All Discussion PAGE 2458

I leave a leave a response when I especially enjoy a post on a website or if I have something to add to the conversation. It is a result of the passion displayed in the article I looked at. And on this post ISAIAH 55:13 KJV "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree:...". I was excited enough to drop a thought ;-) I actually do have a few questions for you if it's okay. Is it just me or does it give the impression like some of these comments come across like they are written by brain dead people? :-P And, if you are writing on other social sites, I would like to keep up with you. Could you list all of all your shared pages like your Facebook page, twitter feed, or linkedin profile?

The message is always: FLEE, FLEE, FLEE. 1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

Other sins may have an impact on oneself, whether immediate or in time. But fornication is sin that has immediate effect on both the body & mind that will eat away & lead to destruction.

But a person won't flee unless it is determined that danger is present. One has to look at the Scriptures, all the way from Israel's behaviour in the Old Testament to some Christians' behaviour in the New Testament, that the warning about sexual sin is everywhere. Once we understand the gravity of this sin, as other sins also, we will not come to the Saviour for salvation & receive His Power to overcome. Mostly we sin when tempted because we enjoy sinning & maybe believe that God cares not or easily forgives us when we do. James 1:15. However, some Christians are not on guard against the enemy's taunts to sin, & easily fall into his traps. Whatever our reason, we must know that any sin displeases the Lord & if we should stumble & fall into sin, there is still a place of repentance & forgiveness for us. 1 John 1:9.

The ways to handle this sin or any sin, is to first know your position as a child of God, purchased at a great cost. You belong to Him & it is God's desire & should be yours too, to refrain from all sin & all appearance of evil. That's not always easy & we can succumb to temptations: we need to strengthen our minds & hearts from God's Word (i.e. read & meditate on it daily); we need to be in much prayer about that area of weakness in our lives, that the Spirit's Power will avail for us at the moment of testing; when temptation knocks at our door, we turn the other way, we run to the Lord; put your mind, your hands, your body to other good uses; even mix with company that don't open up a way of temptation or sin for you, rather ready to support & help you. May God help you.

Psalms does not have chapters. You guys have the psalms listed as chapters.

Thank you Robynn for your comments/questions & if I may respond.

1. Indeed, God's Love for all mankind is so immense & unfathomable that He continued to engage with us even when everything about us warranted our complete extermination. But that Love persisted as we read in Romans 5:8; 2 Peter 3:9.

2, 3, 4. 1 Peter 3:18-20. The focus in this passage is on 'the Spirit'. The same Spirit that brought Jesus back alive from the dead was also by the same means (i.e. the Spirit) that Jesus went to the spirits held in prison.

Now, this is the only passage we have on this visit by Jesus, though there are references to spirits in chains ( Jude 6; Revelation 20:1-3). And I realize that many Christians attempt to place the event in 1 Peter 3, to Jesus' visit at the time of His death. It could well be but we cannot be certain of this as we are simply given very limited detail. And in the context of Peter's writing, this visit was not his focus. All we know is that Jesus did visit at some point & specifically to those who were disobedient in the days of Noah; when that took place is not revealed.

And "how much does God love people?" As mentioned, His Love knows no bounds. But His pure Love equates to His pure Justice. And if we think that God's Love must also allow for sinners, whether they've come under the sound of the Gospel or not, to have a second chance to hear, repent & receive, then what is the point of preaching the Gospel now, why did the apostles & myriads of other faithful saints suffer brutally & horrible deaths, if there was a second opportunity for lost souls? "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." - no second chances, no purgatory.

His commandments were only 2. Love God with all yourself, heart, mind and strength. And love your brother/neighbor as you love yourself. If we strive to do these, we will have no problem overcoming the sinful desires inherited from our parents/ancestors. When my wants displace your needs, I sin. God help us!!!

Concerning Israel, It is made evident that they were created by El Shaddai for the purpose of revealing Him to us who were/are not a part of that particular creation. I beg to differ with you when you say He chose them to pour out His love on them. His choosing of them was of a much higher calling than that. He "put His name in them," meaning He made them His family among the ungodly/mankind. They have basked in His favor and chafed in His anger. They have suffered at His hand that we might know His statutes and judgements, and they have rejoiced in His mercies that we might know the loving kindness of a Heavenly Father who loves His children. We are saved by the spirit of adoption, says Paul, and being of the wild olive tree are grafted into the tame olive tree, if so that we accept the redemption that came to them through the sacrifice of Christ and the resurrection that is theirs by their return to the Land of Inheritance and the acknowledging of their Creator.

When I was a teenager I received a citation for driving without a license. Upon appearing before the judge I had not yet obtained a license. The judge gave me ten days 'grace' to obtain my license. God's 'Grace' is a specific period of time to make right that which has been wrong. It is not an indefinite, never ceasing thing in which we can continue to do what we have always done and there be no judgement. His Mercy is the giving of a lighter sentence/punishment than deserved and His Judgements, according as we deserve, are without Grace or Mercy and are everlasting. Therefore, Noach found Grace and Mercy in the eyes of the Lord while the rest had only Judgement.

Mark Chapter 3

26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

Some believe that while Jesus' body was in the tomb, His spirit was in hell.Scripture doesn't support that position when it is taken in context and we look at the meaning of the word "hell." In the Old Testament, the place of the dead or the place of departed souls was called "SHEOL." It was to this place that all souls of the dead went to await resurrection.

In the New Testament, we find the story of Lazarus and the rich man who both died and went to Hades ( Luke 16:19-31). The KJV translates the Greek word "hades" as hell but most other translations use the Greek word. HADES had two separated parts: Those who died in faith believing in God's promise waited for the resurrection in Abraham's Bosom. Those who died spiritually separated from God wait in torment for the resurrection unto death, eternal separation from God. The rich man was on the torment side and Lazarus was in ABRAHAMS BOSOM which was called "PARADISE" by the LORD Jesus Christ himself when He addressed the thief who found faith the day Jesus was crucified ( Luke 23:42-43)

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" ( 2 Peter 2:4). The word translated "HELL" here is not the Greek word "HADES" but is the Greek word "TARTARUS"meaning ABYSS or the lowest regions. This could very well be the "gulf" that was fixed between the PLACE OF TORMENT and Abraham's Bosom ( Luke 16:26)

Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fulfill all things" ( Ephesians 4:8-10). Leading captivity captive seems to refer to Jesus taking all those that waited in Paradise to heaven to be with Him. The descending into the "lower parts"refers to Jesus declaring victory over death.

the soul does not burn up

As for your question, let me reassure you that suicide is not an unforgivable sin. Therefore, IF a true believer commits suicide, though their life ended with a sin under tragic circumstances, they are still saved by the blood of Christ. The grace of God through the death and resurrection of Christ covers all sins past, present, and future. A sin that ends your life is no more potent than one that doesn't. God's grace is more powerful and covers it all. So, rest assured that __is in the presence of the Lord. The apostle Paul is clear on this in Philippians 1:21-23. He says that when we depart from the body (death) we are then with Christ. This goes for all Believers, not just ones that didn't commit suicide.

god places kings in place

It's a common misconception to say 'absent with the body is present with the Lord'. This idea originated from 2 Corinthians 5:8, but if you read the verse you will see it doesn't say if anyone is absent from their body that they are automatically with the Lord 100% of the time. Paul said he would "rather" be present with the Lord, or he would prefer that. Many Christians today would prefer that also. But just because you prefer something doesn't mean it will 100% guaranteed happen for 100% of all people 100% of the time, or even that it would sometimes happen. No, Paul only said he would "rather" for that to occur. Since the Bible says what it says and not what people commonly misquote, I do not interpret this as evidence to the theory that people automatically go to heaven after death. If there were other verses saying this, that would be fine, but I am not aware of any. Only taking a few verses and making an assumption about it, such as Jesus saying today he would be in paradise. Notice he did not say heaven, but paradise. They may not be the same thing.

If we are going to discuss this fairly we must consider what the rest of the Bible says on this topic.

Matthew 12:36 - People will be judged at some point on the same day. Is it likely that they are judged AFTER they go to heaven or BEFORE?

2 Corinthians 5:10 - People are judged first THEN they receive what is due.

Revelation 20:11-15 - People are all judged on the same day. Lots of people seen in the same place.

Because the Bible says this, it can't mean that people are judged immediately when they die- because not everyone is dead yet, and it can't mean that people go immediately to heaven if they aren't judged yet.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says the dead will rise and those living will meet the Lord in the air.

Would it make sense for someone to go heaven, then back to earth to rise up, then back again to heaven?

It says people will 'sleep' in-between: Job 14:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:14

healing my health and cover my family

Pat, if I may direct you to Romans 2:12-16:

"For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel."

Here we see the Apostle Paul's teaching on those who have sinned "in the Law" (i.e. the Jews who were given God's Law to abide by & to judge themselves as those who failed in keeping the Law perfectly), and those who 'perish' (note: not 'sinned', since sin is effected, accountable & punishable by God by the giving of a Law, Romans 3:20) without having received the Law.

So to the Jew who remains under the burden of the Law & not in receipt of God's Grace in Christ, they will be judged by the Law, & they will fail, for none could ever keep the Law perfectly ( Galatians 2:21b:"for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.").To the Gentile (non-Jew) who in days past never received or even heard of God's Laws & therefore never subject to its conditions, Paul says that these may not have the written Law in stone/parchment, but by nature perform the Law as written upon their hearts; it's now their conscience that accuses them of doing wrong or excuses their sins, that God sees & thus judges. Certainly not like getting God's Commands directly, but when both Jew & Gentile have to stand before God, the judgement meted to them will be based on the Law whether given directly or written in their hearts/consciences.

And that's why the Gospel is so important: it is salvation to all.

I have an airplane, everyone that gets on and sits down will fly to Houston. Any one who does not get on will not go to Houston.

Anyone gets on and does not sit down will still go to Houston!!

Unpardonable sin? Can't be done. Only happened in the time of Christ if you saw Him do a miracle and you said it was done by Satan. Today, the closest thing to an unpardonable sin is to not believe in the saving grace of Jesus. Believing is more than just "believing," as many might think. Please refer to the many times that we are exhorted to keep the commandments (by John, especially). Also, please refer to the sections which state that our names can be "blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life," which would imply that our name had to be in it to be blotted out. Therefore, it is imperative that a believer be a person who changes their life, and so endures in that changed life "to the end." As you sin along the way, keep asking for forgiveness. However, do not sin intentionally, knowing that there is grace. Paul cautioned against sinning more so that grace could more abound. Seek to do good.

There are seashell fossils on the top of Mount Everest.

Peter was crucified upside down. He was crucified many years later in Rome.

After death, your spirit goes to be with Jesus. "Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." The opening of the graves shows the reuniting of the body with the spirit, and the transformation of the body occurs at that time to become the immortal body.

You show your conversion to Jesus by being obedient to Him. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Those who keep the commandments will eat of the Tree of Life.

Hi Ashley, I have prayed for you and your baby girl, as well as others on the site, continue to without ceasing

Yes, Jesus, being God, was a Jew, born of a Jewish mother. However, His spirit came from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the body that was prepared for Him was Jewish, and He was God with us (Immanuel).

In the Bible, we see God as a trinity because it mentions that God, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit each did these things below:

Each is ETERNAL ( Rom 16.26, Re 22:13, Heb 9:14)

HOLY (Re 4:8, 15:4, Ac 3:14, 1 John 2:20)

OMNIPRESENT ( Jer 23:24, Eph 1:23, Ps 139:7)

OMNIPOTENT( Ge 17:1, Rev 1:8, Ro 15:19, Jer 32:17, Heb 1:3, Lu 1:35)

ONMISCIENT (Ac 15:18, Joh 21:17, 1 Cor 2:10,11)

CREATOR ( Gen 1:1, Col 1:16, Job 33:4, Ps 148:5, John 1:3, Job 26:13)

SANCTIFIER ( Jude 1:1, Heb 2:11, 1 Pe 1:2)

RESURRECTED CHRIST ( 1 Co 6:14, Joh 2:19, 1 Pe 3:8)

Hope that helps.

According to the bible how is the best way to handle sex temptation

The only part of the trinity that we will ever "see" is Jesus, as the other two are invisible. We can only see the "glory" of the Father. Jesus said that "he who hath seen me hath seen the Father" implying that they would act the same. For our purposes, we will only see Jesus, so we therefore see God as a man. That being said, the image and likeness you speak of in Gen 1:26 is referring to man before The Fall. Once The Fall occurred, man became made in the image of fallen Adam and Eve, as seen in Gen 5:1. For example, fallen man dies, but God does not. Fallen man has a sinful nature, but God does not. etc.

The short answer to the meaning of God's Grace is, 'God's unmerited favour or kindness shown to us'. That is, God has chosen to show us His Love & Kindness even when we were the 'last people on Earth' to deserve it. Actually, theologically, I like to look at it this way: God is a Merciful God (i.e. His very being of Love, Holiness, Justice, etc. also has Mercy as a very important integral part of the Being of God). So when God demonstrates His Mercy (that part of His Character) & sheds it upon us an undeserving people, we receive it as His Grace in our lives. I realize that often the words 'Mercy & Grace' are used by Christians interchangeably, but to help my understanding & when sharing God's Word, I like to show a differentiation between the two, though both are certainly vitally connected.

And God's Mercy, shown to mankind by His Grace, has always been the enjoyment & security of all those who are called by Him to receive it. To Israel, they were selected as God's chosen, for no other reason than to pour out His Love upon them as He had promised to their fathers, & to make them a special (holy) people (see Deuteronomy 7:6-9). And to us today, to as many as have been called to salvation & eternal life, God has persisted in that Love for all of us, by sending us His Son to be our Substitute to receive His punishment for our sins. There was no other way that God could justify in keeping the human race going on in sin. Just as He destroyed all but few in the Great Flood, so His Mind was that He would do it again for the volume of sins that were before Him. But at the appointed time to hold back that Wrath ( Romans 5:6), He sent Jesus to pay sin's price on our behalf & to avert (to change direction) His Anger against us ( 1 John 2:2, 4:10). So His Anger was then placed upon Jesus (as our sin-bearer) that those who put their trust in Him can be declared 'not guilty'. Such was the load that Jesus bore for us: our sin & God's Anger.

Such is God's Grace given to us.

The Bible is quite clear on this. We all have desires and a sinful nature. We can choose to act on our desires or to reject them. For example, a person who was born with a nature to be angry can control his temper, or a woman who was born as a nymphomaniac or a man as a kleptomaniac, can choose to control their nature. Also, some natures may be acquired in our youth, such as a bullying or physically abusive nature, sometimes brought on by a relative or neighbor who mistreated us. We are in this life for a test of whether we love God or choose to do our own desires. See Deuteronomy 13:1-3 for example. Often, these desires are compelling and overwhelming. When we believe we cannot control them, we must kneel in humble prayer to Jesus and ask Him to help us. Greater is He that is in me, than he (Satan) that is in the World. Let us be thankful that we have a savior who loves us and gave Himself for us, and that we can express our love for Him by being obedient to Him. "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Godly go to be with Jesus. The ungodly, if they reject Jesus, will be cast into outer darkness away from God, and into a second death which is a lake of fire.

Jesus can be in more than one place at one time, as He is everywhere as God. It is nothing for God to judge each of us individually and simultaneously. Even when on Earth, Jesus said he would be wherever two or three are gathered in His name. The judgement for believers is not to judge our sins, but to reward our works. There is no condemnation for those in Jesus ( Rom 8:1). The judgement for us is more like an awards ceremony. The judgement for sinners who have rejected Jesus is quite different, as there is no one to pay for their sins, therefore they have the second death. The wages of sin is death. The gift of eternal life is for those who trust in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.