All Discussion PAGE 204

Falsehood within truth (continued)

In regard to symbolic interpretations of scripture; one of the most extreme I have seen is an interpretation of Revelation 22 as being a symbolic imagery not a literal place paved in streets of gold and all the other details of mind boggling concepts. This was one novel Post Millennial or amillennial concept for a small book that I read several years back. On the other hand, the idea that many from the Pre Millennium camp argue that we should submit to the idea that Satan has basically taken over and controls everything rather than still using God given authority until the end of the church age was a good point. It can be argued that one eschatology is better than another (I myself am a PreMillenialist) but in this case as in all others there is a deeper issue; namely that many clear factual prophetic statements will occur at the Second coming; just as it did at the first. PostMil people and even Preterists for that matter have no problem believing the historical prophecies from Christ's first coming; and the Old Testament Prophecies and writings from history being a literal fact. But often doctrinal issues preclude such ideas for future prophecies; tied into the idea that for instance the church has replaced Isreal rather than the idea that two concurrent covenants could be in effect. Some would even argue with science that corroborates prophecy such as the fault line on the Mount of Olives that explains Zechariah 14:4. They would say that it precludes faith from being belief in what we can't see if it fits in with science! We of course can make this error in reverse with evolution concepts that often are disproven at a later date when more of the fossil record is retrieved; for instance with such fossils as Archaepterix; or "Piltdown" man. Again; there is some room for different interpretations on "secondary" issues but not when primary core doctrines of truth are compromised.

One can eventually lead to the other

GiGi,

That's greatness news. I can understand your husband having a harder time since he retired. I retired just over a year ago (September '22) and my diet seemed to get worse. I'll keep him in my prayers. Tell him I said stay away from the ice cream, something I'm having a hard time doing!

Hello friends, I want to give a praise report. Just got my lab report and my A1C went down from 6.8 to 5.6! So happy to see it going down from where I had been hovering. Hubby and I began some dietary changes lase may and both of us have lowered our A1C significantly. Going to continue in this diet change. I praise God that he has made it easy for me. It has been harder for my husband to change his diet. So please pray for him. He is sticking to the plan rigidly, but is hungry all the time.

He needs to discover and keep on hand foods that give him satiety but he does not really listen to me much on this. He also needs to eat at closer intervals during the day to avoid being so hungry. I am more nutritionally savvy than he is, but he has to own his own diet choices and prepare ahead as to buying what are good protein sources and actually taking the time to prepare them. He likes the quick, no cook type of food regime. I like to cook from scratch my foods and have my go to snacks that help me. He needs to be more thoughtful about what and when he will eat during the day. He is adjusting to being retired still and that is a factor for him in this diet challenge.

Yes Jema, this is the Scriptures that your post reminded me of. We are like Paul in the ways we imitate his example and one example he set is an acknowledgement of his sinfulness and need for the salvation of Jesus and the life He alone gives. He directs us to our Savior and the true way to come to Him. He stands for truth and does not desire to follow any slick leader. He here in these chapters shows us his humility by admitting to his own struggles with overcoming sin in every area of his life.

Jema, I will be praying for you in what you have shared about a few areas of your life you are desiring to nix out of your life at this time.

Thanks for being honest about your weakness, as Paul was. And I can admit that I am prone to laziness, too. I also need to do better at listening closely to what others are saying to me in conversation and not speaking too hastily in response. I have a fast mind, and that gets the better of me at times. I want to use this wisely and be a better conversationalist. So you can pray for me about these things.

Blessings to you, Jema.

oops, messed up. meant to say that we become more and more aware of these small and subtle sins and desire to turn from them.

Typing too fast and not proofreading. My own fault, classic example of what I am saying.

Ame, Parkerdy, Amen.

I pray right now that the Lord God will quickly answer Your prayer request here and comfort You in your cry for His help and assurance of your salvation and security in Him. I pray that our Heavenly Father will take away all your feelings of sadness, all your burdens of sin, and all of your worries about your standing before Him. Jesus stands before the Father as our mediator as our defense and righteousness, and we are in Him as He mediates as our Priest and King. In this way we are seated in heavenly places already, because if we believe on Him we are in Him as He says in John 14:20

"At that time (when the Comforter, Holy Spirit comes) you will shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."

And in John 14:27 Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid."

May these words comfort you today, Parkerdy

You are God's child, equally loved and shared by the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. God has taken you as His treasured possession to live with Him forever. In this life we have the Spirit as our surety, our guarantee of the promise of the resurrection and life now and forever with the indwelling Spirit of God.

"All mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them." John 17:10,

May you live in the freedom, faith, and peace f o Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His Father, and of the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. God has you covered, truly, and your sins are forgiven. You can walk afresh in fellowship with our God without guilt or fear. May the Spirit fill you with this truth today. Amen.

Carleton,

Well it is rainy here. That is par for the season here in the North-west. There were still some things I wanted to do in the yard this fall, but may be running out of good weather to work in outside. Hopefully we will have some dry days for those things to get done. I kind of feel like hibernating these last few weeks with the weather change, but I just pray that I will get my "pep" back soon.

My son and daughter-in-law just told us they are expecting first baby in May. That is such good news! My first grandchild. So, as my daughter in law said, I'm officially a GiGi. They are not financially ready to take on all things about parenting. So, they will be living with us for awhile. That is fine for us. If they still need to stay here after the baby arrives that is fine, too. As childcare is sooooo expensive nowadays, hubby and I will be caring for baby while they work. Praying for my other son and daughter in law to soon be expecting, too. They are near 40 and so, I hope it happens soon.

For the letter "M" in our study of Who God is I choose:

"MAJESTIC"

"O, LORD, our LORD, how excellent (majestic) is Your name in all the earth." Ps. 8:1,9



"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses to His majesty." 2 Peter 1:16-17

God dwells in inaccessible light ( 1 Tim. 6:16). So how can we know Him or describe what He is. We cannot do so perfectly because there are aspects of God that we may never be able to know, understand, or comprehend. There will eternally be some things God will not reveal about Himself to us because of His transcendent nature. He is above and beyond, distinct and separate from His creation. He is more infinitely more unlike humans than He is similar. This is one aspect of His majesty, and one that is so very hard for us to find words to express His majesty truly. Because He is limitless and infinite and perfect in all of His ways-and because we are limited, finite, and lack the fullness of perfection that God possesses, even in our resurrected and glorious state, though sinless and brought to the fullness of perfect humanity (to the completion of what God willed), we will never be able to know God completely. But we will still be both satisfied and eternally seeking to discover Him more truly and fully.

When we speak about the Majesty of God, it encompasses many aspects of Who He is essentially.

It speaks to His awesome splendor, unconquerable authority, unsurpassing beauty, penultimate greatness, indominable power, absolute sovereignty, and His unchallengeable superiority. WOW! When we speak of God's glory, it is an umbrella term that encompasses all of these aspects of God's Being.

His majesty is what we praise of Him. It evokes us to worship Him. It causes unbelievers to fear Him. It moves people to revere Him. It motivates us to serve Him.

There is really so much to speak about concerning God's majesty. see pt. 2

Practical examples of errors exposed (Part One).

In regard to misuse of scripture; we risk two extremes-that being making applications to every event in our lives with any verse that even remotely seems to prove a mindset or agenda or life decision and the contrary; which views the Word as a history lesson; disregarding any application of the supernatural in our personal lives; or in speaking to us in our personal lives.

I would say that it is better to randomly open to a scripture verse to find something applicable than to assign meanings to passages through a deliberate twisting of meanings. We need to differentiate between methods of preaching that are more life application oriented with those that are more focused on hermeneutics, for instance. It is a slippery slope once we start to read into scripture with a message that is more like a self fulfilling prophecy than proper exegesis.

Take; for instance personal examples and life lessons. Those obsessed with the charismatic gifts; for instance often talk of miracles that they have seen; but practically speaking; for instance hearing examples of sharing the Gospel and seeing results is just as much; if not more evidence of a miracle in a supernatural transformation of the heart. Knowing our local pastor should help us to establish trust so that we have assurance that we are not being given unsubstantiated tales of miracles; signs and wonders.

Another example is the verses where we are commanded to raise the dead; heal the sick etc such as found in Matthew 10:8. Surely these acts along with deliverance were continued throughout the time of the book of Acts. We need to matter of factly acknowledge when a miracle appears to occur; but also realize that in some cases it may not be God's will; at least in terms of the fact that we are all mortal beings. We certainly should pray for such things; especially spiritual deliverance for those in bondage to the enemy which all with the Spirit can do.

Romans Ch 6 and Ch 7 say it better than I ever could . Thank you for your reply :) .

Oh I know how you feel ! I am so ready , every day I pray Thy Kingdom Come . All day every day all I see is death and pain every where . Only God can save us , from our own selves and from each other . Thy Kingdom Come ! Much love in Christ .

God bless you too , we are in agreement . I believe that often people who continue to do things that they know are not what God wants from them , sin in other words , they don't really believe in God or the works of Christ . Plenty of times ,we read in the Old Testament , Israel saying things like : where is the God of Israel ? God does not see ! This is unbelief , which leads to sinful behaviour . Belief makes a person want to do the right thing , unbelief makes a person continue to walk in the darkness and not mind that they do so Hebrews Ch 11 V 6 . Recognizing our sinfulness comes from believing in God . You are correct that we must be confident and joyful in this life , knowing , believing and rejoicing in God's forgiveness through Christ but in order to do this I think that we must first recognise our sinfulness . Lately I feel that my behaviour in one or two ways has been slipping a bit and I've been excusing myself because I've been under a bit of stress lately . But I don't want to slip ! I want God to remind me that He expects better of me ! Hebrews Ch 12 V 5-29 . I need , I want to be reminded and corrected . I'm lazy and inclined to live by the sight of my eyes .

Please Lord, I come to you broken today. I don't know why I feel lost unless sin is holding me back. But I'm scared, Lord, and I shouldn't feel scared because I know you love me. I believe in you Lord and that you died for me and you gave your blood for atonement for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and please fix what is hurting me now! Have your way with me, Lord and forgive me of all my sins. Also, open my daughter's heart so that she will come to you, Lord Jesus. Hold me, Lord, and keep me strong so that I can be with you forever in heaven. Change me, Lord, and bring my child to you. Without you, I am nothing. I pray my daughter feels your love. Carry me with you and open her eyes. Forever may I be with you, Lord, and may all those I love also come to you and be saved. You are the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Hold me Jesus and don't let me go. And soften the heart of my child and do the same. Hallelujah I pray in your name sweet Jesus. Amen.

please help me to pray for GOD to remember me, in the place of my work

Pnovello:

What do you believe happened at the death and resurrection of Christ?

WERE your sins COVERED (forgiven) by the blood of Christ?

If not, WHEN are you going to be forgiven?

If they are forgiven why do you keep asking for forgiveness?

God ONLY ask that we walk in the TRUTH of HIS WORKS.

You DIED on the cross of Christ, YOU were raised with Christ, a NEW CREATION; HIS FLESH.

YOUR his body, and he is the HEAD of YOU, his BODY.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is BORN of GOD (raised as ONE with Christ) cannot commit sin, because HIS SEED remaineth IN HIM: and he CANNOT SIN, because HE is BORN of GOD (raised as ONE with Christ).

Man teaches that Christens sin and need to constantly ask for forgiveness.

Sons of God understand the WORKS of the cross of Christ.

REPENTING of sin (unbelief) means turning from deception to truth.

God Bless YOU!

Truth mixed with falsehood (part 2 of introduction outline).

Continuing with my first outline there is a #3 issue. That is not being fully persuaded that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. This results in various sinful results. We are assured that he who teaches one error and practices it will be the least in the Kingdom of God ( Matt. 5:19). There are more serious issues such as what would be categorized as "damnable heresies" ( 2 Peter 2:1) so this isn't something to trifle with.

One thing that contributes to this scriptural mindset are poor translations of scripture; which can involve a few issues or be wanton disregard to the clear meanings of all source texts in order to propagate teachings of cults.

A second issue is the leadership selling their own version of "snake oil" in order to facilitate preaching of some sort of "prosperity gospel" which no doubt is cultlike in placing undue emphasis on the charisma of the teacher or ministry as opposed to a balanced church as mandated in the scriptures. Lack of church discipline for pastors and laypersons alike often results; and other times of course legalism can occur; sometimes even alongside the first error. Scripture should never be used to push an agenda that diverts attention from the Great Commission and other key commands; nor should it promote lawlessness or "cheap grace."

The third issue; often tied in with the others mentioned here is other writings being put on too high a pedestal or revered as somehow being worthy of worship or even worth considering from other religions. This can be as innocuous as obsessing on a classic such as "Pilgrim's Progress" or other worthy Christian fiction at the expense of purely studying scriptures to widespread error from espousing some New Age concept and especially Christ being presented as a great teacher and such which those of other religions would espouse apart from His Deity.

Usually some truth is retained which makes error more potent.

Very well spoken Richard.

God bless.

The Same GIGI! I hope the day your way is beautiful, we need rain and maybe we will get some soon, Currently trimming Ivy back.

:)

Hello Richar, good to hear from you again.



I will add that falsehood enters into a believers mindset when;

-they themselves from others and try to go at it themselves as far as learning scriptural doctrines.

-they resist being instructed by others.



-when they deny that the Scriptures mean what they say because they conflict with present day societal mores. i.e prohibition against premarital sexual relations or homosexual relations.

-they lead a compromising lifestyle with the world.

Richard, I think I will go on to letter "M" in our study of who God is. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Thanks Carleton,

Enjoyed this morning meditation from you. Thanks for blessing me today.

Well said

Thanks for this wise counsel, like David, realized that HE had sinned against God with Bathsheba, did not blame it on her, and was repentant and sought the Lord for forgiveness and to be cleansed from HIS own sin. He did not blame the devil or other persons or circumstances.

Sometimes I hear people excuse sinful behavior in themselves or others by saying, "well we are only human" or "it's o.k., it is human nature to do so." And while this is true that our human nature is the reason we sin, it is who we are and therefore due to our own volition that we give into our sinful nature to disobey God. We can glibly pass over our failure to do as God wishes not just by shrugging our shoulders and saying, "aw, I am just being human" (because there is no admission of or remorse for sin in such a statement), we also fail to confess to God that we have sinned. But as believers, we should take sin seriously no matter how "natural" it is to sin. We should acknowledge that even the slightest sin is a huge offense against God that needed the sacrifice of Jesus to remit it.

As we grow in Christ, we become more and more of these "slight" sins and want to tur from them. We come to recognize the sinfulness of some of our character habits and even our thought patterns. We come to understand more and more and ever more deeply how much we need God's justification in our lives and that this is only through Jesus. We come to treasure so sweetly our Lord and what He has done for us. We come to more profound gratitude for being reconciled to God in Christ. We come to desire His ways more and more and become more determined to walk by the power of the holy Spirit to war against our sinful nature and subdue it to overcome sin in our lives on a daily basis. We desire more and more to have a clear conscience before God, knowing that He knows us totally; more that we know ourselves. And we realize that because he has chosen us for salvation and glory, He will complete it all in us.

Je.52 "The Pillar " (2 of 2)

This we can understand from the second time God appeared unto the wise king.

"That theLordappeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon./And theLordsaid unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually./And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:/Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel(1 Ki.9:2-5)".

This shows the temple built by Solomon ceased to be a temple of God when he fell away from his singleminded devotion because of his many wives."Can two walk together, except they be agreed?(Amos3:3)" King Solomon began well as the nation of Israel did. In their apostasy they ceased to be the apple of His eye and all desolations predicted by Jeremiah became real. Jesus drew away those who did business in the temple courts,"....And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves(Matt.21:12-13)".This clearly establishes temples of man hold in themselves no value without establishing the connection with the Word ( John 1:1), in other words, the everlasting covenant.

Our bodies as a temple is an idea and it is valid because of the everlasting covenant. Our individual covenant by blood is carried over into the everlasting covenant. The testimony of Jesus Christ,"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven"

Jer.52 "The Pillar" (1 of 2)

We read of the ransacking of the temple of God in this last chapter.

Here we have a sad end to what was begun as a glorious chapter in the rise of the nation of Israel. King David would have wished to build a house for God but God was particular that it was left for his son to build the House of God. King Solomon after he had removed the threat of Adoniah set about it. The Ark was brought into it. The Ark of the testimonywhere the two tables of stone signified the everlasting covenant. (Ps.119:89).

"There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when theLordmade a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt./And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of theLord,/So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of theLordhad filled the house of theLord./Then spake Solomon, TheLordsaid that he would dwell in the thick darkness./I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever(1 Ki.8:9-13)" Significant is this passage, "When the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of theLord,/So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of theLordhad filled the house of theLord."

Covenant is between God and man and not by any other intermediary. The cloud represented the cloud of witnesses (Dan.7:14; He.12:1)

The Spirit is establishing the truth:the everlasting covenant was not dispensed by priests. Two tables of stone Levitical priesthood, animal sacrifice and all such laws were shadow of the everlasting covenant established before the foundation of the world. Solomon's zeal to build where God was at rest, was only as good as he was obedient.

This is brought out in Gibeon.

Re.18:21 "Fall of mighty Babylon"

What is Jerusalem in the Core Will of God?

What we find in Gaza is man's strivings to carve out enclaves for themselves according to their perceived identities. God has rejected Israel, and never mind, they made their arm their strength. So we shall see much about nothing as peoples are often given some occupation by the powers-that be to keep them from getting in the way. God rjected the city where his Son was crucified.

"Thus saith theLord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from theLord./For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." (Je.17:5-6) God has set his Will and his vengeance on Babylon covers Jerusalem as well. The city shall be left as a rubble and Isaiah says, "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment."(Is.34:5) Edom and Israel of the Patriarchal age even now at each other's throat. It shall strike Gaza and also Jerusalem.

God has already spoken. Bibi decides as a man, whose survival depends on being the most harsh where as the heaven has settled the fate of the city,"And a great slaughter in the land of Idumea./And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness."(34:5-8) "For it is the day of theLord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion."

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in theLord, and whose hope theLordis."(Je.17:7)

Ps.107:7 "City of habitation"

"And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation."

The Spirit in organizing the Salvation Plan gives us a great exodus of men, one to a city of habitation while the other to destruction. This is according to the Core will which is all about His kingdom which ruleth over all. "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."(Ps.103:19). As Jesus promised his ministry on the earth was not solely to save those who were dead in sins but to equip them for their city habitation. In short Core will of God covers both fronts both heaven and the earth. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." ( John 14:3)

Salvation program begins in the world of the Spirit, which is a Garden planted by God. At the end of it we have the city which also is prepared by God. "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."(Matt.15:13) This tree of life in the Garden is found in this city as well.

After the great flood we are given a great human migration."As they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there." They began a tower and they began with brick for stone and slime for mortar. "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower."(Ge.11:4) They were against God so they had to make a name for themselves. Celebrities whose lifestyles are much emulated are the catalyst, -what motion, what a dazzle! and they work tirelessly to make news. This has lead to Babylon which is is hold all for every city made by men. Jerusalem belongs there. How did the city fare? "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."(Re.18:21)

Amen Jema Amen. I have been a Christian for 57 years and everyday I ask for forgiveness. Everyday I pray that I please Him. That everything be for His honor and glory. I, myself, am ready to go home.

God bless you sister, from your sister in Christ.

Sister Jema:

The prophecies in Jeremiah were as much for the PROMISED ISRAEL as was it for national Israel.

National Israel was preached the gospel then, as promised Israel is preached the gospel today.

John came preaching the GOSPEL of the Kingdom of God saying REPENT of your SINS.

They didn't understand THEN, as we don't understand TODAY.

Christ was CRUCIFIED from the foundation of the world, the sins of the FLESH God sees NOT, only the righteousness of Christ.

National Israel had this gospel THEN, as well as promised Israel has it TODAY.

Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our sins from us.

So what was John message of REPENTANCE of our sins.

UNBELIEF is the ONLY sin that keeps us from the PRESENCE of GOD.

John 16:8 An when HE (Christ) IS COME (the second time as the Spirit of Truth), he (Christ) will reprove the world of SIN.

John 16:9 Of SIN because they BELIEVE NOT ......

You REPENT of the sins of UNBELIEF.

CONFESS your SINS of not understanding God's word.

ASK and you will RECEIVE.

John 9:41 ... If you were BLIND, you would have NO SIN, but because you say I SEE, your SIN (not understanding) remaineth.

You may have to read the WORD fifteen hundred times as LIGHT is shined into DARKNESS: our carnal mind of misunderstanding.

These words are meant for encouragement, not condemnation, we are all being JUDGED by the WORD.

Each of us STAND or FALL by those WORDS.

Look at yourself as GOD sees YOU, a NEW CREATION.

Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND be IN YOU, which was ALSO in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God.

God Bless YOU!

Joyce Tremayne Pickett yes partly on Obadiah 1 Esau is the Edomites which are the so called white race but Jacob are the 12 tribes of Israel the so called Blacks Hispanics and Native Indians of Negroid Descent which were divided into to kingdom the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom the Northern Kingdom is the ten tribes Israel and the Southern Kingdom are the two tribes Judah and Benjamin

Good morning Bennymkje, I am thinking as well Jesus came as rhe second Adam to this world as a Promise sent from the beginning. Similar to Daniel he was subject to the kings of the earth, surrounded by hostilities while containing a pure knowledge of the Will of the Father and preserving the True Temple for worship of the Father, this Temple not made with hands. Babylon suurounds God's children because they like Jesus have no room at the inn, no resting place except in God in Jesus Christ. The Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylinians, Persians, Greeks and Romans have at times surrounded the people of God. Every child of God born into His Spirit while in the world will face hostilities. Only our Hope, Jesus Christ was resurrected into eternal Life into a Heavenly Kingdom by His death on the Cross while in earth, while in the world, while in Babylon. This Kingdom that He introduced by His Blood and water is incompatible with the kingdoms of the earth. Where contact is made (even one saved soul) there will be thunderings and lightenings and earthquakes. Some day, Babylon and all that belongs to her including the beast that was among the eight will be consumed by fire after the appearing of the Lamb once delivered. My morning thoughts by the view from the window towards the Cross.

Truth mixed with falsehood

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." ( Gal. 5:9). Without naming names; it is clear that error has crept in with many if not most churches of sizeable membership today. Here is a summary list of reasons these falsehoods develop and manifest.

1. Misinterpreting scripture. This can be subdivided into several categories:



a. Isolating a text from the greater meaning of surrounding chapters; and/or other cross references that clearly relate to the subject being discussed.

b. Making a literal text fit into the narrative by ascribing the meaning to a figurative description; or more rarely taking figurative language and attempting to find literal meaning to it. (Actually the second error is something that I haven't really seen in any examples that I can think of at present but is theoretically possible).

c. Over OR Underemphasis on the Old Covenant; its laws and the ways God interacted with Israel in the past. This covers several issues; such as the error of teaching that the church has replaced Israel in all former covenant promises; or that we are still to follow all the Old Testament commandments that were purely for Israel (such as the Saturday sabbath law; or perhaps ceremonial regulations for unclean foods; etc. This can slip into the error of trying to emphasize the New Testament with the implication that God somehow isn't the same in regard to God the Father in the Old Testament and Christ in the New Testament.

This fits into an overemphasis of attributes of love today as compared with judgment and wrath in the past. God is the same yesterday; today and forever ( Heb. 13:8).

2. Setting an agenda by using a passage that fits in to an introduced concept; theme or idea. This broad concept would involve gross error of cherry picking verses that on a surface level may seem to verify clearly heretical concepts; or attempting to fit a doctrine into a selected text while ignoring other scriptures.