Not sure why my last part of comment was cut off. He chastises all He loves; and if there isn't a struggle with the Spirit and it being grieved in someone's life; then likely they are not really a Christian.
The first issue is perhaps the only main one; that is what does "accepting Christ as Lord and Savior mean?" As a PERSONAL Savior there is some more meat to that framework of logic. But there are many confessors out there but not true possessors of the Holy Spirit. We must truly remain within the vine and bear fruit to be one of His ( John 15:4). Baptism doesn't save anyone; it is an act of obedience and public confession which we are commanded to do associated with our repentance as scripture indicates as well.
The second issue is the purpose for the cannabis usage. it would be nice to assume that for medicinal and prescriptive purposes; it is being used for pain relief or some other theraputic use; or that what is being used is the kind without THC.
The plant itself has much more nutrient value and is not toxic unlike tobacco; although any smoked substance is bad for the lungs. Ultimately; the Lord chastises all those He loves. One can be caught with a vice for a time; but the Spirit is only grieved if it already exists within a person; which it is not with unbelievers.
In terms of recreational use; do we want the temple of the Holy Spirit to be contaminated; or influenced by a substance that causes hallucinations and an altered conscience (even if arguably it doesn't cause addiction like other stronger substances).
Anyone who doesn't do what he knows to be right--for him it is sin. ( James 4:17). We as with any other thing we take liberty to do must also consider others who are brothers who may in their conscience consider something wrong; as well as the obvious compromising of our testimony. That same principle exists for alcohol use; along with other drugs that marijuana often is a "gateway" to. Also there are illegal vendors who will spike PCP and who knows what other dangerous substances in it that are a danger to you and anyone else involved as well as monies going to nefarious characters.
A person who has been born of God's Spirit is a person who goes to heaven. It's called Spirit baptism. It has nothing to do with water. It is when God's Spirit comes into your spirit and seals your spirit. That is salvation.
A person must receive Jesus Christ. I don't like to use the word accept. There is a difference between accept and receive. In fact, the bible never says to accept Christ. It does tell us to receive Him. To accept just means to mentally agree with what Jesus did for our salvation. But we must receive Him, not accept.
As far as the cannabis usage goes, I would have to ask the cannabis user (whoever it is), if the Lord is leading them to use cannabis? Jesus gave us a command to follow Him. So whatever it is we are doing, we need to ask ourselves that question. Is this the Lord leading me to do this?
The bible says "that which is not of faith is sin." That Greek word for faith is the word persuasion. In other words, anything we do that the Lord is not persuading us to do, that is considered sin. But the Lord has a provision for that, go figure!
However, the bottom line is that every person who has been born of God's Spirit, that person will spend eternity with Christ. Everything in between, (if a person belongs to Christ), He will deal with that person if they are doing something they shouldn't be doing. I'm not sure if this is the answer you were looking for?
You wouldn't be offended dear brother if I make a liguistic correction, would you? The Greek word for faith ("pistis") does not mean persuasion at all, it simply means faith. You probably have in mind the word "peitho" which means persuasion but this is a different word, it has nothing to do with "pistis".
I'm not offended in the least bit. Your name would suggest that you might be fluent in the Greek language? If that is the case, I might learn from you. I have been a student of Koine Greek for several years now but still have much to learn.
I agree that the word PISTIS means faith. I also know that the word PEITHO means persuasion. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these two words connected together, PEITHO being the verb form of the noun PISTIS?
My personal definition of the word faith (PISTIS) is the presence and activity of God's Spirit in a believers life.
And it is the activity of God's Spirit that persuades (PEITHO) a person to do the things of the Lord, and that is what defines faith, PISTIS being the noun, and PEITHO being the verb form of the noun.
Again, please correct me if I am wrong. I take no offense!
Actually yes, God always tries in His own ways to persuade us to believe Him. The expression I would use though is that He works in our hearts to make us obey Him.
It's nice to meet somebody that studies the Old Greek that is used in the New Testament. I can learn from you too.
Sorry for my delayed answer but amongst other things there is a time difference between Greece and USA. When here is daytime there you have night and vise versa.
Lets go to faith. In Greek PISTIS. the verb is PISTEUO pronounced PEEH-STEH-VO stressed in the middle syllable, although the ancients may have pronounced it in a different way.
Persuation is PEITHO, the verb is the same, but stessed in the first syllable, whereas the noun is stressed in the last syllable. It is pronounced PEEH-tho.
Now, what do I call faith? I think there are different "types" of faith.
1) Faith to Jesus That is beleiving that God excists and sent Jesus to earth to save people. This type of faith may come from hearing the Word of God.( Romans 10:17. "So then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"). Also by seeing an activity of God, such as a miracle. Remember that apostle Paul didn't believe in God until he saw Jesus. Also in the Acts Sergius Paulus didn't believe in Paul's words until he saw Elymas getting blind.
2) Faith to God's Word, that is trusting God that He does what He promises. A definition of that is in Hebrews 11:1, "Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"
3) Faith is a fruit given by the Holly Spirit. Galatians 5:22. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH,..."
4) Faith is also included in the spiritual gifts that God gives to His children. 1 Corinthians 12:9.
"V7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
V8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
V9. To another FAITH by the same Spirit; ..."
I don't claim to know God's word or try to be a teacher. Who can actually claim that? I may be wrong, all of us are learning , from our churches, from the communication we have between us ...
Can you still go to heaven if you are a Cannabis user?
The second issue is the purpose for the cannabis usage. it would be nice to assume that for medicinal and prescriptive purposes; it is being used for pain relief or some other theraputic use; or that what is being used is the kind without THC.
The plant itself has much more nutrient value and is not toxic unlike tobacco; although any smoked substance is bad for the lungs. Ultimately; the Lord chastises all those He loves. One can be caught with a vice for a time; but the Spirit is only grieved if it already exists within a person; which it is not with unbelievers.
In terms of recreational use; do we want the temple of the Holy Spirit to be contaminated; or influenced by a substance that causes hallucinations and an altered conscience (even if arguably it doesn't cause addiction like other stronger substances).
Anyone who doesn't do what he knows to be right--for him it is sin. ( James 4:17). We as with any other thing we take liberty to do must also consider others who are brothers who may in their conscience consider something wrong; as well as the obvious compromising of our testimony. That same principle exists for alcohol use; along with other drugs that marijuana often is a "gateway" to. Also there are illegal vendors who will spike PCP and who knows what other dangerous substances in it that are a danger to you and anyone else involved as well as monies going to nefarious characters.
I'm not sure why such a question is asked.
A person who has been born of God's Spirit is a person who goes to heaven. It's called Spirit baptism. It has nothing to do with water. It is when God's Spirit comes into your spirit and seals your spirit. That is salvation.
A person must receive Jesus Christ. I don't like to use the word accept. There is a difference between accept and receive. In fact, the bible never says to accept Christ. It does tell us to receive Him. To accept just means to mentally agree with what Jesus did for our salvation. But we must receive Him, not accept.
As far as the cannabis usage goes, I would have to ask the cannabis user (whoever it is), if the Lord is leading them to use cannabis? Jesus gave us a command to follow Him. So whatever it is we are doing, we need to ask ourselves that question. Is this the Lord leading me to do this?
The bible says "that which is not of faith is sin." That Greek word for faith is the word persuasion. In other words, anything we do that the Lord is not persuading us to do, that is considered sin. But the Lord has a provision for that, go figure!
However, the bottom line is that every person who has been born of God's Spirit, that person will spend eternity with Christ. Everything in between, (if a person belongs to Christ), He will deal with that person if they are doing something they shouldn't be doing. I'm not sure if this is the answer you were looking for?
You wouldn't be offended dear brother if I make a liguistic correction, would you? The Greek word for faith ("pistis") does not mean persuasion at all, it simply means faith. You probably have in mind the word "peitho" which means persuasion but this is a different word, it has nothing to do with "pistis".
GBU
I'm not offended in the least bit. Your name would suggest that you might be fluent in the Greek language? If that is the case, I might learn from you. I have been a student of Koine Greek for several years now but still have much to learn.
I agree that the word PISTIS means faith. I also know that the word PEITHO means persuasion. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these two words connected together, PEITHO being the verb form of the noun PISTIS?
My personal definition of the word faith (PISTIS) is the presence and activity of God's Spirit in a believers life.
And it is the activity of God's Spirit that persuades (PEITHO) a person to do the things of the Lord, and that is what defines faith, PISTIS being the noun, and PEITHO being the verb form of the noun.
Again, please correct me if I am wrong. I take no offense!
It's nice to meet somebody that studies the Old Greek that is used in the New Testament. I can learn from you too.
God Bless You Brother.
Sorry for my delayed answer but amongst other things there is a time difference between Greece and USA. When here is daytime there you have night and vise versa.
Lets go to faith. In Greek PISTIS. the verb is PISTEUO pronounced PEEH-STEH-VO stressed in the middle syllable, although the ancients may have pronounced it in a different way.
Persuation is PEITHO, the verb is the same, but stessed in the first syllable, whereas the noun is stressed in the last syllable. It is pronounced PEEH-tho.
Now, what do I call faith? I think there are different "types" of faith.
1) Faith to Jesus That is beleiving that God excists and sent Jesus to earth to save people. This type of faith may come from hearing the Word of God.( Romans 10:17. "So then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"). Also by seeing an activity of God, such as a miracle. Remember that apostle Paul didn't believe in God until he saw Jesus. Also in the Acts Sergius Paulus didn't believe in Paul's words until he saw Elymas getting blind.
2) Faith to God's Word, that is trusting God that He does what He promises. A definition of that is in Hebrews 11:1, "Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"
3) Faith is a fruit given by the Holly Spirit. Galatians 5:22. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH,..."
4) Faith is also included in the spiritual gifts that God gives to His children. 1 Corinthians 12:9.
"V7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
V8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
V9. To another FAITH by the same Spirit; ..."
I don't claim to know God's word or try to be a teacher. Who can actually claim that? I may be wrong, all of us are learning , from our churches, from the communication we have between us ...
to be continued..
1 John 2.15,16,17
And the world passes away, the lust of there of : but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever .
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