[TruthTalk] Resist the devil

[Judy Taylor]

From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Judy, I can see just how uncomplicated you believe it all to be. Thankfully, due to the truthfulness of tacit knowing (oops) you are apprehending HIM even through this panoply of citations that often don't reflect the meaning you ascribe to them. As God is gracious one is able to display hermeneutical ineptitude while being His faithful servant. Blessings, Lance jt: I guess so Lance, it had to be simple enough for those hermeneutically ignorant fishermen also. I guess the devil will have nothing to fear re you and your bookstore eh?  jt     From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "The words of Jesus plain and simple". Many with Him didn't "get it". Many since (2,000 yrs) haven't "gotten it". "Plain and simple" just won't cut it. In this response I'm not referring to unbelievers. To KNOW HIM is to know His Word not necessarily His Words. This, to me, is an obvious distinction. I believe that you, Judy, KNOW HIM AND HIS WORD. Nuff said on that. Lance   jt: I don't believe it is complicated Lance, it becomes so when mixed with all men's reasonings, rationalizations etc. that have come down to us through the centuries.  The disciples who acted fearfully preceding and right after the crucifixion were not indwelled by the Holy Spirit. However, after Pentecost these same men turned the known world upside down and in their generation they did the works of Jesus because these are recorded in the book of Acts.  By the 2nd Century AD the professing Church was in error.  Some are doing the works of Jesus now but these are the minority; even in Pauls day he could find just one man likeminded (Phil 2:19-23).  How sad... just one man who cared more about the things of Christ than his own affairs.  Today in our neck of the woods there is a lot of talk but that's about it; the professing Church are like a bunch of sheep with no shepherd and they go from fad to fad.  Right now it's the Saddleback Church thing - I guess they all want big churches and lots of income.  jt     From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> An addendum if the sequence is followed: If it is positive thinking or a blatant denial of reality that is being spoken here then look to Robert Schuller, Mary Baker Eddy or, encompassing both, the Health & Wealth Gospel. Lance   jt: I'm aware that their is enough error to go around. I'm not talking about "positive thinking" or "negative thinking" "denial" Schuller, Baker Eddy, or "godliness as a means of gain" What I am talking about are the words of Jesus plain and simple.  How do you explain them away?   jt       From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Being part of..." Sure! However, I apparently live and work with people who do reflect, daily, this "admixture" of which I spoke. Before you consign these people to the kingdom of darkness let me add that they are believers. I find such in the church, workplace, parachurch groups, on this site and on and on.. With all this rather unrealistic discussion taking place on TT pertaining to "sinlessness" I believe that the sort of gnostic dualism spoken of in recent days may be alive and well. Lance   jt: Gnostic dualism as per Artemis Lance?  Did Jesus leave us an example that we should follow in His steps or didn't He?  Did He say we would do the same works He did and greater or not? It's unfortunate and a shame that there is so little spiritual discernment in those who profess Christ but then it has always been the remnant who made it.  Only eight saved through the flood and just two of the generation that came out of Egypt made it into the Promised Land.  jt     From: "Lance Muir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Discussions on the matter of the will, our human will that is, have ranged from "bondage" to "freedom". There is, it seems to me, one consideration of "will" that borders on indisputable - self will. I believe that an admixture of Spirit & self are to be the nature of the case up to the point of our "departure". Also, I believe that any discussion of sinlessness and humanity in the same sentence may be applied only to that Vicarious Humanity of Jesus. Blessings, Lance   jt: So being part of the New Creation with old things passed away and all things becoming new has no place in your theology Lance?  What a dismal prospect.  jt     In a message dated 4/5/2004 9:18:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:       The Bible says,"Resist the devel and he will flee from you".  Just wondering.  Has anyone on this list had the devil flee from her/him? Terry       Actually another thought came to my little pea brain.  I do not believe that we can really understand what is meant in scripture in a discussion of sin and sinlessness if we do not have a grasp of the "practice if sin."       I put it this way  --                                  Before Christ, I practiced sin and committed acts of                righteousness.                                 After the cross in my life, I practice righteousness and       commit acts of sin.     John