Paradise on Earth

[onewithhim]

When I learned that the Bible speaks of a restored Garden of Eden and the restoration of mankind to the perfection and endless life that Adam forfeited, I was thrilled. Who doesn't want to keep living on this beautiful earth, with our loved ones, and being able to do all the things we love to do---endlessly?

If God said to you today, "When do you want to die?" would you say "now!!"? I don't think very many people would say that.

We CAN live forever here on Earth. The Bible tells us that we can.

Matthew 5:5
Psalm 37:9-11,29

[tam]

Peace to you,

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2539]
Absolutely, Jesus is clearly God's son. Why would anybody think otherwise?

I don't know Rose, I suppose some don't have faith in the bible. The point is that I don't think one can be a Christian without faith Jesus is the son of God.


JW

Yes. The whole Christian religion collapses without faith that Jesus is the Son of God.

Even so, this does not signify that because there is Christian faith in the concept, that it is therefore true.
This means that as long as it is believed to be true, the Christian Religion [including its many various denominations - such as your own] will not collapse, unless there is a way to prove the concept is untrue...in the same way with Tam's claim about hearing the Christ-voice.

How does one test the spirit of any faith-based claim?

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible. It is pretty clear which religion is the true one. Every religion out there, except one, dodges what is required in the Scriptures and have excuses as to why they are not following, for example, Jesus' instructions.

EVERY religion out there has excuses as to why they are not following Christ's instructions (or believing His words).

He said love your enemies.

He did.

He also said to eat His flesh and drink His blood (the bread and wine that mean His body and His blood), and to keep doing that in remembrance of Him.

In both cases, there are excuses why not to follow His instructions.


I don't point that out to force anyone into doing something they do not want to do. I point it out because it is the same thing.


There is no 'true religion'.

There is TRUTH: Christ Jaheshua < - He is the One to whom God said to listen.



Peace again to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[William]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

[onewithhim]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

Pray to Jehovah about it.

[William]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

Pray to Jehovah about it.

What would such a prayer consist of?

[JoeyKnothead]

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible. It is pretty clear which religion is the true one. Every religion out there, except one, dodges what is required in the Scriptures and have excuses as to why they are not following, for example, Jesus' instructions. He said love your enemies. Most religions support war. He said not to be any part of the world's schemes, i.e., politics. Most religions are into politics up to their eyebrows. He said to revere and honor the name of his Father. Most religions spurn it. I could go on.

If ya wanna see a political uproar from Christians, try to get their churches to pay taxes.

[tam]

Peace to you, and to you all.

Joey (peace to you!) brought up a very interesting point:

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible. It is pretty clear which religion is the true one. Every religion out there, except one, dodges what is required in the Scriptures and have excuses as to why they are not following, for example, Jesus' instructions. He said love your enemies. Most religions support war. He said not to be any part of the world's schemes, i.e., politics. Most religions are into politics up to their eyebrows. He said to revere and honor the name of his Father. Most religions spurn it. I could go on.

If ya wanna see a political uproar from Christians, try to get their churches to pay taxes.

This is interesting isn't it?

Especially considering that Christ paid his tax (as well as His disciple's tax, in this case Peter).

When Peter came into the house, [Jesus] was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” [Jesus] said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”


Even more than that (and some might want to take note if they are part of religion but claim that their religion is different than any other religion out there):

Here Christ is saying that the kings of the earth do not collect taxes from their own children. Well the 'political kings' of this earth do not collect taxes from any sect or denomination in "Christianity" (the religion). Religion is very much a part of this world, children of the 'kings of the earth'. And as the spirit has reminded me, it is with the kings of the earth that Babylon the Greater(the great city that believes she belongs to Christ, calling herself a queen who will never be a widow - because she believes she is married to the King who will never die: Christ) - ) is unfaithful. From those adulterous unions have come many "daughters" (sects and denominations).


Rev 18


After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 
for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.


See also 2 Corinthians 6:17.


Come out of her, stop touching the unclean thing... and come TO Christ. As He has said:

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ ”


That living water is holy spirit, the water of Life.



May anyone who wishes them be given ears to hear, so as to get a sense of these things from the One who is the Truth. May anyone who thirsts and anyone who wishes hear as the Spirit (Christ) and the Bride say to YOU,

"Come! Take the free gift of the water of LIFE"


Peace again to you all,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[onewithhim]

[Replying to onewithhim in post #2620]

Ah yes - the old True Scotsman Fallacy.

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible.

How does one "test the spirit" re The Bible books?

Pray to Jehovah about it.

What would such a prayer consist of?

Do you pray at all? Could you think of a prayer to Jehovah that would mean something to you? How about asking Him to reveal to you the integrity of the Bible books with His Holy Spirit. He has said that He will give you spirit if you ask Him....."Him" being specifically Jehovah....no other gods or even a nameless God. If you want a meaningful answer, you must pray to Jehovah, the Most High. (Psalm 83:18, KJV)

[onewithhim]

Look at which one follows what is taught in the Bible. It is pretty clear which religion is the true one. Every religion out there, except one, dodges what is required in the Scriptures and have excuses as to why they are not following, for example, Jesus' instructions. He said love your enemies. Most religions support war. He said not to be any part of the world's schemes, i.e., politics. Most religions are into politics up to their eyebrows. He said to revere and honor the name of his Father. Most religions spurn it. I could go on.

If ya wanna see a political uproar from Christians, try to get their churches to pay taxes.

You are right.

However, JWs reveal just how they spend their donations, and they are willing to pay taxes if that is what the government dictates. I believe it is in Norway that JWs are the only religion that must pay taxes. Go figure.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to tam in post #2626]

JWs are the only religion that does not pass a plate or basket at their meetings. There are donation boxes in the back that are not readily observed. No one is pressured to donate anything. Does that look like a Christian attribute? "You received free, so give free." (Matthew 10:8) Most churches do not follow this command of Christ.

[JehovahsWitness]

If ya wanna see a political uproar from Christians, try to get their churches to pay taxes.

You are right.

However, JWs reveal just how they spend their donations, and they are willing to pay taxes if that is what the government dictates. I believe it is in Norway that JWs are the only religion that must pay taxes. Go figure.

Also the principle of charitiable donations is that the givers have in principle already paid tax on their income and that their contributions are for all intents and puposes gifts for charitible services not for profit making endeavors. Thus it is a universal principle that charities and churches offering non-profit services to their communties do not pay tax.

What the Norwegian government is doing is discriminatory to put it mildly; it is in my opinon an attempt to use finances to influence internal "church" policies.