PG4Him
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Posts: 3,570
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 10, 2018 19:26:03 GMT -5
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)
How would you define 'the world' in this passage?
How would you describe a 'friendship' with said world?
What sort of 'hostility' do you suppose James meant?
I'm not asking rhetorically. I don't have the so-called right answer stored away. I don't want to pounce on you because your answer isn't good enough. I seriously want to know what this verse means to you, in details. How do you suppose this verse happens in real life?
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Post by 2fw8212a on Aug 10, 2018 19:50:34 GMT -5
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)How would you define 'the world' in this passage? Ungodliness.
"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)How would you describe a 'friendship' with said world? What sort of 'hostility' do you suppose James meant? "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." - 1 Corinthians 6:15-17
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)How do you suppose this verse happens in real life? Walk in opposition to the world.
"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" - Matthew 18:7
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16
"And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”" - 1 Peter 3:14
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." - Matthew 10:16
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Post by frienduff on Aug 10, 2018 22:34:09 GMT -5
Anything contrary to GOD . Anything contrary to JESUS sayings . anything that honors self , NOW THROW THOSE HANDS UP EVERYONE AND PRAISE THE LORD .
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Aug 10, 2018 23:33:22 GMT -5
To me it means dont go whoring about, and not just in a physical sense. be faithful to God. world is the kingdom of unrighteousness. Godlessness. to me friendship means to be more than an acquaintance. we can say good morning at work, but we aint hanging out after work. we do not associate. we can be cordial face to face. if the conversation arises to share my faith ok, but we dont have anything in common, we are strangers in the land. As far as hostility, if you go against The King it is the same as violence. If you hate your brother its the same as committing murder in your heart to God. Jesus said if you do all that I command then i call you friends. there are two kingdoms. the world, and The Kingdom of God. all traitors to the crown burn. Being friends with the world, going out and indulging in sin after being saved is just like going back in time to when Jesus was on the cross, climbing up on top and jumping up and down on His shoulders.
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Post by frienduff on Aug 11, 2018 11:04:03 GMT -5
To me it means dont go whoring about, and not just in a physical sense. be faithful to God. world is the kingdom of unrighteousness. Godlessness. to me friendship means to be more than an acquaintance. we can say good morning at work, but we aint hanging out after work. we do not associate. we can be cordial face to face. if the conversation arises to share my faith ok, but we dont have anything in common, we are strangers in the land. As far as hostility, if you go against The King it is the same as violence. If you hate your brother its the same as committing murder in your heart to God. Jesus said if you do all that I command then i call you friends. there are two kingdoms. the world, and The Kingdom of God. all traitors to the crown burn. Being friends with the world, going out and indulging in sin after being saved is just like going back in time to when Jesus was on the cross, climbing up on top and jumping up and down on His shoulders. Now that will should seriously wake some folks up . Cause that is true Cletus . Those who put JESUS to death did so under ignorance. BUT a believer , a BELEIVER crucifying HIM AFRESH , trodding Him under foot like that . Its like saying HEY LORD we believe you , we know who you are , NOW LETS HAMMER SOME NAILS IN , LETS crucify him afresh . Folks do not know the danger they are in WHEN they say and do the things they do , YET DO IT IN HIS NAME . Remember when paul said , how guilty he was , BUT that he had done it in IGNORANCE , before KNOWING CHRIST . Bet paul did not DO THAT AFTER KNOWING CHRIST . in fact he warned out against doing such things . John knew it too . HE who says he LOVES God , yet walks in darkness, IS A LIAR , their is NO TRUTH in them . SO the next time these folks say , YA CANT KNOW THEY HEART and make excuse for the vile and evil things done by them, KNOW and understand these folks DO NOT KNOW OR LOVE GOD . IF THEY LOVED GOD , they would love CHRIST and if they love CHRIST its seen , THEY KEEP HIS SAYINGS . Folks in dire grave danger these days and know it not . JESUS is not the aurthor of sin and lawlessness, ANOTHER ONE IS , his name is satan . And its easy to discern the spirit of evil versus the spirit of Good . We sure can know a tree by its fruit . and the fruit of the wicked IS TO SIN . The church fell under a spell from hell . When it was taught this sensual love mess. TRUE LOVE rejoices IN TRUTH and not in INQUITY . But their gospel has become about making folks FEEL GOOD , FEEL WELCOME , FEEL LOVED . versus the truth , of truly BEING LOVED . LOVE don't pander to people , their sins and try and make them FEEL okay , good or loved . IT WOULD CORRECT , IT WOULD PULL them out of the ERROR of their ways and save a soul from death .
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Post by frienduff on Aug 11, 2018 11:08:50 GMT -5
And its about to get far worse . Not only will the churches start pushing folks back to rome more and more it will also have us unite with other religions and secular for a common cuase . Then as that has become engrained in them SO WILL THIS .....................an idea about how good a chip or like tech will be for the world to have this peace and unity and end terroims , end hunger , end problems . JUST wait , we will hear that soon as well. FOLKS the whole world is being led right to the beast as one , and right into taking its mark as well. Just watch . It wont be a whole lot longer till we do hear them main leaders in churches saying GOOD things about the mark . Just watch .
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Post by justinadams on Aug 12, 2018 4:21:53 GMT -5
Micah 6: 6-8
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Post by John on Aug 14, 2018 7:52:18 GMT -5
There is God's way of doing things, which is recorded in scripture, and man's ways of doing things, based on humanism or new age philosophy. We are to love and be fully loyal to God and his order. When we choose the ways of the world, we make ourselves the enemy of God.
Take out a sheet of paper and write down what God says on any given subject verses what man says. You will see a difference, and it is getting wider over time. Whose side are you on? Are you friends with God or the world? I will give you obvious differences over fornication. Average respectable worldly person says sex should be in a monogamous, loving committed relationship. That even allows for gay marriage in some circles. God says sex is reserved for marriage and forbids same sex unions. Are you friends with God or the world in this matter? What about other areas?
If the Bible says something is right, it is right. If the Bible says something is wrong, it is wrong. If you disagree with that, you are the enemy off God and friends with the world.
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PG4Him
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Essay Moderator
Posts: 3,570
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Post by PG4Him on Aug 14, 2018 11:59:44 GMT -5
As I see it, two opposing kingdoms are in a state of conflict. The kingdom of darkness (which includes the world) declared war on the kingdom of God. When we are born again, we become citizens of a new kingdom. This is a real kingdom with government, society, cities, the works. Our loyalty belongs to this kingdom. To consort with the enemy is an actual crime. To aid and abet the enemy is treason.
Patriots in Vichy France found themselves living "in" a world they were not "of." Do you think they told their fellow patriots to act like the Nazis, talk like the Nazis, or adopt Nazi methods, all in the hope that a few Nazi people would come to see the value in the Free France cause? No way! Do you think they threw fellow patriots under the bus in front of Nazis in order to show how tolerant they were? No! They kept to themselves and went about the work of ejecting the Nazis from their midst.
Most Christians these days see worldly viewpoints as flawed but not really toxic. When we come to understand that the world's value systems are actually at war with God's kingdom, it changes our thinking.
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Post by tlsitd on Aug 14, 2018 21:08:29 GMT -5
This is an interesting question. When I think of friendship with the world, I think of a Christian who still thinks of this world as his or her home and wants to live for him or herself in it, and all of the behaviors and attitudes that go along with that mentality---laying up treasures on earth, trying to live "their best life now" (not the abundant life of more of Christ living out His life through them and less of them living for themselves to do their own will); trying to please people in order to get along in the world and be successful and popular here (rather than seeking God's approval) and to avoid being persecuted or losing their reputation for living according to the doctrine of Christ; being a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world---the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions---is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:15,16)
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! (James 4:3,4)
This is a person who loves and is living for him or herself. This world appeals to and is designed by and for people like that. But people who love Jesus and are living for Him can't wait to leave it.
For while we are in this tent we groan, being burdened---not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:4-8)
The more one lives for oneself, the more one will love this world, because of what it offers the flesh. The more one lives for Jesus Christ, the more one will hate this world (not the people)---because of its wickedness, which grieves the Spirit of the Lord and those who live according to Him and have His mind, and because of the struggles against the sinful nature, trials of faith, and persecution.
"Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:25)
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