Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 225

  • Adam - In Reply - 1 year ago
    The same straw man argument keeps coming back like groundhog day. I disagree with that belief because you suggest that obedience happens automatically and that is untrue. Obeying a choice. Even if we ignore all the evidence in front of us, like our personal knowledge of Christians who have fallen away and the mountain of evidence in scripture, the fact that Jesus kept reminding His followers to obey and keep His commandments over and over and over is all someone needs to know. Paul too wrote most of his books to churches (to Christians) warning them over and over not to fall from the faith and to obey. It's a choice. We have freewill and we still have temptations to sin as followers. Paul described himself wrestling with his sinful flesh, so obedience definitely did not come automatically or easily for him. Romans 7:15-20. Obedience isn't easy for any Christian.

    I know Christians who claim its ok to for them to get drunk, do drugs, party hard, have premarital sex, have affairs, commit violence, commit homosexuality, because they were told by their pastor that they're "saved" and have nothing to worry about. This is a people pleasing Joel Osteen-type of doctrine that seeks to offer a watered down woke version of Christianity as long as it doesn't upset the culture's values. They love going to church and hearing that they don't sin and automatically obey. It validates their sin and feeling the comfort of feeling saved while being able to follow the world of satan, even though they don't admit this. This is a false doctrine from satan of course. Those who claim these Christians aren't real Christians need to then define in very specific terms what they think a real Christian is, and how they truly know they are one.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Well spoken and great scripture David!

    God bless.
  • Texsis - 1 year ago
    From Matthew 7:1-3 judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge ye shall be judged: & with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in thine own eye? .. These have always confused me because in verse 5 it adds that we are Hypocrites if we don't remove the beam in our own eye (our sin/wrong doing) before trying to remove the mote in our brothers eyes. Yet, isn't that the purpose of Jesus DBR Him shedding His blood for All & All sin? If we've already been forgiven of all our sins do we not have the right to say such things to them in love & compassion? Of course only if we live a believers life not just say we are though God knows our heart. In todays trying times if we tell others that they need Jesus for thinking their born gay, trans or otherwise What would be best way to say something to them when they say "judge not that ye be not judged" or "you don't know what I've been through"? I mean I know believers are merely trying to lead them to Christ by speaking His truth but they say that & I'm stumped as to how to respond biblically other than Gen 1:27 or "Gods word is Gods word & needs no adding to it if you believe & want eternal life in heaven instead of eternity in the lake of fire".! "Earnestly seeking Him in prayer, He will find & comfort you in His time, it doesn't happen over night yet you will feel His peace if you truly believe". I also explain, 'we must go through trials to grow wise & be strong because anyone can say 'I'm Christian or I believe' for even satan believes & God doesn't deal with ppl that sit on the fence'. ANYONE with a KJV biblical teaching? thanks.! God bless
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Frankie, 2/2

    A church, any church, must have solid doctrines. If anyody can claim that God reveals them something else from somebody else, then the whole thing will become a mess, as it often occurs in the the regenerated churches.

    Yes God reveals His truth, He gives understanding of His Word etc etc, and we all have such an experience but the main doctrines come from the ministries not from God directly.

    In 1 Cor 12"7-11 the spiritual gifts are described, V7-8, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;"

    So you as you see those gifts are not for everybody, you may have them or you may not have them. You may have a ministry or you may not have a ministry.

    2 Timothy 2:1-2, " Thou therefore, my son(Timothy), be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Here Timothy is asked to teach others.

    So I think you confuse the personal work done in our Spirit by God with the function that a church as a whole should have.

    About that "Jesus comes in our heart". It is often said figuratively. Either that love for Jesus comes in our heart, or His Word etc.

    Yes Jesus and Father and the Holly Spirit dwell in our body (not only our heart) and that is done through His Spirit, but this is a different thing from the former.

    I also do believe firmly that the all the gifts given to the ancient church should exist in today's churches, there is nowhere in the Bible where it says that God put an expiring date for them, these are beliefs of churches that dropped them from their cannon and so they don't seek them and subsequently don't receive them. To me this is sad, because we drop some of the guns that God has provided to us for our spiritual fights. So we are in agreement to that. Blessings.
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Frankie, 1/2

    Firstly I don't know anything about Quakers, I am not from America so all those churches and doctrines are almost completely unknown to me. But I got some information from the net.

    So I read that one of their beliefs is a God's continuous revelation to individuals, right?

    You stated, "You says, Paul was an exception to the rule? Would you please prove this by the Scriptures."

    I think that this is obvious in the Bible. Although the feeling I have is that Paul was not tought the gospel by a revelation in his mind, but Jesus personally toughted him the gospel when Paul was in Arabia for 2 years, this is what Paul called "revelation". See Gal 1:15-19, pay attention to V17, what was Paul doing in Arabia?

    Anyway I insist that Paul was an exception, There maybe more exceptions through centuaries, but that is not the normal way. The normal way is described in Rom 10:14-17, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

    There aren't any examples in the NT about an individuals revelation, the 12, the 7 deacons, Apollos, Cornelious, Timothy, the disciples in Ephessus all of them were tought the good news by others. Paul was sent to the nations for that reason.

    As I said one of the ministries in the church is that of the teacher. If God was revealing His truth to individuals directly what are those ministries for? They are of no use. I have no doubt that God uses that way in places where the Bible is not easy to find or forbidden to read, but those are exceptions, in my opinion.
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Richard

    Verse 14 is very explanatory to who is going to enter Heaven, it connects obedience to God's commandements to entering the Heavenly city:

    "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Carleton,

    Good to see you are posting again. I hope your eye has fully healed. My understanding of this is when these 70 weeks, 490 years started and when the last week ended and was fulfilled is different, the agreement that is important is it was fulfilled in the past and will not be in the future.

    Thank you, as you say, "for meditation", this is a subject that is more important than many understand, especially to those who are living when Satan is cast down permanently with no more access to heaven and the beast ascends from the bottomless pit. Everyone should study this with a clear mind and prayer for the truth, we know not when the end will come, we are told to watch, and that means to be ready.

    Thank you again,

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Richard H Priday - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Revelation 22

    14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

    15 For outside are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

    The following is a theoretical summary of what appears to be happening.

    Heavenly Jerusalem; it appears is suspended above the earth during the Millennium (can be inferred from Revelation 21:2).

    Psalm 48 seems to show that it is seen during the Millennium

    2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

    3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

    4For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

    5They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

    6Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

    The gravitational affects of the city would cause physical effects such as seen in Isaiah 40:4

    Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

    Further effects would occur with the dropping of the Heavenly City to earth; and thus it would perish by fire ( 2 Peter 3:10) when all the elements burn up. There is no more sea at that point ( Revelation 21:1) which would make sense since EVERY creature dies in the sea during the second bowl Judgment ( Rev. 16:3). We see at the end of the Millenium that there is no more place for the dead (from under the sea or the land) and thus the final Judgment of the unredeemed occurs. ( Rev. 20:11).

    Since only the City of God comes down; the rest of heaven itself is presumably somewhere out there or perhaps still in a different dimension where we can dwell. Also; the rest of the earth will still presumably be restored and the Saints will be able to gain access (even if the heavenly city is totally surrounded by the lake of fire).
  • LaNora - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thanks Jesse I am doing a Bible study on the book of Psalms. I have gotten to a question on verse 90:2 and it ask the question: What has the everlasting God formed?

    So I was thinking after reading the verse that God has formed "ever"lasting to everlasting.

    I was curious to find out if anyone else thought the same. Thanks for responding
  • Fredscanlan - In Reply - 1 year ago
    1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
  • Frankie J - In Reply - 1 year ago
    In Addition

    1 John 2:19 Ephesians 4:14 these apostates took over the ministry of Christ, the Gifts, Ephesians 4:11 & has raise of a ministry & sanctuary that of this world, all saying here is Christ & there is Christ. All in the lust 1John 2:16 some more some less, but a little leaven, leavens the whole lump, there are over 45,000 different favors/sect's of Christianity world wide, is Christ divide?

    The Church in is first pure innocent primitive state Acts 4:32 fulfilling Ephesians 4:12,13, & would have remain so, excepting for God in His infinite Wisdom choses otherwise, Rev 13:7

    The work of the Ephesians 4:11 first is to point them to Christ within them, their Isa 9:6, then to become servants to His Body, the Church. John 13:13-16, then at the appointed time of the Father, proving themselves faithful to the ministry they have received, Act 6:2 God gave them an increase, in rewards to their faithfulness to Him. Read on there & see the increase they received multiplied.

    Jesus said, Luke 17:21 Ephesians 4:4-7 all pointing to God within them. All of this is not figuratively, but a spiritual reality to be lived, known & felt in the heart.

    In Revelation we find the Spirit of the Lord is Crying out to His people Rev 18:4 connecting 2Cor 6:14-18, I ask you who will hear His Call & if required of them to sell all that he has to follow Jesus & to forsake all that he believes that's contrary to Holy Spirit teaching, Matt 7:14 For surely the teaching in Babylon is the same as the devil taught in Eden, Genesis 3, they too being evasive, twisting God's word to their own 2Pet 3:16

    Consider these things, Proverbs 25:2
  • David0921 - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Adam,

    Matthew 20:30-34 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

    Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

    This is a "historical parable". That is it is an accurate description of an actual historical event. But like all of the miracles that Jesus did, He is teaching us in this language something about the Gospel, the Nature of Salvation.

    In this case we see that the two blind men came to Jesus pleading for Mercy that He would give them physical sight. And then, having received sight they FOLLOWED JESUS.

    Just as we come to Christ demanding nothing but pleading with Him that He might give us Spiritual Sight, that He might Save us. And having received our Sight, that is Christ having Saved us, WE FOLLOW JESUS.

    So our FOLLOWING JESUS and OBEDIENCE to Him is the RESULT of our Salvation, never the cause. The action is God's action altogether in saving us by His Grace Alone; not of our Works in any sense whatsoever, "that any man should boast".

    Galatians 2:16-21
  • Frankie J - In Reply - 1 year ago
    1 of 2

    Friend,

    You says, Paul was an exception to the rule? Would you please prove this by the Scriptures.

    You says, Jesus comes into my heart, should be taken figuratively? 1Cor 3:16,17 2Cor 13:5 Col 1:27 Ephesians 2:22 Where else could He desire to be but within our heart, the seat & center of our very being. Proverbs 4:23 1Samuel 16:17

    You say this sounds strange?

    Consider also John 17:21-24 the oneness & unity that God desires to have with His people, this is what God has set His heart on Jeremiah 32:40,41 & made available thru the NC; this is a God, that has said, with all His heart & soul ! Come on; have a little faith.

    We're heirs of God & joint heirs of Christ, it is God Himself that is our inheritance Psalms 119:57 Psalms 73:26

    You says, not by one staying home & God teaching him. This is exactly what God has done through the spiritual writing of the Quakers, specifically from 1646-1700 through the gifts Christ gave His church; in their writing I discover the intent of God's heart to cleanse one from all sin, & being united with God through Christ, which the Scriptures so manifestly declares & how God accomplishes it. Isa 64:4 1Cor 2:9 Psalms 130:5 I'm talking about that Word that is Rom 10:8 that comes by 10:17 Meaning Christ spiritual appearance within conscience/heart John 1:9 Titus 2:11 Obeying His Father commands 2Cor 4:6 which is the Treasure we have in these earthen vessels. 2Cor 4:7 to know the things that are freely given to us 1Cor 2:12
  • Frankie J - In Reply - 1 year ago
    2 of 2

    No, my friend, I have the Witness within me bearing witness to the Truth of what I here write & have written, back up with the Scriptures & sound reasoning, sealed with the experiential personal knowledge of them that God has given me in bringing me out of the darkness into His glorious Light Act 26:18 Wherein I stand in my present measure, abiding in the Vine & being further purged that I may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2,3

    This has not happen instantaneously, but a 13yr on going journey, Matt 7:14 God has been very gracious & good in His longsuffering love towards me, I was so mule headed, thinking I could have God's salvation my way. In His tender mercies to me He broke me & in this brokenness I yielded up myself & committed to wait upon Him Psalm 123:2 & have His salvation on His terms, John 14:6 Luke 14:27 1Cor 1:18

    Present day Christianity has not these gifts & fruits & why? In the Reformation, which small beginning began around 1400's, in slowly breaking away from the darkness of popery, did not cut all the cord asunder, but keep some of the their teaching. Like the Catholic's took over the Head of the Ministry from Christ, alone with His gifts unto men. Read the whole church history here, its freely on the web, don't rely on any man word for it, but turn to the Witness within your own heart, the Scriptures & sound reasoning, with a whole hearted love for the Truth, one cannot remain deceived for long or be deceived from what God in truth will discover to one who is searching for Him. Psalms 145:18
  • Carleton - 1 year ago
    For meditation- mostly inspired by a brother in faith that passed away around 22 years ago.

    Weeks of years and weeks of days is key.

    "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Matthew 23:32 KJV

    We believe in a risen Christ!

    Gabriel delivered a message to Daniel that in time they (Israel) would finish the transgression. Jesus knew this time and spoke to the Jews that they (the same generation) would finish the measure of the fathers. In Gabriel's message both the people and the holy city would be affected by the determined time, seventy weeks.The pronouncement broke the seventy weeks down in parts. In a way the seventy years of captivity was the latter days for the Jews. From the decree of king Cyrus the seventy weeks began. First seven weeks of years in unsettled times of building back their nation as recorded in Ezra and Jeremiah. Daniel 9:26 states the Messiah will be cut off at 62 weeks. 62 weeks plus the seven weeks would "unto the Messiah" being cut off.

    69 weeks not 70?

    Daniel 9:27 says "and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week" this is the seventieth week or else the phrase "unto the Messiah" makes little sense.

    In the middle of the 27th verse of Daniel, in the middle of the week the Messiah "shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease"

    In the 70th week Jesus began His ministry of preaching the Gospel "confirmed the covenant with many". Three and one half years later, He was cut off by the crucification. When the Messiah was cutoff after delivering the New Covenant while the Old Covenant ceased at the same time in the middle part of the 70th week. For about forty years from the time of the crucification to the destruction of Jerusalem which began around the same time of the year was a period of Grace for the Jews to repent and be of the first born of God's Holy Church. This period of time completes the 70 weeks. Both verses 9:26 and 27 speak of this last time.

    The times of the Gentiles began at this time.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thanks Brother Ronald.

    I believe we are in agreement.

    For some reason I thought you were saying the mystery was that salvation went out to the Gentiles and the Desciples wasn't commissioned to preach to them until Paul and Stephen.

    Paul was born out of due time so he would be late in the commission.

    I believe Christ came to gather the lost sheep of Israel as mentioned in Matthew 15:24.

    I agree there was a lot to be fulfilled that was Prophesied in the old testament.

    Even his death was prophesied.

    Salvation to the heathen.

    Even his deity was prophesied " Isaiah 9:6." so I don't hold the view as Gigi as this being the mystery mentioned in Ephesians 3:5-6.

    I believe the Mystery goes further than just extending salvation to the Gentiles but that they would be Joint heirs and how it would be accomplished.

    By way of the cross and by rebirth by the Holyspirit.

    Even when he rose from the dead they asked when was he going to restore the kingdom.

    Even when he appeared to them after he rose from the dead some didn't believe.

    Not until they received the Holyspirit were they able to comprehend his work.

    Being born of God's spirit and baptized into one body was not revealed to them neither could they comprehend it.

    I believe this is what Jesus is saying in John 16:12-14.

    Also John 14:26 gives an example of how the Holyspirit would reveal revelation to them that the natural mind couldn't comprehend.

    God bless.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 1 year ago
    LaNora,

    You might want to take a look at Isaiah 45:18 which reads "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else."

    Not sure if this is what you're looking for?
  • GiGi - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Yes, Ronald, the unifying of all things under Christ is the end goal of the plan of the Godhead since before the foundation of the world. It is , as you said, a mystery up until it was revealed through the apostles. We have Paul's testimony concerning this. At the time, this had not come to pass in historical time, so the mystery Paul was most likely referring to was the salvation that comes in and through Christ to those who believe the Gospel. But as you said, the mystery entails all these things, (and probably much more deeper things that we cannot know this side of heaven). Have a good evening. We celebrate the blessings of living in the U.S. and the way the U.S. blesses the world ins o many ways.
  • GiGi - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Ronald,

    Agreed. We went out for a drive and I thought I might post more to you when I returned. To complete my thought. Jesus was resurrected. The Scriptures say it was the Father who resurrected Him, another place says the Spirit did, and another place says Jesus, Himself, as God had the power to raise His human body from the grave. He then ascended to sit down at the right hand of the Father, receiving again the glory He had with the Father prior to His incarnation. These events in the life of the incarnated Son of God is the mystery revealed in Jesus in the flesh and proclaimed by the disciples and apostles who witnessed these things and Paul later. No human had ever thought that these things would be. Humans could not conceive of it themselves. It must be revealed, first of all, in the life of Christ, and then proclaimed by believers throughout history. Without Jesus there would be no mystery revealed. And, though the OT did prophesy that non-Israelites would become God's people, too, the Jews refused to acknowledge that this would ever occur. they thought that they were the only people selected by God to be in a covenant relationship with Him. But they were very wrong. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham and Isaac were not Israelites and they had a covenant relationship with God. The closed mindedness, stubbornness, and pridefulness of the Jews didn't allow them to "grant" God the freedom to elect whomever He wishes. Although they could not limit God's freedom, they essentially stood up to Him in their insistence that they alone we chosen of God. Thankfully, many Jews believed Jesus when He was alive and also after He resurrected, especially those in many geographic areas outside of Jerusalem who heard Paul preach to them.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi GiGi,

    Thank you,

    My understanding is Christ is the mystery revealed to those who believe in Him, to the Jew, and to the Gentile, a part of this mystery that was revealed, through faith in Jesus by the Spirit they too would be fellow heirs to the promises. God's plan in bringing His kingdom in Christ to fulfillment, of things in heaven and on earth. As we know things in heaven, with the devil/Satan who still has access to heaven and other fallen angels and those locked in the bottomless pit.

    We see the completion of the mystery and the things not yet revealed finished, in Revelation. Everything has been placed under Jesus Christ until the last enemy is under His feet and that will be death. Then a new heaven and new earth and a new city Jerusalem with no sin, where God and Jesus the Lamb are the temple.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • LaNora - 1 year ago
    Psalm 90:2 What has the everlasting God formed?

    This is a Bible study question. Can someone give me the answer? I put everlasting
  • GiGi - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hello Ronald, Good conversation happening here.

    I think that the mystery that was revealed was the revelation of the Messiah and His mission to save from sin those who believe from every tribe, tongue and nation through His death and resurrection (the Gospel). The Jews had the idea of the Messiah setting up an earthly, temporal kingdom instead of a spiritual, eternal kingdom with the Messiah ruling as the King of the nations, not just Israel. The mystery was that the Messiah would be the ultimate revelation of God in the flesh, being the express image of the Father and the eternal Son to representative of the Godhead to mankind.

    The thought of the true God becoming a man was not a possibility in Jewish thought, nor the truth that the Godhead includes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct individuals yet unified as one unique and transcendent Being. Pagans had ideas similar to this but included grave errors because they were polytheistic with various hierarchies of false deities. These truths about the Godhead and the Messiah were very difficult for the Jews to embrace because it was very foreign to the way they had formulated their concept of YHWH and the person of the Messiah. The Gentiles may have had an easier time of understanding the Gospel, the Person and work of Jesus, the Godhead, and the dual nature of Christ due to their pagan views that had similarities to these things, but the teachings of the apostles corrected their wrong views with the Gospel and correct teaching about God and Jesus.

    The mystery that was hid for all ages may have been hid from both man and angels by God so that Satan would not know the plan to save humans through the incarnation of the eternal Son of the Father. But at just the right time, in the fullness of time, the Father sent forth His Son, being born of a woman, to live the life no man can ever live and pay the price of the sins of mankind on the cross. to be continued...
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hey S Spencer,

    I am having a good day as well thank you. I agree again with most of all you have written. My understanding of the mystery was to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. This included the Gentiles through faith in Jesus by the Spirit, to be fellow heirs with Israel as sons of God.

    My understanding is I think with yours, when Jesus first came, the Messiah, the Son of God and started His ministry, anyone who believed in Him and heard His sayings and did them, was the beginning of the Church, but some say Pentecost.

    But all who were added to the Church daily were Jews, the lost sheep of Israel until after what was said and done to Stephen, which ended the offering of the covenant to just the Jews the lost sheep of Israel and fulfilled a prophecy.

    The commission was given but when was it made clear and activated, and told by God to carry it out? If the apostles understood this commission, why were they upset with Peter who preached the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles? And we have Paul at the same time for this same commission to be carried out. This is when I understand the branch was broken off and as Paul said to provoke them to jealousy, Romans 11:11.

    Thanks again brother for all your comments they are taken and studied.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Richard H Priday - 1 year ago
    Happy Independence Day.

    When we broke off from the State run by the Church (King of England) we wanted freedom of worship. There were other issues; of course such as taxation; breaking free of Colonialist rule and abuse; etc. Pilgrim's pride was probably a lot different than today's definition as to their resourcefulness; and in some cases lives of Holiness that reflected on the whole nation in reard to character; holiness and righteousness.

    It took us longer; of course than England to secure equality for all races; and still later for Women's suffrage to begin. Our history with the Indians also was checkered; there were some kindnesses exchanged and evangelism that had success; but of course there was exploitation of people; confiscation of land and wholesale unnecessary slaughter of the Buffalo which the Indians had as a mainstay of survival and used every part of the animal for sustainability. We later became the world's leading food producer and consumer; also wasting a disporportionate amount of natural resources compared to the rest of the world.

    Now we have swung the other way with hypervigilance in preserving land; and we have given up many of our freedoms; and reduced our own food and other supplies to dangerously low levels after years of silo grain surplus; and recently started depleting the strategic oil reserve after our last President recently built it up to full capacity.

    With the devaluation of life; both born and unborn and the luxuries of life we are as the Roman society was in steady decline and the end is near. Even our founders were a mixture of Christian and Pagan; along with other elements that have constantly come alongside attempting to overthrow our government; and one world government is near. Still; we are the salt and light; let us heed the warning of Matthew 5:13 and not give up on that responsibility with the Great Commission and a personal walk of Godliness in this dark hour.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Giannis,

    I agree, we see how they reacted when Jesus was killed, God for whatever the reason hid their understanding of it. With us our understandings come with our growth, but sometimes it takes a board to the back of the head and when our face is in the dirt, He says do I have your attention.

    Thank you and God bless,

    RLW
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thanks Bro Dan

    I went through something similar with soccer. Fans in Europe are not quite like in the US, they are often hooligans. Swearing (of the worst kind) is the least one sees in soccer, not mention the fights. When my kid was about 12-13, he was really good in soccer. One time we were travelling with the team's bus to another city for a match to play. During the trip the young players started signing songs about their opponents that even mature people would have been ashamed. So I decided that was the last time my kid was going with them in the bus. Soon my son got wounded during a game and then quited the sport. Today I may see a game, usually World Cups, and that's all. Yes we have to leave behind what may have caused us pleasure but it is not according to God's Will, you never know where that is going to lead you. Blessings.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Thank you very much Giannis.

    I didn't know it meant that in the Greek.

    I saw someone " Perhaps you" use it and I thought it was appropriate.

    God bless you.
  • S Spencer - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Ronald.

    Part 4.

    I ran out of space before I closed.

    I wanted to be clearer in this final post,

    I believe the Mystery Paul is speaking of is the Church.

    The combination of Gentiles and Jews was not declared to them by way of the Cross and Resurrection and righteousness and Justification by faith, instead of their continuous sacrifices in-which Gentiles had no part unless they became a

    proselyte.

    The Mystery is that the Gentiles would become fellow heirs BY WAY OF THE SPIRIT not the Law and the Jews righteousness ALSO would be by the cross and joint heirs of the promise by way of the Spirit not of the letter.

    God bless
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hello Ronald.

    It is true that when Jesus was telling His disciples about His crucifixion, He wasn't telling them God's mysterious plan in details, just few general things. Why? Probably they were not ready to accept those things, He probably was giving them time to adapt. Similarly the same method God uses with us today. When He sees that we are not going to accept something He tells us or brings in our life then He lets the events in our life to teach us. God is practical, He invents methods to approach and teach us, He adapts Himself to the individual or to a team/nation. He is a wise God.

    About satan, as you said he didn't and couldn't think of God's plan, if he knew he would never led Jesus onto the cross. When he found out, our salvation had been already accomplished. Probably that was also a reason Jesus was not going into details when He was talking to His disciples.

    GBU
  • Giannis - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hello Texsis

    What is so special about Utah? Do you mean that there are a lot of cults there?


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