Recent content by atpollard

For the sake of argument, set aside the first “Spirit” as the Holy Spirit (which makes “God is Holy Spirit” a whole topic of its own) … the second “spirit” in John 4:24 is the same word … does John really mean “those who worship (God) must worship in Holy Spirit and truth”?

The NASB lists these "spirit" [G4151: pneuma] in John with a small 's' rather than a capital 'S': [John 4:23-24 NASB] "But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit[G4151] and truth; for such people the Father seeks [to be] His...

Returning to the OP … No. First, anyone with “only head knowledge” has what demons have (according to James) and are NOT Christians. Second point, God still reveals himself, so there are some who have what you called “first hand knowledge” … however, this is not as valuable as you seem to...

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One theological thought on the subject (by someone smarter than me that spent a lot more time than I invested thinking about it) is that the DEGREE of punishment should match the nature of the individual sinned against. [We see this in human Civil Law where shooting a police officer is more...

Acts 2:37-41 [ESV] 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will...

Southern Democrats were more "Fiscal conservative, Pro-Tariff protectionist and Isolationist" than the "Cut Taxes, World Trade and Interventionism" of the Ronald Regan Republicans (IIRC).

Might it be reasonable to say that WE forgive because we find what we gain by FORGIVING (the reward) greater than what we would gain from taking the "vengeance" that we are due for the wrong that we have suffered (the cost)? Is it POSSIBLE that God FORGIVES because God finds what He gains of...

Respectfully, both. The "wages" of sin is death and I fully expect to "shuffle off this mortal coil" one day ... so I will indeed pay the same "wage" as every other sinner. Christ certainly had to do something to make me "accepted" by the Father (and acceptable to the Father). As I understand...

In your model, I am indebted to Christ and I am "squared" with God the Father. The Son offered MERCY and the FATHER owes me heaven (because I am sinless ... the wrath transferred and punishment given). I view that as a flaw rather than a feature. That no SCRIPTURE clearly teaches...

Why do we forgive? [and, no, I am not laying the groundwork for "Why does God ask something of man that He cannot do?" ... that is flawed as we are not like God so it is an apples to oranges comparison.] But seriously, WHY does God expect us to "forgive" and why do we choose to "forgive"? Like...

The following are not found in my bible ... "take (our/your/their) place" "took (our/your/their) place" "substitute" ... in any relationship to God, Christ or Justification. Where the words appear at all, the context is completely unrelated, like: Matthew 27:7 [ESV] So they took counsel and...

I would like to clarify the "entitlement" concept. It is more fundamental than modern. I owe a debt ($200 or a cow or 1 year of military service) and I am placed in jail because of that debt. My (brother, wife, lawyer) pays the debt (pays $200, delivers a cow, hires a mercenary to serve in my...

Yes it does. I entered the study from a settled position that it was to satisfy the JUSTICE of GOD. It is not an unreasonable or self-contradictory "thesis". However, if it is true, does it not seem like something sufficiently important for God to bother mentioning "specifically" in 66 books...

Am I the only one amused by the irony that Trump (as a "true Republican") is a classic "Southern Democrat" whom Ronald Regan would violently disagree with, and the modern "Democrats" are classic "Socialists" that Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez would applaud?