them "directly". This comes as a result of our spending time in quiet meditation when we have secluded ourselves from outside distractions that would interfere with our ability to hear the voice of Jesus speaking to us.
When we are "focused" upon Jesus we will recognize His Voice when He speaks to us.
Does Jesus quote "Scripture" when He speaks to me?
Not usually, but I do find that the things that He says to me, when He speaks to me, are some of the same things that He has spoken to the characters portrayed in the Bible. In other words, Jesus does not contradict anything that He has said in the past, when He speaks to me.
You see......Jesus "is" the Word of God.
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49575
04/09/05 02:50 PM
04/09/05 02:50 PM
|
SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
quote:
Does Jesus quote "Scripture" when He speaks to me? Not usually ...
Bob, I find this answer more than disturbing. You regularly disagree with Sister White, as evidenced by things you have posted on various threads throughout MSDAOL. Please varify this again, here and now - Do you agree with the 27 SDA beliefs and doctrines, as outlined and described in detail, in the SOP? Do you trust the "voice" of Jesus, that speaks to you directly, more than you do the SOP?
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49576
04/09/05 06:50 PM
04/09/05 06:50 PM
|
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Mountain Man:
[QUOTE] Please varify this again, here and now - Do you agree with the 27 SDA beliefs and doctrines, as outlined and described in detail, in the SOP? Do you trust the "voice" of Jesus, that speaks to you directly, more than you do the SOP?
Mountain Man,
I will answer your questions if you first answer mine.
Do you hear the "voice of Jesus" as He speaks directly to you?
If you do, does He tell you that all of the 27 fundamental beliefs of the SDA Church are based upon Truth and does He also tell you that EGW was given the SOP?
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49577
04/09/05 07:06 PM
04/09/05 07:06 PM
|
SDA
Charter Member
Active Member 2019
20000+ Member
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 22,256
Southwest USA
|
|
Honestly, I cannot say I have ever heard the voice of Jesus. I have felt strong impressions, but have never actually heard a voice. I have had dreams where angels spoke to me, but not Jesus or the Father.
I have thoroughly studied the Bible and the SOP and I am convinced, beyond doubt, that the 27 fundamental SDA doctrines are right and true, and that Sister White did, indeed, possess the spirit of prophecy, and that her inspired insights are as valid as those recorded in the Bible.
Now, your turn.
|
|
|
Re: Who is the Focal Point of the SDA Church?
#49578
04/09/05 08:09 PM
04/09/05 08:09 PM
|
|
|
Did the impressions that you received or the dreams that you had reinforce your acceptance that the 27 beliefs were Truth and that EGW had received the SOP?
It would appear that you have relied primarily upon your "own understanding" as to what is Truth. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)
As for me.....
Through the direct instruction that I have received from Jesus , I have been able to discern the validity and errors of the 27 beliefs. Also, He has enabled me to see that EGW does not pass the tests of a true "prophet of God".
|
|
|
|
|
Here is the link to this week's Sabbath School Lesson Study and Discussion Material: Click Here
|
|
|
