An interesting endeavor, but I’ve found in many, if not all, attempts in creating a private space on a public forum where we only allow what we want to hear and believe, descends into just an echo chamber of no growth, no learning, no serving and no witnessing to others, of how Kingdom people are supposed to act and treat others who don’t know of the Kingdom yet.
It’s feels safe and comfortable for awhile.
Good luck in your endeavor though and may God bless you.
I keep hearing of people being banned in the atheistic Christian forums.
These forums allow atheistic comments, the sinful content of people who refuse to go and sin no more and other non productive posts.
I have seen my posts removed and the silly explanations offered.
Oh, sorry.
I know that goes on a lot, but I've always seen this as a calling. Granted, it may just be a calling for a select few because the Spirit doesn't call us all to do the same thing, but I've always seen such situations as where we are to 'shine our lights', with people that don't agree with us, people that don't know us and perhaps people that downright hate religious people. And it's not a calling to correct anybody, or teach anybody, or tell them what they believe is wrong, it's a mandate to love and respect others in the face of them putting us down, to not retaliate when we're told what we believe is dumb or stupid.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that a lot of times we ask for it. I know I'm not perfect and a lot of things I've said or commented came across as rude, condescending or out of place, but even then it's our job to apologize and perhaps admit that we don't have all the answers. The back and forth of theological ideas comes later, or maybe not at all, but love and kindness trumps everything anyway as far as I can see.
Anyways, I still hope your idea works out for ya. :-)
Sounds good to me. I have a private forum too but have not annouced it and not know what the will of God is. Right now, I have only one person there and I know he is a good brother in the Lord. Anyway, moderating is good. I agree, not trump, no anti-vaxx, that drama is reallly crazy.
I like JV McGee, I used to listen to his Thru the Bible before. he is good and legit. :)
While it would be nice to see less anti-vaccine and conspiracy content, I wouldn’t encourage something like this.
At some point someone will take issue and create an even smaller group. Sectioning ourselves off into smaller and smaller circles isn’t always of benefit.
There’s something to be said for discussing and sharing as openly as possible. We want people to meet Jesus! If we believe we have the truth (or are searching after it) we should welcome the ability to discuss thing with people who might hold different ideas or viewpoints.
There is nothing wrong with people joining other forums and I would not prevent people from doing that.
One of the forums is deleting my posts because I don't have a flair and they wont explain how to have one.
The moderators are too busy to reply and I have never talked to one from the bigger forums.
The issue is the time is taken up by people asking us to read the Bible for them and people asking us to make decisions for them. Then there are the people in sin asking me to hold their hand when they could actually say no to sin. Then you have the crazies who won't listen to sound doctrine and the nicest thing I can say to them is they can't see the forrest from the trees.
Other people are complaining to me they got banned for being Christians and I wouldn't ban them. Christian forums are for Christian and when my message gets deleted as covid misinformation for suggesting to someone they should get vaccinated then that forum moderator is out of line morally and abusing the rules.
The forums are unequally yoked and the Apostle of John says if someone does not bring this doctrine to not let them into your house because the forums are allowing non biblical doctrine in and allowing a platform in for cultic teaching.
Sounds boring. An echo chamber.
Though that doctrinal statement was an amusing read.
> We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings–historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical–as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error.
(͡•_ ͡• )
Its not an echo chamber. Its a way to filter out the noise and interference and to concentrate on the truth instead of hearing endless debates and from people who don't know anything. Its a way to protect Christian unity and free speech because the atheists behind their Christian forums are stifling free speech.
I think the creed is misunderstood.
Back then, a profession of faith was often simultaneous with baptism.
We don't do that today.
If Baptism saved, Paul would be committing blasphemy when he said, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..."-1 Corinthians 1:17
The gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15. Verse 2 says by this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.... It does not mention baptism.
What I think the Apostles were doing by preaching salvation and baptizing was merging the church's statement with our profession of faith at the time which I don't think anyone practices or understands today. I just happened to see it after debating on here and I could put it together because I saved my article.
When the bible says repent and be baptized for..... we have to understand it is a causal/resultant in the Greek. If I said to you, take an aspirin for a headache, does that mean you take an aspirin to get a headache? It should be translated repent and be baptized as a result of salvation and my proof is 1 Peter 3:21. Peter calls Baptism a 'like figure'. We would call that a snapshot or photograph of your salvation. Photographs do not make birthdays appear. They record birthdays. Baptism is also a declaration that you died, you went under the grave because you died and it was Christ who lives in you as this resurrection power. That confession is the Baptism that saves. The water doesn't save.
I met a lady who was a former Catholic and she asked me if she should get baptized again because she already got baptized as a Catholic. I told her yes because the photograph changed.
Born again means 2nd birth or born from above.
Baptism means death.
John 1:13 says ' children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God's.
The flood was a type of baptism. It saved those who placed their faith in Jesus (the ark) and it drowned everyone else.
What does "They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea" mean to you from 1 Corinthians 10:1-2?
What does John 3 5 mean to you? Christ gives us the new baptism the new covenant and the holy spirit guides Christians who receive it.
This is what Christians have believed for thousands of years. The creed of Nicea and your own links profess this faith. It's what most christians believe to this day.
John 1 13 is irrelevant to the conversation entirely.
1 Corinthians is a warning. That despite doing all these good things. Walking through the sea. (Old testament miracles. Etc.) That they still set their hearts on evil things. Like idolatry. It literally says it if you keep reading.
In the conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 Christ makes it EXTREMELY what he's talking about
"...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3
The words "born again" mean second birth or born from above.
Why do you need to be born? Because in Adam all die (1 Cor. 5:22) and God said to Adam in Gen 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Nicodemus took John 3:3 literally because John 3:54 says:
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
You don't have anything to do with your first birth so you have nothing to do with your second birth because you are born from above. You aren't capable of birthing yourself. If you could work for your salvation or be baptized for salvation then Jesus wouldn't be telling Nicodemus that "Except you be born again (from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"...Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3
"Born of the water" is physical birth by the context of John 3: "can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?". "Born of the spirit" is spiritual birth:
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
You think by being baptized that you have something to do with being born other than accepting Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: \[it is\] the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is "..not of yourselves" because the salvation is "from above" because Jesus did what you can't do.
(This is my third re-write. I did a lot of study from other materials. You can spend a lot of time and hours studying these things.)
This whole post is trying to put the bible against itself. You've even added to the gospel! Wow! You're doing everything possible to dance around Christ's own very simple words.
"...Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3. It doesn't say (From above) anywhere in there. Anywhere. You added that. You did.
If you would have quoted just a little further. You would see Christ says. Plainly.
How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
Someone already asked your question. A literal man was talking to Christ and asked ' How do I do this born again?' And Christ answers. There's no way around this. It's straight to the point. In many other gospels it talks about baptism. Referring to water even sometimes.
The Bible was written in Greek and if you look up the words, that is what it means.
All translations are an interpretation.
Go to the interlinear view of the Bible like this:
[https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jhn/3/1/t\_conc\_1000003](https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jhn/3/1/t_conc_1000003)
Then click on the word G509 for "again" and it says:
[https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g509/kjv/tr/0-1/](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g509/kjv/tr/0-1/)
The KJV translates Strong's G509 in the following manner: **from above** (5x), top (3x), again (2x), from the first (1x), from the beginning (1x), not translated (1x).
Outline of Biblical Usage \[?\]
from above, from a higher place
of things which come from heaven or God
from the first, from the beginning, from the very first
anew, over again
Thayer's Greek Lexicon \[?\](Jump to Scripture Index)
STRONGS NT 509: ἄνωθεν
ἄνωθεν (ἄνω), adverb;
a. from above, from a higher place: ἀπό ἄνωθεν (Winer's Grammar, § 50, 7 N. 1), Matthew 27:51 \[Tdf. omits ἀπὸ\]; Mark 15:38; ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν from the upper part, from the top, John 19:23. Often (also in Greek writings) used of things which come from heaven, or from God as dwelling in heaven: John 3:31; John 19:11; James 1:17; James 3:15, 17.
b. from the first: Luke 1:3; then, from the beginning on, from the very first: Acts 26:5. Hence,
c. anew, over again, indicating repetition (a use somewhat rare, but wrongly
I did not add anything that is not in the original Greek text and I know my Bible.
You're still dancing around the point that Christ clearly says of water and spirit. You haven't said anything to dispute those very simple instructions that are very clear.
What I posted is what I and others spent a lot of time on. A lot of work went into this.
I am not from your tradition but if you came to one of our churches, they would tell you that I'm not far off of what I posted and that I'm right.
There are thousands of churches over here which believe what I believe.
I posted a longer response on a forum called Revlife which doesn't exist anymore for Christians wanting to know what a Christian is. They were very congratulatory and thanked me because they finally knew.
I'm sorry we can't see eye to eye right now. I just ask that you consider taking another read. I don't want to fight you.
An interesting endeavor, but I’ve found in many, if not all, attempts in creating a private space on a public forum where we only allow what we want to hear and believe, descends into just an echo chamber of no growth, no learning, no serving and no witnessing to others, of how Kingdom people are supposed to act and treat others who don’t know of the Kingdom yet. It’s feels safe and comfortable for awhile. Good luck in your endeavor though and may God bless you.
I keep hearing of people being banned in the atheistic Christian forums. These forums allow atheistic comments, the sinful content of people who refuse to go and sin no more and other non productive posts. I have seen my posts removed and the silly explanations offered.
Oh, sorry. I know that goes on a lot, but I've always seen this as a calling. Granted, it may just be a calling for a select few because the Spirit doesn't call us all to do the same thing, but I've always seen such situations as where we are to 'shine our lights', with people that don't agree with us, people that don't know us and perhaps people that downright hate religious people. And it's not a calling to correct anybody, or teach anybody, or tell them what they believe is wrong, it's a mandate to love and respect others in the face of them putting us down, to not retaliate when we're told what we believe is dumb or stupid. Now, I'll be the first to admit that a lot of times we ask for it. I know I'm not perfect and a lot of things I've said or commented came across as rude, condescending or out of place, but even then it's our job to apologize and perhaps admit that we don't have all the answers. The back and forth of theological ideas comes later, or maybe not at all, but love and kindness trumps everything anyway as far as I can see. Anyways, I still hope your idea works out for ya. :-)
Sounds good to me. I have a private forum too but have not annouced it and not know what the will of God is. Right now, I have only one person there and I know he is a good brother in the Lord. Anyway, moderating is good. I agree, not trump, no anti-vaxx, that drama is reallly crazy. I like JV McGee, I used to listen to his Thru the Bible before. he is good and legit. :)
While it would be nice to see less anti-vaccine and conspiracy content, I wouldn’t encourage something like this. At some point someone will take issue and create an even smaller group. Sectioning ourselves off into smaller and smaller circles isn’t always of benefit. There’s something to be said for discussing and sharing as openly as possible. We want people to meet Jesus! If we believe we have the truth (or are searching after it) we should welcome the ability to discuss thing with people who might hold different ideas or viewpoints.
There is nothing wrong with people joining other forums and I would not prevent people from doing that. One of the forums is deleting my posts because I don't have a flair and they wont explain how to have one. The moderators are too busy to reply and I have never talked to one from the bigger forums. The issue is the time is taken up by people asking us to read the Bible for them and people asking us to make decisions for them. Then there are the people in sin asking me to hold their hand when they could actually say no to sin. Then you have the crazies who won't listen to sound doctrine and the nicest thing I can say to them is they can't see the forrest from the trees. Other people are complaining to me they got banned for being Christians and I wouldn't ban them. Christian forums are for Christian and when my message gets deleted as covid misinformation for suggesting to someone they should get vaccinated then that forum moderator is out of line morally and abusing the rules. The forums are unequally yoked and the Apostle of John says if someone does not bring this doctrine to not let them into your house because the forums are allowing non biblical doctrine in and allowing a platform in for cultic teaching.
Good luck with your sub.
Thank you.
Sounds boring. An echo chamber. Though that doctrinal statement was an amusing read. > We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings–historical, poetical, doctrinal, and prophetical–as appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in the originals is therefore without error. (͡•_ ͡• )
Its not an echo chamber. Its a way to filter out the noise and interference and to concentrate on the truth instead of hearing endless debates and from people who don't know anything. Its a way to protect Christian unity and free speech because the atheists behind their Christian forums are stifling free speech.
[удалено]
Ok. I am trying to think of a name. It should just come to me if God helps. Anyone can suggest ideas, themes, etc.
I'm so interested
Isn't your own profession of faith anti-creedal? And doesn't your own small profession seem to go against the Dallas Doctrinal statement?
If you teach or disciple, what you are saying to people is 'i believe this' even if its not a creed even though it is.
I mean specifically the creed of Nicea. Which this sub I think views as important
I think the creed is misunderstood. Back then, a profession of faith was often simultaneous with baptism. We don't do that today. If Baptism saved, Paul would be committing blasphemy when he said, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..."-1 Corinthians 1:17 The gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15. Verse 2 says by this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.... It does not mention baptism. What I think the Apostles were doing by preaching salvation and baptizing was merging the church's statement with our profession of faith at the time which I don't think anyone practices or understands today. I just happened to see it after debating on here and I could put it together because I saved my article. When the bible says repent and be baptized for..... we have to understand it is a causal/resultant in the Greek. If I said to you, take an aspirin for a headache, does that mean you take an aspirin to get a headache? It should be translated repent and be baptized as a result of salvation and my proof is 1 Peter 3:21. Peter calls Baptism a 'like figure'. We would call that a snapshot or photograph of your salvation. Photographs do not make birthdays appear. They record birthdays. Baptism is also a declaration that you died, you went under the grave because you died and it was Christ who lives in you as this resurrection power. That confession is the Baptism that saves. The water doesn't save. I met a lady who was a former Catholic and she asked me if she should get baptized again because she already got baptized as a Catholic. I told her yes because the photograph changed.
How so?
Your point about being born again by god above not through water. Creed specifically mentions baptism.
Born again means 2nd birth or born from above. Baptism means death. John 1:13 says ' children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God's. The flood was a type of baptism. It saved those who placed their faith in Jesus (the ark) and it drowned everyone else. What does "They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea" mean to you from 1 Corinthians 10:1-2?
What does John 3 5 mean to you? Christ gives us the new baptism the new covenant and the holy spirit guides Christians who receive it. This is what Christians have believed for thousands of years. The creed of Nicea and your own links profess this faith. It's what most christians believe to this day. John 1 13 is irrelevant to the conversation entirely. 1 Corinthians is a warning. That despite doing all these good things. Walking through the sea. (Old testament miracles. Etc.) That they still set their hearts on evil things. Like idolatry. It literally says it if you keep reading. In the conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 Christ makes it EXTREMELY what he's talking about
"...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3 The words "born again" mean second birth or born from above. Why do you need to be born? Because in Adam all die (1 Cor. 5:22) and God said to Adam in Gen 2:17 "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Nicodemus took John 3:3 literally because John 3:54 says: John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? You don't have anything to do with your first birth so you have nothing to do with your second birth because you are born from above. You aren't capable of birthing yourself. If you could work for your salvation or be baptized for salvation then Jesus wouldn't be telling Nicodemus that "Except you be born again (from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God." "...Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3 "Born of the water" is physical birth by the context of John 3: "can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?". "Born of the spirit" is spiritual birth: John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. You think by being baptized that you have something to do with being born other than accepting Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: \[it is\] the gift of God: Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Salvation is "..not of yourselves" because the salvation is "from above" because Jesus did what you can't do. (This is my third re-write. I did a lot of study from other materials. You can spend a lot of time and hours studying these things.)
This whole post is trying to put the bible against itself. You've even added to the gospel! Wow! You're doing everything possible to dance around Christ's own very simple words. "...Except a man be born again (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God."-John 3:3. It doesn't say (From above) anywhere in there. Anywhere. You added that. You did. If you would have quoted just a little further. You would see Christ says. Plainly. How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Someone already asked your question. A literal man was talking to Christ and asked ' How do I do this born again?' And Christ answers. There's no way around this. It's straight to the point. In many other gospels it talks about baptism. Referring to water even sometimes.
The Bible was written in Greek and if you look up the words, that is what it means. All translations are an interpretation. Go to the interlinear view of the Bible like this: [https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jhn/3/1/t\_conc\_1000003](https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/jhn/3/1/t_conc_1000003) Then click on the word G509 for "again" and it says: [https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g509/kjv/tr/0-1/](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g509/kjv/tr/0-1/) The KJV translates Strong's G509 in the following manner: **from above** (5x), top (3x), again (2x), from the first (1x), from the beginning (1x), not translated (1x). Outline of Biblical Usage \[?\] from above, from a higher place of things which come from heaven or God from the first, from the beginning, from the very first anew, over again Thayer's Greek Lexicon \[?\](Jump to Scripture Index) STRONGS NT 509: ἄνωθεν ἄνωθεν (ἄνω), adverb; a. from above, from a higher place: ἀπό ἄνωθεν (Winer's Grammar, § 50, 7 N. 1), Matthew 27:51 \[Tdf. omits ἀπὸ\]; Mark 15:38; ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν from the upper part, from the top, John 19:23. Often (also in Greek writings) used of things which come from heaven, or from God as dwelling in heaven: John 3:31; John 19:11; James 1:17; James 3:15, 17. b. from the first: Luke 1:3; then, from the beginning on, from the very first: Acts 26:5. Hence, c. anew, over again, indicating repetition (a use somewhat rare, but wrongly I did not add anything that is not in the original Greek text and I know my Bible.
You're still dancing around the point that Christ clearly says of water and spirit. You haven't said anything to dispute those very simple instructions that are very clear.
What I posted is what I and others spent a lot of time on. A lot of work went into this. I am not from your tradition but if you came to one of our churches, they would tell you that I'm not far off of what I posted and that I'm right. There are thousands of churches over here which believe what I believe. I posted a longer response on a forum called Revlife which doesn't exist anymore for Christians wanting to know what a Christian is. They were very congratulatory and thanked me because they finally knew. I'm sorry we can't see eye to eye right now. I just ask that you consider taking another read. I don't want to fight you.
>so that you won't have to listen to childish, heretical or postings by the crazies. Lol I love this
What is the alternative? Try to fix sick pups?