RE: Christian "purpose" and "meaning" in life.
June 10, 2014 at 12:20 pm
(This post was last modified: June 10, 2014 at 12:56 pm by Lek.)
(June 10, 2014 at 12:05 pm)Esquilax Wrote:(June 10, 2014 at 12:00 pm)Lek Wrote: You mean that a God who becomes man, lives among us, and sacrifices himself on the cross for us show absolutely no signs of being interested in us?
For most of the world, yes, actually: Jesus mentions that he came as the savior of the tribe of Israel, and that anyone outside of that select groups were akin to dogs. Don't you remember that passage?
When bible speaks of who belongs to Israel sometimes it is referring to the physical nation and descendants. In other cases it refers to the spiritual Israel which includes all "children of the promise". All who are part of Christ are part of Israel and we all are offered this opportunity. Conversely, those who are not part of Christ are not part of the spiritual Israel as illustrated below.
Romans 9:6-8
(6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[a] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.)
(June 10, 2014 at 12:15 pm)Esquilax Wrote: But Christians sin all the time. The whole premise of Jesus' death and resurrection is that the sins you can't help but commit are forgiven. Are you saying you never sin, Lek?No. But I don't live a life in rebellion against God. Sometimes, though, I do fail to live in the Spirit
(June 10, 2014 at 12:12 pm)Confused Ape Wrote:(June 10, 2014 at 12:05 pm)Lek Wrote: When one believes and has faith in Christ he receives the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit involves keeping in touch via prayer and study of the word. He's promised to guide us.
How does he guide you? What experiences do you have which you interpret as Christ guiding you?
Mostly through my conscience, but sometimes it becomes evident to me that I should choose one course of action over another, even though I normally would have chosen another.