="BillG, post: 3691661, member: 252071"]
With regards to your response that ended with your first question.
I see no issues or disagreement with your response, other than that you thought I was mocking you, actually not thought but believed I was.
You say we are to keep Gods commandments.
The only issue I would say I have with this is if you believe that we must keep Gods commandments in order to be saved.
Actually it isn't me who says we should follow God's instructions in this world. It is the God of the Bible. This same Bible also says we must "repent" to be saved. And repent means change. If we have to repent because we didn't listen to God's instruction, rather, rejected them, then it follows that our change should not include continuing in that rejection of God's instruction.
Yes Jesus said "If you love me you will keep my commands"
So if someone loves Jesus they will strive to keep his commandments, to be like him.
Now if someone professes to love Jesus but has no interest in walking in the way he has asked us to, then it needs to be addressed.
We are to come alongside to find out why.
I would think excuses for rejecting God's instruction would be obvious. We don't really believe, like Eve, and allowed voices, other than that of our God, to influence us. Something Jesus, as our perfect example, did not do. We have an example of this in His word. "I believe, help me in my unbelief".
We have "other" voices preaching things contrary to God's Word every day, especially from religious man. If we don't really "believe" in God, then we might listen and allow other voices, who also use parts of God's Word as did the serpent to Eve, influence us into being convinced of things that are not true like: "Pharisees were trying to earn Salvation by following God's Laws" "Jesus came to save us from God's unjust instructions" etc. etc. When we allow ourselves to be "baptized" in His word, immersed in the Word of God for instruction, rather than religious tradition of men, He said He would help expose the deception in our minds and lead us to all truth. Most people don't really believe this.
If it becomes apparent that there may be an issue that is causing a stumbling block and they need help then wash with them.
One of my issues was gambling. A big big gambling problem. The cause of the effect needed dealing with. It was dealt with and my addiction went in the click of a finger.
Now if I went to someone who suffered the addiction but wanted no help and said I can gamble all I want and it's forgiven I would talk about Romans 5-6.
God's grace is not a license to sin. If they reject that then time to walk away.
However if whilst walking with them and they stumbled but called out to Jesus would I reject them?
No no no.
I'm not sure your point here. Jesus said "Many" will call Him Lord, Lord.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? (Addictions?) and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me,
ye that work iniquity.
I think about the very first example of deception the Christ had written for our admonition. Paul also referred us back to this verse.
Gen. 3:
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Isn't it fascinating that the very first example of deception was from another voice who used Parts of God's Word. Not "EVERY WORD OF GOD" as Jesus said we are to live by, but just parts of God's Word. Don't you find this telling?
Now that Eve was listening to the other voice, the serpent continues.
Gen. 3:
4 And the serpent said unto the woman,
Ye shall not surely die:
The very first deception given to mankind was the lie "You are Saved" already. You are already all set. There are billions of people in the world who call Jesus Lord, Lord. They all have one thing in common, they have all been convinced they are saved. The mainstream Preachers of Christ's time, the Pharisees, also believed they were saved. "Abraham is our father". I find this connection amazing. Don't you?
Then it goes in for the kill.
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, ( in the day you reject God's instructions)
then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
The other voice then deceived Eve into believing that God's instruction was against her. That He wanted her "burdened, blinded, a prisoner, not free. But the serpent said if you listen to me and not Him, THEN you will see the truth. Then you shall be "free" from the instructions of this unjust God who just wants to burden you and keep you blind.
I get this lesson perfectly. I understand it, and I see it played out every day in my life. I thank God so much for His Word's, and for giving me the ability to SEE them. I am so thankful that for whatever reason, I "Believed" in Him enough to not only hear His Sayings, but to follow them with all my heart, and with all my soul.
I am not perfect, I fall. But thanks to His Tender Mercies, I am forgiven and given another chance to learn from Him and serve Him. This is why I "test the spirits" and why I don't listen to all the other voices out there.
So maybe you can sum up in a few sentences what the commandments are they we are to keep, and your thoughts on the Sabbath.
Can you also respond to my question about the laws/commandments that Abraham kept.
Jesus himself gave approx 45-50 commands whilst on earth.
Sure.
We should follow God's Commandments. He said you already know them.
My thoughts on the Sabbath??????? Well Jesus said it was created for man. It is one of God's Holy, Good and Just Commandments. And He is the Lord of it. He also said it was "lawful" to do Good on His Sabbath. And given 25 years of striving to keep it I can surely see why He commanded it. I think it's one of those "you had to be there" kind of things though.
It is my understanding that Abraham was blessed "Because" He kept God Commandments, and as it seem to imply in God's word, he didn't listen to any other voices as did Eve.
Well, the Word which became Flesh gave us a lot more that just 45-50 commands. He gave us the Law and Prophets as examples of the human condition and Prophesies of "what was to come". He created Holy days to show His Salvation plan which started with Pass over. (Not end there as many "other voices" preach.) "Even these are MY Feasts" He said. He came to Abraham and Abraham was glad to see Him. He did a lot of things as the Light of the Earth that Cain and other men hated before they hated me.
I hope this clears any confusion you may have about my belief.