This passage is an amazing passage that seems to draw me back.
I had a friend we can say is named Joe. Joe was married to Mary many years and together they had a small child - 'lil' Joe.
Years go on and the mother of Joe comes to visit
her grandbaby and of course Mary and her "son" Joe.
Now, Joe's Mom gets to see the grandbaby and sees the love her "son" Joe has for the lil guy. Mary agrees and also says how much the lil guy loves his "father".
Time goes on and after many years Joe becomes ill and passes away. Everyone misses Joe including Mary, his wife of many years and the lil Joe now a man.
Mary expresses to lil Joe how much she loved Joe and lil Joe expresses how much he loved his "father" and the phone rings. It is Joe's mom who after some conversation with Mary expresses how she misses her "son" Joe. Mary in tears says to Joe's mother, the love Joe left her with is still firmly in her heart and Joe's "spirit" lives on daily in her heart. Joe's mon goes on to say how there are times when she can feel the warmth of Joe's spirit giving her a hug.
So here we have Joe the "father", Joe the "son" and Joe alive in Mary's heart and his mother in "spirit".
These all represent Joe and we can accept this quite easily for the most part as being real and belonging to Joe in fact.
So some persons are able to see these loving characteristics in man but are not able to accept that these characteristics can be part of the ONE who is known as Jesus Christ as LORD, GOD and SAVIOUR or as FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT.
Why is that? Is it because Jesus was a man? It appears we can overcome that part for a specific loved one of our own but not with Jesus Christ.
GOD does call us to accept HIM.
Isaiah will say it much better than I can when he says that GOD's ways are not our ways and GOD's ways are higher than our ways and there is only but ONE GOD, ONE SAVIOUR. No Others.
How can we equate what we think with that of Almighty GOD and then conclude that GOD cannot exist in the 3 forms that represent the trinity but we are able to accept Joe as a father, a son and alive in the heart of his wife and mother in spirit? Man can easily accept man on man's terms but cannot accept Almighty GOD ON GOD'S TERMS.
Can we accept that? Each of us does have a choice. That is exactly what GOD will never take from us, our free will to love Him.
This passage goes on to state that all knees will bend at the name of the ONE. Otherwise, you will be worshipping more than ONE GOD or you are rejecting Jesus. Are we to bow before any other?
It clearly does indicate what WILL BE in this passage. Man does not have the control here.
We are called to make a choice and not to be "lukewarm" lest ye be spit out.
We know how the story of worshipping other gods turns out all through the Old Testament.
Asking GOD to come into your life and to show you clearly who HE IS never fails. HE will make sure you know HE is "THE WAY", "THE TRUTH" and "THE LIFE"
Peace, Love and Spiritual Joy to all.
In Jesus Christ, our LORD, our GOD and SAVIOUR.
Amen
Humility is one of the greatest vitues lacking in ' man ' especially today. Jesus, our Lord, Our Saviour, and our God, is expressing that the attainment of equality with God is not what should be sought after as the goal. If you continue to read on past this it does state that one should empty oneself as though a slave.
How humbling it must have been with all of man's faults for GOD to come in human form and likeness so that we could get a glimpse into how much HE loves us.
That is the true meaning of sacrifice. He offered himself for us [His Love] and to us [His Blood] yet He is still rejected by the many who refuse to see or hear.
I John 5:6-7
6 This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 43:3 For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
In All of Isaiah 53, God reveal himself to Isaiah.
God Loves us all the same and has revealed himself to us so that we might have a relationship with Him. Therfore we are blessed to be able to love Him as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of God. Not the other way around. He is but One.
No other has nor no others will do what He has.
John 5:21-25
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 1:14 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John:1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
God’s Peace, Love and Spiritual Joy to all.
In Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Savior,
Amen.
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ( Mark 15:34) The other morning, I was half waking up and I heard a chirping sound. Half drowsy, I just knew something sounded odd, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I kept hearing the chirping. I tried to think what it could be. I thought maybe it was the computer, or maybe the cell phone. Yet, as I listened I knew the sound was not coming from any of these things. I got up, and still coming out of a sleep, I tried to figure out what I was hearing. It sounded like it was near the window, so I opened the blind and looked down. When I looked down, I saw a big, black cat. It had something gray in its mouth. I thought it was a mouse, and I did not think to much of it. Then, I realized it was a squirrel. I know its the way it is, that animals prey on each other; but, I did not want to see the squirrel die. I ran outside, and the big cat dropped the squirrel and ran off. The squirrel ran also; but, the squirrel could not run right. He looked like he was trying with all he could, but, everything was not working right. I feared for him. He tried to climb a tree, but he only got a little ways up and he fell back to the ground. It was an intense moment. The squirrel could not get up a tree; I thought maybe I could get some gloves on and do something. I thought, he's been saved out of the cat's mouth, and now he's trying to get to safety, and he cannot. As he was trying to get himself "together," another cat was coming from another direction. It just seemed the situations were all against the squirrel. I shooed the cat away. The squirrel managed to climb into a small cedar tree. The lower branches had been cut off, and he made his way up into the green branches. I was relieved for the squirrel, but I knew a cat could easily get him in that tree. I went back inside and watched from the window. This was so intense. I just kept praying, "O LORD, please don't let him die. Please restore him. I know its your will for animals... but, I don't want to see him die; please help him, restore his life, restore him." I didn't want to see him die. I watched. I was afraid to watch. He came down out of the cedar tree and ran up a locust tree. He made it about half way up or more. He went to a branch and lay down. I was so glad he made it up into the tree; now I was afraid he would fall out of the tree. To have seen him struggling as he did, trying to run, trying to climb, and everything not working right; I was concerned he might fall out of the tree. I thanked the LORD for getting him into the tree. I watched him. He lay for quite awhile. He began to move some; I was so afraid he was going to fall out of the tree. I thought, maybe this is where I should stop watching; he is out of immediate danger of the cats, he seems to be stabilizing, maybe now is a good time for me to stop watching; but, I did keep watching. A neighbor came riding near-by on his riding mower, the squirrel climbed way up into the tree and I could not see him any more. Later, near evening, I saw a squirrel climb down out of the tree. I saw him climb down to about a foot above ground. He looked like he had everything "together." He went on the other side of the tree and I didn't see him any more. I thought, well, he escaped that death. I recently saw a movie where a mob man "introduced," took a man "on the inside." Later, it was found out the one he "introduced" was an informant. The man who "introduced" the informant to the mob, got a phone call; he was called to come to his death. He kissed his wife and told her how pretty she was, he told her if the one he "introduced" called, to tell him "if it had to be anyone, I'm glad it was you." He took off his jewelry, he left his money, and personals in a box he left open. He walked out the door. The movie ended shortly later. It did not show him being killed. I felt like the movie left me hanging; not that I wanted to see his death; but, I guess there's that wanting a good outcome; maybe the informant somehow saved his life. (the informant was crossing the line in his bond between being the informant and being one of them). I would suppose most people would want to intervene if they could stop death. Some may ask, " why doesn't God intervene and stop death?" I know there are times He does; but, many times death prevails. Some during the Holocaust may have asked "where is God?" There were those that sought to save those being killed by the Nazi's. Some countries would not hand over the Jews (and others)that were in their countries when Germany asked for them. Some people hid the Jews, at the risk of being killed themselves. Some businessmen did what they could to save people from death. Some people sought to flee death and hide in the woods. Still some may ask "Why, God?" When God created man and put him in the garden of Eden, he gave him a commandment, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." ( Genesis 2:16-17) Death entered the world through man's disobedience. ( Romans 5:12-21) The result of sin is death. The penalty of sin is death. I know sometimes God chooses to deliver us from death (Daniel in the den of lions, etc.) but, man still has to die. Jesus came and took our death upon Himself. He never sinned, yet, our sins were upon Him. Why did God forsake Him? because "He being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." ( Philippians 2:8) He, just as man was tempted, was tempted; yet, He sinned not. He overcame sin, death, and the grave. Just as one sinned, and we all became sinners; one was obedient, and we all can be made righteous. ( Romans 12-21) In Christ, we never die; though now we still see the effects of the penalty for sin; our outer man dies: but, the new man in Christ shall never die. How many times a day, God must watch death. I know God does not take pleasure in the death of any of His creation. Death entered the world through man's disobedience; but, because of God's love we do not have to fear death, we overcome death by our faith in Jesus Christ.
The 'form' of God is contrasted with the 'form' of a servant; 'being' the former, 'taking on' the latter. Not'Robbery'? Not presumptuous, sarcastically, for he has always been God the Son. Equal? Obviously not in number; so in kind. Only two kinds: God and not-God. Means just what it says.
Thank God for the Authorized Bible. The others 'wrest' this to their own destruction'.
I love this chapter, it's loud and clear to me, the eloquent man apollos in chapter 18 was fervent in the scriptures but not understanding the baptism in Jesus Name! but when Paul came to Ephesus he ask a question, Have you receive the Holy Ghost since you believed and they said we have not heard whether there be any Holy Ghost and he asked then what then were you baptized ?
they replied John's baptism and after hearing that the people were re-baptized in the name of Jesus!!!!!! Because it's the only saving name as in Acts 4:12 and Philippians 2:5-10 thank God for his word. God Bless!!
I just noticed these comments from nearly a year ago, but feel led to add some.
God's Word is perfect. But, it takes it being translated into the 'perfect' language of a particular language in order for the translation to be 'perfect.' And the King James Version is perfect English. They did not talk backwards, we do, in a way.
While, the Holy Bible mentions the word 'tree' in Acts, which the cross of Christ was, there are many other scriptures withing the contents of the written Word of God; the Holy Bible, that clarify the fact that a piece of wood was attached across it, making that 'tree,' therefore, 'a cross.'
The importance of God's Word mentioning 'the cross' was 'a tree,' is that it serves to confirm what 'the cross' was made from. It also relates to the Lord saying, in the Old Testament, that 'cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.'
Galatians 3: 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Regardless of that being said, ALL of mankind was already UNDER a CURSE, due to sin, which was why we needed a Saviour to die for our sins. But, Jesus, by 'hanging on a tree,' made it VIVIDLY CLEAR that, while the body in which He had come was flesh, like mankind's, He INSIDE that body was NO mere man, but was the Word, the POWER, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, of God, Who was to, by His Spirit, utterly CONSUME; BURN UP, all the sins that were laid upon Him; ALL our sins, and ALL the sins of everyone of mankind who ever was, and ever would be born into the world.
So, while in this passaage of God's Word, it mentions 'a tree,' saying:
Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on A TREE:,
there are plenty of other scriptures in the same Holy Bible that clarifies that a piece of wood was attached across it (purposed to nail his hands to it,) in that it is referred to clearly as a 'CROSS.'
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of THE CROSS.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of HIS CROSS, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Ephesians 2:14 For HE is OUR PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of THE CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER of God.
The CROSS of Jesus Christ is the POWER of God to us which are saved, because HE that suffered, and died, for us on it is the POWER of God:
1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the POWER of God, and the wisdom of God.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Let's not forget what we should truly note about this experience, which is that we as man were made unto his likeness. He sent Jesus to die for our sins and to show us that as a man. We are given his power here on earth if we believe in God and have faith to know that God is lord and the almighty creator. The whole purpose was to let us know that through Christ Jesus all things are possible to him who loves God.
Ezra 2:65 isn't the same subject as Numbers 7:67. Any "errors" in the Bible are because you don't understand something. If you want to take the word of a man that couldn't control his lust and would marry a little girl over the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, you may do so for now but one day "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:11 You'll do that on bowed knees!
Dear Dan, The ones that Christ referred to pertaining to the dead 'HEARING' His voice, were those that had died IN FAITH in God's Word, thus promises, pertaining to that which was to come, prior to Christ coming into the world in the form of a man; in the likeness of sinful flesh, to die for the sins of mankind. All those that had died prior to His coming, who HEARD God's Word; words, in the way that means to BELIEVE God's Word; to thus have faith in God's Word, are all those who's souls went down into the midst of the earth, not into Hell, but nevertheless in a particular grave site, where death held them hostage, as they waited for the prophesied; foretold, coming Messiah; Saviour. As, the Lord had promised them, saying:
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with MY DEAD BODY shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste DEATH FOR EVERY MAN.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
2 Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Acs 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
After Christ came OUT of that fleshly body; the form of a man; the likeness of sinful flesh, He THEN went to the part of the midst of the earth that is Hell, and TOOK AWAY from Satan the KEYS of Hell and Death!
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
THEN He want to another part of the midst of the earth where all those souls that had BELIEVED God; believed the Word of God preached to them, and had thus died in faith, looking forward to the coming Saviour; Redeemer; Messiah, slept; rested, waiting for Him to come. And He took them, who were all held CAPTIVE by death, in the grave, all CAPTIVE UNTO HIMSELF, and AROSE, with them, they with HIM, from the dead:
As prophesied in the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
He FULFILLED that prophesy in the New Testament, upon rising from the dead:
Matthew 27:50 Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; and many bodies of the saints which slept AROSE,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led CAPTIVITY captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Since our Saviour; Redeemer; Messiah, is come in the flesh:
John 1: 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
The meaning of Lev 18:22 is clear and your argument is with God. Rest assured, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord as explained in Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
God doesn't make sinners, people choose the wrong path. Be not deceived for Satan can transform himself into an angel of light as stated in 2 Corinthians 11:14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Sin, on any kind, has the capacity to look or feel good from our polluted perspective but sin always will take you where you don't want to go, keep you there longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. Fighting a battle with Satan is never easy. We have the Holy Spirit as our aid. Jesus sits on the right hand of God as our advocate every time Satan tells God what we did wrong. I hope you've received Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. The battle is lost otherwise. May the Lord put a hedge of protection around you and may only the Holy Spirit minister to your heart. May your heart not be hardened. Christians out here love you and only want what is best for your life and for the life of your buddy. God has good planned for each of your lives. Satan brings discouragement while God offers hope and life everlasting.
Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
Jesus knew he was equal with God. He knew he had equality with God. Therefore, he did not think that being equal with God was something that he had robbed to obtain. It was not robbery to him to be equal with God. But he laid down his deity for us.
Many times I have wondered, if I had a choice to lay my life down for Christ's sake, or another person's sake, would I do it bravely, or would I take the coward's way out? May God give me grace, if it ever comes to that!
REGARDING VERSES 8-10: The difference between those of mankind that are born of God, and those that are not, is that those that are not have not received Christ. Until they do, they CANNOT repent in the way of true repentance. This is why no one need repent IN ORDER to receive Christ, since one CANNOT until and unless one does, and this is why the gifts and the calling are WITHOUT repentance.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
As, it is the love and GOODNESS OF GOD in Christ that LEADS a man unto repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yet, we are still all brothers in Christ, regardless of those that have not received Him from and with their hearts so that He may be IN them. As, He died for ALL, even for those who are considered to be SINNERS as we were before we recieved Him. ROMANS 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Also, while we that are born of God cannot commit sin, as far as WITH the 'mind of Christ,' which is God, and which we have, we CAN sin WITH THE FLESH, by yielding to sin, and thereby serving sin. ROMANS 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH the MIND I myself serve the law of God; but WITH the FLESH the law of sin.
The MIND refered to is NOT the CARNAL mind, whch is FLESH:
Romans 8:7 Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
But the MIND of Christ, which is SPIRIT:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND OF CHRIST.
Although we CAN sin, that NEW CREATURE we each are in Christ CANNOT. If we serve sin with our flesh, thereby LETTING sin have it's way, we are allowing our OWN WILL, instead of God's to take control. However, having the MIND of CHRIST, God HIMSELF gave us HIS WILL to resort to, meaning we can SAY NO to our own fleshly; carnal, will, and turn it back to the WILL of God:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
That 'TO WILL' is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God, PRAISE GOD, He has made it EASY on us:
Romans 6:12 LET NOT sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We are GODLY because we have RECEIVED, and have continued to LOVE, Christ, DESPITE our inclination to yield to sin, and thus we REMAIN IN Him, having our sins COVERED by His BLOOD, giving us grace, and time, to repent of any sin/s we have not yet repented of, and receive the forgiveness for, the and cleansing away, of our sins the moment we repent.
It is BECAUSE we have received Christ, and ARE thus SPIRIT BEINGS; SPIRIT of God's Spirit; BORN of God, that we, despite our sins, are GODLY, and it is BECAUSE we are GODLY that we CAN, and, by God, we WILL repent of; CONFESS, our sins unto the LORD. Hear this Old Testament prophetic prayer that clarifies that the GODLY are inclined to sin, as far as to yield to it, and to HAVE SIN to admit to, and confess, unto the LORD. And as you read, take note that the GODLY are those that, DESPITE their sins, TRUST IN THE LORD, are BLESSED, RIGHTEOUS, UPRIGHT IN HEART, COMPASSED ABOUT WITH MERCY, AND SONGS OF DELIVERANCE, and HID in Christ, HID from the WRATH of God, as the blood of Christ covers our sins:
PSALMS 32:2 BLESSED is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For THIS shall EVERY one that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my HIDING place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt COMPASS ME ABOUT with songs of DELIVERANCE. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, MERCY shall COMPASS HIM ABOUT.
11 Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, ye RIGHTEOUS: and shout for joy, all ye that are UPRIGHT IN HEART.
NONE of this means that a born again child of God can serve sin, and refuse to repent, and still be saved in the end. God's Word warns us. God is a just God, warning the righteous to NOT forsake Him, and warning the unrighteous to turn unto Him.
In the meanwhile, prior to physically dying, which if one that received Christ dies with any sins being unrepented of, then that person had to have ceased to LOVE the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus. And that soul will be cut off from Him:
Colossians 1:23 If ye CONTINUE IN the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE IN them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
ROMANS 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Even if we yield to sin, to, at that point NEED to repent, IN ORDER TO continue in the goodness of God, it is God's GOODNESS that, at that point, LEADS us UNTO repentance.
So, what is the problem if we serve sin, if we WILL, however eventually, repent? Well, in the meanwhile we get bombarded with lies and feelings of DOUBT that we ARE godly, righteous, blessed, etc., and we start THINKING as if we are NOT these things, and our JOY and CONFIDENCE becomes less and less. THAT is how Satan WANTS us to think and feel. But since Christ has died for our sins, Satan can NOT any longer make us his servants, and KEEP us in bondage to sin. It is NO LONGER Satan's grounds; jurisdiction; right. As, NOW, it is only WE, YOU YOUSELF, I MYSELF, that can keep us, you, me, being a servant to, in bondage to, sin, meaning we can STOP IT, REFUSE IT, by turning unto the LORD to repent, and thereby be cleansed and receive the forgiveness of God INSTANTLY, and then PROCEED to CONTINUE in obedience unto the Lord. Any time we yield to sin, the FIRST STEP before we can continue to WALK in the Lord, is down on our knees, heartfully speaking, and repent. Is NOT repenting of our sins INSTILLED in the VERY prayer that Jesus instructs us to pray DAILY?
LUKE 11:3 Give us day by day our DAILY bread.
4 And FORGIVE US OUR SINS; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
When we hate sin, and are quick to repent of it, AND read; eat and drink, the Word; WORDS, of God, the less and less we are inclined to sin, as the LOVE OF GOD perfects us more and more each day.
But, due to the danger of our continuing in sin; putting of repentance, God loves us TOO much to not deal with us here and now for our own good, not according to our sins, which the wages of is death, but in order to correct us, and keep us from the dangers of being in sin:
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and CHASTEN: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without CHASTISEMENT, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
ROMANS 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed
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I will end with saying this unto all those that have received Christ; God's Word; God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, and who are therefore GODLY, RIGHTEOUS, who's righteousness is of the LORD, that, if you have sin, to date, that you have not repented of; have not acknowledged; admitted, and confessed, unto the LORD, here's the thing: You WILL. It's far better for you to not force your heavenly Father to HAVE to sorely chastise you, because He WILL if need be. And you know full well in your heart that, when it comes to where the rubber meets the road, should you be chastised of Him, you will NOT blaspheme Him as if He is unjust, or as if He does not love you (there IS no if,) but you will stand corrected, and repent of your sins before Him. So, knowing you WILL, why wait? There is no good reason to wait, and nothing but MANY good reasons to come clean NOW. Until you do, you, as far as the NEW CREATURE you are in Christ in your Innerman, has fallen asleep at the wheel so to speak, and is either in a spiritual coma, or is getting that way, and the LORD is calling you to WAKE UP! Don't you worry, if He has to SHAKE you, He will, since the longer you ignore Him, the more deaf your spiritual ears get.
And don't believe the lies of the devil telling you 'But you messed up AGAIN, and have repeately, and God's tired of hearing you repent,...'
As, first of all, if you are a MESS, you are your heavenly FATHER'S mess, and NONE of Satan's business whatsoever. You ARE upright, but it is Christ that is bearing you up. The moment you repent, it is embracing the One that holds you up.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Dear Rosie, Regarding your question, 'How do I become perfect in love so that fear will no longer be part of my daily life?'
The more you read God's Word (WORDS,) the more FAITH increases in you, along with all of the other fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
So, just read, read, read. It is the same as to EAT spiritual meat, and drink spiritual drink. It's not about just merely memorizing the scriputures, no more than is eatting for physical nourishment about memorizing how physical food tastes.
And, daily repent of; confess, your sins unto the Lord, or if you can't think of any, ask Him to forgive you for just in case. As, to repent is a priviledge for those that have received Christ. No one CAN repent in the way of true repentance without FIRST receiving Christ. That is WHY there's no need to repent IN ORDER to answer His call, and receive Him:
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Since you HAVE received Christ, you WILL repent, because you believe and trust in God, and therefore you are BLESSED, your are GODLY, and RIGHTEOUS, and UPRIGHT, and the GOODNESS of God SURROUNDS YOU:
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(By the time the Lord is through CLEANSING us with His blood, and forgiving us, there is NO guile or any unrighteousness whatsoever! And all it takes is a moment each day, or sometimes maybe several moments.)
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall EVERY ONE that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
ONLY the GODLY will humble themselves, and bring forth the FRUIT of the mouth MEET FOR; WORTHY OF, repentance, due to true sorrow of heart; being sorry for any sin, even any we didn't mean, nor intend.
Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the FRUIT of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore FRUITS worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And it is GOD Himself that gave you the GIFT of His Spirit that makes you WILLING to repent:
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
If we were not inclined to sin, as to yield to it in some way, He would not command us, upon receiving Him, to ABIDE in Him, to FOLLOW AFTER Him etc... We DO abide in Him, as we continue to obey His command to love, and to confess; repent of, our sins when, or in case we, disobey Him, so we can proceed to CONTINUE in Him. And, as we do these things:
John 15:4 ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear FRUIT of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits MEET FOR REPENTANCE:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and JUST TO FORGIVE us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For GODLY sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt BE CONDEMNED.
As we repent of; confess, our sins daily, we KNOW we are then CLEAN, and up and ready to CONTINUE to WALK in Him, UN-defeated!
So, all we need do is to BELIEVE, RECEIVE, SAY, SPEAK, CONFESS, God's Word unto us, as we read it. And He has A WORD for EVERYTHING good unto us:
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
He even instilled 'repenting of sin' in the very prayer He instructs us to pray daily:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our DAILY bread.
12 And FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As you remember to repent, TAKE JOY, in reading, and confessing, God's Word, unTO you, as for what you are, and have, in Christ, in God, by faith. And that faith will become manifested, as God, by His Spirit, will PERFORM His Words that you confess by faith, and perfect you more and more each day:
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which WORKETH BY LOVE.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.
1 John 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.
Romans 13:10 LOVE WORKS NO ILL to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love DWELLETH IN GOD, and God in him.
Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Psalms 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
any thing that is done whether physical or spiritual ought to be done according to the word of the Lord, so this text is appropriate Philippians 2:13 to remind us we are not our own and that we belong to God.
This passage at Phillipians 2:6 is very clunky in the King James version. The phrase "thought it not robbery to be equal to God" is used by many as proof of Jesus being part of a trinitarian Godhead.
However, compare with other translations and you get a much more clear understanding of what Paul meant:
New Jerusalem Bible:
"Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped."
New World Translation:
"who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God."
Todays English Version
"He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God"
The context of the surrounding verses (3-5, 7, 8) makes it clear how verse 6 is to be understood. The Philippians were urged: “In humility, let each esteem others better than themselves.” Then Paul uses Christ as the outstanding example of this attitude: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What “mind”? To ‘think it not robbery to be equal with God’? No, that would be just the opposite of the point being made! Rather, Jesus, who ‘esteemed God as better than himself,’ would never ‘grasp for equality with God,’ but instead he “humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death.”
Surely, that cannot be talking about any part of Almighty God. It was talking about Jesus Christ, who perfectly illustrated Paul’s point here—namely the importance of humility and obedience to one’s Superior and Creator, Jehovah God.
what jesus is saying is that he never gave thought that he and god was equal in any way just like you are not equal to your father being he that your father create you and has more wisdom than you
This is not speaking of, as is commonly taught, of Christ's incarnation. It is speaking of His experienc on and after the Mount of Transfiguration when He was "Meta-Morphosisised" or "changed in form". Was He "changed in form" on the Mount into man? NO, but into the LIkeness of God, or God in the soul. In other words, His God nature was now completed into His soul. After that, He humbled himself as a man and a "doulos" or bondslave, in order to go to the cross. If he has not layed His life down, they could not have killed Him. If He had not stopped the Glory flow on the Mount of Transfiguration, His body would have been glorified on the spot and they could not have killed Him. Therefore, He chose to continue in the "schema" of a man for the purpose of death.
I had a friend we can say is named Joe. Joe was married to Mary many years and together they had a small child - 'lil' Joe.
Years go on and the mother of Joe comes to visit
her grandbaby and of course Mary and her "son" Joe.
Now, Joe's Mom gets to see the grandbaby and sees the love her "son" Joe has for the lil guy. Mary agrees and also says how much the lil guy loves his "father".
Time goes on and after many years Joe becomes ill and passes away. Everyone misses Joe including Mary, his wife of many years and the lil Joe now a man.
Mary expresses to lil Joe how much she loved Joe and lil Joe expresses how much he loved his "father" and the phone rings. It is Joe's mom who after some conversation with Mary expresses how she misses her "son" Joe. Mary in tears says to Joe's mother, the love Joe left her with is still firmly in her heart and Joe's "spirit" lives on daily in her heart. Joe's mon goes on to say how there are times when she can feel the warmth of Joe's spirit giving her a hug.
So here we have Joe the "father", Joe the "son" and Joe alive in Mary's heart and his mother in "spirit".
These all represent Joe and we can accept this quite easily for the most part as being real and belonging to Joe in fact.
So some persons are able to see these loving characteristics in man but are not able to accept that these characteristics can be part of the ONE who is known as Jesus Christ as LORD, GOD and SAVIOUR or as FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT.
Why is that? Is it because Jesus was a man? It appears we can overcome that part for a specific loved one of our own but not with Jesus Christ.
GOD does call us to accept HIM.
Isaiah will say it much better than I can when he says that GOD's ways are not our ways and GOD's ways are higher than our ways and there is only but ONE GOD, ONE SAVIOUR. No Others.
How can we equate what we think with that of Almighty GOD and then conclude that GOD cannot exist in the 3 forms that represent the trinity but we are able to accept Joe as a father, a son and alive in the heart of his wife and mother in spirit? Man can easily accept man on man's terms but cannot accept Almighty GOD ON GOD'S TERMS.
Can we accept that? Each of us does have a choice. That is exactly what GOD will never take from us, our free will to love Him.
This passage goes on to state that all knees will bend at the name of the ONE. Otherwise, you will be worshipping more than ONE GOD or you are rejecting Jesus. Are we to bow before any other?
It clearly does indicate what WILL BE in this passage. Man does not have the control here.
We are called to make a choice and not to be "lukewarm" lest ye be spit out.
We know how the story of worshipping other gods turns out all through the Old Testament.
Asking GOD to come into your life and to show you clearly who HE IS never fails. HE will make sure you know HE is "THE WAY", "THE TRUTH" and "THE LIFE"
Peace, Love and Spiritual Joy to all.
In Jesus Christ, our LORD, our GOD and SAVIOUR.
Amen
How humbling it must have been with all of man's faults for GOD to come in human form and likeness so that we could get a glimpse into how much HE loves us.
That is the true meaning of sacrifice. He offered himself for us [His Love] and to us [His Blood] yet He is still rejected by the many who refuse to see or hear.
I John 5:6-7
6 This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 43:3 For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
In All of Isaiah 53, God reveal himself to Isaiah.
God Loves us all the same and has revealed himself to us so that we might have a relationship with Him. Therfore we are blessed to be able to love Him as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit of God. Not the other way around. He is but One.
No other has nor no others will do what He has.
John 5:21-25
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
John 1:14 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John:1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
God’s Peace, Love and Spiritual Joy to all.
In Jesus Christ, our Lord, God and Savior,
Amen.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not ROBBERY to be equal with God:
Thank God for the Authorized Bible. The others 'wrest' this to their own destruction'.
they replied John's baptism and after hearing that the people were re-baptized in the name of Jesus!!!!!! Because it's the only saving name as in Acts 4:12 and Philippians 2:5-10 thank God for his word. God Bless!!
God's Word is perfect. But, it takes it being translated into the 'perfect' language of a particular language in order for the translation to be 'perfect.' And the King James Version is perfect English. They did not talk backwards, we do, in a way.
While, the Holy Bible mentions the word 'tree' in Acts, which the cross of Christ was, there are many other scriptures withing the contents of the written Word of God; the Holy Bible, that clarify the fact that a piece of wood was attached across it, making that 'tree,' therefore, 'a cross.'
The importance of God's Word mentioning 'the cross' was 'a tree,' is that it serves to confirm what 'the cross' was made from. It also relates to the Lord saying, in the Old Testament, that 'cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.'
Galatians 3: 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Regardless of that being said, ALL of mankind was already UNDER a CURSE, due to sin, which was why we needed a Saviour to die for our sins. But, Jesus, by 'hanging on a tree,' made it VIVIDLY CLEAR that, while the body in which He had come was flesh, like mankind's, He INSIDE that body was NO mere man, but was the Word, the POWER, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, of God, Who was to, by His Spirit, utterly CONSUME; BURN UP, all the sins that were laid upon Him; ALL our sins, and ALL the sins of everyone of mankind who ever was, and ever would be born into the world.
So, while in this passaage of God's Word, it mentions 'a tree,' saying:
Acts 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on A TREE:,
there are plenty of other scriptures in the same Holy Bible that clarifies that a piece of wood was attached across it (purposed to nail his hands to it,) in that it is referred to clearly as a 'CROSS.'
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of THE CROSS.
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of HIS CROSS, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Ephesians 2:14 For HE is OUR PEACE, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of THE CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER of God.
The CROSS of Jesus Christ is the POWER of God to us which are saved, because HE that suffered, and died, for us on it is the POWER of God:
1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the POWER of God, and the wisdom of God.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with MY DEAD BODY shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste DEATH FOR EVERY MAN.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
2 Corinthians 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Acs 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
After Christ came OUT of that fleshly body; the form of a man; the likeness of sinful flesh, He THEN went to the part of the midst of the earth that is Hell, and TOOK AWAY from Satan the KEYS of Hell and Death!
Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
THEN He want to another part of the midst of the earth where all those souls that had BELIEVED God; believed the Word of God preached to them, and had thus died in faith, looking forward to the coming Saviour; Redeemer; Messiah, slept; rested, waiting for Him to come. And He took them, who were all held CAPTIVE by death, in the grave, all CAPTIVE UNTO HIMSELF, and AROSE, with them, they with HIM, from the dead:
As prophesied in the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
He FULFILLED that prophesy in the New Testament, upon rising from the dead:
Matthew 27:50 Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And THE GRAVES WERE OPENED; and many bodies of the saints which slept AROSE,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led CAPTIVITY captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Since our Saviour; Redeemer; Messiah, is come in the flesh:
John 1: 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 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:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
God doesn't make sinners, people choose the wrong path. Be not deceived for Satan can transform himself into an angel of light as stated in 2 Corinthians 11:14: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Sin, on any kind, has the capacity to look or feel good from our polluted perspective but sin always will take you where you don't want to go, keep you there longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. Fighting a battle with Satan is never easy. We have the Holy Spirit as our aid. Jesus sits on the right hand of God as our advocate every time Satan tells God what we did wrong. I hope you've received Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. The battle is lost otherwise. May the Lord put a hedge of protection around you and may only the Holy Spirit minister to your heart. May your heart not be hardened. Christians out here love you and only want what is best for your life and for the life of your buddy. God has good planned for each of your lives. Satan brings discouragement while God offers hope and life everlasting.
Jesus knew he was equal with God. He knew he had equality with God. Therefore, he did not think that being equal with God was something that he had robbed to obtain. It was not robbery to him to be equal with God. But he laid down his deity for us.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
As, it is the love and GOODNESS OF GOD in Christ that LEADS a man unto repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD, which is IN Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yet, we are still all brothers in Christ, regardless of those that have not received Him from and with their hearts so that He may be IN them. As, He died for ALL, even for those who are considered to be SINNERS as we were before we recieved Him.
ROMANS 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Also, while we that are born of God cannot commit sin, as far as WITH the 'mind of Christ,' which is God, and which we have, we CAN sin WITH THE FLESH, by yielding to sin, and thereby serving sin.
ROMANS 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then WITH the MIND I myself serve the law of God; but WITH the FLESH the law of sin.
The MIND refered to is NOT the CARNAL mind, whch is FLESH:
Romans 8:7 Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
But the MIND of Christ, which is SPIRIT:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the MIND OF CHRIST.
Although we CAN sin, that NEW CREATURE we each are in Christ CANNOT. If we serve sin with our flesh, thereby LETTING sin have it's way, we are allowing our OWN WILL, instead of God's to take control. However, having the MIND of CHRIST, God HIMSELF gave us HIS WILL to resort to, meaning we can SAY NO to our own fleshly; carnal, will, and turn it back to the WILL of God:
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
That 'TO WILL' is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God, PRAISE GOD, He has made it EASY on us:
Romans 6:12 LET NOT sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We are GODLY because we have RECEIVED, and have continued to LOVE, Christ, DESPITE our inclination to yield to sin, and thus we REMAIN IN Him, having our sins COVERED by His BLOOD, giving us grace, and time, to repent of any sin/s we have not yet repented of, and receive the forgiveness for, the and cleansing away, of our sins the moment we repent.
It is BECAUSE we have received Christ, and ARE thus SPIRIT BEINGS; SPIRIT of God's Spirit; BORN of God, that we, despite our sins, are GODLY, and it is BECAUSE we are GODLY that we CAN, and, by God, we WILL repent of; CONFESS, our sins unto the LORD. Hear this Old Testament prophetic prayer that clarifies that the GODLY are inclined to sin, as far as to yield to it, and to HAVE SIN to admit to, and confess, unto the LORD. And as you read, take note that the GODLY are those that, DESPITE their sins, TRUST IN THE LORD, are BLESSED, RIGHTEOUS, UPRIGHT IN HEART, COMPASSED ABOUT WITH MERCY, AND SONGS OF DELIVERANCE, and HID in Christ, HID from the WRATH of God, as the blood of Christ covers our sins:
PSALMS 32:2 BLESSED is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I ACKNOWLEDGED my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For THIS shall EVERY one that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 Thou art my HIDING place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt COMPASS ME ABOUT with songs of DELIVERANCE. Selah.
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, MERCY shall COMPASS HIM ABOUT.
11 Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, ye RIGHTEOUS: and shout for joy, all ye that are UPRIGHT IN HEART.
NONE of this means that a born again child of God can serve sin, and refuse to repent, and still be saved in the end. God's Word warns us. God is a just God, warning the righteous to NOT forsake Him, and warning the unrighteous to turn unto Him.
In the meanwhile, prior to physically dying, which if one that received Christ dies with any sins being unrepented of, then that person had to have ceased to LOVE the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus. And that soul will be cut off from Him:
Colossians 1:23 If ye CONTINUE IN the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE IN them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
ROMANS 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou CONTINUE in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Even if we yield to sin, to, at that point NEED to repent, IN ORDER TO continue in the goodness of God, it is God's GOODNESS that, at that point, LEADS us UNTO repentance.
So, what is the problem if we serve sin, if we WILL, however eventually, repent? Well, in the meanwhile we get bombarded with lies and feelings of DOUBT that we ARE godly, righteous, blessed, etc., and we start THINKING as if we are NOT these things, and our JOY and CONFIDENCE becomes less and less. THAT is how Satan WANTS us to think and feel. But since Christ has died for our sins, Satan can NOT any longer make us his servants, and KEEP us in bondage to sin. It is NO LONGER Satan's grounds; jurisdiction; right. As, NOW, it is only WE, YOU YOUSELF, I MYSELF, that can keep us, you, me, being a servant to, in bondage to, sin, meaning we can STOP IT, REFUSE IT, by turning unto the LORD to repent, and thereby be cleansed and receive the forgiveness of God INSTANTLY, and then PROCEED to CONTINUE in obedience unto the Lord. Any time we yield to sin, the FIRST STEP before we can continue to WALK in the Lord, is down on our knees, heartfully speaking, and repent. Is NOT repenting of our sins INSTILLED in the VERY prayer that Jesus instructs us to pray DAILY?
LUKE 11:3 Give us day by day our DAILY bread.
4 And FORGIVE US OUR SINS; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
When we hate sin, and are quick to repent of it, AND read; eat and drink, the Word; WORDS, of God, the less and less we are inclined to sin, as the LOVE OF GOD perfects us more and more each day.
But, due to the danger of our continuing in sin; putting of repentance, God loves us TOO much to not deal with us here and now for our own good, not according to our sins, which the wages of is death, but in order to correct us, and keep us from the dangers of being in sin:
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and CHASTEN: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without CHASTISEMENT, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
ROMANS 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed
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I will end with saying this unto all those that have received Christ; God's Word; God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, and who are therefore GODLY, RIGHTEOUS, who's righteousness is of the LORD, that, if you have sin, to date, that you have not repented of; have not acknowledged; admitted, and confessed, unto the LORD, here's the thing: You WILL. It's far better for you to not force your heavenly Father to HAVE to sorely chastise you, because He WILL if need be. And you know full well in your heart that, when it comes to where the rubber meets the road, should you be chastised of Him, you will NOT blaspheme Him as if He is unjust, or as if He does not love you (there IS no if,) but you will stand corrected, and repent of your sins before Him. So, knowing you WILL, why wait? There is no good reason to wait, and nothing but MANY good reasons to come clean NOW. Until you do, you, as far as the NEW CREATURE you are in Christ in your Innerman, has fallen asleep at the wheel so to speak, and is either in a spiritual coma, or is getting that way, and the LORD is calling you to WAKE UP! Don't you worry, if He has to SHAKE you, He will, since the longer you ignore Him, the more deaf your spiritual ears get.
And don't believe the lies of the devil telling you 'But you messed up AGAIN, and have repeately, and God's tired of hearing you repent,...'
As, first of all, if you are a MESS, you are your heavenly FATHER'S mess, and NONE of Satan's business whatsoever. You ARE upright, but it is Christ that is bearing you up. The moment you repent, it is embracing the One that holds you up.
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he DIED FOR ALL, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The more you read God's Word (WORDS,) the more FAITH increases in you, along with all of the other fruits of the Spirit.
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
So, just read, read, read. It is the same as to EAT spiritual meat, and drink spiritual drink. It's not about just merely memorizing the scriputures, no more than is eatting for physical nourishment about memorizing how physical food tastes.
And, daily repent of; confess, your sins unto the Lord, or if you can't think of any, ask Him to forgive you for just in case. As, to repent is a priviledge for those that have received Christ. No one CAN repent in the way of true repentance without FIRST receiving Christ. That is WHY there's no need to repent IN ORDER to answer His call, and receive Him:
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Since you HAVE received Christ, you WILL repent, because you believe and trust in God, and therefore you are BLESSED, your are GODLY, and RIGHTEOUS, and UPRIGHT, and the GOODNESS of God SURROUNDS YOU:
Psalms 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
(By the time the Lord is through CLEANSING us with His blood, and forgiving us, there is NO guile or any unrighteousness whatsoever! And all it takes is a moment each day, or sometimes maybe several moments.)
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I WILL confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
6 For this shall EVERY ONE that is GODLY pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
ONLY the GODLY will humble themselves, and bring forth the FRUIT of the mouth MEET FOR; WORTHY OF, repentance, due to true sorrow of heart; being sorry for any sin, even any we didn't mean, nor intend.
Proverbs 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the FRUIT of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore FRUITS worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And it is GOD Himself that gave you the GIFT of His Spirit that makes you WILLING to repent:
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for TO WILL is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD which worketh in you both TO WILL and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
If we were not inclined to sin, as to yield to it in some way, He would not command us, upon receiving Him, to ABIDE in Him, to FOLLOW AFTER Him etc... We DO abide in Him, as we continue to obey His command to love, and to confess; repent of, our sins when, or in case we, disobey Him, so we can proceed to CONTINUE in Him. And, as we do these things:
John 15:4 ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear FRUIT of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits MEET FOR REPENTANCE:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and JUST TO FORGIVE us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For GODLY sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the GOODNESS OF GOD leadeth thee to repentance?
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt BE CONDEMNED.
As we repent of; confess, our sins daily, we KNOW we are then CLEAN, and up and ready to CONTINUE to WALK in Him, UN-defeated!
So, all we need do is to BELIEVE, RECEIVE, SAY, SPEAK, CONFESS, God's Word unto us, as we read it. And He has A WORD for EVERYTHING good unto us:
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
He even instilled 'repenting of sin' in the very prayer He instructs us to pray daily:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our DAILY bread.
12 And FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
As you remember to repent, TAKE JOY, in reading, and confessing, God's Word, unTO you, as for what you are, and have, in Christ, in God, by faith. And that faith will become manifested, as God, by His Spirit, will PERFORM His Words that you confess by faith, and perfect you more and more each day:
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which WORKETH BY LOVE.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.
1 John 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.
Romans 13:10 LOVE WORKS NO ILL to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love DWELLETH IN GOD, and God in him.
Psalms 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Kings 17:39 But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
Psalms 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
However, compare with other translations and you get a much more clear understanding of what Paul meant:
New Jerusalem Bible:
"Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped."
New World Translation:
"who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God."
Todays English Version
"He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God"
The context of the surrounding verses (3-5, 7, 8) makes it clear how verse 6 is to be understood. The Philippians were urged: “In humility, let each esteem others better than themselves.” Then Paul uses Christ as the outstanding example of this attitude: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” What “mind”? To ‘think it not robbery to be equal with God’? No, that would be just the opposite of the point being made! Rather, Jesus, who ‘esteemed God as better than himself,’ would never ‘grasp for equality with God,’ but instead he “humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death.”
Surely, that cannot be talking about any part of Almighty God. It was talking about Jesus Christ, who perfectly illustrated Paul’s point here—namely the importance of humility and obedience to one’s Superior and Creator, Jehovah God.
Thank you for your time.
Mark