Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 229

Thanks Brother Jesse.

1 Corinthians 11:19. FOR THERE MUST BE ALSO HERESIES AMONG YOU, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Yes that is interesting and can easily be missed.

Blessings

I had the same thing two Christmas' ago. Walking pneumonia is as serious as common pneumonia, but it is caused by a different bacteria than what causes common pneumonia. This bacteria causes croup, bronchitis and walking (atypical) pneumonia. It progressed through all three of these for me beginning with croup. Glad she recovered from it and you did not get it as well.fo

Thanks be to God for His healing power and for making our bodies able to work against ill nesses unto wellness again.

We will be viewing the take down of fifty year old maple tree from the neighbor's property that is close to our property line. It is mostly dead and the dead branches have been flying off in windstorms. Our yard gets the brunt of it every time and this week a branch hit our windshield and shattered it. We 've wanted this tree to come down for 30 years because it is a hazard leaning towards us but up to know none of the owners have wanted to remove it. We are thankful it is being removed safely. Its roots have upheaved and are exposed making our front lawn hard to mow. We had planned to regrade the yard and plant new grass but we did not compromise the tree by taking out roots. Now we can do this regrade when we have equipment and an operator to take out or drive which has cracks from the tree roots along with our front porch, sidewalk, and back patio which were damaged in the earthquake of '02. We will put in decking on the porches and cement the drive and walkway again.

Lots of work to be done outdoors. Need to replace the fence first, this other work hopefully before spring. Then we will be painting the exterior of the house and covering the deck in spring/summer.

Oh, Yeah, limbs are starting to be cut right now. A happy day for us!

Thank you, Gigi,

I thank you and others for their prayers.

She started off with a respiratory infection and bronchitis that turned to walking pneumonia.

I had what I suppose was a bad head cold.

Praise God we're better now and back to normal besides busier than normal.

Blessings.

Glad to hear that she is well.

S. Spencer,

Wondering how your wife is fairing with the respiratory illness she is fighting through. How is she doing?

(1 Corinthians Part 15):

1 Corinthians 12:1 - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

The word "gifts" is in italics which means that in the Greek text, the word gifts is not even there. It is not talking about spiritual gifts that we are given. The translators put it here which causes a lot of debate among believers.

The literal translation is "Now concerning the things of the Spirit." What's the difference between spiritual gifts and the things of the Spirit? Paul is introducing to us that the focal point of the teaching of ministry are the abilities and the capacities of the Holy Spirit. Paul is saying that there is one Spirit and He has all the abilities and capacities for all of the ministry things of God.

1 Corinthians 12:2 - Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

You know that you were Gentiles. Usually that means opposite of Jew. But in this instance, it has to do with non-believer. Most of them are still Gentiles. But he's making reference to their unbelief. Carried away unto these dumb idols. The word dumb means voiceless, voiceless idols. Paul is emphasizing that they are being led around by the worship of an idol that has no life to it. It doesn't speak. It doesn't do anything. And as pagans, they were following after these voiceless idols.

If you are led to do a study on the mystic religions, you'll learn that the pagan Gentiles were involved in idolatry to the point that they would sing and chant until they reached a point of psychological and emotional euphoria. It almost sounds like church somewhere, doesn't it?

They would sing and chant until they reached a point of psychological and emotional euphoria. They would leave feeling good and say that the worship of the idol did it, whoever the idol is, and he's the one that made them feel this way! Paul is pointing out to them that they were led by voiceless, lifeless idols in their worship.

(1 Corinthians Part 14):

1 Corinthians 10:25 - Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

The King James says "shambles," but it is actually the Greek word for marketplace. The command is eat it, asking no question for conscience sake:

If it's sold down in the marketplace and there's no tag on it saying that it's offered to an idol, it's just a piece of meat. Go ahead and eat it!

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

It doesn't make a difference what you do. Everything that you do, do it for the glory of God. The word glory is the word DOXA and it means substance. The glory of God is the substance of God. Do everything that people will see the very nature and substance of God. That should be the motivation. And if it involves the "touchy" area of what kind of food you're eating verses offending other people, just don't eat it. It's no big deal. It's just food!

1 Corinthians 11:19 - For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

The word must is the word necessary and the Greek word means binding. It must happen! The word heresy comes from the root word that means choice. That's what a heresy is. When I choose to believe that the bible is teaching something that's not in the bible, that's a heresy. I'm choosing to believe it.

Heresy is what divides one church from another church. We can go over the same scriptures, and one side says, "We believe that it says this," and another side will say, "Well, we believe it means this!" They go by what they believe rather than what the scripture says. The scriptures unite us.

It says for it is necessary for there to be heresies. Interesting that Paul didn't say, "There shouldn't be any heresies." No, there has to be heresies in the church. Why? So that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

(1 Corinthians Part 13):

1 Corinthians 7:33 - But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

But he that is married cares, and again that's MERIMNA. He's occupied for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

1 Corinthians 7:34 - There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

He says there is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, again the word cares is the word MERIMNA. In order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married cares (MERIMNA), for the things of the world, and how she may please her husband.

1 Corinthians 10:4 - And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The rock is PETRA. It's the same word that Jesus used back in Matthew 16:18 when he called Peter a PETROS, a pebble, but he says upon this PETRA, meaning Himself, I will build the church. PETROS and PETRA are two different words in Greek. PETROS is the pebble, and PETRA is the slab or the foundation stone.

But it is interesting that five times it is mentioned that everybody received the provision of God, and everybody ate the same spiritual meat and the same spiritual drink from the rock, and the rock that followed them was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:5 - But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

But with many of them God was not well pleased:

It didn't say all. In the Greek text, it expresses the majority. Everybody but two. That's a lot of people! God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. That is, their bodies were scattered in the desert. They were killed!

(1 Corinthians Part 12):

1 Corinthians 7:32 - But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

Paul says, but I would have you to be without carefulness. There are two Greek words, MERIMNA, and MERIMNAO, and it is a Greek word that means to have the attention of your mind occupied. It is Satan's only weapon against the believer as the bible says.

Jesus said do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, drink, or what you shall put on. That's the word MERIMNA. A human being was created with the capacity to only serve one thing. You cannot serve God and mammon, which is physical things. It's impossible! I can say I do because I believe it with my head, but with my life, who am I serving? What am I serving?

So, after I am saved, my soul belongs to Christ. And then what Jesus wants me to do is He wants me to go hear His word so that my mind will be renewed, transformed, and changed. So, you can see why that's Satan's only weapon. It keeps our mind occupied. People can even go to church or go to bible study, and really it means absolutely nothing because their mind is thinking of all the things they're going to do when they get out. They are not even paying attention. They are not focused on the things that we should be focused on.

Satan's only weapon is the occupation of the attention of the mind, not the occupation of the mind, but the occupation of the attention of the mind. He attempts to keep our minds busy and to wear them out to where we have nothing left for Christ. Paul says I want you to be without MERIMNA.

Here's the teaching on devotion: He that is unmarried cares, and that's the word MERIMNA, is occupied for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

(1 Corinthians Part 11):

1 Corinthians 7:21 - Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Are you called being a servant? Literally a slave in the Greek. That's a literal slave that has been purchased out of the marketplace, and some human being owns him. Did you get saved while you were a slave? Let it not be a concern to you:

And you can just see the "slave union" marching down Main Street and saying, "Now that we are Christians, we want our rights!" Paul is saying "What rights? God saved you as a slave and He wants to use you to minister to the other slaves. Don't let it bother you. Whatever your circumstance is, you serve Christ!" But if you may be made free, use it.

1 Corinthians 7:31 - And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

And those that use the world, as not abusing it: The word abusing is literally "over using." We have to use the world. We've got to eat. We have to work. We have to take care of our necessities. But he says don't over use it. We tend to not use the world for our necessities, but we get totally occupied.

Hi Gigi,

My wife and I is doing great.

Thanks for asking.and God bless.

Hello GiGi

Well, life is full of struggles and challenges. One thing stops and something else starts. Job 7:1, "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?". Although my Bible says "Isn't the life of a man on earth a war campaign?" and the Septuagint says "Isn't the life of a man on earth full of trials?". Whichever you consider the meaning is the same. So we keep going the path that the Lord has planned for each one of us trusting in Him that He will support us till the end. So at the end we may say the same words as Paul said in Timothy 4:7-8, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

Yes I am going through a tough time the last 2-3 months but that has led me to approach the Lord closer than ever before and I am glad for that. God always responds back to every man who tries to come closer to Him and follow His Word. Tough situations are often beneficial for christians if we have the proper way of considering things and our relationship with God . Well, prayers are always welcome. How are you doing? Everything OK with your life? GBU

Thank You Lord for the reminder of the work we are called to do in declaring the gospel unto the lost. May we be obedient in prayer and continued study of Your word.

Merry Christmas to everyone. GOD to shine His face upon us, and gloriously bless in His wonderful name.

December 20, 2024

S. Spencer,

Wondering how your wife is fairing with the respiratory illness she is fighting through. How is she doing?

Good morning GIGI! It is a good race and I am happy that our time here overlaps by our faith in Jesus. He promises our peace and rest. Thank you!

Hello Carleton,

Encouraging Scripture of what is in store for us, held secure by our Lord, Jesus. I pray that we all here endure in faith until the end and receive the promised inheritance of the saints that will be ever so marvelous!

Giannis,

Glad you are still here. I think of you often. It would be nice if you just check in every week or so to let us know your with us even if you do not reply to a topic or discussion. Is there aby way I can pray for you?

Hello GiGi

I am stlll here in this site, maybe not everyday but quite often. I have decided lately to spend more time in prayer and studying, so I will not post anything for the time being. I noticed that I was spending too much time in posting here and elsewhere. Maybe I will be back during the Christmas holidays since I will be out of work for a couple of weeks. So we will talk sometime later on. GBU

Amen RicoUS

We all need to pray for these things in our lives. May God in Christ put our "house in order" by His abundant grace.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Revelation 2:7 KJV

God's blessings!

Thinking about Giannis,

We haven't heard from him in a while. Hope he returns here soon.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 KJV

From Heaven Jesus reigns and teaches in his heavenly kingdom His present relationship with any man whom hears his voice. What better place to teach than the Churches of God?

Hi Tdianne.

We lose a lot in this wicked world we live in, material things and also love ones!

I lost my younger brother a few years ago who I took care of the last 3 years of his life.

I would have given everything I have to keep my little brother here with me but the Lord didn't take him from me, he took what belongs to him.

In the book of Job Job and his friends believed in what we call the doctrine of "retribution theology"-every act receives just punishment or reward in this present life, so we should be able to tell who is righteous or wicked by whether they are visibly blessed or cursed on earth. That's the doctrine of "retribution.

Our love and fear for the Lord shouldn't depend on whether we have or have not and it is not always evidence or testimony of God's fairness and love for us, therefore we shouldn't charge the Lord when things go wrong in this evil world.

We dont understand how God runs his universe as we see in Job when God put him on trial when Job pleaded his case.

Tdianne, the things we lose in this world cant be compared to that which God has prepared for us!

As God's servants the things we do is for the Lord and there may be no reward and if there is, the determination of the reward is all on the Lord.

We're given Sustainability but we are unprofitable servants while here on earth as you see demonstrated in Luke 17:7-10.

Our rewards is in heaven!

Nothing you have done whether good or bad will go unrewarded.

God bless you Tdianne.

Good evening, this is a blessed conversation because it is about love. We as living souls do not often choose to suffer affliction particularly by those we know and have walked with and shown kindness towards that have hardened themselves towards us. Even so we may seek grace to continue in well doing with what we have left and that may only be the love that Jesus gives to us where we remember his abundant giving that we ourselves were once alien to. It looks like you have friends here Tdianne and hopefully where you live too. We all have our hardships and many can remember when it was better and we may still wish for those days but time has moved us forward into this day with these requirements of us that are sometimes very hard to accept. It is humbling and beautiful to have others come forward to help us in our afflictions and we may be givers and receivers in these times in our Christian walk. I remain thankful to those here that offer their time by prayers and have suffered with my own afflictions because of love to Jesus. I wish you and many God"s blessings of peace in rest.

hello TDiane,

I am sorry that you are facing the loss of your home that you have loved for some time and will need to downsize in so many ways to accommodate living in a smaller place. I will pray for you.

I have a friend who had a stroke almost 30 years ago at age 38. She was able to live her life well with some adjustments until a year ago. Her husband died of leukemia and she herself had been having difficulty standing or walking without falling. She is now pretty much bed bound without the ability to enjoy the her whole house. Her daughter now lives with her tending to her when off work. I don't know what she does when her daughter is not there. She does not want me to come over (this has been her wish for about 4 years). I know she is very depressed.

We have talked a bit, but she has been pretty inward in the past few years with her husband's illness and death and all. But when we talk, she is very weepy and discouraged wondering why God would have her life be this way. I really do not have an answer to her inquiries or yours here because both of you are in a really vulnerable and sensitive spot. Yet, Jesus is our Savior through good times and bad. He never leaves us. He promised this. We can have difficulty seeing His work in us and our life when things are so hard. I will keep you in prayer along with my friend, Kim. Will you pray for her as well?

Keep the faith, Tdiane. Jesus is really all we truly have in life and the next life. He is our treasure that does not rust or decay, nor can we ever lose Him or can He ever be taken from us. I encourage you to abide in Him, reading of Him in Scripture and growing to know Him more and more until He truly is the treasure you desire above all things. I am trying to do this in my own life as well.

You ask a good question which sounds like the question Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people, especially believers?

Everyone has things to be thankful for while also being aware of our challenges. This was true in the Bible times and people even made assumptions, like when things are bad assuming its because of sin or that they're being targeted, instead of considering that it is a fallen world and that everyone has bad things happen to them.

Just today I read that there was a shooting in a Christian school. I bet the grieving of lost loved ones are asking the same question. I think Paul asked the same question because he was constantly in fear of death and was tortured and had many problems. Jesus was unfairly treated and even murdered. Today in nearly every city in the world are homeless people who will spend tonight in the cold and some are Christians, veterans, servants and they might ask why.

There is another assumption in society that God will make us happy, healthy, and wealthy if we follow Jesus. I hear that on TV, but that's not exactly in the Bible. It says we will face many trials in James 1 and be happy when we suffer for doing what is right. Romans 5:3-4. This is probably not what you want to hear but as a brother in Christ I want to share the truth. And yes, I'm suffering with something massively too that is a big burden, but different category than you. I think everyone does. I feel bad that you are suffering but keep praying because God does lighten our burdens sometimes. Hang in there, sister in Christ.

Hello David, Thank you for your reply! The thoughts that are written about carnal Christians and spiritual Christians do not doubt that regeneration at one time occurred as Christ suffered one time death and hell and shed His blood freely by the Righteousness of the Father for the children whom believe.

"CARNAL CHRISTIAN"

Hello Carleton,

I would have to respectfully disagree with idea of a "carnal Christian" as expressed in your comment. And also in the quotations in Mr. Spencer's comments on the subject.

I would encourage you to read again very carefully Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5, and 1 John, as well as many other passages throughout the Old and New Testaments where God discusses the nature of salvation.

I believe that a careful comparison of scripture throughout the Bible, teaches that when God applies salvation to the life of an individual, it means they have received a new resurrected soul. And in that new soul, they have been raised from death onto life. This is what God terms being "born again" and the "First Resurrection".

So that in their new resurrected soul, the true believer will, almost immediately, have a new and increasing hatred for sin in their life. Because they have at that moment become a "new creation" in Christ.

All of this is 100% the action of God alone. And not because of any decision we have made or faith that we have exercised.

Our salvation is, of course, not totally complete at that point. Because we still have a body that lusts after sin. So throughout the remainder of the true believer's life, there will be a struggle and a turning away from sin in their life. And there will be a continual "growing in grace". But this will look vastly different than an unsaved person that is merely seeking to live a moral life.

God, of course, will rectify this situation at the Last Day when every true believer will receive their resurrected body, and then become a complete personality in which we will never sin again, as we live eternally in the new heaven and new earth with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

What a wonderful Savior we have!

And it is still the day of salvation so that anyone concerned about their salvation, can cry out to God for his mercy in the very real hope that God might save them. Just like the Ninevites in Jonah.

Why would God let you work your whole life, while helping others along the way, just so someone can come take it all away. I am older and disabled now, not able to start over. I worked hard to have things when I retired, now after putting my money in the family home, which is where I was to live till death, I was told to leave. Not being able to work I have to live in an income based apartment for which I am thankful to have a roof over my head. I only have room for the necessities so everything has to go. Why would God allow this? I have always tried to be there for everyone I can't understand how a person who didn't work for anything should take what is not theirs.

It makes me question the way I lived, it seems like when you do right you suffer. I think now helping others was wrong, they only take advantage of you. I always thought as long as I tried to live right God would take care of me, now I have to question that'

Someone please help me understand why

Hi Brother Ronald.

I wasn't addressing that toward you.

I said we've had others that use to come on the site "WITH VARIOUS NAMES" and toss those two scriptures out " Acts 8:37 and Acts 9:20" ect.

Some of us believe these various names is one person.

I believe sometimes these verses is used as clickbait to debate a topic.

However Ronald it seems you have went for it a few times.

Personally I pay attention to the delivery of the post and if it just comes out of nowhere with intensity I leave it alone even if I agree with them.

This person seems to be rolling their sleeves up.

I don't hold the view that we have to be open to everything however we should be willing to agree to disagree and move on.

I'm open to listen when one has brought something new to a past debate!

I'm not open to debate the same topic with the same verses over and over again.

I was just pointing out somethings that seems to be a bit repetitive.

Blessings