| Author | Message | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 361 Registered: 6-2005 |
Philippians 3:2-3 Three (3) indicators of those who are truly circumcised are mentioned in Phil 3:3. Are you among those who are truly circumcised? It's worth looking up! I had to jump up and pace and pray when I read this text. More later, but would love to hear what the Spirit reveals to you when you read this text. JavaGirl | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5425 Registered: 12-2003  |
Lori, I was also struck by those three things. We worship in the Spirit of God, we glory in Christ Jesus, and we put no confidence in the flesh. The thought occurred to me that my "past tradition" is so very carnalóthe emphasis in eating and lifestyle as being related to the gospel is so antithetical to what the Bible says really matters. Further, worshiping in the Spirit of Christ Jesus means the same thing Jesus meant when he told the Samaritan woman at the well that the time was now here when true worshipers would worship in spirit and in truth because God is Spirit. We just got back from three days awayóRichard and I left on Monday, right after the FAF weekend, to celebrate our anniversary. We ate at a wonderful seafood restaurantóanother first: we both ate oysters! At any rate, after having oysters as an appetizer and eating salmon and grilled veggies and feeling so much less "heavy" than after so many vegetarian meals, I just couldn't get over the contrast. God really did give us all things for foodóand what we put into our bodies is of no eternal consequence. The point, I believe, of our treatment of the body is that whatever we do must be of faith and must be received with thanksgiving. When we see our bodies as being where Jesus exalts himself on this earth (Phil 1:20), then it makes sense that it's our "circumcised hearts" that make the difference, not the specific foods we ingest. Such a great text, Lori! Colleen (Message edited by admin on February 22, 2007) | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 535 Registered: 9-2006  |
Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, Definition(s): 1) having the foreskin, uncircumcised 2) a Gentile 3) a condition in which the corrupt desires rooted in the flesh were not yet extinct Are the corrupt desires rooted in your flesh extinct? What desires is he speaking of? Inherent tendency to sin? Giving into temptation at times? I donít believe the word circumcision is used in this way here, but rather the circumcision he is speaking of here is, having given up the works of man to attain salvation and placing absolutely no confidence in our flesh for that salvation, we then have only one hope and that hope is Christ. An Adventist friend of mine keeps reminding over and over that the only thing we will have to face God with is ìCharacterî, he is 74 years old and mentions at times his weakness in character and yet he constantly places his confidence in overcoming his flesh and to eventually attain perfect character, with a little help from the Lord on the side I reckon. But Paul calls the one who teach manís works of circumcision ìEvil doersî. Rather than having confidence in the flesh we are set aside, separated, to be saved by the power of God and not of ourselves. Having no flesh to turn too we flee to the cross and there find peace in our Lord. So Paul is saying to beware of placing confidence in this flesh and beware of those who teach and preach such things. How sad, if having sought so hard for perfection only to be termed an ìEvil doerî yet my friend holds out hope in his prophetess and his church that he will be able to accomplish what she said he could do. He has little time left in which to accomplish that which he seeks. If we do not allow the conviction of sin to drive us to the cross then we are in danger of forever chasing perfection of the flesh and a works salvation just as that man, holding hope against hope of that which is out of reach. After much thrashing and gnashing of teeth I fell exhausted before that cross and gave the ability of the flesh up and there found peace. IMO River | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5428 Registered: 12-2003 |
River, what a great explication of Philippians 3:2-3. Thank you! Colleen | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 995 Registered: 4-2000  |
A longtime researcher in animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln informed me today that trichinosis in pigs has not been a problem for many decades due to the excellent care provided by veterinarian medicine. Pork producers cannot afford to raise diseased animals. The last reported case of human trichinosis in America was in 1941. Thus, the Adventist concerns about worms crawling out of your pork sandwich are no longer valid. By the way, Sylvia was proud of her courage to try some ham and bean soup at a restaurant last evening. She actually liked it. We both enjoyed some chicken as well. Dennis Fischer | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 536 Registered: 9-2006 |
By the way, happy anniversary Colleen and Richard!! Don't let the Adventist catch you munching on them pork rinds Dennis.  | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5430 Registered: 12-2003 |
Thank you, River! And Dennis, I'm grinning at your post! Tell Sylvia I appreciate her bravery and understand that surprised sense of enjoyment. You go, Girl! Colleen | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2006 |
River, "...corrupt desires..not yet extinct" Can a leopard change his spots? I don't think so, even if he goes to church all day Saturday or Sunday. Only the white robe of Jesus' righteousness will cover those spots of corruption. Who would dare deny this condition of sin? Who dares to deny the incredible price paid for us? Who dares to teach a false gospel that possession of "truth" and the practice of that "truth" makes one superior and unneedful of grace? Who are those who believe that their characters can ever be developed to equal that of Christ's? It's blasphemy, it's sick, it is of the devil. Period. I invite all Adventists to look to Jesus and not their religion and religious leaders. steve | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1553 Registered: 7-2003 |
It strikes me at the heart of the original sin....I can do something God said I can't...elevating my status to that 'almost' of God?? ...to think we can somehow 'earn' or achieve something on our own. It seems so heretical. I don't know why they can't see it when they seem to be so sincerely searching. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5432 Registered: 12-2003 |
Good question, Melissaólast night we had a conversation with a person who has never been SDA (or any other cult) but who has been involved for years in a counter-cult ministry which he funds with his day job. He has developed a significant ministry for Mormons and JWs, and in the last few years, he decided he has to include Adventists in his ministry as well. He told us last night that he remembers the first time he "saw" the veil descend over an Adventist's face. He was talking to this person about something related to salvation, and he said he visibly saw the "look", like a ten-foot wall went up between him and the other person, and he/she absolutey could not hear what he was really saying. He sees it as exactly the same spiritual phenomenon that Mormons and Jewhovah's Witnesses experience when speaking about Biblical truth. They CAN'T hear or "see" because that spiritual blindness, the veil, covers their understanding. Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 537 Registered: 9-2006 |
Veil is the correct term. It is interesting that someone else has been called to this sort of ministry, I would love to ask him/her how he goes about carrying that out. I suppose my ministry is to the small group of people that I have to do and even that may come to nothing. Right on the other hand, doors may be opened to other people. Not that I don't have enough on my plate right now. I know one thing, anger at them or impatience with them will get nowhere. They are blind and you might as well rebuke a blind man because he stumbles as to get impatient with them. It is sad when but the inner conviction if sin does not drive them to the cross, having been blinded to the cross, they end up chasing the EGW Holy Grail driven and whipped by the IJ, they stumble around right at the foot of Calvarys hill. Ever chasing the flesh, seeking peace but finding none. You say to them "See? Here is Calvary" and they cannot see it. I remember when I first got a glimpse of Calvary, I was standing near alter of the church I was attending when of a sudden I saw and felt the nails being driven into those hands and I saw the innocent blood slowly dripping from his feet into the dry dry ground,no, I didn't actually see anything, I saw it through the eyes of the Spirit. Right there is when I first spoke in tongues. Oh, I chased the flesh for a number of years trying to keep what only God has the power to keep but I ended up right back at the cross, exhausted and utterly worn out from all that chasing and reasoning to find a loving and forgiving and understanding and all wise and patient Lord and he extended a peace that is hard to fathom and all I did was give up. In ourselves is sure failure, in the Lord Jesus there is peace and contentment. A continual rest. River |
