Hello and a few questions...

[duster]

For starters, hello to everyone who reads this! I'll start by explaining myself a bit for some background info as to not be misunderstood in any questions I have... I am indeed a born again Christian and I hope that, for what its worth, that can be believed by you all here; after all, the internet is accessible by anyone, so I nor anyone else on this site could 100% prove their faith through a forum, so hopefully we can have some trust factor at work .

That said, I stumbled across this forum in google looking through a few Christain based forums, and something caught my attention, which was the "label" type things below people's user names, especially ones who have been banned, which reads "Confirmed Enemy of God BANNED from Landover -- Aeternal Damnation Assured ". I honestly didn't know what to think when I read that. Is it simply a stylized way of writing "banned" with some humor, or are the site moderators truly saying that they have the wisdom to predict who is an enemy of God and will indeed go to hell?

Also it seems those who have low post counts are "unsaved trash" which I find to be an offensive label to put on anyone. Reading through a few other introductory posts I noticed that there is a large number of users who like to "diagnose", for lack of a better word, peoples eternity by what they have done in their life and what sins they have committed. I suppose my main question is, is it a general belief here that one human (imperfect and full of sin as we ALL ARE) can speak for God in telling another His plans for their soul?

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Praise Jesus and welcome, friend! You'll find us to be a friendly tight knit bunch to fellow true believers. You will also find we tend to err on the side of caution.

Everyone starts off as unsaved trash until a determination is made whether that poster is sincere in God's love or is here to cause trouble in accordance with Matthew 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

[Jeb Stuart Thurmond]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Fellow, Friend.

are the site moderators truly saying that they have the wisdom to predict who is an enemy of God and will indeed go to hell?

One does not need to "predict" that those who blaspheme the Holy Ghost will burn. The Bible makes it clear:

Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness

Oh, and also, we are not all full of sin, having been washed in the blood of the lamb we are clean of sin, and incapable of sinning:

1st John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
1st John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1st John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1st John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1st John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

[duster]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Thanks for the welcome brother!

I understand your caution, as even reading through only a few posts it's pretty clear that there are a lot of people who come here, post something ridiculous, have a laugh then split. I guess I just see any labels that, whether seriously or not, label someones eternal soul, obviously something only God Himself can know, it comes across to me as cheapening the importance and the value of a human soul. I'm just looking for some clarity in intent.

Please don't misunderstand me either, I'm probably coming across this way, but I'm truly not trying to come into this forum to start a flame war or bash anyone. I just like to understand people's intentions.

Despite my ignorance, I would like to say that this is a truly blessed thing you all have going here and I'd like to congratulate you all on keeping it going; forums of this nature are a relatively rare thing.

God bless

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Thanks for the welcome brother!

I understand your caution, as even reading through only a few posts it's pretty clear that there are a lot of people who come here, post something ridiculous, have a laugh then split. I guess I just see any labels that, whether seriously or not, label someones eternal soul, obviously something only God Himself can know, it comes across to me as cheapening the importance and the value of a human soul. I'm just looking for some clarity in intent.

Please don't misunderstand me either, I'm probably coming across this way, but I'm truly not trying to come into this forum to start a flame war or bash anyone. I just like to understand people's intentions.

Despite my ignorance, I would like to say that this is a truly blessed thing you all have going here and I'd like to congratulate you all on keeping it going; forums of this nature are a relatively rare thing.

God bless

Why thank you very much and the same to you.

What Church do you attend? What is your favorite Bible Verse? Are you a married man?

[duster]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Fellow, Friend.



One does not need to "predict" that those who blaspheme the Holy Ghost will burn. The Bible makes it clear:

Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness

The only problem I still have with this is that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not so identifiable as we mere mortals. When someone speaks blaspheme, how can you, me or anyone be so sure that they are TRULY speaking against the Holy Spirit, or if they are perhaps speaking against the established church and institutionalized religion? The words of man can be harsh and we often say things we don't understand, but there is a difference between someone verbally rejecting God out of misunderstanding and like the pharisees KNOWINGLY speaking blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" Matthew 12:31-32

[duster]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Why thank you very much and the same to you.

What Church do you attend? What is your favorite Bible Verse? Are you a married man?

I attend a church called Hillside Bible Church in Michigan, very recently changed from Ortonville Baptist Church. Still a Baptist Church, but soon to be relocated out of Ortonville, so the name lost its meaning a bit as you might imagine. My favorite Bible verse is Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." I'm 19 years old, and I am quite unmarried.

How about yourself friend?

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

The only problem I still have with this is that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not so identifiable as we mere mortals. When someone speaks blaspheme, how can you, me or anyone be so sure that they are TRULY speaking against the Holy Spirit, or if they are perhaps speaking against the established church and institutionalized religion? The words of man can be harsh and we often say things we don't understand, but there is a difference between someone verbally rejecting God out of misunderstanding and like the pharisees KNOWINGLY speaking blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" Matthew 12:31-32

What sort of horse hockey is this? The crime of blasphemy was an executable offense not so long ago.

Don't you know we have to account for everything we say? Later in the chapter Jesus says.

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

I attend a church called Hillside Bible Church in Michigan, very recently changed from Ortonville Baptist Church. Still a Baptist Church, but soon to be relocated out of Ortonville, so the name lost its meaning a bit as you might imagine. My favorite Bible verse is Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." I'm 19 years old, and I am quite unmarried.

How about yourself friend?

Inspiring choice of verse. The "malefactor" has just defended Jesus and has asked Him to remember him.

It definitely shows the infinite forgiveness of God. It doesn't matter what you have done on this earth(except blaspheme the Holy Spirit). As long as you repent at the right time, you're in!

Shout Glory!

Edit: I'm 33 and married. My wife and I have three children.

[duster]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

What sort of horse hockey is this? The crime of blasphemy was an executable offense not so long ago.

Don't you know we have to account for everything we say? Later in the chapter Jesus says.

Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Auther Dr. Henry Morris said it better than I can;

"The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways, but the true meaning cannot contradict other Scripture. It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man,' God said long ago (Genesis 6:3).
…In the context of this particular passage (Matthew 12:22-32), Jesus had performed a great miracle of creation, involving both healing and casting out a demon, but the Pharisees rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit. Instead they attributed His powers to Satan, thus demonstrating an attitude permanently resistant to the Spirit, and to the deity and saving Gospel of Christ"

If someone is TRULY seeking repentance, then they cannot have truly spoken blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

[Levi Jones]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

Auther Dr. Henry Morris said it better than I can;

"The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways, but the true meaning cannot contradict other Scripture. It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man,' God said long ago (Genesis 6:3).

Send him on over for a schooling any old time he feels like it. No it isn't! Brother Jeb just posted the relevant scripture for you.

If I may add:

Luke 12:10
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

In the context of this particular passage (Matthew 12:22-32), Jesus had performed a great miracle of creation, involving both healing and casting out a demon, but the Pharisees rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit. Instead they attributed His powers to Satan, thus demonstrating an attitude permanently resistant to the Spirit, and to the deity and saving Gospel of Christ"

If someone is TRULY seeking repentance, then they cannot have truly spoken blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Wrong again. In Matthew 12, the Pharisees are clearly claiming that Jesus is not healing by the power of the Holy Spirit, but by that of Beelzebub/Satan.

Verse 24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Jesus denies it logically and then sums it up clearly with the prohibition against blasphemy of the Holy Ghost in verses 31 and 32.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.



Quit trying to interpret the Word and accept it.

[Rachel Sue]

Re: Hello and a few questions...

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" Matthew 12:31-32

Close, friend.
Matthew 12
31: Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Luke 23
43: And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

"The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways...

You see, here at Landover Baptist, we do NOT interpret the word of God. We don't have to! If you read and learn the correct version of the Bible (King James Version 1611) there is absolutely no reason not to take it at face value.

To interpret God's word is a sign of unholy human ego. It is as though you are telling Him that you know better than He does regarding what He meant. We read and follow the ENTIRE Bible, not just a few passages here and there like the more lieberal 'Christians'.

All that aside, welcome to our friendly forums! It thrills me to see that another lost soul has finally found their way to the True Church.

Bless you, Brother!

YIC,
Rachel Sue