Posts by PSacramento

posted

14
A critical look at how the greek (charis) has been translated into GRACE
by Terry in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
from the source (ann nyland expert lexigrapher, greek scholar).

in the late 1880s and again in the mid 1970s, large amounts of papyri and inscriptions were discovered.

these impacted our knowledge of word meaning in the new testament dramatically.
PSacramento

Wouldn't it be the noblest of all ambitions to strive to DO SOMETHING to attain salvation if it included "good works" and righteous standards?
What is noble about doing good orks with ulterior selfish motives?
I don't get why it is inferior to have such intentions. If I give money to charity and that benefits people in need is my good deed tainted because I get a Tax Deduction? The Tax Deduction may be the only reason I am ABLE to give to charity in the first place.
Could you explain it to me?
Sure, from MY understanding on this, if salvation is based on what we do and not WHY we do it, then WHY we do it is irelevant and salvation becomes a "game of numbers": Who gave the most, who collected the most "good points" or to hit closer to home: Who did the most service hours.
The parable of the pharisee that was well off and gave more and did more "good works" than the poor woman that give less BUT gave all she had not because she HAD to but because she did it out of love.
Humans tend to be very giving and loving and asking for nothing in return under circumstances of great distress and chaos, natural disaters are a prime example. When compassion ( suffering with others) drives Us we truly do give with no notion of what we can get back.
That is, however, the excpetion and not the rule.
God grace is best summed up like this:
There is nothing that Man can do to "get up there" with God, his intentions are tained because he is doing it TO "get up there" with God, so God comes down to Us in the form of His Only begotten son and shares our joys and sorrows with US (compassion).
100
What would Jesus think of Crosses everywhere?
by Simon in
1. social
2. humour
.

http://imgur.com/gallery/k9hiq.
PSacramento

The most important ritual for a Christian is to receive God through the Eucharist. For Catholics/Orthodox, that is the primary purpose of going to Mass/Divine Liturgy.
100% correct, the Eucharist, the giving of thanks, is what "binds" us to The Father through Christ.
148
Jehovah's Witnesses View of Jesus Compared to the Early Church
by cofty in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
the following is an extract from something i wrote 16 years ago soon after leaving the watchtower.

i am posting it because it may help honest jws consider how far their beliefs are at odds with new testament christians.

if they have "the truth" then their attitude to jesus ought to reflect that of the apostles.
PSacramento

Jesus the Man did NOT exist untill his was conceived and born.
The Son of God, the divine Logs as per the GOJ was through whom ALL was created, He was co-eternal with the Father ( existing before time as we know it).
Through His Human birth and incarnation, Man and God were reconciled in ONE Being, Christ.
It is important to understand the difference between something created ( does NOT have the nature of who creates it) and something begotten-born of ( has the same nature).
14
A critical look at how the greek (charis) has been translated into GRACE
by Terry in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
from the source (ann nyland expert lexigrapher, greek scholar).

in the late 1880s and again in the mid 1970s, large amounts of papyri and inscriptions were discovered.

these impacted our knowledge of word meaning in the new testament dramatically.
PSacramento

Taking "everyday" words and putting a theological spin on them was not uncommon in the ANE.
19
Stones preparing to CRY OUT?
by irondork in
1. social
2. current
tracking the rolling stones of racetrack playaby: shannon dybvigit's the time of year when the sailing stones of racetrack playa in california's death valley are on the move.

no one has actually seen these huge rocks move along the flat, dry lake bed.

sometime, when no one's looking, usually after freezing weather or heavy wind or rain, the rocks up and scoot themselves leaving unmistakable travel grooves in their wake.
PSacramento

Now that's freaky, LOL !
Very cool.
14
A critical look at how the greek (charis) has been translated into GRACE
by Terry in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
from the source (ann nyland expert lexigrapher, greek scholar).

in the late 1880s and again in the mid 1970s, large amounts of papyri and inscriptions were discovered.

these impacted our knowledge of word meaning in the new testament dramatically.
PSacramento

It is interesting Terry, the difference is that God's grace is theological and not the same as the common grace man would apply to each other.
God's grace is given as a gift so that our salvation is based on IT and the receiving of it INSTEAD of what we try to do to attain salvation.
Why? because if our intent on doing soemthing to attain salvation is to attain salavation, then our intent of doing "good works" is tainted.
To God, the End does NOT justify the means, in short, our INTENTIONS are everything.
100
What would Jesus think of Crosses everywhere?
by Simon in
1. social
2. humour
.

http://imgur.com/gallery/k9hiq.
PSacramento

Definition of IDOLATRY
1 : the worship of a physical object as a god No Christian views the cross as God. It is just that simple.
148
Jehovah's Witnesses View of Jesus Compared to the Early Church
by cofty in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
the following is an extract from something i wrote 16 years ago soon after leaving the watchtower.

i am posting it because it may help honest jws consider how far their beliefs are at odds with new testament christians.

if they have "the truth" then their attitude to jesus ought to reflect that of the apostles.
PSacramento

The prophecies of Isiah are fullfilled in Christ : He is indeed called Immanuel ( God with Us), Mighty God and so much more.
That He is called these things is a fullfillment of those verses.
148
Jehovah's Witnesses View of Jesus Compared to the Early Church
by cofty in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
the following is an extract from something i wrote 16 years ago soon after leaving the watchtower.

i am posting it because it may help honest jws consider how far their beliefs are at odds with new testament christians.

if they have "the truth" then their attitude to jesus ought to reflect that of the apostles.
PSacramento

John 1:1 is a statement of nature.
Jesus is divine.
Like Colossians, Philipians and Hebrews, all statements of his equal nature with the Father.
100
What would Jesus think of Crosses everywhere?
by Simon in
1. social
2. humour
.

http://imgur.com/gallery/k9hiq.
PSacramento

Humans are inherently defective, in need of repair, and the only way to achieve that was torture and a drawn out death.
The only way to achieve that was a love so grand and strong that He was willing to undergo torture and slow death.
Depending on who you are, you will either focus on the death or the love.

PSacramento

Posts by PSacramento

Definition of IDOLATRY