ARBITER01 said:

We have a "new" covenant, not a re-newed one.

Jesus fulfilled the old one and buried it at the cross. With His death, He started a new one that has nothing in common with the old one.

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Jesus spent his ministry teaching his followers to obey the Mosaic Law by word and by example and the reasons he established the New Covenant was not in order to nullify anything that he spent his ministry teaching, but rather the New Covenant still involves following the Mosaic Law (Jeremiah 31:33). In Titus 2:14, Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for doing good works, so the way to believe in what Jesus accomplished through the cross is by becoming zealous for doing good works in obedience to the Mosaic Law (Acts 21:20, and the reason why Jesus established the New Covenant was not in order to nullify what he accomplished through the cross or so that we could continue to have the same lawlessness that caused the New Covenant to be needed in the first place, but rather it still involves following the Mosaic Law.

ARBITER01 said:

Trying to obey moses is not obeying Jesus,.......... it's obeying moses.

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Again, the same God who gave the law to Moses also sent Jesus to turn us from our wickedness in disobedience to it, so there is no disagreement.

ARBITER01 said:

This is very elementary for most born again Christians.

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In 1 John 3:4-10, those who are not doers of righteous works in obedience to the Law of Moses are not born again. In Romans 8:4-14, Paul contrasted those who are born of the Spirit with those who have minds set on the flesh who are enemies of God who refuse to submit to the Law of Moses.

Servus said:

That hardly puts to rest that CNN is as left-wing as Fox is right-wing.

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That's not what I said though, is it?

Hans Blaster said:

They did that for all of august (and the last week of July).

Why is it a waste of time to work on appropriartion bills?

Why would the Dems trust a weasel like Mike Johnson?

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There is no reason to trust the Republicans.

It is a matter of Democrats doing their job. It is NOT the time to repeal laws that they don't like and didn't have enough votes to defeat or to veto.

For the 70 years that I have followed American politics, it has always been right to sign a clean CR or to approve a clean bill to raise the debt limit. Obama was very clear when he was in the situation. One person to recently point this out just a few months ago was Schumer. Of course, now he cannot have the integrity of a Federer (or even of a Schumer). Instead, he must bow to the left, lest they primary him with AOC.

Elections have their consequences. Voters made the Democrats the minority. Democrats can choose to keep the government closed or they can do their job. The Republicans can wait until 5 senators cave and vote for the CR. Then Schumer will be able to say that he, Sanders and AOC stood up to the Republicans. In the meantime, Trump's folks will reorganize and furlough folks with an eye to eventually cutting another 200,000 (doubling DOGE's numbers and going a bit beyond Clinton's reduction in federal jobs. The shutdown simply makes it easier for Republicans to do what they have wanted to do since Reagan: reduce the six=ze of government, including reducing the federal responsibility for the support of safety net programs.
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After the clean CR is signed, the Democrats who voted for the CR will need to convince the Trump folks that it is in everyone's political interest to extend the subsidies and cuts to Medicaid until after the 2026 elections. If they cannot do this, the Democrats COULD have their number one issue. Of course, most Democrats won't do that. Trump will be the #1 issue.

Of course, the left and Schumer will want none of this. They will stand firm for the reversal of most of the law passed by Republicans earlier this year. But there will be enough Democrats willing to do most anything to extend the subsidies and Medicaid cuts. And they will be the heroes, not the left.
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But the BOTTOM LINE is that the Democrats could have avoided all of this, including the continuation of the tax rates simply by having Biden keep his word and drop out after the midterms in 2022. Trump often says that everything bad is Biden's fault. In many ways that is indeed true.

Biden did great things in the first two years, after beating Trump as promised, and by getting Democrats elected to the Senate and to the House. But then Biden failed America by refusing to step aside and bow out and support an open primary process. Biden's legacy of getting Trump elected will be remembered for decades.

Aquaman

Valletta said:

The state has no authority to supersede a doctor's right to practice his religion.

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Tell that to the Rastafarians.

Servus said:

It seems doubtful that most Americans who want to see the job of deportation done, have any problem with Trump having plenary authority in this situation. As opposed to one monkey wrench after another being thrown into the process.

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I'm not sure what plenary authority over National Guard deployments has to do with deportations.

David Lamb said:

Bearing witness to the fact of the resurrection is not the same as actually seeing the risen Christ, which is a requirement for an apostle.

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I suppose to see the risen Christ you'd have to die and be resuscitated. Otherwise Jesus's Spirit can certainly manifest and be with you.

Early church fathers Irenaeus and Tertullian had an interpretation of apostolic succession.

The greater revelation of God of those who saw and heard Him in close fellowship, the 12 apostles is a firm foundation we can't match. Paul gives us hope of ability to serve despite a lack of repute or revelation of God. We can all have a revelation of God, some of us today have been taken up into the Heavenlies like Gary Oates.

Some have a remarkable impression of God in them, some who seek His hand and face, panim, at home and church, and God has filled them deeply. From King David, deep calls unto deep. And Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and He is here with us, and can reveal Himself to us in degrees.

Ephesians 4 requires apostles until Christ returns, and because of deception and wolves in rebellion to the truth, we need them as the verses say.
So there was Paul, Barnabas, Andronicus and Junias...
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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.

From ChatGPT:
Good question — the Biblical requirements for an apostle depend on whether we’re talking about the original Twelve Apostles, Paul, or later church-appointed messengers (the word “apostle” just means “one who is sent”). But Scripture does outline some clear qualifications, especially in the early Church.
Let’s go through them carefully:

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1. For the Original Twelve Apostles​

After Judas died, the remaining eleven chose a replacement — Matthias — and the Book of Acts records the qualifications clearly:

Acts 1:21–22 (ESV)
“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

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So the original apostolic requirements were:

1. Personal companionship with Jesus during His earthly ministry (from John’s baptism onward).
2. Eyewitness of the resurrection — literally having seen the risen Christ.
3. Chosen by God (Acts 1:24–26 shows the apostles prayed for divine choice).

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2. For Paul (the “Apostle to the Gentiles”)​

Paul was an exception to the “followed Jesus from the beginning” rule, but even he insisted on seeing the risen Christ and being directly commissioned by Him:

1 Corinthians 9:1 — “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?”
Galatians 1:1 — “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father.”

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Paul met Jesus in a post-resurrection appearance (Acts 9) and was specifically sent (apostellō) by Him.
Paul’s apostolic credentials:

• Personally encountered the risen Christ.
• Commissioned directly by Jesus (not self-appointed).
• Confirmed by miraculous signs and the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 12:12).
• Produced spiritual fruit and doctrine consistent with Christ’s gospel (Gal 1:11–12).

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3. For Later “Apostles” (Missionary Sense)​

In the New Testament, others are sometimes called apostoloi (messengers), though not part of the Twelve:

• Barnabas (Acts 14:14)
• Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7)

In this broader sense, an apostle was:

• Sent out by the church or the Spirit (Acts 13:2–3)
• Carrying the gospel with divine authority
• Endorsed by the fruits of ministry and godly character

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4. Summary Table​

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5. Conclusion​

In Biblical terms, to be a true apostle one must:

• Be personally called and sent by Christ,
• Have seen the risen Lord,
• Demonstrate signs, teaching, and fruits authenticating divine commission.

After the first generation, the apostolic office ceased in that original sense (since no one afterward could meet those eyewitness criteria). Later Christian leaders could be apostolic in mission and doctrine, but not in authority or revelation equal to the Twelve and Paul.

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Would you like me to show how early Church Fathers (like Irenaeus or Tertullian) interpreted apostolic succession next?

Hawkins said:

Romans 2:14
When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.

Law (Mosaic) belongs to the Mosaic Covenant applied only to the Jews.

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Romans 2:13-16 saying that only the doers of the Mosaic Law will be justified, that Gentile believers are by nature doers of it, and they show that it is written on their hearts is the opposite of saying that it applies only to the Jews.

Hawkins said:

Though except for Sabbath, the other 10 commandments are mentioned by Jesus and are part of the New Covenant.

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Jesus quoted Deuteronomy three times in order to defeat the temptations of Satan, which included saying that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3, so he affirmed he affirmed God as being an authoritative source and we have no need for him to have specifically repeated everything that God has spoken in order to know that we should still obey God, which includes obeying what God spoke in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 in regard to keeping the Sabbath holy.

Jesus also set a sinless example for us to follow of how to walk in obedience to the Mosaic Law, so he would have still taught full obedience to it by example even if he hadn't repeated any laws, including keeping the Sabbath holy, and as his followers we are told to follow his example (1 Peter 2:21-22) and that those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way that he walked (1 John 2:6). So Christ spent his ministry teaching his followers to obey the Mosaic Law by word and by example and the reason why he established the New Covenant was not in order to nullify anything that he spent his ministry teaching or so that we could continue to have the same lawlessness that caused the New Covenant to be needed in the first place, but rather the New Covenant still involves following the Mosaic Law (Jeremiah 31:33).

Hawkins said:

Commendments in OT serve as laws, while in the New Covenant they are teachings and commands from Jesus, in case you breakt them you given the chance to repent sincerely. Laws leave no room for repentance, you break them you are done.

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The Mosaic Law came with instructions for what to do when people sinned, the prophets consistently called the Israelites to repent and return to obedience to it, and even Jesus began his ministry with that Gospel message (Matthew 4:15-23), so it was not presented as something that left no room for repentance.

Hawkins said:

Law (Mosaic) is for God to illustrate, through His own chosen people, what God's heavenly Law (applicable to angels and humans alike) could mean such that humans can have a grasp on what God's Grace could mean. Earth is an environment where you can't abide Law to survive, and faith remains the only way out. That's what the New Covenant is for. It means we would try our best to abide by, while the Covenant would save us from where failed. Law to the gentiles is,

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In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Mosaic Law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith and faith is not an alternative way out. We embody what we believe about God through our works, such as with James 2:18 saying that he would show his faith through his works, so faith is about having the right motivation for our works, not about doing something else instead. In Revelation 14:12, those who kept faith in Jesus are the same as those who kept God's commandments.

Hey everyone. Thank you for your prayers. Physical therapy for my knee is going well, and it is helping some, but progress is slow. I did get an injection in my knee yesterday to help with the pain.

As for everything else, I'm trying to decide whether I want to do online college or not.

I'm also going through a lot of stress with my fiancé and I.

ThisIsMe123 said:

I'm more of a board gamer with friends.

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In my country, the men are hooked into mobile MOBA games that are very time intensive and most certainly addictive. I've played one for a year and that's why I know how much it wastes time and fortunately, I lost interest.

zippy2006 said:

Again, "without consent" it not a context in which rape is permissible.

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Correct! The context is included in the term. Just like it is with murder.

'Sexual intercourse without consent' and 'rape' mean exactly the same thing. They are interchangeable. You can substitute one with the other. But you want to somehow deny that.

Sorry. You can't. Again, the context is included in both. Which you will now illustrate for everyone's benefit by giving the definition of rape:

'The definition of rape is...'

Please fill in the rest. Thanks in advance.

com7fy8 said:

We have God, and Jesus is our way to God and to His benefits of His morality.

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But they give different guidance to different people!

partinobodycular said:

So you are in effect saying that reality is a simulation.

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Yes, I said it's partly a simulation.

partinobodycular said:

How about, reality is "an artificial construct, having the appearance of objectivity without the physical manifestation thereof". See, simulation is easier.

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Yes, C. S. Lewis referred to the elements of reality as "artifacts". But I don't know what you mean by "the appearance of objectivity".

Clare73 said:

There is no "temporary" spiritual rebirth (regeneration), just as there is no "temporary" physical birth.

You can't be born and then "unborn" either physically or spiritually.

Uncle Henry apostasized because he did not have true (saving) faith, rather he had counterfeit faith (Mt 7:22-23).

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I have heard something similar, that those who seem to get saved and then turn away were never truly saved in the first place

bèlla said:

Depression/escapism. He could have a desk job too.

~bella

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I still have a desk job and a little depressed too. I did used to spend a lot of time with video games but lost interest and ran out of energy for it eventually, I think you just grow out of it. I think some if not with video games are obsessed with other silly and probably more expensive hobbies.

That's why I'm a little surprised that mid-aged men would still be hooked to video games

fhansen said:

And still some, after having tasted of the heavenly gift (Heb 6:4), or coming to the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet 2:20-22), may yet prefer to return to their death, to the flesh, like a dog to its vomit.

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Has nothing to do with God regenerating a person

Fantine said:

The House of Representatives have wasted tens of millions of dollars on this, coming up with nothing. Plus that, if Trump has immunity for too-many-to-count crimes during his terms, would that not also apply to Biden?

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You can only hope! The lesson here is the truth usually comes out .

MarkSB said:

And what sequoia tree might that be? I'll admit that I have proven to be a hypocrite on many things. (We all have, and those who say they haven't are lying). But the stance which some "pro-lifers" take on issues like these is blatantly hypocritical. And trying to act as morally superior while doing it and using diversion tactics like the victim stance being used in this thread just serves to prove that point. These behaviors seem to have become very common in large parts of Christian culture, and that ought not to be so. Personally, I think that God wants us to be smarter and more self-examining than that.

Bless you as well.

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Whoops, so you read this one, huh .

Yarddog said:

Yep

Nope

Why?

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You disagreed with your own statement.

Yarddog said:
There is medicine to help those with ADHD to live fairly normal lives. My nephew has ADHD and is an Engineer with several degrees. That takes concentration.

Living a faithful Godly life doesn't take a lot of concentration.

Here's What Amused Ukrainians About Joe Biden...It's Pretty Damning What will we find out about Joe and his enterprise?

NxNW said:

We'd reduce the deficit and expand civil rights, as we've always done. That's a good start.

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You wouldn't be too concerned that some of their actions would bank too far left? Turn our economy to a more socialist one, raise our taxes to a much higher level (especially on the wealthy), lower the age of consent to 15 years old, allow partial birth abortion, allow euthanasia ...

Yarddog said:

You don't need academic success, etc... to walk with God.

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Correct - but some are called to it and gifted for it.

bèlla said:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Monday establishing "ICE-free zones" on city property.

Login to view embedded media

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Sorry - I'm really busy today and feeling guilty about how much forum time I've already had. Do you have a top 5 points summary of this 40 minute thing? I'd love to hear it. Or a news article that covers what you're discussing? Gotta run...
(I promise to like your post if you can find a summarising article...)

It's funny how unstable the USA's Presidential system is. The USA's democracy seems to be one of the rare times the whole concept was designed from the ground up. Most former British Empire nations inherited the Westminster System of Parliamentary democracy - which has slowly evolved over time rather than being designed bespoke.

Australia had something similar to a 'government shutdown' in 1975 which resulted in "The Dismissal" when the Governor General - for the first and only time in our history - sent a telegram to her Majesty to inform her that he was firing our Prime Minister! It's 50 years this year - so no doubt Aussies are going to be flooded with Dismissal doco's.

But this whole business of the Federal government shutting down seems to happen every few administrations in the US. That's very messy - very messy indeed!