Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 1029

Dear all, Very soon Christmas and New Year will come. A time for reflection and gratitude.

Here on the web site we still talking about things that happened 2000 years ago: D. Do not get me wrong, many want clarity.

But I want to emphasize that the best thing all of us can do is: Get your own understanding of who God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are and read KJV yourself. He is the best teacher. He is the best teacher. Although many have wisdom, we can only encourage one another to walk the path. Then we can hope that we have found the right path. For the road is narrow. We are not adults before we are with the Lord any of us.

Am so glad for u all here, ill miss Englich Sacha and Earl Bowman, ill hope they are well and soon come back too the web. We are all branches on His tree. Never forget that, you! We dont need too think about yesterday. But i do not deliver the word ill get so it comes here: John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30He must increase, but I must decrease.

And the too the end of the chapter. God bless and merry Christmas too your all.

You are right inn some ways here, Glenn. Yet, I don't think any of us are being unkind nor trying to one-up one another. We are just getting "meaty" in our discussions. Some may not care for that "menu". I understand. But I feel that we all love Jesus and each other here on this forum. The fact that some of us have a strong way of wording our ideas does not mean that one is being unkind. Anyone who reads Paul's epistles can see ow strongly he worded things, but it was all in love. That is where we come from here.

Yes, Bro Dan, If we walk by the Spirit we will not satisfy the desires of the flesh (Gal.5:16-18), which means we will obey what God has told us to do or avoid what he as prohibited, and especially not have a prideful, rebelliousness that resists the Spirit wo calls us to be obedient, godly, holy children of God.

Yep, Adam, It amazing me how people fail to take into account the full counsel of God on matters, but focus just on their take on a certain point of view they wish to maintain while ignoring so much else that is said in Scripture. We all can fall into this mindset easily. I try to look at a topic from many angles from Scripture so that I am "seeing" things from a good standpoint. I am well aware of Paul's teaching about justification through faith and not through the law and what is meant by the Law of Grace. We live in a society now that knows no shame for the disobedient ways they live, yet even these people know that Christians are to live lives of obedience to God. When I talk to unbelievers, their objection to receiving the gospel is rarely that they do not believe in God, nor a lack of awareness of their own sin. Their objection is more often stated that it is because Christians are such hypocrites. Therefore, if we hope to be convincing in our witness of the gospel we ought to also be convincing about the changed way we live, not rebellious against God or His moral commands, but utilizing this wonderful grace and the influence of the indwelling Spirit to live holy and godly lives in this wicked generation.

Bro Dan, Glad you "get" what I am trying to say here.

Jesus, that we no longer live by the flesh, but by the Spirit, who's goal is to change us bit by bit to be like Jesus, who always did the will of the Father.

Rick, I know we will continue to disagree on this matter, and I am ok with that. We have both had a lot to say on this matter and I feel that we have both presented good points. I don't over think these things anymore than the apostle Paul did or many of the early church fathers who thought deeply and thoroughly on such topics to be able to give a reasoned account. That is what I have done. It may satisfy some and others, not. I just pray that the Spirit will use our conversations to produce understanding in both of us in such a way to allow us to apply the truth of this matter.

Rick, There have been "laws" from God in all ages since Adam and Eve. Commands and laws are spoken interchangeably to refer to the Law of Moses and so therefore, any command of God is a "law".

God commanded Adam and Even to not eat from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil. This was a one time "law".

God gave Noah commands after the flood. These were "laws" for all mankind. God gave Abraham a command to sacrifice Abraham. This was a one time "law". Abraham knew He was to obey God, and he did and his obedience demonstrated his faith in God.

God wrote the 10 commandments with His own "finger" for Moses and these were "laws" for all time.

Jesus gave stated that to be saved one needs to believe and be baptized, and commanded His disciples to baptize all who believer. This was a "law" for all of the church for all time. He told His disciples that those who love Him will keep His commands, (again laws).



I do not despise the words "laws" or "commands". Unbelievers and evil doers do. Nor do I despise obeying the moral commands of God. Unbelievers and evil doers do. Grace did not change our obligation to obey God in the commands He gave us, especially those given by Jesus in the gospels. Nor did it change how God deals with mankind, as you imply. What changed is that grace is given to those God chooses to save. This grace regenerates us, creates faith in us to believe, cleanses us from our sins, and allows the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, having been made holy. This grace sanctifies us and empowers us to say "no" to ungodliness and "yes" to what is what God says is the right thing to do. ( Titus 2:11-14) ( Titus 3:4-7) (1 Thess.4:1-2) ( Gal. 6:7-10) (Rom.7:22-25) Without grace, we would all remain enemies of God. But grace brings us God' redemption in

Hallo dear "Ryan". God is Spirit as u know. This day i read in peace from Acts 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Amen.

How quickly things can happen when we turn too the Lord, He delivers whoever it may be. Be blessed in His Holy Name Jesus Christ and have a very merry Christmas with Him that understand everything.

1 week = 7 years

69 of those 70 weeks have already been fulfilled

Amen.

Some talk about obeying Jesus as being "bad" and disobeying is "good." Those opposites sound awfully familiar and it definitely doesn't come from God.

Isaiah 5:20.

More than ever we must be on guard and have the armor of God on to protect against false teachings. Satan is working overtime to try to deceive people, even Christians. Matthew 10:16

For on that day of judgement,.. no one stands between you an our Heavenly Father,.. an it's of your works shall we be judged, an who will go first ? The pulpit, those who taught, an as in sharing, it is most important to be of kind and helpful understanding,.. an never going to the one upmanship ways

Peace

Thank you i will look these scriptures up

Marlo Don't understand what your inquiry is about.

It say you do works for the lord

Hi Daniel, The apostle Simon was called Cephas by Jesus.

Amen Sister GiGi.

Thank you for another wonderful and loving summation on how we "as Christ followers" should love Jesus and keep HIS Commandments, as he specifically asked us to do.

We have the best teacher, and the perfect role model in Jesus, and he lovingly instructed his disciples and others during his life - on how we should live our lives. Jesus gave us a wonderful roadmap in the scriptures, but many will rebel, and confuse themselves and others, with complicating the scriptures into something that is unrecognizable.

As Christ followers we need to keep a healthy "fear of God" to keep us on the right roadmap!

God Bless.

Gigi I'm going to keep this simple you stated as other here that they knew people i myself included that

were never were water baptized but were born again, on that evidence alone confessing Romans 10:9+10

and thanking God for forgiveness of sin is the doctrine to get it done. I'm not going to dispute Paul's teaching

that wa given to Him By Jesus Christin This the Age of Grace. So again I'm Moving on you can judge me as

you wish but I'm not going to judge any I answer to the Judge. If you want stuff on the temple fine if not

moving on GodBless.

Exodus 31:12-17, Isaiah 58, Exodus 20:8-11, Matthew 12:1-13,

Hopefully these scriptures are helpful in your question.

S.Spencer Amen to that Brothers

God is good and His commandments are good and good for us. They show us how to love God and Love others. They help us have relationships that honor God and others. The help us have civility in our families and society. What parent does not teach their children to not lie, steal, hurt others? If we feel that our children need to obey these commands, then certainly we should feel that we should do, especially since God granted us grace that has the power for us to say no to what is sinful and yes to what is good. God wants His children to live godly lives among wicked, unbelieving people. So, one who lives in godly ways will love His commands and obey them. Just because we are "under grace" does does not give us license to dispense with God's holy commands.

Where in the King James Bible Does God say its okay to Pray for the Dead people?

Gigi Bless ya but you are way over thinking this and that's your right to do so. Moving on

Gigi The only other point you and others and I know of people who are definitely born again but never

were water baptized are they or I all wrong or is it God didn't change on His love through Christ but brought

to where they were originally no laws just walk by the Spirit to the best of your ability and honestly that I've

given you. That being said again I moving on. P.S. If you want info on the Temple let me know. God Bless

Amen Brother Chris.

I also believe Jesus conversation with Nicodemus had nothing to do with baptism at all.

God bless.

Gigi I don't understand the question since in the Gospel of Mathew the Greatest Law is answered,

Thou Shalt Love the lord thy God with all thy Heart with all thy soul and with all thy mind, and the second

is to love thy neighbor as thyself. These were being done already by Abraham before the Law Isaac before the

law and Noah before the law and in Gods eyes they were righteous before the written law. The law of Moses

was given to the adopted children of Israel so they would not do what the unbelieving or pagan nations were

doing that they were surrounded by. God new what they were doing and was trying to keep his adopted children

out of the soup. I never said Not To Do the Ten Commandments. When were born again of Gods Spirit and

in obedience to Gods word we are to walk in a Higher spiritual plain the law of agapeo Gods love Which Jesus Christ

displayed above and beyond the ten commandments. Don't forget there were over 400 laws given, thats why Jesus

Christ spiritually summed them up in Mathew. If a christian endeavors to walk by the spirit which no one does 24/7

he's walking the law of Love. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and the Day of pentecost started an entire different time

period in the way God deals with man in the Age of Grace. The Apostle Paul writes about it all over the place and

these instructions were given to Him by Jesus Christ directly so how can what he was Given Be Wrong. This is not

an argument by any stretch its understanding the difference between the law period and the Age of Grace which

many don't understand I being one for awhile. I'm not going to deny what I know the scriptures are saying.

The Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:11-12 he's telling the Galatians that he got born again but they were tricked into not believing anymore that what he taught them was Directly From Jesus Christ that settles it I didn't write the book

I'm just endeavoring to believe it.

Dear Rick, then why don't you obey Jesus' clear command to be water baptized? Jesus knows that it is Himself who supplies the ability for us to believe in Him. He also knows what He accomplishes in water baptism and in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (I don't think the Scriptures ever call this the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but I may be wrong). I don't think we really know exactly what He accomplishes in these two actions, but one was explicitly commanded (water baptism) the other (enduement of power by the Holy Spirit). Jesus tied believing and water baptism (not enduement of power by the Holy Spirit) to salvation. I am not one to argue with my Savior, but I just believe what He said and obey.

I am well aware of the sayings of Paul about being saved by grace and not by works of the law. But I believe that he is saying that we cannot gain acceptance with God by thinking that if we obey the law we will be justified. Therefore, so that Jesus would not contradict Himself in what He said in the gospel verses and what He inspired Paul to write, I believe that water baptism is an act of grace on God's part. He bestows grace to us when we avail ourselves to the means He proscribed for one to be saved. This is classical orthodox Christian belief that goes back to the 1st century time of the apostles. Today, when people place grace in and adversarial relationship to obedience to the commands of Jesus, I believe it departs from these age-old teachings that have been affirmed throughout the centuries. I don't think that the "church" just happened to discover this doctrine of grace as an adversary to the good commands of God, thus being incompatible with one another in recent times, thus negating the teaching of the Church through the centuries. I tend to always check to find out what was taught in the early years of the church when I read a Scripture that seems unclear or incompatible my view. Perhaps more people should do this and not rely simply on their own ideas.

Hi Grace.

You are so welcome,

I've been doing a lot of traveling lately and haven't been able to engage lately, I will be home tomorrow and would be engaging on this important topic.

God bless you.

Alex, I think it is a bit arrogant to judge that Peter was somehow not working under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit when he insisted that those who had received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit be baptized in water.

Just imagine, 2000 years later, some think that they know better than Peter. Hmmm.

Dgjot,

You tried with your neighbor. She is responsible. If she was raised Catholic she knows of Jesus and His work on the cross for us. She knows that she needs salvation from sin. Even tough she is not "practicing" does not mean she does not have a Christian belief in Jesus. That may be why she said, "I am Catholic". My suggestion is to try to have pleasant conversation with her and tell of what God is doing in your life: answered prayer, guidance from Scripture, overcoming a particular sinful habit, gratitude to God for providing your daily bread. These things can sow her the desirability to seek a closer relationship with God and open doors for other discussions. Whenever I am talking with Catholics and a topic comes up on religion, I try to steer the conversation to the gospel message as having been effective in my life and that I would never go back to not believing in Jesus, but instead, I want to know Him more and learn from His Spirit through the Scriptures. A Catholic really cannot argue with that, and hearing it plants seeds in their heart to begin to yearn for Jesus more than they presently do and step out of their complacency.

Hi Charlotte, I am not sure what you are meaning by your question. Are you relating it to Genesis? Or is it about a topic about "works"? Please rephrase your question in a different way so we can know how to respond to you. God bless you.