tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post5550605970551946205..comments2023-11-05T04:12:34.531-08:00Comments on my friend ivan: Why Do You or Don't You Believe Jesus Was the Messiah? | Carl's Blogged Bible Study--John 7natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03212790581679016617noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-31149918848519210192008-09-12T11:08:00.000-07:002008-09-12T11:08:00.000-07:00Nate..are you off line again?? hahaha like you can...Nate..are you off line again?? hahaha like you can anwer me if you are? praying for you...and your family...any news yet?? or prospects??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-26340198674290183452008-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:002008-09-07T21:13:00.000-07:00Good thoughts, Nate. Would I have believed? Hmmm...Good thoughts, Nate. Would I have believed? Hmmm... I don't know. I think, like Corrie ten Boom, "In God's kingdom, there are no 'what-ifs.'" Some conjecture is profitless. Not that I'm saying this is ... but I do think it's an unanswerable question. The only moments I can answer for are being lived right now. Would I have believed if I were born in the slums? In a palace? To different parents? In a communist country? We can only conjecture ... but there is really no answer. We can only know what life we <I>have</I> led. I do think that the applicable challenge (do we believe Him today when we hear His voice) is wonderful, and definitely the soul-searching one. <BR/><BR/>Loved Jason's quote too. Lewis just had a way with words ...Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06077892819946373711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-39357632175963462742008-09-07T17:42:00.000-07:002008-09-07T17:42:00.000-07:00Yeah, Nate. I never would entertain those scriptu...Yeah, Nate. I never would entertain those scriptures before. It didn't make any sense to me. It still doesn't make sense to me, but it's there. I have no authority to leave it out.<BR/><BR/>When dealing with those who have not surrendered to Him yet, I do tell them, He calls all to come. For He did. I can't determine who those will be...it's all up to Him.<BR/><BR/>Blessings to you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-49033180239693025932008-09-07T14:29:00.000-07:002008-09-07T14:29:00.000-07:00@Michelle, I totally respect that opinion...but in...@Michelle, I totally respect that opinion...but interpret that passage a little differently...less deterministic. I see God as having chosen ALL mankind, some just reject that choosing. Not that I am thinking pragmatically, but a non-believer may say, "so you were chosen and not me, because I do not believe...what a jerk your God is!"<BR/><BR/>@Darla,<BR/>I actually almost put that verse into this post!natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03212790581679016617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-78062527954847660012008-09-07T11:38:00.000-07:002008-09-07T11:38:00.000-07:00Good thoughts. I was thinking about whether it is...Good thoughts. I was thinking about whether it is easier now or not to believe..I am not sure either is easy. Jesus said to Thomas...Blessed is he who believes and does not see...I think that is us. <BR/><BR/>I also felt badly for the people who seemed to want to know the truth, but we easily led by people who seemed to have another agenda. HEY it still sounds the same as today! LOL I don't know why I can't get away from that. Peace, have a great day..glad to see you on lin, and still lifting you all to the Father!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-86827006843777605372008-09-05T21:18:00.000-07:002008-09-05T21:18:00.000-07:00Great, Nate!To wonder if I would have believed mus...Great, Nate!<BR/><BR/>To wonder if I would have believed must conclude it is up to me. The only answer I have: I was chosen before the foundation of the earth to be found in Him...and I did not choose Him, but He chose me...and He won't lose any of the sheep the Father gave Him.<BR/><BR/>So I guess I would have believed. <BR/><BR/>Thank you, Nate.<BR/><BR/>I know I'm His, not because of anything I've done, but because of what He did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-77297057744840671942008-09-05T19:08:00.000-07:002008-09-05T19:08:00.000-07:00"And I have to ask myself...were I Jew living in P...<I>"And I have to ask myself...were I Jew living in Palestine who sat in the temple listening to the teachings of Jesus, weighing the evidence, listinening to the advice of my spiritual leaders and my peers...would I have believed that Jesus was the Messiah?"</I><BR/><BR/>Nate I have asked this question many times... The thing that gets me is the scripture that Jesus used , the Jews at the time should have known. You would think they would put 2 and 2 together. <BR/><BR/>Wonderful post brother...<BR/><BR/>Peace and LoveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-65382254277898410302008-09-05T15:51:00.000-07:002008-09-05T15:51:00.000-07:00I'd have to say Jason nailed it. It's impossible ...I'd have to say Jason nailed it. It's impossible to follow that comment. Good discussion, guys!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-1656906039450335212008-09-05T14:36:00.000-07:002008-09-05T14:36:00.000-07:00Thanks for the comment Jason...I love that quote f...Thanks for the comment Jason...I love that quote from Lewis. That is interesting point to make...that Jesus claimed to be God. None of the other messiahs I mentioned made such a claim.<BR/><BR/>If you like Lewis, you must read Chesterton, the man Lewis called upon for insight and inspiration.<BR/><BR/>Is this Jason Smithers?natehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03212790581679016617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-445646582472943180.post-73960778848232970292008-09-05T13:49:00.000-07:002008-09-05T13:49:00.000-07:00Great post! I struggled with the question of weath...Great post! I struggled with the question of weather I would believe if I was in the temple and honestly I don't know if I would.<BR/><BR/>My belief in Christ today is best summed up by C.S. Lewis..<BR/><BR/>³I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God."<BR/><BR/>That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldnot be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell.<BR/><BR/>You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is,the Son of God,: or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.²Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com