Acts 18:1, possible during 2Timothy 4:20-22, Acts 18,
During Paul's lifetime, sometime after Jesus rose from the grave, Acts 1, Acts 9, because Paul was preaching with those who where close with Jesus. Galatians 1:18, Acts 10, Acts 11, Galatians 2:1,7,8,11,14, Matthew 4:18,
You are correct Chris. I cannot just leave. We need all the saints and encourage everyone to be saved. God wants us to take care of everyone until we have ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Revelation 5:11
We really are in perilous times. The evil forces are more pronounced on earth. I personally will be responsible to God if I do not share the truth that is all based on the Bible.
Just to let everyone know I am more comforted by each of your kind responses. You guys inspired me to do more.
Romans 1:11-12
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. I prayed for each and everyone of you and your family to be stronger, healthier, joyful, and at peace in God's grace. Agape.
Luke Gbu but you are in error when you say that JESUS came thru Adams blood line...The lamb of God cd not be defiled by ANY mans bloodine....As all men carried the stain and the spot of Adam....Mary was just a vessel that God used to make the Child...As the scrip. says he was made of a woman made under the law....But Mary's placenta wd NOT allow her blood to mix with the Childs blood... Acts 20:28....Feed the Church of God that he has purchased with his OWN BLOOD... Not mans BLOOD....Even in the natural a fetus is able to make his own blood....But the Women's placenta feeds the fetus with nutrients ETC ....But her blood is neva passed to the fetus... A Womans placenda is a very complex organ....But the lamb of God cd not be defiled with mans blood....Thats y it had to be a virgin birth....Jesus told the Jews you are from beneath but i am from above...You are of this world but i am not of this world... John 8 :23 kjv....And b/f Abraham was i am....He was from everlasting to everlasting as Psalms 90 David says.
.....Jesus was the living WORD made flesh and blood....It was God that impregnated Mary with his word....Mans seed had absolutetly nothin to do with Marys conception....But Romans 1:3 concerning Jesus that was made of the seed of David according to the flesh....But that flesh was Mary...Not according to any man's seed....It was DAVID that said its the Lords doings and is precious in our eyes....It was the Lords seed not mans seed.
......The Lamb of GOD had to be a Perfect Lamb....Could not have any spots or stains....He cd not carry that awful stain and curse of adam thats y it had to a virgin birth....There was none righteous no not one...Thus Mary had to be impregnated by God himself....Via his seed the living word...gbu
Let's see what else God's Word has to say in regards to your snarky comment against Jesus.
A few verses before in 2 Peter 1:11 it says "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Do you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior?
Do you know what "Lord" means?
The same old straw man fallacy shows up again that God the Son isn't God the Father, but no one is claiming that. This attack on Jesus is repeated so much it seems to fall into the disingenuous and lie territory.
God is powerful enough to do what you don't comprehend as a man. Whether you comprehend that or not doesn't change reality or the truth. The Bible says that in John 1 the 'word was God' and was there at the beginning, so do you believe it?
More of God's truth about God:
Luke 4:34 - "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God."
Luke 4:12 after satan put Jesus to the test Jesus says "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
Isaiah 7:14 - Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us"
Isaiah 42:5 "Thus saith God the LORD..."
Isaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD: that is my name..."
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
Godhead:
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
John 1:18
God is we and us plural:
Genesis 1:26
If the Bible flat out said Jesus is God like it does would you believe it?
Where are the verses that say Jesus isn't God the Son? (none)
Where are the verses saying Jesus IS God the Son (above, numerous)
And where are the verses where Jesus verbally denied being God? (none)
Again, we do differ on this. I will share a few more of my thoughts, not to be argumentative, but to share what I believe. I believe that every single person will one day stand before God and will have to give an account. No person will have an excuse. To me, it does not matter that a person believes in "a god." What matters is that the person believes and surrenders their life to the one true God, Jesus Christ.
There is a tremendous principle being taught in John 1:9. Every single person that is born into this world is at some point enlightened to the truth. There will be no excuse. No one will be able to stand before God and say I didn't know the gospel message about salvation, but I was a good person and always made the right choices because my conscience told me to do so.
Jesus tells us in John Chapter 14 that no one can come to the Father except through Him. In other words, there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. So this would eliminate all those who believe in a god, regardless of who their god is, or how good of a person they were.
Psalm 19:1-4 says that creation, the language of creation goes throughout the world. There is no language that does not understand the language of creation. And creation speaks of the Creator. Also, Romans 1:19-20, Paul says that what is known of God is clearly manifest as God reveals the truth of the invisible God to every person.
As far as the Muslims, Buddhists, and all other religions who are worshipping a different god because they "never heard of Jesus," I would also say that they are all without excuse. Now I know some people like to use Romans 10:18 to support what they believe are people, such as primitive tribes, who have never heard the gospel message. They say how is that fair? And they use Romans 10:18, which says how will they believe if they don't hear a preacher? And how are they going to hear a preacher if no preacher is sent?
About the people that have not heard of Jesus you quote Romans 1:20. OK but in those verses people will not have an excuse for not believing in the existence of God. But God who? Muslims believe in God, but in another God. So for the muslims that in the past never heard of Jesus but still believed in a God (the one they knew), how is God going to judge them? This is where, I think, verses in Romans 1:11-16 come in. In my understanding they will be judged according to their life, according to what they know it is right, according to what their consience says to them, and we all know that there is not a single man in the world who doesn't know what is right or wrong. How strict is God going to be to them? One cannot know really.
But even for the other religions today who have heard of Jesus, is it enough that they have heard of Jesus? Is that considered that Jesus was preached to them? Ans if Jesus was actually preached to them, without any proof, say by those denominations like Catholics etc, is this enough? In verse John 15:24 it says "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." Which means, if I get it right, that if the one who preaches about Jesus is unable to bring forth a proof that God exists people do not sin if not believing. See what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
Paul's preaching was not just words but with proof of God's power. Paul Himself wouldn't believe in Jesus if Jesus didn't appear to him. Same with Sergius Paulus in Cyprus, same with the guard in Philippii. So we see that Gospel was preach with proof
Now let's go to us nowadays. Is it enough that we preach the Gospel without the power that God showed in the early times?
Thanks for sharing. You make some very interesting points. I think we are slightly different with each other on some of these things, but hey, I guess there are probably a few other ways we can look at it also.
To answer your question about people who never heard the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ, I would have to say that they are without excuse. They will not be able to stand before God and say "we never heard." Romans 1:20 says, For the invisible things of Him, (that is of God), from the creation of the world, (from the time of creation up till now), the invisible things of God, and notice the clarity: are clearly seen, no confusion!
The comprehension: being understood by the things that are made, that is by creation. And then there's a clause at the end of Verse 20 that is an apposition to invisible things, meaning equal to. When it says for the invisible things of Him, I have to ask myself, what does he mean by that? He says even his eternal power and Godhead;
But notice the conclusion: "so that they are without excuse." And as you are aware, the word excuse, Apologea, is where we get our word apologetics from it. It is a legal term that means defense. People have no defense whatsoever. Not one human being is ever going to be able to stand before God and say "I didn't know!" And we are not talking about what registers in the mind. We're talking about what God illuminates or enlightens in a person's conscience or spirit.
Something else I take note of is Psalm 19:1-4, "The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handywork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." Verse 3 really stands out to me, "There's no language or speech that God's creation cannot reach."
Again, no one will have an excuse. God uses creation to testify of His existence.
Plus, I think most Muslims and Buddhists know of Christ but reject Him.
This is a great concern Adam! I'm glad you brought this up.
This is definitely a big issue, and I believe it needs to be discussed often by the Church!
I've spoken on this often in Church.
There was different views and opinions discussing this.
I took the approach on how Homosexuality came into the world using Romans 1:18-32 and focused on it being a RESULT OF DEPARTURE and fruitlessnes using Ezekiel 16:43. ( especially notice verses 48 and 50 ) This is where people were pierced!
You have to know the cause of something before you react to it. This gets to the base of the rapidly growing fire and place a whole nation at blame instead of the splitting parties. This agenda is wrong so one would wonder how did such a thing enter the governing of a nation that is supposedly God led?
We have articles written down by the nation forefathers that seemed to be inspired by the Bible and we're proud of them.
The question is were they ever performed?
The law in the Bible was written IN STONE BY GOD HIMSELF
AND NEVER AMENDED. The Jews was proud of it but never could obtain them and it condemned them as well as us.
We have the declaration of Independence, the Constitution outlined how this government would function. Yet the constitution has been amended 27 times.
We continue to change how we constitute the governing!
Our written articles is used as a indictment against us.
GODS LAW HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN MANS HEART!
Sadly that inward Governing you won't see geographically until the Millennium reign of Christ.
But there is nation sojourning here now that is governed by the Lord and that is "HIS" Church.
"True believers who worship in truth and Spirit."
2 Chronicles 7:14. Was written to Israel but I believe we should consider for clarity.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall HUMBLE THEMSELVES, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Many times I have read and reread these words of Paul. A man who would have rather killed you as to look at you. A man who had every intention to succeed in the realm of the synaguage, the priesthood, excelling in all those things concerning wisdom and knowledge .
There are those today, like Saul, think they do Gods service in the things of this world, who like Saul , are even so in the church today!
Approving those things that would damn the soul into eternal death, even killing you ,while they think they do Gods service!
Men, who have changed the truth of God into a lie! Who, through the wisdom and knowledge of their own desires have made themselves like unto Gods.
Paul understands these things better than anyone! He knows why God has chosen Him in the things of God,while condeming yet revealing the truth, to those who would listen!
Do we need not change His words, so we might have a better understanding?
These words are as real as they have ever been, the mirror that continues to reveal the truth of man in His natural state of sin!
How appropiate God has done these things to save man from sin! Hopefully, He will listen?
the Word of God says in many places that homosexual relations and affections are sinful, abhorrent to God, and that those who practice homosexuality will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Adam and Eve and the Tree of the Knowlege of Good and Evil - In Reply - 2 years ago
Eve ate of the tree of the Knowlege of Good and Evil. Then she gave to Adam to eat, and he did.
Adam now had a sin consciousnes. He also lost his Dominion on the earth. Satan took a serpents body to deceive Eve into doing it.
Humanity waited until Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. Jesus set aside his powers to be born HUMAN; all God and all human.
The reason being that EARTH WAS CREATED FOR HUMANS.
Skip up to the cross Jesus was crucified on, at no time did Satan think he'd not win. He did not know the Godhead's plan ( Romans 1:20). As a human, being crucified for the sins of all mankind that has or ever will live__Jesus fulfilled a prophesy made in Genesis 3:15. Jesus's death crushed Satans head (power). Satan was shocked when Jesus was resurrected on that 3rd day.
His only way to get back at Jesus is by hurting people Jesus died for; all people. If we are born again, as in John 3:5-7 and John 3:18
Jesus paid it all. All we have to do is believe it, accept it and pray for salvation.
There's a link out on the page you land on where you clicked a link to come in here. Find the one that says, Become A Believer. It has the prayer.
Nope. Predestined refers to our walk. Calvinism twisted this into seeming like God only elected 'some' for His Blood and not all.
The Bible teaches universal atonement. Like it or not, the Word of God is our Final Authority, NOT Spurgeon or any other man. 1st John 2:2 reads, ""And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 2nd Corinthians 5:15, "And that he died for all..." We read in 1st Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. The Word of God proclaims that Christ came to save sinners, not just certain sinners.
Listen to the plain teaching of 2nd peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This Scripture clearly reveals that it is possible for ALL men to repent. God is NOT willing for any to perish. If Calvinism is correct, then how can you reconcile God's desire for all men to repent if He only predestinates certain of them to salvation? Calvinism makes no sense at all.
Furthermore, God never forces anyone to be saved. Not one instance in the Word of God is found where God forced anyone to get saved. Again, Titus 2:11 declares that the grace of God that brings salvation appears to ALL humanity. Psalm 19:1-3 clearly teaches that nature itself testifies of the goodness of God. Romans 1:20 teaches that God's eternal power and Godhead are CLEARLY presented in God's creation.
I enjoy reading your posts, you wear your heart on your sleeve, a good thing. I know you are passionate about the triune God we disagree but please take my reply as done in love. I don't know if you have gone back and dug deep into the history of this creed, you may.
How many people (1000s) who most likely believed in Christ were killed on behalf of this creed. I strain to understand how God would be behind something so harsh and cruel and the vicious way people were killed for one word, heresy. Even today people are not killed but are told they are not saved and cannot be saved.
I agree that the beginning is the beginning of creation before anything was. I do not know how to reply to you because you have said before and, in this post, that not believing in a triune God is heretical which comes from strong orthodox teaching, and I do not believe anything can go above the salvation in the doctrine of Christ.
So out of love, I will not ask but one question that you or someone else may shine a light on.
The word Godhead is in the bible only three times, Acts 17:29 the Greek word Theios, definition divine, divine being Romans 1:20 the Greek word theiots meaning divine nature and Colossians 2:9 the Greek word theots meaning deity.
How can three Greek words with meanings; divine, divine being, divine nature, and deity that in context work with their original meaning be translated as Godhead? What I have studied the first known use of godhead was in the 13th century. Maybe you are someone else who can help?
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Who is the Word?
John 1:14-15 says the Word is Jesus. Does anyone deny that the Word is Jesus?
If someone believes John 1:14, then do they believe John 1:1
"...the Word was God."
"...[Jesus] was God."
JESUS.
WAS.
GOD.
John 1:1
This is God's Word.
Some here are saying "Jesus was NOT God" despite John 1:1 clearly saying Jesus WAS God. I'd like to know exactly how someone can believe in all other verses of the Bible except this one? If something WAS something, that seems to offer little room for interpretation. It means it's the same, does it not? So, if something WAS something, how does someone twist this into believing it says something WAS NOT something?
It then must be asked: since it takes so much effort to take a sentence something WAS something to turn it into: something WAS NOT something, what is the true underlying motive here? Does God's Word carry the most weight and influence or does something else?
This is eerily similar to Gen 3:4 where satan denied what God said and claimed that they shall NOT surely die. Satan loves opposites and this seems to have his signature, does it not?
I welcome any perspective I'm missing, but do not consider anything other Bible verses as valid evidence. God's Word is all that matters and because there's already numerous verses supporting that Jesus is God like John 1:1 then that is what is true. Lastly, why not just pray and ask God directly to know the truth? Genuinely ask!
This is an interesting logical argument. I find that in 1 Peter 3:22. Let's assume for argument's sake that your conclusion is correct and you get 1 point for this.
But for every verse you cite, there are even more that say that Jesus IS God, like John 1:1 saying the "Word was God" and verse 14 that Jesus is the Word.
This could continue to play out and you can cite any number of verses to support your position, but again we don't run out of very compelling verses saying that Jesus is God.
Let's say that it's a dead even race. 30 verses suggesting Jesus isn't vs 30 verses suggesting He is.
Then what? Which do you choose to believe?
I don't know if you've gone through this exercise or not, but I now have a spoiler: someone will run out of verses supporting that Jesus "isn't" God long before the verses supporting He IS God. Not only that, but each of the verses commonly cited to claim that Jesus "isn't" God require some extra creative interpretation and human logic whereas the verses supporting the other side can be read and interpreted more literally. Not only that, but there's logical explanations for why Jesus called His Father God. The main reason is that He temporarily became a human being and limited His power. Phil 2:6-7. So, yes, as a man, He prayed to His Father and called Him God. So, all verses must be considered as a whole, not cherry picked in order to have understanding about the Godhead and I admit it is hard to comprehend as we don't have anything like it in on earth. But perhaps like an orange with seeds, pulp, skin. Someone calls pulp an orange, and it is.
I'll try to redo Part 4 as best as I can remember.
So I ask myself, why does my sin matter in my relationship with God?
I go to Romans 1:18
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." (NIV) Whoa!
And in 2:8
"..but to those whoa re self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and guish, on every soul that does evil..." (NIV)
And 3:10 says:
"As it is written:
There is none righteous, no, not one...."
and in 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
And 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(All NIV, being the translation I have on hand at home.)
So, this tells me that I am guilty and ungodly before God.
Romans 6:6 tells me that "For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly."
and Vs. 8 But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
and Vs. 10 "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Ephesians 2:1 "And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins...."
Well, we all stand guilty and are all dead to God in our sins, and are enemies to God until we are reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus, through whom we are regenerated and made alive to God. So, I think, it is good to be alive to God and not good at all to be dead in sin. so, my sin matters to God in that it separates me from Him.
So, I think, why would I want to be reconciled to Him, aside from avoiding being under his wrath and judgment? What is it about God that would make me consider turning to Him? In my sinful state, I would not want to turn to Him, but even then, the Holy Spirit works in me to turn me to God by grace! I am to believe that and act of the grace given to me
Growing Up in God through His Word: Jesus - In Reply on 1 Kings 6 - 2 years ago
The only way to grow strong in knowledge of who the Godhead ( Romans 1:20) is by reading Gods Word. The Bible.
We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word. Grow up some and add in the Bread of the Word. Lastly to eat the meat of the Word and become even stronger in our faith.
I began in the Gospels because I had a burning desire to know who Jesus is. I saw Him in a vision when I was saved. But I didn't know who He was to me. My appetite for more knowledge grew and grew; the more I found out, the more I wanted to know everything He had for me in this life I live.
We need to know what the Armor of God is. How to put it on. Our Sword is made bigger and sharper, as we grow up in Gods Word_ the Bible Scriptures. Ephesians 6.
When Jesus was fasting 40 days in the Judean Desert, Satan came and tempted Jesus. Jesus fought back and prevailed by using Scriptures. Our enemies are invisible but we know their around by their FRUIT: chaos, depression, suicide, murders, thefts, violence of all kinds.
Angels are invisible too. They serve only God. But if we need help quick we can ask God the Father for angelic help. You see this in the Lords Prayer: deliver us from Evil__. The Body of Christ needs to rightly divide the Word of Truth concerning angels.
We are only helpless until we understand how it works, through the principles laid down in the Lords Prayer. It tells us what we have in Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave us Power and Authority by going to the Cross for us. His Blood is as Holy and powerful as the day he suffered and died for our sins.
We are blood bought children of the Most High God. We need to find out what it means, and use it against Satan and his principalities, powers and evil spirits.
They should fear every day we wake up. The Word in our mouths will make them flee. If we practice sin, they just smirk at us.
Tip: the Holy Spirit likes that Johnny Cash ding: I walk The Line. He sings it with me.
We see in Matt. 10:6 Jesus told His disciples not to go to the Gentiles and Matt. 15:24 He confirms He first came for the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets.
Why did Jesus say, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel"? Other scripture also says the Jew first, Luke 24:47Acts 3:25-26Romans 1:16Romans 2:9-10 and more, for what reason? To fulfill prophecy.
The Prophecy is the 70-week prophecy that many places the last week in the future. This prophecy was for the house of Israel/Judea and Jerusalem, Daniel 9:24 and these 70 weeks were determined to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
From when Jesus was baptized until He was crucified was 3 1/2 years, John recorded the Passovers Jesus went to and Jesus was crucified on the fourth. These 3 1/2 years Jesus was confirming the covenant, to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The entire prophecy was about the coming of the Messiah that the leaders rejected.
Verse 25 tells the time the Messiah would come, verse 26 tells the Messiah would be cut off and the destruction of the city and temple, and in verse 27 he in this verse is the Messiah and the week of confirming the covenant, in the middle of the week 3 1/2 years Jesus cut off/ crucifixion, the final sacrifice, ending the animal sacrificial law. In the last half of the week, Jesus through His apostles confirmed the covenant in Jerusalem.
We see in Acts 7 the key verse is Acts 7:57, the cried out and stopped their ears with one accord, then the great persecution of the church that ended the 70-week prophecy. Shortly after Peter had his dream and Jesus appeared to Saul/Paul and the gospel was sent to the Gentiles the branch broke off but it will be grafted back in.
This is short but may you study it, I am sure many will disagree.
The Scriptures about the Godhead. Sometimes called "Let Us..." in some passages. These scriptures are evidence of all 3 persons of the Godhead speaking to each other.
Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7
Isaiah 6:8
Romans 1:20*
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:27-30
1 John 5:7
John 10:30
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and GODHEAD so that they are without excuse:"
Genesis 1:1
The Father purposes
The Word (Jesus) speaks. ( John 1:1)
The Spirit (Holy Spirit) executes the spoken word. Action.
All working together. Jesus came to show us the Father, as Emmanuel.
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God WITH US. [Jesus]
{Comment} Jesus came to bring to each born again believer; the baptism and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
[ Genesis 1:2, John 3:6, Acts 2:1-3, John 16: 7-15]
Upon being born again, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to teach us scripture, comfort us, convict us of sin, enable us to be witnesses. Stay in the New Testament at first.
I know based on KJV Bible, Paul is not only an inspired man he is chosen by THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF as the last Apostle.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 1:1 KJV
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, ." 1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,." 2 Corinthians 1:1 KJV
"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)" Galatians 1:1 KJV. You may wonder why every first verse of Paul epistle wrote that's he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. I think you get the gist that Paul holds the important messages for us today. In my opinion ALL are indeed inspired by God. Agape.
1 Corinthians 1:17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
If water baptism was a requirement for salvation Christ would have sent Paul the apostle to baptize. However, Paul was not sent to water baptize but to preach the gospel of which water baptism is not an essential element.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Works, including that of water baptism, do not save. We are saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is an ordinance and an outward practice for the inward work done by Christ when we're saved by Grace. I also agree that when Jesus speaks of water in John 3 to Nicodemus; he's referring to physical birth...no water baptism as an ordinance.
Religion (catholicism being one) teach that it is Salvation but they add sacraments and other works to that process thus showing how they've frustrated the simple Grace of Jesus Christ.
Melchizedek was a mysterious person described in Genesis 14. His ancestory/genealogy or any other detail about him is not given in the Bible, thats why it is written that he is "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually."
He is written that he was king of Salem, salem meaning peace, probably Jerusalem. He was a priest. But he was not a Hebrew, he didn't belong to the tribe of Levi who had the priesthood according to Mose's Law. Anyway he lived before Moses. The Hebrew priests were in charge in the temple for a year, then another priest would be in charge. They were changed continually. But Melhizedek was priest for all his life, he wasn't substituted by somebody else. So Paul says in his epistle to Hebrews that Christ was a priest like Melchizedek, that is that He will not hand His priesthood to somebody else, for as long He lives, that is for ever He keeps priesthood forever. (This is a good point to those Christians that have priests in their churches. Were did they get the priesthood from since Jesus doesn't hand it to somebody else?)
In a few words Pauls tells to Jews that the Old Law that involved priests and animal sacrificies has been substituted by the sacrifice of the Lamb/Christ who remains our Priest for ever.
These are just a few of several verses in the bible, I hope this is what you were asking for,
Matthew 19:4-6 "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,"
Romans 1:18-32 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
Galatians 5:16-26 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from FAITH to FAITH:
as it is written, The just shall live
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of FAITH.
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
this, is every man's walk in CHRIST JESUS, seeking our Fathers Kingdom, from faith to faith, growing in our Redeemer and beautiful LORD JESUS.
HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HE DECIDES THIS!
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I though as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
CHRIST JESUS, HE DOES THIS,
HE WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
What say I then?
Walk in the Spirit and Ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
But the greatest of these is charity
let all things be done decent and in order.
We lift our WONDERFUL REDEEMER CHRIST JESUS HIGH ,
and JESUS! LORD and KING,
He DOES draw all me unto Him
Increase in FAITH be multiplied to you, And much blessings also, in the beautiful name of our LORD JESUS
Acts 18:1, possible during 2Timothy 4:20-22, Acts 18,
During Paul's lifetime, sometime after Jesus rose from the grave, Acts 1, Acts 9, because Paul was preaching with those who where close with Jesus. Galatians 1:18, Acts 10, Acts 11, Galatians 2:1,7,8,11,14, Matthew 4:18,
Hopefully you find these helpful
We really are in perilous times. The evil forces are more pronounced on earth. I personally will be responsible to God if I do not share the truth that is all based on the Bible.
Just to let everyone know I am more comforted by each of your kind responses. You guys inspired me to do more.
Romans 1:11-12
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. I prayed for each and everyone of you and your family to be stronger, healthier, joyful, and at peace in God's grace. Agape.
.....Jesus was the living WORD made flesh and blood....It was God that impregnated Mary with his word....Mans seed had absolutetly nothin to do with Marys conception....But Romans 1:3 concerning Jesus that was made of the seed of David according to the flesh....But that flesh was Mary...Not according to any man's seed....It was DAVID that said its the Lords doings and is precious in our eyes....It was the Lords seed not mans seed.
......The Lamb of GOD had to be a Perfect Lamb....Could not have any spots or stains....He cd not carry that awful stain and curse of adam thats y it had to a virgin birth....There was none righteous no not one...Thus Mary had to be impregnated by God himself....Via his seed the living word...gbu
A few verses before in 2 Peter 1:11 it says "Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Do you believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior?
Do you know what "Lord" means?
The same old straw man fallacy shows up again that God the Son isn't God the Father, but no one is claiming that. This attack on Jesus is repeated so much it seems to fall into the disingenuous and lie territory.
God is powerful enough to do what you don't comprehend as a man. Whether you comprehend that or not doesn't change reality or the truth. The Bible says that in John 1 the 'word was God' and was there at the beginning, so do you believe it?
More of God's truth about God:
Luke 4:34 - "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God."
Luke 4:12 after satan put Jesus to the test Jesus says "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
Isaiah 7:14 - Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us"
Isaiah 42:5 "Thus saith God the LORD..."
Isaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD: that is my name..."
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
Godhead:
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
John 1:18
God is we and us plural:
Genesis 1:26
If the Bible flat out said Jesus is God like it does would you believe it?
Where are the verses that say Jesus isn't God the Son? (none)
Where are the verses saying Jesus IS God the Son (above, numerous)
And where are the verses where Jesus verbally denied being God? (none)
"I AM" John 8:56-59
John 10:30
John 8:19
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 2:22-24
Matthew 1:23-25
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 43:11
John 17:5
John 17:21
The specifics of your question are found in verses 24-29.
Again, we do differ on this. I will share a few more of my thoughts, not to be argumentative, but to share what I believe. I believe that every single person will one day stand before God and will have to give an account. No person will have an excuse. To me, it does not matter that a person believes in "a god." What matters is that the person believes and surrenders their life to the one true God, Jesus Christ.
There is a tremendous principle being taught in John 1:9. Every single person that is born into this world is at some point enlightened to the truth. There will be no excuse. No one will be able to stand before God and say I didn't know the gospel message about salvation, but I was a good person and always made the right choices because my conscience told me to do so.
Jesus tells us in John Chapter 14 that no one can come to the Father except through Him. In other words, there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. So this would eliminate all those who believe in a god, regardless of who their god is, or how good of a person they were.
Psalm 19:1-4 says that creation, the language of creation goes throughout the world. There is no language that does not understand the language of creation. And creation speaks of the Creator. Also, Romans 1:19-20, Paul says that what is known of God is clearly manifest as God reveals the truth of the invisible God to every person.
As far as the Muslims, Buddhists, and all other religions who are worshipping a different god because they "never heard of Jesus," I would also say that they are all without excuse. Now I know some people like to use Romans 10:18 to support what they believe are people, such as primitive tribes, who have never heard the gospel message. They say how is that fair? And they use Romans 10:18, which says how will they believe if they don't hear a preacher? And how are they going to hear a preacher if no preacher is sent?
I am running out of space so I'll send a (part 2)
About the people that have not heard of Jesus you quote Romans 1:20. OK but in those verses people will not have an excuse for not believing in the existence of God. But God who? Muslims believe in God, but in another God. So for the muslims that in the past never heard of Jesus but still believed in a God (the one they knew), how is God going to judge them? This is where, I think, verses in Romans 1:11-16 come in. In my understanding they will be judged according to their life, according to what they know it is right, according to what their consience says to them, and we all know that there is not a single man in the world who doesn't know what is right or wrong. How strict is God going to be to them? One cannot know really.
But even for the other religions today who have heard of Jesus, is it enough that they have heard of Jesus? Is that considered that Jesus was preached to them? Ans if Jesus was actually preached to them, without any proof, say by those denominations like Catholics etc, is this enough? In verse John 15:24 it says "If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." Which means, if I get it right, that if the one who preaches about Jesus is unable to bring forth a proof that God exists people do not sin if not believing. See what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
Paul's preaching was not just words but with proof of God's power. Paul Himself wouldn't believe in Jesus if Jesus didn't appear to him. Same with Sergius Paulus in Cyprus, same with the guard in Philippii. So we see that Gospel was preach with proof
Now let's go to us nowadays. Is it enough that we preach the Gospel without the power that God showed in the early times?
GBU
Thanks for sharing. You make some very interesting points. I think we are slightly different with each other on some of these things, but hey, I guess there are probably a few other ways we can look at it also.
To answer your question about people who never heard the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ, I would have to say that they are without excuse. They will not be able to stand before God and say "we never heard." Romans 1:20 says, For the invisible things of Him, (that is of God), from the creation of the world, (from the time of creation up till now), the invisible things of God, and notice the clarity: are clearly seen, no confusion!
The comprehension: being understood by the things that are made, that is by creation. And then there's a clause at the end of Verse 20 that is an apposition to invisible things, meaning equal to. When it says for the invisible things of Him, I have to ask myself, what does he mean by that? He says even his eternal power and Godhead;
But notice the conclusion: "so that they are without excuse." And as you are aware, the word excuse, Apologea, is where we get our word apologetics from it. It is a legal term that means defense. People have no defense whatsoever. Not one human being is ever going to be able to stand before God and say "I didn't know!" And we are not talking about what registers in the mind. We're talking about what God illuminates or enlightens in a person's conscience or spirit.
Something else I take note of is Psalm 19:1-4, "The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handywork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." Verse 3 really stands out to me, "There's no language or speech that God's creation cannot reach."
Again, no one will have an excuse. God uses creation to testify of His existence.
Plus, I think most Muslims and Buddhists know of Christ but reject Him.
This is definitely a big issue, and I believe it needs to be discussed often by the Church!
I've spoken on this often in Church.
There was different views and opinions discussing this.
I took the approach on how Homosexuality came into the world using Romans 1:18-32 and focused on it being a RESULT OF DEPARTURE and fruitlessnes using Ezekiel 16:43. ( especially notice verses 48 and 50 ) This is where people were pierced!
You have to know the cause of something before you react to it. This gets to the base of the rapidly growing fire and place a whole nation at blame instead of the splitting parties. This agenda is wrong so one would wonder how did such a thing enter the governing of a nation that is supposedly God led?
We have articles written down by the nation forefathers that seemed to be inspired by the Bible and we're proud of them.
The question is were they ever performed?
The law in the Bible was written IN STONE BY GOD HIMSELF
AND NEVER AMENDED. The Jews was proud of it but never could obtain them and it condemned them as well as us.
We have the declaration of Independence, the Constitution outlined how this government would function. Yet the constitution has been amended 27 times.
We continue to change how we constitute the governing!
Our written articles is used as a indictment against us.
GODS LAW HAS TO BE WRITTEN IN MANS HEART!
Sadly that inward Governing you won't see geographically until the Millennium reign of Christ.
But there is nation sojourning here now that is governed by the Lord and that is "HIS" Church.
"True believers who worship in truth and Spirit."
2 Chronicles 7:14. Was written to Israel but I believe we should consider for clarity.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall HUMBLE THEMSELVES, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
God bless.
There are those today, like Saul, think they do Gods service in the things of this world, who like Saul , are even so in the church today!
Approving those things that would damn the soul into eternal death, even killing you ,while they think they do Gods service!
Men, who have changed the truth of God into a lie! Who, through the wisdom and knowledge of their own desires have made themselves like unto Gods.
Paul understands these things better than anyone! He knows why God has chosen Him in the things of God,while condeming yet revealing the truth, to those who would listen!
Do we need not change His words, so we might have a better understanding?
These words are as real as they have ever been, the mirror that continues to reveal the truth of man in His natural state of sin!
How appropiate God has done these things to save man from sin! Hopefully, He will listen?
Repent and be Baptized
the Word of God says in many places that homosexual relations and affections are sinful, abhorrent to God, and that those who practice homosexuality will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Romans 1:26
Rev. 21:8
Rev. 22:15
1Cor. 6:9
Heb. 13:14
Gal.
Adam now had a sin consciousnes. He also lost his Dominion on the earth. Satan took a serpents body to deceive Eve into doing it.
Humanity waited until Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. Jesus set aside his powers to be born HUMAN; all God and all human.
The reason being that EARTH WAS CREATED FOR HUMANS.
Skip up to the cross Jesus was crucified on, at no time did Satan think he'd not win. He did not know the Godhead's plan ( Romans 1:20). As a human, being crucified for the sins of all mankind that has or ever will live__Jesus fulfilled a prophesy made in Genesis 3:15. Jesus's death crushed Satans head (power). Satan was shocked when Jesus was resurrected on that 3rd day.
His only way to get back at Jesus is by hurting people Jesus died for; all people. If we are born again, as in John 3:5-7 and John 3:18
Jesus paid it all. All we have to do is believe it, accept it and pray for salvation.
There's a link out on the page you land on where you clicked a link to come in here. Find the one that says, Become A Believer. It has the prayer.
God bless you both. Streetpreacher
The Bible teaches universal atonement. Like it or not, the Word of God is our Final Authority, NOT Spurgeon or any other man. 1st John 2:2 reads, ""And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 2nd Corinthians 5:15, "And that he died for all..." We read in 1st Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. The Word of God proclaims that Christ came to save sinners, not just certain sinners.
Listen to the plain teaching of 2nd peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This Scripture clearly reveals that it is possible for ALL men to repent. God is NOT willing for any to perish. If Calvinism is correct, then how can you reconcile God's desire for all men to repent if He only predestinates certain of them to salvation? Calvinism makes no sense at all.
Furthermore, God never forces anyone to be saved. Not one instance in the Word of God is found where God forced anyone to get saved. Again, Titus 2:11 declares that the grace of God that brings salvation appears to ALL humanity. Psalm 19:1-3 clearly teaches that nature itself testifies of the goodness of God. Romans 1:20 teaches that God's eternal power and Godhead are CLEARLY presented in God's creation.
I enjoy reading your posts, you wear your heart on your sleeve, a good thing. I know you are passionate about the triune God we disagree but please take my reply as done in love. I don't know if you have gone back and dug deep into the history of this creed, you may.
How many people (1000s) who most likely believed in Christ were killed on behalf of this creed. I strain to understand how God would be behind something so harsh and cruel and the vicious way people were killed for one word, heresy. Even today people are not killed but are told they are not saved and cannot be saved.
I agree that the beginning is the beginning of creation before anything was. I do not know how to reply to you because you have said before and, in this post, that not believing in a triune God is heretical which comes from strong orthodox teaching, and I do not believe anything can go above the salvation in the doctrine of Christ.
So out of love, I will not ask but one question that you or someone else may shine a light on.
The word Godhead is in the bible only three times, Acts 17:29 the Greek word Theios, definition divine, divine being Romans 1:20 the Greek word theiots meaning divine nature and Colossians 2:9 the Greek word theots meaning deity.
How can three Greek words with meanings; divine, divine being, divine nature, and deity that in context work with their original meaning be translated as Godhead? What I have studied the first known use of godhead was in the 13th century. Maybe you are someone else who can help?
God bless,
RLW
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Who is the Word?
John 1:14-15 says the Word is Jesus. Does anyone deny that the Word is Jesus?
If someone believes John 1:14, then do they believe John 1:1
"...the Word was God."
"...[Jesus] was God."
JESUS.
WAS.
GOD.
John 1:1
This is God's Word.
Some here are saying "Jesus was NOT God" despite John 1:1 clearly saying Jesus WAS God. I'd like to know exactly how someone can believe in all other verses of the Bible except this one? If something WAS something, that seems to offer little room for interpretation. It means it's the same, does it not? So, if something WAS something, how does someone twist this into believing it says something WAS NOT something?
It then must be asked: since it takes so much effort to take a sentence something WAS something to turn it into: something WAS NOT something, what is the true underlying motive here? Does God's Word carry the most weight and influence or does something else?
This is eerily similar to Gen 3:4 where satan denied what God said and claimed that they shall NOT surely die. Satan loves opposites and this seems to have his signature, does it not?
I welcome any perspective I'm missing, but do not consider anything other Bible verses as valid evidence. God's Word is all that matters and because there's already numerous verses supporting that Jesus is God like John 1:1 then that is what is true. Lastly, why not just pray and ask God directly to know the truth? Genuinely ask!
1 John 5:7-8
John 10:30
John 8:19
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7
(plural "us")
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 2:22-24
Matthew 1:23-25
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 43:11
This is an interesting logical argument. I find that in 1 Peter 3:22. Let's assume for argument's sake that your conclusion is correct and you get 1 point for this.
But for every verse you cite, there are even more that say that Jesus IS God, like John 1:1 saying the "Word was God" and verse 14 that Jesus is the Word.
This could continue to play out and you can cite any number of verses to support your position, but again we don't run out of very compelling verses saying that Jesus is God.
Let's say that it's a dead even race. 30 verses suggesting Jesus isn't vs 30 verses suggesting He is.
Then what? Which do you choose to believe?
I don't know if you've gone through this exercise or not, but I now have a spoiler: someone will run out of verses supporting that Jesus "isn't" God long before the verses supporting He IS God. Not only that, but each of the verses commonly cited to claim that Jesus "isn't" God require some extra creative interpretation and human logic whereas the verses supporting the other side can be read and interpreted more literally. Not only that, but there's logical explanations for why Jesus called His Father God. The main reason is that He temporarily became a human being and limited His power. Phil 2:6-7. So, yes, as a man, He prayed to His Father and called Him God. So, all verses must be considered as a whole, not cherry picked in order to have understanding about the Godhead and I admit it is hard to comprehend as we don't have anything like it in on earth. But perhaps like an orange with seeds, pulp, skin. Someone calls pulp an orange, and it is.
1 John 5:7-8
John 10:30
John 8:19
Genesis 1:26
, Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us")
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 2:22-24
Matthew 1:23-25
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 43:11
I'll try to redo Part 4 as best as I can remember.
So I ask myself, why does my sin matter in my relationship with God?
I go to Romans 1:18
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." (NIV) Whoa!
And in 2:8
"..but to those whoa re self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and guish, on every soul that does evil..." (NIV)
And 3:10 says:
"As it is written:
There is none righteous, no, not one...."
and in 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
And 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(All NIV, being the translation I have on hand at home.)
So, this tells me that I am guilty and ungodly before God.
Romans 6:6 tells me that "For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly."
and Vs. 8 But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
and Vs. 10 "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Ephesians 2:1 "And you He made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins...."
Well, we all stand guilty and are all dead to God in our sins, and are enemies to God until we are reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus, through whom we are regenerated and made alive to God. So, I think, it is good to be alive to God and not good at all to be dead in sin. so, my sin matters to God in that it separates me from Him.
So, I think, why would I want to be reconciled to Him, aside from avoiding being under his wrath and judgment? What is it about God that would make me consider turning to Him? In my sinful state, I would not want to turn to Him, but even then, the Holy Spirit works in me to turn me to God by grace! I am to believe that and act of the grace given to me
We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word. Grow up some and add in the Bread of the Word. Lastly to eat the meat of the Word and become even stronger in our faith.
I began in the Gospels because I had a burning desire to know who Jesus is. I saw Him in a vision when I was saved. But I didn't know who He was to me. My appetite for more knowledge grew and grew; the more I found out, the more I wanted to know everything He had for me in this life I live.
We need to know what the Armor of God is. How to put it on. Our Sword is made bigger and sharper, as we grow up in Gods Word_ the Bible Scriptures. Ephesians 6.
When Jesus was fasting 40 days in the Judean Desert, Satan came and tempted Jesus. Jesus fought back and prevailed by using Scriptures. Our enemies are invisible but we know their around by their FRUIT: chaos, depression, suicide, murders, thefts, violence of all kinds.
Angels are invisible too. They serve only God. But if we need help quick we can ask God the Father for angelic help. You see this in the Lords Prayer: deliver us from Evil__. The Body of Christ needs to rightly divide the Word of Truth concerning angels.
We are only helpless until we understand how it works, through the principles laid down in the Lords Prayer. It tells us what we have in Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave us Power and Authority by going to the Cross for us. His Blood is as Holy and powerful as the day he suffered and died for our sins.
We are blood bought children of the Most High God. We need to find out what it means, and use it against Satan and his principalities, powers and evil spirits.
They should fear every day we wake up. The Word in our mouths will make them flee. If we practice sin, they just smirk at us.
Tip: the Holy Spirit likes that Johnny Cash ding: I walk The Line. He sings it with me.
Streetpreacher
We see in Matt. 10:6 Jesus told His disciples not to go to the Gentiles and Matt. 15:24 He confirms He first came for the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets.
Why did Jesus say, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel"? Other scripture also says the Jew first, Luke 24:47 Acts 3:25-26 Romans 1:16 Romans 2:9-10 and more, for what reason? To fulfill prophecy.
The Prophecy is the 70-week prophecy that many places the last week in the future. This prophecy was for the house of Israel/Judea and Jerusalem, Daniel 9:24 and these 70 weeks were determined to finish the transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
From when Jesus was baptized until He was crucified was 3 1/2 years, John recorded the Passovers Jesus went to and Jesus was crucified on the fourth. These 3 1/2 years Jesus was confirming the covenant, to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The entire prophecy was about the coming of the Messiah that the leaders rejected.
Verse 25 tells the time the Messiah would come, verse 26 tells the Messiah would be cut off and the destruction of the city and temple, and in verse 27 he in this verse is the Messiah and the week of confirming the covenant, in the middle of the week 3 1/2 years Jesus cut off/ crucifixion, the final sacrifice, ending the animal sacrificial law. In the last half of the week, Jesus through His apostles confirmed the covenant in Jerusalem.
We see in Acts 7 the key verse is Acts 7:57, the cried out and stopped their ears with one accord, then the great persecution of the church that ended the 70-week prophecy. Shortly after Peter had his dream and Jesus appeared to Saul/Paul and the gospel was sent to the Gentiles the branch broke off but it will be grafted back in.
This is short but may you study it, I am sure many will disagree.
God bless,
RLW
Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7
Isaiah 6:8
Romans 1:20*
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:27-30
1 John 5:7
John 10:30
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and GODHEAD so that they are without excuse:"
Genesis 1:1
The Father purposes
The Word (Jesus) speaks. ( John 1:1)
The Spirit (Holy Spirit) executes the spoken word. Action.
All working together. Jesus came to show us the Father, as Emmanuel.
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God WITH US. [Jesus]
{Comment} Jesus came to bring to each born again believer; the baptism and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
[ Genesis 1:2, John 3:6, Acts 2:1-3, John 16: 7-15]
Upon being born again, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to teach us scripture, comfort us, convict us of sin, enable us to be witnesses. Stay in the New Testament at first.
Mishael
Thank you for your response.
I know based on KJV Bible, Paul is not only an inspired man he is chosen by THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF as the last Apostle.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," Romans 1:1 KJV
"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, ." 1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,." 2 Corinthians 1:1 KJV
"Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)" Galatians 1:1 KJV. You may wonder why every first verse of Paul epistle wrote that's he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. I think you get the gist that Paul holds the important messages for us today. In my opinion ALL are indeed inspired by God. Agape.
If water baptism was a requirement for salvation Christ would have sent Paul the apostle to baptize. However, Paul was not sent to water baptize but to preach the gospel of which water baptism is not an essential element.
Romans 1:16-17 (KJV): For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV): For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Works, including that of water baptism, do not save. We are saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is an ordinance and an outward practice for the inward work done by Christ when we're saved by Grace. I also agree that when Jesus speaks of water in John 3 to Nicodemus; he's referring to physical birth...no water baptism as an ordinance.
Religion (catholicism being one) teach that it is Salvation but they add sacraments and other works to that process thus showing how they've frustrated the simple Grace of Jesus Christ.
Hopefully these are helpful
He is written that he was king of Salem, salem meaning peace, probably Jerusalem. He was a priest. But he was not a Hebrew, he didn't belong to the tribe of Levi who had the priesthood according to Mose's Law. Anyway he lived before Moses. The Hebrew priests were in charge in the temple for a year, then another priest would be in charge. They were changed continually. But Melhizedek was priest for all his life, he wasn't substituted by somebody else. So Paul says in his epistle to Hebrews that Christ was a priest like Melchizedek, that is that He will not hand His priesthood to somebody else, for as long He lives, that is for ever He keeps priesthood forever. (This is a good point to those Christians that have priests in their churches. Were did they get the priesthood from since Jesus doesn't hand it to somebody else?)
In a few words Pauls tells to Jews that the Old Law that involved priests and animal sacrificies has been substituted by the sacrifice of the Lamb/Christ who remains our Priest for ever.
GBU
Matthew 19:4-6 "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,"
Romans 1:18-32 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
Galatians 5:16-26 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
No man comes to the Father,
but by Him.
I and the Father are one
Blessed art thou, O LORD GOD of our fathers:
and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
Without FAITH, it is impossible to please GOD
Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from FAITH to FAITH:
as it is written, The just shall live
Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of FAITH.
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the FAITH, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
this, is every man's walk in CHRIST JESUS, seeking our Fathers Kingdom, from faith to faith, growing in our Redeemer and beautiful LORD JESUS.
HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HE DECIDES THIS!
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I though as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
CHRIST JESUS, HE DOES THIS,
HE WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
What say I then?
Walk in the Spirit and Ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
But the greatest of these is charity
let all things be done decent and in order.
We lift our WONDERFUL REDEEMER CHRIST JESUS HIGH ,
and JESUS! LORD and KING,
He DOES draw all me unto Him
Increase in FAITH be multiplied to you, And much blessings also, in the beautiful name of our LORD JESUS
Glory to You a Father GOD for ever , Amen