Love in action, is that what you are saying @Tillman ?
J.
The Holy Spirit in action, Johann. Not I but Christ Who lives within me.
1 John 4:8: “God is love”
2 Timothy 1:7: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control”.
Romans 5:5: “The Holy Spirit makes the love of God so abundant in our hearts that it overflows”.
We must offer a hand to pull our brother out of the muck, not scold his filth and walk away. We bring God to sinners, not the sinners to God. Just as the Father sent Christ to us, Christ sent us to them. To be Him, to show God’s LOVE. The Holy Spirit does the rest. But if we do not LOVE unconditionally, if our love has conditions, if our loving acts come with an agenda, an expectation or a price that must be paid by our brother, if we demand change before they can come to God, Christ is not in that. And in the end, God decides how to tackle the Transformation of that saved soul, not us but Christ working in them. Not by our Power but His. In His timing.
Romans
8 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. **2 **For the law of the Spirit of life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. **3 **For what the Law could not do, [b]weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of [c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, **4 **so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk [d]according to the flesh but [e]according to the Spirit.
Galations
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
**2 **Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. **3 **Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. **5 **For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. **6 **For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Romans 14:3
The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
Romans 2:1
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Luke 23:40
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
Talking about God and His word. Not man-made traditions. We can know what God calls sin by His Word. You know that book you do not like so much when it does not agree with you? But love to quote passages you think, wrongly, support your point of view.
Yes. That is grace, and I never said to treat anyone like a leper. I never said anything about calling someone out and walking away. Now, if I let someone know what they are doing in Sin and there is a better way, and they turn violent, angry, or just walk away, that is on them. Like Jesus told the disciples, do not argue with anyone, if you are not received, then they do not recive me, just walk away and brush the dust off your feet.
However, now they are without excuse, because they heard the truth.
Nope. God’s Word.
That is just completely wrong. The Word of God is being preached all over the world, and Jesus, a man who lived in a little corner of the world over 2000 years ago, is STILL changing the World. I have no idea where you got that insane concept.
I will repeat, although I doubt you will understand, Jesus was the perfect combination of grace and truth. Grace: represents his compassion, forgiveness, and the “undeserved favor” he showed to people who were marginalized or struggling. It’s the soft heart and the open door.
Here is what you leave out. Truth: This represents his honesty, his moral standards, and his refusal to sugarcoat reality. It’s the firm foundation and the uncompromising light.
Yes, Jesus accepted anyone as they were, but expected them to change and become who He told them to. Go and sin no more. Not I love you. Just be whatever you choose and do whatever you like. He loved them, accepted them, and required them to CHANGE. You only like teaching Love, that we agree. However, you are failing to teach repentance, which Jesus CLEARLY taught.
I asked you once, when do you start talking to someone about repentece and you never answered. Just went on about love. As I said, half the Gospel, it will not lead ANYONE to Salvation.
Peter
1 Like
The desire to show compassion rather than contempt toward sinners is thoroughly biblical and must be affirmed. Scripture consistently warns against pride, harshness, and abandonment masquerading as righteousness. We are indeed called to restore, not to discard. As Paul writes, Galatians 6:1[1]
This establishes that restoration is the goal, and meekness the manner, yet restoration still presupposes that a “fault” is named rather than ignored.
However, your statement “we bring God to sinners, not the sinners to God” requires careful correction. Scripture never presents God as absent until believers arrive, nor salvation as God being carried toward humanity by human agency. Rather, God is already present and active, and the Church is commissioned to proclaim Christ so that sinners may be called to repentance and faith. James 4:8[2] and 2 Corinthians 5:20[3] both clearly describe the gospel as a summons for sinners to come to God, not a relocation of God toward sin.
The comparison between the Father sending Christ and Christ sending believers is true only if the distinction between Christ and His people is carefully preserved. Christ is sent as the incarnate Son whose mission culminates in the cross and resurrection, whereas believers are sent as witnesses and ambassadors who proclaim that finished work. John 20:21[4] establishes mission continuity, but 1 Corinthians 15:3–4[5] reminds us that the redemptive work itself is not repeated or embodied by us, only testified to.
For this reason, the phrase “to be Him” must be corrected.
Christians are never called to be Christ, but to imitate Christ in holiness and love. Scripture is explicit on this distinction. Ephesians 5:1[6] calls for imitation, while Hebrews 1:3[7] reserves Christ’s unique identity and role entirely to Him.
It is also true that the Holy Spirit brings about transformation, yet Scripture does not portray this work as detached from truth, repentance, teaching, or exhortation.
The Spirit convicts of sin and applies Christ’s work through the Word. John 16:8[8] shows that conviction, not mere affirmation, is central to the Spirit’s ministry.
The claim that love must be “unconditional” is correct if it refers to love being unearned and freely given, but incorrect if it implies that love must never confront, warn, or call for repentance. God’s love is gracious, but it is not morally indifferent. Romans 5:8[9] affirms grace prior to merit, while Hebrews 12:6[10] makes clear that love includes discipline.
Likewise, calling people to repentance is not an illegitimate “agenda” imposed upon love, but an essential expression of love itself. Christ’s own preaching unites grace and repentance without apology. Mark 1:15[11] shows that repentance is not a prerequisite humans invent, but a response Christ Himself demands.
It is correct that salvation is not earned by prior moral reform, yet Scripture never separates coming to God from repentance. Acts 3:19[12] demonstrates that repentance accompanies conversion, even though it does not merit it.
Finally, it is right to say that transformation is God’s work, accomplished by His power and in His timing. At the same time, Scripture consistently teaches that God uses human means such as teaching, warning, and encouragement as instruments of that transformation. Philippians 2:13[13] must be held together with Colossians 1:28[14], not set against it.
Love that refuses to speak truth is not biblical love, and truth that lacks patience and humility is not biblical truth.
The gospel holds both together without tension, because it flows from the cross and the resurrection, not from human sentiment or strategy.
You agree brother?
J.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. - KJV ↩︎
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. - KJV ↩︎
…we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. - KJV ↩︎
As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. - KJV ↩︎
…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day… - KJV ↩︎
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; - KJV ↩︎
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person… - KJV ↩︎
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: - KJV ↩︎
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - KJV ↩︎
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth… - KJV ↩︎
…repent ye, and believe the gospel. - KJV ↩︎
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out… - KJV ↩︎
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. - KJV ↩︎
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom… - KJV ↩︎
1 Like
You do see the irony and the error in what you are saying, don’t you?
You claim I am only preaching half the Gospel because I am not telling people they need to repent. And yet, here I am, trying to show sinners how they are sinning. Here I am, trying to show them the error in their thinking in the most loving way possible. Here I am telling sinners that they need to turn away from sin, to embrace Christ and be filled by the Holy Spirit and embody the behavior that is pleasing to God.
…While being told I don’t do that…
Then show me Christ in the world today.
Or is it possible that you mistake the act of instilling and believing “the right ideas,” and pretending to be perfect, as salvation? Rather than actually having an organic and real relationship with God and pursuing the full transformation of the Holy Spirit that comes with being in relationship with God, that leads to someone becoming a child of God?
I have no doubt that there are authentic believers whose lives have been changed by Christ, by an encounter with the Living God. I have no doubt that people do hear the Gospel, and God opens their eyes, and they are saved. But there is a difference between those who embody the Holy Spirit and those who just give good lip service.
And if the Gospel had filled this world, we would not be where we are today. The world has only grown darker. We even have a period in history dedicated to this acknowledgement. It’s called, “The Dark Ages.” But we are closer now to self-destruction than we have ever been in all history. Because mankind has built the instruments of their own demise. And those who would use those weapons to destroy this world are in the world now.
The Gospel, if embodied and shared in this world today, has the Power to defuse the situation. If you truly offered Christ, and the choice Christ leads us to make- To choose Forgiveness over Vengeance and Retribution- Then people would be compelled to put down their weapons and attempt to make Peace with one another. And yet they don’t have the mental or Spiritual capacity to pursue this. Animosity is growing. Inflammatory language and behavior are revered and exchanged. Eye for an Eye has reared itself again, if it has ever actually left. And Boundaries are disrespected left and right.
Because people, races, countries, religions, denominations, and churches think that they alone matter, and then they find reasons to put down other people, races, countries, religions, denominations, and churches. And destroy them.
Because your Gospel does not tell them to choose forgiveness over retribution. Your Gospel does not tell them to make Peace, or to LOVE one another. No, Your Gospel tells them God is coming to get them. Your Gospel preaches terror, telling people that God is coming to get Vengeance if they don’t repent.
The Parable of the Talents is God’s answer to you. You say to the Lord, in your Gospel, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, **25 **so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
And the Lord’s response is this, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? **27 **Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
God’s Vengeance is the thing you look forward to, not the arrival of Christ or His redeeming LOVE. And we always move toward that thing we put all our focus on. That thing we dedicate our lives for? That we put all our time and energy in? We Worship it.
So it must be asked- Are you actually Worshipping the Living God? Or does a false idol sit in the Temple?
There is a Way that leads to Eternal Life. And there is a way that leads to death. Which path do you actually choose? One is a path of fear, one is path of LOVE. And LIFE…
Love the way you said the Holy Spirit in action and a radical call for repentance.
The primary and clearest passage is Ephesians 1:13, where belief and sealing are explicitly linked in sequence, not separated by a later event.
Ephesians 1:13[1]
The grammar is important. Paul uses a clear progression: hearing the gospel, believing, and being sealed. The sealing is presented as God’s immediate act upon belief, not as a delayed or conditional experience.
Paul reinforces the same doctrine later in the same letter.
Ephesians 4:30[2]
Here, sealing is not described as provisional or temporary, but as enduring “unto the day of redemption,” grounding assurance not in human consistency but in God’s act.
This aligns with Paul’s teaching elsewhere that the Spirit is given at conversion as God’s confirming mark of ownership and guarantee.
2 Corinthians 1:22[3]
Taken together, Scripture presents sealing as God’s act at the moment of faith, marking the believer as His own and guaranteeing future redemption. The emphasis is not on a later achievement, but on divine initiative rooted in Christ’s finished work, applied by the Spirit at belief.
This what you have in mind @Tillman ?
J.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, - KJV ↩︎
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. - KJV ↩︎
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. - KJV ↩︎
I think I have made my point.
And I have not only made my point, adequately and succinctly with Scripture, but I have also rested my case.
My only other answer for you is, “Pray on it.”
Pray for the Wisdom that you need to see what I am saying.
Pray for God to confirm or deny my claim.
Pray for True Revelation, in the Name of Christ Yesua, and see what happens.
But trust not on your own understanding on these matters. Many Kingdoms and Worlds have fallen because Wisdom was not held in high regard.
LOVE is your only salvation. And if God does not LOVE unconditionally, there is nothing that can save you in the end.
One final note- I find it interesting that this message keeps appearing when I do not have another draft up or window open…. I understand that you guys have the ability to edit the messages and posts of other people. But I think it goes without saying that there is a special place in editorial hell for those who abuse it…
You should know, I make copies, take screenshots and request downloads of everything I post and edit for future reference.
I understand that disagreements, misquotations, and differences in how Scripture is handled can become exhausting over time, and repeated pushback can take a real toll. Scripture reminds us that not every discussion is profitable or edifying in every season.
2 Timothy 2:23[1] and Romans 14:19[2] call us to discern when continued exchange no longer builds up.
For that reason, I will step back and leave you in peace, trusting the Lord to guide us both in truth and understanding.
Shalom.
J.
This here is a very curious thing to say, don’t you think? That you know and acknowledge and understand that the consequence for hounding someone is exhaustion? That by nonstop disagreement, and by misquoting, and by handling Scripture differently you effect a toll upon your opponent knowing you will eventually wear them out. And not just one of you. But many of you, taking turns. Or is that an illusion?
Beloved, I am very aware of the plots and schemes of man, their intentions, and their methods. Void of Honor, Integrity, and Truth.
And the Enemy has many such tactics and tricks.
But the Truth is never exhausted or silenced. It does not matter who you are in all this world- When it comes to the Truth, you may try to hide it, or run from it, or drown it out with endless posts, rewritten narratives, or by slandering those who would speak it, but the Truth will not stay hidden for long. You cannot run from it forever. A time comes when we all must stand before it, to fully know and to be fully known by it.
But LOVE never fails, nor does it ever cease. And God’s Will? It Will Be done, no matter what a man may intend, do, or say or the consequences that will come because that man did those things.
I, on the other hand, am very human. Good luck with the path you choose.
The first part is just, yeah. I can’t help you. God is all over; His spirit is moving in amazing ways. There is a bit of a revival going on in this country. More young people are seeking out God. Sorry if you cannot see this.
As for
Again, completely wrong. The Gospel tells them God is returning. The REAL Gospel tells that Hell is real, and how to be sure you are not going there. You seem to tell people no worries, just be you. God loves you just how you are. As they head to hell.
You have obviously not read or understood Revelations. Jesus is NOT returning as a passive, silent lamb. He is returning as a coungerring KING. I warn people that we do not have to worry about Jesus because we have accepted the other and are washed in His blood.
Sadly, it is going to get worse around the world. The end is comingand the closer we get, the more we see things like Romans 1 play out. But I’m glad you know what is in my mind. It should cut down on the necessity to converse.
Peter
1 Like
Could you show me one time of you telling people they need to repent? From what sin? Sorry that I missed that.
Peter
2 Likes
You are preaching a gospel where love is severed from repentance, faith is reduced to experience, and judgment is treated like an embarrassment. Scripture does not recognize that gospel.
Jesus did not save Thomas by bypassing faith. He confronted his unbelief and commanded him, “Be not faithless, but believing” and Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God” ~John 20:27–28. John then seals the matter. “These are written, that ye might believe… and that believing ye might have life through his name” ~John 20:31. No faith, no life. God does not save people by vague encounters. He saves sinners who believe Him.
You keep opposing love and judgment, as if warning people is cruelty. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” ~Luke 13:3. That is not terror. That is mercy spoken before it is too late. Love that never warns is not love. It is cowardice dressed up as compassion.
You accuse others of worshiping vengeance while ignoring that Scripture says the wrath of God already abides on those who do not believe ~John 3:36. That is not their invention. That is God’s Word. If that offends you, your problem is not with them. It is with Scripture.
Paul did not leave room for this fog. “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” ~Galatians 1:9. A gospel without repentance, without judgment, without the necessity of faith is not good news. It is a lullaby sung to people on the edge of hell.
This is not harshness. It is clarity. And Scripture will judge us all by whether we spoke the truth or softened it to be liked.
1 Like
They should, plenty Imperatives in Scripture.
Matthew 3:2 (KJV)
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:8 (KJV)
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Matthew 3:11 (KJV)
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Matthew 4:17 (KJV)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 9:13 (KJV)
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 11:20 (KJV)
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Matthew 11:21 (KJV)
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Matthew 12:41 (KJV)
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Matthew 21:29 (KJV)
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Matthew 21:32 (KJV)
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Matthew 27:3 (KJV)
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Mark 1:4 (KJV)
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:15 (KJV)
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 2:17 (KJV)
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 6:12 (KJV)
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
metamelomai
Greek: μεταμέλομαι —transliteration: metamelomai
This verb is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the remorse of Judas (Matthew 27:3).
Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See [to that] yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. ——Matthew 27:3-5 NASB
metanoeó —true repentance
Greek: μετανοέω —transliteration: metanoeó or metanoeo
This means to change one’s mind and purpose, a change of the inner man. This verb, with the cognate noun metanoia —μετάνοια, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised.
Key points for understanding repentance
What is SIN AND WICKEDNESS? Is it just “bad people” that are sinners, or are YOU a sinner? Answer
What does the Bible say about HUMILITY?
Are you good enough to get to Heaven? Answer
THE FEAR OF THE LORD— What is it? Why is it very important? Answer
How and why did Jesus greatly humble himself for us? Answer
What is REGENERATION? being born-again
So, what is true repentance—sincere remorse?
According to Scripture’s teaching of the Gospel, repentance consists of…
a true sense of one’s own guilt and sinfulness
an actual hatred of sin (Psalm 119:128; Job 42:5,6; 2 Corinthians 7:10) and turning from it to God
an apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ
a persistent effort to live a holy life—walking with God in the way of His instruction
What is holiness and why are we to pursue it? Answer
One who is truly repentant is conscious of…
personal guilt
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And pure when You judge.
…Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities. —Psalm 51:4, 9 LSB
personal pollution
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
…Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
…Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. —Psa. 51:5, 5, 10 LSB
Want me to go on?
J.
1 Like