You can ask the question on your computer on how many today have still never heard the Gospel and see what the estimates are. One of these says 3 billion people in some 7,000 people groups. I have no doubt the figure is still in the billions. As more are being reached, more are coming into the world. But don't take my word for it, look what other estimates are saying.Marylander wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:58 pm It's 2023. Any individual in this world has an unparalleled opportunity to learn the Truth. The Holy Spirit, the Bible, other faithful Christians, the internet, CAM billboards, fellow faithful Christians...
Q #1 - Why have children ?
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
0 x
Pursuing a Kingdom life in the Spirit
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:02 pm
- Affiliation: Alien
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
Thanks for the explanation. I never heard this until now. So it's a portrayal of the intermediate state.Neto wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:55 amThank you for the clarification. As Soloist pointed out, the story does not depict hell, but something like a 'waiting place' for the final punishment. But although the idea of eternity is not mentioned, it IS a place of conscious torment, at least for the rich man. (Abraham also does not promise him any relief from the torment of that place for him, and the rich doesn't seem to expect that - he only begs for someone to tell his brothers, so that they might avoid that place. But the point of the story has to do with the sufficiency of Scripture - the 'Old Testament' - to find the truth that would provide deliverance from that destination. It also shows Jesus' own respect for the Scripture. It isn't really about "the wages of sin" at all.)Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 8:12 amMy Adventist neighbor considers the story a parable and therefore the state of the rich man is not a portrayal of hell.Neto wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 6:51 am
I would like to ask you to clarify if this is your thought, or if it is a part of something this other person said, and what it means in terms of the discussion here. (I'll just say that many commentators hesitate to call this a parable, and some openly say that it is not. If it is, it is the only one in which Jesus gave a character in a parable a name. I take it as an actual story, not a parable.)
0 x
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:02 pm
- Affiliation: Alien
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
I don't feel that it's my responsibility pertaining to the billions of "unsaved" in the world. That's quite a large sack to carry on your back. I am mostly concerned about my own salvation. And the Spirit draws men to the Father.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 9:23 amYou can ask the question on your computer on how many today have still never heard the Gospel and see what the estimates are. One of these says 3 billion people in some 7,000 people groups. I have no doubt the figure is still in the billions. As more are being reached, more are coming into the world. But don't take my word for it, look what other estimates are saying.Marylander wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:58 pm It's 2023. Any individual in this world has an unparalleled opportunity to learn the Truth. The Holy Spirit, the Bible, other faithful Christians, the internet, CAM billboards, fellow faithful Christians...
0 x
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
I'm not sure how to understand this and may read into this more than you intend, so I'll just say, OK .Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:05 amI don't feel that it's my responsibility pertaining to the billions of "unsaved" in the world. That's quite a large sack to carry on your back. I am mostly concerned about my own salvation. And the Spirit draws men to the Father.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 9:23 amYou can ask the question on your computer on how many today have still never heard the Gospel and see what the estimates are. One of these says 3 billion people in some 7,000 people groups. I have no doubt the figure is still in the billions. As more are being reached, more are coming into the world. But don't take my word for it, look what other estimates are saying.Marylander wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:58 pm It's 2023. Any individual in this world has an unparalleled opportunity to learn the Truth. The Holy Spirit, the Bible, other faithful Christians, the internet, CAM billboards, fellow faithful Christians...
0 x
Pursuing a Kingdom life in the Spirit
- Josh
- Posts: 24911
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 6:23 pm
- Location: 1000' ASL
- Affiliation: The church of God
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
I have a number of friends who went down this path, first pursuing annihilationism, then Marcionism (believing the God in the Old Testament is a bad, evil god), eventually not believing in heaven or hell at all, and eventually losing all faith in the Bible and Jesus.
A very sad path to go down.
A very sad path to go down.
0 x
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:02 pm
- Affiliation: Alien
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
Sorry, I am not more clear.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:37 amI'm not sure how to understand this and may read into this more than you intend, so I'll just say, OK .Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:05 amI don't feel that it's my responsibility pertaining to the billions of "unsaved" in the world. That's quite a large sack to carry on your back. I am mostly concerned about my own salvation. And the Spirit draws men to the Father.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 9:23 am
You can ask the question on your computer on how many today have still never heard the Gospel and see what the estimates are. One of these says 3 billion people in some 7,000 people groups. I have no doubt the figure is still in the billions. As more are being reached, more are coming into the world. But don't take my word for it, look what other estimates are saying.
0 x
-
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2023 2:02 pm
- Affiliation: Alien
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses believe in annihilation...but retain the Bible. Adventists also believe in Jesus. So not all go down the path described, however, far too many do.Josh wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:49 am I have a number of friends who went down this path, first pursuing annihilationism, then Marcionism (believing the God in the Old Testament is a bad, evil god), eventually not believing in heaven or hell at all, and eventually losing all faith in the Bible and Jesus.
A very sad path to go down.
0 x
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
I said this because I do think I have some responsibilty to try to bring others to faith and I am not concerned about my own salvation as I have assurance according to the scriptures. I agree the Spirit draws men to the Father but the Spirit primarily works through believers to spread the good news that Jesus saves. So, I'm not sure that we agree on this but perhaps you want to point out where we differ on this.Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 12:06 pmSorry, I am not more clear.Sudsy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:37 amI'm not sure how to understand this and may read into this more than you intend, so I'll just say, OK .Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 10:05 am
I don't feel that it's my responsibility pertaining to the billions of "unsaved" in the world. That's quite a large sack to carry on your back. I am mostly concerned about my own salvation. And the Spirit draws men to the Father.
0 x
Pursuing a Kingdom life in the Spirit
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
I am more of the Adventist view on this and often watch an Adventist pastor, Doug Bachelor and his Amazing Facts TV broadcast. Doug has had an amazing conversion experience and there are some wonderful born again Christians in the Adventist group.Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 12:13 pmAdventists and Jehovah Witnesses believe in annihilation...but retain the Bible. Adventists also believe in Jesus. So not all go down the path described, however, far too many do.Josh wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:49 am I have a number of friends who went down this path, first pursuing annihilationism, then Marcionism (believing the God in the Old Testament is a bad, evil god), eventually not believing in heaven or hell at all, and eventually losing all faith in the Bible and Jesus.
A very sad path to go down.
0 x
Pursuing a Kingdom life in the Spirit
- Josh
- Posts: 24911
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2016 6:23 pm
- Location: 1000' ASL
- Affiliation: The church of God
Re: Q #1 - Why have children ?
JWs have their own Bible that refuses to even say Jesus or the Christ / Messiah.Marylander wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 12:13 pmAdventists and Jehovah Witnesses believe in annihilation...but retain the Bible. Adventists also believe in Jesus. So not all go down the path described, however, far too many do.Josh wrote: ↑Sat Jul 22, 2023 11:49 am I have a number of friends who went down this path, first pursuing annihilationism, then Marcionism (believing the God in the Old Testament is a bad, evil god), eventually not believing in heaven or hell at all, and eventually losing all faith in the Bible and Jesus.
A very sad path to go down.
Adventists were part of groups that mostly lost their faith or went back to being conventional. I have no ill will towards them but find a religion based around Sabbath keeping and eating vegan foods to be rather far from what Jesus wants his followers to do.
0 x