We can only receive that which is given...

[Lamb]

My pastor was speaking about going out to spread the Gospel, as well as Moses receiving the 10 commandments. Then he spoke on how we can only receive that which is given, in other words, Moses received the 10 commandments from God and then goes out to give it to the people. We received the Gospel for salvation from God, thus, we can go out and share it with others.

It coincides with John 3:27: To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.

 

[Frankj]

My pastor was speaking about going out to spread the Gospel, as well as Moses receiving the 10 commandments. Then he spoke on how we can only receive that which is given, in other words, Moses received the 10 commandments from God and then goes out to give it to the people. We received the Gospel for salvation from God, thus, we can go out and share it with others.

It coincides with John 3:27: To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.

As John Gill notes about John 3:27, the Syriac and Persic versions add, "of his own will".

This leads me to consider that we are talking about the gifts we are given that we should use to spread the Gospel, one person prophecies, another teaches and yet another becomes a great evangelist in front of crowds or a lowly street preacher talking about the Gospel to those who will listen (and not arrest, assault or kill him for it).

We are each given different gifts by God, not of our own willing it so but by his alone, and it matters not what those gifts may be, we are expected to use them to his Glory that we may lead others to come to him as well.

What gifts do you have that you can put to this use?

 

[Lamb]

As John Gill notes about John 3:27, the Syriac and Persic versions add, "of his own will".

This leads me to consider that we are talking about the gifts we are given that we should use to spread the Gospel, one person prophecies, another teaches and yet another becomes a great evangelist in front of crowds or a lowly street preacher talking about the Gospel to those who will listen (and not arrest, assault or kill him for it).

We are each given different gifts by God, not of our own willing it so but by his alone, and it matters not what those gifts may be, we are expected to use them to his Glory that we may lead others to come to him as well.

What gifts do you have that you can put to this use?

I wasn't going for gifts discussion actually. The Law was given to Moses to give to the people and Moses could only give it to them, because it was first given to him. As believers, we share the Gospel because it was first given to us. I guess my thinking was more simplistic?

 

[Frankj]

I wasn't going for gifts discussion actually. The Law was given to Moses to give to the people and Moses could only give it to them, because it was first given to him. As believers, we share the Gospel because it was first given to us. I guess my thinking was more simplistic?

Or maybe mine too complex.

 

[BruceLeiter]

@Lamb and @Frankj, God gives us the task of witnessing about what he has done for us. In my case, he gave me the spiritual gifts of preaching and teaching as a pastor for 27 years. Then, when I retired from full-time as a pastor, God switched "gears" to give me the spiritual gift of creativity in writing, since I had been an English teacher before I went into the ministry. Thus, he guided me into these forums, Facebook, and book-writing. Anyway, you are right that the gospel is our responsibility to pass on to others, especially our children.

 

[Frankj]

Anyway, you are right that the gospel is our responsibility to pass on to others, especially our children.

About 25 years ago I had a Lutheran pastor point out to me that if a single generation of Christians were to fail to pass on Christianity to their children there would no longer be Christianity.

The Bible tells us to raise up our children in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it.

Interesting to look at today's world and how hard it is working to prevent this, perhaps this is where witnessing is needed most.

How can we best do that?

 

[Lamb]

About 25 years ago I had a Lutheran pastor point out to me that if a single generation of Christians were to fail to pass on Christianity to their children there would no longer be Christianity.

The Bible tells us to raise up our children in the way they should go so that when they are old they will not depart from it.

Interesting to look at today's world and how hard it is working to prevent this, perhaps this is where witnessing is needed most.

How can we best do that?

A Lutheran pastor told you that? He apparently wasn't truly Lutheran since we believe that God will always keep a remnant of believers.

 

[Frankj]

A Lutheran pastor told you that? He apparently wasn't truly Lutheran since we believe that God will always keep a remnant of believers.

Since the last ELCA conference and the Lutherans now advocating certain parts of the Bible should not be taught since they are harmful I no longer know what a true Lutheran is.

 

[SetFree]

My pastor was speaking about going out to spread the Gospel, as well as Moses receiving the 10 commandments. Then he spoke on how we can only receive that which is given, in other words, Moses received the 10 commandments from God and then goes out to give it to the people. We received the Gospel for salvation from God, thus, we can go out and share it with others.

It coincides with John 3:27: To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.

Yes.

Some of John's disciples and the Jews came up to him and mentioned how that Jesus was baptizing in the area also, and that the people were going to Jesus to be baptized. Jealousy by John's disciples. John set them straight of how Jesus was greater, because The Father had given all things in Jesus' hand.

 

[Lamb]

Since the last ELCA conference and the Lutherans now advocating certain parts of the Bible should not be taught since they are harmful I no longer know what a true Lutheran is.

ELCA left Lutheranism beliefs a couple decades ago. None of the other Synods consider them to be anywhere near Lutheran, even though there are some congregations here and there that contain people who are Lutheran, the belief system of the synod doesn't match up to our Book of Concord confessions.

 

[Frankj]

Which Synod are you?

 

[Lamb]

Which Synod are you?

LCMS.