<rtdavide@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message news:TzxMj.6578$mG1.6409@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Apr 10, 7:20=A0pm, AJA <ahnem...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> I've been lightly following this thread. =A0My question is, what in
>> heaven 's
>> name does the number of references in the Bible have to do with a
>> person's=
>> getting heaven or avoiding hell? =A0Blessings,
>> Ann
>
> nothing ann.
>
> I'm not really trying to stress hell and judgment over love, but i'll
> say it again; unless we understand our condition- that we are sinners
> and are separated from God because of that sin, we cannot see the
> greatness of his love and the salvation he offers.
> strip that away and all God becomes is a benevolent grandpa that sort
> of smiles on what we do.
Agreeing that we must understand our condition- there are hard admonitions
against sin in the Bible. Indeed, many.
Being Christian, of couse I accept that I am a sinner, every day, every
minute. But being a Christian I also know that by grace I am forgiven-
sins
wiped out, clean gone and forgotten by my Lord, and that I am given the
gift
of saving grace each time I truly and earnestly repent and try to follow
God's way. Each time I fail, and each time I'm forgiven again.
That's the part that often gets lost in conviction preaching. I've had to
go to Church men and women and pray Lord have mercy to get the 'feel' of
forgiveness. For this life long Christian it has been a long, rough
journey
to knowledge and acceptance of God's forgiveness. I would never have
received this gift of blessed assurance through conviction preaching.
Conviction preaching and teaching, in my experience, can go really
overboard- overshadowing the Good News. More than likely it drives people
to the conclusion that all is hopeless, when in fact, the Good News is
about
a 'common holiness'. Common, in the sense that forgivness is just a
breath
of Yes, Lord, away.
I'd like to see long and intelligent posts here on forgiveness, on just
how
it works through Christ crucified, how forgiveness can be understood and
acted upon.
My problem with this tread is that the _ numbers_ of references seem to
have
been put forth as proof of something about conviction of sins, and/or love
of God.
Blessings,
Ann
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