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JimfromOhio

I am happlily married with 5 kids. I am an accoutant and worked in an accounting field for over 25 years. I like to make a habit of writing down whenever I have deep thoughts about God (so I won't forget). I really into Reformed Theology that is connected to Presbyterian Church in America.

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Location: Columbus, Ohio, United States

I enjoy having deep thoughts about God and put down what I actually think about (so I won't forget).

Monday, May 01, 2006

Holiness IS A GIFT from God (I Agree)

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Grace: The Definition

Grace is used how English translators interpreted grace from GREEK. If you look at Strong's, you will noticed that in greek for KJV in the New Testament Greek Lexicon for "Grace" have 2 entries: 2143 grace eujprevpeia euprepeia: goodly appearance, shapeliness, beauty, comeliness Mentioned only ONCE in James 1:11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 5485 grace cavriß charis : grace that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech good will, loving-kindness, favour of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues what is due to grace the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace the token or proof of grace, benefit a gift of grace benefit, bounty thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward Mentioned in the following books: Luke 8 John 3 Acts 16 Romans 21 1 Corinthians 8 2 Corinthians 18 Galatians 7 Ephesians 12 Philippians 3 Colossians 5 1 Thessalonians 2 2 Thessalonians 4 1 Timothy 4 2 Timothy 5 Titus 4 Philemon 3 Hebrews 7 James 1 1 Peter 10 2 Peter 2 2 John 1 Jude 1 Revelation 2 Total 147 Quotes ON GRACE: "Grace is but Glory begun, and Glory is but Grace perfected." Category: Grace Author: Edwards, Jonathan "This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners, for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ's, and Christ's righteousnes." Category: Atonement Author: Luther, Martin "Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down." Category: Prayer Author: Wesley, John "In efficacious grace we are not merely passive, nor yet does God do some and we do the rest. But God does all, and we do all. God produces all, we act all. For that is what produces, viz. our own acts. God is the only proper author and fountain; we only are the proper actors. We are in different respects, wholly passive and wholly active." Category: Grace Author: Edwards, Jonathan "Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that 'the just shall live by his faith.' Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise." Category: Faith Author: Luther, Martin "No erudition, no purity of diction, no width of mental outlook, no flowers of eloquence, no grace of person can atone for lack of fire. Prayer ascends by fire. Flame gives prayer access as well as wings, acceptance as well as energy. There is no incense without fire; no prayer without flame." Category: Prayer Author: Bounds, E.M. "In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are-dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon." Category: Prayer Author: Taylor, Hudson "This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ’s, and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours." Category: Atonement Author: Luther, Martin "This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ’s, and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours." Category: The Cross Author: Luther, Martin "The bridge of grace will bear your weight, brother. Thousands of big sinners have gone across that bridge, yea, tens of thousands have gone over it. I can hear their trampings now as they traverse the great arches of the bridge of salvation. They come by the thousands, by their myriads, err since that day when Christ first entered His glory. They come and yet never a stone has sprung in that mighty bridge. Some have been the chief of sinners and some have come at the very last of their days but the arch has never yielded beneath their weight. I will go with them…trusting to the same support. It will bear me over as it has for them." Category: Atonement Author: Spurgeon, Charles This dual salutation is found in all the Pauline letters (with "mercy" add in 1 Tim. 1:2 and II Tim. 1:2). Grace is the divine favor showed to man, and peace is that state of spiritual well-being which follows as a result. More than a casual greeting, it bestows what it proclaims. Robert Mounce The Book of Revelation NICNT (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans: 1977) 68 Past grace is glorified by intense and joyful gratitude. Future grace is glorified by intense and joyful confidence. This faith is what frees us and empowers us for venturesome obedience n the cause of Christ. John Piper, Future Grace (Multnomah: 2005) 47 We have suffered from the preaching of cheap grace. Grace is free, but it is not cheap. People will take anything that is free, but they are not interested in discipleship. They will take Christ as Savior but not as Lord. Vance Havner Law tells me how crooked I am; grace comes along and straightens me out. Dwight L. Moody Many times I say, "I can't go up the hill once more. I can't do it again." And what is God's answer? Well, first it is important to know that God doesn't scold a man when his tiredness comes from his battles and his tears from compassion. Francis Schaeffer, Death in the City (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press: 1969) 69 A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart. Charles G. Finney They travel lightly whom God's grace carries. Thomas a Kempis My dear brother, let God make of you what He will, He will end all with consolation, and shall make glory out of your suffering. Samuel Rutherford The same fire which melts the wax hardens the clay; the same sun which makes the living tree grow, dries up the dead tree, and prepares it for burning. Nothing so hardens the heart of man as a barren familiarity with sacred things... it is not privileges alone which make people Christians, but the Grace of the Holy Ghost. J.C. Ryle Many Christians seem to understand the concept of being saved by grace, but they have missed the concept of being sustained by grace. James D. Mallory, Jr. ...what God has done in Christ exhausts all that God has to do for us. R.C. Lucas Grace despised is grace forfeited, like Esau's birthright. They that will not have Christ when they may shall not have him when they would. Matthew Henry

Spiritual Leader's relationship with a discerner

I have greatest respect for the pastors I have known and respected who asked his Church Leaders (Elders, Discernment Ministry) to keep checking on his teacings. One well-known Ohio preacher told his members that they are responsible for testing his teachings. He even said that the church have a ministry to check on every teacher teachings including sunday schools. Everyone is being observe and monitored. A spiritual leader ought to be humble, self-effacing, self-sacrificing, modest, clean living, free from the love of money, eager to promote the honor of God and just as eager to disclaim any credit or praise on self-promotion. Financial accounts will be freely open for inspection, ethical standards will be high and personal life is above reproach. A Spiritual leader who dislike "discerning ministry" or "ruling elders" is a leader you do NOT want. They are like your dictators. It is what they say, who cares what everyone else say. That kind of attitude is very common today.

Holiness from the heart

We still live in a sinful nature while we are set-apart by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation.2 Thessalonians 2:13 "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." We are to offer our bodies (Cost of Discipleship), we are not to look back to our sinful lifestyle before we came to Christ. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Even thought we are "declared" holy, we still live in a sinful body so Peter reminded us that we are to add "our faith"...... 2 Peter 1:5-9 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.