poll where do you stand

For what it is worth, a dear member of our church died last fall who had spent most of her life on the mission field as a Baptist missionary. She knew Corrie Ten Boom and knew Theresa when she was merely “Sister Theresa”.

She mentioned to me in conversation a few years ago that she thought that “Theresa” was a person of deep faith in God, although she was also a devout Roman Catholic.

While I have enormous issues with Roman Catholic doctrine, I also know many Roman Catholics (some family members are/were Roman Catholic) who have a legitimate saving faith in Christ although they retain some of the trappings of the Roman Catholic religion.

 

by the way many liberal religionist would say [Mother Theresa] is a Christian

So would many conservative Christians.

I go by what one thing she said over and over: "Be all and only for Jesus". That's a Christian witness to me. I can't judge her soul, but based on what I know of her, she's a Christian.

 

massdak

I am not sure of who you think you are! I find you rude and arrogant. But I am not going to argue with you. I will stand by my opinion. I will also forgive you, and excuse myself from this discussion.

Sherrie

 

The Christ of the Scripture, the Christ of truth, the Christ of my salvation accomplished all of God's righteous demands for forgiveness, justification, and expiation.

I add nothing to the glory of Christ. I do not have to finish the job that he started. He is pristine in his perfection and altogether wonderous in his character.

You show me a catholic that doesn't think he/she needs to finish the job, and I will show you a catholic who isn't really a catholic.

 

Unity is NOT more important than doctrine.
Love IS more important than doctrine.
Both are useless without doctrine.
Doctrine is useless without love. (See I Cor 13)
Love and doctrine can bring about unity.

To lust (to set the heart upon) is not a desire or even a strong desire. It is when a person crosses the line between desire and willingness. When you are willing but just haven't gotten the opportunity yet you have nonetheless commited the act. Some will say, then why not go ahead and commit the act? The answer is because to physically commit the act would be ANOTHER sin on top of the one already commited.
Temptation is the solicitation to fulfill a God given desire in a God forbidden manner. When two people are dating and plan to marry, I am sure there is a strong desire to have sexual relations, that is not a sin, because, they are not willing to fulfill that desire in a God forbidden manner.

Roman Catholicism is wrong. Mother T. was a Roman Catholic till the day she died. She led many people to a false religion. She did some good works which helped take care of some physical needs during their lifetime and then they died and went to hell. Not an even trade.

 

Massdak, are you for real? I tell you the bible is inspired and infallible and you still question my sincerity, even saying I have a problem. The word religious is not a dirty word why are you so afraid of it? Being religious is fine even encouraged leagalism, which you seem to be encouraging, is what should be avoided. You stress the word relationship as being more important and I think from your comments and poll that it is more important for you to have a "relationship" with the bible then it with Christ. That's too bad, try reading read John 5:39 and the surrounding context. It could be very eye opening!

 

When did "you shall think"
replace "I think"?

 

As for temptation I will not say this or that right now whether experiencing temptation within is sin or not, but it for sure evidences inward depravity. Jesus Christ the Lord did not experience inward temptation, as "normal" humans do. If He had experienced it it would have evidenced He was not sinless. But Christ knew no sin, and the lord of this world had nothing in him, like he has in me and other depraved humans.

Experiencing temptation (to sin) is evidence of human sin-depravity.

Harald

[ January 29, 2003, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: Harald ]

 

I also answered false on each question. I believe love is necessary, but true doctrine will produce a Godly love, while false doctrine will produce a false love. This seemed to be a trick question if you permit my saying so. But I answered it according to how I believe. I believe we cannot truly love without God in our heart, without the true doctrine of God our love would be no more than human emotion and that is not instrumental in any way to bringing anyone to Christ. Though the world would say different, Christ said the truth shall set you free.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Nope. The Bible plainly teaches something else.

Look very carefully at verse 15. Jesus was tempted:

1) in all things
2) as we are
3) yet without sin

[ January 29, 2003, 01:18 PM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]

 

The difference between the temptation the Lord Jesus encountered and the one myself encounters is that when I experience "temptation" it evidences my sin-depravity. When Christ experienced "temptation" it evidenced His absolute sinlessness. The lord of this world, Satan, had nothing in the Lord of glory, but in me and other humans he has something - sin-depravity. The temptation of Christ in the desert proved Christ was the Messias, the sinless Lamb of God. The everyday temptations frail humans like me encounter and experience within proves we are totally depraved in our sinfulness. This is Bible doctrine and also Baptist doctrine.

Harald

 

It only “evidences” your sin-depravity when you yield to temptation. Otherwise it is simply the same kind of temptation that Jesus faced and rejected. If you reject temptation as well, it is evidence of conversion and walking in the Spirit.

Yes, but you shouldn’t put the word temptation in quotes… When you do you are saying that Jesus was not truly tempted which contradicts scripture. If he couldn’t commit sin, then he couldn’t be truly tempted. Adam and Eve were not fallen originally, but when they faced temptation they chose to sin and became fallen.

Yes, but the evil one doesn’t require sin depravity to introduce temptation into our lives. (Again, think of Adam and Eve.)

It certainly demonstrated that Jesus did not yield to sin, but Christ always pointed to the works He did and the resurrection to prove His identity – not a period where He resisted temptation.

Temptation doesn’t say anything about your spiritual condition. Your reaction to temptation (yielding or rejecting) reveals your condition.

Saying it doesn’t make it so. The scripture is extremely clear that Jesus was tempted as we are, yet without sin:

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

[ January 29, 2003, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]

 

That is a debatable point, is it not?

 

That is a debatable point, is it not?[/b]</font>[/QUOTE]That would be a great thread. I am sure it has been done to death in the past but I haven't been here that long. This very idea has caused some serious discussion among some VERY well grounded Christians. I believe Satan (attempting to entice Jesus to sin) tempted Jesus, but, I believe Jesus (fully well realizing that bread would satisfy his hunger) wasn't tempted (considered sinning).

 

Many non christians do works, yes, but not christian works. Works for the express purpose of persuading God to let you "IN" are not Christian.