For many nature can be a church!!!!!

[Brother-Paul]

Hi guys,

I am sure the words in the title made you look at this post, they made me shake my head in disbelief.

My wife has just received a picture message on her Facebook from a friend, there is a picture of Pope Francis having said following words...

It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money - for many nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, whilst some of the worst deeds were done in His name. - Pope Francis

Although some statements can be said to be true... Not one of them points to Jesus or points to Heaven!

We could say so much, but I guess maybe best to say... 'you can tell a tree by its fruit.'

 

[Bendito]

Hi guys,

I am sure the words in the title made you look at this post, they made me shake my head in disbelief.

My wife has just received a picture message on her Facebook from a friend, there is a picture of Pope Francis having said following words...

It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money - for many nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, whilst some of the worst deeds were done in His name. - Pope Francis

Although some statements can be said to be true... Not one of them points to Jesus or points to Heaven!

We could say so much, but I guess maybe best to say... 'you can tell a tree by its fruit.'

I agree Br Paul....Pantheism does not work. One cannot call the works of God as though they are God

 

[Dovegiven]

I agree Br Paul....Pantheism does not work. One cannot call the works of God as though they are God

How true. The world of corrupt people worship the creation rather than the Truth. Romans 1:25 (KJV)
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 

[Brother-Paul]

I have come across the occasional born again catholic, when I did my heart rejoiced.

A couple of years ago I was ill and had a life threatening operation, Praise the Lord I came through, He still has work for me to do. A catholic lady my wife got to know said, tell Paul we are praying for him, my wife confirmed I am born again. The lady went to her minister, called father!!! She asked if she was born again, he said yes and she accepted his word for it, not 'The Word' for it.

How sad it is that the flock take what the minister says as Gospel, without checking scripture for themselves. Some may not like that statement, we shouldn't need to, but is it not better to be certain for ourselves. It is also a good practice to read the scripture your place of worship is to read, before you go, in your own Bible, KJV, NKJV, NIV, then listen to it read to the congregation, I can assure anyone who does so will be Blessed.

Sadly many catholics use 'their own Bible' which includes many changes to match what they want to believe, even though scripture carries warnings not one dot or tittle should be changed! Matt 5:18-19 The lady I spoke of earlier went to her minister who they call 'father'. Scripture tells us not to call anyone Father except our Father in Heaven! Matt 23:9

There are so many questions we could ask about the catholic church...

- why have they changed the Bible to use their version?
- why have many changed the Ten Commandments?
- why do they call their minister father when scripture clearly says we shouldn't?
- why do they go to a confession box or ask forgiveness of sins through their minister? No one comes to the Father except through me Jesus said!
- why do they pray through the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Scripture says 'all generations shall call me (Mary) blessed' Not that we should pray to her or through her. Jesus said, 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'
- why do they have a cave/tomb outside their churches with Mary at the entrance?
- why do they have a larger than life Jesus 'nailed to the cross'. He is Risen!
- why do the congregation sit or kneel in prayer gazing up at Jesus on the cross? These are forms of idol worship the Bible warns so much of.

I am sure there are many more situations, the above are just a few of what comes to mind as I write.

If Jesus was here now, He would no doubt say they have all the attributes of religion but lack true faith... So sad.

If Jesus was here now, He would no doubt be saying, hypocrites and blind guides. It is so sad.

There are a lot of nice people in the catholic church who have sadly been misguided, there are a lot of genuine prayerful people in the catholic church who pray to God or pray through the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All these prayers are void, Jesus is the Intercessor of all prayer, all authority was given unto Jesus, no one comes to the Father except though Him. If we do not pray to God through Jesus Christ He cannot intercede our prayers for us...
John 16:24 (NKJV)
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (Because they are not praying in Jesus Name)

I must add here, this is not a dig at the catholics, there are other denominations out there that are similar or close to the above. As God loves the sinner but not the sin, we must love all God's people but not their errors to scripture, but when errors are known in teaching we have a duty to make clear what scripture actually says. Any soul not saved, remains lost, until their is a change of heart.

If the catholics had been right in what they preached there would not have been a reformation! Trouble is they are so veiled by their practices they cannot see they are doing anything wrong.
They are without doubt the largest religious social club in the world. But Religion doesn't give us Salvation, Religion cannot save a person.

Please pray as the Spirit guides you...

 

[True Disciple]

I agree Br Paul....Pantheism does not work. One cannot call the works of God as though they are God

You should not be stating what does or does not work for you don't even know how your own religion works. You deny Jesus and you don't even know it. In John chapter 10 Jesus dealt with people just like you, read verses 22 through 38. Jesus asks why they want to stone him and the say because he, being a man, try to make himself God, read Jesus's answer which starts at verse 34. You accepting the misguided teachings from people who are not true followers is why you believe that "One cannot call the works of God as though they are God." That's the opposite of Jesus. Doesn't Christianity call it's people to be Christlike? and Does Christ not call us to be God-like? Jesus says in Matthew 5:48 "But you are to be perfect, just as your father in heaven is perfect."

 

[Bendito]

You should not be stating what does or does not work for you don't even know how your own religion works. You deny Jesus and you don't even know it. In John chapter 10 Jesus dealt with people just like you, read verses 22 through 38. Jesus asks why they want to stone him and the say because he, being a man, try to make himself God, read Jesus's answer which starts at verse 34. You accepting the misguided teachings from people who are not true followers is why you believe that "One cannot call the works of God as though they are God." That's the opposite of Jesus. Doesn't Christianity call it's people to be Christlike? and Does Christ not call us to be God-like? Jesus says in Matthew 5:48 "But you are to be perfect, just as your father in heaven is perfect."

My friend, If I ever deny Jesus, He lets me know about it and I can get right with Him...I make mistakes and He corrects my and teaches me, and loves me.
As His people submit themselves to Him, He guides us, teaches us, coaches us and grows us up to be like Him in all ways...I know that you do not expect anyone to be instantly like God in any respect...I agree that it would be nice but it would also be like a young plant in a hot house...It jumps up and stands tall but has no roots, so it falls in the first little puff of wind... The way we grow in Him roots us and grounds us so we are strong from the bottom up, like a huge oak tree. As to being perfect? Listen 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we are perfect at that time. There is no sin in us...Of course being who we are, people, we slip into sin, but we can always run to our Father and get cleaned up again. We learn we grow, we get stronger in our relationship with God. We grow to be like HIM.
But listen Dear Heart.....We do NOT have a religion....We have a relationship with our Father
One gets the impression that you are either a new Christian or you are here to attack. Which is it? Do you want to know Jesus as friend, brother, and Lord? Do you accept the fact the Jesus has come in the flesh, died, raised back to life and is coming back for His bride?

 

[True Disciple]

My friend, If I ever deny Jesus, He lets me know about it and I can get right with Him...I make mistakes and He corrects my and teaches me, and loves me.
As His people submit themselves to Him, He guides us, teaches us, coaches us and grows us up to be like Him in all ways...I know that you do not expect anyone to be instantly like God in any respect...I agree that it would be nice but it would also be like a young plant in a hot house...It jumps up and stands tall but has no roots, so it falls in the first little puff of wind... The way we grow in Him roots us and grounds us so we are strong from the bottom up, like a huge oak tree.

Who are "His" people? Jesus says in Matthew 5:45, "45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." Paul says in Romans 2:11 "For God shows no favoritism." He goes on to clarify this in verses 14-15 "14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right." Paul goes on to further clarify this in verses 25-27, "25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.26 And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people?27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it." I expect thoughs who claim to be followers of Christ to live out the way, the truth, and the life taught by Jesus.

As to being perfect? Listen 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we are perfect at that time. There is no sin in us...Of course being who we are, people, we slip into sin, but we can always run to our Father and get cleaned up again. We learn we grow, we get stronger in our relationship with God. We grow to be like HIM.
But listen Dear Heart.....We do NOT have a religion....We have a relationship with our Father

I'm Glad you put the actual Bible verse of 1 John 1:9, that's almost about all the truth you offered, what you further explained is the complete OPPOSITE of repentance. That's not being "Born Again" or "Made New".
Now you Listen, Jesus says in Matthew 12:43-45; 43 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
So, Jesus has just explained what happens when someone acts upon your 1 John 1:9 verse without immediately implementing they way, the truth, and the life (Jesus and his teachings found in the first four books of the New Testament) A person can't even begin to be considered perfect until they begin to live in the way, the truth, and the life, Period. Or they'll continue to do what you said of slipping back into sin, that's not repentance. By your standard of 1 John 1:9 what's stopping a person from consciously sinning when they know they can ask for forgiveness after? Exactly. I'm all for 1 John 1:9 but one must have an understanding of Matthew 12:43-45 in order to understand how 1 John 1:9 actually works.

One gets the impression that you are either a new Christian or you are here to attack. Which is it? Do you want to know Jesus as friend, brother, and Lord? Do you accept the fact the Jesus has come in the flesh, died, raised back to life and is coming back for His bride?

I am not a "New" Christian and I am not here to "Attack" you either, but I am here to Challenge you. By the questions you ask, One gets the impression that you have never questioned any "Mainstream interpretation" about Jesus let alone lived out the way, the truth, and the life. Beware the Yeast of "Mainstream Interpretation" (Matthew 16:5-12) Don't think that the teachers of religious law that Jesus criticized in Matthew 23 no longer exist. This is why Jesus's warns in Matthew 5:20; 20"But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Knowing Jesus as a friend, brother, and lord is irrelevant; accepting the fact that Jesus came in the flesh, died, and raised back to life and coming back is irrelevant for living the way, the truth, and the life is everything. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:7 says, "Talk is Cheap"

 

[Bendito]

Who are "His" people? Jesus says in Matthew 5:45, "45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." Paul says in Romans 2:11 "For God shows no favoritism." He goes on to clarify this in verses 14-15 "14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right." Paul goes on to further clarify this in verses 25-27, "25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.26 And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people?27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it." I expect thoughs who claim to be followers of Christ to live out the way, the truth, and the life taught by Jesus.


I'm Glad you put the actual Bible verse of 1 John 1:9, that's almost about all the truth you offered, what you further explained is the complete OPPOSITE of repentance. That's not being "Born Again" or "Made New".
Now you Listen, Jesus says in Matthew 12:43-45; 43 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
So, Jesus has just explained what happens when someone acts upon your 1 John 1:9 verse without immediately implementing they way, the truth, and the life (Jesus and his teachings found in the first four books of the New Testament) A person can't even begin to be considered perfect until they begin to live in the way, the truth, and the life, Period. Or they'll continue to do what you said of slipping back into sin, that's not repentance. By your standard of 1 John 1:9 what's stopping a person from consciously sinning when they know they can ask for forgiveness after? Exactly. I'm all for 1 John 1:9 but one must have an understanding of Matthew 12:43-45 in order to understand how 1 John 1:9 actually works.


I am not a "New" Christian and I am not here to "Attack" you either, but I am here to Challenge you. By the questions you ask, One gets the impression that you have never questioned any "Mainstream interpretation" about Jesus let alone lived out the way, the truth, and the life. Beware the Yeast of "Mainstream Interpretation" (Matthew 16:5-12) Don't think that the teachers of religious law that Jesus criticized in Matthew 23 no longer exist. This is why Jesus's warns in Matthew 5:20; 20"But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Knowing Jesus as a friend, brother, and lord is irrelevant; accepting the fact that Jesus came in the flesh, died, and raised back to life and coming back is irrelevant for living the way, the truth, and the life is everything. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:7 says, "Talk is Cheap"

Ok You want more scripture to back up what I said....Here is a little bit...
My friend, If I ever deny Jesus, He lets me know about it and I can get right with Him...I make mistakes and He corrects my and teaches me, and loves me. Hebrews 12:8-10 (CJB)


8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!

9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.


As His people submit themselves to Him, He guides us, teaches us, coaches us and grows us up to be like Him in all ways 2 Timothy 3: 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


...I know that you do not expect anyone to be instantly like God in any respect...I agree that it would be nice but it would also be like a young plant in a hot house...It jumps up and stands tall but has no roots, so it falls in the first little puff of wind... The way we grow in Him roots us and grounds us so we are strong from the bottom up, like a huge oak tree. Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.



As to being perfect? Listen 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we are perfect at that time. There is no sin in us...Of course being who we are, people, we slip into sin, but we can always run to our Father and get cleaned up again. We learn we grow, we get stronger in our relationship with God. We grow to be like HIM.
But listen Dear Heart.....We do NOT have a religion....We have a relationship with our Father

You said "Now you Listen, Jesus says in Matthew 12:43-45; 43 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
So, Jesus has just explained what happens when someone acts upon your 1 John 1:9 verse without immediately implementing they way, the truth, and the life (Jesus and his teachings found in the first four books of the New Testament) A person can't even begin to be considered perfect until they begin to live in the way, the truth, and the life, Period." Where is your scripture to prove the assertion that when we sin, and confess it, that demons are cast out? All the person does is to confess. That does NOT cast out a demon. The verse you quoted is true. For an example; the demons Jesus cast out of the man of Gadara (sorry about the spelling) The demons begged to be sent into the pigs..Otherwise I think Jesus would have sent them to the pit. But the man still would have to live as Jesus said to stay free of demons..
You said "Once people confess their sins they have to implement deliverance from demons or they will be worse off than before but you did not give a scripture to back that up either.......

I'll finish later I have to run outside before it snows...

 

[Bendito]

Ok You want more scripture to back up what I said....Here is a little bit...
My friend, If I ever deny Jesus, He lets me know about it and I can get right with Him...I make mistakes and He corrects my and teaches me, and loves me. Hebrews 12:8-10 (CJB)


8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!

9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.


As His people submit themselves to Him, He guides us, teaches us, coaches us and grows us up to be like Him in all ways 2 Timothy 3: 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


...I know that you do not expect anyone to be instantly like God in any respect...I agree that it would be nice but it would also be like a young plant in a hot house...It jumps up and stands tall but has no roots, so it falls in the first little puff of wind... The way we grow in Him roots us and grounds us so we are strong from the bottom up, like a huge oak tree. Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.



As to being perfect? Listen 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we are perfect at that time. There is no sin in us...Of course being who we are, people, we slip into sin, but we can always run to our Father and get cleaned up again. We learn we grow, we get stronger in our relationship with God. We grow to be like HIM.
But listen Dear Heart.....We do NOT have a religion....We have a relationship with our Father

You said "Now you Listen, Jesus says in Matthew 12:43-45; 43 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
So, Jesus has just explained what happens when someone acts upon your 1 John 1:9 verse without immediately implementing they way, the truth, and the life (Jesus and his teachings found in the first four books of the New Testament) A person can't even begin to be considered perfect until they begin to live in the way, the truth, and the life, Period." Where is your scripture to prove the assertion that when we sin, and confess it, that demons are cast out? All the person does is to confess. That does NOT cast out a demon. The verse you quoted is true. For an example; the demons Jesus cast out of the man of Gadara (sorry about the spelling) The demons begged to be sent into the pigs..Otherwise I think Jesus would have sent them to the pit. But the man still would have to live as Jesus said to stay free of demons..
You said "Once people confess their sins they have to implement deliverance from demons or they will be worse off than before but you did not give a scripture to back that up either.......

I'll finish later I have to run outside before it snows...

Nobody is instantly perfect, not ever in this world. On the other hand, as I said, when you are cleansed from all unrighteousness, as the Word says..Then you are perfect, because there is NO unrighteousness in you... Then you end up being human and you slip again....That is NOT saying that you have the right or the permission to sin again..It simply means that we are learning and growing.

 

[True Disciple]

Ok You want more scripture to back up what I said....Here is a little bit...
My friend, If I ever deny Jesus, He lets me know about it and I can get right with Him...I make mistakes and He corrects my and teaches me, and loves me. Hebrews 12:8-10 (CJB)


8 All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!

9 Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! 10 For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.


As His people submit themselves to Him, He guides us, teaches us, coaches us and grows us up to be like Him in all ways 2 Timothy 3: 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.


...I know that you do not expect anyone to be instantly like God in any respect...I agree that it would be nice but it would also be like a young plant in a hot house...It jumps up and stands tall but has no roots, so it falls in the first little puff of wind... The way we grow in Him roots us and grounds us so we are strong from the bottom up, like a huge oak tree. Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.



As to being perfect? Listen 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


When He cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we are perfect at that time. There is no sin in us...Of course being who we are, people, we slip into sin, but we can always run to our Father and get cleaned up again. We learn we grow, we get stronger in our relationship with God. We grow to be like HIM.
But listen Dear Heart.....We do NOT have a religion....We have a relationship with our Father

You said "Now you Listen, Jesus says in Matthew 12:43-45; 43 "When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, 'I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."
So, Jesus has just explained what happens when someone acts upon your 1 John 1:9 verse without immediately implementing they way, the truth, and the life (Jesus and his teachings found in the first four books of the New Testament) A person can't even begin to be considered perfect until they begin to live in the way, the truth, and the life, Period." Where is your scripture to prove the assertion that when we sin, and confess it, that demons are cast out? All the person does is to confess. That does NOT cast out a demon. The verse you quoted is true. For an example; the demons Jesus cast out of the man of Gadara (sorry about the spelling) The demons begged to be sent into the pigs..Otherwise I think Jesus would have sent them to the pit. But the man still would have to live as Jesus said to stay free of demons..
You said "Once people confess their sins they have to implement deliverance from demons or they will be worse off than before but you did not give a scripture to back that up either.......

I'll finish later I have to run outside before it snows...

You're all over the place, you're in old testament then new testament, I don't even think you quoted Jesus Christ, yet you consider your self his follower. What is this? Talk Bible or Talk Jesus? The two aren't the same.

Simplicity, you should learn it because you're complicating things and you shouldn't be. You also take thing's to literal where you shouldn't.

Where is your scripture to prove the assertion that when we sin, and confess it, that demons are cast out? All the person does is to confess. That does NOT cast out a demon. The verse you quoted is true. For an example; the demons Jesus cast out of the man of Gadara (sorry about the spelling) The demons begged to be sent into the pigs..Otherwise I think Jesus would have sent them to the pit. But the man still would have to live as Jesus said to stay free of demons..
You said "Once people confess their sins they have to implement deliverance from demons or they will be worse off than before but you did not give a scripture to back that up either.......

I don't need anything to back up Matthew 12:43-45. We can agree that a demon is an evil spirit, but it's sin that's the evil. A demon/evil spirit can come in the form of lust which leads to adultery, Anger that leads to murder, there's the spirit of coveting, stealing, dishonor, and so on. Let's say a person has the evil spirit of lust within them. They utilize 1 John 1:9, confess their sins and is healed of the spirit, the spirit leaves. But the person doesn't fill the space with a new tenant, a positive tenant, a good spirit, the way, the truth, and the life. So when a situation arises for the spirit to return to who it originally came from (Which will happen) It finds it's former home empty, swept, and in order (which means the person acted upon the sin of lust, letting it back in) But the evil spirit needs to make up for all the time lost so it's even more potent. Not only does the person lust even more but also acts upon the spirit of anger, inviting it in also, when someone turns them down, and then the spirit of coveting is acted upon, and possibly even the spirit of theft, and of course dishonor, and so on? So indeed the person is worse off then they were before. This interpretatin is not taken to literally and it's still simple enough to explain to a child, I hope you understand.

Nobody is instantly perfect, not ever in this world. On the other hand, as I said, when you are cleansed from all unrighteousness, as the Word says..Then you are perfect, because there is NO unrighteousness in you... Then you end up being human and you slip again....That is NOT saying that you have the right or the permission to sin again..It simply means that we are learning and growing.

I beg to differ, the one who lives the way, the truth, and the life is instantly "perfect". You don't get it. To live in the way, the truth, and the life taugh by Jesus IS THE CLEANSING! There is no "Prior" cleansing necessary, if you say other wise then you're calling Paul a liar in Romans 2. There is no prior stipulations! You disagree because you've never truly witnessed someone live the way, the truth, and the life.

 

[Hekuran]

Hi guys,

I am sure the words in the title made you look at this post, they made me shake my head in disbelief.

Me too, so I checked it on snopes, and there's no record of Pope Francis saying this. Thanks Facebook.