All Discussion PAGE 1748

We understand each other but make no mistake I believe God closed the ark for that reason and also noah might have had pity on them when they started screaming and it would have been a disaster. You also many times have stated perhaps or you opinion so I'm doing what the beatles did let it be.

Gigi Last point when the apostles were around Jesus Christ and witnessed everything he did and please correct me he said to Peter when peter said thou art the Son of God Jesus Christ said flesh and blood did not reveal this to him, other than that constantly Jesus Christ said when the father sends the comforter Holy spirit he will show you all things which didn't occur until Jesus Christ completed what God gave Him to do for us. When I read the gospels the disciples were blown away all the time by what they saw and wondered how is he doing that. The words astonished and behold are constantly used they could have said blown away just as well. God Bless.

Gigi The question is who made available the spiritual faith of Jesus Christ, it was Gods giving by the completed work of His son after the resurrection. The law ended on Pentecost, Jesus christ fulfilled the law and the prophets that's why we are not justified by works of the law no flesh is justified. That's what Paul was up against when he went to Jerusalem and the division with them still doing the law in the Book of Galatians 2 whole chapter the contention was intense because they were operating under works not understanding the grace. The work is in the renewed mind walk in the spiritual faith if Jesus Christ. Here's the kicker if you are not born again you cannot renew your mind spiritually because you have to have spirit to do that just like fruits of the spirit. It is not a senses mental intellect thing. I'm not here to convince anybody I'm just sharing. It's the individuals privilege what to consider.

Gigi I have seen others use the same absolution when they say this is what it is and yes I am one to endeavor to state it is written because who's the author? I believe he said what he meant, when he said it to whom he said it why he said it and where he said it because God means what he says and says what he means also there places where original language makes a difference and understanding eastern culture makes a difference. Like you said its your privilege to read and move on or comment, I do the same.

What is the best scripture in the bible about breaking addiction?

No one can show scripturally in the church epistles written by Paul where getting born again water is a requirement, on the birthday of the church they were baptized about three thousands souls and received holy spirit and it never mentions water there were no swimming pools in the temple. Also acts 1:5 John truly baptized with water but ye shall[ putting in contrast this was before this will be after ] be baptized with holy spirit not many days hence. In Acts Paul was passing through the upper coast he asked certain disciples if they received the holy ghost and they said we were baptised under johns baptism, they never heard of baptism by Jesus Christ then Paul baptised them in the name of Jesus Christ and they received holy spirit into manifestation. They were baptised under the law but never were concerning jesus Christ and grace. Just sharing

Hi William , some people believe one thing , some another .I won't try to influence you , best advice I can give you is to read it all for yourself . I'm sure you will enjoy the journey and find many treasures on the way .

Hi Rick,

I know that you are deeply committed to knowing what is said in Scripture. There are statements that are ver batum what is written in Scripture (what is said by God) and statements that are what we think the Scripture verses. In your post you stated that God shut the door because the unbelievers would have killed Noah and his family. That it an "I think it means" statement. I have never thought about unbelievers doing that if they got on the ark. But something to consider. I think that God shut the door because it time was up (an "I think it means statement.) Most of the time, like you and me, people state "I think it means" statements in their posts. I don't mind this. I am able to discern between the two types of statements. We share on this site in this way, trusting the Holy Spirit to use us to help one another grow in our knowledge and understanding of Scripture so that we can know Him better and learn what He has done in the world s it is recorded in Scripture.

I said that verse in my post. That scripture has been around for thousands of years.

How many of the 10 commandments can we each quote from heart? Exo.20

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter.

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (lies)

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Precious brother Rick, LOL & L Lots Of Laughs AND LOVE! Did your parents have to go

through the 'Dunkin Confusion'? Took me 11 years for the LORD to 'Lead me' to the

Answer of "studying" According to 2 Timothy 2:15 Been Quite a journey Ever Since :)

Sister GiGi, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.

Romans 8:11 For the children being not yet born, neither having done any GOOD or EVIL, that the PURPOSE OF GOD according to election might stand, not of works, but if him that calleth;

Ephesian 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundations of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Hebrews 4:3 .... the WORKS were finished before the foundation of the word.

Abel was chose, Cain was not, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, all the prophets, etc., etc. were CHOSEN for the PURPOSE of GOD, all others were not CHOSEN during their first life in the flesh, but will be resurrected back to their flesh, and then be save, but according to the purpose and election of GOD, at each ones appointed time.

Those chosen in this age, are chosen for a PURPOSE OF GOD, to be PRIEST in the KINGDOM OF GOD, on this earth.

All others will have a different office in God's kingdom, but eventually brought into the priesthood.

Ezekiel 20:37 And I WILL CAUSE YOU to pass under the rod, and will bring you into the covenant of God.

In the OLD testament, every tenth one that passed under the ROD was and offering unto the LORD.

Malachi 3:3 ... that they may offer to the Lord an OFFERING in RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Isaiah 6:13 But yet in the land shall be a TENTH, and it (the tenth) shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance (the HOLY SEED, CHRIST IN YOU) is in them, when they (the trees) cast their leaves: so the HOLY SEED shall be the substance thereof.

Revelation 22:2 And in the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the TREE(S) OF LIFE which bear twelve manner of fruit every month: and the LEAVES OF THE TREE(S) was for the healing of the nations.

This is the purpose of those CHOSEN by election, in this AGE.

Yes, I took it as such. Thanks for saying anyway.

Hi Amelia,

I noticed you received responses, but none of them actually answered your question.

The Bible doesn't seem to mention requirements or qualifications of the person doing the baptizing. We can look to examples in the Bible as to WHO was baptizing, and we have John the Baptist and Jesus's disciples. Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 28:19 calling the to baptize and make disciples.

I believe the one baptizing should be a Christian at bare minimum, because baptism is an act of Christian faith. And someone baptizing is in a leadership role in my opinion. It would seem hypocritical if the person leading you through a step of faith didn't even believe in it himself. And I believe that person should be at the age of accountability, so the belief is genuine, and not coerced through family or other forces. So, I don't believe a child should baptize anyone for example.

Finally, there's always someone trying to discredit baptism as if they have a force telling them its bad or as if they're afraid of it, or have some kind of personal animosity against it, or fear of public embarrassment? I think this reaction to a direct instruction from Jesus is a noteworthy reaction in itself.

Acts 2:38 - this verse is all I need to see in the Bible. People can use lots of words, can twist things, can use unlimited anecdotes, but none of it matters, because I read Acts 2:38 and I know exactly what it says and since I'm serious about following Jesus I was baptized. There's no question I'm doing it. To me, I don't understand anyone trying to rationalize to 'get out of' something, as if they only want to do the bare minimum in following Jesus. I want to give Jesus everything and I don't want to give the devil any foothold. John 14:15 is another 100% clear verse. So, when you put those two verses together the right decision is very obvious.

God bless...

Yes, you are correct that I was saying what I thought was occurring in this account.

And that is just like you are saying what you though Gal 3: was saying about faith, but it does not say that spiritual faith was given at Pentecost and after. I do not read or know of anywhere in Scripture that there was no true spiritual faith in God before Pentecost.

If you know of any such passage in the Scripture please show it to me.

I, too, want to have my thinking refer back to Scripture, but, inevitably, we will interpret what we read in the Word according to our own biases and past learnings.

Hi Hafford Please show me in the Book of Romans Chapter 10 where to be born again water is mentioned, now the reason why many are born again and not water baptised is because they read this first and got delivered. I also know people who were water baptised taught that this was all you need and didn't get delivered , and I know people who did both and got delivered. All I know is when I confessed Romans 10:9+19 and believed I was born again. I'm aware of alk other scripture references.

William,

Here's what I believe. You may believe differently and I realize that not everyone shares the same belief. I believe that when my physical body dies, my soul will separate from my body and will go to be with the Lord. When Christ comes for His church at the rapture ( 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), it says that the dead in Christ (the believers who die before Christ comes), their physical body will rise first, and then those who are alive and remain will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. Please note that this is not the Lord's second coming, as He physically sets foot on the earth at that time.

So if I die before Christ comes back to remove His church from this world before the tribulation, my spirit/soul will come back with Him, my physical body will rise from the grave as an incorruptible glorified body, and my spirit/soul will rejoin that body and then go back with the Lord to participate in the wedding feast spoken of in Matthew Chapter 25.

It is the body that lies in the grave that gives the appearance of sleep. The physical body will die but the soul will never die. I do not believe in "soul sleep."

If you read Acts Ch 8 carefully you will see that Philip makes sure , before baptism , that Ethiopian understands who Jesus is .

Proverbs 6:16-19

God hates...

Romans 9:13

Hi ChrisE Exercising my sense of humour I'm a born again spiritual donut not a dunkin donut, I was never water baptized been born again for 48 Years.

I have read in places where people claim that water baptism isn't for this dispensation (when? after Pentecost? after the death of all the apostles?) and that it was for the Jews not the Gentiles.

Also, they have said that the baptism for Christians is the baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, not water baptism.

In Acts 10:44-48, Peter is preaching to the household of Cornelius (a Gentile), the Holy Spirit descends on the listeners and they begin to speak in tongues, just as at Pentecost. (Here the Holy Spirit bestowed the spiritual gift without the laying on of hands.) Peter remarks "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. (Here Peter insists on these new believers to be baptized with water after they had received the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit.

This Scripture shows us that water baptism was normal practice by the apostles for new believers, either before or after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the new believers.

Water baptism was the normal accepted practice in the early church of the 1st and 2nd century. I have not read if the descent and outpouring of the Holy Spirt with speaking in tongues, as in this passage and others, where the apostles laid hands upon people and prayed prior to the Holy Spirit's outpouring, was common accepted practice into the 2nd century and beyond. I'll need to research this more. I would welcome any historical information on this from anyone.

Hi , please believe me , it's not my intention to offend . Have you read Acts Ch 8 ? If the answer is yes , how can you so easily disregard it as not some thing relevant today ? I'm literally gobsmaked that you or any one else could so easily throw these words in the bin and not think that these words are not for you . It's all for you . It's all relevant . Will you please give me a list of all the other things in the Bible that you have decided to ignore and why you have decided to ignore them . I'm sorry if you think I'm being aggressive but I honestly don't understand . I'm mystified .

Proverbs 6:16-19

God hates...

By the way that was a positive comment just an observation.

Hi Levi Green Except for acknowledging that The son of God was born although it wasn't dec.25th[ Look up Sept 11th 3bc.] most of HoHo is wrapped up in pagan tradition including the tree, Look at Jeremiah 10:1-5 interesting isn't it. If an individual can give and celebrate and not get so to speak caught up in it do what you please, its your walk with God and I'm not your judge, everything in balance. I'm thankful that for a short period of time people are thinking about the word.

Rick, good post. I do not think that many people realize the important, powerful, effective work of the Word spoken for someone to hear it. In Romans 10:17 Paul says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. This does not exclude "hearing" the Word of God by reading, but I think there is something spiritually effective about hearing the Scriptures spoken. I don't mean this in any superstitious way, but to encourage believers to practice reading the Word out loud to one another, one reads out loud, the other listens only, then they switch roles. This is easy to practice using Psalms where one person reads one line, pause, and the other person reads the next. They trade roles back and forth until the whole psalm is completed. Do this in a quiet, peaceful environment is helpful.

thank you so much grace I really appreciate it

In Reply God couldn't intervene for the rest because like it says in Romans chapter 1 God gave them over in other words they walked from him knowingly, same concept as raising a child correctly who knows what they should be doing and later on disobeys and gets the consequences of disobedience. Its very interesting to NOTE that Noah did not close the ark God did Knowing that if the unbelievers Got on it they would have killed Noah and family that's wicked they can get. Remember who the first murderer was due to his unbelief.

David,

I was intending that I don't think that Jacob was used to going to God in prayer before he left for Haran. that is why he made a conditional vow to God..."If God will...then I will..."

At this time, before he was to meet Esau, he had grown some in his relationship with God, but this night was pivotal in him coming to the realization and belief that he could really trust God and also go to him first and not just wait for Him to show up, as He had in past events. It was after this night that Jacob began referring to God as the God of Israel. Before he referred to God as the God of Abraham or the God (Fear) of Isaac, but his own personal God.

Gigi I'll stick with whats written Jesus Christ said anything is possible to him that believeth and the man said help thou mine unbelief, it doesn't say faith and its you privilege to put that in their but this was before pentecost before anyone could be born again with spiritual faith.

Sasha, good post.

When I read what Jesus said to the disciples before he ascended in Matt.28:18-19 & Mark 16:15-16, take it as a command for all time. If we believe that we are commanded by the risen Christ to preach the gospel across the whole earth, we must also believe that we are to heed His command to baptize those new to believing. he even goes as far as to say that those who believe and are baptized will be saved ( Mark 16:15-16). I for one, believe it is best to follow these commands of Christ and that they go hand in hand. I pray for unity in the church on this matter, because Jesus put it forth as important concerning bringing people to salvation in Christ.