Posted by Thermionic [ 70.173.82.75 ] on September 26, 2005 at 23:37:07:
In Reply to: Re: Janet Jackson posted by Manualblock on September 26, 2005 at 12:55:36:
"The Holy Bible is a "jurney" of God`s People from the "eye for an eye" of the Old Times/Testament to "love your enemies" of the New Testament."
Yes, and no. God has not ever changed, from before that time until now. The difference is, there is now a different dispensation in effect for God's people. When te death penalty was set in order, it was the dispensation of human government, followed by the dispensation of the levitical Law of Moses, followed by the dispensation of grace. Capital punishment was never abolished throughout these dispensations.
The "Christian soldier" thing in the context of violence is a farce. Throughout the ages, it's been used by entities taking up the moniker of "Christian," to impose their silly "religion." You cannot impose it on anyone, it is strictly voluntary. You cannot "convert to it." You cannot become one by calling yourself one or by believeing you are. Calling yourself a Christian or going to church doesn't make you one any more than standing in your garage and calling yourself a car makes you a car. You must be born again to become a Christian. And the Christian soldier's battle is a spiritual one, not against flesh and blood.
Christianity is not a religion, although many religions that are called such are indeed practiced. Christianity is a REAL, supernatural, life-changing experience with the living God. Religion is what man does in vain to reach a holy God, which is impossible to do because of man's sin. OTOH, salvation is what God has done to reach man, which DOES work, because sin is eliminated. Religion is something a man adds TO his ways, but salvation will separate a man FROM his ways.
The Bible was written by many pens, but by one author, the Holy Ghost, as he gave the inspiration. There are no contradictions anywhere, on the contrary it compliments itself from beginning to end. The teachings of Christ do not contradict the Old Testament in any manner. The Law was given because of transgressors, so that sin could be defined, but it could not forgive sin or make you righteous. It was so complex, no one could keep it.
Jesus came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it as only he could, so it's true righteousness could be fulfilled in those who accepted him. Not by the obedience of the letter of the Law, as man cannot not fulfill it's righteousness in his sinful, iniquitous state, but through repentance and accepting the sacrifice of Christ that paid the debt of sin.
With your sins forgiven through repentance and accepting Jesus into your heart, your spirit (which was dead because of sin) is made alive through the blood, and the eyes of the spiritual understanding and consciousness of the spiritual realm are opened. With sin and iniquity out of the way, fellowship with God is attained, just as with Adam and Eve in the garden. You are given a different spirit, the Spirit of Christ, and his righteousness is fulfilled in you. The Old Testament Law could not take away sin, it only told what sin was. Christ's sacrifice is the only thing that could take away sin.
Because a born again child of God has his Spirit, the commandment is stricter than the Law. As long as one who has been born again stays in close communion with God, and yields to the Spirit instead of his flesh, he will not sin, indeed cannot sin, because there is no longer any iniquity in him.
Because a real, true blue, Holy Ghost-filled believer no longer has the fallen, sinful Adamitic nature, Jesus made some changes to the commandments. Whereas under the Law it was permitted to hate your neighbor, while under grace it is sin. Under the Law, adultery was punishable by death, but lusting was not a transgression. Under grace, merely looking on a woman to lust is equal with the very act of adultery. Under the Law, drunkenness was permitted. Under grace, it is listed right beside cold blooded murder on the list of the sins of the flesh.
I used to believe it was nothing but religion and a crutch for weak-minded people, and that the Bible was a farce and full of contradictions. That is, until one night 12 years ago when I was sick of how I was feeling inside. I knew there must be a better way. I wasn't at all what most would call a "bad person," but I did harbor a good bit of bitterness and discontent inside, and although I didn't hurt anybody, I still had a bad temper. From drinking a few beers on the weekend, I started getting pretty lit on Saturdays, and then went to drinking some during the week a night or two. I was feeling more empty and discontent on the inside all the time.
I knelt at my bedside at home one night, with a repentant heart, and asked Jesus to save me. I didn't even know what I was really asking, and didn't know a single Bible verse. But, I had a sincere heart, and someone met me in that bedroom and I began to weep and cry, and I felt the weight of what seemed like hundreds of pounds lifted from my back and shoulders, and a warm feeling of peace and love I'd never felt before flooded my body.
Since that night 12 years ago, I've never drank another drop, and had no desire to do so. I have no malice, guile, or bitterness in my heart at all anymore.
I also had one of the filthiest mouths of anyone I've ever known, and I've not said a single word of profanity since that day. The cusser moved out when Jesus moved in. The two cannot exist together.
My temper was gone. Now, I practically do not get angry AT ALL, and when I do it is very slow to come and very mild; never even raising my voice above a normal speaking tone even at the worst.
If Christ moves in, there will be a huge change in your life immediately. The things you once loved, you will hate, and the things you once hated, you'll love. I used to HATE church, and would go maybe once a year on Easter to make someone else happy. Well, teh Lord called me to preach and I've since been the assistant pastor of a church and spent about 7 years evangelizing. I never attend church less than 3 times a week, and am usually looking forward to the next service by the time the one I'm in is over! I've spent two weeks at a time in church every night several times.
I've seen countless people saved and delivered instantly, completely, and permanently from alcoholism, drug addiction, you name it. I myself have been completely healed of everything from an ingrown toenail to extreme, uncontrollable, undiagnosed chronic high blood pressure. I've seen others instantly healed from cancer, diabetes (some of them on their death beds!), problems with the heart, back, stomach, legs, ears, eyes, everything, and even seen deformed hands and fingers and broken bones healed instantly. Babies, kids, teens, young adults, middle age, elderly. I've seen a 12 year old girl that had never walked without braces on her legs take them off and run around. I've seen people come up out of wheelchairs shouting and dancing.
Yes, this thing is VERY REAL. You don't see it much because of all the hypocrisy, worldliness, and sin in most of the "church world" today, but that doesn't affect God one iota. What God will do for whosoever will has not changed and will not. Until you meet Jesus, you do not really know what love, peace, or joy are in any sense of the words. He is the Prince of Peace, God is love, and as the Bible describes born-again salvation: "Joy unspeakable, and full of glory." Indeed, there are no words to express it..... Jesus. To know him, is to love him. And to know his love for YOU.
Thermionic 
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