Greetings from Central Europe

[Emmaus]

Born and raised in a Catholic family of seven children I, through a crisis in life, acknowledged that I needed a Savior. This was winter 1978. The Lord used circumstances to get my attention and He still has it 48 years later. I enjoy swapping views on the Bible and practical Christian living. May my postings be profitable to somebody. I firmly believe in the Lord's structure for building up the individual Christian in Ephesians Chapter 4 - that is, a One-on-one personal relationship with Christ in which He builds me up up, followed by an exchange with my fellow saved one to feed and be fed the truth - unto maturity. What am I seeking? Why - that which Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8-14 just about 4 years before his martyrdom - to "attain" the "out-resurrection" (ex-ananistasis) and "gain" the "prize" of the "Upward Call" (NKJV has it right). If Paul, with all his service towards his Lord, the spoiling of his goods, and the gaining of Christ, was not sure, then surely I must be even more sober about it?

Looking forward to what is generally held and discussing it.

E.

 

[bobinfaith]

Hello Emmaus;

Thank you for joining Biblical Truth Forum. We hope you enjoy the fellowship here with everyone.

My wife and I reside in the SF Bay Area and enjoy our retirement though I still serve in ministry.

My wife and I study the Bible every evening whereas before we read the Bible separately. This has become very beneficial. After reading we share comments and questions, and ask God what He says regarding what we study.

The Bible helps us apply what Christ is teaching when we cross paths with other "people."

I hear what you're sharing and look forward to future discussion here.

God bless you, Emmaus, and your entire family.

Bob

 

[bobinfaith]

Hello Emmaus;

You and your family reside in Central Europe? My dad was an officer in the US Air Force. We were stationed in England and Germany for 3 years. As a boy I had fond memories of traveling around Europe when my dad had time off.

God bless you.

Bob

 

[Emmaus]

Hello Emmaus;

Thank you for joining Biblical Truth Forum. We hope you enjoy the fellowship here with everyone.

My wife and I reside in the SF Bay Area and enjoy our retirement though I still serve in ministry.

My wife and I study the Bible every evening whereas before we read the Bible separately. This has become very beneficial. After reading we share comments and questions, and ask God what He says regarding what we study.

The Bible helps us apply what Christ is teaching when we cross paths with other "people."

I hear what you're sharing and look forward to future discussion here.

God bless you, Emmaus, and your entire family.

Bob

Thank you.

 

[Emmaus]

Hello Emmaus;

You and your family reside in Central Europe? My dad was an officer in the US Air Force. We were stationed in England and Germany for 3 years. As a boy I had fond memories of traveling around Europe when my dad had time off.

God bless you.

Bob

I once met the present Pastor at Calvary Chapel in Saint Gall, Switzerland. He is the son of a US bomber pilot whose damaged aircraft just made it out of Germany into Switzerland one night. He was imprisoned because of Switzerland's neutrality, but treated civilly, and so he decided to stay on. Married a Swiss girl and sired a son who became this Pastor (some facts are not confirmed - I met him in about the mid 90's, a long time ago). The US army played a vital role in the reconstruction of Germany by having big bases feeding the local economies.

Thanks for the welcome.

E.

 

[David]

Born and raised in a Catholic family of seven children I, through a crisis in life, acknowledged that I needed a Savior. This was winter 1978. The Lord used circumstances to get my attention and He still has it 48 years later. I enjoy swapping views on the Bible and practical Christian living. May my postings be profitable to somebody. I firmly believe in the Lord's structure for building up the individual Christian in Ephesians Chapter 4 - that is, a One-on-one personal relationship with Christ in which He builds me up up, followed by an exchange with my fellow saved one to feed and be fed the truth - unto maturity. What am I seeking? Why - that which Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8-14 just about 4 years before his martyrdom - to "attain" the "out-resurrection" (ex-ananistasis) and "gain" the "prize" of the "Upward Call" (NKJV has it right). If Paul, with all his service towards his Lord, the spoiling of his goods, and the gaining of Christ, was not sure, then surely I must be even more sober about it?

Looking forward to what is generally held and discussing it.

E.

Welcome, Emmaus. I'm glad to read that the Lord has brought you to the place of realizing you need a Savior. Most of us can look back and see how the Lord got our attention.

You referenced Philippians 3 where Paul speaks of pressing on to attain the resurrection. That is a good verse, but it is good also to consider what Paul says elsewhere. Paul never doubted his salvation. In fact he states very clearly, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." ~2 Timothy 1:12

When he talks about pressing on in Philippians, he is referring to pressing on in the race that God has laid out before him. That concept is seen elsewhere. Toward the end of his life he could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" ~2 Timothy 4:7.

The Christian life is about running the race laid out before us faithfully once we have come to Christ. Salvation itself is of grace through what Christ did. ""For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works" ~Ephesians 2:8-9.

Looking forward to discussing these issues with you as you get settled in. It is always good when folks are willing to open the Scriptures and study what God has revealed.

 

[Emmaus]

Welcome, Emmaus. I'm glad to read that the Lord has brought you to the place of realizing you need a Savior. Most of us can look back and see how the Lord got our attention.

You referenced Philippians 3 where Paul speaks of pressing on to attain the resurrection. That is a good verse, but it is good also to consider what Paul says elsewhere. Paul never doubted his salvation. In fact he states very clearly, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." ~2 Timothy 1:12

When he talks about pressing on in Philippians, he is referring to pressing on in the race that God has laid out before him. That concept is seen elsewhere. Toward the end of his life he could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" ~2 Timothy 4:7.

The Christian life is about running the race laid out before us faithfully once we have come to Christ. Salvation itself is of grace through what Christ did. ""For by grace are ye saved through faith... not of works" ~Ephesians 2:8-9.

Looking forward to discussing these issues with you as you get settled in. It is always good when folks are willing to open the Scriptures and study what God has revealed.

OK. I hear you. No doubt that our Christian sojourn is a race. It says so in Hebrews 12:1. But wouldn't you say that a race, especially one in which we unburden ourselves, is the epitome of effort. 1st Corinthians 9:24 also alludes to this race and says that we are to run it as if there is only one winner. I think that somehow this puts a premium on effort.

The way I see it (I could be wrong), is that this word "exanastasis", which only appears this once in the whole Bible, indicates that there is a special resurrection for overcomers. There is one for martyrs in Revelation 20. The word "attain" implies it could be forfeit. This would take care of any thought that Paul was thinking of salvation. Salvation is for free, but a "First resurrection" would guarantee a crown - something to use if one is judged worthy of ruling - as per Revelation 2:27. Just thinking.

 

[David]

OK. I hear you. No doubt that our Christian sojourn is a race. It says so in Hebrews 12:1. But wouldn't you say that a race, especially one in which we unburden ourselves, is the epitome of effort. 1st Corinthians 9:24 also alludes to this race and says that we are to run it as if there is only one winner. I think that somehow this puts a premium on effort.

The way I see it (I could be wrong), is that this word "exanastasis", which only appears this once in the whole Bible, indicates that there is a special resurrection for overcomers. There is one for martyrs in Revelation 20. The word "attain" implies it could be forfeit. This would take care of any thought that Paul was thinking of salvation. Salvation is for free, but a "First resurrection" would guarantee a crown - something to use if one is judged worthy of ruling - as per Revelation 2:27. Just thinking.

I understand what you’re trying to get at but Scripture doesn’t categorize believers into classes with differing resurrections.

God’s Word connects the resurrection to being one of Christ’s, not how spiritual you might perform. Paul was straightforward, “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” ~1 Corinthians 15:23. The promise of resurrection belongs to those who are Christ’s. Period.

Hebrews does absolutely describe the Christian life as a race. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” ~Hebrews 12:1. But what exactly is the race? It’s about laying aside every sin and running the race faithfully. Not qualifying for resurrection.

Think about a race where the prize you get simply for showing up is that you get to run. The resurrection is not the trophy at the finish line of the race. The resurrection is what every believer has just by showing up and proving you belong to Jesus. The Christian race is about running faithfully now that you’ve been saved.

Paul certainly never presents the resurrection of believers as something we might not receive. He declared, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” ~1 Thessalonians 4:14.

The Bible does talk about crowns and rewards. However they are linked to faithfulness in serving Christ, not getting a special resurrection. Every believer has the resurrection in common.

So I don’t believe the issue is graduating into a different resurrection. The issue is whether we belong to Christ, because “the dead in Christ shall rise first” ~1 Thessalonians 4:16. If a man is in Christ, the resurrection is not a possibility. It is promised.

 

[Emmaus]

I understand what you’re trying to get at but Scripture doesn’t categorize believers into classes with differing resurrections.

God’s Word connects the resurrection to being one of Christ’s, not how spiritual you might perform. Paul was straightforward, “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” ~1 Corinthians 15:23. The promise of resurrection belongs to those who are Christ’s. Period.

Hebrews does absolutely describe the Christian life as a race. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” ~Hebrews 12:1. But what exactly is the race? It’s about laying aside every sin and running the race faithfully. Not qualifying for resurrection.

Think about a race where the prize you get simply for showing up is that you get to run. The resurrection is not the trophy at the finish line of the race. The resurrection is what every believer has just by showing up and proving you belong to Jesus. The Christian race is about running faithfully now that you’ve been saved.

Paul certainly never presents the resurrection of believers as something we might not receive. He declared, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” ~1 Thessalonians 4:14.

The Bible does talk about crowns and rewards. However they are linked to faithfulness in serving Christ, not getting a special resurrection. Every believer has the resurrection in common.

So I don’t believe the issue is graduating into a different resurrection. The issue is whether we belong to Christ, because “the dead in Christ shall rise first” ~1 Thessalonians 4:16. If a man is in Christ, the resurrection is not a possibility. It is promised.

OK. Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your view. Let the reader judge.

 

[David]

OK. Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your view. Let the reader judge.

You said, “let the reader judge.” That is not the standard here. The standard is that Scripture judges what is true. The Word of God is the authority. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” ~2 Timothy 3:16.

Readers are not the final judge. God’s Word is. We will continue to let Scripture determine what is true, not speculation, theories, or interpretive systems placed over the text.

 

[Yesua888]

Born and raised in a Catholic family of seven children I, through a crisis in life, acknowledged that I needed a Savior. This was winter 1978. The Lord used circumstances to get my attention and He still has it 48 years later. I enjoy swapping views on the Bible and practical Christian living. May my postings be profitable to somebody. I firmly believe in the Lord's structure for building up the individual Christian in Ephesians Chapter 4 - that is, a One-on-one personal relationship with Christ in which He builds me up up, followed by an exchange with my fellow saved one to feed and be fed the truth - unto maturity. What am I seeking? Why - that which Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8-14 just about 4 years before his martyrdom - to "attain" the "out-resurrection" (ex-ananistasis) and "gain" the "prize" of the "Upward Call" (NKJV has it right). If Paul, with all his service towards his Lord, the spoiling of his goods, and the gaining of Christ, was not sure, then surely I must be even more sober about it?

Looking forward to what is generally held and discussing it.

E.

Welcome Emmaus,
I hope to see you on the forum posts : ) xxx

 

[TitusTwoWife]

I just arrived here but welcome!

 

[Yesua888]

I just arrived here but welcome!

Welcome Titus : )

 

[OceanLilly]

Welcome,to you and all new arrivals.
Be Blessed.