tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post1273551565013534018..comments2011-07-05T20:57:58.270-07:00Comments on Whoever Believes: You Will Know Them By Their FruitsKen Whitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238362773226999954noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-10617004677711341282011-02-14T08:47:59.799-08:002011-02-14T08:47:59.799-08:00Very good points, Alvin. What you said makes me w...Very good points, Alvin. What you said makes me want to read that little booklet AGAIN~!!! Thanks.<br />:-)<br /><br />Diane<br />P.S. Thanks Ken for letting us use your blog to talk to others also.Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220108948842131313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-8066841250450548042011-02-14T02:10:03.688-08:002011-02-14T02:10:03.688-08:00Thank you so much for your kind words Diane. As y...Thank you so much for your kind words Diane. As you know I became convinced that Cornelius was an OT saint because of the words used concerning him (devout,feared God,just man,works righteousness). But, I started to doubt my conclusion just because I knew that Zane had such a huge reservoir of understanding of Scripture, and that I could be missing something that he knew that had convinced him differently. So when reading that little book "Did Paul Preach Eternal Life" the light got turned on to what it was. Whether Jesus, Peter, Paul or Luke when speaking of eternal salvation or save in that sense at the core was always "made alive/eternal life." Those words were equivalent, people are made alive FIRST in God's eyes then they are forgiven or justified. God does not justify and forgive dead people. You see the clear parallels in Scripture starting with Jesus in John 3:16,17 (parish/condemn, everlasting life/saved), Paul 1 Tim 1:15,16 (save sinners/everlasting life), Acts 13:46-48 (everlasting life/salvation/eternal life), Eph 2:5 (made us alive/saved). These men knew that first a dead sinner needed life, so they were in perfect harmony with Jesus own teaching. At the heart of Paul's gospel message was eternal life, which was a gift that could be taken freely~!<br /><br />alvin:)Alvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07456422344722243333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-79067910187224203252011-02-13T21:14:02.476-08:002011-02-13T21:14:02.476-08:00Hi Alvin,
You are a TRUE BEREAN~!!!! I want to ...Hi Alvin,<br /><br />You are a TRUE BEREAN~!!!! I want to be like that. I respect you so much for that. Thank you for being so open to whatever God's Word shows you.... even when it means changing your mind about something. That's why I always take your insights to heart and study them. You've earned my respect.<br /><br />Your free grace friend,<br />Diane<br />:-)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220108948842131313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-6490019331417611032011-02-11T19:31:35.787-08:002011-02-11T19:31:35.787-08:00Hi Ken, I know this is off subject a bit but may h...Hi Ken, I know this is off subject a bit but may help someone:)<br /><br />Hi guys I just finished reading Zanes little booklet (Did Paul Preach Eternal Life?) again . . . . . . it is VERY GOOD~!!!!! I think one of the biggest eye-openers in it is this statement: <i>It is true that the divine blessings of "forgiveness" and "justification' occur at the same time that we are "made alive" in Christ. But Paul <b>never</b> uses either term as a functional equivalent for the "saved"/"salvation" concept</i>. (Page 27)<br /> <br />Zane makes clear that at Paul and Jesus core meaning of save or salvation is to be made alive/ eternal life (John 3:16-17; Acts 13:46-48). So when you go to verses like 1 Cor 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to <b>save</b> those who believe.<br /> <br />The word save is the key word in that verse, we know for Paul the core meaning of the word save is made alive/eternal life. Paul always preached eternal life for salvation, it was at the core of his message.<br /> <br />I was making more out of the word "save" than Zane was~! Even though it is true that save as spoken by Jesus in Mark 16:16 carries more meaning, as does save used by Luke, Peter and Paul. Still at it's core always is eternal life. Notice Zanes quote up above "made alive" <b>in</b> Christ. Zane always cuts straight to the bottom line "eternal life" even though we know "in Christ" is a salvation that is MORE than just eternal life but is being saved by His life daily. Zane always had eternal life in his sights~!!!!!! I did at one time but then the bulls-eye started to GROW on me to include MORE of a salvation. Zane refocused me again to the root meaning of the word save/salvation to be made alive/eternal life. I needed re calibrated again . . . . . . my eye is back on the bulls-eye especially when I see the word save or salvation concerning the gospel message~!!!!!<br /> <br />I also must admit I have repented of my view of Cornelius because in Acts 11:14 Peter uses the word (save/sozo) and I know now for him also always at the core of the meaning for that word is made alive/eternal life. So for him to use that word concerning Cornelius and his household meant that they were born again at that time:)<br /> <br />alvin:)Alvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07456422344722243333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-40096375686594776922011-02-10T09:08:36.477-08:002011-02-10T09:08:36.477-08:00Great stuff! I am going to remember the idea that ...Great stuff! I am going to remember the idea that fruits can't mean deeds because false teachers appear in sheep's clothing. Great insight!Jim McNeelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09205828653643715184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-42409621417943259092011-01-27T13:31:46.535-08:002011-01-27T13:31:46.535-08:00I love your blog Ken. Another great article! Thank...I love your blog Ken. Another great article! Thanks for taking the time to write these things for us.<br /><br />Garygoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09000003364693785318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-9522072715089824702011-01-24T20:36:16.959-08:002011-01-24T20:36:16.959-08:00Hi Ken I agree completely, and I couldn't arti...Hi Ken I agree completely, and I couldn't articulate my thoughts any better than Diane has:)<br /><br />alvin:)Alvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07456422344722243333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097630841566319995.post-33792936076692691282011-01-24T17:39:29.180-08:002011-01-24T17:39:29.180-08:00Ken, another great article~!!!
I think this subje...Ken, another great article~!!!<br /><br />I think this subject is critically important because it pins down exactly how we can identify a true believer. I know that it's possible that someone could be lying about what he says, but if he's telling the truth, we can know if this person is eternally saved or not by his WORDS.<br /><br />If a person tells me that his faith is in Jesus Christ ALONE to eternally save him apart from any works, then I know this is a believer, and I rejoice.<br /><br />If a person lives like a Christian, but can't express that his faith is in Jesus Christ alone, but he must still keep on living right in order to get to heaven, I know this person MIGHT NOT be saved. It's possible he ONCE believed in Jesus Christ alone but later became confused and now no longer believes that. This person would still be saved, but I couldn't be sure based on his own testimony.<br /><br />Our churches are full of people who we THINK are saved, yet if you ask them how they know, their testimonies are very confusing and not reassuring at all. Many people think it's Jesus PLUS their own endurance in good works to the end.<br /><br />Glad you touched on this subject.<br /><br />Diane<br />:-)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220108948842131313noreply@blogger.com