The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

Thank you Strider! Sorry, I think I was typing my last reply and didn't see the latest you wrote until I posted my newest thing. I think both Paco and GaryM. have good suggestions. I am going to start with 1 Peter. I also think you have a lot of insight Strider with the story of the adulterous woman and I think I need time to meditate on that more. Thank you guys so much:) I think I am going to enjoy reading and learning from this forum a lot!

God did not choose Jacob because He was impressed with Jacob. God chose Jacob before he and Esau were ever born or had done anything good or bad. You can study more about this in Romans 9.

Hmm, amyk you are right... I guess I was wrong that God is more favorable to people that are trying to seek him

A disappointing revelation for sure but to cheer me up I just need to repeat; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"... I might never be able to make God happy if it was never predestined for me to do so but I will keep trying.

I know that christians will always go through trials and tribulations. That Jesus said that we still would even if we're christians.... with this in mind, is God not favorable towards His people? Doesn't He help us out in times of need when we ask Him to? Sometimes we have to wait a long time but isn't it promised that whatever we ask in Jesus' name will be done?

I say this because I see many christians go through some terrible things, sometimes their own fault, sometimes not... but it seems to me that God lifts these people up in special ways... maybe I am wrong, but it seems He does help His people in their times of trouble (not always taking all of the pain away) but doing other incredible things in their life. Is this true? Am I wrong to think that our God shows his face and listens (and sometimes answers!) His people?

Proverbs 22:29 - The Lord is far from the wicked but hears the prayers of the righteous.

It is actually a wonderful revelation.....because none of us would ever be saved if God did not choose us. We would not even seek God on our own unles His Spirit draws us. So He does the seeking and the saving! We merely have to respond.

Yes, God does help His people....but first, to become one of His people, He seeks us out and draws us to Himself.

I hope this cheers you up rather than depresses you!

Yes, it does cheer me up... I get it that we cannot do anything, it is not OUR works that save us. This is good news.... I'm just at a loss how to get my family to understand the gospel. "Cultural christians" might be the hardest people to open up their eyes. They get some things but are surrounded by such a liberal culture that is constantly telling them they can pick and choose what they want to follow from the bible... the whole tolerance issue is always at the center of it. I am so bad at being an apologetic person, I wish I could talk about and tell God's word more freely. I am getting better at it but still am having such a hard time... the hardest time with my family.. the people I love the most and the people I want to understand and love God with the same burning love that I feel towards Him. Whenever my parents say something that I disagree with I have such a hard time saying that they are wrong (I guess it's been ingrained in me forever to respect their opinions that I am afraid to say otherwise even if their viewpoint is twisted and not correct). I keep praying that God will open up their eyes. I guess their is nothing I can really do anyway, just pray that God will save my family... I certainly can't:(

Thank you Amy

http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_law_hays.html

I found this awesome article that helped explain this! I'm super excited to share this with my mom but I also thought I'd share it with all of you!

It talks (down toward the bottom of the article) about using the approach of "principlism" in interpreting old testament laws. I like it because it sticks to the approach we discussed here as being under a New Covenant and having to take into account the audience of today as opposed to when the laws were created for the Isrealites.

Haha, sorry I'm a nerd but I love this kind of thing

That's an excellent article, Kristen. I've also recommended it here somewhere.

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Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

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