Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 57

Ze.13:7-9 "Shepherd and the little ones" (1 of 2)

"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)

Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)

This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.

This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." ( Luke 22:53) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.

"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)

Oh, AMKCH

Such losses. I will pray for you and your children, your grands, and their parents. Thanks for sharing with us this painfulness. Know that many will be praying for your requests here.

Hi Jeremy, Jesus has revealed Himself in Scripture. Reading and taking in the Scriptures into your being is the best way to get to know Jesus in Truth and Spirit. Don't expect an "appearance" of Jesus to prove to You who He is. He does not do this very often and does not give such an appearance just because someone seeks it. He does in His infinite wisdom do such things, but most often to people who are not seeking such and experience. We have the Holy Spirit in us, the Comforter, as Jesus said. He brings us to the Scriptures to instruct us on the truth about God, Jesus, and Himself, as well as the truth about ourselves.

Jeremy, I will pray for you, as requested. I know that God will lead you in the right path to grow in knowledge of our Father and Jesus Christ.

S.Spencer,

Part 2

As long as we live in this world, we have corruption in us in actuality, which is why we will always need Jesus as our Savior and Advocate (Mediator, High Priest) He intercedes for us. Why would He intercede for us if we are completely pure and righteous?

It is true that His Blood judicially brings forgiveness and cleansing to us when He shed it once and for all. But in time, His Blood continues to act in us in the same way whenever we sin and confess our sins to Him., whether known sins or unknown sins. David called on God to search him and show any wicked way in himself. He knew he did not know all of his sins and the corruption of his propensities and faults and weaknesses.

To determine that these are not sins is unbiblical. But those who advocate for sinless perfection redefine sin in order to claim to not sin anymore. They do not fathom the vast perfection of God compared to His corrupted creation (which needs to made incorruptible in the life to come). God is completely without corruption of any kind. No human can honestly say that or , as you said, we can enter heaven in this present flesh and blood body or even have no need to be changed in the resurrection. Also, those who advocate sinless perfection have a narrow and simple view of sin ignoring the total scope of what it means to sin or be sinful. Falling short of the glory of God is ANYTHING that is corrupted be it life, health, thinking, choices, actions, motives, and failures to do what we should do.

Jesus is said to have no guile in Him, which means that He never had any wrong motives, no selfish thoughts, no emotions fueled by sin, no misspoken words, no lack of goodness. He was and is always PERFECT in EVERY way.

Although some who advocate sinless perfection will say they do not claim to be as perfect and sinless as Jesus and that they are perfect like Adam and Eve before they sinned, the fact that we have sinned at all does not make us like this state even after we are saved

Yes S.Spencer,

We are perfect because we are "in Christ Jesus" by His saving work. We are never perfect due to avoiding sin actions. Our whole being is corrupted by sin. It tempts us in our sinful nature and then this nature produces sin in us. ( James 1:13-15)



And every good thing we do is but filthy rags before God, who alone is perfectly holy and righteous. Every good thing we do is tainted by our sinful nature. But even so, we do not give up on fighting against the sinful nature within and also desire and work at obeying God. But this is not done in our own strength, but in the power that Jesus had to live a perfect life and that raised Him from the dead that we have at our avail through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Our holiness comes from Jesus' righteousness PERIOD. We on our own do not have the righteousness of God that is acceptable to Him. We receive this righteousness from Jesus' and believe what is said in Scriptures that His life, death, and resurrection cleanses us from all iniquity so that we can stand before the Father without sin, but it is always Jesus' sin-free and incorruptible character that merits us this place of right standing before God.

While it is true that positionally we are sin-free in Christ, in moment to moment living we are not. As some say, we have faults, shortcomings, weaknesses, errors in our thinking and judgment and actions that are somewhat automatic. This is the corruption in us which God never has. He alone is perfect and pure and righteous and holy ALWAYS. Though some do not see these propensities as sin, I do, because of what is said about the heart of man being deceitfully wicked above all things and desperately so, and without cure (by man) to paraphrase Jer. 17:9. No one can truly know how wicked our own heart is, only God knows. So, anyone who says that they are sinless and do not sin are deceived, as Jeremiah says.

I guess I need to go to part 2.

2 Ti.2:4-5 "Word of reconciliation" (2 of 2)

As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16

"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)

Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.

Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)

2 Ti. 2:4 "Word of reconciliation" (1 of 2)

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

This quote from St Paul shall explain what he means by the word of reconciliation. St Paul explains his ministry is from God,"all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" so no passage stands alone but it casts its spiritual analogue so it is the fulness of Christ that we look into it. The revelation that the Spirit had set him apart as he confesses,"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."(Gal.1:16; Ac.13:2). He was called to be a good soldier for Christ. So his ministry of reconciliation is in lock step with Jesus Christ's ministry of reconciling the other sheep, "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" into one fold fits with one another.( John 10:16)

Elisha's life presents us with the world of the Spirit which requires eye of faith than the normal faculty of vision. "Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?/And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ( 2Ki. 6:15-17). Ministry of reconciliation is about fighting by the rules.(2 Ti.2:5) These rules are meant to make every believer fighting fit. So when Jesus told his disciples," and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."( Luke 22:36) we can put his word in proper perspective. The sword was meant as his badge of office. This is the word of reconciliation, comparing the spiritual with spiritual.

Very well stated Gigi.

Are we perfect in our "practical" sanctification or walk NO!

Are we perfect POSITIONALLY? Yes, we're hidden in Christ. We're clothed with his righteousness.

We can't clothed ourselves! Those are filthy rags that the scripture has much to say about.

If we were perfect in this body of death then we can take this "flesh and blood" and inherit God's kingdom without change.

God bless.

Matthew 25:5-8

5 The bridegroom tarried, and they ALL slumbered and slept.

6 And at MIDNIGHT (at the turn from the sixth to the seventh and last Day, or seventh and last millennium) there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. - Sad, very sad. -

9 ... go ye rather to them that sell oil, and buy for yourselves. (Only lamp is not suffice for salvation. Wake up)

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Get ready, otherwise you will scream loud: Lord, Lord, open to us.

Oh no, you won't have any more chances, the perdition is for ever and ever.

Thanks "Bennymkje"

I certainly will. I mostly participate on weekends due to my work schedule.

I will get back to you soon.

God bless

2 Co.5:17-19) Ministry of Reconciliation (2 of 2)

Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4) Obliquely the Spirit reveals how we ought to interpret the order of Aaron. God has willed his Son as the High Priest of our profession. (He.3:1) Similitude explains the like begets the like.

Principle of Reconciliation is the basis by which the Book of the Revelation sets the work God has set as His core will:'that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." So the word of reconciliation is presented in the inaugural vision of Re.1. The same we see in the Word of God arrayed leading an army in Ch.19.13-15 " And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God./And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean./And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death.

This army is raised by the ministry of reconciliation where the Word of God reveals as the Lord of lords and king of kings. He has to vanquish the last enemy death. In short the Revelation is about the fulfillment of the word of reconciliation.

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."(Re.20:14)

2 Co.5:17-19 "Ministry of Reconciliation" (1 of 2)

"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"

This ministry that St Paul refers here would have hit a blank wall but for 'the word of reconciliation.' "To wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" so the word used in the context explains what it means by the Word became flesh. The work Jesus finished on earth is only one part of his ministry. The worlds of the Spirit and of the body are to be reconciled as well. So his promise to return after preparing a place for us means he has to fulfill why God was in him and gave him the ministry of reconciliation. The word of God is a sign where heaven and earth are by him consist. The cloud of witnesses and us are set on a single measurement in the Son.

The Spirit gives us a concrete image to explains his ministry of reconciliation. It also has to do with the holy city of God.

The angel who guided him was his fellow servant "And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." and he reveals himself,"for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book." (Re.21:17;22:9)

We have already seen three principles which are ultimately the basis for the works of the Son. Principle of Association works on the basis of believers who have heard his doctrine and believed that he came from God.( Luke 10:16; Matt.10:40). The second principle is of Similitude so heaven is compared to earth to which parables are classic examples. Thus when Jesus Christ delivers the doctrine of Father, Evangelist Matthew gives him a seat the rock symbolized Zion (Matt.5:1)Melchizedek presenting Abraham with bread and wine is yet another. "TheLordhath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Ps.110:4)

What does the Word of GOD reveal? Luke 4:5-8:

5 And the Devil, taking JESUS up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the Devil said unto JESUS, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8 And Jesus answered and said unto he Devil, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy GOD, and Him only shalt thou serve.

************THE LAST DECADE - 2020-2030 - COUNTDOWN************

february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.

************THE LAST DECADE - 2020-2030 - COUNTDOWN************

february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.

the begining of the last week - daniel 9:27 - is within of this current last decade.

but first will be ELECTED the LAST Pope - THE NEXT -

Be careful and get ready

be focused for the last week of years of the Devil's world, and LITERAL fulfillment of Revelation 11:15-18

John 14:3 "A place prepared" (2 of 2)

So the last enemy to be conquered is death and it comes under the curse and law of sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." When Jesus died on the cross this curse'Thou shalt bruise his heel' cast it shadow upon the Son who did no sin and knew no sin." (Ge.3:15,14) St Paul writes referring to it, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."(Gal.3:13)

Everlasting gospel is consequential in setting the cloud of witnesses similar as the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world into one fold. Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God ( John 1:29) delivered whoever was under the curse of death. By the same token he shall deliver the witnesses in the world of the Spirit "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." His work shall conclude only "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." That God may all in all is life everlasting to which we did no labor. So this saying holds true in the context of the world of the Spirit. "One soweth, and another reapeth./ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."( John 4:37-38)

Christ in us is our relationship that does not change in both worlds.

Hi Spencer,

Thanks for your feedback. If you have anything specific to ask from the Bible I shall only be happy to clarify it. Greetings,

John 14:3 "A place prepared" (1 of 2)

"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."(v.3)

Towards the end of his earthly ministry Jesus in his prayer to his Father refers to ' thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Whosoever consequently abides in him having no confidence in his flesh has faith and also kept the word." the latter part constitute the works which are impossible without the Savior Lord.( John 15:3) Now Jesus speaks he has finished the work, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."(17:4,6)

From the key verse we know that preparing a place in heaven constitutes as work so as he glorified his Father on earth he has certain unfinished work. Even there we are part of his works so 'that where I am, there ye may be also."

Heaven and earth are part of the everlasting covenant. So everlasting gospel must be seen and understood as pendent to this covenant which is part of the divine Will of the Father and shall not change. The Law is eternal forever settled in heaven,(Ps.119:89) and as such heaven must be set in terms of the Law of the Spirit.

Jesus refers to the sheepfold in John 10:1 and here we are examining what possible works he might do so the nature of heaven may be placed under correct context as fulfillment of the Abstract in seven days. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)

Law of sin applies to the world of the Spirit and the son of perdition, collectively applied to children of wrath or disobedience. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8) Death is the work of Satan. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

Hi "Bennymkje"

You stated

"if you look about in this forum you shall see my posts, fruits of my labor. It may give a proof. That is my material from my understanding of the word of God." End quote.

I would like to correct my statement when I said I haven't read your material.

What I meant to say is I haven't read anything on the topic of Justification or Salvation by you, so I don't know your take.

This certainly would help in what you are trying to convey to me.

I know you have been posting here for some time now and I've glanced at some of your posting a few times but you do not stay on topic so I left off reading them.

I read and understand the scriptures you gave but I don't understand "YOU"

Please speak plainly and direct with me, perhaps I'm slow of learning or a babe in Christ.

Thanks and God bless.

Psalm 23 "Conclusion"

Having studied this short psalm in detail, by the grace given to me 'according to measure of the gift of the Christ' I conclude:

that the psalm can only be understood by the Son who of God has become wisdom. (1 Co.1:30). What I mean by this is that Jesus Christ is the Word become flesh. So a believer can enter into the truth by Christ 'by whom all things consist'. So without the discourse of "I am the door" given in the Gospel of John Ch.10 the Psalm 23 is incomplete. It is what the Word component does. David confessing 'The Lord is my Shepherd' and Jesus declaring "I am the good shepherd" hold together because the Word was with God and also the Word was God.

By the same token the verse, " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." cannot be fully understood without digesting the significance of this verse,"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."(Re.21:1). The Spirit is restating the first verse in Genesis from the standpoint of " Christ in me". St Paul writes,"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Co.5:17)

Parallelism is what man says with his one leg standing in the world of the body while his other leg has no reach to stand on the world of the Spirit. The controversy of faith and faith with works, epistles of St Paul and James with regards to justification and faith are a case in point.

For this reason without letting Jesus Christ who stands and knocking heaven is merely a controversy for the busybodies who ever learns while their understanding is ever deserting them. It is thus hireling has scattered the flock of Christ because the flock is not theirs and they have not come by the door in the first place. They may call themselves as Pilgrim Fathers or any other. Without 'Christ in me' I am sounding cymbal.

Ps.23:5-6 "Forever"

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

Here is a quote from St Peter, "which things the angels desire to look into."(1 Pe.1:12) There angels out there some of them ar bad actors and we are a spectacle unto them as we cross from one door of our heart to the other door mentioned in Re.4:1. So preparing a table in the presence of mine enemies includes the ungodly of our world without as well as from the world of the Spirit.(Re.3:20). Daily in our intimacy with our Savior Lord we are replenished and fortified to go about our lives.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."(v.6)

The first part is the one hope of our calling that is right out there, for example, the building of God in case our earthly tabernacle is dissolved, and wonderful manner we are able to pass each day despite of irksome pricks that we endure, without falling in despair.

We are spiritually living in the house of God so we have passed from death to life everlasting. So wishing to be there is not a pipe dream." For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."(Ps.84:10) 'Forever' is a tag placed to indicate the Son and abiding in Christ means just that.

Hi Spencer,

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;/ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,/

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all./ But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."(Ep.4:4-6)

You ask: "I don't quite understand where you are coming from." I am a child of God, my personal antecedents surely must be of no use to understand each other so we shall begin on the same brotherly spirit I commented to your post.

Being called, justified and given certain gifts, 'according to the measure of the gift of Christ' I labor and if you look about in this forum you shall see my posts, fruits of my labor. It may give a proof. That is my material from my understanding of the word of God.

To answer the last part of your reply,"Again I am not quite understanding your rebuttal. I haven't read your material so I don't know your take on Justification and Sanctification, I quoted a passage at the beginning. Read it carefully. It is God breathed so both James and Paul putting down the truth that cannot like putty to be twisted into any shape than for the glory of God.

In order to add to your understanding read He.11:3 God framed the worlds by his word so faith is very much the 'pure speech' God's commandment and the world made to appear is the earth that abides forever.(Ec.1:4) So God is through all and in you all is not about the world we live in where culture wars are fought and nations exploit whosoever they will. As a child of God faith is to be part of the kingdom and as a branch to the true vine. So much as part of sharing my understanding. With joy and peace in Him,

John,

I am sorry your sister has cancer. May God be merciful to her in this time. I will keep her in my prayers. Let us know how things go.

hello, I would like to get back to posting on the attributes of God_ for "R" I choose REDEEMER

Both in the OT and NT God is spoken of as our Redeemer- one who rescues, ransoms, or makes payment to deliver someone from condemnation, death, evil, sin, slavery, bondage.

Job 19:25 -The LORD is Job's Redeemer

Ps. 19:14 -the LORD is David's Redeemer

Is. 48:17 - the holy One of Israel is Redeemer

Hosea 13:14 from death

Ps. 49:15 from the grave

Rom. 3:24 -redemption came through Jesus Christ

Rom 8:23 Jesus redeems our bodies

1 Cor. 1:30- Jesus is our righteousness, holiness and Redeemer

Eph 1:7 -Jesus paid our ransom with his blood to redeem us

Col. 1:14-in Christ Jesus we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins

Heb 9:12- In Jesus we have eternal redemption

Lk. 1:68 -redeemed his people

Gal 3:13; 4:5-from the curse of the law

Titus 2:14 - from wickedness

We know that Scriptures clearly say that God is our Redeemer in the OT and NT.

How great it is that Jesus, (the eternal Word) became flesh to be the perfect Kinsman Redeemer for us-a human man to live a perfect life which He (as God in the flesh) could only do, and to give His infinite and invaluable life as the payment for our sins. The Father gave His Son, the Word, Jesus, for us in the incarnation, the Holy One, to ransom us from the domain of sin, hell, and the grave and bring us into His glorious Eternal Divine Kingdom.

The Holy Spirit regenerates us with the power that raised Jesus from the dead to come to faith in Jesus that we may be saved and inherit what God has determined for us to receive due to the everlasting covenant made within the Godhead before ANYTHING was created.

All praise and worship we bring rightly to the Father, the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit Whom together in unity did all that the will of God determined was to be the terms of our redemption. There has never been a perfect man in all of history. Man is unable to live a perfect life. But God become flesh alone could.

Thanks Gigi.

I believe Mcgee is talking about Abraham being towards the end of his journey.

Isaac was a grown man when Abraham offered him.

By the time we get to Genesis 24:1 it reads. Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. Not much more said about Abraham after that. He dies and was gathered to his people in Ch 25 then God blessed Issac.

Abraham was about 160 years old when Jacob was born.

Great observation.

God bless.

Hi S. Spencer

Thanks for this discourse of Mr. McGee.

The only thing that I would like to point out is that Mr. McGee says that the sacrifice of Isaac was at the end of Abraham's life.

But from the biblical account, Abraham lived to see Isaac become a grown man, marry and seems to have been alive in the time of Jacob's life. How long into Jacob's life, I am not sure off the top of my head.

At the time of the command to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham was about 110-120 years old, but it seems that he lived to be 175 years old.

Otherwise, Mr. Mcgee's writing is edifying.

Hi "Bennymkje"

Faith with works for justification? No!

I don't quite understand where you are coming from.

However, as James and Paul is saying "Saviing Faith produces good works.

James said he will sho you his Faith by his works. James 2:18. Paul is saying the same thing throughout his epistles.

You mentioned fruit and quoted John 15:5. "Without me you can do nothing"

I believe I delivered that in this thread as well.

Again I am not quite understanding your rebuttal. I haven't read your material so I don't know your take on Justification and Sanctification.

Perhaps you could share your understanding.

God bless.

Hi Spenser,

Paul and James are not talking of different things. Since you are quoting another let me explain; faith is one (Ep.4:5-6) Either you are with Christ or you are on the enemy camp. Faith with works to be seen of man is what enemies to Christ do. Simplicity that is in Christ does wonders to whosoever comes to him trusting. In thee is the fountain of light. In thy light we see the light.(Ps.36:9) So the believer who is dead to the world and to sin abides in him in faith and abound in fruits, has fulfilled the word of the Son. "Without me you can do nothing. " So Vernon is talking what he does not have a clue. I have not heard him but I suppose he is a radio personality.

In another place he speaks of God calling Abraham out. He is not simply calling any one in void but in his Son. Abraham is no exception.

Justification. Sanctification and Glorification.

Part 9. J Vernon Mcgee. God's Test - Genesis 22 continuing.

We should pause here to consider a deep truth for God's children today. Do you know, friends, that for the Christian the greatest testings do not necessarily come at the beginning of our life as a believer? Sometimes God waits until we have had many years along the path, and then He brings a testing into our life so that He might develop us - a testing that we would never have been given at the beginning of our walk with Him. Often these testings cause Christians to say, "Well, I do not see why God has allowed this to happen to me!" My friend, it is evidence of the fact that you are in favor with God. You have come to the place where He can test you. And remember that He will not test you beyond what you are able to bear (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Notice that this test did not come at the first part of Abraham's life. I am very frank to say that I do not believe that Abraham could have stood this test when God first called him out. At the beginning of his life of faith, he never would have gone this far with God. It was only after several times of lesser testings, then backsliding, but always returning to his relationship with God that he was put to this ultimate test.

Part 10

The Supreme Sacrifice next.

God bless for now.

Justification. Sanctification and Glorification.

Part 8. J Vernon Mcgee. (Paul and James Use Abraham to Illustrate.)

So Paul's example has to do with the early part of Abraham's life. When James presents his argument, we find that he deals with the end of Abraham's life and the offering of Isaac upon the altar. This was the last appearance of God to this man, and James says, in essence, "Now here is the example of what faith has done in this man's life - it has brought him to make the supreme sacrifice."

Look again at James 2:21: "Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he had offered Isaac, his son, upon the altar?" Now in what way does the offering of Isaac reveal the fact that Abraham was justified by works? To see this clearly, we need to notice some very familiar facts. These interesting incidents took place toward the end of the life of Abraham when God called upon him to make the great sacrifice - which was the supreme crisis in his life.

God's Test - Genesis 22.

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham" ( Genesis 22:1). The King James Version uses the word "tempt," but the New Scofield Reference Bible changes it to "test." I know that it's the same Greek word that you will find for "tempt," but you will also recall that James says,

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. ( James 1:13)

Now when a man is tempted with evil, it is never God tempting him; it is Satan. God does not tempt men with evil; He tempts them with the good. He tests men in that sense. God's tests always lead to discipline and development of Christian character and life, while the tests and temptations of Satan always lead to the destruction of the life of the individual. Here we see that Abraham is being tested of God for his own good.

See Part 9. God's Test - Genesis 22 continued.

Another failure of the enemy of our souls and his tactics

Satan knows that he failed in using the people such as Judas Iscariot; the Romans and the Pharisees to betray and then crucify Christ after the Resurrection occurred. He has another big surprise coming when the saints are all rewarded due to enduring patiently the trials which were largely devised by Satan to buffet God's saints while on the earth. They will come back to fight with Christ and do the subsequent cleanup of earth after that event (in reality we will be spectators of Christ who goes through the vineyard alone ( Isaiah 63:3) but rule and reign with a rod of iron with Christ afterwards. ( Rev. 2:26-27).

The enemy has; as I have brought out on other occasions two primary tactics. One is of outright persecution and the second temptations to put us out of commission. There are several distinct advantages for the second method to be applied instead of the first. We must consider that if someone is taken out through martyrdom that they will no doubt be influencing others who will be continuing to accelerate the Great Commission. This method of seduction allows for infiltration and compromising of groups of people and exponentially infects the church; and we only need to look at today's sad state of affairs in American churches to see evidence of just how effective the last few decades of deception has been. If the enemy is in the camp then of course he can bring God's sore displeasure and we can see how effective that was with the absence of all seven churches listed in Revelation 2 and 3 from modern day Turkey (even if the Philadelphia church was faithful that nation has succumbed to what is likely about to once again be a Muslim Caliphate in the next few years.) Our country is seeing a shocking rise in paganism and Satanism today which of course has infiltrated many houses of worship in thinly disguised methods (such as cards with "Christian" images basically mimicking Tarot cards.)