Those who want to hear my views on the matter may click either of the following links:

MP3 OGG-Vorbis

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

[This message has been edited by TallBill (edited April 15, 2007).]

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Check my libraries (C# assemblies):
http://calinnegru.googlepages.com/downloads

[This message has been edited by Calin (edited April 15, 2007).]

God is good because Jesus doesn't just teach "don't" but "why not" and "what instead".
I thank God for His grace and His patience on us, as He teaches us to choose good so that we don't need any "legalism".

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Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

[VoHW] (Help needed) [Blog] - Truedisciple (mp3)

[This message has been edited by jari (edited April 15, 2007).]

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Brian

"OOP programmers have a lot of class"

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Conversely, Christians who do not have a problem with certain things, such as kissing before marriage or drinking in moderation etc., should not use their views on their freedom to impose their freedoms on others or imply that others are less mature or legalistic for simply abstaining from such things.

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Brian

"OOP programmers have a lot of class"

Check out this webhost! Fantastic prices, features and support!

quote:

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No christian should cut thier hair because they will loose their strength in the Lord, just as Samson.

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Now I apply this concept further. I believe that God has told me not to wear an earing any more. Does that mean that God does not allow any males to wear earings. Does that mean that I did not hear from God. Neither of the case is true. But if I go and say, "GOD TOLD ME THAT MEN CAN'T WEAR EARINGS" then that is legalism.

Some things are absolutely sin, and some things God uses to help us keep our eyes on Him.

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|steveth45|
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from what I've read of your posts Tallbill you have seemed a little legalistic. you said some things about women's arms not being shown and no kissing before marriage. this is nowhere in the Bible to my knowledge, and so your statement of 'scratching out passages' makes no sense. if you are led not to kiss before marriage, then ok, don't. but don't try to force your individual leadings on someone else.

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that post was really cool ^
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[|=D) <---|| me

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

quote:

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Originally posted by Lazarus:
Well, I always believed legalism was thinking that by your obeying God's commands you'll earn yourself a place in heaven.

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That is one aspect of it, but it is not the only manifestation of it. The most diabolical manifestation is that one in which people claim the freedom to do whatever and to heck with the effect our actions have on others. We are to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others, not defend our rights in spite of the effect that our actions have on those others. YES! We are our brother’s keeper! We are to put his benefits before our own. Luke 17:1-2 does not even mention whether we intended or even knew that we were the avenue through which others fall/fell into sin, and in my mind the absence of any such mention means that it is irrelevant whether we intend or know it or not, but only that it is true, “So watch yourselves!” (Luke 17:3a, NIV)

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

quote:

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Originally posted by TallBill:
The most diabolical manifestation is that one in which people claim the freedom to do whatever and to heck with the effect our actions have on others.

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I think the hypocritical legalism of the Pharisees and those who similarly heap laws instead of love on people, are practicing the most diabolical form of legalism.

Take for example when the pharisees brought an adulteress before Jesus. Whom did he forgive and whom did he reprimand? He forgave the woman. A few verses later, Jesus called the Pharisees sons of the Devil. (John 8)

Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16

Jesus did all the things that seemed unwise to the legalistic people of the time. He spent time with prostitutes and sinners and he drank wine. Yet, he did not sin, but the pharisees did.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
- Luke 18:9-14

In other words, Jesus cares about how we deal with our own sin, and doesn't care for us pointing out the sins of others, even if they are true, or comparing ourselves to others. What the Pharisee didn't realize was that he was as wretched of a sinner as the tax collector, and as we all are.

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|steveth45|
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[This message has been edited by steveth45 (edited April 18, 2007).]

quote:

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Originally posted by TallBill:
The most diabolical manifestation is that one in which people claim the freedom to do whatever and to heck with the effect our actions have on others.

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I'm not sure that one could put that kind of sin under "legalism", TallBill -- such behavior is usually classed under "antinomianism" (anti-law), i.e., people who think along the lines of, "I can do whatever I want because God has forgiven it all, so he won't care, and neither should anyone else."

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it's pronounced "tonics"

quote:

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Originally posted by TallBill:
The most diabolical manifestation is that one in which people claim the freedom to do whatever and to heck with the effect our actions have on others.

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if someone asks a question like let's say someone asks the question "is lying a sin?" (hyptheticaly). then if a person who knows about that topic can explain to him how lying is a sin but if that person tries to prove that lying is not a sin then he is being argumentative, he can ask back the point in the other persons reply that he didn't get but if someone keeps trying to prove or disprove a certain law or sin then that is legalism .

what is a sin and what is not a sin is quite clear but if someone doesn't get it he can always ask. but if you argue over a sin then that is legalism.

GOD doesn't like legalism , the law is made for sinners not for believers (according to the BIBLE) and if you live by the law then will be judged by the law but if you believe you are above the law.

if you still don't get what i am saying please i don't want to argue myself , if there is anything that i have said that you don't get then i will be happy to explain but i am not willing to be argumentative on this topic.

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John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[This message has been edited by LAVA (edited April 20, 2007).]