Grace Centered Magazine

The Tumblr page for GraceCentered.com, an Internet publication and message board for Christians.

[gracecentered]

Have You Ever Noticed This In ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas?’

There's something very important in the Charlie Brown Christmas show that you probably haven't noticed.

[gracecentered]

Re: God's Sovereignty in the Salvation of Men

Quote from: 4WD on Today at 10:07:42It would take pages and pages to actually do that.  The point to be made here is that God as the only determinate of whom He saves is just plain wrong.  God saves those who believe.  It is the individual who makes the decision to believe or to not believe, not God.  The fundamental doctrine of Calvinism as it relates to salvation and expressed in  "TULIP" is false  --  disastrously so. This is not an answer but this is typical of you to not produce the goods when asked to.    You have used select adjectives to describe the God of those of the Reformed view and seemingly had no prior hesitation in doing so. You can save your Calvin lectures as far as I'm concerned as I'm not a Calvinist.   You ought to know that Calvin was not the main teacher of the Reformed view.    I believe in the Grace of God, as the Apostle Paul taught it to the Church.   God's Grace was first taught in Genesis.   The Book of Hebrews confirms that we have no righteousness before God without Christ standing in our place.    http://dlvr.it/Pd9JhG

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Re: Boundaries in dating/courtship

Quote from: heyhey92 on Sat Jul 15, 2017 - 22:36:19I am all for waiting until marriage to have sex. I, however, have been physical in the past (e.g. kissing, fondling, etc.). My boyfriend and I have agreed to wait until marriage to have sex. However, we have gotten physical, as in kissing on the neck, his hands wandering, etc. I've told him that I do not want to kiss him on the lips, yet whenever he is kissing my neck and stuff, his lips end up by mine and I have to tell him no. This has happened many times. He kept asking why I didn't want to kiss on the lips, and I said I just didn't want to. I at least want to save THAT for marriage, since we've done other things. He initiated all these things from the beginning. I never asked for it, but as time went on, I began to ask him to do those physical things, and I always felt guilty after doing them. I guess it may be my fault. What do you do when you feel guilty after getting physical (e.g. your boyfriend kissing your neck, his hands wandering, and all that), and he thinks it's okay because "well, we're not having sex." He said he's tried to make me happy using other means, but it hasn't worked, and the only time he's seen me happy is when we've been physical. He said that there are health benefits to caressing. I've been with this guy for about 6 months. It's interesting because before we started dating, he asked me what I thought about kissing and caressing when dating, and I said I thought it was wrong. He replied by saying, "yeah, one kiss can lead to lust." With that statement, I thought he would be against us getting physical as well. I told my mom about that statement he made and she was relieved, so she obviously also thought he would be against it. He later told me that he likes kissing and caressing. I've expressed disapproval of all these things, and he said he would leave it up to me to set boundaries. I have a problem with that; I feel that the guy, as the head, should be the one to set boundaries. I've heard of lo... http://dlvr.it/Pd9Jh3

[gracecentered]

Re: Dialogue box???

Quote from: SwordMaster on Yesterday at 12:05:39 Hello! What has happened to the dialogue box? I can no longer enlarge the box so that I can see all of the post that I want to respond to. I can only see 8 lines now rather than being able to see the whole post. It is very aggravating. thanks! Are you referring to the box in which you reply to, with or without the quoted text? If so, the box is expandable by moving it up or down at the point shown in the pic below. I guess the pic won't paste...but yah, I have tried that several times, but all it does is highlite the section... + Attachments and other options shortcuts: hit alt+s to submit/post or alt+p to preview but doesn't move the box down to make it larger. Is this, for some reason, a malfunction with my computer? http://dlvr.it/Pd8bb5

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Re: The Firmament of Ice and the Water from the Great Flood

Quote from: cgaviria on Today at 15:21:48This study explains what the "firmament" was and where the waters came from that caused the great flood of Noah, and also what the "foundations of the earth" are and why the earth is said to be founded on the seas. The study can be found in English here http://www.wisdomofgod.co/2017/02/06/the-firmament-of-ice-and-the-water-from-the-great-flood/ or in Spanish here http://www.sabiduriadedios.co/2017/02/06/el-firmamento-de-hielo-y-el-agua-de-la-gran-inundacion/ . Let us begin a discussion on these matters. Your first error... QuoteIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without order, and empty; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 [JB200]) And it was above these waters that God made dry land appear on the third day of creation, No, the Scriptures say that the dry land came out of the water, it does not say anywhere that God made land appear "above these waters" like you erroneously claim. Second error... QuoteWhich is why the earth is said to be founded above the seas, Of David. A psalm. The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalm 24:1-2 [NIV]) For the dry land, which God called “earth”, is what he founded above the waters, which he called “seas”, First, here it is interesting that you pick and choose different translations which you think proves your points, speaking of slight of hand... Second, Scripture says that God made the land out of the water, not on the water... 2 Peter 3:5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, Genesis 1:9 And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. Plus, as ... http://dlvr.it/PXyKHV

[gracecentered]

Re: Why Preterism is False

 "for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." If you are one of us, faithful followers of Jesus, I love you too, RB.  But someone kept asking, who are the Kings of the East and where do they come from?. The answer; not Rome, not China -- but Babylon. see Zechariah 5.  They have been set on a base in Shinar.  They have an evil scroll that says God cuts off this and cuts off that for every sin.  Not true.  God is waiting for people to learn to be kind like he is. He says their flying scroll is a curse, because it lies about who He really is.  Zechariah 4:6 says who he is.  "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." and He shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." The cursed however are the 8th incarnation of the Bear, the Lion, and the Leopard conglomerate of Rev. 13.  and they will go into perdition per Revelation 17:10.  Babylon used to be a mystery, but this final incarnation in these last days make it pretty much a slam dunk.  Mystery no more. Can you dig it, RB? http://dlvr.it/PXyKGl

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Knowing Christ

Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 5:16, that if we did once know Christ in the flesh, now, that is not how we should know Him. ."Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." What a beautiful transition Paul presents here. Jesus of Nazareth was so prominent in the early Church that those who had seen and talked with Jesus were very prominent believers. This was wonderful, just to hear first-hand about the Savior, but this Jesus, the Jesus who lived in the body given to Him by Mary of Nazareth, was not the Lord who was to be the life of every man born again. The Holy Spirit had formed a new and greater body at Pentecost, and Christ was to be and is the life of that body, sharing that incorruptible life with every member. This is why Paul taught that we are no longer to know Jesus in the flesh, meaning Jesus of Nazareth. But let us pay special attention to the “now” here.  This now is the essence of what the Father is doing today. Now, right now, the Spirit is revealing the Son in the believers as never before. The “now generation” is alive and well. Jesus is alive in believers who are seeing Christ as their only life. What a glorious move of the Spirit this is. Perhaps the most popular now is to be found in Galatians, 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Paul says that the life he then lived was Christ. It was a life that he lived in the flesh, his flesh, and he lived it by the faith of the Son of God. Oh, the glories found in this now. While so many misled believers are attempting to perfect their flesh by their own self-effort, Paul says that Jesus, God’s gift of life to the believer, has elected to live in the believer’s flesh (body) now, no waiting, no self-effort to perfect the body, but now! This idea does not fit with religion.  Relig... http://dlvr.it/PX4QxD

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Re: What on earth is piney.com?

QuoteI hope that all posters here will look at this web site and find out just how far legalism can be taken.    I posted a comment about legalism some days ago and a member here who is of the same denomination as the owner of Piney asked me to give him an example of legalism.   Well, this web site speaks LEGALISM about as loud as it can be spoken John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We SPEAK that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. John 8:38 I SPEAK that which I have seen with my Father: and ye DO that which ye have seen with your father. [the devil] LEGALISM IS DEFINED IN THE LITERATURE SO WE CANNOT BE FOOLED Legalism or NOMOS defined. -Nomos , ho, ( [nemô] ) can mean "the Law of God" without respect to MOSES. A. that which is in habitual practice, use or possession, not in Hom. (cf. J.Ap.2.15), though read by Zenod. in Od.1.3. I. usage, custom, Mousai melpontai pantōn te nomous kai ēthea kedna” Hes.Th.66; “n. arkhaios aristos” II. melody, strain, “oida d' ornikhōn nomōs pantōn” Alcm.67; “n. hippios” Pi.O. 1.101; “Apollōn hageito pantoiōn n.” Id.N.5.25; “n. polemikoi” Th.5.69; “epēlalaxan Arai ton oxun n.” A.Th.952 (lyr.); “krektoi n.” S.Fr. 463, cf. AP9.584: metaph., “tous Haidou n.” S.Fr.861. 2. esp. a type of early melody created by Terpander for the lyre as an accompaniment to Epic texts, “n. orthios” Hdt.1.24; “n. Boiōtios” S.Fr.966; “n. kitharōdikoi” Ar.Ra.1282, cf. Pl.Lg.700d, Arist.Po.1447b26, Pr.918b13, etc.; also for the flute, “n. aulōdikos” Plu.2.1132d; without sung text, n. aulētikos ib.1133d, cf. 138b, Poll.4.79; later, composition including both words and melody, e.g. Tim.Pers. -Mousa 1 [*maô] I. the Muse, in pl. the Muses, goddesses of song, music, poetry, dancing, the drama, and all fine arts, Hom.: the names of the nine were Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia or Polyhymnia, Urania, and Calliope, Hes., II. mousa, as appellat., music, song, Pind., Trag.:--als... http://dlvr.it/PX4Qvt

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Re: What think you???

It screams scam.They are almost certainly after your bank account details or will expect you to give them money before the cheque has cleared.  http://dlvr.it/PX26qr

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Re: Faith ??

Quote from: yogi bear on Mon Jun 05, 2017 - 09:49:08What is faith? How do you define faith? After much consideration I would say that the faith of God's elect is base upon this: Quote"A firm and certain knowledge of God's benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit."Listen to David's last words~(which would be the time that his faith was the greatest)Quote2nd Samuel 23:1-5~"Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."These are words of David a man of great faith spoke with a a firm and certain knowledge of God's love toward him that was founded upon an everlasting covenant of God's promises to him through HIS SEED, which was Christ! Those men and women, who trust in God wonderful benevolence toward them through Christ are the ONLY true children of faith! I have tons of scriptures coming to support my doctrine of the definition of faith~all other faith is nothing more than the faith of devils, who despises the God of the holy scriptures for their own made man gods born out of the im... http://dlvr.it/PX26pj

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Re: Faith ??

SwordMaster~ your replies 86-90 are words of desperation and from an individual who has "no defense and scriptural answers" ~so, no use to continue this dialogue with a man that is unreasonable and void of spiritual light on this subject, that's under consideration. I shall follow my Lord's command from Matthew 15:13,14. Now, Faith's definition............ http://dlvr.it/PX1P5G

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Re: Forgiveness

Whether the "offender" asks for forgiveness or not (or may not care about the issue at all) - the important thing is to quickly tell the Lord about our hurt and ask Him to help us forgive the  transgressors.  It is undeniable that "unforgiveness" is "corrosive" and will ultimately have a bearing on one's own health - and of course "peace of mind".  Remember what Isaiah wrote about the expected Messiah, our Jesus "He was afflicted but did not open His mouth!".  At His Passion He did not complain or curse his afflictors, and no matter how bad the hurt we feel, that has to be our attitude as well.  The memories of past hurts stay with us, but we can relinquish them - it is just "water under the bridge".  Is there punishment for the offender - I think there will be, even if it only a realization of shame, for doesn't it say in Scripture "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord!", and the cosmos seems to be arranged so that "There is a cost to everything" (Please do inform me if you know of any departure from this maxim in Life or Physics!).  So it is to the offender's ultimate hurt for any bad act against others - an issue which may be raised up "when books are opened" at our judgement.  However, what a wonderful mercy that our trust in Christ and the efficacy of His Precious Blood will outweigh our countless faults! http://dlvr.it/PX1P4H

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Re: What think you???

IMO Don't get involved with any thing that offers some sort of "lollipop offer", "remittance" or unexpected windfall.  I very nearly fell for a bad scam last year - involving £9000 while I forgot that "TEAM VIEWER" (used for video conferencing using PCs) s/w was operational on my PC (was persuaded to buy a couple of months sub for it, so the scammer could prove to me that my email a/c was being hacked!), while I was distracted and had gone into internet banking.  I could only  see on my screen the a/c into which the promised "remittance" was said to be transferred.  While I was staring at my screen, I noticed my mouse cursor jiggling a bit, but didn't "smell a rat" then.  Unbeknown to me 'cos the other a/cs were "off-screen", they had lifted £9000 from our joint savings a/c and put it up into the a/c where I was looking.  Over the phone I said "But you've' transferred far too much - it was only supposed to be about £200 remittance for the terminated contract!" and they replied "Oh yes - we've made a terrible mistake by transferring far too much - can you please return it to us!". Then they specified a private a/c to receive the "supposed excess" - so I knew it was a "scam" for sure!  I immediately terminated phone contact, shut down my PC and shot into town to talk to my bank!  They told me what I hadn't seen on my PC screen, reset everything as it should have been and advised me to tell the police - I did, but they weren't interested unless money had actually been taken! I asked the bank to shut-down my Visa debit card (used online to buy the short term sub for the s/w) and issue me a new one. Since I did not know what other mischief the scammers might have done, I reset my PC back to it's factory state - which took quite a time of course.  But getting my PC back to an operational state - re-loading clean s/w etc took yet another "age"!  Afterwards I looked on Wikipedia for info on "TEAM VIEWER" and it did have a warning that there had been some instances of it being used in scams!... http://dlvr.it/PX0knT

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Re: answering bdnorman...

Quote from: AVZ on Tue Jul 18, 2017 - 04:41:21Bel, I think you are misinterpreting Matthew 3:11 For a clear understanding of the text you must also read verse 12. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” John the Baptist speaks about two different kinds of "baptisms" here. The first is the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the second is the baptism with fire. Verse 12 gives us insight in what John the Baptist means with this. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is the wheat that is gathered into the barn...those who are saved. The baptism with fire is the chaff that is being burned...those are not saved The word baptism expressed here is used as a figure of speech, not an actual baptism. The actual baptism was done with water. I think you are both right and wrong.  I agree that Spirit-baptism means conversion, and fire-baptism refers to the ultimate destiny of those who do not convert. But you can't dismiss the fact that all three Synoptics, and less explicitly John, present Spirit-baptism as a *contrast* and *replacement* for the proselyte water baptisms John was performing. http://dlvr.it/PX05NN

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Re: Oak Hills Church (A Church of Christ) - Belief Statement

Quote from: Kenneth Sublett on Tue Jul 18, 2017 - 15:48:00A Church of Christ is built upon or EDUCATED by the Prophets and Apostles: God breathed (spirit) and the prophets by the Spirit OF Christ defined the Church of Christ both inclusively and exclusively. It is clear that almost no one posing as a teacher has ever read the prophets or the story line of the Jewish terminal fall from grace. This is the NONESENSE I just posted which is the Spirit OF Christ speaking.  Blame God!! Is. 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Is. 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Is. 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  [This gives one A holy spirit] Is. 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Is. 1:20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it BELIEF or Faith or PISTIS includes to COMPLY Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,         and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:16 He that believeth [compies] and is baptized shall be saved;         but he that believeth not [will not comply] shall be damned. g4100.  pisteuo, pist-yoo´-o; from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ): — believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. 2. comply, hōs oukh hupeixōn oude pisteusōn legeis; S.OT625, cf. 646 ; Opposite to apisteō, Id.Tr.1228 APISTOS doesn't mean "just don't yet believe."  refuse to comply, disbelieve, distrust, “was distrusted, i.e. no one could be sure of knowing,  apeitheō, disobey to be faithless  Those who refuse or DI... http://dlvr.it/PWyrl2

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Re: Defining Modesty

Quote from: chosenone on Yesterday at 16:32:53  There are modest ways of breast feeding as well. Sure.  But exactly what those are will vary from one culture to another. http://dlvr.it/PWyrjT

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Re: Rand Paul

Rand doesn't have the support for his plan. Whether his plan is the best possible plan, or not - if there's no support for it - there's no support for it. http://dlvr.it/PWDGDp