dear AGuest...
you said:"“I am the bread of life. Y OUR forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.”
Given that he is also recorded to have said, "Go, make disciples... teaching THEM to observe all of the things I commanded YOU..." I have absolutely NO problem inviting ANYONE to partake of the manna. Because this IS the "good news" of the kingdom: that ANYONE may eat of it.
In YOUR wickedness... and utter evilness... however, YOU wish to place further burdens on people. YOU wish to bind them... AGAIN... back under the Law, which Law MY Lord fulfilled... so that it was impaled WITH him... opening the Way to those who wish to be covenanted to God pursuant to a NEW Law.
Oh, Lordy, girl... I did nothing of the sort! I encouraged them to EXERCISE their FAITH... by SHOWING their commitment... BY eating and drinking. "
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the psalmist said God's law is truth...an eye for an eye...Jesus came to fulfil the law of truth(as substitutionary sacrifice)...because God is love.
disciples of Jesus Christ are to partake...THEY are the "anyone"...otherwise if you don't confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that He IS the atonement for your sins then you are partaking unworthily (Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep[are dead]. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 1 cor 11:27-31)...
you told people to go to the halls and partake and when I questioned that, you said to partake only if the spirit leads you and I questioned that too...in that if this "reminder" as you called it was from the Spirit then it wouldn't go against that Spirit within us...however, since we are taught to seperate ourselves from/have no fellowship with heresy and "ecclesiastical" apostasy it WOULD go against that Spirit within us to partake of this MOST initmate fellowship. (1 john 4:1, rom 16:17, eph 5:11, 2 thess 3:6, 14, 2 john 10-11, 2 cor 6:17, titus 3:10)
regarding REAL committment:
dear Tammy...
your post #6391 on page 9:
"To put that understanding into some practical terms... do you or have you ever loved a child, spouse, brother, sister, cousin, friend... who started 'going bad', and hurting others and also themselves? Perhaps due to drugs, or abuse, or anger, or whatever reason? Have you just given up on them... or do you fight to bring that person back around, because you think they ARE capable of coming back around. Of being kind and loving and good again.
If you have hope for those people that you love, do you deny God the same hope for those he loves?"...shouldn't we continue then?
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the WORLD of sin, of righteousness and of judgement...AND...to regenerate the sinner, seal, indwell, empower, comfort and sanctify those who BELIEVE in Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
A persons belief in and preaching of john 8:24 IS a work of the Holy Spirit, to NOT preach it is to quench the Holy Spirit's work IN the world (1 thess 5:19)
Matthew 22:37-40
I love my Lord and Saviour. His SUBSTITUTIONAL sacrifice is the sole means of redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin(death)
- then, now and forever-
I love my neighbour and so I will speak truth to him - he will die in his sins (like I would have!) if he doesn't believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY means of redemption to God and into His kingdom. ONLY Jesus suffered and died for me and my neighbour and Jesus wants THAT proclaimed because He loves us AND it is God's will that no man perish. (could you be honouring Him with your lips but your heart is far from Him...and your neighbour?)
In proclaiming the truth of john 8:24 to my neighbour I proclaim reverence for the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ...not only is His sacrifice my atonement but also the new covenant is signified or signed IN His flesh and blood..."And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. luke 22:19-20
Tammy, if your neighbour is held captive to sin and death why would you only give him love and mercy if you can give him the key to his freedom? romans 8:2, john 8:36
btw...everytime you respond instantly with YOUR knee-jerk reactions to my comments and scripture citations you are acting opposite and contrary to one who would wait on the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth...titus 1:10-16, psalm 120:7
love michelle