Clouds without water

All I can say is your going to get a lot of reply on this one.

 

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."--2Corinthians 4:3-4

Any Meteorologist worth a paycheck will tell you that the only cloud that does not contain water----is a fake cloud--a real cloud is really water!! So a clould without water is a fake cloud!!!!

 

I don't think we can know the answer to that, nor do I think we should speculate since only God can know something like that. There are probably some in both camps -- con artists and those who are deceived themselves.

But it's enough to know that they are deceiving others and we are to warn the sheep about them.

 

Marking for notification of postings.

 

Personally Diane, I identify these with the "tares" of Matthew 13, sown among the wheat by the enemy (the devil) to eventually be gathered and burned in a furnace of fire

Matthew 13
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

I think some of both and varying degress of each. I don't think this is a cop out but merely a description of the situation. I think the vast majority are willfully and knowingly unsaved. They are trying to succeed in religion and think this is what the emphasis should be rather than Christ. Christ is considered as one of the aspects of their concept of being religious.

 

It's possible, Diane. I heard a sermon the other day about people who were raised in Christian homes but whom had never accepted Christ as their saviour, yet considered themselves "second generation Christians". How sad to think that so many are trying to get into Heaven on their parent's, siblings or relatives salvation. I noticed in our church at Northside, some of the sermons were getting to be "I'm Okay, you're okay", Diane, and that was one of the many things I kept praying about. I'm so glad the Lord moved us here and that we're in Midland Baptist! Bro Monty is a strong preacher of the Word, though not a ranting, raving lunatic!

 

I don't think we can know the answer to that, nor do I think we should speculate since only God can know something like that. There are probably some in both camps -- con artists and those who are deceived themselves.

But it's enough to know that they are deceiving others and we are to warn the sheep about them. </font>[/QUOTE]For certain men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4 HCSB)

I think we CAN know the answer to her question because the context of the verse shows it to us. These people are obviously and knowingly out to deceive.

First, they are "ungodly". We all know what an "ungodly" person is like. They may be a good person, but there is always something about them that shouts "UNSAVED!" at us.

Second, they have turned the grace of God into promiscuity. Sounds much like TBN doesn't it? "God wants you to be rich". It's not just them though. There are other ways that people knowingly turn the grace of God into promiscuity, and the best way is the 3rd thing mentioned in this verse I showed.

They have denied Jesus. Joel Osteen, Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, some of the silly "churches" in your local area are preaching gospels that don't preach the true Jesus of the Bible. These people know what they are doing. They are out to make a buck. They won't come out and say it, but if you listen to their teachings, you will easily be able to tell.

So, looking at the verses posed by Diane, the context seems to indicate that these people are WELL aware of what they are doing. And they were "designated for this judgment long ago".

 

I didn't think the question was whether they were unsaved or not. I don't think false teachers are saved.

I thought the question was

So my answer was that some know they are not saved and are like con men and the others are not saved but are deceived and believe their own false teachings.

Well, I'm still not going to say they are purposely deceiving although they may be. But they are definitely twisting God's word and deceiving.

 

If you think about "clouds without water"----you know they are fake---right????

But go outside on just about any Summer day----lay down in the grass with your face facing the sky!!! Now----just watch the clouds pass by in formation!!

In Jude's epistle---the fake clouds look just like the real ones----but there is a difference between the fake and the real---to the Israelite farmer who depends on the water that falls from those clouds!!! About the only thing that a fake cloud CAN'T produce----is RAIN!!! To the farmer they are just like the Tare---clouds without water are good for nothin'!!!!!

 

Yes, Amen! Mmmm....yes..yayuh...yes Amen!

 

If they were designated to this judgement long ago as Jude 4 says is it not irrelevant if they know or not? Its interesting to ponder but what does it do to know the answer. It won't change their way.

 

Also, isn't it interesting that the best looking counterfeit is one that looks the most like the real thing.? Christians need to be careful.