Bible Questions & Discussion PAGE 667

'Behold, thou hast driven me out this day'

These are Cain's words to God. From these words we can see that he was banished from

ever entering the camp of Adam and Eve again. His banishment was complete. He did not

take anything with him. Note: not even the seeds were allowed to go with him into exile which

meant that any crop growing he attempted would be inferior. see Genesis Chapter 4 verse 12 'When thou tillest the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength.'

If he was not allowed to take the seeds do you really think that he was allowed to take a family member?

But that is not the issue here.

Since God has cast him (solo) out, to say that he returned would be to suggest that God changed his mind.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE.

The only evidence we have is that Cain's wife was an inhabitant of Nod.

Did David literally eat ashes in Psalms 102: 9?

If so, what was the purpose?

Thank you in advance.

To Ronnette

I think you got Rinnetts reply. Some days my eyesight is challenged. I'm way over-due to get my vision checked. I apologize. This won't happen again I hope.

I'll go back in the history pages and find the comment I wrote to you. Thanks for letting me know.

Street preacher

No Stephen, that's not a typo. It's just another (archaic) way of saying, 'the gathering together of the waters he called, Seas'.

Page 2.

Romans 10:2-5: "For I bear them record that they (Israel) have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them."

Again, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth". To all who put their trust in Jesus, Christ's coming ended the Law that should have brought righteousness but failed. Nothing wrong with the Law - the problem was with man. The Law failed to achieve it - but faith in Christ & a new birth did, ending the demands of the Law that only brought death.

And there can't be any syncretism, coming under both the Law & under God's Grace. We cannot be justified by the Law - even keeping or trying to keep one Law & still claim Grace. Galatians 5:4; Romans 4:13,14. And the keeping of the Sabbath is just one of the ten Laws. Whoever wants to keep the Law is bound to keep them perfectly (all ten of them) James 2:10 - and there remains no avenue to claim Grace when under the Law.

May we walk in the Spirit, obeying the Spirit, that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us ( Romans 8:4) and not bound to the letter ( Romans 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6). The Sabbath Rest is not found in a day set aside for physical rest, but in a Person Whom we have sanctified in our hearts & lives. Blessings.

Page 1.

Thank you for your response Charrisse. As much as I appreciated the manner in which you presented your arguments, I would raise the following:

a. what Scriptures would you use to show that Noah or Abraham observed the Sabbath?

b. Colossians 2:16: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days" (days in italics). In the Greek, it is written as 'Sabbaths'. And though there was the 7th day Sabbath, there were also other five other Sabbaths that were observed. I believe that all five plus the 7th Day were referred to here, but Paul is stating that not observing these things (in v16) should not dismay them as those under judgement from others. Why? Verse 17: "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ": all these (food, drink, moons, Sabbaths) were only a shadow - Jesus removed that shadow, fulfilling all things.

c. Which then leads us to Hebrews chapter 4, where many Israelites died having failed to enter into Rest (the Promised Land) because of their unbelief. Then we read that, as God rested on the 7th Day (v4), there must be a future day of rest for His people. Joshua (v8) couldn't give them that rest even though many made it through to Canaan. Even David (coming after Joshua), spoke of God promising another day of rest (for those who've not hardened their hearts as earlier): vv6-8; Psalm 95:7-11. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (v9).

d. So are we talking about a Sabbath Rest here or a Spiritual Rest that would come to those who no longer are wearily trying to justify themselves before God by trusting in the Law to be acceptable? The Rest those in Christ now enjoy have not only crucified the flesh but have their trust & hope in the One Who was crucified for them, to put an end to the Law that only brought death & punishment & never gave Rest.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I am praying for you now.

In reply to Chris and Giannis

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy is the 4th Commandment of God?

Gen 2:2-3- And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The Sabbath was a Commandment before Mt Sinai and was kept and taught by Noah, Abraham, Moses and Israel, EVEN before the finger of God wrote the 10 Commandments. Gods Commandments are just that, Commandments not Recommendations. As for Col 2:16, notice it says'Sabbath Days" plural. This relates to all the Sabbath Days celebrated that no longer have any significance to God, that is why the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross, not Gods 4th Commandment. Throughout Gods Word He speaks about keeping His Commandments, this includes the 4th Commandment.

Fourth Commandment: Jesus set the example for us of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath ( Luke 4:16), as did the apostle Paul ( Acts 17:2). After Jesus' death, the author of the book of Hebrews confirmed that worshipping on this day continues to be expected of Christians ( Hebrews 4:9).

Jesus said " The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath

Mark 2:27,28

Matt 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

God bless

Good Evening Alex,

Once again I say I do not accept your interpretation of Scripture on this topic. To me, it seems that you have a narrative that you try to weave with many Scriptures taken out of context and interpreted (with your ideas in parenthesis) as to the meaning. I don't share your interpretive narrative, as I have said before.

Since you initiated a response to me, I wanted to respond. However, I do not wish to go back and forth with you again on this topic as in the past. I take seriously your requests to me in our recent posts and I do not wish to upset you again by strongly disagreeing with your viewpoints, as I think they are false beliefs. So, I think it is best for this conversation between us to end tonight. Perhaps we can talk another day on a different topic. I hope you have a good night, Alex.

Romans 7:1 Read on

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Romans 7:15

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Romans 7:16

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Romans 7:17

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:18

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Romans 7:19

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Romans 7:20

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Romans 7:21

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Romans 7:22

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Romans 7:23

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 7:24

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:25

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 Peter 4:1

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

1 Peter 4:2

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Is the trinity speled out in the scriptures

Brothers in Christ,

I truly understand each one's point of view. If I may share my thoughts that made me know I am saved.

I read the entire animal blood sacrifices in the Old Testament for the atonement of sins and sanctification ( cleansed or washed away sins). Then one day I realized that the greatest gift our generation could ever received was the blood of Jesus Christ, ( a parallel sacrifice for our generation) to be our propitiation ( i.e. an act of appeasing wrath). I could have been put to death for my own sins, but instead Jesus Christ took upon himself my sins and others to save me and all of us from the wrath of God and give us an eternal/ everlasting life. Then make us live in the Kingdom of God here on earth.

1 John 4:10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 3:25

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Then I realized I have to keep that Holy Spirit in me. I cannot explain how I started to read the Bible like my life depends on it. This happened on 11/11/21 when I know I was saved.

Since I was young I know I have some peculiar things happenings to me. I cannot explained them, but now I understood the God given gift of discernment. That is why at such a young age I made God as my best friend. People will say or do something that I know in my heart was wrong. I cannot explain then, but now God made it clear to me.

In conclusion, Jesus Christ is in me. I know.

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

My question. We have new Pastor n wife not involved in her hubby Pastor. We have reputation their history. We hired them no one view. OK In their past over 16 years they have bad report record history drinking alcohol n arrest. Before invole ministry. It good idea for them to be our pastor but church spiritually member not growing fruits. Small member of church. What can do. It correct n honest their testimony. Please respond soon. Thank y my is connie

Fully agree bro Giannis. In respect to Colossians 2:14, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross", I would also add Ephesians 2:15, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace".

Whether referring to the "handwriting of ordinances" or "the law of commandments contained in ordinances", you would know that the same word is used, 'dogmasin' (decrees, edicts, ordinances). It's sometimes claimed that only those 'other' commandments have been abolished by virtue of the Cross & not the Decalogue. Though there was nothing wrong or at fault with any of God's Commandments ( Romans 7:12), it's present application & implications have ceased, because Christ's Sacrifice has nailed it ALL on the Cross. If they were still applicable & to be obeyed to prove obedience, then it shows that Jesus' Death didn't work towards salvation & God's Gift of Grace is a non-event & the whole Plan was a failure. ( Romans 8:3).

But our only attendance now is to Jesus & to His Spirit Who brings out the fullness of God's Requirements for His Blood-bought, giving us both the desire & power to learn & apply them to every situation in life. Therefore, sins of murder, theft, adultery, etc. are no longer clear finite physical acts of transgression, but now the Spirit tells us that they find their root in the heart & can even encompass a much wider range of applications than what is implied in the Decalogue. Jesus came to deal with the heart of sin, not the head knowledge of it. Using any of the commandments as a yardstick of our obedience has limited use for knowledge of Jewish laws & requirements. They have no bearing on the Jew or Gentile who has come to the Cross & under the New Covenant ( Hebrews 8:6,7,13). Blessings brother.

It is not God who takes away life. That is not what he does, he is the giver of life. Not the author of death.

That is the devil, to believe it is god that takes away blessings is a lie from the pit of hell.

Genesis 1: 10 "and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas"

"he Seas" is a typo? Or is there some other meaning?

It should be noted in Isaiah that the lion will once again eat grass on His Holy mountain; and formerly venemous and dangerous animals will be tamed. So; it appears that a vegetarian diet will once again be established among animals.

Pretty clearly this is describing the destruction oif the wicked. Their souls will never see the light of life again; should they die in a lost state. Much like the story of Lazarus and the rich man; whose name isn't even mentioned in the account of hell.

It seems strange; with all the descriptions of hades in the Psalms and other O.T. verses that people only seem to pay attention to the N.T. on the subject. This is much like Jesus quoting that it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven than a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It can be done; but only if we consider our possessions to belong to God; and to put Him first as well as restoring any wrongs such as Zacheus did. There are many verses about riches being a snare and a trap; such as in the parable of the sower and the seed. It also bears importance for us to consider how in the last days the cares of this world will be a trap for those who are proclaiming "peace; peace" (when as Isaiah stated there is no peace for the wicked).

We are given our lot in this life; whether rich or poor according to His foreknowledge. Those who have been blessed with a lifetime of such; especially when God doesn't speedily judge makes men complacent; and they risk a fate such as the man who was planning to build bigger barns for himself that their soul will be required that night. Our possessions do us no good after we are gone; and those who don't plan ahead will sometimes have the rightous attain some help; if their descendants don't inherit money or property. We can look at the parable of the two sons; and realize that the one who squandered his money at least learned a proper respect for a rightous father; and that was worth more to him as a servant without any more inheritance than it would have perhaps to the other son who always behaved. It is God who givest; and God who taketh away; and we surely naked we come into this world; and naked we depart (until the Rapture).

Gi Gi ..you are are not understanding that great Promise... As in Gen 22 : 17....I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and God was so passionate about this Promise that he swore by his very self...Thus God will multiply his very self by the living word Thats y Jesus is saying to whom the word came it will make them Gods...Jesus cd not even refer to the H.G. as the Promise if the H.G. were not the very multiplication OF GOD,...Thats y Jesus is saying that which is born of the spirit is spirit..Thats the new Birth the birth of the H.G in us sinners...As the Promise Child is the H.G. via the seed of Christ...As God is spirit and the H.G. is spirit born in us via the seed of Christ the living word.

......When Jesus said behold i send the Promise of my Father upon you that was the baptism of the H.G. and fire, a living being Born in us via the seed of Christ. Our new innerman ...As Christ can reproduce very God in us via his seed the word ( his breath )...When he breathe on them that was his words and his Words are his seeds ....Thus the H.G is his offspring...Thats y Isaiah refers to Christ as everlasting father as Jesus is the FATHER of the H.G....And the H.G is that heavenly Jacob the 3 rd person an ISRAEL of God.

......The wheat is the H.G. a baby Christ and Jesus said that satan is the father of the tares thus Christ is the father of the

wheat....Simply b/c its Christ who sows the wheat ...Thus its satan that is the father of the tares simply b/c its satan that sows the tares....The wheat is a baby Christ simply b/c its Christ the bridegroom that sows that good seed the very seed of God in our hearts ....I said all that just to show you the multiplication of God..the H.G that are gonna be as the Stars of heaven.

.....Which are the Children of PROMISE...An Israel of God that is gonna be born in all of us sinners....Read Romans 9 : 8...Its the Children of PROMISE the H.G. that are counted for that good seed...Thus we must be bornagain of the H.G...K

I suppose what you are saying is that all the earlier Pauline Epistles and writings started with these type of salutations. Since God's Word is inerrant; technically Jude was stating His original plan for the Epistle before the Lord inspired him to write on these other matters. This would; therefore make us assume that some grounding in these basic doctrines were already understood to some extent since deeper matters were discussed.

It should be noted here that this book primarily doesn't ask us to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith; but it asks us to examine the doctrines of those who creep in unaware spreading heresy. Only those knowing the truth would care enough to discern error. The pattern here is much like in ancient Israel. The spiritual forces of darkness were always trying to seduce those who were following the God of Israel from the beginning; despite God's clear warnings against the pagan practices and deliverance from pagan nations experienced by Moses and his followers. These wicked nations; when transgressions came to the full would be judged.

Our God is a jealous God; and will not tolerate idolotry; which in some capacity was overlooked in the O.T. times. The warnings against the spirits of disobedience who affected the corrupt seed of Nephilim and their descendants; and the affect of demons on people such as in Sodom to commit perverse actions is always tied in (i.e. spiritual with physical adultery). Satan will use the Word of God to bolster all false practices by infiltrating the church. He also uses control through authority and those who men will follow and women who are not firm in the truth. We are warned about tares that will spread false doctrines to entice people to fall away; but those who do were never truly with God in the first place. Eventually all true children of God hear His voice and also they will not follow another but run away. We are to guard the flock with diligence as leaders in the church.

Being in the first person; most commentaries make this a rather self evident identifier of the author of the book. As to who finally wrote the manuscripts found today which are likely to have been inscribed after his death we can trust the integrity of the Word of God as preserving the truth.

The prince; would indicate a reference as I see it to the Messiah; who also is mentioned in the Book of Daniel. There are psalms which indicate the eastern gate ( Psalm 24?) is where the Messiah will enter when He first arrives after the Tribulation. These gates have been sealed up in past centuries; even from a Muslim character in the Middle Ages. It would seem that the "sides of the North" is a pattern of the heavenly one that Satan wanted to rule over as mentioned in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. There are likely places where earthly priests (including David) will co-reign with Christ; who rules during the Millenium reign before God Himself comes down with the heavenly Jerusalem afterwards. A specific entrance for the Messiah and others; as well as a sort of traffic control for people from all nations to enter the Holy City will necessitate an orderly procession.

As to an outer and inner court; the inner one was reserved in the past for the priest to enter once a year; the outer more frequently; and outside for the populous in general. With Christ having fulfilled the sacrifice once and for all; it would seem that a literal sacrifice would be a ceremonial one; and likely allows people who are still in natural bodies to be able to dwell among resurrected saints and Christ Himself in the Millennial period.

Some have ascribed symbolic language to the waters as well; however we only need to look at certain fresh water areas of life developing in the Dead Sea area today to see a partial fulfillment. With ALL ocean life destroyed; this sort of inland sea will be invaluable during the Millenium.

Being in the first person; most commentaries make this a rather self evident identifier of the author of the book. As to who finally wrote the manuscripts found today which are likely to have been inscribed after his death we can trust the integrity of the Word of God as preserving the truth.

The prince; would indicate a reference as I see it to the Messiah; who also is mentioned in the Book of Daniel. There are psalms which indicate the eastern gate ( Psalm 24?) is where the Messiah will enter when He first arrives after the Tribulation. These gates have been sealed up in past centuries; even from a Muslim character in the Middle Ages. It would seem that the "sides of the North" is a pattern of the heavenly one that Satan wanted to rule over as mentioned in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. There are likely places where earthly priests (including David) will co-reign with Christ; who rules during the Millenium reign before God Himself comes down with the heavenly Jerusalem afterwards. A specific entrance for the Messiah and others; as well as a sort of traffic control for people from all nations to enter the Holy City will necessitate an orderly procession.

As to an outer and inner court; the inner one was reserved in the past for the priest to enter once a year; the outer more frequently; and outside for the populous in general. With Christ having fulfilled the sacrifice once and for all; it would seem that a literal sacrifice would be a ceremonial one; and likely allows people who are still in natural bodies to be able to dwell among resurrected saints and Christ Himself in the Millennial period.

Some have ascribed symbolic language to the waters as well; however we only need to look at certain fresh water areas of life developing in the Dead Sea area today to see a partial fulfillment. With ALL ocean life destroyed; this sort of inland sea will be invaluable during the Millenium.

What psalm 49 v 18 19 20 mean

Alex, I understand the Scriptures about the marriage of Christ and the Church. Paul calls it a mystery in Ephesians 5:25-32.

We are indeed united with Christ and with one another, but as anyone can plainly see, we all are not one person, losing our individual identities, even in marriage, we are still two persons. So, I do not concur with your analysis of this topic. I do not believe any created being will ever acquire the divine nature and have our essential nature changed from human to divine. I do not believe the Scriptures teach that we will become 'gods'. I do believe we have the wonderful privilege of having communion and unity with Jesus. But that does not necessarily mean that we will exchange our human nature for God's nature. You gave the example of Jesus' spit and the dirt. Well, as far as chemistry goes, what Jesus made was an amalgamation of the molecules of his HUMAN (not divine) spit and the molecules of the dirt. The molecules of both substances remained the same as before they were put together. They did not change in their essential makeup. The compound made is just that-a compound-consisting of both unaltered substances. We are united with Christ, yes, He does not become more human when united with us anymore than we become divine. He remains, fully God and fully human. No additional humanity can be added to Christ because He is fully 100% human. And as for us, we remain 100% human, not a mixture of humanity and divine.

Jesus, being God had all the fullness (100%) of deity. No more deity could be added to Him, the Father, nor the Spirit. Likewise, since they each contain 100% divinity, then for them to give any divinity to us created beings would decrease their deity and they would no longer be 100% deity, which would indicate a change in God. But He is immutable and never changes in His essential divinity. His divinity will never increase nor decrease, multiply nor divide. He stays the same always.

Dear Robert

I don't think I agree with you.

Let's see the verse you quoted.

Collosians 2:16

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

What does this really mean? We'll see.

Next verse, no. 17 states "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"

Shadows of what things? My opinion is that implies the NT, that is why he is referring to the body of Christ, which is the church.

Please read what is written next, ie verses 20-22 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,(Touch not; taste not; handle not;Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?"

So I think it's obvious that it is written that we are not to be judged for NOT keeping all those things, including Sabbath, and not the other way around.

Please also see Galatians 4:9-10, it is relevant. It actually talks about the same thing "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years."

Those days, months, years, meat, drink, holydays, new moon, Sabbath, all these things from the OT are shadow for the things that would come, and came as the New Testament.

As a final point lets read Acts 15 when Paul and Barnabas met with the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem to talk about whether christians are to obey anything from the Law of Moses eg circumcision. The conclusion was to keep away only from "v29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication29

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and well. Fare ye well." They decided the only things according to the OT that we should keep as christians are for idolatry, for blood and for fornication.

With respect.

GBU

Who wrote the book Ezekiel, Why is a prince instead of a priest making offerings to God for the people,what does court refer to (house or church, why do they have to enter and exit on certain sides of the gates and what is the new moon and pool of water signiy? Thank you and GODBLESS.

Gi Gi ....We are gonna be married to Jesus at the marriage supper of the lamb..AND Paul said to love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave his life for it....And Isaiah said As a young man marries a virgin so shall thy sons marry thee and as the bridegroom rejoices over the Bride so shall thy God rejoice over thee.... Isaiah 62 : 5....And a marriage is when 2 are made 1...We are gonna be made 1 with God...Thus we are gonna be Gods...Thats y Jesus is saying to whom the WORD came it made them Gods and the scriptures cannot be broken....As the living words are the very seeds of God... Matthew 13 ...Gi Gi...John the bap. said when they were all at the Jordan River in baptism....He that hath the bride is the bridegroom...So we see without a doubt that he is gonna be married to the Church....Thus the 2, Christ and the church will be made 1...Thus we will share his GLORY simply b/c we are gonna be married to Christ...

.....When he spat on the ground he made Clay...a marriage between the ground and his spit ( his word was his spit and the ground humanity were made 1) which was the clay....And thats what he anointed the eyes of the blindman with the CLAY and he was healed....I said all that just to remind you there is a marriage in our near future...We are gonna be made 1 with Christ..Thus we are gonna be Gods...Simply b/c our husband Christ is God.

.....On the 3 rd day there was a marriage in Canna of Galilee and both Jesus and his disciples were called and his mother was also there....Which is just prophetic of his own marriage...We are now in the 3 r day from the Cross...2 k yrs have gone by...2 Days....We are now in that 3 rd day from the Cross....And David saw the whole world at rest ( THE 7 TH DAY ) and full of his GLORY.....No doubt we will share his GLORY....Plz don't forget the marriage super of the lamb...Even Bro. paul tells us that we are dead to the LAW and should be married to Christ and bring forth fruit unto God... Romans 7 : 4 kjv

That is where the generation of human beings Started.

Bro Spencer,

Amen, and well stated indeed!

In order to have this loving relationship with Jesus/God, we certainly do have "the freewill" to make "the choice", and we have "the freewill" to continue to grow our relationship, and become obedient to God's desires for us.

It certainly takes some "effort on our part", in conjunction with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and it certainly is not just a one-way street.

God Bless.

Hello Bro Dan,

I agree with you that Christ is the final judge. Every person will someday stand before Him and give an account. I believe the bible speaks of two separate judgments, one for believers, and one for non-believers. Every believer will stand at the Bema Seat judgment of Christ. That judgment is not to determine Heaven or Hell, but what our reward/s will be. There will be a future judgment called the Great White Throne judgment. No believer will stand at that judgment. But yes, Christ will be the judge at both.

I am looking at Revelation 22:14, which you shared, and for me it describes a person who is saved. I totally agree with you that Jesus' words remain consistent. No argument from me there! And yes, scripture tells us what is expected of us.

As far as confusion about salvation goes, I cannot speak for anyone else but myself. Salvation seems simple to me. Once I am convicted of my need to be saved, I'm to confess my Spiritual bankruptcy before Christ, repent of my sin, call out to Him to have mercy on me and to save me, and surrender my life completely to Him. Jesus said that if I want to be His disciple, I must deny (ARNEOMI/Reject) myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Him. The message sounds simple, but for some, giving up their life to follow Christ is the hard part.

I agree with you that we are expected to have a relationship with Jesus, repent, become obedient, refrain from sin, and follow God's commands. But how do I do any of those things? In my human effort, I cannot. My flesh will never submit to the things of the Lord. It all boils down to surrendering my life to Jesus Christ.

Once I give my life to Christ, He gives me His Spirit, and His Spirit in me causes me to be obedient, causes me to have a relationship with Him, causes me to refrain from sin, and causes me to follow His commands. If I become disobedient, He deals with me and sometimes it can be pretty harsh.

As always, pleasure to talk with you. Blessings to you also!