Posted on 07/11/2009 16:51:14
Thanks for the recommendation Ian, going to Koorong this week (20% off everything)!
Creation is something that fascinates me - that God would breathe the universes into existence and that we are not just 'accidents' is amazing and beautiful. I work with scientists, biologists, ecologists and most of them just don't 'get it'.
What they do 'get' though John (following on from your comments) is climate change, deforestation, rising ocean levels, species extinction etc and believe me these things ARE happening.
My personal belief is I feel that, as responsible stewards over what God has given us, we should do all that we can as individuals to respect, enjoy and preserve our beautiful planet earth and I encourage others to at least think about these matters.
God bless, Urch
Posted on 22/09/2009 05:16:03
Eric, I think we're talking about two different 'Lukes' here.
I'd like to offer a suggestion on something I've been doing a bit of a study on and would like to discuss with others - Creation.
Also liked Epi's suggestion of Romans or Ephesians. Actually, anything at all is good!
Urch
Posted on 21/09/2009 04:56:21
Ian,
If not more of Luke, how about starting another thread on a similar issue? I've found this thread very informative, stimulating and revealing as we were all able to have input and our thoughts and views were teased out. I loved hearing everyone's views and the interaction of openly sharing without putting others down. I particularly loved those 'ah-ha' moments as something was revealed.
Urch
Posted on 21/09/2009 04:36:24
Ummm.....Please Sir, can I have more?
O Twist.
Posted on 07/09/2009 05:26:11
I've been doing some further study on Luke and find that the deeper I go, the deeper I WANT to go! (if that makes sense?)
- it seems as though Theophilus was a Roman official or at least a person of high position or wealth
- he was possibly Luke's patron and responsible for seeing that his writings were copied and distributed
- the message of this gospel was intended for Theophilus' own instruction (1:4) as well as for those to whom it was distributed
- it appears that Luke was Greek, an historian, a physician, an educated man and a Gentile
- he was a faithful and loyal friend of Paul and stayed with him after others had deserted him (2 Ti 4:11)
- Luke explained his purpose for writing in the first 4 verses of ch 1 and tells how (v3) he is writing a 'careful account'
- Luke's gospel gives special emphasis to prayer (more so than the other gospels?) and miracles
- women are given an important place in his writings
- he presents the works and teachings of Jesus that are particularly important for understanding the way of salvation
More to do still...
Thanks Ian for causing me to look a little deeper, much appreciated.
Urch
Posted on 05/09/2009 06:19:05
and yet more....
"Theophilos, "loved of God". The one to whom Luke addressed his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. It has been suggested that Theophilus is merely a generic term for all Christians, but the epithet "most excellent" implies it was applied by Luke to a definite person, probably a Roman official, whom he held in high respect"
Posted on 05/09/2009 05:55:24
Found some info on Theophilus (not sure how accurate, but worth putting out there for thought?) Apologies for the cut & paste.
"Theophilus is the name of a person or an honorary title to whom the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are addressed (Luke 1:3, Acts 1:1). Most scholars agree that both Luke and Acts were originally written in Koine Greek and that "θεόφιλος" ("Theophilos"), as it appears therein, means
friend of God or
(be)loved by God or
loving God in the Greek language. No one knows the true identity of Theophilos and there are several conjectures and traditions around an identity. In English Theophilos is also written "Theophilus", both a common name and an honorary title among the learned (academic) Romans and Jews of the era. Their life would coincide with the writing of Luke and the author of Acts, sometime between 60-110, depending on which tradition one subscribes to.
Honorary title (academia) tradition maintains that Theophilus was not a person. The word in Greek means "Friend of God" and thus both Luke and Acts were addressed to anyone who fits that description"
I should have realised that theo philos means 'Friend of God'
Urch
Posted on 03/09/2009 15:31:01
That's good Chips, I hadn't notice that he was once able to see! Yes, we are brought back or 'bought' back into the family of God.
We once were blind but now we see - as John Newton wrote.
Urch
Posted on 03/09/2009 15:03:41
Ian
I think I see where you're leading us....
In each of these three examples of salvation, the people had FAITH in Jesus and were therefore saved by HIS grace. (Eph 2:8-10) Not by works lest any man should boast.
According to the revvers, these people couldn't have been saved because they had not 'done' the 'required' (by them) works of the 1, 2, 3 salvation message that they preach. Where, in these three examples do we see any of them being baptised, speaking in tongues etc? We don't! There is also the story of the thief on the cross who was saved and many other examples of people having faith in Jesus.
It is their faith in Him and His grace towards them that saves them. There is nothing else required.
I think you're leading us on to the second part of Luke, Acts.
But I still think I'm missing something vital - that there's more I'm not quite seeing?
Urch
Posted on 03/09/2009 06:24:16
The blind man knows that Jesus is able to heal him but his petition speaks of more; his cry is an acknowledgement of Jesus Kingship and would have been done in the light of all that he knew of King David and his desire to be part of this new Kingdom. The healing like in the other stories places the blind man within the safety of God’s kingdom. That’s why the response of Jesus to the blind man makes a lot of sense translated as “saved” not “healed”. This man had faith in Jesus ability to and expressed his faithfulness by following his king.
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That's great Shoes, you seem to be able to see and express it all so well and have a real gift for 'kingdom' thinking!
Urch
Posted on 03/09/2009 06:16:46
Rob, what a gorgeous son you have, you must be very proud of him. Thank you for sharing Joey with us - glad his op went well!
Urch
Posted on 03/09/2009 06:08:51
Luke 18:35-43
The blind beggar (the gospel of Mark identifies him as Bartimaeus) knew what he had to do to get what he wanted and persistently did it - much like the previous two stories of the women. All three of these people were social outcasts, were persistent in getting the attention of Jesus, knew WHO he was and sought him out. All three had faith to believe for the miracle and reached out or called out, knowing that they would be made whole/saved.
Bartimaeus called out "Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me" and the crowd told him to be quiet. It seems that he knew that he HAD to get Jesus to hear him regardless of what 'the crowd' said because He KNEW that Jesus was the answer - his healer, his saviour. He acknowledged WHO Jesus was - the Messiah, the Son of David.
The other thing that stood out to me was that Jesus asked him a question "what do you want me to do for you" - my first thought was 'surely Jesus knew what he wanted'! On reflection, I wonder if Jesus wanted to hear of the man's faith and wanted others to hear of his faith. Jesus said in v 42 'Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.' When his sight was restored he immediately followed Jesus, praising God and when others saw his joy, they also praised God.
I still feel that I'm missing something important though?
Urch
Posted on 02/09/2009 05:58:26
Hi Rob
I'm so so glad to hear about little Joey (a beautiful name) and pray that he continues to recover.
God bless you & your family,
Urch
Posted on 30/08/2009 01:46:51
Hi
I loved hearing your thoughts Shoes, and I apologise in advance to Ian as I do realise that this thread is about 'salvation' and our understanding of it.
I'd like to offer a comment or two - not about salvation but about something I noticed about the two women in Luke 7:37 & 8:43.
Both the woman with the issue of blood and the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus, had something in common – they both reached down to touch Jesus and in doing so, totally surrendered themselves to Him. The woman with the issue had done all she could to find a cure for 12 years and could do no more. The woman who anointed His feet with her expensive perfume, gave all she had and did it openly in front of those who she knew would surely mock her. Neither of the women cared about what others thought of them, but they openly surrendered themselves in faith to Jesus.
Isn’t this what He wants of us? Not to bring OUR agendas/opinions on OUR terms, but to give them up and come to His feet where we can be made whole (someone earlier said = ‘saved’ or ‘healed’). It is ONLY Jesus that can transform us, change us, heal us, forgive us. He said to the woman with the issue, “Daughter, your faith has made you well, Go in peace.” And to the other woman
"your faith has saved you; go in peace."
How crucial it is to have faith - and how important it is to say 'a little less of me Lord and a whole lot more of you'.
Urch
Posted on 24/08/2009 05:26:24
Ha, you can 'pretend' you're smart Prezy, but I don't even bother pretending to pretend!
Urch
Posted on 23/08/2009 07:13:01
Just about the only people left here now that you haven't scared the shit out of are the ones that agree with you. _________________________________________________________________________________
Sorry to burst your bubble Gali but Ian hasn't & doesn't "scare the ........ out of me". Sorry, I don't use 'swear' words even mild ones like the above - but I'm sure you get my point? And Ian & I sure don't agree on many issues, but as adults we can discuss things without hurting each other (well, hopefully)
You know, if you don't like what Ian says, why don't you just ignore him and connect with others on the forum. Why do you continue talking with him? You say that he hurts you/judges you etc, then just STOP talking to him.
Or is it perhaps that you ENJOY the battles?
Urch
Posted on 23/08/2009 06:35:38
I believe that Jesus showed us HOW we are to study the Word - He does not want us to read it to find out what to do and what not to do, but to study it to see Him and all the things in it concerning Himself. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Then let me make an amendment to the above - He does not want us ONLY to read it find out what to do and what not to do, but to.........
I like this: "it's important to understand that we should read it christologically: with the Old Testament pointing forwards to Christ, and the New Testament pointing backwards to Christ. The Saviour of the World, and he alone, functions as the centrum scripturam"
Urch
Posted on 22/08/2009 17:37:16
The best and most satisfying approach is to read what the Gospels state about Jesus. After all, he alone is the very image of God and his self-revelation to mankind (so John 14:9 and 2 Corinthians 4:4). ______________________________________________________________________________________
Not only in the Gospels but in every page of the Bible - it's all about Jesus!
I recently read the story again of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after Jesus was crucified and how they did not recognise him in his resurrected form. In Luke 24:25, he said to them "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" And in v 27 "And beginnng at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things concerning Himself."
He revealed Himself in every Book and showed them 'pictures' of Himself in every page! Many people today think that the OT is insignificant - but this shows that everything in it is there to point to Jesus. Imagine how excited these two disciples must have been when Jesus began revealing that HE was the promised seed in the garden of Eden who would crush Satan's head. Or how each of the five Levitical offerings depicted HIS one perfect work on the cross. What an amazing Bible study on the road to Emmaus!
It's as though Jesus didn't want them to have faith by 'seeing' Him (their eyes were 'restrained') but by hearing the scriptures that talked ABOUT Him! I believe that Jesus showed us HOW we are to study the Word - He does not want us to read it to find out what to do and what not to do, but to study it to see Him and all the things in it concerning Himself.
Just my thoughts.....
Urch
Posted on 22/08/2009 06:29:01
Further to a brief chat box comment and in the interest of gaining more understanding, I'd like to start a thread on the various names that God is known by.
From what I've discovered there are many different names in the OT and others that I'd never heard of (Ian mentioned that the Jews refer to God as "Hashem').
Discovering and understanding the names of God is not a quick study but I think it leads us to learn more about the character or attributes of God.
This is what I've discovered so far;
Genesis begins with God as CREATOR
"The Hebrew word 'Elohim' carries with it the meaning 'strong one or creator' and it appears around 30 times in the first chapter of Genesis where we see His creative power"
This information was taken from: Nathan Stone, 'Names of God' (Chicago: Moody Press, 1944)
In Exodus1:14 (NIV) God replied to Moses "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me you". God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh*, the God of your ancestors - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob - has sent me to you". This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.
* (notes in margin) 'Yahweh' is a transliteration of the proper name YHWH that is sometimes rendered 'Jehovah'
Ian has stated in the c/box that 'Jehovah' is a 'nonsense' word - I'd be happy to learn why this is considered a 'nonsense' word when it is used in the NLT.
I read this recently;
God is
the shepherd who guides,
the Lord who provides.
the voice who brings peace in the storm,
the physician who heals the sick,
the banner that guides the soldier
And most of all, he . . . is.
The only thing I'd really like to ask is, could we please keep this thread positive and informative, rather than competitive and negative - if that's OK with everyone?
Urch
Posted on 20/08/2009 06:39:51
Thank you God for revealing the lies to me, when I felt something was really amiss and prayed to Jesus to show me what it was.
Jesus is true to his believers, when they humble themselves before him, and are willing to accept, that maybe, just maybe, they have got it all wrong.
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Thanks RD for reminding us (and expressing it so vividly) where we came from and of God's love for His precious children. My prayer is that current revivalists read your post, throw themselves on God's mercy and ask Him to reveal Himself to them. When one asks that of our heavenly Father, He comes running - just like the father of the prodigal who lifted up his garment so he could run to his lost son. Oh how precious is the love of Jesus!
Thanks again RD
Urch x x
