That's an interesting explanation you've given: "No matter what other scriptures you may read you can not change this truth or alter it. It's unchangeable just like God is unchangeable. So you use the light of this truth to understand more truth. If you add to the truth it becomes a lie."
So we have Mt 14:33, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God." And Luke 1:32, "be called the Son of the Highest."
According to your understanding, using these verses to the exclusion of any other verse that could add to the understanding that Jesus is the Christ, the One born of God & called the Son of God, we would have to overlook portions such as John 1:1-14 as 'secondary' & unworthy for inclusion into the primary meaning & understanding of Jesus Christ. So if you consider the John 1 portion as changing or altering the Truth about the Son of God, then how do you arrive at that conclusion? And if it indeed does so, & we thereby do disservice to the Word by including it with God's Son, then I ask, what do we actually do with such Scriptures? Could this Word of God, both very God & with God & then becoming flesh to dwell on the Earth, not actually pertain to Jesus? Then to whom & how are we to read this & understand this? I've tried looking at with all the possibilities I can, but still it hits me as I read it. Even if I don't understand how this can happen, do I have to conclude that this portion has some other meaning?
Using your Romans 6:23 example: "For the wages of sin is death" as all we need to know about this Truth. So if I then read Isaiah 59:2, telling me that my iniquities have separated me from God only, but not consigned me to death, I would be perplexed.
Or Mark 9:43-47: for me to escape hell fire for my sins, all I have to do is to remove my hand or eye or foot that consigns me to hell. Rather, to help me understand further that my sins result in death (both physically & spiritually), it helps to know that I'm separated & also to deal with the trigger for my sin.
Richard, with all due respect to your understanding of Scripture, but I would direct you to Luke 16:19-31, and specifically, verse 23: "And in hell (Gk. Hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." And verse 28: "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment."
And Mark 9:43,44: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (Gk. geennan, or Gehenna), into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
This is the sad state of all those who reject Christ & His Gospel - eternal torment awaits them & for this cause the Gospel has to be preached so that men may know the Truth & flee the torment to come. Let's not get trapped in the JW teaching of only death awaiting the sinner - if only ultimately death with little or no suffering, then why flee to the One Who gave His Life to save us from God's Wrath & Judgement. As I ask this to the JWs who visit me (or, used to visit), what then is your Gospel? Is it only to be able to be a part of God's Kingdom or perish into the dust if we reject the Gospel? There's nothing to flee from. If that was the choice given to me, I doubt if I would be moved to convert - yes, it would be lovely to experience eternal life with the Lord, but if it meant that the other option was just to disappear into the earth, then that's not much reason to change my lifestyle. Many believe that now: that there's no God & nothing after the grave. I came to the Lord because of the Spirit's Work of conviction in my heart, of Who God is & that His Judgements against the sinner are certain & that there is eternal suffering for those who reject His offer. It would be lovely to think that a sinner can eventually find freedom from torment but for Revelation 21:8.
Thanks for your reply, Claire, & I'm sure there are many who are lifting you up before the Lord including about your place of worship, the people there & your family situation. The Lord hears you & as you keep your heart & mind affixed upon Him & express full faith in spite of your circumstances, you will find the Lord opening up the way before you.
Faith is what moves the Hand of God. Mark 9:23, 24: "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
I took a cursory look at the "The Way Prepared" site, particularly on 'Our Greatest Hindrance' & 'Ten Commandments' & though they gave a thorough dealing with the subjects, I had some serious misgivings with their teaching as they don't conform entirely to what I understand are scriptural Truths.
Just one more point on The Church. I picked up on this conversation you were having. To state, that 'Church' in the Bible always points to 'a group of people, a congregation, a gathering for religious purposes'. The Greek word is 'ekklesia'. It never speaks of a building - the Church is a living organism: the Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." And verse 28, describes some of the appointments & functions within this Body, the Church. However, it wouldn't be wrong to say that 'we're off to Church today' as applying to a building/location but the meaning is essentially to the Body of believers. Every blessing to you as you wait on the Lord.
Verily I say unto you ... - To encourage them, he assured them that, though his kingdom was now obscure and despised - though he was cast out and little known - yet the time was near when he would be regarded in a different manner, and his kingdom be established with great power.
This cannot refer to the end of the world, and there is no need of referring it to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Taste of death - That is, die. Before they die they shall see this.
Son of man coming in his kingdom - Mark and Luke have explained this: Mark 9:1, "Until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power;" Luke 9:27, "Till they see the kingdom of God." The meaning evidently is, "till they shall see my kingdom," i. e., my church, now small, feeble, and despised, greatly enlarged, established, and spreading with great rapidity and extent. All this was accomplished. All these apostles, except Judas, lived to see the wonders of the day of Pentecost; some of them, John particularly, saw the Jewish nation scattered, the temple destroyed, the gospel established in Asia, Rome, Greece, and in a large part of the known world.
This commentary better describes what this scripture realistically means. These things happened before all the disciples (except John) had been killed.
Mark 9:42 - And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
John, the possession of humans by evil spirits is very real. Even when looking at examples of this in the Bible, where Jesus dealt with them (e.g. Luke 4:33-36; Mark 9:20-27; Matthew 17:14-18; etc.) we know that this demonic activity was very much evident in those days as it is in ours. As Mishael has warned, that fooling around with occultic practices, even laying open our minds by use of drugs or pursuit of demonic religions, makes one highly susceptible to demonic possession, or oppression.
My personal experience of one such occasion was when sharing in a Bible study in another country. My passage was actually on 1 Peter chapter 3, sharing with families in that respect. So, it was a study not essentially on the Cross or victory over Satan, etc., yet a lady in our midst appeared overcome with heaviness (sadness on her face) & later began to shake a little & then uncontrollably. I thought it weird given the passage of Scripture being looked at, but had later come to realize that when God's powerful Word is opened & read, then the spirits are also troubled. Indeed, "the devils (i.e. demons) believe & tremble" (Js 2:19). That woman wasn't shaking because of an affliction or being moved by my teaching: those which possessed her were agitated at the reading of God's Word. The end of that, was that my indigenous brother took charge & dispatched that evil spirit from out of her. She fell onto the bench she was sitting on & later recovered smiling & joining us in sweet fellowship, being freed from her torment. After some days, we visited her to see how she & her family were doing: and PTL they were all overjoyed in her release & being normal & useful in the home.
I just share the above to give you a personal witness of such things that go on all the time. Evil forces surround us, many succumb in different ways, but to the child of the Living God, he walks on with joy & confidence, knowing that "greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (Js 4:4).
Greetings Patti, Elias is the Greek rending of the name. Thus proving the new testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew as some claim. Many of Paul's letters or epistles were to Churches in Greek cities, Ephesians, Corinthians etc.
Patti, you're correct, Elijah (Hebrew) is the same as Elias (Latin/Greek). In Hebrew, his name is actually Eliyyahu, which means "Yahweh is my God", but we say, Elijah, for easier vocalization in English. In Arabic/Urdu, it is, Ilyas.
Janet, are you referring to Mark 9:17-27? If so, then the account is of Jesus coming over to a company of people & some Jewish religious leaders (Scribes) were questioning Jesus' disciples. Apparently, a man had a son with a 'dumb spirit'. This may not mean as we read it, but quite likely there was an evil spirit inhabiting this boy that produced lunacy or even epilepsy in the child & could also have rendered the boy speaking gibberish. And this was a particularly violent spirit, as from the account. So, Jesus' disciples ask Him, why could they not cast out this demon (as maybe they had done on other occasions)? This type of spirit required much reliance on God for removal (= prayer & fasting), Jesus said. We don't know how an evil spirit came to indwell this lad, but when we see so much of satanic worship & delving into the spirit world today, that so many do ignorantly, we can expect more of this demonic possession & oppression.
43-48 JESUS mind remains on SALVATION for them and us. Example, JESUS warns them and us of consequences from 3 pleasurable sins that gladly walk us into hell if we allow them to. But JESUS walks us into SALVATION, see John 3:16-21, thereby EMPOWER us as in verse 50 above, especially with PEACE from GOD.
Thank you Lord I am searching for you because you have been faithful to me so now I can hear you instead of being distracted as I am letting so much unimportant thin vs take me away from you.
43-48 Jesus warns us of the danger of the hands, feet, eye, (either of them if we allow them) as it relates to keeping ourselves out of the fire it better to get rid of them them than to allow either of them to escort us into the fire.Wow! Wow! Wow! AMEN.
Authoritive, and lovely...Jesus' imagery so moving.....Lord forgive us our doubt....let us search your precious Word daily and pray earnestly for all we encounter, as God is faithful!
His Raiment that was white as SNOW and Glorious IS the church,We are his vesture dipped in blood as says in Rev. there is no fuller on earth that can whiten like his blood,he was clothed with a Vesture dipped in blood which is the CHURCH,HUMANITY, ON THE MOUNT HE WAS PRESENTING TO GOD A GLORIOUS CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE,(US SINNERS) THO YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEY SHALL BE WHITE AS SNOW.
Verse 39 :for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. that means nobody can heal , or do any miracles if you mock, if you make jokes about the LORD, if you laugh at the jokes. if you are a partaker among people that say offensive things about Jesus ....!
Thank you Jesus for everything and cleanse my mind and my heart remove my unbelief Lord i believed your words for you are faithful to me I love you and will praise you forever amen
This chapter is so encouraging when disbelief and discouragement steps in our lives. It is so easy to lose our focus on the greatness of God almighty and what He could do for us, if only we believe. One of the greatest weapon Satan uses is doubt but once we read Gods word and meditate on it, we would stay in the faith and be able to see him high and lifted up and more than able to help us.
Ye are the Salt of the earth! If the Salt becomes tasteless it is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled upon by men. When the Salt is no longer able to keep things from spoiling, then everything gets rotten; and it is the fault of the useless salt! What happened in the days before the flood was precisely that! The Salt had lost its savor by assimilating into the world, and falling away.
I am so excited about this Transfiguration on the Mount I FEEL AS THO I AM RAPTURED BY THIS REVELATION, I SEE HIS RAIMENT THAT WAS WHITE AS SNOW AS TH CHURCH/ BRIDE THAT IS GONNA BE PRESENTED TO GOD WITHOUT SPOT, THO YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEY SHALL BE WHITE AS SNOW THATS US SINNERS THAT IS GONNA BE MADE WHITE AS SNOW BY HIS BLOOD, THERE IS NO FULLER ON EARTH THAT CAN WHITEN US LIKE HIS BLOOD.
When they saw him on the MOUNT of Transfiguration AND HIS RAIMENT WAS WHITE AS SNOW he was presenting to GOD A GLORIOUS CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE. WE ARE HIS RAIMENT, ISA. SAID THO YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEY SHALL BE WHITE AS SNOW,HE WAS CLOTHED WITH A VESTURE DIPPED IN BLOOD, thats us SINNERS, His CHURCH that is gonna be made WHITE AS SNOW BY HIS BLOOD I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME. GBU
"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." The Lord has COMMANDED us to be of one mind and to all speak the same things, all in One Spirit! When we speak about the things of the Lord we must do so in love and for One end; as WE also must be saved, and FIRST give account.
Bob:We Do not all have The Spirit within us. We only receive The Spirit when we receive Salvation then we are Baptized with The Holy Ghost: Mark 1:8, Matthew 3:11
We all have the Spirit in us and if we want the Spirit to move us to begin to learn the Lords loving healing everlasting life he so freely offers. A good place to start is with Romans to open our eyes and ears. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. The living word of God will instruct you.
Bruce; you said not too long ago, "No One comes to Christ until The Father Calls." Is there a time when God does not call; that men could excuse themselves for continuing in sins? Psalm 50:1 says, "The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof." All they who are of the truth will hear Jesus' voice, through the WORD preached!
The word translated into the English, 'fool,' is literally 'moron' in the Greek. Jesus called the hypocrites, morons and blind. Jesus warned us all, that if we heard His words and didn't do them, we would be likened to a stupid man who without a foundation built his house on the sand. There is a right usage of words and names and the kinds of actions people take, and the things they believe.
I Believe The Father will Call Everyone at least once or some more. Why do you speak Evil of The Way of Salvation, and Calling People Morons? John 6:44 Says No One Comes to Christ until The Father Calls (a Tug on The Heart) You call that a False Gospel. The Pharisees also spoke Evil. Your Post say you know The Bible but need Salvation. Most are Saved by The Foolishness of Preaching. Last Call?
So we have Mt 14:33, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God." And Luke 1:32, "be called the Son of the Highest."
According to your understanding, using these verses to the exclusion of any other verse that could add to the understanding that Jesus is the Christ, the One born of God & called the Son of God, we would have to overlook portions such as John 1:1-14 as 'secondary' & unworthy for inclusion into the primary meaning & understanding of Jesus Christ. So if you consider the John 1 portion as changing or altering the Truth about the Son of God, then how do you arrive at that conclusion? And if it indeed does so, & we thereby do disservice to the Word by including it with God's Son, then I ask, what do we actually do with such Scriptures? Could this Word of God, both very God & with God & then becoming flesh to dwell on the Earth, not actually pertain to Jesus? Then to whom & how are we to read this & understand this? I've tried looking at with all the possibilities I can, but still it hits me as I read it. Even if I don't understand how this can happen, do I have to conclude that this portion has some other meaning?
Using your Romans 6:23 example: "For the wages of sin is death" as all we need to know about this Truth. So if I then read Isaiah 59:2, telling me that my iniquities have separated me from God only, but not consigned me to death, I would be perplexed.
Or Mark 9:43-47: for me to escape hell fire for my sins, all I have to do is to remove my hand or eye or foot that consigns me to hell. Rather, to help me understand further that my sins result in death (both physically & spiritually), it helps to know that I'm separated & also to deal with the trigger for my sin.
And Mark 9:43,44: "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (Gk. geennan, or Gehenna), into the fire that never shall be quenched, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
This is the sad state of all those who reject Christ & His Gospel - eternal torment awaits them & for this cause the Gospel has to be preached so that men may know the Truth & flee the torment to come. Let's not get trapped in the JW teaching of only death awaiting the sinner - if only ultimately death with little or no suffering, then why flee to the One Who gave His Life to save us from God's Wrath & Judgement. As I ask this to the JWs who visit me (or, used to visit), what then is your Gospel? Is it only to be able to be a part of God's Kingdom or perish into the dust if we reject the Gospel? There's nothing to flee from. If that was the choice given to me, I doubt if I would be moved to convert - yes, it would be lovely to experience eternal life with the Lord, but if it meant that the other option was just to disappear into the earth, then that's not much reason to change my lifestyle. Many believe that now: that there's no God & nothing after the grave. I came to the Lord because of the Spirit's Work of conviction in my heart, of Who God is & that His Judgements against the sinner are certain & that there is eternal suffering for those who reject His offer. It would be lovely to think that a sinner can eventually find freedom from torment but for Revelation 21:8.
Faith is what moves the Hand of God. Mark 9:23, 24: "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
I took a cursory look at the "The Way Prepared" site, particularly on 'Our Greatest Hindrance' & 'Ten Commandments' & though they gave a thorough dealing with the subjects, I had some serious misgivings with their teaching as they don't conform entirely to what I understand are scriptural Truths.
Just one more point on The Church. I picked up on this conversation you were having. To state, that 'Church' in the Bible always points to 'a group of people, a congregation, a gathering for religious purposes'. The Greek word is 'ekklesia'. It never speaks of a building - the Church is a living organism: the Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." And verse 28, describes some of the appointments & functions within this Body, the Church. However, it wouldn't be wrong to say that 'we're off to Church today' as applying to a building/location but the meaning is essentially to the Body of believers. Every blessing to you as you wait on the Lord.
Verily I say unto you ... - To encourage them, he assured them that, though his kingdom was now obscure and despised - though he was cast out and little known - yet the time was near when he would be regarded in a different manner, and his kingdom be established with great power.
This cannot refer to the end of the world, and there is no need of referring it to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Taste of death - That is, die. Before they die they shall see this.
Son of man coming in his kingdom - Mark and Luke have explained this: Mark 9:1, "Until they have seen the kingdom of God come with power;" Luke 9:27, "Till they see the kingdom of God." The meaning evidently is, "till they shall see my kingdom," i. e., my church, now small, feeble, and despised, greatly enlarged, established, and spreading with great rapidity and extent. All this was accomplished. All these apostles, except Judas, lived to see the wonders of the day of Pentecost; some of them, John particularly, saw the Jewish nation scattered, the temple destroyed, the gospel established in Asia, Rome, Greece, and in a large part of the known world.
This commentary better describes what this scripture realistically means. These things happened before all the disciples (except John) had been killed.
My personal experience of one such occasion was when sharing in a Bible study in another country. My passage was actually on 1 Peter chapter 3, sharing with families in that respect. So, it was a study not essentially on the Cross or victory over Satan, etc., yet a lady in our midst appeared overcome with heaviness (sadness on her face) & later began to shake a little & then uncontrollably. I thought it weird given the passage of Scripture being looked at, but had later come to realize that when God's powerful Word is opened & read, then the spirits are also troubled. Indeed, "the devils (i.e. demons) believe & tremble" (Js 2:19). That woman wasn't shaking because of an affliction or being moved by my teaching: those which possessed her were agitated at the reading of God's Word. The end of that, was that my indigenous brother took charge & dispatched that evil spirit from out of her. She fell onto the bench she was sitting on & later recovered smiling & joining us in sweet fellowship, being freed from her torment. After some days, we visited her to see how she & her family were doing: and PTL they were all overjoyed in her release & being normal & useful in the home.
I just share the above to give you a personal witness of such things that go on all the time. Evil forces surround us, many succumb in different ways, but to the child of the Living God, he walks on with joy & confidence, knowing that "greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world (Js 4:4).
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. The living word of God will instruct you.