Mike wrote:
What are these believers believing before they receive this gift of faith?

"The Greek word "pistis" … this crucially important word is uniformly and universally translated as "faith" throughout the entire New Testament ... except in one curious instance in which some versions of the Bible have departed from that uniform consistency by translating "pistis" as "faithfulness" in Galatians 5:22.
This departure from consistency in translation is particularly curious because the word "faithfulness" has a meaning that is significantly different than the word "faith." One must wonder why some versions of the Bible have chosen to depart from the otherwise uniform consistency of translating "pistis" as "faith" in just this one instance?
"Faith" is an extremely important attribute of the fruit of the Spirit. "Faith" pertains to believing in and trusting in God, … While "faithfulness" is a very desirable character trait, it is more reflective of one's own efforts and abilities in being loyal and reliable; ...Faith comes to believers as a gift from God rather than as a result of one's own efforts in being faithful, loyal, and reliable…"

Michael Hranek wrote:
VW
Actually I am NOT worried as God knows far more about what He is talking about than the religious scholars of whatever theological system do. And if one acutally listens to Him instead of making what God says fit what the religious experts claim God says they're going to be quite OK.
Isa 66:1,2

savedbygrace wrote:
Faith,
I was seriously trying to be helpful and hopefully not condescending but I surely need prayer, also. I have many faults and weaknesses and the Lord is so merciful and good to me. I honestly love all the people of God. We are far from perfect here in Hbg. Thank-you.
In Christ
Job 1:8
ps. Even though I fall way short of this verse, I love it, and use it a lot because it shows me that this is attainable by a person like us.

Ouch. . my conscience is pricked . ..I am truly sorry.

Please forgive me for such harsh judgment.

It is hard not to be a cynic in today's world.

savedbygrace wrote:
Scripture tells us to really be contented and not complainers and to not be men-pleasers but to do everything as unto the Lord and to not I will be praying for you.
Have a "grace day"!
JOB 42:2

Your post reeks of smugness.

If I remember correcty, Molly is on West Coast time, so she is probably too busy with her wifely chores to respond to you - So, let me.

Molly's husband is probably the envy of every man, and Molly probably fills every woman's heart with jealousy. From her post, I surmise that she is confident in Lord, faithful to her husband, and a good mother to her children.

Who are you to speak in such condescending terms?

Molly doesn't sound like she needs anyone speaking for her, but I think she should say, "pray for yourself - for understanding."

Molly wrote:
Here's what I do in my housewifery: I wash and dry all the clothes, but I don't fold them. I buy $1000 worth of food every month, at least, shop, bag, bring home, unload, put it away, cook. Vaccuum, Blessings to all ladies who can do it all AND homeschool. More power to you. And if you can do it in a dress and high heels, even better. I wear jeans.

You've got moxie! I like that!

If there is anything that I'm envious of, it would be the family that epitomizes the loving, harmonious relationships that one has when parents submit to the Lord's leading in raising children - like the Duggars - that family with 18 children and counting.

My life has been more like the song, "I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me."

So, I watch re-runs of "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie" for vicarious living.

savedbygrace wrote:
Faith,
Our salvation has everything to do with our behavior. Before salvation our relationship with God is estranged. There is neither the desire or power to obey Him. Btw, I believe that the ideal situation would be for the believing mother to be a keeper at home, esp. when the children are young. However, there may be a tiny window open for part-time work(Prov. 31)if entirely necessary(distinguishing between real wants and needs here).
Like the celebrated Biblical pattern of wives and mothers of Prov. 31, Titus 2 and I Pet.3, mothers:
-nurture their children by diligently teaching them God's Word when they sit in the house, walk by the way lie down and rise up. This cannot be satisfactorily achieved when the parents are both working outside the home between 40 to 60 hours a week!
-love their husbands when they joyfully submit to them.
-are faithful to the Lord when they deny SELF.
Staying away from home may very well be a spiritual indicator.

savedbygrace wrote:
Faith,
Relationship with God - pre or post salvation?
In Christ

There are directives given in Scripture for the living of our lives for the blessings of both ourselves and those around us. It is good for mothers to nurture their children, love their husbands, and be faithful to the LORD.

savedbygrace wrote:
Faith,
Satan is subtle and because unbelievers may happen to stay at home and wear dresses does not directly correlate with those actions being evil.
Modesty and being discreet are Biblical directives and whether or not they have widespread approval in the church of today, they nevertheless should still be the norm. Things may be what they appear. The question is how do we interpret Scripture?

Michael Hranek wrote:
I have mixed emotions about this on one hand the issue of freedom of speech Yet far, far more important I am reminded that Jesus told us:
Matthew 5
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
For example hasn't Focus on the Family which claims to be Christian knowingly and willfully, etc. etc....? and I am sure you all could probably give multiple examples also.

rogerant wrote:
We are not using human logic. We are humbling ourselves to scripture. Paul rebukes the questioner that accuses God of the same charge that you have levied against his Soverighn choice in election!
Romans 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Jim Lincoln wrote:
There is no Zionist conspiracy. Now there is an anti-Jewish conspiracy, which all good Christians need to put down, to be anti-Jewish is to be anti-Christian. Christians have a Jewish Messiah."

It's also wrong to unleash war on the planet to destroy people perceived to be enemies of Israel.

The Bible doesn't warn about Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons. It warns of the Synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2 and 3), and says the SOS will round us up and kill us during the Tribulation. Jerusalem is compared to "Sodom and Egypt" in the last days (see Rev.11:8)

Neil wrote:
"Logic is good."
DJC49, that's a gross understatement! Without logic, no communication is possible, whether with God or other men. God is either logical, or He is insane & we all are fools.