Rejoice on this day!

[betsy]

RICHARD MORGAN

Nominal Christian, Mormon missionary, atheist, and now a born-again Christian, Richard Morgan recently spoke to Apologetics315 about his life-changing, or saving, experience on none other than Richard Dawkins’ infamous website.

For more details...

http://www.christianpost.com/news/former-dawkins-atheist-richard-morgan-continues-to-praise-god-49558/

I've added Richard Morgan to the list due to the circumstances that led to his conversion.

Happy Resurrection Day!

[scouterjim]

Resurrection is the very foundation of all Christianity.

It is the proof, the power and the promise.

Thanks be to God.

I shall rejoice by eating some chocolate eggs.

[betsy]

I shall rejoice by eating some chocolate eggs.

We're feasting too! This is the most meaningful day for Christians! A cause for massive celebrations, rejoicing....and feasting!

God bless.

[GostHacked]

Happy Zombie Jesus Day !!

[charter.rights]

Jesus is dead. You guys killed him.

[Mr.Canada]

Jesus is dead. You guys killed him.

Try to respect others beliefs please.

[charter.rights]

Try to respect others beliefs please.

I am.

Jesus is dead. You guys killed him and now you deny it.

[charter.rights]

James 14-26 KJV.

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

And so I say again that Jesus is dead. If by your faith you believe He has risen then put forth your works so that all can be witness to the Resurrection. BUT without the proof, Jesus is dead and His Body has no Spirit.

[betsy]

James 14-26 KJV.

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

And so I say again that Jesus is dead. If by your faith you believe He has risen then put forth your works so that all can be witness to the Resurrection. BUT without the proof, Jesus is dead and His Body has no Spirit.

Your version is missing 19 and 20.

James 2:14-26 (King James Version)

14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Here's the interpretation from the Bible Study:

2:14-17. Can faith save him? This statement and others in verses 14-26 persuade some critics that James is teaching salvation through faith and works. Luther called this epistle "strawy," believeing it emphasized works too much. Today, some regard it as a late writing in which in which the author is reacting to Paul's doctrine of salvation by faith alone. This is not the case.

James' teachings reflect neither a negative nor a positive response to Paul's teachings.

For Paul, faith practically equals salvation.

James however sees two kinds of faith: saving faith and professing faith (much like the usage today). For Paul, justification is by faith (Rom.4:5).

For James, justification is by a faith that works - by a geniune faith that manifests itself in post-conversion works.

Before salvation, these Jews had believed in the efficacy of works. Now some were reacting at the opposite extreme, imagining that works play no part in the salvation experience. James retorts that the kind of faith that does not produce works is not saving faith.

As Calvin said: "Faith alone saves, but a faith that saves is never alone." Thus, James's question is not simply "Can faith save?" but as the Greek text may suggest, "Can thatfaith save him?" Can merely professed but undemonstrated faith save?

The Greek grammar expects a negative answer to the question that ends verse 14. Hence it can be rendered, "That faith [i.e., the one mentioned in verse 14a which is without works] cannot save.

2:19, 20.

The reference to faith in one God probably alludes to Israel's great creedal statement of Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." Adhereance to a creed is not true faith. Even the demons know and accept the truth of the creed, but they do not possess saving faith. If one does nothing to enact his knowledge of God, he worse than the demons, for they at least tremble.

2:21-24.

These verses present the crux of the issue: Is a man justified by works?

Do Paul and James contradict each other? Several factors demonstrate that they do not.

First, as already noted in verses 14-17, the apostles use the word for faith with different meanings. Second, they used "justified" in different senses. It is customary to identify all nuances of this word with the theological idea Paul popularized - that is, God's act of declaring all believers righteous on the basis of Christ's redemptive work. But a common Old Testament and gospel usage involves demonstrating or showing something to be righteous (cf. Ps. 51:4; Luke 7:35; Rom. 3:4); it is the usage that James follows. Third, though both men use Abraham as an illustration, they focus on different aspects of his life. Paul shows that Abraham was declared righteous by faith when he trusted God (Gen.15:6). James declares that he was shown to be righteous by his offering up of of Isaac (Gen. 22:9). Fourth, even the terminology of these two apostles differs.

Paul constantly speaks against the works of the law, as being a false use of those works to merit salvation. James however, is speaking of works of love that follow belief.

Fifth, the tow apostles are discussing totally different subjects, since they are confronted by different problems. Paul, opposing the Judaizers, seeks to prove the Gentiles can be saved and sanctified apart from circumcision or any other work of the law.

James, opposing merely nominal, professing Christians, seeks to show that true faith confirms itself by deeds of love. If James wre fighting Paul over law and grace or faith and works surely the subject of circumcision would have arisen, since it lies at the core of that issue. James and Paul are not face-to-face fighting each other they are back-to-back fighting opposite foes!

2:25.

Just as James presents two examples of spurious faith (vv.16, 19), he concludes with two examples of genuine faith: Abraham and Rahab. One was a Jewish patriarch pf great sanctity, whose faith was perfected by his works. The other was the lowest citizen of a condemned Gentile city, whose newfound faith was dramatized by her works. No matter whether one has the mature faith of an Abraham or the baby-like faith of a Rahab, there must be evidence of that faith.

2:26. The point of this analogy between the body and ones faith is that both require an energizing element. The absence of that element renders the other component dead.

Edited April 25, 2011 by betsy

[bloodyminded]

For Paul, faith practically equals salvation.

Betsy, I have to defer to you on this, because I am not a student of the Bible.

But do not Satanists-by definition--have faith in God, or at least faith that he exists? (Satanism, at least "traditional" Satanism, must demand a belief in God to even make sense). Is that not implied by "the devils also believe"?

Edited April 25, 2011 by bloodyminded

[betsy]

Betsy, I have to defer to you on this, because I am not a student of the Bible.

But do not Satanists-by definition--have faith in God, or at least faith that he exists? (Satanism, at least "traditional" Satanism, must demand a belief in God to even make sense). Is that not implied by "the devils also believe"?

Yes it does say the devils also believe. After all Satan was the angel formerly-known-as Lucifer, who rebelled against God.

I don't know how to answer you Bloodyminded, about Satanists (practitioners of Satanism; followers of Satan). They must believe that God exists...but could that be termed as having "faith?" Like I don't have "faith" in Satan just because I believe he exists....because that's what the Bible says.

And that is assuming the Satanists accept what the Bible says.

I don't know what Satanists actually believe in, like how they believe did Satan came to be....and if they believe Satan is their god, then why would they believe in God.

SO I don't really have an answer to that.

Edited April 25, 2011 by betsy

[kimmy]

I am.

Jesus is dead. You guys killed him and now you deny it.

You know, you really are an asshole.

-k

[bloodyminded]

Yes it does say the devils also believe. After all Satan was the angel formerly-known-as Lucifer, who rebelled against God.

I don't know how to answer you Bloodyminded, about Satanists (practitioners of Satanism; followers of Satan). They must believe that God exists...but could that be termed as having "faith?" Like I don't have "faith" in Satan just because I believe he exists....because that's what the Bible says.

And that is assuming the Satanists accept what the Bible says.

I don't know what Satanists actually believe in, like how they believe did Satan came to be....and if they believe Satan is their god, then why would they believe in God.

SO I don't really have an answer to that.

Okay, I think missed a point in being literal about the word "faith." "Faith" doesn't only mean "belief in existence"; it means more than that.

[charter.rights]

Okay, I think missed a point in being literal about the word "faith." "Faith" doesn't only mean "belief in existence"; it means more than that.

Faith without works is dead. Unless you can demonstrate your faith by performing the miracles you profess exist, your faith is nothing more than a delusion.

Miracles are not special instances, they are everyday occurrences. Yet you deny the resurrection of Christ by claiming that Jesus died. Thus your faith in Easter is dead. YOUR works do not confirm your faith but contradict it.

[betsy]

Yet you deny the resurrection of Christ by claiming that Jesus died.

Your statement is not right. There is no denial about His resurrection by claiming He died. That He resurrected means He came back from the dead. He lives.

Answer this question then.

How can He be resurrected if He didn't die?

Edited April 26, 2011 by betsy

[charter.rights]

Your statement is not right. There is no denial about His resurrection by claiming He died. That He resurrected means He came back from the dead. He lives.

Answer this question then.

How can He be resurrected if He didn't die?

He either died or he didn't. There is no proof that he was dead other than observation of ignorant and untrained people. Yet he didn't resurrect himself if he was dead in the first place.

The problem is that faith without works is dead. Prove that YOU can die and then arise from the dead and then you might have a case. But without works, your faith is delusional.

[betsy]

He either died or he didn't. There is no proof that he was dead other than observation of ignorant and untrained people.

His sentence was death. I'm sure the soldiers would've ensured that he's dead! After all that's their goal. His death. That's why a spear was thrusted to His side.

How much training does one need to have to know whether someone is dead or not. No coroner was available. I'm sure they must have their way of knowing in those days.

Yet he didn't resurrect himself if he was dead in the first place.

You're not a Christian, so it's understandable you do not accept the fact that we Christians do.

The problem is that faith without works is dead.

What exactly do you mean by this?

Prove that YOU can die and then arise from the dead and then you might have a case. But without works, your faith is delusional.

I don't need any proof. That's what having faith is all about.

Besides, the Resurrection symbolizes triumph over death....in the sense that for those who have faith, there is life after death.

Are you expecting anyone who dies right now will rise up before your eyes? My faith may seem "delusional" to you....but of course, you're not a Christian. Why would you have any faith?

I don't know if you're really reading and trying to understand the Bible.....if so I would suggest getting a Bible Study King James version. Good ones really explain, including the customs of the time.

[charter.rights]

His sentence was death. I'm sure the soldiers would've ensured that he's dead! After all that's their goal. His death. That's why a spear was thrusted to His side.[\quote]

You still haven't made the conclusion that he was either dead or he wasn't. If he was dead then he did not resurrect himself. If he wasn't dead, then it wasn't a ressurection.

How much training does one need to have to know whether someone is dead or not. No coroner was available. I'm sure they must have their way of knowing in those days.

Death is subjective. Today we use the loss of brain activity as a measure. Back then it someone was sleeping could could have been buried for dead. That is why wakes were often held...to make sure the person wasn't just deeply asleep. So maybe Jesus was just sleeping?

You're not a Christian...

Obviously, neither are you since your judgement is out of line with the teachings of Christ. Yet how would you make a conclusion that I am not a Christian, and still can't decide whether or not Jesus was sleeping? And without works your faith that he died is nothing more than delusional.

...so it's understandable you do not accept the fact that we Christians do.

You aren't dealing with facts. You are dealing with delusional assertions without any work to back it up. And by the way using circular reasoning by saying the Bible proves itself is not satisfactory. It is a weak argument.

What exactly do you mean by this?

I'm quoting what James said. You don't understand that you cannot believe in miracles without proving that they are possible. Otherwise your claims fall back into delusional thinking.

I don't need any proof. That's what having faith is all about.

Wrong. At some point you need proof. Otherwise faith is dead.

Besides, the Resurrection symbolizes triumph over death....in the sense that for those who have faith, there is life after death.

No it doesn't. You have been conditioned by priest to believe that is what it means because THEY say so. What it really is, is a testament that there is NO death - that life is all there is, and the belief in death is a powerful as death itself. You die...you are dead. There is no life and your belief in death delivers you to rot and decay. There is no "life after death".

Are you expecting anyone who dies right now will rise up before your eyes? My faith may seem "delusional" to you....but of course, you're not a Christian. Why would you have any faith?

What I expect is irrelevent to the discussion. You have made an assertion without any proof. Without works - proof - why would you have any faith? Because you are conditioned to believe what you are told and not question authority. I'm here to tell you that I have questioned the highest authority and haven't been struck down by lightning. And still I get the answers to my questions because I hold faith that there is no question that has never been answered. There is only people like you who refuse to see, being blinded by the mote in their own eyes.

I don't know if you're really reading and trying to understand the Bible.....if so I would suggest getting a Bible Study King James version. Good ones really explain, including the customs of the time.

I don't need your delusions or others to determine what the Bible is, or means. I already know it inside out. You are the one who asked for the help. And I provided that your faith is dead, without works. Go with it. It is the Truth.

[Shady]

It's funny to watch the lefists of the forum attack Easter, while at the same time walking on egg shells and bending over backwards as no not offend s certain other religion! God bless you guys, you're entertaining as hell!

[Shakeyhands]

It's funny to watch the lefists of the forum attack Easter, while at the same time walking on egg shells and bending over backwards as no not offend s certain other religion! God bless you guys, you're entertaining as hell!

pfffttt.

Are any other religions members on here to debate?

By far the most interesting thread so far to date Betsy.

[The_Squid]

Why do bunnies shit chicken eggs on Easter? Is this a miracle, or what???? I think it's a miracle.... proof of God.

[cybercoma]

pfffttt.

Are any other religions members on here to debate?

By far the most interesting thread so far to date Betsy.

Paging jbg... jbg to the religion forum, please.

[betsy]

Obviously, neither are you since your judgement is out of line with the teachings of Christ.

And you should know?

I think I''ll just rely on my own instinct that tells me I'm trying by best to follow His teachings. Accept Him wholeheartedly in my heart. And place my trust in Him that He guide, lead and direct me.

Yet how would you make a conclusion that I am not a Christian,

You do not believe in Christ (His death and Ressurrection). What other conclusion is there to make?

I don't need your delusions or others to determine what the Bible is, or means.

In other words you're just running on empty!

I already know it inside out.

You don't even know the basic meaning of "Christian."

You are the one who asked for the help.

Help?

I only asked you to clarify what you mean....since I didn't want to make a hasty conclusion about what you're trying to say. I didn't want to outright dismiss your statements as drivel rantings....

And that's just what they are. As you clearly explained.

And I provided that your faith is dead, without works. Go with it. It is the Truth.

Whatever.

Edited April 27, 2011 by betsy

[WIP]

It's funny to watch the lefists of the forum attack Easter, while at the same time walking on egg shells and bending over backwards as no not offend s certain other religion! God bless you guys, you're entertaining as hell!

Yeah, keep on painting with a broad brush! Most of the ones who are attacking Easter celebration also attack Islam...so much for your egg shells....and those of us who don't attack Islam, also don't attack Christianity....just the unhealthy aspects of these religions, such as fundamentalist intolerance of other people's beliefs.

[charter.rights]

And you should know?

Matthew7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

You faith is in your works. Being full of judgement and condemnation suggests that you ~think~ you are a Christian but really aren't....by your own words...

I think I''ll just rely on my own instinct that tells me I'm trying by best to follow His teachings. Accept Him wholeheartedly in my heart. And place my trust in Him that He guide, lead and direct me.

Then follow them, don't just preach them. See the above...

There is a little story that was told to me by a Mohawk friend about rejecting people because they don';t fit and sound like you should care. After months of tending to a stranger who came to the door and was taken in by a family, healed and fed when they had little to share, the stranger reveled himself as the Creator. The moral is that you cannot judge a book by its cover......or something like that....

You do not believe in Christ (His death and Ressurrection). What other conclusion is there to make?

Now you read minds too? Christ didn't die. Jesus did and while Jesus was of the Christ, Christ lived on and never died.

In other words you're just running on empty!

I can see how from an empty and baseless perspective you could project that conclusion.

You don't even know the basic meaning of "Christian."

And by your works once again you prove that you are not a Christian. You are a wold in sheep's clothing interested in preaching your delusions without any proof your faith is real. My faith is absolute and I prove it through the miracles I perform everyday.

I only asked you to clarify what you mean....since I didn't want to make a hasty conclusion about what you're trying to say. I didn't want to outright dismiss your statements as drivel rantings....

Yet you are quick to judge, you can't remove the mote from your own eye and see how flawed your dogma really is.

There is also another Mohawk story I recall that talks about the Creator being a young lad making a challenge to his brother to flatten the mountain he just raised. He boasted that he was more powerful and more creative than his twin, and when his brother said he was finished, the Creator turned around only to have that same mountain slammed into his face, breaking his nose. No doubt, humility in your household could find a place amongst all that arrogance.....