Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 1178

Hi John Explain to me how the book of Romans is an Epistles written to the church of God born again believers and the 13 chapter is sandwiched between 12 which talks about being not conformed to this world and 14 talking about not judging other believers in the body of Christ. According to Ephesians the sword of the spirit is Gods word which is a terror to those who choose to do evil, in context the 13th chapter of Romans in my understanding is talking about leadership in the church the body of christ and paying tribute to those who teach Gods Word.

How did certain people in bible times live so long?

Were the years shorter than 365 days ?

Was a year in those days equal to a Year today ?

Or was it divine intervention ?

Have a look at James 2:10, Judith.

Just wanted to ask that we've never seen the church demand tribute or bear the sword? They asked Peter if his master payed temple tax . And the Roman church demanded money and executed people for not obey their religious law.. in fact till Napolean arrested the pope and stripped him of his crown the church ruled for 40 and 2 months . Exactly 1260 yrs.. now the beast of the earth the one having 2 horns like a lamb . Who's the lamb? Jesus Christ .2 horns with no crowns..horns will symbolize precepts of power to govern . The 2 precepts of Christ.. love God love your neighbor.. protestantism and republicanism.. seperation of church and state .

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same,... Rulers here are speaking of the civil governor.. the church is not to lord over the people.. pharasees did it with profaning sabbath making it illegal to do good on the sabbath . Now in the church pharasees ( in spirit) have cast down the law and trampled sabbath underfoot.. and the Lil horn of Daniel has transfered sabbath to Sunday.. no one want.ts to hear the truth.. but soon the papacy will ask for an international green Sabbath on a common day once a week.. in an effort to slow climate change SUNDAY will be enforced worldwide and those that violate this law will be persecuted..

The two marks defining the people of God (Israel) were Circumcision & giving of the Law. No other people or nation received those directives from God ( Genesis 17:10,11; Leviticus 26:46). In regards to the Law, they were to learn God's requirements for a familial relationship to Him, to their society, & in their personal lives. For circumcision, they were to be marked out in a way distinct from any other (different from any body markings, cuttings or disfigurement of the heathen, even if there was an accidental loss of an organ or an appendage). And of course, the Apostle Paul spoke of this in Romans 2:25-29, connecting the two directives together - that one couldn't be without the other to the Jew - and since the Law couldn't be kept perfectly, true circumcision then must be of the heart & not of the flesh to count before God. I wonder whether what was given as a Mark of distinction & also for hygiene purposes, was also to alert the Jew that this seemingly unnatural act (of circumcision) was to point him to what the apostle now learned as a believer.

And this practise of circumcision continued, not only within Judaism, but also Islam. Yet as much as Islamists (Arabs) might have their heritage back to Seth, yet "in Isaac shall thy seed be called" ( Genesis 21:12 & Romans 9:6-8). And this rejection of Ishmael by God will always keep those adherents at odds with the "seed of Isaac", & will most likely figure in those awful days of devastation that lie ahead.

Wow.. quite a powerful chapter..Paul reaffirming how God views the king (governments )of the world.. ministers doing God's bidding to test his people.. to speak truth but Obey the power to the point of death.. it glorifies God for his people to put on Christ and his spirit guides to obey his commandments.. 10 of em.. they are all listed but the first 4 are crucial to know who God is.. in Jesus day the religious leaders demanded that the state try him and crucify him for violating their religious law.. in the end it will be the same way where the religious leaders are the ones asking the state to enforce their law.. it's the one they got called blue laws..say they pass a law requiring people to rest on SUNDAY..? LOOK IN EZEKIAL 8 and see what God thinks of sunworship.. it doesn't say but clearly men are facing east worshipping the sun... Done on the 1st day of the week.... Women weeping for Tammuz.. the pagan cross comes from the T ... I apologize for not listing verses but look .. we can't say we love God bit do not have the faith of Jesus to obey the commands . In John Jesus says over and over .. that he only did what his father commanded him and he knew that commandment leads to eternal life... Hmm... 10 are 1.. he didn't come to get rid of the law but to fulfill it . By this and his blood he can now enter the heavenly sanctuary to cleanse our confessed sins.. well he's already commenced with the cleansing of the sanctuary starting in 1844... Soon it will be too late for repentance.. the three angels messages... We are in the last hrs.. mark of the beast crisis is approaching.. this mark represents the sign of authority of this kingdom.. same as God's seal is his sign of authority over his people... The anti-christ thinks to change times and laws. Rome fell and the papacy rose to power in 538 AD.. Possessing both civil and ecclesiastical authority they persecuted God's people and they fled west.. the shaking and remnants.

The apocrypha is a selection of books which were published in the original 1611 King James Bible. These apocryphal books were positioned between the Old and New Testament (it also contained maps and geneologies). The apocrypha was a part of the KJV for 274 years until being removed in 1885 A.D. A portion of these books were called deuterocanonical books by some entities, such as the Catholic church.

Many claim the apocrypha should never have been included in the first place, raising doubt about its validity and believing it was not God-inspired (for instance, a reference about magic seems inconsistent with the rest of the Bible: Tobit chapter 6, verses 5-8). Others believe it is valid and that it should never have been removed- that it was considered part of the Bible for nearly 2,000 years before it was recently removed a little more than 100 years ago. Some say it was removed because of not finding the books in the original Hebrew manuscripts. Others claim it wasn't removed by the church, but by printers to cut costs in distributing Bibles in the United States. Both sides tend to cite the same verses that warn against adding or subtracting from the Bible: Revelation 22:18. The word 'apocrypha' means 'hidden.' Fragments of Dead Sea Scrolls dating back to before 70 A.D. contained parts of the apocrypha books in Hebrew, including Sirach and Tobit [source].

Keep this in mind when reading the following apocryphal books. Martin Luther said, "Apocrypha--that is, books which are not regarded as equal to the holy Scriptures, and yet are profitable and good to read." (King James Version Defended page 98.)

Link

Keep praising the Lord our God.

God is amazing and righteous and all of His judgements are righteous and true!

Very powerful words that touched my heart and I needed to read it at all times to remind Me how GREAT IS MY GOD. IN JESUS CHRIST AMEN

Why I can't find Ecclesiasticus /Sirach in Kng James Bible, what Bible does this come from

Thank you GiGi for those very kind remarks - they're truly undeserving. Many of us here come on often to do just that, to help others get to know & love the Scriptures more, thereby knowing the Will of God for them & living it out confidently in their lives. Actually, I don't go back into the Comments section looking at old posts - I find there are enough to consider & maybe comment on, in the present. And true, we'll never find agreement of everything in the Bible - there are so many variables & of course, the underlying fact is, that we often don't really have all the information to be able to say conclusively that a particular teaching is what it is & nothing else. The old adage, "Major on the majors and minor on the minors", should be where our focus is on - but it is nice to converse over 'peripheral' subjects & try & see how others view them. And thank you for your recent comments which have vividly brought us into the lives & thoughts of those men of old - indeed, we all bring out God's Word in a special way with our varied approaches.

You praying about it seems like the best action. You're seeking council on it which is also good. You might consider scheduling a meeting with a pastor to speak in person. More perspectives may help, however, beware of bad advice and false teachers. Some make up stuff that isn't based on the Bible. For instance, someone claiming only an 'elect' can commit this sin is untrue. Things not in the Bible are usually false. Anyone can commit blasphemy which is why Jesus spoke both to his own followers and Pharasees and a general audience about it as well.

Where is it written " This Too Shall Pass ". ?

Abraham was given amazing prophecies and promises concerning his son, Isaac, and Isaac had not been conceived yet!

But God already knew Isaac from eternity's viewpoint.

Interesting that God called Abraham to walk with God and be perfect. But we all know that Abraham was a sinner like every person is. I get from this verse that as we walk with God, His righteousness covers us while His Spirit is sanctifying us (Making us holy) as He is changing us into Christ's image from glory to glory (bit by bit or moment by moment?).

Since Abraham knew he could father a child (Ishmael) he may have taken this promise into the marriage bed, anticipating conception more than before! And in 3 months Sarah did conceive just as God had said would happen. I'm sure that strengthened Abraham and Sarah's faith even more. Just like experience answers to our prayers strengthen our faith and trust in God.

You are right. That's a scripture. We are in Christ and are now Christ Followers.

Most people identify with cultural upbringing and family traditions. These are things that the Holy Spirit helps us work through.

Pagan origins and traditions mixed with pagan origins will not be observed in heaven.

We will all be learning new ways to adore Jesus in Heaven.

At Christmas I don't have a tree. I don't hang lights. I have a manger that looks like a cave with straw and figures to put in it. I go caroling with kids from church sometimes. I love the cold air, stars and the sweet voices. What a happy bunch!

Hallelujah to the Almighty God of Abraham!

The first covenant God made was with Himself for Abraham. The second covenant was between God and Abraham, that all males would be circumcised. God knew best to have babies circumcised. My dad was circumcised as an adult. My mom said he was very uncomfortable after it until he healed. She also said that he said that sex was more pleasurable uncircumcised. Maybe God commanded circumcism in order to help men be faithful or considerate of their wives by reducing the pleasure after circumcism. Don't know if this is the case for most men who are circumcised as adults after they have already sexually active. Interesting that other cultures with a low view of women circumcise girls in order that they do not feel much pleasure in intercourse. God's way is always better.

I can tell from this verse that Abraham loved Ishmael and wanted him to be included in the covenant, too. I think he laughed because he realized his and Sarah's age and knew that it would take a miracle for them to have a child. I don't think that he didn't believe God's promise. He just found it humorous. God did not punish him for laughing. He knew Abrahams heart. Ishmael's 12 princes are said to have seeded the Arab nations. Interesting, because that makes the Arab people Semitic if they trace their line to Ishmael or any of the 6 children Abraham fathered with Keturah after Sarah died. It seems that Jews want to own the sole right to be considered Semitic. Truth is, any person descended from Shem is Semitic and anyone descended from Eber is Hebrew, not just the Israelites. Something to think about. maybe broadening our ideas about the people that sprang from that area.

Interesting that He was making the covenant with Abraham, not with Abraham and Sarah. Does this mean that God saw Abraham and Sarah as one inn Abraham, harkening back to Adam and Eve in Genesis?

Thank you Tony. In reference to Revelation 20:10, the "torment" being used for 'testing', in your understanding, does this 'testing' continue eternally without any finality to their judgement? Or does the verse more fully speak of that eternal torment received is the result of them being found guilty & deserving of their punishment. I became confused when you also referred to Jeremiah 31:34: are you speaking of the saved whose sins are already forgiven by virtue of Christ's death, or for some type of redemption for the unsaved?

And then to the "touchstone" & the connection to the "cornerstone". Though the same Greek word for Stone is used, I see a different application, where Christ is seen not as the 'testing' stone but as the very stone that forms the joint for connecting the two walls together, & is being rejected as useless (as was the rejection of the lord of vineyard's son). And the chief priests & scribes correctly perceived "that he had spoken this parable against them".

And then when we come to Revelation 20:10, where the "devil is was cast into the Lake of Fire, where the beast & the false prophet already are", I don't understand this to be a testing time for unbelievers. Their judgement is seen in Revelation 20:11-13, when the Books are opened & according to their works, were deemed guilty & not found in the Book of Life. Their judgement & punishment are now eternal. Those who belong to Him, through His Son, have been eternally secured, & their only judgement is in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, where rewards are given to those who have built their Christian lives well on that One Foundation & sadly with shamefacedness & loss to those who have dishonoured Him in their lives.

There's more to share, but I feel that I may not have fully comprehended your understanding, so will leave it for now.

Blasphemy of the holy sprit,. Can only be committed by God's Elect ,.. an that opportunity has not of yet come into it's time ,.. for it'll be them that are delivered up to the councils an in the synagogue to give testimony against them , an the gospel must first be published before all nations ,.. an it will not be them that speak , it'll be the holy sprit speaking threw them ,.. Mark 13 , will clarify the duty's for the elect

Peace

Chris, I always love to read your posts. You are a straight arrow in your take on scriptural matters. I am uplifted by what you say and I stand in agreement with you for the most part. There may be some things we think differently on, but I feel that we both have been blessed with a strong foundation in Christ and the teachings of our faith. Thank you for going back and looking for new posts to respond to in chapters that you may have already studied and responded to in past months. This site needs people like you who are responsive to the need to welcome new posters, encourage others, gently guide others in fruitful discussions, and being watchful about what is being conveyed on this site. it shows you care about the people who come on here in a pastoral way. Thanks.

Dear Man, please open your heart and say more of what you believe is Truth.

:)

I am aware that the descendants of Ishmael became many of the Arab tribes. Unfortunately, most of those tribes today follow the teachings of Muhammed, a false prophet who claimed that Ishmael was the promised heir, not Isaac. However, there is not a 100% Muslim population in any Islamic nation. There are Christians "seeded" among these Muslim communities. Pray for God to protect them from the Muslims who are pressed to persecute and execute Christians. These Christians are the hands, feet, and mouths of Jesus in situations where people are following false teachers who cannot offer hope of salvation to their followers. Most Muslims have not known any other belief system, (same for the Jews). They are in bondage to their religion, not free in Christ Jesus. Our intercession is needed and valuable.

I am concerned about what has and is transpiring in the Middle East. Such turmoil for such a long, long time. And in these times it doesn't just involve those who live there. It involves the whole world. Islam has spread across Africa and Asia as well as the middle east. Many are very devout and committed to honor their god no matter what. Are we more devout and committed to honor the True God more than the Muslims of the world? We need to be. WE have the most excellent promises of all of history. Let us seek for the fulfillment of these promises to be accomplished God's way, not ours. this takes faith and wisdom and courage. I pray to have these in fuller measure as I face the senior years of my life.

Somewhere in the Bible it says that if you break one of my commandments you break them all. Can you tell my where it says that. All i have ever found was where he says if you break one of the LEAST of my commandments you break them all that's found in Matthew 5:19

Glory to the Merciful God of Abraham!

Abraham was 85 when Sarah asked him to take Hagar and father a child with her. This was 10 years after God promised Abraham an heir generated from his body. When Sarah asked him to do this, he may have thought that it may be the way God would give him and heir since Sarah was long past childbearing age. It seemed logical to him and was a common practice in those times and cultures. Although he had not heard directly from God do go through with this like God had spoken to him when He gave Abraham the promises, Abraham probably made many decisions without this direct communication from God. He perhaps felt sure of his perception of "following the guidance of God's Spirit to him." This happens to believers often. Sometimes we may sincerely feel that the Spirit is leading us to do or say a specific thing, only to find out later that it probably wasn't God's leading at all. Sometimes ourselves get in the way when we are going about His work. Oh, how I wish I could always gauge these leadings rightly and recognize from whom they are really coming from! But we are on a spiritual walk in this life and haven't arrived at our final destination yet. We will stumble along the way, but God will still lead us down the right path. He called us and He loves us.

I believe it was brother Ronald L. Whittemore & not me, who mentioned the likelihood of it being Springtime at or about the time the flood waters receded. As well, I would agree with you about the starkness of the landscape after the Flood & the expressions of joy that must have been those sole humans, when they saw the first shoots of vegetation spring forth. Yet, how the saltiness of the seas did not affect the land (i.e. for plant growth), remains an unanswered question in my mind. Maybe, the miracle of the Great Flood continued on to the division of the salt-filled seas from the fertile land mass around them.

Praise be to the God Who sees me!

I was taught that Hagar was Egyptian. Perhaps she was "acquired" when Abraham and Sarah went to Egypt due to the recent famine. She was away from her home country and had very little power of her own. I have always felt sorry for Hagar. She was "used" by Sarah and Abraham because they tried to "help" God accomplish His promise. I imagine that she was much younger than Sarah and Abraham. Perhaps she was very lovely and Sarah was concerned that Abraham would turn to Hagar to have more children and relegate Sarah to status as "second wife". Hagar didn't help matters with her disrespect for Sarah. Yet she still was carrying a child and knew that the child would become Sarah's, not hers. She may have been concerned that the child might be a girl and therefore, not be an heir. She may have been concerned about what would happen to her if the child was female. When Sarah sent her away harshly, she probably thought she was going to die in the wilderness. But, thankfully, God stepped in and gave her hope as well as instructions on what she should do. She was relieved and grateful that God took notice of her. She may not even have been a follower of the true God. Because the child was not the promised heir, God could have had her miscarry, or die in the wilderness, or be taken by another chieftan to be in his harem. Then the child would not be part of Abraham's lineage. God chose differently. But Hagar returned to Sarah and submitted to her, as God told her to do.

Sarah lacked faith to believe that she would be the woman to bear the heir for Abraham. She was very desperate to have a child and decided to make it happen one way or another. Let this be a warning to us today when people go to methods of conception other than what God ordained from the time of Adam and Eve. It is very difficult to deal with infertility, especially if it last a long time and then a woman ages past childbearing years. Sarah must have struggled greatly with this.

Does it not say there is neither jew or gentile in Christ ?

not sure of what you're looking for but these are just a few verses in the NT about patience, also the book of Job is a story of patience and faith.

Romans 5:1 - 5:4 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

1 Timothy 6:9 - 6:12 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

If you have had blasphemous thoughts about the Holy Spirit and want to repent, is it possible that you haven't blasphemed the Holy Spirit in your heart? As in, errant and anxious thinking may be the reason and perhaps you are not beyond repentance? Matthew 12:31-32 clearly states this will NEVER be forgiven so if you are concerned about it, is it possible GOD might still bring you to repentance and you are not guilty of this sin? Been numb and having messed up thoughts (some anxious others obsessive). If it is too late, how can someone live afterwards? I prayed about it...just waiting for an answer from GOD at this point. Any advice or thoughts?