Bible Questions Page 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What would Jesus do?

Romans 8:7 states:

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."

The next verse describes how we were yet sinners; or what Colossians 1:21 states in even harsher terms as "enemies of God."

Next time you hear someone talking about how loving we all should be ask them if they would be willing to die for their enemies who hate them. We hear a lot of talk these days about the love of God; usually reduced to some mushy sentimentality and hardly differentiated from human passions. First off; it is only a half truth to go around talking about God's love only when it happens to coincide with pleasant or pleasurable circumstances for people on earth. Yes God loved us when we were yet sinners but provided provision through the Son as His ONLY method to reconcile the enmity between us and Him due to indwelling sin. God cannot look upon sinful man and love Him in the state he is in but DESPITE the fact that he is in a lost state with a heart that is; according to Jeremiah 17:9 "desperately wicked". God's METHOD is by having the Son; for we either have the Son and therefore know God or we know neither (see 1 John 23:24). This involves the Father and Son coming to "dwell within us" ( John 14:23 which also implies the Holy Spirit sealing us until the day of redemption ( Eph. 4:30).

Those who would view Jesus as someone that is primarily promoting some sort of sentimental affection either is Biblically illiterate or willfully deceived. He talked about being a sword to divide families ( Matthew 10:34-36); rebuked the Pharisees harshly a number of times; destroyed the Temple moneychanger market at least twice; and challenged those who would feign to be His disciples but whose heart wasn't in it. He even rebuked His own disciples. This is demonstrating that true love in His own life was obeying God; and we are called to do the same for Christ ( John 14:23).

John 10:1-4 "Not by the door" (2 of 2)

Pride of Satan will not allow him to be one among many." I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." He would usurp the place of the Son himself. God made angels spirit so technically a son of God. The angelic revolt in heaven to create an alternate narrative to the Salvation Plan as we may surmise from this verse, "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."(Ge.6:2) Without the simplicity of obedience how ludicrous was their plan to create a 'holy' family?. This also throws some light on the separation of light from the darkness. (Ge.1:4)

"Shall go in and out" When Jesus Christ is the door sheep may go in and out. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Going in and out can be understood at two levels. God gave the revelation of his Son "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.". The angel belongs to the sheepfold in the world of the Spirit. Similarly "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."(1 Chr.21:1) Hence this warning from St Paul,(Gal.1:8)

Our struggle is with spiritual wickedness in high places, refers to the world of the Spirit, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Full armor of God refers the one sheepfold in which we have rested from our own labors and are hid in Christ. So our battles are fought in the world of the Spirit. This also explains why Jesus instructed his disciples, "and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one".( Luke 22:36). "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" speaks for one world. The sword is badge of an overcomer in the world of the Spirit.

John 10:1-4 "Not by the door" (1 of 2)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

Jesus emphasizes here and he refers to the devil explicitly. How did he beguile Eve but through subtility and through the serpent? 2 Co.11:3. In the passage Jesus refers to the sheepfold which has only one door. This discourse is with reference to the world of the Spirit so a natural pastoral setting is also giving its spiritual underpinning. So God has called whosoever shall be adopted into the fellowship of God with Man, and collectively they make up one sheepfold which can be called witnesses. Cloud of witnesses and sheepfold in short refers to the divine Will of God. So Jesus as the Word become flesh refers to them as the sheep entrusted them with him. "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.:(10:29)

From Re.12:4 the red dragon, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." . So when Jesus says "Many are called, but few are chosen we may get an idea as to how subtle the devil is in upsetting the Salvation Plan of God. (Matt.22:14) St Paul's fear was for the saints who were called and given an example in the Son,"so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ," is in particular about the doctrinal purity the church is able to uphold. In their failure it has serious effect upon the world of the Spirit. This is how we ought to view Christian Living.

Conversely we have an event, building of the tower of Babel, which for instance is the replay of the angelic revolt in heaven. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:"(Is.14:13-15) Purity or simplicity that is in Christ said,"Lo I come to do thy will," On the other hand Satan challenges,"I will."

Ps.23:4 "Shadow of Death" (2 of 2)

Force of the everlasting covenant is the Law of the Spirit so everlasting gospel to destroy the works of the devil who sins from the beginning. Everlasting gospel is to be understood as part of the works Jesus is entrusted to finish. In John 4:34-38 we have two groups one who soweth and the other reapeth. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." (4:38) Who is the Sower? In the Parable of the Tares we have the answer.

"He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;/The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;/The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."(Matt.13:37-39) We cannot handle the word of God arbitrarily but give equal weight to them as essential for Christian Living. We are in the presence of enemies, from both worlds.

We can equally speak of our witnesses in the World of the Spirit to which Jesus referred, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"(Matt.26:53) They mirror in tandem with events on earth. Jacob at Mahanaim is a clear example. Angels met him before God would bless him."And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Ge.32:24) As the heir of promise came to a fateful encounter with his estranged brother it was God's way of bucking him. "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host."Similarly God reveals his power and glory to the heirs of promise. It is same what we read in Re.3:20. " 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."

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

Ps.23:3 "Shadow of death" (1 of 2)

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"

'Yea' or Amen we speak while the Good Shepherd leads us in the paths of righteousness and it requires some explanation. These paths cover both heaven and the earth."Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."(Ps.73:25-26) 'My portion for ever' speaks of our inheritance in Jesus Christ, who promises,"I go to prepare a place for you"( John 14:2). The valley speaks of the only way which is set before us. So when Jesus tell the seven churches we are shown a door connecting another. Re.3:20 In the following chapter, we read,"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven."(Re.4:1). Our heart is a spiritual space and we under the shadow of the Almighty whether we knew it or not. But the Word of God stands sure,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."(Ps.91:1)

On this basis what death are we referring to? "The slain Lamb before the foundation of the world" is the emblem to declare the everlasting covenant so what we see in the Abstract set down in' seven days' gives us how we have been blessed in the Son. In the divine Will we have been called and blessed and from His standpoint the cloud of witnesses belong to the world of the Spirit. For God is a Spirit. Thus God wills a separation in Ge.1:3-4 and it was so. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." This separation must be explained in the light of the covenant, is it not?

'There was war in heaven' and consequences spill over to the earth as well.(Re.12:7-8)

Before we take up v.5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" we need a little room to discuss the two contrary laws which have given rise to the presence of 'mine enemies'.

Psalm 23:4 "Christian Living" (2 of 2)

Mount Zion founded in Zion is a fortress. The sorrows of death compassed the Psalmist yet he could say "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress" and what is our certainty? Is it not that he conquered death and he is the author and finisher of our faith. He refers to the valley of the shadow of death. Before us we have a cloud of witnesses, many martyrs ahead of us,"being destitute, afflicted, tormented;/(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth/ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,"(He.11:37-40) The earth is a vale of tears for those who have no hope beyond this world of shadows. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." It is thus we look at the two worlds of the Spirit and of this body.

" My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:/ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand./My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."( John 10:27-29)

Christian Living is walking by faith having no confidence in flesh but in our Savior who opened the way for us to follow. "Thy follow me" is his trust. So Living is in capital to distinguish from those Christians who walk after the earthly things.

Heaven or hell?

A wise deacon in our church has stated that we are in enemy territory currently on earth. Our state prior to salvation was an enemy of God as we were blinded by the god of this world to do his bidding ( 2 Cor. 4:4). Despite what may be assumed by some; there are numerous descriptions of hell in the Old Testament. There are also references to heaven and the Millennial reign of saints ( Psalm 61 seems to be a veiled reference to David in that capacity; for instance). We see also in the famous passage in Job 19:27 which alludes to a bodily resurrection where he will see God. Psalm 63:9 is another reference to hell; in sending enemies to the "lowest parts of the earth." As much as we may not comprehend these eternal truths; Proverbs 8:36 states that "all who hate me love death." (see also John 3:19-21 and 1 John 2:11).

Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to salvation in John 10:9 and many other passages state the same thing; often in parables. Those who are not enlightened to this truth often have some scripture knowledge, but they can only see general statements about living a righteous life or see descriptions of God and only see God from afar; much as the Israelites did when wandering through the wilderness. Somehow man's myopic perspective focuses on characters in the Bible and considers those who were a prophet; or a "good teacher" and not understanding who is truly good; that is God alone ( Mark 10:18). This is why the man called Christ good in that passage; he was only seeing Him through human lenses rather than His true position as God in the flesh which only God Himself can reveal to someone ( Matt. 16:17).

These truths explain why man underplays his spiritual condition; he sees outer works and judges himself on them; and that based on his own set of scales weighing in his heart the "good vs. the bad"; ignoring God's perfect Holy standard. Worse still; he is blind to his sin NATURE which can only be changed God's way

Ps.23:3-4 "Abiding in Christ" (2 of 2)

Fulness of Christ does not restrict his glory to one aspect of human existence. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."(Ro.6:9)Both worlds of the Spirit and of the body consist of this completeness."And by him all things consist."(Col.1:16-17) So writer to the Hebrews refer to where the Good Shepherd is leading us to. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:/Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."(He.1:3-4)

Those who deny the works that Jesus Christ from the right hand of the Majesty on high are leaving for the false shepherds license to muddle the still waters of Shiloah, which is very much how the enemy would want it to be understood.

"he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Holding truth in unrighteousness, those who have begun well have shown to be liars. "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"(Gal.3:3) Another place we read, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."(Ph.3:18-19). Look at all the culture wars who stoke them but Satan?

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

Psalm 23 as with Ps.2 are to be studied from both worlds holding together in his Son. Here we see him as the Good Shepher while Psalm 2 Jesus Christ as the king of kings.

Psalm 23 "I shall not want"

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want".

Gospel of John explains why. "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." (1:16) St Paul has this to say,"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"(1 Co.4:7)God having foreknown us in his Son has also blessed so it is from both worlds of the Spirit and body. Faith is one so we speak trusting fully that all that is needful for our life and godliness has been met in our abiding life. He is the Good Shepherd and we are his flock.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters".

St John writes,"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."(10:9)

Still waters of Shiloah that goeth softly is how God of all Mercies has blessed the land to which the Spirit sets a heavenly pattern,-"There isa river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holyplaceof the tabernacles of the most High."(Ps.46:4). Jesus as the Good Shepherd knows his sheep since it is his Father has put them under his care. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"(10:27). In following his path bearing our cross daily this pasture is in the now. Our physical bodies may be aching and we may be experiencing bereavement, ill health and calumny from the world but his grace does wonders as St Paul experienced when caught up to the third heavens and this unspeakable glory of Jesus as the restorer of our souls. St Paul's malady is ours too. The enemy is at the gates while our weak bodies are most vulnerable but what is our 'pick-me-up? "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."(2 Co.12:2,9)

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Re..3:20-22 "Knock" (2 of 2)

"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." If Jesus says he has to finish his work we can be certain how he does it shall be to perfection to which we are in full agreement. This is what faith with works would mean.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." ( John 14:12) We know that Jesus ascended to his Father for a reason and His promise of a helper was to enable us to do much more by abiding in him. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)

Jesus sets an open door before the church of Philadelphia. Similarly he is seated on the right hand of God so what he says is as,"he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"(3:7). It evokes his promise as the Son of man, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). This is how we ought to view of our authority as abiding in our Savior Lord. Our Faith with works is to say Amen to His sovereignty over our bodies, both spiritual bodies as well as mortal bodies So what Jesus meant by finishing his works is it not feeding our spiritual bodies as well? Only when Christ seated on the throne says, "It is done" his works shall be finished.(Re.21:6a)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(v.22). All his promises are for saints called to be overcomers. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( John 10:16) This is also part of his work.

Lastly in v.21 we have two thrones mentioned referring to the throne of God and of the Lamb.(Re.22:1)

Re.3:20-21 "Knock" (1 of 2)

The knock mentioned here is different from this verse."Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"(Matt.7-8) Jesus here mentions the door to salvation. " and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." The next verse sets this in context. "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" Jesus is referring to his Father who is in heaven while what Jesus refers in the key verse is the door to the heart of a believer who is saved but is yet to be counted as an overcomer.

The Lord is my shepherd (Ps.23:1) In the Gospel of John we see the same idea put in context of the Father Son relationship. Jesus as the Word become flesh is the Good Shepherd so when he claimed, "I am the way" it explains why his Father sent him to the world. "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."( John 10:2). So his authority is as that of the legitimate, the only one whose actions are taken in truth."I am the truth" explains this aspect As the faithful witness and true he promises to all seven churches, where he stands. He demands his rightful place in their heart, a spiritual space, representing the face upon which the Spirit moved before the commencement of the creation. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.(Ge.1:2b)

"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." (3:20)

In the Matthew quote, salvation dealt with ask, seek and knock. The door accordingly opened a straight and narrow path for the seeker to find his pasture. Here Jesus Christ in his majesty offers a supper set in an intimate one to one basis."I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This pasture is doing the will of God so meat and drink refers a life in heavenly places. "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

Chris and Bennymkje

Let's speak of the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD, the Word is GOD Himself, understand? I quoted to you and to ALL what my Lord JESUS said in His PRAYER to the Father. JESUS said to GOD the Father: John 17:6 - " I have MANIFESTED thy NAME unto the MEN which thou GAVEST me out of the WORLD: thine they were, and thou gavest them me;and they -the MEN- have kept thy Word.

In fact JESUS MANIFESTED the NAME of GOD to the MEN. Your answer is an announcement, a declaration, or even clearly leaves a CONFESSION that you DO NOT KNOW the NAME of GOD the Father, NAME MANIFESTED unto the MEN by my Lord JESUS.

So, in a defensive position because you don't have an answer within the Scriptures, you come in unpolished manner to tell me that I "cannot be more in the know of Name than the Son". What you said is fake. What matters and prevails is what my Lord JESUS said: Matthew 11:27 - "No MAN knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any MAN the Father, save the Son,and he to whomsoever the Son will REVEAL Him. As you and ALL can see, it is by REVELATION,not by speculations, presumptions, and so on.

Your answer is an announcement, a declaration, or even clearly leaves a CONFESSION that you DO NOT KNOW the NAME of GOD the Father, NAME MANIFESTED by my Lord JESUS unto the MEN.

Furthermore, you cited the esoteric, and kabbalistic, and spiritist NAMES of GOD (this is a blaspheme), such as JEHOVAH, YAHWEH, YHWH, ADONAI, EL SHADAI, HaSHEM as if were the NAMES OF"GOD",but there are more esoteric and kabbalistic names of"GOD" besides these, according the devilish esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist Judaism,and you believe in this satanic doctrine and testify and spread their idolatries and sorceries here.

My Lord JESUS said: "No MAN knoweth the Son,but the Father; neither knoweth any MAN the Father,save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will REVEAL Him. As you and ALL can see, it is by REVELATION only, exclusively.

Wake up, it's midnight

"Esau"

The will of God is complete so His calling is for every one who is set in context of his Son who is the firstborn of all creation. Who has heard the call and lives in lockstep with him is a double for the Son. Joseph was one. He was the last but one among his brethren but it is he who serves as a stand-in for his Son. He became the savior of a nation despite of his being vilely treated by his older siblings. Even so when he presented his sons who were born in Egypt Jacob bypassed the firstborn."And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head."(Ge.48:17-18)

Esau was the first born,- and yet he despised his birthright. He let go blessings of God which are as special as God's gifts and called are beyond recall, yields the clearest evidence behind the theological term of predestination. As Jesus Christ is established as the firstborn of every creature when God promised His blessings to Abraham, he was seeking co-heirs of promise with his Son. (Ge.12:3; Ro.8:17.) Jacob struggled with Esau who had no sympathy for spiritual gifts and the Holy Ghost provides a concrete imagery in the mess of pottage to explain his least regard for things of God.

" Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob. And I hated Esau,(Mal.1:2-3)

"For ye know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." (He.12:17-KJ21). Here we have a commentary by divine revelation that contrition without works is useless.

Now from two examples of Esau and Manasseh they being firstborn did not pass muster with the divine Will. Predestination explains why anyone is blessed in his Son. He is the Father of mercies. But becoming firstborn is to be led by the same Spirit of Christ. Joseph showed the same spirit to counted as the double.

"Envy"

Grace and truth came with Jesus Christ. He became poor in order to make us rich. St Paul speaks of being complete in him. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Col.2:10). This being the case what this world can counteroffer and Satan tempted Jesus with "all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;/And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me./ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt.4:8-9). When we are complete in him it is not merely of a state of being with senses giving certain cues of a world that changes ever subtle shifts so whosoever builds his hopes shall be like the foolisher builder who built his house upon the sand. He offered instead everlasting life in which God is one, "that God may be all in all." This is what the Spirit of God establishes as holiness to which man shall only enter through his Son. This is the spirit of Christ or grace operates upon all without exception so the same DNA of faith has its perfect working.

"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"(He.10:29)

Envy is the sum total of false estimation of one's worth. Revolt of Korah was against God's administration. Earlier Miriam murmured, "Has he not spoken through us also?" Miriam envied Moses as Korah would later show. He and sons of Levi led a faction, Miriam and Korah were punished for it. They were moved by the spirit of Satan who is the father of lies. In short envy in to divide and bring damage to the working of divine Will.

"Our calling"

"Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Ep.4:4)We were called before the foundation of the world. St Paul anchors our calling 'in one hope' which is compared to an anchor. "But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"(Ro.8:24) St Paul is referring to salvation so hope is well grounded on two worlds of the Spirit and body,- the body prepared for the Son to be precise. Thus we shall read the key verse more precisely as 'In one hope of your profession'. Upon what our hope revolves about? Is it not faith which is one. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." (He.3:1)

He.11:3 lays down the relative positions of the two worlds where faith is one signifying how anyone may be considered as his brethren. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." How can an imposter religion cobbled by a Council be elevated to the body of Christ? The body is perfect because both physical body and spiritual body of the Son set off one other to perfection on account of the obedience. It is what faith with works means, pure and simple. It falls under the divine Will of the Father. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (He.2:10) What glory can anyone show in the manner the Council of Nicaea settled upon their creed by way of compromise in 325? Instead of falling in line with the Word and the Word become flesh, the will to prevail over each other became the order. Instead of the Son whose mind was to reveal the glory of his Father by obedience we have this slogan "Athanasius contra mundum" as monument to heresies ever since. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord," (2 Co.6:17-18)

"Unity of the Spirit" (2 of 2)

Adam is a representational figure. When God put enmity between law of the Spirit against law of sin we see the seed of woman coming under the Law of sin and a world of the flesh, seed of it is under the same curse, " and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."(Ge,3:15) This word of the flesh creates a body of evidence marked by death. Our wretchedness comes from this realization, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" (Ro.7:24)

Jesus became the word become flesh in order to destroy the works of the devil.

Unity of the Spirit brings one Spirit one body under the divine Will of the Father. Thus glory of God is in not only spiritual shadow but is with reference to the body, the spiritual body it is called. It gives each seed divine impetus so to every seed its own body, holiness of which is determined in its association with the Son. Thus in the creation account, where 'seed in itself' speaks of this holy family, (Ge.1:11) God commanded and the effect we read thus: "And it was so." Heaven signifies the will of God and the earth represented by the Son, (the visible image of the invisible God-Col.1:15) sets forth a chain of sequences that we call the church, or in whom is the seed of truth. The new heaven and the new earth, in short refer to the end times when the reconstituted time is no longer required. "That God may be all in all" explains that the Son had fulfilled His will to perfection.(1 Co.15:24-28)

1 Co.15:29 "Baptism for the dead"

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

Baptism for the dead, there is nothing to be afraid of and dying daily is not a sacrament but comes under the department of works. What is baptism but an act of faith? Faith without works is dead. So what shall we make of the doctrine of man which Evangelical refers to their activism? On one hand they repudiate 'works' the labor of love done in Christ but with both hand embrace Christian nationalism, Pro-life movement and 'prosperity'? "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name," (He.6:10-15) so works done toward his name must be done with "the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." This inheritance of promises is unlocked by his name than 'active' faith preached by imposter religion to loosen the tight fist of God. It is thus Satan has deceived them and their prosperity theology is a classic example.

If you died to the world of sin and the world you are as St Paul says,"I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." (1 Co.15:30-31). The Nicene creed says, "I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins." For those children of disobedience who fight for faith but in works do the devil's business, stoke cultural wars and help as one famous preacher in the late 60s helped the US President's Southern agenda by publicly stating that all rapists should be castrated merely shows the malaise of the mainstream Christianity feeding upon the Pagan Rome for its growth. Where death worked for saints in the time of St Paul we have now a pastor, here is the quote, "We know that Scripture does not teach that baptism regenerates a person. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone ( Eph. 2:8-9). Nor does Scripture indicate that water baptism is required for a person to be saved." Faith+works

1Co.15:28 "God is One" (2 of 2)

"And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."(Matt.3:9)This reference though indirect tells us of the spirit of foreknowledge that laces human speech, a manifestation of the grace of God. John the Baptist knew it well what holiness of God entailed. Moses pleaded because of his slowness in speech but what did God tell him? Aaron was his older sibling yet "And thou shalt be to him instead of God." God made him as he was and in his Son he shall be to Aaron an angel, in place of God. It is thus God gave the revelation of Jesus Christ which was revealed to John by his angel. (Re.1:1;Ex.4:18) This cloud of witnesses are names, and spirits of believers called in his Son. How we live in our earthly tabernacles as St Paul exhorts us has direct bearing."Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."(2 Co.5:6) Holiness of God is in terms of the body so spitting of Christian pilgrims on the streets by ultra-Orthodox Jews is part of Apartheid that goes on even now.Children of Belial shall never understand then as now. Jeering at baldness of Elisha broughtpunishment on the 42 and now what happens to the lawless Jews is a token of God's wrath. How shall man play with moral imperatives keeping of which is one manner of giving glory to God. St Paul here refers of his spiritual body which is present before the Lord.

1 Co.15 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Here we see the resurrection rendered representational in Christ. When we are dead to sin should we not live in heavenly places than seeking praise of man? Our lives are as many branches to the true Vine.

Whether in body or in spirit Jesus showed obedience as the key verse tells us "that God may be all in all."

"Evidence"

Evidence of things seen in the world of the flesh is unlike evidence of things unseen which can only be reconciled in God. ( 1 John 5:7-8) The Father the Word and the Spirit agree in one. Sum total of heaven and earth has only faith with which to possess them. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (He.11:1)

How reliable are proof in the world of the flesh? Joseph's brethren brought their evidence and their father believed it. "And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no./ And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat."(Ge.37:31-35). Similarly Potiphar's wife had proof. Substance of things presented as evidence in the world of the flesh has a way of getting lost. "Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."(Pr.23:5)

Isaiah 52:14 states: As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men...

Whenever we question suffering and why it needs to be on this earth today; the ultimate question may be why did God's Son have to suffer beyond any other in creation? Again; the physical death would have been nothing compared to the sweat of drops of blood considering His upcoming separation from the Father and taking on our sins onto Himself. This atonement is perhaps the biggest reason suffering needs be; it all began with the fall of man and it's ripple effect in all Creation but God in His infinite wisdom knew that this atonement needed to happen to restore all things to Himself ( Acts 3:21).

One could; of course look at all of human history as one would view a screen play; full of drama; pathos and various characters of antagonist or protagonist leanings. This helps us to examine God's overall "emotions" (again reducing things to a human level to comprehend characteristics of the Godhead). If we were to examine our free will in the midst of this it could be crudely compared to a rogue actor doing some unscripted scene which is confined to the small time allotted for the play to act itself out.

This shows how we as humans cannot ultimately change the course of predetermined events; but also that we are not robots ourselves who are always bound to the same script but all have individual roles to play and also how all of us are interconnected to each other. This results in all who are His own on "stage right" as it were and the rest on "stage left". Proverbs 3:6 says in all ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps (I believe that is one translation).

When we look to the Apostle Paul's declaration that the sufferings of the present time are nothing compared to the glory to come ( Romans 8:18) we see that the joys of heaven will therefore be so much the greater after the harvest from today's brief trials

"Carnal wisdom" (1 of 2)

The Pharisees of old made a show of asking 'What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?' But they shall not do what is required of them. Wisdom was too high for them since their carnal nature came in between. Activism prosperity theology,- love of money and praise of men leave no room for humility and obedience which persist even in our times. Why would they seek wisdom it they were to turn out in the end like reprobate silver?

Satan knows the word of God but without understanding the key to it,- the everlasting covenant and the aspect of Salvation all his wisdom is to no purpose. As James would put it "but is earthly, sensual, devilish./ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work"(Jas.3:16-17). Satan resisted what the Lord had willed. Joshua was a double for the Son. "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him./ And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee" (See under A-Accuser)

"Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?"(Pr.17:16)

God searches the hearts and knows what are their motives. So when one seeks wisdom, to what purpose is the first question? If he is uncertain and if he asks in earnest God shall establish it for him. "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.(16:3)" Secondly a man may draw his conclusions which are not guarantee that it shall succeed. A fool is the one who may ask but nevertheless wants to settle the outcome by himself. Samuel told King Saul how but he did it anyway as he wanted. When he confronted him he admits, "And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."(1 Sa.15:24).

To Brother Ronald Whittemore & others. I'm unable to respond to Ronald's last response to me, as the Reply button is missing (probably purposely done to limit the comments in that thread). So this one comes as a new Thread to address those matters.

Page 1.

Thanks again Ronald, and I note that you would like a recess on this discussion. But if I might briefly address the Scriptures you shared & why I believe that they don't answer the question, 'was Jesus' first appearance only from the womb of Mary, or did He exist in another Form within the Person of God?'

To your references:

1 Corinthians 15:47: "the second man is the Lord from Heaven" (not a Man Who became Lord, Who went into Heaven & then returned to Earth as Lord from Heaven - but the Lord Who was in Heaven & came to Earth, unlike the first man, Adam, Who was created from the Earth & back to the Earth he went).

1 Timothy 2:5: yes, Jesus is the Mediator now between God & mankind after His ascension.

Matthew 1:20, Acts 17:31, Revelation 12:5: yes again, all point to Jesus as a Man/Babe Who came from God - but no direct reference to any previous existence.

Hebrews 1:5: indeed, Jesus became the Son of God by virtue of this miraculous Birth, but then God would have created another god, because 'all the angels of God are to worship Him'; & none can receive worship but God alone. You asked, "How could God say I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son if Jesus eternally existed with the Father?" Because God took His Word & gave Flesh to that Word, and this Flesh was brought into the World by the Work of God, which made this One called Jesus, God's Son. Jesus only became the Son of God at the Incarnation.

Hebrews 2:7: Jesus was made "a little lower than the angels" by virtue of His Humanity. It seems there is an order of created beings before God: the angels being above humanity, of which Jesus was made, thus subjecting Him to being our equal.

Onto Page 2.

God's wrath taken out on His Son.

Paul Washer has brought up a point often said that we should always reflect on regarding the crucifixion. Namely; the Lord's suffering was primarily because He had to take on the sins of all His elect which was far greater agony than the crucifixion. I don't have the date of the sermon I saw the other day but he also mentioned how many saints have died and rejoiced during martyrdom so that clearly Christ had a burden none of us who are believers ever will have to endure. Having the Father turn away after eternal fellowship beforehand is incomprehensible; this explains why it was a done deal when He said "it is finished". For all eternity in the future He will be exalted and no longer suffer as He did for that brief moment in history.

This situation is the ultimate mind bender to comprehend. How could God be angry with His Son who was also fully God? This was due; of course to the counsel of God or as Deuteronomy 29:29 states part of the "hidden counsel of God" which we mortals cannot peer into at least in full. He took on what we deserved; and if it weren't for this; we all would spend eternity separated from God in hell with all unregenerate sinners. To be more precise; God directed His wrath at Christ who was the sin bearer for us. In His omnipotence He surely knew that in the future His Son would be restored; resurrected and once again rule with Him.

There are no words to describe what was done in our behalf as our Redeemer.

With this in mind; when we see the incident mentioned with Ananias and Sapphira; or here admonitions that some die taking communion unworthily we certainly don't have any room for anything but humble adoration and fear of the Lord. Greiving the Spirit is something a believer can relate to; whereas the world at large has no appetite for the Lord; His love or His righteousness no matter how carefully they try to bend it to their own imaginations of a humanistic or idyllic world.

I am lost on this question . I can't seem to find if and where it says this in the Bible.... Please help.

I hear Preachers saying that when we die and Christian that we go straight to Heaven .

I have found John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

And what don't help me is reading that when Jesus comes back and rise the dead in Christ .... Who is he raising if we are already in Heaven ?

I also found where Jesus said that we we die it is as sleeping , and would be as a second to the dead when God comes for them

Please anyone help , if anyone can give me the Book / Chapter and Verse .

My wife Died not long ago and if this is not in the bible I don't wish to be changing what the Bible is saying by helping to spreading this , by telling all that she is in Heaven at this point.

Thank you and God Bless

Father, God the

God is a Spirit and His holiness is the name, which He expressed when He declared, 'Thou art my Son'. (Ps.7-8). We can understand the significance of this from this, "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word." ( John 17:6-NKJV; John 6:37). Holiness in the matter of the name creates a Holy Family not of flesh and blood but on the basis of faith. The key to the Father Son relationship is faith with works. "If then I be a father, where is my honour?" (Mal.1:6). There are well meaning Christians who is proof against spiritualizing the word. They take literally and go by sense than the Spirit. So what is the wisdom which they go by? Wisdom of heaven is free and they would rather be called Pharisees than take it. Faith is what required. If we see still arguments over humanity and deity of Jesus in our forum it just proves why. Their intellect is their security blanket and cannot let go.

Salvation plan of God is on the basis of the Father Son relationship. The earth as a mirror of heaven. This shall be completed when the tabernacle of God is among men. (Re.21:3)

Separation of sons of God from the unbelieving world is the work to which Jesus referred, My Father works hitherto and I work, and he opened a new and living way. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Co.6:17)

This verse jumped out at me:

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:" Philippians 2:9 KJV

"above every name". Even above Jehovah?

"That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth." Psalms 83:18 KJV

Jehovah's name was the highest name before.

I'm posting this for input not as a trivia question.

It seems to say that the name of Jesus after His sacrifice was placed above the name of Jehovah, do you believe this and if so should this reality affect our Christian walk?

"Firstborn, the slaughter of the"

Here we have a clear proof that the divine Will of the Father is complete since the fulfilling aspect of it is devolved on the Son. God is one. ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"-De.6:4) In its function the Wisdom aspect must work with the Power principle of God so Trinity explains power and glory of the eternal God. In short order of the kingdom of God is the Law or the Word. John 1:1 states that the Word was with God. On the contrary Satan is the father of confusion. Satan sins from the beginning so Jesus Christ was manifest to destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever has resisted him is the son of perdition. Then as now.

In the divine Will the Lamb slain before the foundation of the Word is determined. Against that we need consider all the martyrs from Abel onwards to which Jesus alludes at the end of woe to ye discourse in Matt.23. God the Father had made provisions for the collateral damage of sin. Against the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world slaughter of the firstborn has to be weighed. Who shall accuse God of genocide or crime against humanity.

By the same token how shall we compare the murder of six million Jews in the 20th century by what whole scale slaughter in Gaza or in West Bank being carried out with impunity? God has set his Son as the slain Lamb for the whole mankind. God is the Judge.

(See under M-Mode/ Law of Gradation)

"Emotions of God" as related to Moses (cont).

The act of intercession; therefore is something crucial to communication throughout scripture that indeed gives us some insight of Hebrews 7:25 (He ever lives to intercede for us). Daniel also repeated this theme in Daniel 9:8-10. God's promise here was the prophetic insight given in Jeremiah 29:10. God stated this would happen; so it appears to be a done deal. There was no promise how many would do this; as is evident from the small group that initially rebuilt the wall; and the disobedience of many was seen with marriages to foreign wives. No doubt worldliness had affected the hearts of those who should have remembered the prosperity God gave them in Babylon and His promises to return after that time. It is a wonder that confession of the sins of church congregations isn't given much attention as compared to particulary egregious ones of individuals as it still affects the overall witness as we see from exhortations written for the churches in Revelation 2 and 3; for example.

Look at God's faithfulness to Israel as stated in Jeremiah 31:36 where the courses of nature would have to change with the sun and moon for God to abandon His covenant promises. In fact the only covenant changed is that related to the method of worship with the law and sacrifices which was of course replaced by the perfect sacrifice under Christ which abolished therefore the old ordinances. (see Hebrews 9-10). The object of worship was therefore Christ; God had stated in Isaiah 1:11; see also Psalm 69:31.

In understanding the New Covenant we should perceive that it is still the same God with the same characteristics today that existed in the Old Testament from eternity. We would on the surface expect that to be a "no brainer"; but how often do we see the fear of God demonstrated as in Acts 5:1-11 with Ananias and Sapphira? Our commitments to God should not be of fools ( Ecclesiastes 5:4). See Matthew 5:33-35 for ungodly vows.

"Firstborn"

'Israel, my Firstborn' (Ex.4:22) According to the eternal purpose, which God purposed in Christ the nation was called. (Ep.3:11). According to the pattern that God showed Moses it is clear that it was the fellowship of God with Man was the basis. It served the pattern for all the tabernacles from the first to the eternity. "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men"(Re.21:3). Israel and the Gentiles were foreknown equally

'Firstborn from the dead' referred to his Son; and the condition was any man who allowed to be conformed to the image of his Son. "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers (Ro.8:29). Israel in rejecting him was tantamount to Esau spurning his birth-right.

Conforming to the image of His Son entails his death and resurrection so the way the Son took presents a newness of life for the believer. Atonement of Jesus Christ covers those who have received him by faith, regardless of Jews or Gentiles. God's deep purpose has been revealed since the outpouring of the Spirit signalled a new body, not of the flesh but of the Spirit. "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence (Col.1:18; Re.1:5)."

'O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel "(Je.31:7 and they shall find grace. "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man (Je.31:22)". It is no longer Israel as their firstborn but the Church as the Bride of Christ, in which Israel shall have a part.