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Hashe

Member Since 27 Feb 2014
Offline Last Active Mar 06 2014 07:08 AM
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Posts I've Made

In Topic: Peace on Earth?

04 March 2014 - 08:05 AM

I'm sorry, I didn't realise there was a specific question.

The phrase 'altar call' is pretty common in churches isn't it? It isn't a specific thing.

I'm also unsure where the challenge on my understanding of the gospel was.

My intention here is to encourage discussion, but perhaps you feel my questions don't do that.


In Topic: Jesus saves us from

04 March 2014 - 08:02 AM

When I use the phrase 'altar call', I use it as many Christians do as a call to respond to Jesus.

The issue I think is rather that people easily add things to the gospel, that Jesus saves from our problems as well as our sins.

Have you never experienced anybody who has thought this?


In Topic: Why was Cain's sacrifice rejected?

27 February 2014 - 08:55 AM

I've heard both of the following suggested:

1. God wanted an animal. Cain didn't have any because he farmed the ground, not livestock. He was too proud to ask Abel for one, and thought "I'll do it my way, God will accept that."

2. God wanted the best of what they had. Abel brought "of the firstlings of is flock and of their fat portions". Cain simply brought "an offering...of the fruit of the ground". Abel gave the best he had, and Cain though "Meh, that'll do."

What do you think?

The difficulty with the first option is it brings in information which isn't anyway.

 

The israelites were always required to give the best of what they were offering. They could offer grain offerings without blood sacrifices. Therefore the second option is the best option.


In Topic: 7 Ways to Do a Bad Word Study

27 February 2014 - 08:32 AM

Trevor, the simple explanation is that this is a recognised feature of John's writing style. Throughout his gospel he uses agape and phileo interchangeably.

Notice that Jesus describes the Father's love for himself as 'agape' in John 3:35, but 'phileo' in John 5:20. Jesus later describes the Father's love for his disciples as 'phileo' in John 16:27.

 

IT's not just these two words that are used interchangably. If you read through John in the original language, he constantly interchanges synomyns, and uses different phrases that mean the same thing. When you see this, it becomes much clearer that this issue is one of John's style.