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A Balanced Life? - 8/19/2008 9:43:37 AM
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atruefaith
Posts: 320
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Ugh. I meant this post to be a separate thread and have moved it to be a stand alone. Sorry for the confusion.
< Message edited by Conquered -- 8/19/2008 7:06:18 PM >
_____________________________
A series of short stories depicting the Christian faith....
www.atruefaith.com
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RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/19/2008 10:20:20 AM
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deliveredarling
Posts: 2001
Joined: 8/30/2007
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quote:
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
I believe that it is.
quote:
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
Because I can't do it from myself. It's through prayer and trust of the Lord that makes it possible. We aren't looking at perfection (as in no mistakes), we are doing it from the stand point that "all things are possible...".
quote:
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
Jesus Christ is the example. There was no radicalism with Him. His message was radical, His behavior was not.
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How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
Trust not in myself but in His guidance. I'm awfully tempted at times to (and sometimes do) give into reacting. I'm getting better, but I'm still not 100% there.
I don't try to reconcile my life. I can't be like Jesus in all ways. He is one of a kind 
quote:
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
It doesn't matter. No matter what some people do, there will always be another who says "that's legalism". I look at scripture, follow it and don't worry about what others think. If I am led by the HS, that's what either counts for me or against me, should I choose not to listen.
Should I stumble, (which, I do) as soon as I figure it out, I repent, because surely, we can't sin and not learn a lesson from the consequence. I haven't continued in a sin yet, that the consequences didn't get more severe until I surrender. Only then, did I find the Grace and Mercy He offers.
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
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RE: A Balanced Life? - 8/19/2008 10:32:52 AM
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URForgiven
Posts: 1129
Joined: 3/22/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Conquered
Is the so-called "balanced life" possible for the Christian, particularly in light of the following verses:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? - Matthew 16:24-26
We need to remember that the cross is an instrument of death. Jesus is not talking about carrying a burden, He is talking about dying to ourselves. We follow Him to where He went, and where He went was to Golgotha. And there we die with Him, and then we are raised to life with Him, so that, in Him, He can now lead us.
quote:
Is the modern definition of balance possible in the context of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus' sake and yet reconcile the life your living now?
What does balance look like in the context of holy living as the Scriptures describe?
How do you forsake everything for Jesus and yet reconcile the life your living now?
How do you avoid asceticism (pharisaical legalism) on one hand and yet not stumble over into antinomianism (wild, sinful living) on the other?
A balanced Christian life is one lived in total dependence upon Jesus. It is not us doing our thing and balancing that with Him doing His thing. It is us allowing Him to do His thing in and through us as we depend upon Him. Balance is achieved through living in Gods will, and His will is that we live in total dependence upon Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16
"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
Peace
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 8/19/2008 6:24:17 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
Posts: 905
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quote:
ORIGINAL: GraceBro
quote:
have a question for you though, and maybe it should be a new thread, or has an existing thread. But what does "The Way, The Truth and The Life" (mainly the life part on the end), mean to you.
It doesn't matter what it means to me. What matters is what does it mean.
The Life is the meaning of salvation. Salvation is the restoration of the life of God we lost in Adam. When Adam was created in the Garden of Eden, God breathed into him the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). This was the very life of God that made Adam a living being. But, God warned Adam that on the day he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would "surely" die (Genesis 2:17). Well, we know that Adam did eat from the tree and died spiritually. The life of God was removed from Adam and he became spiritually dead in sin. Since Adam didn't have any children at this point, all of mankind is born into this world in the image of Adam (Genesis 5:3), not in the image of God as is taught, dead to God, but alive to the world. God, in His love desired to once again indwell His creation. But, before He could do that He had to deal with the sin that caused that life to leave us in the first place. That is why Jesus, the only man born spiritually alive, had a life to give for our sins that would satisfy God for all eternity (1 John 2:2). Now, God is able to offer His life as a free gift, made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to all who accept Christ by faith (Romans 5:8-10). There is now no sin that could ever cause that life to leave again because of the eternal consequences of the cross (Hebrews 9:12). That is why the life we now have is an eternal life. A life that will carry us through the rest of our natural lives and on into eternity even after we physically die. That is the Gospel; sin, death, forgiveness, Life!
As for your emphasis on the word "try," I answered it already despite your claim to the contrary. Christians arent' to "try" to follow Jesus' example. We are to rest from our righteous works and allow God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, to live His life in and through us.
"To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
To avoid an endless debate on this topic, I will give you the last word on it. I think my position is clear. To love the world is to seek from it, through sin, that which we have already been given in Christ; Jesus Himself. Amen!
Grace and Peace
GraceBro, since you gave the end all to this debate we are having, let me just add a little something. Since the Spirit lives in us, since we are led by God in our lives, and we are to take on the attitude of Jesus our Lord, is it not safe to say that the Spirit, and God Himself, would lead us to lead a Christ like life. Are we not one day going to be transformed into the image of Christ, or as Paul put it in 2 Corinthians
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
So if we have His attitude, His Spirit inside of us, and are being transformed into His likeness, would this not include His actions, which when I say actions, I mean how He handled people, reached out to people, accepted people, and loved people. Would this not encompass a Christ like life? I don't get why you have such a problem with what I am saying. I never said a lot of the things you have accused me of saying.
But on this last post of yours, I do agree with you on the meaning. You have added some understanding to my point of view. When I see "the Life" as Jesus said it, I do see more to it. As in His life is the example we are to live by. Thanks for posting your thoughts.
_____________________________
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed for I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 8/19/2008 6:56:27 PM
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shondasu
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Joined: 8/7/2008
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I overheard a broadcast by James MacDonald on a religious radio station one day and went right to his website to purchase his broadcast from that day. It was titled "World War III in me" and was all about "worldliness" and the quote you mentioned regarding "loving the world". It's par of a 5-part-series called "No More Games". You can download the mp3 or ordr the CD at www.walkintheword.com. He is a great speaker and I found this series very informative and interesting, especially part 2 which is what you were inquiring about. You can download the mp3 for $3 and it will answer all of your questions on this matter!
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 8/21/2008 4:33:40 PM
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rileykins
Posts: 170
Joined: 4/12/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: justajerk
There are some varied views expressed here and, in light of that I wonder how each of you address/view/deal with - 1 John 2:15?
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Hi justajerk
This is such a good question and it really had me thinking about this, all week in fact. Lots of really good responses. So I thought I would add my two cents for whatever it's worth. These verses came to mind...
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isa.14:12-13
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephs 2:2
Paul talks about how we once walked according to the course of this world. A course that is in accordance with the prince of the power of the air. I wondered what exactly that course might be about and looked up Isaiah 14:12-13 to get a clue. I noticed all the I's in that passage. I will ascend, I wll exhalt my throne above God, I will, I will, I will, I, I, I. And it occured to me that isn't that what this world is pretty much all about. Exalting one's self. It's what John called the pride of life.
I have to cut my post short because I only have a few minutes left on the computer. Anyway then I thought how different this is from what our Lord was all about.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philp.2:5-8
I'll have to leave you with that for now. Got to run!
Maranatha!
rileykins
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 8/22/2008 6:42:08 AM
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justajerk
Posts: 129
Joined: 4/30/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: shondasu
I overheard a broadcast by James MacDonald on a religious radio station one day and went right to his website to purchase his broadcast from that day. It was titled "World War III in me" and was all about "worldliness" and the quote you mentioned regarding "loving the world". It's par of a 5-part-series called "No More Games". You can download the mp3 or ordr the CD at www.walkintheword.com. He is a great speaker and I found this series very informative and interesting, especially part 2 which is what you were inquiring about. You can download the mp3 for $3 and it will answer all of your questions on this matter!
Thanks for the info shondasu, did the series affect your christian walk?
_____________________________
"Men think all things would be very glorious, if they might be done according to their mind. Perhaps, indeed, they would -- but with their glory, not the glory of God." - John Owen
monergism
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 8/22/2008 6:52:14 AM
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justajerk
Posts: 129
Joined: 4/30/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
Paul talks about how we once walked according to the course of this world. A course that is in accordance with the prince of the power of the air. I wondered what exactly that course might be about and looked up Isaiah 14:12-13 to get a clue. I noticed all the I's in that passage. I will ascend, I wll exhalt my throne above God, I will, I will, I will, I, I, I. And it occured to me that isn't that what this world is pretty much all about. Exalting one's self. It's what John called the pride of life. And isn't this something we still tend to fall into? ("how we once walked")
All the more reason to "put on the armor" and stay alert.
Thank you for posting this rileykins.
_____________________________
"Men think all things would be very glorious, if they might be done according to their mind. Perhaps, indeed, they would -- but with their glory, not the glory of God." - John Owen
monergism
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RE: What do you consider it is to "love the world&... - 9/16/2008 8:20:02 PM
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shondasu
Posts: 8
Joined: 8/7/2008
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Yes, the series did affect me. It helps to listen to someone who can truly get the scripture's message accross and make it understandible. Sometimes when reading scripture, it seems really choppy to me and hard to follow. There are a lot of good speakers (pastors) out there who are great at delivering the message.
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