Originally posted by C.R. Gordon:
Here is something for you Purpose Driven Folks to chew on for a bit...
http://www.biblebb.com/files/purpose.htm
Thoughts please...
But what does scripture say. The Word is not theory. It is not theology. It has been interpreted for us, and difficult to divide out this interpretation of the Holy Spirit. God is a God of division. If we ask, He will show us the divisions. Peter says it is difficult to divide the wisdom for us today. Fishermen, and those of all skills and professions can learn, regardless of little or no schooling, or much and even more learning than most. It is the "wisdom" in Christ we are to seek. The Word leds us to this wisdom which is the mind of Christ in us through the Spirit. II Peter 3:15-16,
”And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
I posted the following (concerning Purpose Driven) on the “Poll Forum” today, answering one critiquing my original to Poll about this book, started by Jude.
"July 14, 2004,Posted answering donnA.
I've read it and listened to the videos.
It is not for people who meant to give anyone fulfillment throught work but only shares what the bibles says(giving the scripture) about serving God. It is not meant to prove anyones salvation. There is not guilt involved unless you make excusses not to serve God. Then you are guilty, of disobedience. People who do not want to serve God have a problem and it doesn't start with this book.
Being judged not guilty is of past sins, you can presently be guilty of a sin since salvation.
quote:
I am saved by grace and born to good works, as he points out in his book. I don’t have to work, but we do because of love, just as in our giving.
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Exactly what the book says. Jesus told us to work and serve and He showed us many times in scripture.
Thanks for the reply donnA. My degree of the worth of the book differs from yours. I can live with that. I wish everyone saw things as I, and you may wish the same from your point of view. James and Paul were at opposite poles. Does this book really reach into the Body of Christ Church? On Page 10 of the book we find from where the thoughts of the book come, and end, even though there are quotes after Pentecost. Forty Days has much to do with the nation Israel, Gods own people. Can you find in scripture 40 days having any meaning to the Body of Christ, where a distinction is not made between Jew and Gentile. They became as I, a Gentile heathen that He did not come for the first time. If we cannot see within the mysteries of God His secret of we in His Body – His inheritance, then does not everything remain the same as from the beginning? God lumped His idol worshiping people in with the “crumb eaters”, the dogs. Israel’s King will come. My Savior is here.
This sincere and learned Pastor only gets 40 days into the New Testament. This points to all by faith, and not much through faith. Starts with 40 days of rain with Noah, ending 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection. What about 50 days when Pentecost came? What about the number of days until the stoning of Stephen when the “unforgivable sin” of Israel occurred, as Jesus says in a parable? What about the 3 years Paul was in the Arabian Desert? Why is Israel under the law mixed with grace of the Christian? The purpose of the book is a journey with those in that dispensation. We are not in that dispensation. Today we are all in the Body of Christ, and reside in the heavenlies with Him through the spirit. If we are Once Saved, Always Saved, where else could we be.
As a matter of fact this book and video tells you service has nothing to do with earning salvation, works are done by those who are saved, not for salvation. Some seem to not relly kknow what it's about.
Amen!
It has made a difference in our church. There are people who have found where they need to be serving God at, and have found why they had trouble in some aresa they were in before, they were not focusing on serving God but on getting things done. It has made a difference in our chrch. But the biggest change should be in the heart, and thats where you can not see, you have no idea what work God is dong in people who have read scriptures. And just becasue you have a problem believing scrirpture does not mean all other people do.
Very well put. I do hope your church is now on the move. This book is for juniors, and the babes in Christ. It should be labeled so. It is fine to review, but why do people become excited about being feed milk that is for the babes.
What scripture/s have I disavowed? Is it not a matter of correctly dividing His Word. God is a God of division. His Word must be correctly divided so to see the interpretation that the Holy Spirit has put before us. I will not put words into your mouth, but you seen to believe everything is the same as from the beginning, or at least from the beginning of the Old Testament that begins with Abraham.
More mature christian already know most of everything in the book they have read it and learned,they have lived it and experienced it and taught it. But it has all been put togehter in one book. Most of it is new to younger less studied christians.
Salvation by grace, discipleship, serving God, evangelism, and missions, fellowship are all in scripture, and God means what He says. He doesn't let us off the hook just becasue we don't beleive Him.
Then you are agreeing with me that this book is after all not meant for the mature. Can you follow along with me. We are to agree with every word in His Word. We should believe Christ while on this earth, and His purpose then, and we should believe Christ as He sits beside His Father in Heaven. I also believe His last words on Salvation are contained in the gospel of Paul. Christ gave Paul this gospel, just as He gave Moses, Moses’ law. I have a faith, not a religion.
II Corinthians 5:15-18, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Only in this dispensation can all men choose Jesus. Only today is He reconciling the world unto himself where He resides. He speaks to us in heaven through the Spirit. The carnal man is dead. The Son/Word is alive. The kingdom will come, and we in Christ will be with Him when His kingdom comes to earth, that His people will inherit."
Christian faith, ituttut