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And even here on this Site, a little while ago there has been debate on the word 'perfect', as found in e.g. Matthew 5:48, Matthew 19:21, 1 Corinthians 2:6. This word 'perfect' has been used by some here to denote, 'sinlessness', that we have to be, or even now, are sinless. Not sure of your position on this, but reading the Greek, 'teleios', seems to indicate more towards 'completeness, full-grown, mature'. Now in Matthew 5:48 we have a problem, we see that Jesus gives the command, to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So, clearly the absolute perfection that our Father fully has within Himself, cannot be the same that we need to have/strive for on Earth: that is, not towards sinlessness, but towards maturity & completeness. So, I share this just to show how important the original languages are to assist us in understanding God's Word, and especially the KJB (17th Century) which uses language & expressions that sometimes are quite foreign to us here in the 21st Century.
Jesus never said if you love me keep Moses' commandments. Nope, keep his commandments. The ten commandments are grevious Jesus' aren't. Jesus' commandments 100% conditional love.
John 14:15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
1st John 5:[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Rev 22:14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
[15] For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
What are Jesus' commandments?
1) Sin not
2) Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect
3) Love one another as I have loved you
4) Matthew 5:3-48.
Jesus never endorsed Moses' ministry. He laid down the new foundation in Matthew 5.
Matthew 19:[8] He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9] And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
The commandments of Jesus the law of spirit and life which sets us free from the law of Moses sin and death.
Yes,Jema, as you said:"Thy Kingdom Come."
Re.11:15-18
The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (By the way,remember that "Blessed are the meek:for they shall inherit the earth"- Matthew 5:5 combined with Revelation 5:10.)
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 thy WRATH is come,and the time of the dead,that they should be Judged,and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear thy name,small and great;and shouldest DESTROY them which destroy the earth.
There will be WAR in heaven:Michael and his angels fought(will fight)against the Dragon;and the Dragon fought(will fight)and his angels-Re.12:7.
And I saw one of his heads(one of his 7 heads) as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the Beast(Beast of sea-the Gentile Beast).And they worshipped the Dragon(the Devil-son of perdition- 2Thessalonians 2:2-3)which gave power unto the Beast(Beast of sea):and they worshipped the Beast,saying,Who is like unto the Beast?who is able to make WAR with him?- Revelation 13:3-4.(Michael is.The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord,and of His Christ;and He shall reign for ever and ever)
Re.6:15-17: 15And the kings of the earth,and the great men,and the rich men,and the chief captains,and the mighty men,and every bondman,and every free man,hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16And said to the mountains and rocks,Fall on us,and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne,and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great Day of his WRATH is come;who shall be able to stand?
"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Matthew 5:22
Hell fire is the same thing as destruction. For example, if my house were on fire, it would destroyed. And, once it burns down, there would be nothing left but smoke rising from the debris.
Firstly, on the name 'Gehenna', otherwise called the "Valley of Hinnom", the Encyclopaedia definition is quite correct about the purpose why that area was set aside. It was indeed a place for the burning of refuse & the dead. And yes, it meant that they were all annihilated - no more evidence except dust & ashes. So, it can mean 'annihilation', but Gehenna can also mean 'a place of burning where the fires are never quenched'. And we know that the body is disposed of there, but what about the immaterial parts of man that remains accountable to God? And you also referenced a verse I quoted in Matthew 10:28. Taken on its own, that verse could well support your belief of a complete extermination of body, soul & spirit.
But it was for that very reason that I gave you the other verses to look up & consider. Not only was Matthew 10:28 Jesus' Words, but also Matthew 5:22,29,30; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:10,11-15. You didn't take these into account. And we know, as I trust you are conversant, that when we deal with a topic or a doctrine from the Bible, we need to take in all the references that deal specifically with it. Unfortunately, our natural human instinct is to accept only those that we find palatable or in agreement with, thus distorting the teaching from the Word.
So, if you would care to look at those other verses & see how they affect your understanding of Matthew 10:28, I would be very interested. It's only when we consider all verses on a subject, can we get a fuller picture of it meaning & its implications. However, sometimes there aren't too many verses to help us learn about the subject - in such cases we can't force a teaching by them & just leave the subject open. Yet, not so with these important doctrines of the Deity of Christ & human existence & punishment after death.
Actually Shabbat Keeper, I wasn't intending to bring up the Rapture debate here, as it has been well discussed over the years. Rather, I was intending to give, maybe a rather flimsy example of a type of Gospel message, telling unbelievers that "when we turn to the Lord for forgiveness of our sins & receiving Christ into our life, then we will not face (physical) death, but just be raptured (caught up, as with Enoch/Elijah), to forever be with him". Here then would be something for the unbeliever to consider, because as sure as day turns into night, we all (believer & unbeliever alike) will face death - whether this thought leaves an 'icky' feeling in us depends on how we view death. So, rapture is not my issue here, but why is death any more of a punishment when we all have to die & knowing that death (of the body) means a complete eradication of any iota of life (in body, breath, mind, & senses). Often death is welcome, especially for the terminally ill or suffering, & whether or not one experiences a new pain-free joyful existence in the Lord's Presence or not, holds little attraction if there is no more consciousness in death or after it.
If death is the only punishment to the Christ-rejecter, then why do we all have to die? And if I might ask (verses that some don't care to address), why are there so many Scriptures to warn us that physical death is not the end (e.g. Matthew 5:22,29,30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:10,11-15); all these pointing to the reality of an eternal torment? As one who doesn't believe in such an eternity, I ask you (as I've done in the past with others), why are these Scriptures rejected so as to support an emotion-charged belief rather than a biblical Truth? Why do we reject or re-write these passages to suit us, when they're given direct from the Mouth of our Lord?
Titus 1:16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Christanity rebells when they have to be perfect thry immediately pass it on to Jesus when Jesus preached in Matthew 5:48 we (human beings) have to be perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. Why does Christanity argue agianst Jesus? Because they were never told the truth. Let's look in the bible to find more perfect people before, during and after, Jesus. Adam and Eve were in Genesis 1&2 before thry heard another gospel in Genesis 3 from Rev Serpant/Rev Devil.
Before: Genesis 6:9] These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 17:1] And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Deuteronomy 18:13] Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
Job 1:1] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2nd Chronicals 16:9] For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Psalm 37:37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
During Jesus:
Matthew 1:[19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
See part 2
When David wrote in Psalm 119 that he loved the law; it was not necessarily for the regulations itself; at least to the main theme; but it was the nature of God and His righteousness where knowing the Lord personally; such statements could be made. Isaiah 30:10 is a warning that people wanted to hear smooth things; and that reminds us that we can't selectively pick verses that seem encouraging to us. We also have to look at such texts as 1 John 4. Verse 12 shows that we must love one another; but further inspection on this and the entire book of 1 John shows what agape love is; it has to be a perfect love and goes against the flesh where people in the flesh tend to pick and choose who they love. (see 1 John 3:15-16). We could say the same thing in a subject like prosperity. God promised Abraham would become great; and blessed him greatly with possessions. Nonetheless; the cost of this was having to wander around as a nomad in what would become eventually the territory of the Promised Land.
Again; in regard to the law it is actually held to a greater standard in the New Testament as to thoughts and intentions of the heart (see Matthew 5:28). God is also still concerned about vows and covenants made such as with marriage and we cannot live as the world and expect to inherit the Kingdom of God. The lawless one is coming ( 2 Thess. 2:9-12). God has written the law in our hearts ( Rom. 2:15).
The Dominionist concept of the church taking over the world before Christ comes back is clearly in opposition to such verses as 1 Timothy 4. We aren't in a Theocracy where we can be expected to conquer as Israel did; we also can't exact restrictions more than Christ did with soldiers ( Luke 3:14); where Christ didn't try to make them lay down their arms. We can learn to wait on God as Romans 12:19 suggests. May we read and apply all scripture in a sound manner.
I will comment on the frogs, but first you said let him who reads understand, that's it.
NO ONE but NO ONE will understand, without God CAUSING them to understand, there are people that have read his word for years and years and still don't understand.
It's all God's choice and God's work, and if you DON'T AGREE with him you can read non stop and will never understand.
When God's word says something and you don't AGREE with his word, what little light you HAVE BEEN GIVEN he will take away, if you AGREE then more light will be given ..... Matthew 13:12 ....
If one is studying and not going forward in TRUTH, he needs to examine his BELIEFS whether they aline with God's word, if they don't aline, REPENT of your sin of UNBELIEF, all other sins are covered by his blood.
Matthew 5:25 AGREE with your adversary (the WORD) quickly, while thou art in the way with him (the WORD), lest at any time he (the WORD) deliver you to the judge (the WORD), and the judge deliver you to the officer (death) and ye be cast into prison (the grave).
The wages of SIN (unbelief) is death.
I will start another thread on the frogs.
God Bless YOU!
GOD the Father-the Word,the Word is GOD- said by the prophet Hoseas(8th-century BCE-Hosea or Oshea means salvation,he is called also Joshua in the holy Scriptures): GOD said by Hosea: But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah,and will save them by the Lord their GOD,and will not save them by bow,nor by sword,nor by battle,by horses,nor by horsemen- Hosea 1:7.
GOD is the Truth. Jeremiah 10:10: But the Lord is the true GOD,He is the living GOD,and an everlasting King:at His WRATH the earth shall tremble,and the nations shall not be able to abide His INDIGNATGION.-As it is written in Romans 2:5-16-Check it.
The Day of the Lord
The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the Kingdoms of our LORD and of His Christ and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:v.15.The Word is GOD,the Word is self-executing according was preestablished and revealed.
So,there shall be a spiritual BATTLE against this devilish/satanic world ruled by the Devil which deceives the whole world- Revelation 12:9. And how do the nations will react?Well, we know that the nations will rage,yeah,will rage- Revelation 11:18-,the kings of the earth set themselves,and the rulers take counsel together,against the Lord,and against His anointed,saying,"Let us break their bands asunder,and cast away their cords from us",but the LORD will laugh:the Lord shall have them in derision- Psalm 2.
The LORD said: Joel 2:1-3
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion,and sound an alarm in my holy mountain:let all the inhabitants of the land tremble:for the Day of the Lord cometh,for it is nigh at hand;(That is this 7th and last Day,the LORD's Day,or seventh and last millennium).
There shall be War against three unclean Spirits like frogs-Rev.16:13-15
Get ready
1 Thessalonians 5:2
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."
1 Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
1 Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (7 years in Heaven and in Revelation 19:11-21 Christ returns with His Saints and the Angels)
Revelation 3:10
"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Matthew 5:12
"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Grace and Salvation and the Holy Spirit will remain. The Body of Christ is he who hinders, God said the Holy Spirit will abide with thee forever. Zech 14:16-21 speaks of those that are left, without the mark or and who did not worship the image will serve year to year.
Isaiah 19:23-25
23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
25 Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
I believe it's how you respond to this anger is what makes it sinful.
One can be right in what he say to another but yet commit sin in saying it because their intentions was meant to hurt.
However I'm not saying that whatever is said is truth.
Be careful and see if our actions is meant to hurt or not.
Also we should consider
Matthew 5:22.
God bless.
Yes, I agree, we are on the same page here. Jesus taught the same 10 Commandments. Jesus came not to take away the law but to fullfil and he even emphasized the law (10 Commandments) to an even higher level here: Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Very strong verse emphasizing that Jesus expects us (Christians) to follow these commandments.
When Jesus was asked which commandment is the most important He responded: Matthew 22:37-40 This confirms the importance for us to follow God's Commandments and Jesus includes another: that we should love our nieghbor as ourself.
I also agree, that Jesus and his apostles, including Paul followed God's 10 Commandments and taught the early church body to follow them. True Christ followers will adhere to these teachings as they will be encouraged by God's Holy Spirit to live in the light and serve Him in Spirit!
GBU
Let me give you my understanding about that.
Firstly the anc grks had no word for "translate" like in mod. grk, they used the word "interprete" instead, see Matthew 5:40-41.
Secondly, lets see the verse in 1 Cor 14:13, "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.". I honestly do not think that Paul suggests here to christians in Corinth to learn foreign languages. It seems to me that he suggests that they pray to God to give them the interpretation of what is said.
Lets see another verse, 1 Cor 12:7-11, where Paul speaks about spiritual gifts that God gives to His church. Verses 10-11, "(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues;TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: (11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
So interpretation of tongues is a spiritual gift given by the Spirit. Of course one who understands the language that is spoken can also interprete but in such a case it is not the gift that is working but the knowledge of that man.
Whether people in various congregations seem to you that they don't speak in real tongues, that has nothing to do with what is written. And it is written that God gives interpretation of tongues no matter how people use that gift, properly or not.
GBU
Now,in the beginning of this seventh and last millennium or seventh and las Day,the Lord's Day,who is in the command of the history is JESUS,nothing will random happen,as He said: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth- Matthew 28:18. By the way, He is the heir of the Earth. JESUS prophesied, saying to the Jews: - Matthew 5:43-47 -->43 I am come in my Father's name,and ye receive me not: if ANOTHER(AN IMPOSTOR/A FALSE MESSIAH)shall come in his own name,him ye will receive.
That said, the manifestation of false Messiah should happen in this decade but before 2030, and FIRST he will give his Power, and his Seat (in Jerusalem), and great Authority to the MAN Beast of sea established by him in Rome, and it for forty and two months-the FIRST half of the last week, week 70th- Revelation 13:5-, and JERUSALEM, the hly city, will be / is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot 42 months- Revelation 11:2. JESUS warned: Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled- Luke 21:24.
The fullness of Gentiles ENDS in the middle of the last week, week 70th, and then the Abomination of Desolation set up. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth(Israel-the clay, the dry land) and of the sea!(the Gentile nations) for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Daniel 12:10-12
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Rev.16:15
Behold,I come as a thief.Blessed is he that watcheth,and keepeth his garments,lest he walk naked,and they see his shame.
Get ready
The most important thing is what JESUS said: Luke 20:35-36
35 But they which shall be accounted WORTHY to obtain that world (next world-the Kingdom of GOD- Revelation 11:15-18, among other biblical references), and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are EQUAL unto the ANGELS; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Revelation 5:10
10 And hast made us unto our GOD kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Matthew 5:5
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Act 1:9-11
9 And when JESUS had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a CLOUD received Him out of their sight. ( Matthew 17:5-5 While JESUS yet spake, behold, a bright CLOUD overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same JESUS, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1 Peter 5:7 says that we should cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Several passages in Psalms discuss God's compassion and or mercy. Romans 9:15 states that He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy; and compassion on whom He will have compassion. Ultimately; of course that involves those who come to saving faith in Christ; but of course for now it rains on the just and the unjust. ( Matthew 5:45). Luke 18:38 shows how Bartimaeus asked for mercy and Christ healed his blindness.
According to Lamentations 3:22 his compassions they fail not; and that is due to His mercy that we are not consumed. The theme there is the destruction of the Babylonians with the horrible famine in particular focus. This verse could be taken as physical survival of the ordeal but also spiritual preservation of the soul. God always preserves a remnant; and God honors His covenants and that is through the remnant that is purged in various trials.
God's Attributes: Covenants
I have discussed covenants in particular focus on the marriage covenant in previous posts. I have given at least an outline of the (imlied) covenant with Adam and the first one in scripture regarding the rainbow and God preserving the world from another global flood; the Abrahamic Covenant; the Mosaic Covenant; and finally the new covenant that Christ has given His people under the blood and how it is even more stringent with thoughts and intentions than the previous one (see Matthew 5:20 on exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees). I will reinforce the fact that except for the abrogation of the Old Covenant in terms of the law and righeousness for the New under Christ; covenants in God's eyes are eternal; or at least as far as the terms made between men and God or even between men as to the length (in marriage it is until "death do us part" which fits in with 1 Corinthians 7:39.) We are not to take a vow flippantly ( Ecc. 5:4-6).
We should not accept that sin will always play a part in our lives!
God is not a sinner, and if you are a true child of God you will not be saying you can't stop sinning. Worse than telling yourself that you can't stop sinning, is telling others that they can't stop sinning! The phrase misery loves company is so true here. This mindset is wrong, and goes directly agains all of the bible scripture.This thought that you can never stop sinning is from Satan, and he has convinced you that you can't stop sinning. If you believe this , and live this, you will certainly die as a sinner, and never achieve becoming a true child of God.
God's children strive to live without sin, and eventually succeed and win the race! Those who have been born of God (Born Again) should no longer be a part of this world (we have died to this world) and we should no longer be slaves to satan/sin that is inherent to the world.
So, if we are truly Born Again we are now becoming the children of God and not children of this world.
Scripture goes on to state that children of God are gods: I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. Psalm 82:6
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Let's put Matthew 5:48 in its context.
Matthew 5:43-48.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR, AND HATE THINE ENEMY.
But I say unto you, LOVE your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
( THERE'S THE CONTEXT! )
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Christ is giving an distinction between the days of old under the law and the coming Kingdom.
However here's much said about perfect love in 1 John 4:6-21
John Speaks much on this.
Here's a few verses from 1 John.
4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:21 is my favorite.
"And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also".
Did you notice it doesn't say "he who loveth God "SHOULD" love his brother also?
Loving your brother is a condition that the Holyspirit causes when one truly loves God.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
God bless
Maybe Matthew 6:14-15 can be applicable to such a situation, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
What about Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.". If in our heart dwells bitterness, hostility, passions, ...?
Some thoughts about the unpardonable sin. Firstly in general all unrepentant sin is unpardonable. But there are cases in a christian life that a sin can become unpardonable. It seems that there is a line that if one crosses, there is no return. I would call it "a line of repentance". When one crosses that line it seems they will never repent any more whatever happens in their life
1. An individual apostasy from God that goes on and on for a long time and christians are moving further and further away from God while their heart gets more and more hardened and their conscious becomes less and less sensitive, seems they eventually cross the line of no return. It is the situation described by Paul in Hebrews 10:26-29 and Hebrews 6:4-8.
2. Blasphemy against the HS. The word Blasphemy in anc grk has the meaning of giving somebody a bad reputation, lke calling demonic the actions of the HS. It is unpardonable. Again people who do that have already crossed the repentance line. Why? Because one who in purpose and with full knowledge of what is doing(not just repeat what he heard from somebody else) fights against God, there is noway he will ever repent.
3. Lying to the Holly Spirit, like Ananias and Sapphira did. They were not given any chance to repent(apart from being questioned by Peter), they immediately fell down dead. So trying to cheat on the Holly Spirit is unpardonable.
4. As a final one that will occur in the future. Receiving the mark of the beast is also unpardonable. This indicates that people who will accept the mark will have knowledge of what they will be doing.
Blessings.
Let's step back and think for a moment. What is heaven exactly? Surely a large factor there is that we will SERVE God forever.
John 12:26 says in KJV: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Let us examine the same verse in the amplified version:
If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven's glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
I am not an expert on translations but it would seem eternally serving God is a theme here! Revelation 7:13-15 and Revelation 22:3 make this abundantly clear as to the serving of God eternally of His saints. Worship is also inextricably tied to being a servant; and the ruling and reigning with Christ is part and parcel with the destiny of the church as Kings and Priests before the throne as well ( Revelation 5:10; etal).
Now as we assess this life; surely we see this attitude of service begins here; and Christ of course laid out the perfect example with His life. Mark 10:45 shows how Christ came not to be served but to serve; if God incarnate followed that principal surely His disciples must do the same.
As to work in heaven; surely it won't be a drudgery. The curse with the thorns and sweat on the brow will be gone that we inherited in the garden. We won't have unreasonable taskmasters; stressful deadlines; and other difficulties. Work no doubt will be a cooperative effort since we will all be together in performing tasks. No doubt individual things will be suitable for us as well.
The world at large cannot serve without some benefit for themselves; just like we can't love unconditionally (see Matthew 5:34).
The last enemy destroyed is deateh (1COR15:26
In light of my previous post; we see that the Lord predestines those He saves. There will be many more verses on that subject to come and I have covered this in older posts; in particular detail with the Book of John about a year ago on this site. In this posting I am looking at how today's typical call to salvation differs from Biblical standards; which can give someone false assurance of salvation as well as expectations of things to be "peaches and cream" after deciding to make a declaration of being Born Again.
Evangelism is a dying art in the traditional sense except for a select few that are diligent to keep that Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20. There is some advantage in this; in that most individuals that I have met are not part of a church program and thus aren't on an advertising campaign to attend a certain denomination. This differs them from churches where within the building there are "altar calls" week after week where there may or may not be a correct Gospel preached. The disadvantage is that these folks are often "lone rangers" or not heavily committed to a local church; if anything because of the lack of support they often get which is often due to other activities taking up all the time of those in leadership along with the parishioners.
I am not here to argue whether the statement "God loves you" is entirely accurate; at least during their earthly existance; if only for the verse that it rains on the just and the unjust ( Matthew 5:45). We are told to love our enemies in the verse before ( Matt. 5:44) so therefore it characterizes how the Spirit would operate in believers. However; we cannot present a Gospel without a dire warning of impending doom for all sinners who are naturally enemies of God; and on the way to eternal damnation. Again; sadly the lifestyle of many confessed believers still demonstrates worldliness. If we are not serious ourselves about Holiness we can't expect others tobe
Hello Rad
My belief (and I do believe that I rely on the written Word of God) is:
One may divorce his/her wife/husband because of adultery as seen in Matthew 5:31-32. God does not demand people to stay with someone who is not faithful to them.
BUT
They can not remarry again as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11:
"10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11 But and if she depart(AND THAT IS ONLY ALLOWED BECAUSE OF ADULTERY), let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife."
Also see 1 Cor 7:39, "39 "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
So as a conclusion a man can divorce his wife ONLY if she has committed adultery, BUT afterwards he must accept that he must stay unmarried for his whole lifetime OR until his wife dies. Then he is free to remarry any woman he wishes. The alternative way is to forgive his wife and stay with her. The same is valid for a woman. So your girl friend if she marries that man, then they will both find themselves in a sinful situation.
Thanks for your explanation of 'abrogation' Daruled. Though I understand what you're writing, I still can't see how if 'you don't believe in it' (i.e. in this instance by my use of it), yet I can still "use it correctly". Therefore, Matthew 5:18 as you quoted, is of no problem to me as I read that Jesus was born "under the Law ( Galatians 4:4), to redeem them that were under the law" ( Galatians 4:5). He came as a Jew, abiding by the Laws & all the ceremonial requirements, as the Old Covenant was still in force. And as He said, "I am not come to destroy (the Law), but to fulfil"; His purpose was not to remove the Law but to fulfil its demands perfectly (and so He did in His Life & in His Death). He could not be accused to have broken any Law, even though the religious leaders had much to accuse Him of according to their interpretations & inclusions within the Law. They might even have thought of this Man, with this new teaching, as an opponent to 'their brand' of Laws & thus undermining their hypocritical regime. But Jesus said that the true Law's destruction wasn't His purpose of coming.
But when the Work at the Cross was fully accomplished, the Law that once only led to death giving no hope, was nailed to the Cross ( Colossians 2:14), thus bringing an end to both it & the Old Covenant under which it was enshrined. To Page 2.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1 KJV
No condemnation for who? "to them which are in Christ Jesus"
How about those who aren't really "in" Christ Jesus, but just familiar. Maybe someone's "saved" 30 years ago and inactive since? Maybe doing worldly things here and there, but hey we're all sinners, right? Maybe I'm just following the holy spirit, so its not my fault for indulging in sin sometimes, right?" [satan's deception]
"no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh"
"I'm still saved if I walk after the flesh though, right?"
"who walk not after the flesh"
This is a qualifier. It doesn't say there's no condemnation to anyone and everyone. It also says those who walk not after the flesh. Those who aren't actively, intentionally sinning. Sinning is turning your back on God. Sinning is like slapping Jesus in the face. Satan is trying to convince Christians that the law doesn't apply, that it's ok to sin. It's not ok. Sin leads to death and still will without Jesus. That is not a license to sin, however. Following Jesus means being a "slave" to righteousness- an intentional effort to take Jesus seriously and truly follow Him. Many say it, few do it. Just because you strive for righteousness and strive to walk in Jesus's example does not mean you're trying to earn heaven. This is the number one straw man argument people keep repeating over and over. Some even take it to the extreme where they say God doesn't want you to obey Him. "It's bad to obey God, and good to NOT obey Him." Who does that sound like?
Some cherry pick scripture and ignore the following and obedience part. We're still saved by grace.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17 KJV
"not come to destroy"
Luke 6:46 - real followers obey
To believe as you do you would have to be very deceived to completely ignore tons of bible scripture regarding God's commandments.
1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him
Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
1 John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Jesus knows who really loves Him. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Jesus kept His Father Commandments, and if we are REAL Christ Followers, we will pick up our cross and follow Christ including doing what He did - and follow God's Commandments.
Lastly, here is Jesus telling us that we need to follow God's Commandments is we wish to have eternal life. Revelation 22:14"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
So, you are basically telling others on this site to ignore Jesus and God, and much of the bible scripture!
God hates sin! We need to learn to "hate sin" as much as God hates it!
Very true..you will not need a Savior when you overcome sin, because you will have have listened to God, applied his commands to your life, and allowed Christ to perform His marvelous work in you, to help you overcome the sins in this life - that you and many Christian's believe is impossible. Nothing is impossible for God! And yes, you will then be ready to enter into the Kingdom and "you will not need a Savior as you say"you will have allowed the Savior to do His miraculous work in you at present!
Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
If we keep sinning because we feel that we can't stop sinning we are not following Jesus/Gods commands, nor embracing His Spirit. We are keeping our worldly sinful lives intact, and not listening to His instructions, to give up this life, and live according to His Commands.
John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
If we are truly born again we will learn to hate sin as much as God. Who do you think wants us to think we can never stop sinning? It's not Jesus/God, because He tells us point blank: To stop sinning!
1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."
1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."
By saying we will never overcome sin we are saying that the Son of God can't overcome the devil's sin that works in us, and that we will always be a servant to the devil.
We need to read the scripture, and believe, and apply it to our lives now!
GBU
TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:
It was to the Hebrew or Jewish people.
WHY IT WAS WRITTEN:
To present Jesus as the Savior/Messiah.
THEME:
The theme of Matthew is fulfillment. Matthew alludes to or presents over 60 references to the Old Testament, more than double of any other gospel writer because he is using this word over and over again through his gospel that Jesus came, and he shows the fulfillment of the scripture that Jesus fulfilled, showing them (the Jews), that Jesus was the Messiah.
The Key Verse for the book of Matthew is Matthew 5:17. Jesus said, "think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfill." He didn't come to eliminate the law. He came to fulfill all of its requirements. And that's what Matthew is doing for the Jews, showing that Jesus Christ has fulfilled all the requirements and the commandments of the scripture.
I mentioned to you that Matthew's gospel is presented in five sections, and I will conclude in (Part 4) how it is broken down.
Thanks for replying.
Jesus didn't come to end the law and make it desolate. He came to fulfill the law and perfect it.
He came to end the Leviticus priesthood where they presented sacrifices that pointed to him.
( Matthew 5:17-18.)
They rejected their king "Which was prophesied" They made their own "HOUSE" desolate. ( A people without a King to set on David's throne )
What the Prince that shall come does is totally different,
In Daniel 9:27 he confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.
This is the same thing mentioned in Daniel 12:11, (The abomination that maketh desolate.)
This is what Jesus is saying in Matthew 24:15, ( This can't be at the end of Christ ministry because he said it this abomination would be at the end of the world.)
This 3.5 period is called the GREAT tribulation and it's prophesied towards Daniels "THY PEOPLE, ISRAEL.) Daniel 9:24.
You see this played out in Revelation 12:6.
Let's look at who confirms the covenant for 1 week.
Daniel 9:26-27 reads "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: AND THE PEOPLE OF THE PRINCE THAT SHALL COME shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
AND HE SHALL CONFIRM THE COVENANT WITH MANY FOR ONE WEEK: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease....
The Romans destroyed the Sanctuary, Jesus is not their prince.
Jesus didn't confirm this covenant and cause it to cease at his death.
Jesus death BEGINS a covenant!
The covenant in Daniel is a totally different covenant the Antichrist will confirm with Israel and cause the sacrifices to cease midway through the 70th week/Tribulations.
Revelation 13:15
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
God bless.
See pt2