This is the order that I was taught and still believe to be true based on my own study.
Acts 8:36-37 are some of the greatest verses about Baptism. Philip gives the conditions for baptism: That the individual must believe with all their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (this rules out babies being baptized). 1 Pet 3:21 states that it is a figure that is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Based on those two passages, I believe that Belief comes before Baptism.
Now to compare being Born again to Believing, but first, just to define terms, what does being born again mean? It is the same as quickening and regenerating ( Eph 2:1; Tit 3:5). It is a phase of our salvation when God revives us spiritually with His Holy Spirit. We are physically born dead in trespasses and sins ( Eph 2:1-3). When Adam cursed mankind in the garden of Eden he died spiritually that day. God told him he would die the day he ate the fruit ( Gen 2:17), but Adam lived up to 930 years ( Gen 5:5), so either God lied and the Devil was telling the truth ( Gen 3:4) or a different type of death occurred than physical that being spiritual.
Rom 8:7-8 are powerful verses about the state of the carnal mind. Without God's gift of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing that is pleasing to God. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we only have the old man, the flesh, the carnal mind that hates God without the new man and spiritual mind that wants to please God.
Okay, back to the order of B's... 1 John 2:29 says "every one that doeth righteousness IS born of him" not shall be born of him. If a man does righteousness it is proof that the righteous spirit of God dwells in him and that he was born, quickened, and regenerated to have a spirit that loves God.
Additionally, John 1:12 mentions those who believe on him, but the verse does not end with a period. The rest of the thought is that they WERE born of God ( John 1:13).
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
11And be ready against the third day:for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people,and sanctified the people;and they washed their clothes.
15And he said unto the people,Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning,that there were thunders and lightnings,and a thick cloud upon the mount,and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud;so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with GOD;and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and GOD answered him by a voice.
20And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
John 2:18-20
18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Hebrews 1:1-2
1GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days (last two Days or last 2000 years)spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
The third Day arrived, the clothes must be washed,the Lord shall descend from heaven(from the 3rd heaven),the dead in Christ shall rise first- 1Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 19:7-8.
Matthew 25:6-Behold,the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to meet Him.
Further discussion on definitions for secondary themes; applications and doctrines.
Besides UNIVERSAL rules with examples such as I posted in my last message about marriage regulations; murder would also be something which demands justice as a universal law.
What I will call CASE SPECIFIC tenants are not going to determine whether we are truly saved or not but are primarily appropriate for confessing believers. Sin is sin; but we shouldn't expect people to stop cussing; drinking; gambling or doing other vices that aren't at least strictly forbidden in scripture. Also things which are impossible become possible such as not loving the world or anything in it (1 John 2:15). These issues also could determine the lifespan of an individual and be considered more in the category of general wisdom. Someone who is habitually overeating is doing more harm to their bodies (in general) because of what is in reality a soul issue; whereas someone sleeping around is primarily hurting their soul. In either case physical health concerns can develop simply living in a perishable vessel.
Perhaps the classification here could be something that is associated with but not directly linked to a primary doctrine. Showing hospitality such as described in Hebrews 13:2 ties into the concept of loving God (1st commandment0 and loving your neighbor as yourself. Since it would be more difficult for a homeless man to be able to offer much in the way of hospitality it is somewhat case specific.
The third category may be something that is POSSIBLY related to a primary tenant but can't be strongly proven. Such could be a person who holds to a certain diet mentioned as ceremonially clean in the Old Testament. One could argue this is to honor the "Temple" where the Spirit now resides ( 1 Cor. 6:19-20). A more controversial issue is the day of worship. We could make an argument for the original day of rest or the first day of the week but we must remember Collossians 2:16!
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (1 Ki.8:27)
Jesus Christ is the brightness of His glory since he proved the Word was doable. With one sacrifice he perfected all those who were sanctified. His body prepared for him before the foundation of the world fulfilled the divine Will. Body as a temple. Jesus had declared, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."( John 2:19) Forever thy word is settled in heavens, the Psalm quote helps us understand the glory of Son which has both power and wisdom associated with the Law. (Ps.119:89) The four and twenty elders as a memorial commemorated the body. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;/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 is named and the name gives a clear distinction that he bears the name as befitting the visible image of the invisible God. Glory of the name is the Soul, and when we bear the name of Christians we are acknowledging we bring glory and honor to his his name. Our humility is not merely put on but withour lives we witness it. This explains why 24 elders remain unnamed. In trinity they witness the body along with the four beast. (Ph.2:5-9) This is the mind we ought to develop.
God is a Spirit. Thus Trinity is mirrored by all those saints called and blessed in the Son. Their body the church has only one name of the Son.
Sorry for the delay. I searched to interpret the nuances of your answer to the question I made for you, i.e. why did JESUS send not a letter to the Church of Rome, that was developed by Paul Apostle ( Romans 1:7-13, written around 57AD), when He sent the seven letters to the Churches of Asia? My focus was: what would you say about this? It was just curiousity.
Of my part, trying to search an explanation for the omission or exclusion of the Church of Rome of the list of our Lord JESUS, only for to report or to clarify my point, I would say that when was revelead the Apocalypse to John, the Church of the Lord in Rome had already apostatised completely, and had turned itself the embryo and the birthplace, or the cradle, of the antiChrist, linking to the Roman Empire -the iron-, and remains still until today an apostate Church in the hands of Devil ( 1John 2:18-21).
When the false messiah of the JEWS- John 5:43-47 combined with Revelation(Apocalypse)13:11- manifest himself in Israel (probably this year or next?), both Beasts -(Catholicism-the Papacy, and the esoteric and kabbalistic Judasm) will make a deal to establish a religious and satanic kingdom(the feet and 10 toes of the Nebuchadnezzar's statue- Daniel 2:44-45 combined with Revelation 13:2), and there will be a WAR between GOD x SATAN- Revelation 13:3 and !3:14 combined with Revelation 12.
My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
It is of your knowledge that the Word of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting.
You know the Word is GOD, GOD Himself, great mystery( Matthew 11:27). No man hath seen GOD at any time (invisible GOD)- John 1:18- , the only begotten Son, which was in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. Because in the beginning -i.e. in JESUS- , was the Word-GOD Himself-, the Word was made flesh- John 1:14 combined with the Word given to the prophet Isaiah 9:6, among other prophetic references- , great mystery. The Word was GOD - and is GOD, GOD Himself, - from everlasting to everlasting.
1 Cor. 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.
Revelation 10:7
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY of GOD should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the Truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the Truth. 1John 2:20-21.
Staying intimately connected to the True Vine is the only way to "bear fruit in old age" ( Psalm 92:14), to "run and not grow weary" ( Isaiah 40:31), and to not "grow weary in well-doing" ( Galatians 6:9).
One counterfeit to bearing good fruit is pretense. We can become experts at the routines, the lingo, and "acting Christian," while experiencing no real power and bearing no eternal fruit. Our hearts remain self-centered, angry, and joyless even while we go through the motions of serving God. We can easily slip into the sin of the Pharisees of Jesus' day in judging ourselves by how we think we appear to others and neglecting that secret place of the heart where all good fruit germinates. When we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things that the rest of the world does, we are not abiding in Christ, even though our lives may be filled with church-related activity.
And, often, we don't realize that we are living fruitless lives (1 John 2:15-17).
Our works will be tested by fire. Using a different metaphor than fruit,
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 says, "If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames."
God is the judge of even our thoughts and motivations. All will be brought to the light when we stand before Him ( Hebrews 4:12-13).
God knows what He has entrusted to each of us and what He expects us to do with it ( Luke 12:48). Our responsibility before God is to be "faithful with little" so that He can trust us with much ( Matthew 25:21).
Having Christ's righteousness imputed to us does not mean we automatically do what is right-that will come through the process of sanctification. What it does mean is that we are positionally righteous; even though we still sin, we are legally righteous. God has credited the righteousness of Christ to our account, and He did this when He saved us. In grace, the holiness of Jesus Christ is ascribed to us. Christ "has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption"
1 Corinthians 1:30.
1John 5:13 reads"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Here's an helpful article.
If a person knows Christ and is growing in grace, he or she will be generally marked by the following traits:
1. The believer enjoys fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people. 1 John 1:3.
2. The believer walks in the light, not in the darkness. 1 John 1:6-7.
3. The believer admits and confesses his sin. 1 John 1:8.
4. The believer obeys God's Word. 1 John 2:3-5.
5. The believer loves God rather than the world. 1 John 2:15.
6. The believer's life is characterized by "doing what is right" 1 John 2:29.
7. The believer seeks to maintain a pure life. 1 John 3:3.
8. The believer sees a decreasing pattern of sin in his life. 1 John 3:5-6.
1 John 5:18.
9. The believer demonstrates love for other Christians ( 1 John 3:14).
10. The believer "walks the walk," versus just "talking the talk" 1 John 3:18-19.
11. The believer maintains a clear conscience. 1 John 3:21.
12. The believer experiences victory in his Christian walk 1 John 5:4.
Number 8 in the list above is that the believer will evince a decreasing pattern of sin in his or her life.
No one who belongs to Christ continue to "Practice" sin as a way of life.
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord JESUS shall be REVEALED from heaven with His mighty angels, (for example, Michael. Daniel 12:1-3 combined with Revelation 12)
8 In FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on them that know not GOD( Matthew 11:27), and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be PUNISHED with everlasting destruction( Revelation 11:18) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His Power( Matthew 28:18);
10 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...in this day. (The last Day, the seventh and last Day-this Day just arrived-, or seventh and last millennium)
1John 2:28 - And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Isaiah 33:10-14
10 Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, ye that are far off(Gentile peoples), what I have done; and, ye that are near(Jewish people), acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the DEVOURING FIRE? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? -> Hebrews 12:29- For our GOD is a consuming fire.
The Word is from everlasting to everlasting, the Word is GOD, self-executing, understand?
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(v.31) Jesus Christ as the same yesterday today and forever, warns the four disciples what must happen hereafter. "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."(v.23)
The second Temple of Herod shall not stand."Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(v.2) Parallel to this he also warns of his death. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body./When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."( John 2:19-22)
In order to be certain that we are not taken with the perishing Jesus introduced the sign of the end times. His body was broken up so shall everything in heaven and the earth. "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven./Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."(He.12:26-27). The Word of God has set the warning from the beginning. What occurred at Mount Sinai was one such warning, and when the end shall come is not for us to know.
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father./Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.:(vv.32-33)
Hi Symone63. You must be referring to some other teaching (e.g. Roman Catholicism) which maintains Mary's perpetual virginity. If you are, then the Scriptures are replete with verses to show that after Jesus was born to Mary, then Mary gave birth to other children (sons & daughters), but Mary was indeed a virgin when the Holy Spirit placed this Godly Seed into her, so that God could appear unto men in the flesh in the Person of Jesus, as only God could make the full, acceptable, & permanent payment for mankind sins ( 1 Timothy 2:16; 1 John 3:16; John 15:13).
You can look at the following Scriptures to show that Jesus did have siblings, albeit half-siblings now by both Joseph & Mary. Matthew 12:46,47; Matthew 13:55,56; Mark 6:3; John 2:12; John 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34John 5:30Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:221 John 4:32 John 1:7Romans 5:82 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-42 Timothy 2:8.
Mark 2:1-12 "We never saw it on this fashion" (1 of 2)
"And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
Authority of Jesus evidently came from the doctrine of his Father; and the word become flesh could say,"I am the truth". Unlike the scribes whose authority, as Jesus faulted them, reeked of hypocrisy (1:22) he walked the straight and narrow line. John testifies,"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken./I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."( John 12:49-50) Where did he learn from? He was in the bosom of his Father so what he said and did was defining the Father inside out.( John 1:18)
While healing the man with palsy, his response we read,"immediately" he arose. He proved "I and my Father are one" and Mark's delineation spares no pains to tell this relation. "He that has the Father has the Son as well. He that has the Son has the Father also' when Jesus made it possible 'inso much that they were all amazed." They glorified God.(1 John 2:23)
In the previous chapter he was in a synagogue in Capernaum, the unclean spirit 'cried out,"I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." In the world of the Spirit even unclean spirits know the Holy One of God" but they do not want to follow him. In what was the scribes and the Pharisees who did not live by what they preached? Their uncleanness arose from hypocrisy a spiritual malady. Mark here takes us again to Capernaum. In the domestic setting what does the scribes say," Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"(2:7) He was indeed of God to see through them. The tag 'immediately' in v.8 "And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit", is an indication that his deity worked even when he emptied himself.
Agape still comes from the Spirit; if I understand correctly it is equivalent to the fellowship or communion of the saints hence a commandment to love one another. It is part of His body; with Christ the head being the source of all things and the head of that body. I appreciate your expertise in Greek.
My point is as you can tell that all other loves in themselves have no inherent good in them without the Lord in control of us. It is like anything else in the sense that there is nothing bad in itself provided that God's laws are followed with a covenant marriage for instance in expressing the deepest human love. Even in that context; however when we allow any human passions to be in charge of our souls our sin nature utilizes these innate desires to steer us in the wrong way. The issue; of course is that there is no eternally lasting love that is in the human soul that can live outside of the life of Christ in us; and in 1 John 2:17 we see evidence of that truth. Doing the will of God is of course impossible ultimately in our human understanding. The world system for instance steers people toward a mindset that any punishment is too harsh and is judging someone and taking away their inherent value. Thus the innocent aren't vindicated and the guilty forced to deal up front with their issues and allow God's chastisement to take effect; which according to scripture can even lead believers to an early demise in taking communion unworthily; for instance. We can also look to the thief on the cross; his salvation came when dying for what he justly deserved which he himself stated to the other thief mocking Christ. Overprotectiveness for kids also is related at least in this country where kids who are spoiled and underworked find all kinds of trouble (drugs; sex; theft) rather than being in a household where there is a value of respect for parents; a work ethic; etc. Agape love presents the truth so one can be saved not make people content in sin.
When we are truly born again it is an unnatural birth taken place.
We are born of God's Spirit. We are Identified with Christ along with other believers.
This is commonly known as the baptism of the Holyspirit.
That same Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
When we are born of God's Spirit we may grieve him but our great shepherd never let his sheep stray without seeking and finding him.
Jesus said in John 10:27-29 '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.
( That eternal life starts now.) Jesus says he "KNOW" his sheep.
He could never turn around and say I NEVER KNEW YOU, or you've slipped out of our hands.
We are asked to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5. because there's a chance we have been manifest that we were not. 1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
I will pray for your son.
Bad things happens to us all, including our Lord and his Apostles.
"And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?"And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Evangelist Matthew reports after he cleansed the temple Jesus introduces himself as " My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (v.13) Compare how John treats the same cleansing of the temple, " And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise."(John2:17). John places the emphasis on "My Father's house." It is in this gospel we have this citation, "I and my Father are one."( John 10:30). In the Gospel of Matthew the book introduced Jesus as the son of Abraham and son of David. (Matt.1:1) St John having presented the logos aspect of Jesus Christ gives us a concrete example in this cleansing. My house is as valid as My Father's house. John continues the Alpha aspect of Jesus by the next verse, "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."(v.17)
This just shows each Gospel has its inner logic and what drives them as one is the Alpha Omega aspect of the Son hitched to the word.
John 2:18-23
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?/Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body."
"Temple of the body" how marvelously the Spirit gives us a concrete image of the Word become flesh? We are made kings and priests into Jesus Christ and the church as his body must witness this aspect of our Savior Lord. (Re.1:6)
Levitical priesthood was set for the Israelites as befitting their bootcamp, while Order of Melchizadec is forever.
In my last post I discussed what could be described as the lust of the eyes in 1 John 2:16 along with the lust of the flesh. The last part of the verse is involved with the pride of life. That certainly could cover covetousness; greed and materialism. There are two things to watch for here beyond our own hearts; there is the endless routine of daily activities; buying; selling; marrying and given in marriage which are said to characterize a day when the Lord arrives suddenly (see Matthew 24:38). There is nothing wrong with such activities; as we are told to be productive on earth as well as to be fruitful and multiply. But it is making this the whole meaning of our existence which is dangerous; rather than giving thanks for all blessings the Lord has and realizing that He "gives and takes away." ( Job 1:21). Keep in mind that came from Job AFTER his first wave of devastating losses.
The second thing is the spiritual forces in the demonic realm that are constantly seeking to drive us away from our steadfastness in Christ and be rendered ineffective at spiritual warfare. Please understand carefully what I am about to say-a TRUE believer ALWAYS recognizes the Lord's presence (His sheep hear His voice: ( John 10:27). Other spirits can overwhelm us with desire or temptation but they give themselves away because of the cost involved in following; they are found through wisdom as promoting sin and rebellion as we are exhorted in ( Proverbs 5:1-3 and sequential verses).
When we see the end result of demonic persuasion in Revelation 16:13 leading men to Armageddon a few chapters later we realize along with the Mark of the Beast that no one who is a nonbeliever will follow the Lord; all will follow Antichrist ( Revelation 13:8). The enemy if he cannot kill us physically or spiritually can certainly render us ineffective and trap us in sin if we are not careful. He will steal and destroy if he can't kill if God allows.
" Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
This verse recalls the Father Son relationship in the godhead. Holiness of God is eternal because of the Law."Thy word is truth." Consequently mercy and truth can be rephrased as thus:"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Spirit informs us truth and what as from the beginning.
God is qualified as the Father of all mercies.(2 Co.1:3)sent his Son and in his logos aspect it is grace that he revealed. So grace is what allows the blessings of God work abundantly. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him./ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust".(Ps.103:13-14). Jesus in his humanity carried the voice of the Lord so people marveled at his words, which the Spirit qualifies as the word of his grace. By the same token when Jesus Christ is risen he is said to be' And upholding all things by the word of his power.'In short grace and power are the means to establish the everlasting covenant between Mercy and Truth.
This is the word of truth witnessing in our heart, a spiritual space. Accordingly the cloud of witnesses are not merely any ornament one adds to his person to add dignity or honor but the truth: Mercy and truth are met together.
"Righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
We received Jesus by faith and we confess that he is in us. If we hate our brother as the word of God says that we are in darkness. And we made him a liar. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"(1 Co.1:30;1 John 2:9-11) We are called to be as was in heaven, Righteoussness of God and Christ, who of us is peace so when we keep peace between brethren Christ is in our midst. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."(Matt.18:19-20)
"Verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." The Spirit is referring the Son who is the Good Shepherd. He is the visible image of the invisible God so all emotions attributed to God must be seen as coming from the Son.
Similarly the Spirit refers to an hour which is with reference to the ministry of Jesus Christ. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight./ All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him."( Luke 10:21-22)
Jesus at the Marriage at Cana referred,"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come."( John 2:4). By the same token he is referring to the wine which is distinctly with reference to the kingdom to come, " But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."(26:29) It is thus the Spirit has organized the Salvation Program of God giving a tag for his ministry and his Father's kingdom. When he explains his work he tells his captors, "but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Comparing spiritual with spiritual we are on the right track to explain the two witnesses in terms of Jesus Christ. "And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand:" the same hour is the duration of his ministry and the two represents the testimony of the Son which his Father. It is same as in Re.1:1. It is the glorious gospel of Christ covering two worlds of the Spirit and of the body. Everlasting gospel is another name.
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
Hello Virdee. I was touched by what you wrote, of your struggle to have assurance of salvation. The Scripture that came to mind is all of Romans chapter 8, which would answer your doubts & fears. If I might briefly go through some points in this chapter with you, even as you follow it in your Bible. Here is a chapter giving the one IN Christ full assurance of their position before God, particularly as the apostle related it to himself, he who was made free from the deathly hold that the Law had upon him & from the lusts of the flesh.
Romans 8:1: Paul immediately lays the foundation that he is referring to 'true' believers: to those who walk according to the Holy Spirit's direction & not by fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Those who are unbelievers, or hope they are believers, will not obey the Holy Spirit, simply because the Spirit is not in residence in their lives (vv 9,14). When the Spirit speaks or directs (i.e. we heed the Law of the Spirit only now in our new life/makeup), the believer will listen & obey. If we are swayed by the flesh, we will very soon know of our wandering & either return to holy living or face discipline. We can fully trust God that 'He will not leave or forsake us'; we are His children adopted into His Family (vv 14-17) & we cannot be 'un-adopted'. We will not only face the normal trials in life that come to each one of us, but also the attacks by the enemy of our souls (vv 35-39), but none of these will remove us from the "Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". With this confidence given to us, it should be our delight to obey Him in everything He tells us or requires of us. Then when the Day of His Appearing comes, our confidence in Christ & His Blessed Work in us, causes us to rejoice & "not be ashamed at His Coming" (1 John 2:28). Those who live in sin & selfish desires will be in terror & horror overcoming them, when they see the Holy One of God appear & their sins exposed. Onto Page 2.
Thank you again, from my heart, the truth is my search not to offend. It all goes back to one verse when I read it, it stood out in my heart, Corinthians 11:4. I know I am alone here on this, but saying Jesus is part of the Triune God, who eternally exists and expresses himself as three distinct persons with one essence all three co-equal. One God in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This to me denies the Son, 1 John 2:23
What I see in the Bible is the relationship between the Father and the Son, the Son is obedient to the Father. Jesus said His Father is greater than Him, John 14:28. Jesus has said the Father is His God, John 20:17Revelation 3:12.
The Bible defines God's nature as eternal and unchanging; there is only one throne of God and through the Bible, only the Father is on the throne until the Father raised His Son from the dead and placed Him on His right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, there is nothing about the Holy Spirit.
As we see in Revelation Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, Rev. 21:22-23 no Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, not another person.
Jesus confirmed there is only one true God, Mark 12:28-34, in Jesus's prayer to His Father said in John 17:3. All the greetings in the New Testament are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3Ephesians 6:231 Thessalonians 1:12 Timothy 1:2Titus 1:42 John 1:3 and more but no Holy Spirit.
If the Trinity true and is so important, why is it not once taught in Scripture? God cannot change and God cannot die, so how do we understand John 3:16 if God the Father did not send his actual begotten Son to die for our sins? We see Jesus also had His own will, Luke 22:42.
God chastises; no doubt many times in scripture because he is jealous for His Name's sake when idols were worshipped such as the golden calf; or a cursed item was stolen thus resulting in military defeat until the perpetrator was exposed.
Jesus went through the Temple casting out the moneychangers in John 2:17 reflected from the prophecy of Psalm 69 of zealous behavior because the Temple was to be a place of prayer for all nations ( Isaiah 56:7). (Zealous and jealous I would say are pretty similar). Judging by the violent overthrow of the tables and scattering of the animals this was no wimpy protest.
God's anger
Another act of Christ was excoriation of the Pharisees. This basically takes up all of Matthew 23. There was the effect of their hypocrisy on others as well as the love for the true law of God that led to such a tongue lashing here. These outer actions; of course came from a bad heart which Jesus doesn't mince words in describing here.
Much of Christ's anger was directed as righteous indignation and chastisement in order to establish the Disciples as men of God.
The fact that they didn't even grasp the necessity for His death on the cross until it happened helps to explain how they didn't get many of the lessons He intended to give them in the Parables; and other life lessons as they traveled with Him for over 3 years of His ministry. Seeing the incident with Peter in Matthew 16:17-23 we see a complete reversal of Christ stating that only God could have revealed who He was to Peter; to Him rebuking Peter just 6 verses later when he didn't want to allow Christ to fulfill His destiny because of thoughts that came from Satan. This shows that much of what God does is in response to supernatural prompts as it were that affect our actions or conversation. Peter was an open vessel; which was advantageous in receiving wisdom from above; but also let in Satan's ideas which attempted to stoke his own pride and self confidence
I was sorry to read Momsage, about your suffering, in dealing with a disability & severe exhaustion, and this can indeed make one lethargic (the spirit being willing, though the flesh weak) in doing what we would earnestly like to get done. But you have found some relief now & hopefully by just resting your spirit & body in the Lord & in His Word, you will gain precious ongoing refreshment from His Spirit.
This Docetic position stems from a belief that 'Deity cannot unite with flesh', but it doesn't mean that Scriptures aren't used to prove their belief, but with that foundation, their mental capabilities are engaged to re-visit Scriptures with alternative viewpoints. But there would be those who have from young age been taught that the incarnation is impossible (as you would know how RCs are indoctrinated from an early age in other matters, viz. Mary, saints, indulgences, penances, the Mass, etc.); or others by their own research from books, the Web, etc., where they can find a 'better' logic to this mystery, than just accepting what the Word states.
Thus we have the apostolic epistles, which essentially are pastoral letters directed to Churches for teaching, encouragement, dealing with problems/matters arising, & refuting the teaching of others that were contrary to what they had been taught. I always go back to 1 John in this 'docetic' regard, as Gnosticsm was rife then & John had to deal with it (see 1 John 1:1,2; 1 John 2:18 (the anti-Christ spirit, cf 1 John 4:2,3); 1 John 2:22,23). GBU.
I started my post quoting Esther 5:1 and making some important highlights, and I wrote: "1Now it came to pass on the third day(see John 2:19),that Esther put on her royal apparel(see Revelation19:7-8)and stood in the inner court of the king's house over against the king's house(ref. Revelation 11:2),and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,over against the gate of the house.
The main point of my post is the comparison with the true Church of the Lord JESUS-the body of JESUS Christ- the current Temple of GOD in this current Covenant, so, we must discern that we are in the beginning of the first century of the 3rd Day (2024 AD), that is in the turn exactly from the sixth to the seventh and last GOD's Day.
Well, JESUS promised to rise up the Temple in the 3rd Day-the Temple of GOD-the Church of the Lord- John 2:19. And exactly from now on, from this same wonderful moment, "let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife must made herself ready". Revelation 19:8 says propheticaly: And to her -to the Church of the Lord- His body- was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. The Word is GOD, self-executing, understand?
Furthermore, JESUS is already sat on His Throne, as it is described in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, and GOD the Father is already in His rest as He planned to do since the beginning, it in the exactly and current seventh Day. And he sais: Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of GOD.
The Word is GOD, self-executing
Be careful and get ready - Matthew 25:6-12 will LTERALLY fulfill itself.
1Now it came to pass on the third day(see John 2:19),that Esther put on her royal apparel(see Revelation19:7-8)and stood in the inner court of the king's house over against the king's house(ref.Re.11:2),and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,over against the gate of the house.
2And...the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court,that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.So Esther drew near(the King), and touched the top of the sceptre.-Hallelujaah!
3Then said the king:What wilt you,queen Esther?and what is thy request?it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 Esther said,If it seem good unto the king,let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet I have prepared for him.
5Then the king said,Cause Haman to make haste,that he may do as Esther has said.So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet:,What is thy petition?and it shall be granted thee:and what is thy request?even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7Esther said, My petition and my request is;
8If I have found favour in the sight of the king,and if it please the king to grant my petition,and to perform my request,let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them,and I will do to morrow as the king has said.
Esther 6
1 On that night could not the king sleep,he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles;and they were read before the king.
2 It was found written Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh,TWO of the king's chamberlains,keepers of the door,who sought to LAY HAND ON THE KING.
3The king said,What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?Then said the king's servants :...There is nothing done for him.
4The king said,Who is in the court?Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house,to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai...
Throughout the Bible symbolic value is fixed by the Holy Spirit so natural world and things of the Spirit are anchored on the bedrock of the divine Will of the Father; correspondingly newness of creation is distinct as Jerusalem is from New Jerusalem is entrusted with the Son. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son( John 2:22-24)"
Symbols serve as a principle of Similitude so we may use them as a rest frame in order to see the will of the Father and the completion of it by the Son. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"(2 Co.5:17). (See entry under N-new heaven and new earth)
A disciple is one who has but one master. Elisha condemned Gehazi for running after other man's riches. "Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes?"(2 Ki.5:26). "Not I but Christ who lives in me"( Gal. 2:20)
Without eating of the bread from heaven and the faith that he shall live forever as he is, by way of witnessing, what disciple is he? "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."(1 John 2:19). Wisdom of the word must have its perfect working. (Matt.7:24). Serving God and mammon is how Gehazi proved his discipleship. St Paul proved the man was the message.
Seventy other disciples ( Luke 10:1) is how discipleship is perfected so ripple effect of Christ, the Man the message would spread outwards. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth./... and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." How Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke treats discipleship is in keeping with the supremacy of the Word which was God. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
This is the order that I was taught and still believe to be true based on my own study.
Acts 8:36-37 are some of the greatest verses about Baptism. Philip gives the conditions for baptism: That the individual must believe with all their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (this rules out babies being baptized). 1 Pet 3:21 states that it is a figure that is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Based on those two passages, I believe that Belief comes before Baptism.
Now to compare being Born again to Believing, but first, just to define terms, what does being born again mean? It is the same as quickening and regenerating ( Eph 2:1; Tit 3:5). It is a phase of our salvation when God revives us spiritually with His Holy Spirit. We are physically born dead in trespasses and sins ( Eph 2:1-3). When Adam cursed mankind in the garden of Eden he died spiritually that day. God told him he would die the day he ate the fruit ( Gen 2:17), but Adam lived up to 930 years ( Gen 5:5), so either God lied and the Devil was telling the truth ( Gen 3:4) or a different type of death occurred than physical that being spiritual.
Rom 8:7-8 are powerful verses about the state of the carnal mind. Without God's gift of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing that is pleasing to God. Without the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we only have the old man, the flesh, the carnal mind that hates God without the new man and spiritual mind that wants to please God.
Okay, back to the order of B's... 1 John 2:29 says "every one that doeth righteousness IS born of him" not shall be born of him. If a man does righteousness it is proof that the righteous spirit of God dwells in him and that he was born, quickened, and regenerated to have a spirit that loves God.
Additionally, John 1:12 mentions those who believe on him, but the verse does not end with a period. The rest of the thought is that they WERE born of God ( John 1:13).
Born again, Believe, Baptism.
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
God bless,
RLW
11And be ready against the third day:for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people,and sanctified the people;and they washed their clothes.
15And he said unto the people,Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning,that there were thunders and lightnings,and a thick cloud upon the mount,and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud;so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
17And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with GOD;and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
18And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
19And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and GOD answered him by a voice.
20And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.
John 2:18-20
18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Hebrews 1:1-2
1GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days (last two Days or last 2000 years)spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
The third Day arrived, the clothes must be washed,the Lord shall descend from heaven(from the 3rd heaven),the dead in Christ shall rise first- 1Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 19:7-8.
Matthew 25:6-Behold,the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to meet Him.
Besides UNIVERSAL rules with examples such as I posted in my last message about marriage regulations; murder would also be something which demands justice as a universal law.
What I will call CASE SPECIFIC tenants are not going to determine whether we are truly saved or not but are primarily appropriate for confessing believers. Sin is sin; but we shouldn't expect people to stop cussing; drinking; gambling or doing other vices that aren't at least strictly forbidden in scripture. Also things which are impossible become possible such as not loving the world or anything in it (1 John 2:15). These issues also could determine the lifespan of an individual and be considered more in the category of general wisdom. Someone who is habitually overeating is doing more harm to their bodies (in general) because of what is in reality a soul issue; whereas someone sleeping around is primarily hurting their soul. In either case physical health concerns can develop simply living in a perishable vessel.
Perhaps the classification here could be something that is associated with but not directly linked to a primary doctrine. Showing hospitality such as described in Hebrews 13:2 ties into the concept of loving God (1st commandment0 and loving your neighbor as yourself. Since it would be more difficult for a homeless man to be able to offer much in the way of hospitality it is somewhat case specific.
The third category may be something that is POSSIBLY related to a primary tenant but can't be strongly proven. Such could be a person who holds to a certain diet mentioned as ceremonially clean in the Old Testament. One could argue this is to honor the "Temple" where the Spirit now resides ( 1 Cor. 6:19-20). A more controversial issue is the day of worship. We could make an argument for the original day of rest or the first day of the week but we must remember Collossians 2:16!
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (1 Ki.8:27)
Jesus Christ is the brightness of His glory since he proved the Word was doable. With one sacrifice he perfected all those who were sanctified. His body prepared for him before the foundation of the world fulfilled the divine Will. Body as a temple. Jesus had declared, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."( John 2:19) Forever thy word is settled in heavens, the Psalm quote helps us understand the glory of Son which has both power and wisdom associated with the Law. (Ps.119:89) The four and twenty elders as a memorial commemorated the body. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;/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 is named and the name gives a clear distinction that he bears the name as befitting the visible image of the invisible God. Glory of the name is the Soul, and when we bear the name of Christians we are acknowledging we bring glory and honor to his his name. Our humility is not merely put on but withour lives we witness it. This explains why 24 elders remain unnamed. In trinity they witness the body along with the four beast. (Ph.2:5-9) This is the mind we ought to develop.
God is a Spirit. Thus Trinity is mirrored by all those saints called and blessed in the Son. Their body the church has only one name of the Son.
Sorry for the delay. I searched to interpret the nuances of your answer to the question I made for you, i.e. why did JESUS send not a letter to the Church of Rome, that was developed by Paul Apostle ( Romans 1:7-13, written around 57AD), when He sent the seven letters to the Churches of Asia? My focus was: what would you say about this? It was just curiousity.
Of my part, trying to search an explanation for the omission or exclusion of the Church of Rome of the list of our Lord JESUS, only for to report or to clarify my point, I would say that when was revelead the Apocalypse to John, the Church of the Lord in Rome had already apostatised completely, and had turned itself the embryo and the birthplace, or the cradle, of the antiChrist, linking to the Roman Empire -the iron-, and remains still until today an apostate Church in the hands of Devil ( 1John 2:18-21).
When the false messiah of the JEWS- John 5:43-47 combined with Revelation(Apocalypse)13:11- manifest himself in Israel (probably this year or next?), both Beasts -(Catholicism-the Papacy, and the esoteric and kabbalistic Judasm) will make a deal to establish a religious and satanic kingdom(the feet and 10 toes of the Nebuchadnezzar's statue- Daniel 2:44-45 combined with Revelation 13:2), and there will be a WAR between GOD x SATAN- Revelation 13:3 and !3:14 combined with Revelation 12.
Get ready
My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
God bless,
RLW
Greetings
It is of your knowledge that the Word of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting.
You know the Word is GOD, GOD Himself, great mystery( Matthew 11:27). No man hath seen GOD at any time (invisible GOD)- John 1:18- , the only begotten Son, which was in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. Because in the beginning -i.e. in JESUS- , was the Word-GOD Himself-, the Word was made flesh- John 1:14 combined with the Word given to the prophet Isaiah 9:6, among other prophetic references- , great mystery. The Word was GOD - and is GOD, GOD Himself, - from everlasting to everlasting.
1 Cor. 2:9-10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.
Revelation 10:7
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the MYSTERY of GOD should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the Truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the Truth. 1John 2:20-21.
Hallelujah!
GOD bless
Barring fruit.
Part 2.
Staying intimately connected to the True Vine is the only way to "bear fruit in old age" ( Psalm 92:14), to "run and not grow weary" ( Isaiah 40:31), and to not "grow weary in well-doing" ( Galatians 6:9).
One counterfeit to bearing good fruit is pretense. We can become experts at the routines, the lingo, and "acting Christian," while experiencing no real power and bearing no eternal fruit. Our hearts remain self-centered, angry, and joyless even while we go through the motions of serving God. We can easily slip into the sin of the Pharisees of Jesus' day in judging ourselves by how we think we appear to others and neglecting that secret place of the heart where all good fruit germinates. When we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things that the rest of the world does, we are not abiding in Christ, even though our lives may be filled with church-related activity.
And, often, we don't realize that we are living fruitless lives (1 John 2:15-17).
Our works will be tested by fire. Using a different metaphor than fruit,
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 says, "If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames."
God is the judge of even our thoughts and motivations. All will be brought to the light when we stand before Him ( Hebrews 4:12-13).
God knows what He has entrusted to each of us and what He expects us to do with it ( Luke 12:48). Our responsibility before God is to be "faithful with little" so that He can trust us with much ( Matthew 25:21).
God bless.
Part 2.
Sanctification and fruit barring.
Having Christ's righteousness imputed to us does not mean we automatically do what is right-that will come through the process of sanctification. What it does mean is that we are positionally righteous; even though we still sin, we are legally righteous. God has credited the righteousness of Christ to our account, and He did this when He saved us. In grace, the holiness of Jesus Christ is ascribed to us. Christ "has become for us wisdom from God, that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption"
1 Corinthians 1:30.
1John 5:13 reads"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Here's an helpful article.
If a person knows Christ and is growing in grace, he or she will be generally marked by the following traits:
1. The believer enjoys fellowship with Christ and His redeemed people. 1 John 1:3.
2. The believer walks in the light, not in the darkness. 1 John 1:6-7.
3. The believer admits and confesses his sin. 1 John 1:8.
4. The believer obeys God's Word. 1 John 2:3-5.
5. The believer loves God rather than the world. 1 John 2:15.
6. The believer's life is characterized by "doing what is right" 1 John 2:29.
7. The believer seeks to maintain a pure life. 1 John 3:3.
8. The believer sees a decreasing pattern of sin in his life. 1 John 3:5-6.
1 John 5:18.
9. The believer demonstrates love for other Christians ( 1 John 3:14).
10. The believer "walks the walk," versus just "talking the talk" 1 John 3:18-19.
11. The believer maintains a clear conscience. 1 John 3:21.
12. The believer experiences victory in his Christian walk 1 John 5:4.
Number 8 in the list above is that the believer will evince a decreasing pattern of sin in his or her life.
No one who belongs to Christ continue to "Practice" sin as a way of life.
1 Peter 2:2
God bless.
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord JESUS shall be REVEALED from heaven with His mighty angels, (for example, Michael. Daniel 12:1-3 combined with Revelation 12)
8 In FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on them that know not GOD( Matthew 11:27), and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be PUNISHED with everlasting destruction( Revelation 11:18) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His Power( Matthew 28:18);
10 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...in this day. (The last Day, the seventh and last Day-this Day just arrived-, or seventh and last millennium)
1John 2:28 - And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Isaiah 33:10-14
10 Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, ye that are far off(Gentile peoples), what I have done; and, ye that are near(Jewish people), acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the DEVOURING FIRE? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? -> Hebrews 12:29- For our GOD is a consuming fire.
The Word is from everlasting to everlasting, the Word is GOD, self-executing, understand?
"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."(v.31) Jesus Christ as the same yesterday today and forever, warns the four disciples what must happen hereafter. "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things."(v.23)
The second Temple of Herod shall not stand."Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(v.2) Parallel to this he also warns of his death. "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body./When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."( John 2:19-22)
In order to be certain that we are not taken with the perishing Jesus introduced the sign of the end times. His body was broken up so shall everything in heaven and the earth. "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven./Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."(He.12:26-27). The Word of God has set the warning from the beginning. What occurred at Mount Sinai was one such warning, and when the end shall come is not for us to know.
"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father./Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.:(vv.32-33)
You can look at the following Scriptures to show that Jesus did have siblings, albeit half-siblings now by both Joseph & Mary. Matthew 12:46,47; Matthew 13:55,56; Mark 6:3; John 2:12; John 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; Galatians 1:19.
Part 4 Trinity discussion.
Do you believe that the will of the Father and the will of the Son are always the same or different?
Jesus was obedient to the Father, Jesus said many times it is not His will but the will of the Father who sent Him, the same as we are to do, John 4:34 John 5:30 Mark 3:35.
Do you believe that a human being can truly save all men from sin and death by a perfect life in their own will?
First, I will have to say it was the will of the Father, Jesus at the end even asked His father if there was another way but not Jesus's will but the will of His Father, Matthew 26:39 Luke 22:42. We are told this is the foundation of our faith, Jesus' sacrificial death. God cannot die God is Spirit He has no blood to shed for sin it had to be a man, His Son, born of a woman.
John 3:16 God gave His Son not Himself 1 John 2:22 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7 Romans 5:8 2 Corinthians 5:21, God cannot be made sin, 1 Corinthians 15:17 Jesus died, and God raised Him from the dead, the first man to live a perfect life, the first fruits of those who sleep in death. 1 Corinthians 15:14 as said if Jesus was not a man who lived a perfect life and died and was raised from the dead all is vain.
The first Adam was the first man Jesus was the last Adam and the second man, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. 1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The law had to be fulfilled by a man.
How would a human being know that they are the Messiah from birth and thus know not to ever sin?
As we see Luke 2:51-52 Jesus grew up increasing in wisdom and stature in favor with God and man. Jesus was twelve years old and He knew His father was God, but it doesn't say Jesus knew then He was to be the Messiah. God also said He would raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, Deuteronomy 18:15, Isaiah 11:1-5 Isaiah 61:1-2 confirmed in Luke 4:18-21. Romans 1:1-4 2 Timothy 2:8.
See part 5
"And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
Authority of Jesus evidently came from the doctrine of his Father; and the word become flesh could say,"I am the truth". Unlike the scribes whose authority, as Jesus faulted them, reeked of hypocrisy (1:22) he walked the straight and narrow line. John testifies,"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken./I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."( John 12:49-50) Where did he learn from? He was in the bosom of his Father so what he said and did was defining the Father inside out.( John 1:18)
While healing the man with palsy, his response we read,"immediately" he arose. He proved "I and my Father are one" and Mark's delineation spares no pains to tell this relation. "He that has the Father has the Son as well. He that has the Son has the Father also' when Jesus made it possible 'inso much that they were all amazed." They glorified God.(1 John 2:23)
In the previous chapter he was in a synagogue in Capernaum, the unclean spirit 'cried out,"I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." In the world of the Spirit even unclean spirits know the Holy One of God" but they do not want to follow him. In what was the scribes and the Pharisees who did not live by what they preached? Their uncleanness arose from hypocrisy a spiritual malady. Mark here takes us again to Capernaum. In the domestic setting what does the scribes say," Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"(2:7) He was indeed of God to see through them. The tag 'immediately' in v.8 "And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit", is an indication that his deity worked even when he emptied himself.
My point is as you can tell that all other loves in themselves have no inherent good in them without the Lord in control of us. It is like anything else in the sense that there is nothing bad in itself provided that God's laws are followed with a covenant marriage for instance in expressing the deepest human love. Even in that context; however when we allow any human passions to be in charge of our souls our sin nature utilizes these innate desires to steer us in the wrong way. The issue; of course is that there is no eternally lasting love that is in the human soul that can live outside of the life of Christ in us; and in 1 John 2:17 we see evidence of that truth. Doing the will of God is of course impossible ultimately in our human understanding. The world system for instance steers people toward a mindset that any punishment is too harsh and is judging someone and taking away their inherent value. Thus the innocent aren't vindicated and the guilty forced to deal up front with their issues and allow God's chastisement to take effect; which according to scripture can even lead believers to an early demise in taking communion unworthily; for instance. We can also look to the thief on the cross; his salvation came when dying for what he justly deserved which he himself stated to the other thief mocking Christ. Overprotectiveness for kids also is related at least in this country where kids who are spoiled and underworked find all kinds of trouble (drugs; sex; theft) rather than being in a household where there is a value of respect for parents; a work ethic; etc. Agape love presents the truth so one can be saved not make people content in sin.
When we are truly born again it is an unnatural birth taken place.
We are born of God's Spirit. We are Identified with Christ along with other believers.
This is commonly known as the baptism of the Holyspirit.
That same Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
When we are born of God's Spirit we may grieve him but our great shepherd never let his sheep stray without seeking and finding him.
Jesus said in John 10:27-29 '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.
( That eternal life starts now.) Jesus says he "KNOW" his sheep.
He could never turn around and say I NEVER KNEW YOU, or you've slipped out of our hands.
We are asked to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5. because there's a chance we have been manifest that we were not. 1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
I will pray for your son.
Bad things happens to us all, including our Lord and his Apostles.
Tell him to remember Job.
God bless you.
"And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?"And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Evangelist Matthew reports after he cleansed the temple Jesus introduces himself as " My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." (v.13) Compare how John treats the same cleansing of the temple, " And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise."(John2:17). John places the emphasis on "My Father's house." It is in this gospel we have this citation, "I and my Father are one."( John 10:30). In the Gospel of Matthew the book introduced Jesus as the son of Abraham and son of David. (Matt.1:1) St John having presented the logos aspect of Jesus Christ gives us a concrete example in this cleansing. My house is as valid as My Father's house. John continues the Alpha aspect of Jesus by the next verse, "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."(v.17)
This just shows each Gospel has its inner logic and what drives them as one is the Alpha Omega aspect of the Son hitched to the word.
John 2:18-23
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?/Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up./Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?/But he spake of the temple of his body."
"Temple of the body" how marvelously the Spirit gives us a concrete image of the Word become flesh? We are made kings and priests into Jesus Christ and the church as his body must witness this aspect of our Savior Lord. (Re.1:6)
Levitical priesthood was set for the Israelites as befitting their bootcamp, while Order of Melchizadec is forever.
In my last post I discussed what could be described as the lust of the eyes in 1 John 2:16 along with the lust of the flesh. The last part of the verse is involved with the pride of life. That certainly could cover covetousness; greed and materialism. There are two things to watch for here beyond our own hearts; there is the endless routine of daily activities; buying; selling; marrying and given in marriage which are said to characterize a day when the Lord arrives suddenly (see Matthew 24:38). There is nothing wrong with such activities; as we are told to be productive on earth as well as to be fruitful and multiply. But it is making this the whole meaning of our existence which is dangerous; rather than giving thanks for all blessings the Lord has and realizing that He "gives and takes away." ( Job 1:21). Keep in mind that came from Job AFTER his first wave of devastating losses.
The second thing is the spiritual forces in the demonic realm that are constantly seeking to drive us away from our steadfastness in Christ and be rendered ineffective at spiritual warfare. Please understand carefully what I am about to say-a TRUE believer ALWAYS recognizes the Lord's presence (His sheep hear His voice: ( John 10:27). Other spirits can overwhelm us with desire or temptation but they give themselves away because of the cost involved in following; they are found through wisdom as promoting sin and rebellion as we are exhorted in ( Proverbs 5:1-3 and sequential verses).
When we see the end result of demonic persuasion in Revelation 16:13 leading men to Armageddon a few chapters later we realize along with the Mark of the Beast that no one who is a nonbeliever will follow the Lord; all will follow Antichrist ( Revelation 13:8). The enemy if he cannot kill us physically or spiritually can certainly render us ineffective and trap us in sin if we are not careful. He will steal and destroy if he can't kill if God allows.
" Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
This verse recalls the Father Son relationship in the godhead. Holiness of God is eternal because of the Law."Thy word is truth." Consequently mercy and truth can be rephrased as thus:"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Spirit informs us truth and what as from the beginning.
God is qualified as the Father of all mercies.(2 Co.1:3)sent his Son and in his logos aspect it is grace that he revealed. So grace is what allows the blessings of God work abundantly. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him./ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust".(Ps.103:13-14). Jesus in his humanity carried the voice of the Lord so people marveled at his words, which the Spirit qualifies as the word of his grace. By the same token when Jesus Christ is risen he is said to be' And upholding all things by the word of his power.'In short grace and power are the means to establish the everlasting covenant between Mercy and Truth.
This is the word of truth witnessing in our heart, a spiritual space. Accordingly the cloud of witnesses are not merely any ornament one adds to his person to add dignity or honor but the truth: Mercy and truth are met together.
"Righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
We received Jesus by faith and we confess that he is in us. If we hate our brother as the word of God says that we are in darkness. And we made him a liar. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"(1 Co.1:30;1 John 2:9-11) We are called to be as was in heaven, Righteoussness of God and Christ, who of us is peace so when we keep peace between brethren Christ is in our midst. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."(Matt.18:19-20)
"Verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." The Spirit is referring the Son who is the Good Shepherd. He is the visible image of the invisible God so all emotions attributed to God must be seen as coming from the Son.
Similarly the Spirit refers to an hour which is with reference to the ministry of Jesus Christ. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight./ All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him."( Luke 10:21-22)
Jesus at the Marriage at Cana referred,"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come."( John 2:4). By the same token he is referring to the wine which is distinctly with reference to the kingdom to come, " But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."(26:29) It is thus the Spirit has organized the Salvation Program of God giving a tag for his ministry and his Father's kingdom. When he explains his work he tells his captors, "but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Comparing spiritual with spiritual we are on the right track to explain the two witnesses in terms of Jesus Christ. "And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand:" the same hour is the duration of his ministry and the two represents the testimony of the Son which his Father. It is same as in Re.1:1. It is the glorious gospel of Christ covering two worlds of the Spirit and of the body. Everlasting gospel is another name.
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
Hello Virdee. I was touched by what you wrote, of your struggle to have assurance of salvation. The Scripture that came to mind is all of Romans chapter 8, which would answer your doubts & fears. If I might briefly go through some points in this chapter with you, even as you follow it in your Bible. Here is a chapter giving the one IN Christ full assurance of their position before God, particularly as the apostle related it to himself, he who was made free from the deathly hold that the Law had upon him & from the lusts of the flesh.
Romans 8:1: Paul immediately lays the foundation that he is referring to 'true' believers: to those who walk according to the Holy Spirit's direction & not by fulfilling the desires of the flesh. Those who are unbelievers, or hope they are believers, will not obey the Holy Spirit, simply because the Spirit is not in residence in their lives (vv 9,14). When the Spirit speaks or directs (i.e. we heed the Law of the Spirit only now in our new life/makeup), the believer will listen & obey. If we are swayed by the flesh, we will very soon know of our wandering & either return to holy living or face discipline. We can fully trust God that 'He will not leave or forsake us'; we are His children adopted into His Family (vv 14-17) & we cannot be 'un-adopted'. We will not only face the normal trials in life that come to each one of us, but also the attacks by the enemy of our souls (vv 35-39), but none of these will remove us from the "Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". With this confidence given to us, it should be our delight to obey Him in everything He tells us or requires of us. Then when the Day of His Appearing comes, our confidence in Christ & His Blessed Work in us, causes us to rejoice & "not be ashamed at His Coming" (1 John 2:28). Those who live in sin & selfish desires will be in terror & horror overcoming them, when they see the Holy One of God appear & their sins exposed. Onto Page 2.
Thank you again, from my heart, the truth is my search not to offend. It all goes back to one verse when I read it, it stood out in my heart, Corinthians 11:4. I know I am alone here on this, but saying Jesus is part of the Triune God, who eternally exists and expresses himself as three distinct persons with one essence all three co-equal. One God in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This to me denies the Son, 1 John 2:23
What I see in the Bible is the relationship between the Father and the Son, the Son is obedient to the Father. Jesus said His Father is greater than Him, John 14:28. Jesus has said the Father is His God, John 20:17 Revelation 3:12.
The Bible defines God's nature as eternal and unchanging; there is only one throne of God and through the Bible, only the Father is on the throne until the Father raised His Son from the dead and placed Him on His right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, there is nothing about the Holy Spirit.
As we see in Revelation Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, Rev. 21:22-23 no Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, not another person.
Jesus confirmed there is only one true God, Mark 12:28-34, in Jesus's prayer to His Father said in John 17:3. All the greetings in the New Testament are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 6:23 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Timothy 1:2 Titus 1:4 2 John 1:3 and more but no Holy Spirit.
If the Trinity true and is so important, why is it not once taught in Scripture? God cannot change and God cannot die, so how do we understand John 3:16 if God the Father did not send his actual begotten Son to die for our sins? We see Jesus also had His own will, Luke 22:42.
God bless,
RLW
God chastises; no doubt many times in scripture because he is jealous for His Name's sake when idols were worshipped such as the golden calf; or a cursed item was stolen thus resulting in military defeat until the perpetrator was exposed.
Jesus went through the Temple casting out the moneychangers in John 2:17 reflected from the prophecy of Psalm 69 of zealous behavior because the Temple was to be a place of prayer for all nations ( Isaiah 56:7). (Zealous and jealous I would say are pretty similar). Judging by the violent overthrow of the tables and scattering of the animals this was no wimpy protest.
God's anger
Another act of Christ was excoriation of the Pharisees. This basically takes up all of Matthew 23. There was the effect of their hypocrisy on others as well as the love for the true law of God that led to such a tongue lashing here. These outer actions; of course came from a bad heart which Jesus doesn't mince words in describing here.
Much of Christ's anger was directed as righteous indignation and chastisement in order to establish the Disciples as men of God.
The fact that they didn't even grasp the necessity for His death on the cross until it happened helps to explain how they didn't get many of the lessons He intended to give them in the Parables; and other life lessons as they traveled with Him for over 3 years of His ministry. Seeing the incident with Peter in Matthew 16:17-23 we see a complete reversal of Christ stating that only God could have revealed who He was to Peter; to Him rebuking Peter just 6 verses later when he didn't want to allow Christ to fulfill His destiny because of thoughts that came from Satan. This shows that much of what God does is in response to supernatural prompts as it were that affect our actions or conversation. Peter was an open vessel; which was advantageous in receiving wisdom from above; but also let in Satan's ideas which attempted to stoke his own pride and self confidence
This Docetic position stems from a belief that 'Deity cannot unite with flesh', but it doesn't mean that Scriptures aren't used to prove their belief, but with that foundation, their mental capabilities are engaged to re-visit Scriptures with alternative viewpoints. But there would be those who have from young age been taught that the incarnation is impossible (as you would know how RCs are indoctrinated from an early age in other matters, viz. Mary, saints, indulgences, penances, the Mass, etc.); or others by their own research from books, the Web, etc., where they can find a 'better' logic to this mystery, than just accepting what the Word states.
Thus we have the apostolic epistles, which essentially are pastoral letters directed to Churches for teaching, encouragement, dealing with problems/matters arising, & refuting the teaching of others that were contrary to what they had been taught. I always go back to 1 John in this 'docetic' regard, as Gnosticsm was rife then & John had to deal with it (see 1 John 1:1,2; 1 John 2:18 (the anti-Christ spirit, cf 1 John 4:2,3); 1 John 2:22,23). GBU.
Thank you for your reply.
I started my post quoting Esther 5:1 and making some important highlights, and I wrote: "1Now it came to pass on the third day(see John 2:19),that Esther put on her royal apparel(see Revelation19:7-8)and stood in the inner court of the king's house over against the king's house(ref. Revelation 11:2),and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,over against the gate of the house.
The main point of my post is the comparison with the true Church of the Lord JESUS-the body of JESUS Christ- the current Temple of GOD in this current Covenant, so, we must discern that we are in the beginning of the first century of the 3rd Day (2024 AD), that is in the turn exactly from the sixth to the seventh and last GOD's Day.
Well, JESUS promised to rise up the Temple in the 3rd Day-the Temple of GOD-the Church of the Lord- John 2:19. And exactly from now on, from this same wonderful moment, "let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife must made herself ready". Revelation 19:8 says propheticaly: And to her -to the Church of the Lord- His body- was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. The Word is GOD, self-executing, understand?
Furthermore, JESUS is already sat on His Throne, as it is described in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, and GOD the Father is already in His rest as He planned to do since the beginning, it in the exactly and current seventh Day. And he sais: Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of GOD.
The Word is GOD, self-executing
Be careful and get ready - Matthew 25:6-12 will LTERALLY fulfill itself.
1Now it came to pass on the third day(see John 2:19),that Esther put on her royal apparel(see Revelation19:7-8)and stood in the inner court of the king's house over against the king's house(ref.Re.11:2),and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,over against the gate of the house.
2And...the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court,that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.So Esther drew near(the King), and touched the top of the sceptre.-Hallelujaah!
3Then said the king:What wilt you,queen Esther?and what is thy request?it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 Esther said,If it seem good unto the king,let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet I have prepared for him.
5Then the king said,Cause Haman to make haste,that he may do as Esther has said.So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet:,What is thy petition?and it shall be granted thee:and what is thy request?even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7Esther said, My petition and my request is;
8If I have found favour in the sight of the king,and if it please the king to grant my petition,and to perform my request,let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them,and I will do to morrow as the king has said.
Esther 6
1 On that night could not the king sleep,he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles;and they were read before the king.
2 It was found written Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh,TWO of the king's chamberlains,keepers of the door,who sought to LAY HAND ON THE KING.
3The king said,What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?Then said the king's servants :...There is nothing done for him.
4The king said,Who is in the court?Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house,to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai...
Throughout the Bible symbolic value is fixed by the Holy Spirit so natural world and things of the Spirit are anchored on the bedrock of the divine Will of the Father; correspondingly newness of creation is distinct as Jerusalem is from New Jerusalem is entrusted with the Son. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son( John 2:22-24)"
Symbols serve as a principle of Similitude so we may use them as a rest frame in order to see the will of the Father and the completion of it by the Son. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new"(2 Co.5:17). (See entry under N-new heaven and new earth)
A disciple is one who has but one master. Elisha condemned Gehazi for running after other man's riches. "Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes?"(2 Ki.5:26). "Not I but Christ who lives in me"( Gal. 2:20)
Without eating of the bread from heaven and the faith that he shall live forever as he is, by way of witnessing, what disciple is he? "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."(1 John 2:19). Wisdom of the word must have its perfect working. (Matt.7:24). Serving God and mammon is how Gehazi proved his discipleship. St Paul proved the man was the message.
Seventy other disciples ( Luke 10:1) is how discipleship is perfected so ripple effect of Christ, the Man the message would spread outwards. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth./... and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." How Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke treats discipleship is in keeping with the supremacy of the Word which was God. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."