Author Topic: Christian Discipline (Read 14749 times)

Richard Myers · « **Reply #40 on:** June 18, 2001, 10:41:00 PM »

I have never made the statement, but it seems to be accurate. God does not force any to do anything. He leads us into the truth.
All who are translated will be Seventh-day Adventists. We have the truth on the matter of eating meat. We know that it is injurious so we will not eat it. Seems simple to me. Those new to the faith have not been properly instructed, but this will not always be so.

Richard

M.A. Crawford · « **Reply #41 on:** June 19, 2001, 09:14:00 AM »

The statement is made in Counsels On Diet And Foods on pp. 380-381 under the section entitled "Preparing for Translation" which reads:

"Among those who are awaiting for the coming of the Lord, meat-eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet...."

M.A.

jherbertthompson · « **Reply #42 on:** June 19, 2001, 02:41:00 PM »

Again thanks to all! When first married to my SDA wife, I think that it really was her purpose in life at that time to clean up my dietary blunders whether it "killed me or not"...However, over the past 12 years, I am becoming more and more convicted on this matter. A farm boy, old habits are hard to break...This one I will simply give over to God and see Him once again preform the impossible in my life!

Sincerely your brother in Christ.

Richard Myers · « **Reply #43 on:** June 19, 2001, 03:09:00 PM »

I must agree again with Brother frenchmon, such a humble response! Thank you my brother for allowing us to share in your joy of finding the power of Jesus to change the life. Your simple faith in God's revealed will is a testimony to the work that Jesus has done in your life. We pray that your witness will bear much fruit.

In His love and grace, Richard

jherbertthompson · « **Reply #44 on:** June 19, 2001, 04:42:00 PM »

Brother's and Sister's. I don't even know if this insert even applys. However, it is becoming interesting to watch how, within my church there are many "wagging tongues" which creat much mischief...

Another problem I have encountered is the "fruits" by which we are to "know them"...The question I have is simply this...I struggle daily with several very real "sins" in my life. These quite honestly include but are not limited to: anger; resulting from that is a most horrible rash of cursing,etc. There is also a noteable problem with lying. They are, for the most part un-challengable, because know one really cares one way or another, except the fact that I "embilish" the "truth" with these lies...

The point being, we all "sin"...As I have grown in Christ, the "symptoms" of my rebellion or lawlessness will to one degree or another, and in one place of my life or another, change in a moments notice...I am, as it were, without control just as asuredly as before I became a Christian...However, with one exception...Now, as I recognize my "willfulness" and error, I lift what ever it is to God and simply admit that I am powerless to "overcome" this habit, sin, or what ever...Asking Him to do the "miricle of changing my heart" so that I may serve Him better...What else can we do?

Brother Crawford's comment that "we have choices each and every day" brings many thoughts to mind...One of which is this. If, like myself, you have recently come into this truth [SDA], I am often confronted with a "choice". This choice is just as often brought to my attention with an added conviction that "should I choose this, that will be it's natural result"...and vise versa.

Quite often, I find that some of these choices actually are not choices at all. I have come from a dispicatable and hopeless past. And, for me to turn back now is not an option...You know what I mean? On the other hand, some of these choices are a real struggle for me...They "cut across the grain of my life and/or life styles" in such a way that I often do not realize how deep the intent, or motive is actually being addressed. Satan is clever...And, he is also a "defeated" foe. I may only place my trust in the One who has promised that; "He is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless"...This is something I cannot do for myself; however, in His infinite ability to do the "impossible" in my life, I have assurence in the evidence which He has thus far provided, that He CAN DO IT...Perhaps inspite of myself !

Blessings

M.A. Crawford · « **Reply #45 on:** June 22, 2001, 11:17:00 AM »

All of us are sinners, Bro. Thompson, who have done--many of us--some horrible things during our lifetime. And BECAUSE we are sinners, if we are saved at all, it will be ONLY because of the Grace of God--His Goodness--and not because of anything "good" we have done ourselves (Eph. 2:8, 9).

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE for us to do anything in this life that would qualify us for the Eternal Realm. This is why we are saved ONLY through the merits of Jesus Christ and what He has done. He lived a Perfect Life FOR US because we could not live one for ourselves. And NO ONE shall stand in the presence of God at any time and live unless he/she is perfect (Matt. 5:48).

Perfection is possible ONLY through Christ. The Bible gives us the key as to how we become perfect. The Scriptures tell us to "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 13:14) because only He can cover our sins. This next point is very important in our understanding of how we are saved.

When we accept Christ and make His way our way of life, from that moment on we are justified by God. But notice! We remain justified ONLY as long as we CONTINUE to make Christ's Way our way (Rom. 2:13). Each time we sin, we must be forgiven of that sin because NO SIN will enter into Heaven (1 John 2:1). And we are forgiven of sin WHEN WE STOP SINNING that particular sin through faith in the Power of God to help us to overcome.

This is what Christ is doing in the Most Holy Place. He is pleading our case before the Most High God as our Advocate, High Priest, and Mediator. He takes our case before God. That is why without Him it would be impossible to be saved because there would be no one to bridge the unpassable gulf between sinful man and a Holy God.

We cannot come to God on our own. Only that which is Holy can come into the presence of Him who is Holy. It requires someone to stand in our stead. And that Someone is Jesus Christ. THIS is the Good News of the Gospel. When we honestly and truly "cover with His Life" (SDA Hymn No. 412) our sins and iniquities and have His Law written in our inward parts, God says He will remember them no more (Jer. 31:34). WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS! This is why we are not to worry about our past sins because GOD IS ABLE, and He will cleanse us of ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS through Jesus Christ our Lord, IF we will only let Him!

M.A.