[Jassy]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Christian

I pray that you keep searching and praying for a local church to assemble 'face to face' with other believers. Sure, many churches are in a sad state today but that shouldn't lesson our obligation to gather together with other members of the body regularly for worship and fellowship. God has a local church for you somewhere.

Welcome to this place Jassy, may it be a blessing to your soul.

Thank your for your kind welcome, Matt. Yes, I do realize that assembling face-to-face with other believers is best. There are other considerations for me. I am Deaf and not all churches provide interpreters. The ones that do, aren't preaching the truth, from what I have seen. Then there are the "Deaf Churches" who water down the message so much and only give the MILK of the Word and not the MEAT.

I continue to pray to find a church "home" for myself. Thank you for your prayers!

Jassy

[Jassy]

Originally Posted by biblereader

Hello, sister Jassy. How are you this fine day?
I'm on my way to my volunteer job, but will be back later on.
(Jassy and I have known each other for a long time, she is one of the most solid CHristian friends I have. I thank God for her friendship)

Hello sister!

I'm glad that you've joined the forum here! I also thank God for your friendship as well. What a blessing we have in Jesus!

Jassy

[Jassy]

Brother Tim, Chette and Brandon,

I think I'll steer clear of those on the Fighting Fundamentalists Forum! I've met enough of them for a lifetime. I've seen them so often in online so-called "Christian" chatrooms!

Yep, they love to fight!! And they love to post quotes from perverted Bible translations. If I post there from the KJV, I automatically get slapped with an
"inflexible fundamentalist" label. GOOD! Let them label me as such - I'm SOLID in my faith and not tossed about by every wind of doctrine! (Eph. 4:14)

Jassy

[biblereader]

Originally Posted by Jassy

Brother Tim, Chette and Brandon,

I think I'll steer clear of those on the Fighting Fundamentalists Forum! I've met enough of them for a lifetime. I've seen them so often in online so-called "Christian" chatrooms!

Yep, they love to fight!! And they love to post quotes from perverted Bible translations. If I post there from the KJV, I automatically get slapped with an
"inflexible fundamentalist" label. GOOD! Let them label me as such - I'm SOLID in my faith and not tossed about by every wind of doctrine! (Eph. 4:14)

Jassy

I'm so glad God gave each of us a different spiritual gift, aren't you?
I like to use my armor.
I'm not much in the hospitality or "feel good" gifts, though. That is OK, because God made each of us to fit in a special place, within the body of Christ.

[George]

Originally Posted by Jassy

Tony, I wonder, do the Jesus Only/Oneness Pentecostal cult also believe in Halloween then - since they believe that God wore 3 disguises? The problem with their approach is that they're thinking in HUMAN terms. God is GOD and He is SPIRIT and He does things that we are incapable of and sometimes cannot understand. Yet we have faith and trust in Him and His Word is sure.

If I'm any type of Dispensationalist, then, like you, I must be a Pauline Dispensationalist. Paul did say "MY Gospel" - and not Christ's Gospel. Paul's teachings were different from all the other Apostles' teachings. He based the Church upon GRACE.

I'm still confused about some things. For example, God choses us:

Ephesians 1:4 - "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,..."

And yet, Rev. 22:17 makes it appear that we have free will to choose: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

I believe that we cannot come to the faith in Jesus Christ on our own:

John 6:44 - "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

There are so many that think that once you're called, that's it and there's nothing else you can do. I guess they call that "irresistable grace." That doesn't sound right to me. A person is given a free will - or else we are all just puppets.

It is true that God KNOWS all things and He knows who will choose or reject Him. He knows when he has drawn a person and what that person's reaction and choice are.

I believe that God drew me to Him several times, and I DID resist Him. I did not, at that time, understand. But God is very patient, and He loves us, He will (and did) try several times. He did that with me, until the timing was right for me to respond with JOY and strong FAITH.

That doesn't mean that God chose the wrong timing with me, at first, it was just His plan to do that in my life.

Jassy

Aloha Jassy,

I want to echo all of the other welcomes coming from the brethren here on the Forum.

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, you stated: "I'm still confused about some things. For example, God chooses us:"

If you care to check out my Thread & subsequent Posts on Calvinism, you might find some information that may be of some help to you.

The main body of the study on the Five Points of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P.):

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...53&postcount=1
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...59&postcount=3
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...44&postcount=9
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=45
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...0&postcount=67
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=89
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=96


Additional comments in answer to some questions:

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...6&postcount=13
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...3&postcount=16
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=25
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=37
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=52
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...2&postcount=54
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=59
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...1&postcount=60
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=62
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=73
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=75
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...0&postcount=87
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=101
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=110
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=117

All you have to do is "click on" the Link and it will take you to the particular "Thread" or "Post".

I know this is a whole lot of information, but I too wondered for many years about these things before undertaking this study. I believe that if Christians sincerely search for the truth, God will show them (in His own time) the truth. It took 40 years of study and preparation before I could try to "tackle" this issue; I couldn't have done it 10 years ago - I wasn't "prepared", and God hadn't revealed some of the things to me, that He has revealed in the last few years.

If you have any questions - you might check out the "comments" Posts. There were several questions from some of the members of the Forum and I may have already answered your question elsewhere.

Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

[Jassy]

Originally Posted by George

Aloha Jassy,

I want to echo all of the other welcomes coming from the brethren here on the Forum.

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, you stated: "I'm still confused about some things. For example, God chooses us:"

If you care to check out my Thread & subsequent Posts on Calvinism, you might find some information that may be of some help to you.

The main body of the study on the Five Points of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P.):

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...53&postcount=1
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...59&postcount=3
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...44&postcount=9
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=45
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...0&postcount=67
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=89
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=96


Additional comments in answer to some questions:

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...6&postcount=13
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...3&postcount=16
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=25
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=37
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=52
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...2&postcount=54
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...9&postcount=59
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...1&postcount=60
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=62
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...7&postcount=73
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...5&postcount=75
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...0&postcount=87
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=101
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=110
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...&postcount=117

All you have to do is "click on" the Link and it will take you to the particular "Thread" or "Post".

I know this is a whole lot of information, but I too wondered for many years about these things before undertaking this study. I believe that if Christians sincerely search for the truth, God will show them (in His own time) the truth. It took 40 years of study and preparation before I could try to "tackle" this issue; I couldn't have done it 10 years ago - I wasn't "prepared", and God hadn't revealed some of the things to me, that He has revealed in the last few years.

If you have any questions - you might check out the "comments" Posts. There were several questions from some of the members of the Forum and I may have already answered your question elsewhere.

Psalms 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Greetings George,

Thank you for your welcome. I've studied Calvinism in the past - but you've posted some good things previously, so I will study again and I'll respond after some time. I don't yet know your view of Calvinism but, when I studied it in the past, I felt that it didn't fit, overall, with the Bible. I know some diehard Calvinists that INSIST that their T.U.L.I.P. is the only way to believe. I thought that the Word of God was the only way to believe!

Thanks for reposting some links to your previous threads. (Oops! I originally typed "threats"!! and that was totally unintended! Good thing I caught that and changed my typo!) I've been a Bible reader and studier for about 30 years.

Jassy

[Jassy]

Originally Posted by biblereader

I'm so glad God gave each of us a different spiritual gift, aren't you?
I like to use my armor.
I'm not much in the hospitality or "feel good" gifts, though. That is OK, because God made each of us to fit in a special place, within the body of Christ.

As to spiritual gifts, I'm definitely more of an encourager than an exhorter. I dislike when discussions veer off into name calling and/or threats. To me, that is immature and uncalled for. Since we are to be "one mind in Christ" (Rom. 12:16, 15:6; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 1:27, 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8), the only thing that I can see is that some are not truly a part of the BODY of Christ or perhaps they just enjoy being contentious (1 Cor. 1:11; Titus 3:9)!

Yes, we are all DIFFERENT parts - but like a body, unless it is diseased, all the parts work TOGETHER for the good of the whole. Jesus Christ is the HEAD or the BRAIN that every other part must be plugged into in order to correctly function. I love that analogy! (1 Cor. 12)

Jassy

[greenbear]

Originally Posted by Jassy

The way I see it is that everything is going according to plan - GOD'S DIVINE PLAN!!

Amen, Sister!

[greenbear]

Originally Posted by Jassy

Tony, I wonder, do the Jesus Only/Oneness Pentecostal cult also believe in Halloween then - since they believe that God wore 3 disguises? The problem with their approach is that they're thinking in HUMAN terms. God is GOD and He is SPIRIT and He does things that we are incapable of and sometimes cannot understand. Yet we have faith and trust in Him and His Word is sure.

If I'm any type of Dispensationalist, then, like you, I must be a Pauline Dispensationalist. Paul did say "MY Gospel" - and not Christ's Gospel. Paul's teachings were different from all the other Apostles' teachings. He based the Church upon GRACE.

I'm still confused about some things. For example, God choses us:

Ephesians 1:4 - "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,..."

And yet, Rev. 22:17 makes it appear that we have free will to choose: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

I believe that we cannot come to the faith in Jesus Christ on our own:

John 6:44 - "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

There are so many that think that once you're called, that's it and there's nothing else you can do. I guess they call that "irresistable grace." That doesn't sound right to me. A person is given a free will - or else we are all just puppets.

It is true that God KNOWS all things and He knows who will choose or reject Him. He knows when he has drawn a person and what that person's reaction and choice are.

I believe that God drew me to Him several times, and I DID resist Him. I did not, at that time, understand. But God is very patient, and He loves us, He will (and did) try several times. He did that with me, until the timing was right for me to respond with JOY and strong FAITH.

That doesn't mean that God chose the wrong timing with me, at first, it was just His plan to do that in my life.

Jassy

Jassy,

I hope I'm not responding to ALL of your posts but I can't help it! The fact that you reject Calvinism and Arminianism with little or no biblical construct is fascinating and wonderful. What a testimony that is to understanding the character of God by faith alone in His goodness. I used to be absolutely tormented by this issue. If you become even remotely familiar with a dispensational framework for viewing the scriptures as a whole I know a whole lot of confusion will just 'melt away" as it did with me. If I could I would mail copies of some of Dave Hunt's books to you. I would especially recommend "What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentaion Of God" and "A Woman Rides The Beast". They are graced by the Spirit of Truth.

[Jassy]

Originally Posted by greenbear

Jassy,

I hope I'm not responding to ALL of your posts but I can't help it! The fact that you reject Calvinism and Arminianism with little or no biblical construct is fascinating and wonderful. What a testimony that is to understanding the character of God by faith alone in His goodness. I used to be absolutely tormented by this issue. If you become even remotely familiar with a dispensational framework for viewing the scriptures as a whole I know a whole lot of confusion will just 'melt away" as it did with me. If I could I would mail copies of some of Dave Hunt's books to you. I would especially recommend "What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentaion Of God" and "A Woman Rides The Beast". They are graced by the Spirit of Truth.

Greenbear,

You are most welcome to respond to any or all of my posts! I'm happy to communicate with a sister in the Lord! I think that I am more familiar than would be suggested by some of my posts. However, I am just not "up" on the terminology used. I've been studying the Bible for over 30 years (most of that in the KJV/AV), so I do think that I have a pretty good grounding in the Word of God.) I have primarily studied it on my own - not in formal Bible studies or groups or in a church.

I know what Calvinism is and I rejected it when I heard it. I have in my mind what I believe the Holy Spirit has led me to. I trust in that.

Thank you for the book recommendations! They sound very good and I'll look for them.

Jassy