kreddman

Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 562 Joined: 23-November 02 Member No.: 2 Q1. (2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I know I am guilty of discriminating against those who have an attitude of self righteousness. I used to live in a community of mostly materialistic people. It was difficult to find friends there. I ended up being more of a loner there. The church I attended in that community seemed to be reaching out to the wealthy and engaging them on committees quickly to make them feel important. Those of less wealth were not invited to join in. We have since moved and this community is much different and I am extremely happy about that. People seem genuine and the church we attend has not shown favoritism, but maybe just the opposite by inviting all and especially challenging us to go help the needy.

The nature of the self deception is man's sinful nature. The sinful side of us likes to live in the dark (sin). God confronts us through the Word and similar to our initial conversion to be a follower of Christ, we need the Holy Spirit to help us confront our behavior and motives to discern whether or not we are truly living the life God has design for us. As a believer, we like to assure ourselves that what we are doing is right in God's eyes; so we listen to preaching, we read our Bible, we go to church, we do alot of outwardly correct activities. God, however, is not decieved by our activities and looks at our hearts. We are "performance based" people, expecting a reward for our good performance. It is only through the Holy Spirit's conviction on our hearts that we realize that on our best of days, we are yet sinners. Spiritual "pride" is particularly heinous when you consider who you are and who God IS. Grace and mercy rain down on us each day, thank God. Kathy

In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He ws with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." John 1:1-4 We are given spiritual birth by the word and the word is Him who created us. It is through His word that He draws us near, that He communicates with us, that He feeds us spiritually as food feeds us physically. As Christ said at the Last Supper 'This is my body'. We need bread (meaning food) to sustain us physically just as we need Christ to sustain us spiritually. Kathy

I think people blame God for evil because they don't know Him. He made us all with free will. He knows that this is a fallen world and we all sin. That is why He sent His son to rectify the situation. I think we all ask that question of "Why does God allow evil?" or "Why does He allow all this suffering?" God uses all things to bring glory to Himself. God is sovereign. He can do whatever He wants and who are we to question Him? He does all things for a reason, and He will use all things for the good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

Hi, my name is Kathy. I am living in Ohio. I have three children and one grandson with another on the way. My husband and I have been married 29 years. This is my first online Bible Study and I am looking forward to it. It was so nice to read about everyone else here and am looking forward to interacting with you all.