Christian Fellowship Community Group
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Dear Brothers and Sisters, 70 years ago, a Brother in Christ who was the instrument of God to bring about the Philadelphia-Movement, was given the following 12 characteristics of a total surrender to God. He dared to assert that only those who carried out this surrender will be ready as wise virgins (Matthew 25) or Philadelphia-Christians for the return of the bridegroom. Today just the first mark and the rest later, God willing.
Kirchbauer <walterkirchbauer@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Whether or not a perfect submission or surrender is achieved is shown in particular on the following twelve marks or characteristics.
1. According to Revelation 3.12 and many other verses, Philadelphia-Christians are overcomers and therefore have victory over sin, especially over the sin of pride, stiff-necked obstinacy and the lust of the flesh. In this regard, however, there are even among Christian leaders two kind of believers. When once at a Christian conference a life of victory over sin was stressed, it met with heated opposition, which shows, that in that regard there are two kind of Christians. On the one hand, those who not just want to know about the victorious life but also experiencing it and on the other, the ones, who don't nothing about it and therefore have to oppose the mere mention of a victorious life in Christ. However, who has carried out the total surrender and has fellowship with the living Christ, has full victory over sin, which doesn't mean absolute sinlessness. But it is quite a difference whether someone is a slave to sin or has victory over sin.
Kirchbauer <walterkirchbauer@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Whether or not a perfect submission or surrender is achieved is shown in particular on the following twelve marks or characteristics.
1. According to Revelation 3.12 and many other verses, Philadelphia-Christians are overcomers and therefore have victory over sin, especially over the sin of pride, stiff-necked obstinacy and the lust of the flesh. In this regard, however, there are even among Christian leaders two kind of believers. When once at a Christian conference a life of victory over sin was stressed, it met with heated opposition, which shows, that in that regard there are two kind of Christians. On the one hand, those who not just want to know about the victorious life but also experiencing it and on the other, the ones, who don't nothing about it and therefore have to oppose the mere mention of a victorious life in Christ. However, who has carried out the total surrender and has fellowship with the living Christ, has full victory over sin, which doesn't mean absolute sinlessness. But it is quite a difference whether someone is a slave to sin or has victory over sin.
I think it is better that we stick to the Bible, which is a challenge for many people to understand without going to books men have written! The canon has been closed for 1700 years, and I do not believe it is time to start following extra biblical revelation, even if based on the Bible originally!
Whether such reflections are genuinely divine or simply some ordinary person's understanding is less important, it seems to me, than whether such reflections help others in growing closer to God through his Word.
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.
-Isaiah 35:8
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
-Matthew 7:13
Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
-Luke 13:24
So many pull a verse and then use it in a way that was not meant. I shared in another group I am in(not on DS) and I am going to find that link and share it here.
http://www.crosswalk.com/video/common-misconceptions-about-philippians-4-13.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_campaign=cwupdate
So now trust God to help you in your bible study and God Bless!
As for you being the Holy Spirit who interprets to me, by your 12 Signs, Walter, I am going to have to say no to that!
The Holy Spirit lives in the heart of each believer.
But I think you have an interesting concept here, Walter, and I would like to see what the other signs are.
I tend to believe God when he says:
"2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Cor. 13:12
When we see Jesus face to face, that is when we shall be perfect! I am looking forward to that day! And until that day, I am walking with Christ hand in hand as HE transforms me for his glory!
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
The word "TRANSFORMED" is metamorpeo in the Greek. It is in the passive imperative tense. That means God commands us to be transformed, and he is the one who does it to us. No works-righteousness!
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done
-Revelation 20:12-14