Djrak

Whatever happenned before Jesus was a preparation for His coming there was no salvation before Jesus, everything led to death. BUT all those who believed and put their hope in God were risen with Christ when He descended into hades and offered salvation because He defeated death and granted life to those trapped there.

I wasnt talking about the building or institution, neither does the Bible or our faith. sSebB lives on the other side of the globe and I don't know Him but we are 1. United by His Spirit. I agree most churches (small 'c') are empty of God's Spirit. because the Holy Spirit is very sensitive, St Paul warns us not to sadden the Spirit. People (so called believers) trust in themselves instead of trusting God so that He leads them directly with His Spirit. That is exactly why atheists and non believers have all these excuses. If the Church (capital 'C') stayed true to Him the world would have been different. But anyway, I believe that the Body of Christ has reached a certain maturity now in the 21st cent and the future seems brighter because our Lord Himself told us that the end wont come until the gospel reaches all corners of the earth! The Body will grow! and our Lord will be glorified.

Dear Anoushik, when you realize that you can't move an inch or take a single breath without God you'll see why He's so amazing. Anoushik, the world has nothing to offer me. You know why? Because I am dead to the world and risen with Jesus Christ because I believed in Him. It isnt something i earned but something He gave me freely. And the life I live now is so much more superior than anything the world has to offer. How long and how much of a full life will you live without the creator and giver of life? 60?70?100? I will live forever. This is something I know. Not something i've learned. Advancement of anything is impossible without God. Actual flesh is fallen from the life it was meant for. So I rather live the way i was designed to live (as a human being) than to live deceived about my identity and a whole bunch of other stuff. It isnt something theoretical but actual life experience that I'm talking about. When born of the Spirit of God everything changes. Who i was before is dead. I am a new being now and I live for the one who saved me from the trap of the evil one who has blinded the world so that they wont see the glory of Jesus Christ. Life is empty without Him, even if u live the "fullest" life in a worldly sense, you will still feel empty the end of the day. Unsatisfied and wanting more. When u receive LIFE (=Jesus) you become enlightened, spiritually, mentally and physically.

my SELF is my enemy Sip, something I discovered after 25 years of living to satisfy it. And can you please tell me when exactly I looked down on anyone? And if I did I'm sorry it must have been my SELF which still creeps up from time to time ( much less than before thanks to my Savior and King) "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." - John 12:14 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 Your pride (or desire to attribute all to your SELF) is what is keeping you from real LIFE And I am not "giving faaaaaar more credit" to Jesus, you are taking away all of that from Him. What seems scary to you is only scary because it is threatening your SELF. But your SOUL yearns for it all the time. It is called LIFE. It is food and water for your SOUL. But LIFE to your SOUL means DEATH to your SELF. And you have complete freedom to choose my friend.

I have a friend. His name's John. He uses "humor" as a defense mechanism. I wish he'd stop so he can find his Life. he has a lot of issues and he uses "jokes" as a mask to hide his emotions and wounds. I see right thru him and only pray for him because what he is doing to himself is terrible although all that people see is a "happy" and "joyful" person on the outside. Inside there's a monster he doesnt know how to tame. Somehow you remind me of him Sip. You even look like him ( if that's your actual pic in your avatar)

Christ's Body (the Church) is the greatest thing there is on earth

That's because you don't trust Him completely. And i'm not joking!

I agree, there are a lot of false teachers out there. That doesnt mean they're all fakes. But I know one thing: If something is from God (not men) it will bear much fruit, so much that the devil will go mad and play with people's minds so they can attack them. But those with a firm faith will not be moved. It is impossible to bring anything to its completion and success without Christ. And I mean anything. I use to start many projects of my own and always either get bored halfway or stop liking it or fail or just not be satisfied with it or the accomplishment after it's done. With Jesus everything's beatiful and smooth. The Lord is very generous, His blessings have no end. Faith is not a theoretical thing it is an actual function in human beings. Something that needs to be fed and trained. It is the God-man connection without which our lives are empty and dry. The only reason why anyone would not believe in the miracles of the Lord is that the devil has blinded them. They are spiritually asleep. Only Christ is the light of the world. Only He can enlighten our entire being and lead us to salvation.

Many people get healed in payers, from the slightest neck pain to cancer. I've seen handicapped people stand up, i've seen people who cant hear, hear in Jesus' name... it happens almost everyday here in our prayers . The Lord is mercyful. Without faith the "mortal" or "spiritually dead" human mind cannot comprehend or accept this. I know i didn't before coming to Christ.

Hi Anahid, I'm fine, hope everything's ok with you too. I would just like to point out one little detail people overlook and because of that we tend to be too quick to judge others. I'm not trying to defend anyone but I learned to be more sceptical about what the media sais than what I see happenning as a result of faith and proof of the Lord's presence and work. Christians have always been persecuted and nothing's changed today. It may be on a different level but it's still the same. If those Evangelists are fakes it will show from the fruits of their work and if they are being attacked (especially from non-believers or so called "christian leaders") that gives me more proof that they are true. Now I can always be wrong but like I said earlier, all that matters to Jesus is that people get to know Him. There is nothing more important than that, in fact the whole Bible has one purpose and that is it. That is why He became a man and took on Himself the sins of the world that is why He was crucified, that is why He rose from the grave, that is why He send His Holy Spirit and that is what was planned from the very beginning. About your question: The Bible sais nothing about purgatory. It is something that Roman Catholics introduced. And whether they will be saved or not is something God will judge.

"When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." " Acts 5:33-39

but you are. Many people are coming to Christ and many are healed thru those Evangelists. Although they may have flaws, that doesnt make them unbelievers just as it doesnt make them perfect or orthodox in everything they do. All that matters is the Lord and our faith in Him. I dont like Benny Hinn myself not for the same reasons as you. i think he has a lot of personality issues but when it comes to faith and being led by the Lord's Spirit, i have nothing to say because he is bearing fruit. And that is all that matters to Jesus. St Paul sais some teachers preach the gospel for their own glory, and although they will be lost but atleast others may hear God's word from them and be saved.

AMEN! St Paul also sais that if you are not being persecuted that means there is something wrong with your faith. Because you're not making the devil mad!

In fact, your true identity is in Christ. In other words you dont really know who you really are except thru God's truth. You can build an identity for yourself, change it from time to time adapt things from your surrounding, people and culture but you are nothing more than a slave to the lies you are told and believe blindly. True identity and true freedom are in Christ. We are at war with our own "self" which is selfish and fallen, and we are abused for that reason by evil. Only thru Christ we can be conquerers because He has defeated death. Just wanted to add that to give a clearer explanation of where i'm coming from.

Anahit, Anahid Takouhi answered perfectly, I would just like to add one thing concerning what you said here. I know the type of people you are talking about the people who have turned faith into law and obligation and that is exactly why I quoted from Romans to show you that our freedom is in the grace of our Lord and not laws. Those "christians" who still follow rules and laws (and give justifications with Bible verses) are handicapped in their faith and I wouldn't advise anyone to go near them. Real freedom, on the other hand, is Christ. Freedom doesn't mean to follow your human desires which lead to death. That's slavery and torture. Real freedom is when you accept Jesus as your savior and devote yourself COMPLETELY to Him. And you will discover that thru His grace you are free from all the habits that weren't good for you but you couldn't get rid of them, didnt even want to, because you were depending on them BLINDLY. That's bondage not freedom. Real freedom is Christ and if you don't know what I'm talking about then you don't know what you're missing. May God bless you with His amazing love and lead you to His truth.

No, Jesus quoted from Genesis and added further clarification. I put where i took the verses from at the end of each quote.

First of all you should know that the Bible is the holy book of christians, it is a revelation from God and it talks about God's character, creation and works. If you beleive that Jesus was God incarnate, God's word that became flesh to reconcile us with the Father by dying on the cross, rising the third day and sending us the Holy Spirit so we can form His body on earth and continue His work until His return then you should have no problem understanding this: ___________________ Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Mark 10:6-9) ____________________________ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. (1 cor 7:3-5) ____________________________________ Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Eph 5:22-33) __________________________________________________ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves (Rom 1:18-24) __________________________________________________________________ Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Rom 5:18-21; 6:1-14) ________________________________________________________________________________ _ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1) ________________________________________________________________________________ _________ now if you dont believe that the Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible and you think these are the Evangelists' and St. Paul's words without being inspired and do not consider yourself a christian then this should be enough to give you an idea of what christians believe (as an actual reality in their lives after repentance and baptism) PS: sorry for the long post

what if i am not being able to handle the rest and i want to ask God to help me, is that something bad? what if the cup has a whole in it and all you are filling is leaking out? that's good how? AMEN! If you want to know my opinion on sex outside of marriage, here it is: sex is a blessing given to us by God. It is a holy thing and should be used for a holy purpose. Almost 90% of young people who turn to God is after exploring that realm. I know cos that's what hapened with me, i used to have sex like crazy (with my girlfriend that i 'loved') and while i used to think that it was great it used to go away after a while and this feeling of emptiness would rule over me. I asked God and He saved me and opened my eyes, and gave me a new heart and REAL life, i was dead and didnt even know it. Eloren, we are all in search of the truth to a certain extent even if we are not aware of it. Whatever you do in life seek Him not people and what they say(as you said), because He is alive and wants to have an intimate relationship with you so if you want to do a good deed don't reject Him. God bless you

Eloren what do you mean by "hanging on to my faith"? What does faith mean to you? And why do you try to do good deeds? It seems to me that you know subconciously that hereis more to this than what appears...please correct me if i'm wrong. About Hell...if darkness is placed in the very core of light, don't you think it will be casted out? And the same source of light will embrace any form of light that's places in it. So Who's condemning who? Forget about what you've heard by people (you not following the path...) because it seems that you've either misunderstood them or they have misrepresented the truth. It's good that you don't beleive that, because He is not a dictator.About temptations... if they are experiences for you then how do you recognize them as temptations, later on after the consequences right? So how do you deal with that? Do you keep getting into "experiences" over and over again? How does that make you feel?

yes i do i can because He revealed them to me, by myself i am nothing no i'm not a god but God revealed it to me becuse i seeked the truth just as He wants to tell you. But you obviously don't want to know.

thank you and God bless

Dear Eloren, you are assuming this life to be a ride or a trip. What if it is not. What if there's purpose behind it. Why do u go to school? Why do you have to pass the test? is there a purpose? What do you need all of that for? Why do you do whatever it is that you do? Do you KNOW what you are doing and why and where you are going? Do you ever feel like there's more to this? Or not? Or that there should be more to life than just what appears. Have you ever felt that you were created for something more than what you actually experience? Do you want to KNOW, feel and experience and reach? Or you don't care? ... Jesus said: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Does anyone know anything about this: armenian bible church ?

inch n@badag?