Have grace and salvation always existed?
This is a good question. I think that complicated/difficult questions are part of the walk. Why? because we dont know/have the answer to all questions. Many times, questions may be planted in our heads for different reasons. Many times, questions(seeds) are planted so that our faith may grow and in so doing build up the church. Other times, questions are planted by the enemy in an effort to grow and cultivate doubt. Its really about what we choose to take care of. What do we want to make grow? Our faith or our doubt?
But what the questions that we dont know the answers to can do is serve as a test of faith. In other words, if God were to ask "are you going to let a difficult question(since the important part is easy, Jesus IS God) stop you from believing in Me? This notion is similar to what took place in the garden. We wanted to KNOW, hence the fall. We weren't able to just BELIEVE.
Man has always been saved by faith since witnesses have ALWAYS existed (romans 1:20). Nowadays, the witness of God, is God incarnate, Jesus Christ. Salvation comes from accepting HIM. Before God manifested Himself in the flesh, the witness was the Law, which pointed towards the future, and God incarnate. Salvation came by believing what the Law said and what it pointed to. Before the Law, the witness was Creation. Salvation came by believing that God was responsible for Creation.
Faith is what saves. Whereas today, we look to the PAST in believing that God has already manifested Himself in the flesh, those who came before such manifestation looked ahead to the FUTURE.
The next questions then would be:
What about those who had no access to the law? Or what about those who have no knowledge of Jesus?
Well then, in that case, their witness would be creation. Where the law or God incarnate does not have the ability to witness, creation itself is the witness.
Grace and salvation have always existed since grace is part of the power of God and salvation a byproduct of that same grace.
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1 Corinthians 14
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.[b] 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,[d]unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Follow God and crave his presents, especially the present of telling the future and what the deal currently is. For anybody who talks spiritually only bestowed things doesn't talk to men but to God. Why do you think people look at him weird? He talks that way so that the communion between him and God can be strengthened since words/communication/prayer is essential. But everyone who makes the esoteric exoteric do so for the sake of building up fellow men. Talking in spiritually only bestowed things builds up the person doing so. But he who makes the esoteric exoteric builds up a whole lot more people. Spiritually only bestowed talk is good but making the esoteric exoteric is better. He who does the latter does better than he who does just the former, unless the former is able to somehow be translated into laymen's terms.
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand[g] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand[h] comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
Spiritually bestowed talk then can serve as a sign for curious unbelievers; talk that gets straight to the point is for believers since they are more interest in growing. If believers congregate and communicate in exclusively spiritually bestowed talk, there will be some confusion in both unbelievers and believers. But if everybody talked straight to the point, the believers who understand would be edified and the unbelievers might just feel the conviction of the Spirit.
Orderly Worship
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
So then, what do we do? When we gather, everyone ought to chip in with a praise, a teaching, a spiritual secret and a translation of such. There's not a vessel who can't do at least one of these. Spiritual secrets should be unveiled by two or at the most three people and one at a time, interpretation included. If interpretation cant be provided, the secret ought to be whispered between that person and God so that it isn't simply wasted.
Two or three of those with profound discernment should speak and let everyone else listen. If something comes to mind to anyone, the speaker ought to stop since God reveals truths to EVERYBODY. Prophets are to be kept in check by prophets since prophets want glory for God and not for self.
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When the devil reminds you of your past...
....just remind him of his future!
:p
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What is hell?
Simply put, hell is evidence that man has free will. Hell is the place where humans who would rather be apart from God will live. If God were a tyrant, He could easily force those who wish not to be with Him, to live with Him in heaven. However, hell, the place where darkness reigns, is the habitat of those who have hated the light and thus an instrument of justice since God simply grants man his desire in regards to eternity.
"Love does not demand its own way."
Or who invites guests over who do not wish to be there? Or who goes to a place they don't want to go?
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Friendship with the world = what?
What does James mean by "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
And what does John mean by "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world."
Since this world is the habitat of the flesh, it is easy to see why it is so easy to become enamored with it. The flesh is in tune with the world and the two are friends. But God's children must consider the following question as a measure of their belief:
Do you love the world so much that you wish God continues to postpone his coming so that you may continue on with your agenda?
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