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  • CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.

Take a stand on political violence

Extremist activists are the ones who are violent in the political realm. Everyone else either writes to congressmen or peacefully protests somewhere, standing around with signs.

No one who is committing violence, assaulting officers, attacking others, spitting on or screeching at anyone is a "deeply committed" rational person. Irrational people commit violence (unless they are just psychopaths/sociopaths and know full well what they are doing- get them off the street).

Show me news articles of non-extremists charged with/convicted of violent crimes.
I'll give you an opportunity to re-read the post you wrote to which I was responding. Then, I hope you will address my points and not erect a straw man by changing your definition of extremist mid-stream. I was looking for an open discussion, not a reply that looks like a rhetorical trick.
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The Saving results of the Death of Christ !

Christs saving death will result in everyone He died for, receiving a Divine Call into the enjoyment of the eternal inheritance. Heb 9:14-15
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Eph 1:13-14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth[The Call], the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.9
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SO HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE SAVED ??

Romans 8:33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV

Paul asks who will bring a charge against God's elect? He answers his question in the same verse, it is God who justifies. Then Paul asks who condemns us. Then He answers that question- it is Jesus. God the Father has granted all judgment to Jesus. Next Paul defines the love Jesus has for us. In verse 39 Paul states that no created thing can separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus.

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. NKJV

Jesus is the vine and the Father, who is not a created thing, is the vinedresser. The vine dresser, the Father, separates all unfruitful branches from Jesus.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. NKJV

Jesus went on to say that we must abide in Him. If we do not abide in Jesus, we will be unfruitful, and the Father will separate us from Jesus. So, what work must we do to abide in Jesus?

1 John 3:22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. NKJV

If we keep the 2 commandments given in verse 23, we abide in Jesus. Anyone who abides in Jesus is the elect.
And 1. John 3:22. and 23 witten to thwb. BODY. of CHRIST and ONLY PAUL. , the Apostles to GENTILES has written

to. the BODY. and Peter says that. Paul writes things that are HARD to. be understood and Peter is not our Apostle

And we were CHOSEN. // ELECTED before the OVER THREW. OF THE WORLD in Eph 1:4. !!

And we were PLACED INTO CHRIST. in 1 COR. 12:13. !!

AND IN. 1 Cor. 12:15-17 we. are CHRISTS FEET , HIS HANDS , WE ARE HIS EYES , ARE HIS EARS , His SENSE OF HEARING

and his SENSE OF SENSE ''

It mes we are CHRIST !!

AND 1 JOHN 3:22 and 23 IS NOT THE BODY OF CHRIST as 1 John is. WRITTEN to ISRAEL. and not to the

BODY OF CHRIST. and I will say you. are following , what yet in. the FUTURE , like the GREAT. TRIUBATION !!

Just wondering , just. who. taught you about. 1 John 3:22 and 23 , just. asking. ??

dan p
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The Schumer Shutdown

Yes, and even less possible in the Trump. administration.
The Trump Administration are the ones who held votes and who voted to re-open the Government - The Democrats voted against it - causing millions to go without food. That is the plain truth.

They stated so

Democrats’ Admit American’s Suffering Is Their “Leverage”


“There will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.” Rep. Katherine Clark, the number two House Democrat.​
In a stunning admission that peels back the curtain on partisan tactics, Democratic Senator Chris Coons, amongst several other Democrats, have openly declared that the ongoing government shutdown serves as their party’s “only moment of leverage.”​
Nothing from the iron fisted Republicans who only want their way. The used to be the party of “No!” Now they are the party of, “Yes, sir Mr. President. How wonderful you are. Anything for you. Best ever!”
Hogwash - the legislation in the Big Beautiful Bill passed the House and Senate - signed into law on July 4, 2025 - The Democrats did not like the fact they could not win legislatively, so hostage taking was their only option - and it failed miserably.
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Is purgatory a Biblical or extra biblical teaching?

Plug into your Google AI search "did Tertullian write about the affects of Purgatory" and report back what you find.
that's your job - don't be lazy
Does 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 apply to this life, or after death?
Did you read it in context?

1 Cor 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
That would be at the judgement

Heb 9: 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Do you believe that all Christians are perfectly sanctified before they die?
2 Cor 5:21 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

If we have been made the righteousness of God through the sacrifice of Christ are we not sanctified.
And Edited to Add -- Purgatory is not between this life and judgment. It is between judgment and heaven.
Not shown anywhere in Scripture/
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There’s a Giant Flaw in Human History

Many of these "new techniques" were pushed hard on us.

The New Age gurus wanted desperately to get scientific accreditation for their practices.

That way they could get government subsidization for their nonsense.

Here's one example from AI Overview:

The American Psychological Association (APA) was founded in 1892 with the explicit goal of "the advancement of psychology as a science," meaning it was established to formally recognize and promote psychology in a scientific manner from its inception. However, the official goal wasn't formally established until 1906, and a major reorganization in 1945 solidified the integration of applied and academic psychology, further demonstrating psychology's scientific standing.
In this case it was very old techniques.
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Does the Hebrew grammar of Daniel 9:24–27 support Christian Widener’s “double seventy-weeks” interpretation?

The graph indicates that the Daniel 9:27 covenant is made 30 days after the abomination in Jerusalem -

30 days after the start of the 1290 days. The covenant is 'cutting the great tribulation short'.

The 1260 days of the 2 witnesses are the exact 1st half of the covenant. It is occurring after the abomination in Jerusalem but before the abomination in Mystery Babylon ('Shinar' in Zech 5).

The end of the 1290 days is the mid-point of the 7 year covenant (1260 days into it). The end of the 1290 days is the 7th Trumpet.

Day 1335 is the 45th day into the '2nd half' of the 7 year covenant. The 2nd half (1260 days) is cut short to 45 days.
The second set of seventy weeks started in1542.
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DHS gives $10K bonuses to TSA agents who went 'above and beyond' during gov't shutdown

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced Thursday that Transportation Security Administration employees who worked during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses as the longest shutdown in U.S. history has come to an end.

During a Thursday press conference at Bush Airport in Houston, Texas, Noem announced that the agency was distributing bonus checks to TSA employees across the country who continued to work without pay during the government shutdown.

While Noem handed out bonus checks to several TSA workers standing beside her at the press conference who went “above and beyond” during the shutdown, she stressed that the DHS will “continue to evaluate every single employee that helped during the shutdown and stepped up and went above and beyond.”

Continued below.

What really is "dividing the body of Christ"??

On a foundational level, I agree.
You cannot be One with God, through baptism, and I cannot be One with God, through baptism, without us also being One with each other, even if we can't understand that.

This was a vision God gave me many years ago.

I accept all who God has revealed himself to as brothers and sister in Christ. I love all as we are called.
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Appointed to Eternal Life - Acts 13:48

The "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" makes sense when you consider it was the great commission to spread the gospel and save as many as possible. Notice, "unto the ends of the earth;" the whole world.

Given verse 47, there is no other way to interpret the verse but appointment unto salvation for all.
You're still not addressing what is explicitly stated in verse 48. You're collapsing the scope of the mission with the identity of those saved. Verse 47 states the geographical extent of the apostolic commission. Verse 48 states the particularity of the effect. "To the ends of the earth" tells us where the gospel is to be preached, not who will infallibly believe it. Verse 48 does tell us who will infallibly believe it. Luke's syntax is painfully clear:

ἐπίστευσαν ὅσοι ἦσαν τεταγμένοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον​

This identifies the believers as the ones who had been appointed. It does not say "all were appointed." It says the ones who were appointed, believed.

1. God is not a respecter of persons.

In the very book of Acts, just two chapters before, Peter says that God is not a respecter of persons. James says that respecting persons is a sin. God's very character is being called into question: For God would be sinning if He were a respecter of persons, appointing some to belief, but others not. Indeed this cannot be the case and is not the case.

Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
"God is not a respecter of persons" (προσωπολήμπτης) does not mean "God treats all people identically." προσωπολήμπτης means showing favoritism (unjustly) based on external human qualities. Sovereign mercy is not an example of God showing partiality based on external factors (ethnicity, social standing, wealth, etc.). Quite the opposite, in fact. Election is not grounded in anything in the person.

2. The scope of the plan of salvation is global.

Let's revisit John 3:16-17 again.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Salvation is available to all. The world; the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family. Whosoever; all men, every man.
Is this supposed to be a response? Strong's agrees with what I said on κόσμος. You cherry-picked a select portion of the semantic range of that word, and had no comment to offer regarding John's specific use of it.

"Whosoever" is not simply a translation of πᾶς (pas, "all") by itself. It translates the substantive use of πᾶς with the participle ὁ πιστεύων ("the one believing"). "Whosoever believes" literally means "all who believe." The construction inherently qualifies the scope. It refers to those who do believe, not to everyone indiscriminately, nor does it imply that anyone can believe at will. It is a descriptive statement of the saved, not a prescriptive statement about human ability.

3. Free will belief.

Paul explains how belief works.

Romans 10:10-13 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
No, there is nothing here about the cause that brings a person to faith. Paul is describing the manner in which salvation is expressed. We're not debating manner. We're debating origin.

4. Unbelief.

Satan is the cause of unbelief, not God.
No one has said or implied that God causes unbelief.

Respectfully, I don't need to give time to the remainder of your comments. The points you raise I have largely already responded to, and they still do not address what is explicitly stated in Acts 13:48. Surely it isn't your point to argue that Scripture contradicts itself? If you think other texts contradict what has been argued concerning Acts 13:48, then you still need to address Acts 13:48 explicitly and show how its grammar is consistent with those other texts.
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What were your expectations as a new Christian?

Looking to get a little more insight from multiple people from multiple backgrounds on this. Thank you in advance to anyone who responds.
I'm not sure if I can help, but I'll answer :)

-When you first became a Christian, what did you expect life in the church to be like?
Everyone helps everyone, everyone is kind, caring and trustworthy.
-What were your hopes or assumptions about how things would go?
Warm/ Fuzzy/ Bunny land. I figured that nothing would be hard, and life would be fairly simple.
-What was your first experience with the church community?
I grew up in a non-denominational church so my first experience, I would say I was too young to form an opinion. If issues came up, I just assumed that's how things went. I also didn't look to much into anything and didn't question anything either.
-Did those expectations match reality, or were there surprises?
Polar opposite. I found most people to be hypocritical, self-righteous, egotistical, arrogant and cold-hearted. I also found that life is harder when you follow Christ lol but it's well worth it.
-How do you feel now about your place in the church?
I left the "church" in the scheme of a physical building where people congregate. I've tried several others but I haven't found a single church where actions back up what is being taught and I'm not the type of person that will let something like hypocrisy slide. We can disagree on theology on smaller issues but if the church is run by hypocrites, I'm out. I am aware though that it's most likely due to where I live. I kind of feel like I live in a city with a perpetual dark atmosphere. I am trying to move out of this state and I'm hoping and praying God is leading me to a better place.
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US Attorney's Office for SDNY was running an active investigation into Epstein and Maxwell's co-conspirators until it was killed by Trump's DOJ in Jan

I remember, before Trump became president. Some female tried to take Epstein and Trump to court. She was harassed so badly by Trump supporters. She withdrawn the complaint.
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MARK OF THE BEAST - REVELATION 13-14; 17; 18

When were you “with me.” You just disputed everything I said. None of which was futurism.
It’s only complicated when people try to make the Bible’s prophecy about the end of the world.
The simplest interpretation of the Mark of the Beast - the one that says the prophecy means exactly what it says! - is the one also most universally rejected, sadly. :( Login to view embedded media
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Do you keep the Sabbath? (poll)

1. 1 Cor 7:19 'What matters is KEEPING the COMMANDMENTS of God"
Ask a Jew how many commandments God gave only to Israel, and they will tell us 613. Jesus kept them all.
Without the Law... there is no sin Rom 4, and no need for grace or the gospel
Well, there is scripture we agree. Now, please explain the fact that you are only interested in telling us that we are only responsible for ten of them
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B flat B♭

Now who's mocking ?
Your husband must have had a good influence on you, because while he was alive, despite the disagreements you were a very likeable person.
You seem to have changed for the worse since his passing, as I'm finding very little to like about your current interactions in these threads. I too have lost loved ones, though not my wife, thank God, but I won't presume to try and give advice. Please do consider how the manner in which you are posting has changed and make an effort to get back to how you were. I'd like to be able to call you a friend despite our disagreements but cannot in good faith consider that with your current attitude.
God bless.
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Harvard conservative magazine is suspended by its own board after publishing article laced with Nazi rhetoric

I don't know what kind of good you think you're doing, diminishing Christianity down to the level of Islam.
I’m not diminishing Christianity; I’m comparing Early Medieval legal codes. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all addressed the harm being done to minor wives at that point in history and offered appropriate remedies. You have to remember it was during a brutal period in history when those codes were written. Child marriage was the norm, and while historical context doesn’t excuse it, it does explain why those codes were written.

...If only the truth of your motivations could be revealed to their fullest. Because to me, it appears mostly destructive
I believe that having an understanding of history is important.
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Tehran taps run dry as water crisis deepens across Iran

Maybe, or maybe climate change, or maybe bad policies about managing Iran's limited water supply, or some combination of these.

So I just googled. In this year alone, Iran has received 5.6 inches of rain, Georgia has received 45-50 inches of rain. That's an insane difference. I'm not saying water mismanagement isn't a factor, but geeze... 5.6 vs 45??
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