Perfect, you are right. The Holy Spirit is a Person, the Paraclete, the Comfort - John 15:26 and John 16:12-15 - not a force (a ghost) or power from God. JESUS revealed (through His angel, and John testified) that the person of the Holy Spirit is the God of the earth- Revelation 11:4 combined with Zechariah 4:11-14.
The two olive trees(source of oil -the OT and NT, two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of THEMSELVES- Zechariah 4:11-14) , and the two candlesticks(two Churches: the Gentile Church and the Jewish Church- Hebrews 12:22-24) are standing before the God of the earth-the person of the Holy Spirit.
1John 5:7 - There are three that bear record (testify) in heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8), the Father(GOD Father), the Word(the Word made flesh-JESUS), and the Holy Spirit (who is a Person, not a ghost as is written in English language due to translators' carelessness): and these three are One. (Great mystery. Would not he be the younger brother of JESUS- Luke 15:30-32 combined with prophecy of Isaiah 7:15-16. Take a look. Great mystery.)
Yes,Esclarese,that is the will of our Lord Jesus. He said:I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger.
John 6:24-35
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for JESUS.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore unto him,What sign shewest thou then,that we may see,and believe thee?what dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said unto them,Verily,verily,I say unto you,Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,and giveth life unto the world.
34Then said they unto him,Lord,evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them,I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Luke 15:17-20
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have BREAD enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luke 15:10 states that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents among angels. It also says there is more joy there than in 99 who need no repentance (verse 7) in heaven; which should signify among the Godhead as well.
I hesitate to get into the positive aspects of God's demeanor for one thing because of the admonitions in Ecclesiastes 7:2. Our true joy should come to us as it did for our Lord described as a "man of sorrows" ( Isaiah 53:3). He rejoiced in doing the Father's will; which at times no doubt coincided with certain acts such as the water turning into wine and with seeing the great faith of just two people mentioned in scripture; the woman who begged for the "crumbs under the table" ( Matthew 15:28) and the verse about the Roman Centurion ( Matthew 8:5-9). In the first case; and likely the second these individuals were not Jews which makes these things even more remarkable. As I said before even the Temple was a place that caused indignation because He was zealous for God's house to be free of money making during the Sabbath (there were at least 2 purgings there in the Bible; perhaps 3).
Another thing today; of course related to God's disposition of rejoicing over us; or His love and blessings is how twisted the mindset of the church is. We cannot have a God of perfect love without Him also having a perfect and Holy indignation. True love rejoices over the truth ( 1 Cor. 13:6). And of course greater love has no man than dying for His friends ( John 15:13). It is from love that God saves us as well as chastises His own. It seems many today want to remain immature in their faith and insensitive to the Spirit calling them; oftentimes through other believers or even the observations of nonbelievers in their lives.
Being born again should be the beginning of the story not the end for this life because this world is the only opportunity we will have to grow in sanctification and to earn imperishable rewards (or lose them).
GOD the Father always responds to requests from His firstborn son-JESUS-. Luke 15:31 revels:Son, thou art ever with me,and all that I have is thine.
JESUS saved us and we are saved because He took us out of the world - John 17:5-8-,that is, He saved us from the power of the terrible Evil One, the ruler of the whole world.The Evil One had dominated even the seed of GOD, Israel was dominated by the Evil One, then GOD became Man, that is,The Word became flesh,He descended from heaven yet again,according to His purpose of salvation.
In fact, this was not the only time that He came to the Devil's world, but the difference now is that He became a Man and came to dwell among men, to save those who were His- John 17:6and12-26, that is,to take them out of the power of the Evil One, Hallelujah, even though they were still living in his diabolical world, and the Word gave us Power to resist the cunning snares/traps of the Devil- John 17:9-12-even though we still live in the Devil's world. Satan works through his demonic strategies to divert us from the faith that was once given to the saints.Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of GOD,the Word is GOD,a great mystery.
Re.11:15-18-The terrible WAR from now on
15...The kingdoms of this world(Devil's world) are become the Kingdoms of our Lord,and of His Christ;and He shall reign for ever and ever.
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before GOD on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped GOD,
17Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord GOD Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18And the nations were(will be)angry, and GOD's WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged ( 1Thessalonians 4:14-16),and that GOD should give reward unto His servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear His name,small and great;and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
"As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work"(v.2)
Glory of God is revealed in the manner His Power and Wisdom have created the heaven and the earth; so much so even a speck of dust refracts sunlight to create a roseate dawn or starry skies that never fails to thrill us. God is beyond human conception and Truth is the only measure by which He makes sense to us. "He hath made everythingbeautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end(Ec.3:11)". Only through his Son it is known. The works of God ( John 6:28-29).
Soul is a token of God establishing his sovereignty over His creation and it holds the everlasting covenant as its frame of reference. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.( John 14:6)." Truth in inward parts makes each of us accountable to God in the final reckoning. So what are we but chosen by God before the worlds began. Are we sons or servants merely going through the motions of living for our reward?
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope./O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good."
"Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" A hireling and a son have different standing which the Parable of the Prodigal Son brings out. The spendthrift son have wasted away his means and fell in want. In an alien country where Satan is a hard taskmaster he would even grudge over the husks doled out to his servants, what does the son say,'And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!( Luke 15:17).The expression 'when he came to himself' is highly significant. Soul is a reminder of our fellowship with God.
Jesus in His teaching on this (& this account was not a parable as it does not meet the definition of a parable) is found in Luke 16:20-31, showing that the spirit of man must go somewhere. In the OT economy, where Hades was that temporary residence of departed souls till the Cross, Jesus still taught that there was consciousness in the after-life & also places of rest & waiting and also of torment. And Jesus was giving a real view of life beyond the grave, or else by naming people & places, He was just a deceiver. Jesus never did that; all His parables were without specifics, just everyday situations to which there was a special meaning. Luke 16 is not a parable but a view of the after-life - and He should know.
"Hell is a finality.", you wrote. No, Hell & Heaven are only the beginning. Our lives on Earth are but a quick snapshot of time compared to an everlasting existence, whether in God's Presence or in torment. And finally, you stated a good question, "Also, by your reasoning, how exactly can a disembodied spirit be thirsty? How can a disembodied spirit feel pain? Impossible!" What Jesus was teaching here is that the departed spirit can still feel agony, just as there can be joy & celebration (e.g. Luke 15:10). The spirit of this 'rich man' wasn't thirsty for even a sip of water - he was in torment, & sought comfort, ANY comfort, to relieve him of his agony. Would any amount of water have helped him - I seriously doubt it, but our earthly comparison to this would be, "a drowning man will clutch at a straw" to try & save himself, & would fit the Luke 16 account. And the rich man even pleaded that his brothers would be warned now while still alive, lest they come into such an awful place. So the actual fundamental question remains is: since the Word of God is replete with accounts of the awfulness of a Christ-less eternity, are we going to take the warnings given in it as just a story/a parable/a fable or believe in Jesus & the apostles' words?
The superscription refers to men whom Abimelech could hire to form his base. Hireling is a generic term collectively used to distinguish servants who work for their hire in a household while sons work to ease the burden of their father. Value of silver and of love do tell in secular as well as in heavenly relationships. Accordingly in times of danger ("The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep"-John10;13)"on the other Jesus as the good shepherd teaches what he shall do for his Father. "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep( John 10:15)".
In the world of the flesh hirelings are determined to better their prospects so they would gain more in terms of hire. Any improvement can be only in the tangible dollars and cents.The prodigal son in time of want was willing to work for offal because his prospect in an alien country could not be any better. He did some simple arithmetic and found in his father's house, labor of his hands fetched far greater as he had himself seen in the case of his servants."How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!( Luke 15:17-NIV)." Value of hire made sense to him only when he could relate his spiritual value in terms of his Father. It was matter of life and death. In the world of the flesh he was in the wrong place to count in terms of hire value of which fluctuates.
Ironically great many all of them do not think in terms of life, and of the spirit but work themselves for golden sunset years only to find their life annuities have swindled away by companies they trusted. From the passage of the gospel cited earlier a child of God has a place of permanence to go to. Jesus as the good shepherd teaches from example of his life. "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:(10:8)" But Jesus speaks of them as thieves and robbers.
The army of the kings of the east bear a tag, 200x1000x1000 These two sets refer to the period during which Satan is bound over. So latter days and latter years mentioned in Ch.38 necessitate this. "In the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword. This is different from the latter days." But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."(Dan.12:13)
Number 10 refers to the Decalogue and Judgment of God. The red dragon had 10 horns indicating power and authority, "having seven heads and ten horns," Similarly the beast also has the same. (Re.13:1,12:3)
The number 20 (10x2) refers to sinning against God and his holiness signifying the Son, The Prodigal Son refers how he may reconcile with his Father "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."( Luke 15:18) Joseph was sold by his brethren to the Ishmaelites, 'who took him to Egypt,' and the sum was 20 shekels of silver.(Ge.37:28) This continues in the trespass offering. (Le.5:14-16) This 20 shekels in the case of Joseph signifies their trespass against God and Joseph who was set down as the double for the Son. Also significant is that Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. (10x3) The command number 3 refers to the Son.
I think the Parable of the Prodigal Son is applicable to your question. Luke 15 11-32. He we see the father was looking out and awaiting every day hoping his son would return. Our Father God has this "agape" love for us too!
Luke 15:20 (KJV) 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Finally, he "came to his senses" (Greek, phe mi), that is, "he became enlightened," or "began to see the light"! He reasoned that his father's hired hands had enough bread to eat, "but I am dying here with hunger!" (v. 17). With emotional reasoning, he decided to go home and say, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight" (v. 18). He recognized that he had sinned first against the heavenly Father, then his earthly father! Being so humbled by the experience, he wanted to tell his father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men" (v. 19). But regardless of what the young man had done, the mercy of his father was beyond measure. When the father saw his son coming down the road toward home, (1) from a distant he spotted him, as if he looked each day for him to come back, and (2) he felt compassion for his son, (3) ran to him, (4) embraced him, and (5) kissed him (v. 20). The son told his father exactly what he vowed to say: "I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (v. 21).
The depth of the son's repentance is matched only by the depth of the father's love. His actions touch the heart. The father saw the young man while he was still a long way off. This suggests the father longed and looked for his son's return one day. Then, he had pity on his son by running to meet him. This indicates that the father took the initiative in being reconciled to his son.* Mal Couch. "Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary". Marion, IA: Laridian, Inc., 2021.
Romans 8:7 For the CARNAL MIND is ENMITY (in direct rebellion) against God (the WORD) ....
Most Christians are STILL under the influence of a carnal mind (Satan, deceptions, falsehoods).
Christ is TRUTH, anything not of TRUTH is ANTI-christ.
Isaiah 55:8 ....MY thoughts (the mind of Christ) are not your thoughts (the carnal mind, ANTI-christ) ......
Isaiah 59:7 ..... their thoughts (the carnal mind) are thoughts of iniquity ......
Luke 15:30 And as soon as this thy son was come, which has devoured thy living with HARLOTS, thou hast killed FOR HIM the fatted calf.
Matthew 21:31..... HARLOTS go into the kingdom of heaven before you .....
Hosea 4:14 I WILL NOT punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor you spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves (those with carnal minds) are seperated with whores, and they (the carnal minded) sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that DOETH NOT UNDERSTAND SHALL FALL.
The carnal mind WILL NOT understand these scriptures, it takes the mind of Christ to understand God's parables.
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! ( Luke 7:34).
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. ( Luke 15:31:32).
I have combined these verses to show the meaning of another verse ( Mark 2:19) which shows how with the bridegroom (Christ) present the Disciples couldn't fast but they would later on. Now of course that doesn't mean that they shouldn't fast such as what they lacked in Mark 9:29 for deliverance; what it DOES mean is that the joy of being present with the Lord when they were communing together resulted in enjoying meals together; like the Prodigal Son should have had with his father and restored brother.
Since we normally don't have "love feasts" together ( 1 Cor. 11:20-34) it may be a foreign concept but probably should be present in churches today or would often be a helpful concept. Nonetheless; for purposes here let us just refer to any communal meals we partake with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. IF; and I say that emphatically we are ever to imbibe in alcoholic beverages it should be to enjoy the celebration with family or trusted friends and of course praise and worship of God.
We also; of course have to abstain if we or anyone else present is known to have a problem with drinking.
The company we keep also in Christ's example was NOT swaying Him to sin but the Lord was clearly in charge of conversations.
I previously mentioned the lambasting Christ did to the Pharisees when they invited Him over for a meal; that happened more than once but never as clearly as in Luke 11; and Matthew 23. He certainly would be perceived as a most rude houseguest!!!!
We all like Paul have times of plenty and want; feasting and fasting more or less.
Luke 15 involves an initial encounter with the Pharisees; who are chiding Christ for hanging out with sinners. Thus the Parables in this chapter certainly are meant for them to hear along with the crowds.
Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Whether this refers to the self righteous Pharisees which Christ described in a similar manner in Luke 5:31 or it literally means people in a right standing with God or both could be debated.
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his estate. What is often missed here is that BOTH sons had their inheritance divided at that time; and it was likely as tradition held the older son would have the largest sum. Something else I noticed here as well that is often overlooked is that the youngest son spent all of his inheritance. Thus; forgiveness was complete but nonetheless we see the concept of loss of reward.
To avoid not seeing the big picture here; it was clear that the Pharisees had no love for seeing someone repent and finding any joy in it; whether among themselves or the Gentiles. Their concept of God no doubt affected their lifestyle and dogmas; adding hundreds more laws to the Old Testament Canon through their own thoughts and imaginations (which resulted in the Talmud and other extrabiblical uninspired and mystical texts and traditions of men). With this attitude no one sees the need to repent in order to be ABLE to obey the law; at least in regard to the thoughts and intentions of the heart whereby men had to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes in order to be saved ( Matthew 5:20). What was missing was understanding the nature and character of God and basically worshipping the law itself rather than it's creator. We can only truly love the law if saved.
To S Spencer - I beg to disagree with what you stated.
Firstly, the 8 verses in John 15:1-8 certainly refer to Christians being grafted into Jesus so as to produce the required "fruit" - but your understanding of 'the fruit' associating with the "fruit of the Spirit" as you stated in Galatians 5:22-23 is not correct. In other words, does God the Father seek "...love, joy, peace..." back to Himself from Christians?
As an example, if I meet a Christian man who is abrupt, discourteous, angry and generally offensive, I know that he does NOT have the Holy Spirit's presence within him. On the other hand, if I meet another man who exhibits, "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" and especially is a LOVER OF BIBLE TRUTHS - then I know that such a man has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within him.
In John 15:2 and especially verse 6, Jesus is very clear that if Christians FAIL to produce unto God the required quantities of "spiritual fruit" expected, God the Father will remove them permanently from Christ. When that happens, John 15:6 says they become "withered" (spiritually) prior to men (or angels - Matthew 13:40-42) later gathering them prior to burning in the Lake of Fire.
Therefore, the "spiritual fruit" that God the Father requires to be seen brought unto Him from each Christian during their lifetime on the Earth represents the souls of men, women and children "lost" in Satan's kingdom and brought into God's kingdom ( Luke 15:7) through the preaching of the Gospel.
In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus described the quantities of "souls saved" through the preaching of the Gospel as being 100, 60 or 30 souls (my understanding). If Christians fail to produce less than 30 lost souls into God's kingdom throughout their lifetime on the Earth, it is questionable whether they have Salvation, given the words of Christ in John 15:2, 6.
The person of the Holy Spirit is not a ghost as is written in English language, but a Person. As a Person, as JESUS was in flesh and bones, he is completely unknown, and he has several missions, as JESUS said: John 16:12-15 & 8-11:
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father has are mine:therefore said I, that he shall take of mine,and shall shew it unto you.
8 When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of Judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of Judgment, because the prince of this world is Judged.
WOULDN'T THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF JESUS? LUKE 15:32 - THE LAWFUL / LEGITIMATE BROTHER OF JESUS?
- The Person of he Holy Spirit has not genealogy as JESUS has; why? Because he is not a Jew.
- The NAME of JESUS is known of men, and is also known of the angels, and He is known of the demons too. But the person of the Holy Spirit has a NAME written that no MAN knows, but he himself. He has not genealogy as JESUS has.
- JESUS came from heaven and He was born in Israel. John 6:v.38 - I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.
In other hand, the prophetic birth of the person of Holy Spirit is not in Israel, its in a Gentile nation.His birth is within the body of Christ-the Church-and as JESUS said, he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that he speaks, he shall receive of mine, he shall take of mine.
JESUS existed before the world was, the person of HS is the ancient of days
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will. Colossians 1:9
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Luke 15:20-24
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1,2
I'd like to share some verses I've been noticing lately during my readings in regards to once saved always saved or not. Some verses appear to support it so I see why people believe this, but is that really what it means?
John 10:28 - neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
What about followers who voluntarily left His hand?
Luke 15:4-7 - Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep. But the sheep is still a follower. If the sheep denounced its Shepherd and left the herd to become a wolf, Jesus doesn't say He goes to rescue wolves but just the sheep in His flock. Verse 7 also adds a condition- "if" the sheep repents. People often skip that part. Maybe it's uncomfortable for some to humble themselves to genuinely repent and ask for forgiveness to God. I think this is what Jesus expects. It doesn't say the Christian can follow the world, sin as much as he wants, abort babies, use profanity, cheat, lie, steal, kill, abuse the body with drugs, and fill with lust, and not repent, not follow Jesus and be 100% fine. I see no verse saying that is all is fine if done intentionally. Seems like doing that is like spitting in Jesus's face and mocking what He did for us.
Heb 6:1 talks about repentance. Heb 6:6 says those who have "fallen away" can be brought back through repentance. If it wasn't possible for Christians to fall away then why does the Bible say that Christians can fall away? It says its a disgrace, like crucifying Jesus all over again.
Heb 5:13 says that some Christians are still living on milk like an infant and still not pursuing righteousness. Some in this forum have claimed that effort to be righteous is "bad" and apparently doing evil is good? That of course is from satan.
Heb 5:2 talks about Christians who have gone astray or "out of the way" of the path. If it were not possible to veer off the path of following Jesus then why does the Bible warn us not to do that?
Heb 4:1 warns Christians to not fall short of God's "rest".
how many Christians will be saved during the rapture ? Read Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
how do u turn ur life to Jesus? By acknowledging and confessing to the Lord that we are sinners in need of his salvation. Inviting him into our lives asking him to take over Nothing fancy nothing complicated
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved
BUT KNOW THIS once you make that confession of repentance there's a great celebration in heaven
Jesus said, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" ( Luke 15:10)
Praise the Lord I pray the Lord your strength and guidance that he bless you and bring people around you that are after his own heart. God bless
Hi Barry. In Luke chapter 15, Jesus shares three parables with those who came to listen to him. And these folk were both the Jewish religious leaders as well as the despised publicans & others burdened with sin. The religious leaders saw this Man Jesus as a low class careless person, given to receiving & fellowshipping with like-minded people. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus then proceeded to give them these parables that should have removed their objections, if they used their ears & hearts to receive God's
Message.
And the simple structure of each of those parables was: the responsible shepherd searching for even one lost sheep; the diligent woman searching for that one lost piece of silver coin; and the loving Father who waited for & longed for his one beloved son, deemed to be lost & possibly dead, to once again return back to his family. And in all three parables, there was much rejoicing that the once lost was now found. And what should have hit home to those Jewish leaders, was what Jesus stated in Luke 15:7: "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
I'm sure Jesus riveted His Eyes on them when He emphasized that all of Heaven rejoices when that one lost sinner has repented & is found, unlike those who considered themselves righteous & without sin looking down upon the spiritually destitute. Instead of leading lost perishing souls to God (through Jesus their Messiah), the leaders determined to cast judgement against them & rejected them as the filth of the world. Rather, their own hearts lay bare before their Wise Judge & they would have done well to heed Jesus' Message to them & first look inwardly rather than finding fault in others.
Even those who inadvertently stray away, or lose their direction in life, even as the prodigal son who made a deliberate unwise choice to leave, still have a patient God in Heaven longing for their return.
I understand what you are saying and agree. The invitation goes out to the whole world as mentioned in 1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The thing is many will not come, many will travel the wide gate as mentioned in Mathews 7:13. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: "MANY WILL BE DECEIVED"
God knows who will come to him being he is omniscient; he is all-knowing in the sense that he is aware of the past present and future as he stands outside of time looking in.
I believe you see an example of this in Numbers 16:5 "And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
"The knowing comes before the choosing"
WHEN IT COMES TO BACKSLIDING.
We can look at the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and those described as the dogs and pigs in 2 Peter 2:9-22.
The prodigal son and the pigs went back home!
THE PRODIGAL SON BACK TO HIS FATHERS HOUSE, and the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The son went the way of the world but he never lost his sonship, a lost child of God will always be found by the great shepherd!
He will return or he NEVER was a child of God.
Those described in 2 Peter 2:9-22 returned back to the world because they never were sheep.
You can "profess" Christ and go through all the motions and great deeds all your life and never have Christ and be told depart from me I never knew you. Mathews 7:21-23.
Grace is the love of God toward mankind! We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the lamb. Even so, you and I are justified by faith. We must have faith ! I saw a picture of the sheep that was lost and his wool had grown to 70 pounds! He was lost for a while! After he was shaved, He had new life. A new beginning if you will! Not unlike the parodical son, or the lost sheep!
We will fail, we will fall, but we must get up and do it all over again! This is His will that we might know the forgiveness in the shed blood of the savior! Cleansed always in the sight of the Father!!!
When we observe professing Christians; there are many clues as to whether they are "fruit producers" or not. This could be more adequately explained by comparing all "professors" of the faith to those "possessors" of the Holy Spirit. Here are some helpful verses to examine ourselves as well as get some clues as to where others are spiritually.
"He chastises everyone He loves." ( Heb. 12:6). Those of us who have been truly walking the straight and narrow know better than to glibly pray for something like patience. To freely embrace a verse like James 1:2 where we are told to "consider it all joy" when various trials/temptations come pass need to trust the Lord that He knows how to work all circumstances for the good OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD (and called according to His purpose: Romans 8:28). This is the best way we can distinguish who is in the faith; those who truly understand not only that their sins have been forgiven; but they have a new Lord; Savior AND master. His sheep hear His voice; they may go astray for a time but the Chief Shephard brings in the lost 1 from the 99. ( Luke 15:4).
"if you love me you will obey my commandments." ( John 14:15). This verse may seem to contradict the ones where people were doing all sorts of "good works" in His name but were not His sheep ( Matt. 7:21-23). This is a caution to anyone who would have a ministry based on their own name; or type of gifting and certainly for the prosperity gospel leadership. We saw the same self-righteous religion with the Pharisees. Judas Iscariot is a pathetic example who was somehow convinced to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver; apparently 4 days wages at that time although it would show silver vastly more valuable then compared to today's valuation. It was the seduction of power; then which Satan used to draw him in; thus the verse The admonitions of Luke 6:26 and Luke 16:15 serve aw warnings for those loving praise of men over praise of God.
The Epistle/Letter to the Romans teaches the reader to obey the "powers that be" in the world.
The Apostles did not believe Jesus taught them to obey the "powers that be"; as evidenced by the fact that they disobeyed them:
Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:28-29
It appears you are trying to marry the two gospels together; one must choose one or the other:
"...if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." 2 Corinthians 11:4
Jesus has prophesied that he will tell all the workers of iniquity (sinners) to depart from him:
"I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:7
Jesus claims there are two distinct groups of human beings:
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." John 17:9
The world aka the "powers that be" aka workers of iniquity aka sinners only comprise one group.
The other group are the sheep who pray with Jesus: "thy will be done on earth" and "lead us not into temptation".
Psalm(s) 14 and 53 also speak of two distinct groups of human beings:
The "workers of iniquity" who eat up God's People as they eat up bread;
and "God's People" who are being eaten up like bread.
We don't sin with our mind and our flesh.
We have been commanded to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength, and all our soul.
He is able to keep us from sinning. He teaches us to ask him for his will.
1 Peter 4:6 I think it would be hard to verify Peter is talking about the gospel being preached to dead people, it may mean those who are spiritually dead or ones that heard the gospel that has died and was dead when he said this, or an answer not yet reviled.
A general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Luke 15:3, 15:8, 15:11, and 16:1 are parables, and they are introduced in a similar form to Luke 16:19. In this both the rich man and Lazarus are depicted as having bodies, Lazarus a finger, the rich man a tongue after death, but scripture says new bodies are not given until the resurrection.
The rich man and Lazarus both were fully aware of their surroundings, scripture tells us there is no knowledge in death. My understanding of the lesson of Jesus is clear. Our current lives dictate our eternal destiny, which is unalterable after death, and the only way for this to not be a parable is for the soul to be immortal which comes from Greek philosophy and was advanced by Augustine in the church. My understanding is scripture does not support that.
Sorry, it took a while to get back to you, and forgive me if I repeated anything I'm an old man.
We have a sheep doing what sheep do, wonders away from home into the wilderness and ends up in the pig pen.
If he was anything else but a son he would like the pig pen or the wilderness but he's a son who remembers his life in the fathers house and look what happens.
AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:17-18.
When he came to himself!
I would draw your attention to
2 Peter 2:22. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire".
A dog and a pig likes what they do. The fathers house is what they don't like, That's why they returned back to their old ways,
But a son "One born from above" doesn't turn back to his old ways and stay there, his Spirit won't let him enjoy it neither will his loving father.
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, UNTIL HE FIND IT?"
It's the Holyspirit what convicts us and keeps us. and when we return the Lord gladly accepts us back in the fold.
I would like to share my view on Luke 15:11-13. First with more emphasis on the loving father and his duel role as a Father and the chief shepherd.
Secondly the actions of the Son and a lost sheep.
Beginning at verse 1; Luke 15:1-32.
Notice in Luke 15:2-3 the complaints of the Pharisees that prompts Jesus to give 3 parables to make his point.
Notice what these 3 parables have in common.
Something someone possess.
Something lost.
and Something Found.
Take tote that while these were lost they never quit belonging to the possessor.
vs 4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, AND GO AFTER THAT WHICH IS LOST, UNTIL HE FIND IT?
vs 6 he says "Rejoice with me; for I HAVE FOUND ( MY SHEEP ) which was lost. "It never quit being his!
2nd Parable. vs 8. "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, DOTH NOT LIGHT A CANDLE, AND SWEEP THE HOUSE, AND SEEK DILIGENTLY TILL SHE FIND IT?
vs 9. I HAVE FOUND THE PIECE WHICH I HAD LOST.
3rd Parable.
Luke 15:11-12. And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them LIVING. I would suggest that the living that the father given him was more than just substance which ran out, there was also life.
Look at what happens in vs14.
"And when he had spent all, THERE AROSE A MIGHTY FAMINE IN
( THAT LAND;) and he began to be in want. A FAMINE IN THAT LAND!
Halleljua praised be You Jesus Christ who has made this possible for us. Thank you also for everyone who comes to you. You are a great and powerful God. The only One. Without you, we wouldn't be here at all. Forever thankfull to You Lord Jesus. Thank You Lord, for taking care of the new souls who have repented to you, Lord, we trust that.
Dear Right Hand, you can return to God for forgiveness, and He will restore you. Please read the parable of The Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. He also forgave the Israelites time and time again for straying off to worship other gods. What He did for them and for others, He will do for you, but you must ask for forgiveness and repent.
2 Peter 3:9, 2 Tim 2:25-26,
Luke 15:17-32.
The two olive trees(source of oil -the OT and NT, two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of THEMSELVES- Zechariah 4:11-14) , and the two candlesticks(two Churches: the Gentile Church and the Jewish Church- Hebrews 12:22-24) are standing before the God of the earth-the person of the Holy Spirit.
1John 5:7 - There are three that bear record (testify) in heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8), the Father(GOD Father), the Word(the Word made flesh-JESUS), and the Holy Spirit (who is a Person, not a ghost as is written in English language due to translators' carelessness): and these three are One. (Great mystery. Would not he be the younger brother of JESUS- Luke 15:30-32 combined with prophecy of Isaiah 7:15-16. Take a look. Great mystery.)
John 6:24-35
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for JESUS.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore unto him,What sign shewest thou then,that we may see,and believe thee?what dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said unto them,Verily,verily,I say unto you,Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,and giveth life unto the world.
34Then said they unto him,Lord,evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them,I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Luke 15:17-20
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have BREAD enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father.
Marvelous
Luke 15:10 states that there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents among angels. It also says there is more joy there than in 99 who need no repentance (verse 7) in heaven; which should signify among the Godhead as well.
I hesitate to get into the positive aspects of God's demeanor for one thing because of the admonitions in Ecclesiastes 7:2. Our true joy should come to us as it did for our Lord described as a "man of sorrows" ( Isaiah 53:3). He rejoiced in doing the Father's will; which at times no doubt coincided with certain acts such as the water turning into wine and with seeing the great faith of just two people mentioned in scripture; the woman who begged for the "crumbs under the table" ( Matthew 15:28) and the verse about the Roman Centurion ( Matthew 8:5-9). In the first case; and likely the second these individuals were not Jews which makes these things even more remarkable. As I said before even the Temple was a place that caused indignation because He was zealous for God's house to be free of money making during the Sabbath (there were at least 2 purgings there in the Bible; perhaps 3).
Another thing today; of course related to God's disposition of rejoicing over us; or His love and blessings is how twisted the mindset of the church is. We cannot have a God of perfect love without Him also having a perfect and Holy indignation. True love rejoices over the truth ( 1 Cor. 13:6). And of course greater love has no man than dying for His friends ( John 15:13). It is from love that God saves us as well as chastises His own. It seems many today want to remain immature in their faith and insensitive to the Spirit calling them; oftentimes through other believers or even the observations of nonbelievers in their lives.
Being born again should be the beginning of the story not the end for this life because this world is the only opportunity we will have to grow in sanctification and to earn imperishable rewards (or lose them).
GOD the Father always responds to requests from His firstborn son-JESUS-. Luke 15:31 revels:Son, thou art ever with me,and all that I have is thine.
JESUS saved us and we are saved because He took us out of the world - John 17:5-8-,that is, He saved us from the power of the terrible Evil One, the ruler of the whole world.The Evil One had dominated even the seed of GOD, Israel was dominated by the Evil One, then GOD became Man, that is,The Word became flesh,He descended from heaven yet again,according to His purpose of salvation.
In fact, this was not the only time that He came to the Devil's world, but the difference now is that He became a Man and came to dwell among men, to save those who were His- John 17:6and12-26, that is,to take them out of the power of the Evil One, Hallelujah, even though they were still living in his diabolical world, and the Word gave us Power to resist the cunning snares/traps of the Devil- John 17:9-12-even though we still live in the Devil's world. Satan works through his demonic strategies to divert us from the faith that was once given to the saints.Faith comes by hearing, hearing the Word of GOD,the Word is GOD,a great mystery.
Re.11:15-18-The terrible WAR from now on
15...The kingdoms of this world(Devil's world) are become the Kingdoms of our Lord,and of His Christ;and He shall reign for ever and ever.
16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before GOD on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped GOD,
17Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord GOD Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18And the nations were(will be)angry, and GOD's WRATH is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be Judged ( 1Thessalonians 4:14-16),and that GOD should give reward unto His servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear His name,small and great;and should destroy them which destroy the earth.
Be careful and get ready
"As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work"(v.2)
Glory of God is revealed in the manner His Power and Wisdom have created the heaven and the earth; so much so even a speck of dust refracts sunlight to create a roseate dawn or starry skies that never fails to thrill us. God is beyond human conception and Truth is the only measure by which He makes sense to us. "He hath made everythingbeautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end(Ec.3:11)". Only through his Son it is known. The works of God ( John 6:28-29).
Soul is a token of God establishing his sovereignty over His creation and it holds the everlasting covenant as its frame of reference. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.( John 14:6)." Truth in inward parts makes each of us accountable to God in the final reckoning. So what are we but chosen by God before the worlds began. Are we sons or servants merely going through the motions of living for our reward?
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope./O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good."
"Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" A hireling and a son have different standing which the Parable of the Prodigal Son brings out. The spendthrift son have wasted away his means and fell in want. In an alien country where Satan is a hard taskmaster he would even grudge over the husks doled out to his servants, what does the son say,'And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!( Luke 15:17).The expression 'when he came to himself' is highly significant. Soul is a reminder of our fellowship with God.
Jesus in His teaching on this (& this account was not a parable as it does not meet the definition of a parable) is found in Luke 16:20-31, showing that the spirit of man must go somewhere. In the OT economy, where Hades was that temporary residence of departed souls till the Cross, Jesus still taught that there was consciousness in the after-life & also places of rest & waiting and also of torment. And Jesus was giving a real view of life beyond the grave, or else by naming people & places, He was just a deceiver. Jesus never did that; all His parables were without specifics, just everyday situations to which there was a special meaning. Luke 16 is not a parable but a view of the after-life - and He should know.
"Hell is a finality.", you wrote. No, Hell & Heaven are only the beginning. Our lives on Earth are but a quick snapshot of time compared to an everlasting existence, whether in God's Presence or in torment. And finally, you stated a good question, "Also, by your reasoning, how exactly can a disembodied spirit be thirsty? How can a disembodied spirit feel pain? Impossible!" What Jesus was teaching here is that the departed spirit can still feel agony, just as there can be joy & celebration (e.g. Luke 15:10). The spirit of this 'rich man' wasn't thirsty for even a sip of water - he was in torment, & sought comfort, ANY comfort, to relieve him of his agony. Would any amount of water have helped him - I seriously doubt it, but our earthly comparison to this would be, "a drowning man will clutch at a straw" to try & save himself, & would fit the Luke 16 account. And the rich man even pleaded that his brothers would be warned now while still alive, lest they come into such an awful place. So the actual fundamental question remains is: since the Word of God is replete with accounts of the awfulness of a Christ-less eternity, are we going to take the warnings given in it as just a story/a parable/a fable or believe in Jesus & the apostles' words?
The superscription refers to men whom Abimelech could hire to form his base. Hireling is a generic term collectively used to distinguish servants who work for their hire in a household while sons work to ease the burden of their father. Value of silver and of love do tell in secular as well as in heavenly relationships. Accordingly in times of danger ("The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep"-John10;13)"on the other Jesus as the good shepherd teaches what he shall do for his Father. "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep( John 10:15)".
In the world of the flesh hirelings are determined to better their prospects so they would gain more in terms of hire. Any improvement can be only in the tangible dollars and cents.The prodigal son in time of want was willing to work for offal because his prospect in an alien country could not be any better. He did some simple arithmetic and found in his father's house, labor of his hands fetched far greater as he had himself seen in the case of his servants."How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!( Luke 15:17-NIV)." Value of hire made sense to him only when he could relate his spiritual value in terms of his Father. It was matter of life and death. In the world of the flesh he was in the wrong place to count in terms of hire value of which fluctuates.
Ironically great many all of them do not think in terms of life, and of the spirit but work themselves for golden sunset years only to find their life annuities have swindled away by companies they trusted. From the passage of the gospel cited earlier a child of God has a place of permanence to go to. Jesus as the good shepherd teaches from example of his life. "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:(10:8)" But Jesus speaks of them as thieves and robbers.
"A Great Army"
The army of the kings of the east bear a tag, 200x1000x1000 These two sets refer to the period during which Satan is bound over. So latter days and latter years mentioned in Ch.38 necessitate this. "In the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword. This is different from the latter days." But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."(Dan.12:13)
Number 10 refers to the Decalogue and Judgment of God. The red dragon had 10 horns indicating power and authority, "having seven heads and ten horns," Similarly the beast also has the same. (Re.13:1,12:3)
The number 20 (10x2) refers to sinning against God and his holiness signifying the Son, The Prodigal Son refers how he may reconcile with his Father "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."( Luke 15:18) Joseph was sold by his brethren to the Ishmaelites, 'who took him to Egypt,' and the sum was 20 shekels of silver.(Ge.37:28) This continues in the trespass offering. (Le.5:14-16) This 20 shekels in the case of Joseph signifies their trespass against God and Joseph who was set down as the double for the Son. Also significant is that Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. (10x3) The command number 3 refers to the Son.
Luke 15:20 (KJV) 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Finally, he "came to his senses" (Greek, phe mi), that is, "he became enlightened," or "began to see the light"! He reasoned that his father's hired hands had enough bread to eat, "but I am dying here with hunger!" (v. 17). With emotional reasoning, he decided to go home and say, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight" (v. 18). He recognized that he had sinned first against the heavenly Father, then his earthly father! Being so humbled by the experience, he wanted to tell his father, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men" (v. 19). But regardless of what the young man had done, the mercy of his father was beyond measure. When the father saw his son coming down the road toward home, (1) from a distant he spotted him, as if he looked each day for him to come back, and (2) he felt compassion for his son, (3) ran to him, (4) embraced him, and (5) kissed him (v. 20). The son told his father exactly what he vowed to say: "I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (v. 21).
The depth of the son's repentance is matched only by the depth of the father's love. His actions touch the heart. The father saw the young man while he was still a long way off. This suggests the father longed and looked for his son's return one day. Then, he had pity on his son by running to meet him. This indicates that the father took the initiative in being reconciled to his son.* Mal Couch. "Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary". Marion, IA: Laridian, Inc., 2021.
Romans 8:7 For the CARNAL MIND is ENMITY (in direct rebellion) against God (the WORD) ....
Most Christians are STILL under the influence of a carnal mind (Satan, deceptions, falsehoods).
Christ is TRUTH, anything not of TRUTH is ANTI-christ.
Isaiah 55:8 ....MY thoughts (the mind of Christ) are not your thoughts (the carnal mind, ANTI-christ) ......
Isaiah 59:7 ..... their thoughts (the carnal mind) are thoughts of iniquity ......
Luke 15:30 And as soon as this thy son was come, which has devoured thy living with HARLOTS, thou hast killed FOR HIM the fatted calf.
Matthew 21:31..... HARLOTS go into the kingdom of heaven before you .....
Hosea 4:14 I WILL NOT punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor you spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves (those with carnal minds) are seperated with whores, and they (the carnal minded) sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that DOETH NOT UNDERSTAND SHALL FALL.
The carnal mind WILL NOT understand these scriptures, it takes the mind of Christ to understand God's parables.
God bless you
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! ( Luke 7:34).
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. ( Luke 15:31:32).
I have combined these verses to show the meaning of another verse ( Mark 2:19) which shows how with the bridegroom (Christ) present the Disciples couldn't fast but they would later on. Now of course that doesn't mean that they shouldn't fast such as what they lacked in Mark 9:29 for deliverance; what it DOES mean is that the joy of being present with the Lord when they were communing together resulted in enjoying meals together; like the Prodigal Son should have had with his father and restored brother.
Since we normally don't have "love feasts" together ( 1 Cor. 11:20-34) it may be a foreign concept but probably should be present in churches today or would often be a helpful concept. Nonetheless; for purposes here let us just refer to any communal meals we partake with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. IF; and I say that emphatically we are ever to imbibe in alcoholic beverages it should be to enjoy the celebration with family or trusted friends and of course praise and worship of God.
We also; of course have to abstain if we or anyone else present is known to have a problem with drinking.
The company we keep also in Christ's example was NOT swaying Him to sin but the Lord was clearly in charge of conversations.
I previously mentioned the lambasting Christ did to the Pharisees when they invited Him over for a meal; that happened more than once but never as clearly as in Luke 11; and Matthew 23. He certainly would be perceived as a most rude houseguest!!!!
We all like Paul have times of plenty and want; feasting and fasting more or less.
Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Whether this refers to the self righteous Pharisees which Christ described in a similar manner in Luke 5:31 or it literally means people in a right standing with God or both could be debated.
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his estate. What is often missed here is that BOTH sons had their inheritance divided at that time; and it was likely as tradition held the older son would have the largest sum. Something else I noticed here as well that is often overlooked is that the youngest son spent all of his inheritance. Thus; forgiveness was complete but nonetheless we see the concept of loss of reward.
To avoid not seeing the big picture here; it was clear that the Pharisees had no love for seeing someone repent and finding any joy in it; whether among themselves or the Gentiles. Their concept of God no doubt affected their lifestyle and dogmas; adding hundreds more laws to the Old Testament Canon through their own thoughts and imaginations (which resulted in the Talmud and other extrabiblical uninspired and mystical texts and traditions of men). With this attitude no one sees the need to repent in order to be ABLE to obey the law; at least in regard to the thoughts and intentions of the heart whereby men had to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes in order to be saved ( Matthew 5:20). What was missing was understanding the nature and character of God and basically worshipping the law itself rather than it's creator. We can only truly love the law if saved.
Firstly, the 8 verses in John 15:1-8 certainly refer to Christians being grafted into Jesus so as to produce the required "fruit" - but your understanding of 'the fruit' associating with the "fruit of the Spirit" as you stated in Galatians 5:22-23 is not correct. In other words, does God the Father seek "...love, joy, peace..." back to Himself from Christians?
As an example, if I meet a Christian man who is abrupt, discourteous, angry and generally offensive, I know that he does NOT have the Holy Spirit's presence within him. On the other hand, if I meet another man who exhibits, "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" and especially is a LOVER OF BIBLE TRUTHS - then I know that such a man has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within him.
In John 15:2 and especially verse 6, Jesus is very clear that if Christians FAIL to produce unto God the required quantities of "spiritual fruit" expected, God the Father will remove them permanently from Christ. When that happens, John 15:6 says they become "withered" (spiritually) prior to men (or angels - Matthew 13:40-42) later gathering them prior to burning in the Lake of Fire.
Therefore, the "spiritual fruit" that God the Father requires to be seen brought unto Him from each Christian during their lifetime on the Earth represents the souls of men, women and children "lost" in Satan's kingdom and brought into God's kingdom ( Luke 15:7) through the preaching of the Gospel.
In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus described the quantities of "souls saved" through the preaching of the Gospel as being 100, 60 or 30 souls (my understanding). If Christians fail to produce less than 30 lost souls into God's kingdom throughout their lifetime on the Earth, it is questionable whether they have Salvation, given the words of Christ in John 15:2, 6.
Any comments you might have would be appreciated.
THE PERSON OF HOLY SPIRIT-AN UNKNOWN PERSON
The person of the Holy Spirit is not a ghost as is written in English language, but a Person. As a Person, as JESUS was in flesh and bones, he is completely unknown, and he has several missions, as JESUS said: John 16:12-15 & 8-11:
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; but whatsoever HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father has are mine:therefore said I, that he shall take of mine,and shall shew it unto you.
8 When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of Judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of Judgment, because the prince of this world is Judged.
WOULDN'T THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF JESUS? LUKE 15:32 - THE LAWFUL / LEGITIMATE BROTHER OF JESUS?
- The Person of he Holy Spirit has not genealogy as JESUS has; why? Because he is not a Jew.
- The NAME of JESUS is known of men, and is also known of the angels, and He is known of the demons too. But the person of the Holy Spirit has a NAME written that no MAN knows, but he himself. He has not genealogy as JESUS has.
- JESUS came from heaven and He was born in Israel. John 6:v.38 - I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.
In other hand, the prophetic birth of the person of Holy Spirit is not in Israel, its in a Gentile nation.His birth is within the body of Christ-the Church-and as JESUS said, he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that he speaks, he shall receive of mine, he shall take of mine.
JESUS existed before the world was, the person of HS is the ancient of days
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. Luke 15:20-24
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1,2
John 10:28 - neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
What about followers who voluntarily left His hand?
Luke 15:4-7 - Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep. But the sheep is still a follower. If the sheep denounced its Shepherd and left the herd to become a wolf, Jesus doesn't say He goes to rescue wolves but just the sheep in His flock. Verse 7 also adds a condition- "if" the sheep repents. People often skip that part. Maybe it's uncomfortable for some to humble themselves to genuinely repent and ask for forgiveness to God. I think this is what Jesus expects. It doesn't say the Christian can follow the world, sin as much as he wants, abort babies, use profanity, cheat, lie, steal, kill, abuse the body with drugs, and fill with lust, and not repent, not follow Jesus and be 100% fine. I see no verse saying that is all is fine if done intentionally. Seems like doing that is like spitting in Jesus's face and mocking what He did for us.
Heb 6:1 talks about repentance. Heb 6:6 says those who have "fallen away" can be brought back through repentance. If it wasn't possible for Christians to fall away then why does the Bible say that Christians can fall away? It says its a disgrace, like crucifying Jesus all over again.
Heb 5:13 says that some Christians are still living on milk like an infant and still not pursuing righteousness. Some in this forum have claimed that effort to be righteous is "bad" and apparently doing evil is good? That of course is from satan.
Heb 5:2 talks about Christians who have gone astray or "out of the way" of the path. If it were not possible to veer off the path of following Jesus then why does the Bible warn us not to do that?
Heb 4:1 warns Christians to not fall short of God's "rest".
Heb 3:19
When we are down to nothing, God is up to something!
how many Christians will be saved during the rapture ? Read Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
how do u turn ur life to Jesus? By acknowledging and confessing to the Lord that we are sinners in need of his salvation. Inviting him into our lives asking him to take over Nothing fancy nothing complicated
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved
BUT KNOW THIS once you make that confession of repentance there's a great celebration in heaven
Jesus said, "I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" ( Luke 15:10)
Praise the Lord I pray the Lord your strength and guidance that he bless you and bring people around you that are after his own heart. God bless
Message.
And the simple structure of each of those parables was: the responsible shepherd searching for even one lost sheep; the diligent woman searching for that one lost piece of silver coin; and the loving Father who waited for & longed for his one beloved son, deemed to be lost & possibly dead, to once again return back to his family. And in all three parables, there was much rejoicing that the once lost was now found. And what should have hit home to those Jewish leaders, was what Jesus stated in Luke 15:7: "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
I'm sure Jesus riveted His Eyes on them when He emphasized that all of Heaven rejoices when that one lost sinner has repented & is found, unlike those who considered themselves righteous & without sin looking down upon the spiritually destitute. Instead of leading lost perishing souls to God (through Jesus their Messiah), the leaders determined to cast judgement against them & rejected them as the filth of the world. Rather, their own hearts lay bare before their Wise Judge & they would have done well to heed Jesus' Message to them & first look inwardly rather than finding fault in others.
Even those who inadvertently stray away, or lose their direction in life, even as the prodigal son who made a deliberate unwise choice to leave, still have a patient God in Heaven longing for their return.
I understand what you are saying and agree. The invitation goes out to the whole world as mentioned in 1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The thing is many will not come, many will travel the wide gate as mentioned in Mathews 7:13. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: "MANY WILL BE DECEIVED"
God knows who will come to him being he is omniscient; he is all-knowing in the sense that he is aware of the past present and future as he stands outside of time looking in.
I believe you see an example of this in Numbers 16:5 "And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
"The knowing comes before the choosing"
WHEN IT COMES TO BACKSLIDING.
We can look at the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and those described as the dogs and pigs in 2 Peter 2:9-22.
The prodigal son and the pigs went back home!
THE PRODIGAL SON BACK TO HIS FATHERS HOUSE, and the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
The son went the way of the world but he never lost his sonship, a lost child of God will always be found by the great shepherd!
He will return or he NEVER was a child of God.
Those described in 2 Peter 2:9-22 returned back to the world because they never were sheep.
You can "profess" Christ and go through all the motions and great deeds all your life and never have Christ and be told depart from me I never knew you. Mathews 7:21-23.
God bless.
We will fail, we will fall, but we must get up and do it all over again! This is His will that we might know the forgiveness in the shed blood of the savior! Cleansed always in the sight of the Father!!!
When we observe professing Christians; there are many clues as to whether they are "fruit producers" or not. This could be more adequately explained by comparing all "professors" of the faith to those "possessors" of the Holy Spirit. Here are some helpful verses to examine ourselves as well as get some clues as to where others are spiritually.
"He chastises everyone He loves." ( Heb. 12:6). Those of us who have been truly walking the straight and narrow know better than to glibly pray for something like patience. To freely embrace a verse like James 1:2 where we are told to "consider it all joy" when various trials/temptations come pass need to trust the Lord that He knows how to work all circumstances for the good OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD (and called according to His purpose: Romans 8:28). This is the best way we can distinguish who is in the faith; those who truly understand not only that their sins have been forgiven; but they have a new Lord; Savior AND master. His sheep hear His voice; they may go astray for a time but the Chief Shephard brings in the lost 1 from the 99. ( Luke 15:4).
"if you love me you will obey my commandments." ( John 14:15). This verse may seem to contradict the ones where people were doing all sorts of "good works" in His name but were not His sheep ( Matt. 7:21-23). This is a caution to anyone who would have a ministry based on their own name; or type of gifting and certainly for the prosperity gospel leadership. We saw the same self-righteous religion with the Pharisees. Judas Iscariot is a pathetic example who was somehow convinced to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver; apparently 4 days wages at that time although it would show silver vastly more valuable then compared to today's valuation. It was the seduction of power; then which Satan used to draw him in; thus the verse The admonitions of Luke 6:26 and Luke 16:15 serve aw warnings for those loving praise of men over praise of God.
The Apostles did not believe Jesus taught them to obey the "powers that be"; as evidenced by the fact that they disobeyed them:
Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:28-29
It appears you are trying to marry the two gospels together; one must choose one or the other:
"...if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." 2 Corinthians 11:4
Jesus has prophesied that he will tell all the workers of iniquity (sinners) to depart from him:
"I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke 13:27
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:7
Jesus claims there are two distinct groups of human beings:
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine." John 17:9
The world aka the "powers that be" aka workers of iniquity aka sinners only comprise one group.
The other group are the sheep who pray with Jesus: "thy will be done on earth" and "lead us not into temptation".
Psalm(s) 14 and 53 also speak of two distinct groups of human beings:
The "workers of iniquity" who eat up God's People as they eat up bread;
and "God's People" who are being eaten up like bread.
We don't sin with our mind and our flesh.
We have been commanded to love the LORD our God with all our heart, all our mind, all our strength, and all our soul.
He is able to keep us from sinning. He teaches us to ask him for his will.
Part 3
1 Peter 4:6 I think it would be hard to verify Peter is talking about the gospel being preached to dead people, it may mean those who are spiritually dead or ones that heard the gospel that has died and was dead when he said this, or an answer not yet reviled.
A general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels. Luke 15:3, 15:8, 15:11, and 16:1 are parables, and they are introduced in a similar form to Luke 16:19. In this both the rich man and Lazarus are depicted as having bodies, Lazarus a finger, the rich man a tongue after death, but scripture says new bodies are not given until the resurrection.
The rich man and Lazarus both were fully aware of their surroundings, scripture tells us there is no knowledge in death. My understanding of the lesson of Jesus is clear. Our current lives dictate our eternal destiny, which is unalterable after death, and the only way for this to not be a parable is for the soul to be immortal which comes from Greek philosophy and was advanced by Augustine in the church. My understanding is scripture does not support that.
Sorry, it took a while to get back to you, and forgive me if I repeated anything I'm an old man.
God bless,
RLW
The Chief shepherd lost sheep.
We have a sheep doing what sheep do, wonders away from home into the wilderness and ends up in the pig pen.
If he was anything else but a son he would like the pig pen or the wilderness but he's a son who remembers his life in the fathers house and look what happens.
AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:17-18.
When he came to himself!
I would draw your attention to
2 Peter 2:22. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire".
A dog and a pig likes what they do. The fathers house is what they don't like, That's why they returned back to their old ways,
But a son "One born from above" doesn't turn back to his old ways and stay there, his Spirit won't let him enjoy it neither will his loving father.
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, UNTIL HE FIND IT?"
It's the Holyspirit what convicts us and keeps us. and when we return the Lord gladly accepts us back in the fold.
God bless.
part 1.
I would like to share my view on Luke 15:11-13. First with more emphasis on the loving father and his duel role as a Father and the chief shepherd.
Secondly the actions of the Son and a lost sheep.
Beginning at verse 1; Luke 15:1-32.
Notice in Luke 15:2-3 the complaints of the Pharisees that prompts Jesus to give 3 parables to make his point.
Notice what these 3 parables have in common.
Something someone possess.
Something lost.
and Something Found.
Take tote that while these were lost they never quit belonging to the possessor.
vs 4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, AND GO AFTER THAT WHICH IS LOST, UNTIL HE FIND IT?
vs 6 he says "Rejoice with me; for I HAVE FOUND ( MY SHEEP ) which was lost. "It never quit being his!
2nd Parable. vs 8. "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, DOTH NOT LIGHT A CANDLE, AND SWEEP THE HOUSE, AND SEEK DILIGENTLY TILL SHE FIND IT?
vs 9. I HAVE FOUND THE PIECE WHICH I HAD LOST.
3rd Parable.
Luke 15:11-12. And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them LIVING. I would suggest that the living that the father given him was more than just substance which ran out, there was also life.
Look at what happens in vs14.
"And when he had spent all, THERE AROSE A MIGHTY FAMINE IN
( THAT LAND;) and he began to be in want. A FAMINE IN THAT LAND!
Coincidence?
kind of reminds me of Jonah.
Now let's look at the son/lost sheep in part 2.
God bless you and yours, Luke 15:8-10