Jesus said: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. (Matthew 5:13).\nTwo questions:\n\nAre christians salty enough or are they losing their saltieness? \n\nWhat causes losing the saltiness?
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I'll try to give you a more serious answer than what I've read because I think you are serious about your questions.\nAs you know, salt is a preservative especially useful in preserving meats. Christians (those who have accepted Christ and have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit) are the salt of the earth as God works to provide light to the world and to keep evil forces at bay. \nGod's desire for Christians is that they be molded into the image of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The more we are like Christ the more we have true fellowship with the Father and the Son and other Christians and the more useful we are as witnesses in the world.\nOne can think of "saltiness" as being like Christ. Are Christians "salty enough"? No, the church as a whole is not in great shape. We have little of the holiness and power exhibited by the early church.(We have a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.) Our lives are too entangled with the world but God can change the situation. God will preserve his church, but individual Christians need to maintain and increase their faith. \nLack of vision and sin cause the church and individuals to become less "salty" (The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.) Any false doctrine or practice or half-hearteness that interferes with supernatural working of the Holy Spirit in the church will cause the church to lose saltiness. This is also true for individuals. But you are saved by simple faith in Christ Jesus. A person who is indwelt by God cannot go to hell.\nGod hates divorce and the church is the bride of Christ. He does not take his Holy Spirit from people because they are having sin problems. He doesn't stomp on struggling Christians who deep down want to please God. You have to want to really reject (divorce) God. A Christian who pushes god out of his life deliberately and begins practicing and delighting in sin will eventually lose their faith in Christ. Even as you try to push God away he will chasten you to try to help you return to him, just as he did with Israel. But if you keep hardening your heart then he'll let you go your own way. \nIt's clear that you want to live for God. Just live one day at a time and have simple faith that god will work in your life to will and to do his good pleasure. He does not want you to be afraid. Pray for the church also. If you do this your "saltiness" will increase. Peace.
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There are some interesting verses in the bible.  God says these things:  "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will harden the hearts of those also whom I choose".  God also likens Himself to a potter, and we are the clay.  He speaks of how He, as God...has the right to choose what to do with that clay.  I don't know why certain people are found of God and certain others are not.  But there is one thing I believe with all my heart:  that God is perfectly just, righteous and holy.  So I do not give up my faith in Him for those things I do not understand.
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God will not save me, as the incident itself proved that the God does not exist. Moreover, if I am supposed to become the food of the lion, why I shall be saved. After all we are living on each other. Some times the lions become the food of the man.
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siamsalem007: are you serious or are just that dumb? it is by leaps and bound easier to follow the herd so you don't have to formulate original thoughts or have an individual opinion.  i don't mean to bash or berate, but come on! jeewhiz! <---hehe that rhymes with jesus. HA!\n\nand for all of you christians supposedly being supportive and caring, you sure are a bunch of ravenous close-minded religion-mongers. what makes you think you deserve eternal paradise? because some book written by the hands and fingers of men tells you so? at the very LEAST, practice what you freaking preach! so few of you do.
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Good question!\n\nWhich brings us to the fact that Jesus was a man spreading the Word of God and not being penalized for everyone elses mistakes. They will be held accountable. We are responsable for our own actions. Would that then mean that we can freely sin since we have been saved? i think not.\n\nWell done you for highlighting this!\n\nto the person who said Jesus went to hell for 3 days to get the souls of those who were wrongfully sent there, are you implying that God makes mistakes now??\n\nand i wish people would stop rhetorically quoting the bible as their answer without explanation, like they know what it means anyway, its just rhetoric.\n\nand for the record, if all sins have been cleansed through Jesus and his crucifiction, then will someone please tell me the point of judgement day??!!!
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Sorry to hear it's not going well.  People should answer your questions - but if they don't there's always the REPORT ABUSE button.\n\nBTW, Jesus DID eat meat - you can't expect people not to call you on that.  And what's up with our Savior's eyes?
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God answers prayers of those people that have gotten right with God and have God first in their heart, Its a relationship. Signs of existance hmmmm how about us and the earth. Or do you think this was an accident, the human body is so complex it cant be just by chance!Have lots of doubts about God, Jesus, or the Bible? Most people who think about this do wonder "How do I know that what the Bible says is true?" At ---, we think that this is an excellent question deserving an excellent answer, and that's what we provide in our "Facts Behind the Faith" seminar. Contrary to what you may have heard, God doesn't ever expect us to have "blind faith." He has always proven what He has said, and He's done that conclusively. The only thing that separates Christianity from every other religion is that it can PROVE what it says to be true. No other religion can. We can prove logically, scientifically, and archaeologically that God must exist, that the Bible is directly from God, that Jesus was God's Son, and even that He rose from the dead. Sound impossible? Then you owe it to yourself to force us to prove it. We guarantee that you'll be amazed at what you learn, and you deserve PROOF. Let us give you some  Go to this site and check out the simnars
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Hello sweet little child.. :)\n\nThis is lengthy so please forgive me ahead of time..here are quite alot of scriptures to support that we can lose our salvation..\n====================================================\n1. Fall from grace - Gal. 5:1-4,13 \n2. Be led away with error - 2 Pet. 3:17 \n3. Err from the truth - James 5:19-20 \n4. Weak brother may perish - 1 Cor. 8:11 \n5. Fall into condemnation - James 5:12 \n6. Be moved away from the hope - Col. 1:21-23 \n7. Deny the Lord who bought them - 2 Pet. 2:1 \n8. Depart from the living God - Heb. 3:12 \n9. Can be a castaway - 1 Cor. 9:27 \n10. Can become accursed children - 2 Pet. 2:14 \n\nWhat the scriptures say. \n\n1 Parable of sower \n\nMark 4:16 (Luke 8:13) "And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; (they believe for a while) and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. \n\n2 Fallen from grace passage: \n\nGalatians 5:4 "You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." \n\n\n3 Pruning passages: \n\nJohn 15:5-6 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." \n\nRomans 11:19-23 "You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again." \n\n4 Hebrews Passages: \n\nHebrews 6:4-6 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. \n\nHebrews 10:26-27 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries." \n\nHebrews 10:38-39 "But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." \n\n5 Doctrinal Apostasy passages: \n\nActs 20:17,28-30 "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church." ... "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." \n\n1 Timothy 1:18-21 "fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are HYMENAEUS and Alexander" \n\n2 Timothy 2:16-18 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are HYMENAEUS and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some. \n\n1 Timothy 4:1 &quo
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First thing comes to mind is "The entire village of Sodom & Gommorah", !#2 The followers of God , as he led them out of egypt.  We complain so much to god that we are in  in such bondage, hard life ...work, work ,work ! When God sends moses to lead the israelites out of slavery, its still not enough ! We are ungrateful people, just like they were ! too bad , I often wonder why God still puts up with us ! { but im sure glad He does !}Sometimes I feel like Job, but would I have that much faith after losing everthing ? Id like to think so !
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Hello happylife22842.. :)\n\nJesus said this:\n\nMatthew 5\n\n3  ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n \n4  ¶ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Is. 61.2 \n \n5  ¶ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Ps. 37.11 \n \n6  ¶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Is. 55.1, 2 \n \n7  ¶ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.\n \n8  ¶ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Ps. 24.4, 5 \n \n9  ¶ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.\n \n10  ¶ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: 1 Pet. 3.14 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\n \n11  ¶ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 1 Pet. 4.14 \n \n12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets 2 Chr. 36.16 · Acts 7.52 which were before you.\n \n\nThe Salt of the Earth \n13  ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Mk. 9.50 · Lk. 14.34, 35 \n \n\nThe Light of the World \n14  ¶ Ye are the light of the world. Joh. 8.12 ; 9.5 A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.\n \n15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; Mk. 4.21 · Lk. 8.16 ; 11.33 and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.\n \n16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 1 Pet. 2.12 \n \n\nJesus' Attitude toward the Law \n17  ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.\n \n18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Lk. 16.17 \n \n19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\n \n20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.\n \n\nJesus' Attitude toward Anger \nLk. 12.57-59  \n21  ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; Ex. 20.13 · Deut. 5.17 and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:\n \n22  but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.\n \n23  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;\n \n24  leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.\n \n25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.\n \n26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.\n \n===========================================================\n\nMatthew 5\n\nLove for Enemies \nLk. 6.27-36  \n38  ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Ex. 21.24 · Lev. 24.20 · Deut. 19.21 \n \n39  but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.\n \n40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take aw
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Does mainworry ever post comments himself, or does he just copy and paste all the time?\n\nGenesis is the intro to the bible.  It is full of ambiguous stories aimed at giving a meager beginning to mankind.  It has preposterous stories like building an ark.  If such an ark were built, It would have been a half a mile long.  On top of that, it would have been built out of wood.  And then... here's the best part.  If the world were flooded, then the ocean waves would be so insanely huge, that no boat, not even today's American Navy, would have been able to stay afloat!!!  Common sense dictates that you take these stories with a grain of salt.  With no land masses to quell the ocean waves, they would be huge!
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Jesus is the one true God. Some people think that he was just a prophet from God, but he actually died for our sins. I mean the Jews rejected him, but what he went through at the cross, no one would have survived a part of what he went through. I am a struggling christian I admitt it, I am, because I am just not use to all the things that we r suppose to obey. But I am learning slowly. Hey but at least I am still learning more and more about God that I thought I understood before. The Bible is all the proof you need. I would sudgest to get a New King James Version to help you understand the words a little. I even have trouble understanding it. Hey I'm 15 I can have an escuse to have a little trouble. ~LOL~ Also look at Probvers, Acts, and Revlations. They will tell you of how he died for you, what is coming for us in the rapture, and how we should act as christians. I hope you take of what I said into concideration.
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Nope what Jesus said was\n\n"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") \nHe went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'\nMark 7:18-25\n\nNot seeing where he said 'there would be neighter in heaven.  Mav's not trying to argue with you, just pointing out the scripture you are using don't support your statement.
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I read these many entries speaking against God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and the Christian people... and it breaks my heart. \nYour question was beautifully written and asked. Remember what Jesus told us to do when the "unbelievers" reacted to Him and to His Word in this manner.\n\nMatthew 5:11 \nBlessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. \n\nMatthew 5:44 \nBut I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; \n\nAnd when you've said and done all that you can do:\n\nMark 6:11 \nAnd whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.\n\nGod bless you my Christian friend.
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I've backslidden away from the Lord before and I found that I can't live without him.  Everyone else will fail us at one time or another--Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.  The Bible talks about walking away from the Lord and returning to sin is like a dog returning to his own vomit and eating it.  I certainly made some wrong choices in my life and walked the fence for a long time--but as I cried out for help--Jesus once again picked me up and loved me right where I was.  There is nothing that this world can offer you that can satisfy your soul like Jesus can.
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now let me think about that for a nano second...yes!\nlets face it, the bible was a collection of STORIES...and if anyone thinks that people get turned into pillars of salt, then they are more stupid than i thought
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Not posted to me, but thank you for the clarifying response.  It's one finger in the levee, but who knows how many it will help in the end.  Please keep up these posts.  However, try it as a question.  For instance: \n\n"Can anyone name any religious quotes being taken out of context to argue something they don't, in truth, support? (Barts Mama take note)"\n\nThen in the description, write the response as an example of what you are talking about.\n\nThis prompts thought and gets your message out