Bible Discussion Thread

In 1 Corinthians 5 and to a lesser degree, 2 Thess. 3:6-7, references are made to those who are disorderly or rebellious in nature. within the body of Christ. Church discipline in the 21st century is, for the most part, avoided or willingly ignored. I teach a Bible study group at our church and have a woman who years ago forsook living with her then-boyfriend after feeling conviction from a sermon she heard. Her repentance was evidence to us of her willingness to follow Christ. Then, several years after that and a new preacher taking over the pulpit at our church, she got a new boyfriend and subsequently moved in with him. Today she attends church regularly and continues to come to my Bible study before the regular church service. I have had conversations with her about her current lifestyle and the truth that she is no longer following Jesus, just her desires. Her end will not be the kingdom of God. She has said she wants to marry, but he (boyfriend) hasn't felt the need to.

The Word of God is full of those who had to make very difficult decisions to obey and follow God, no matter what. My wife reminded me that I should not 'judge' her since I sin every day too. I reminded her that's true, but the difference is the fact that my daily sins/transgressions vary in nature and frequency. The sins of those described in Corinthians and Thessalonians involve a lifestyle choice and a flagrant disregard for the things (commands, ordinances) of God. Those others in the class know of her situation and are concerned also. I'm trying to contact our Pastoral staff and find out what they recommend. Personally, I think this calls for tough love. Matthew 13 refers to Christ's parable of the wheat and tares. Maybe this is the one that leaves an 'out' for those uncomfortable with the topic of church discipline. May God help us and enlighten us by His Holy Spirit to learn the differences and proper utilization of them within the church itself.

Mark love ya my Bro....But we should not Judge ,..Remember Jesus forgave the woman taken in Adultry...The woman taken in Adultry is everybody we all sin and come short of the Glory of God..Any thing not of faith is SIN.

.....We all go a whoring after materialistic things....Jesus said if we even look at a woman with adultry in our hearts we have commited Adultry Already in our hearts....and minds

.....When Jesus wrote on the ground a 2 nd time in the presence of the them that had the stones....It was just prophetic that he is gonna write in our hearts the 2 nd Advent that 2 nd covenant ....The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (That New Covenant) has made us free from the law of sin and death...Thus there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the SPIRIT.

......But in the end he is gonna pour out his spirit on ALL FLESH...Which is his baptism of the H.G. and FIRE That refiners fire and fullers soap a cleasing fire... Mal 3 : 2 ...Anybody whos name is not written in his book will be cast unto the lake of fire...Which is Our old Adamic nature who is in rank with Satan who is not written in his book...If thy right hand offend thee cut it off which is in rank with Satan....Thats y Jesus is saying every sinner will have their part in the lake of fire...Thats everybody

......Our right hand takes his orders from our old adamic nature our carnal minds that is in rank with Satan....Thus its our carnal minds that is gonna be cut off....ok lemme go...I pray for your church Mark that Jesus wd sow a good seed in all your members hearts resulting in the birth of Christ in all of you....Thats y he has to KNOW US thats when the good seed will be sown in our hearts....Thats the New covenant i will know them all from the least to the greatest....Thats y Isaiah was saying KNOWLEDGE SHALL COVER THE EARTH AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEAS...Thats everybody... Isaiah 11

Bad company corrupts good character ( 1 Cor. 15:33) or a bad apple spoils the bunch. Have a good day, my brother.

Good morning, Alex N. I think I become more amazed every day at the willingness of people of the faith (Christians) to ignore Scripture. Church discipline, judging, or any other topic that poses a 'problem' or uneasiness for us should be avoided at all costs tends to be the rule of thumb. What is Peter writing about in 1 Peter 4? Judgment must begin in the house of God. What do you think that means? Read the verses preceding it. God's house should always be a house of order. I'm not declaring it's perfect, of course not, for it's full of those of us doing our best to follow Him every day. Again, it's about those who declare a lifestyle of sin and still want the security of God's forgiveness and Heaven at the same time. God doesn't play that and never will. Jesus can't be your or anyone's Savior unless He's your Lord ( Romans 10:13). Don't forget the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5, read the admonition Jesus gave him in v. 14. God makes us responsible for the gift of His salvation or healing. That's what repentance is all about.

As for the woman 'caught' in adultery, somehow they forgot to bring the man forth that she was with. I think when Jesus stooped down to write on the ground, Deuteronomy 22:22-24 may have been what He was writing. Sad how people always try to catch God on a technicality to serve their purpose or beliefs.

The Bible declares that we should study to show ourselves approved unto God, a worker that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15). Trust me when I say that I make myself transparent with the Bible class I oversee. I point more fingers at myself than anyone, because I know that no good thing dwells in me save for Christ and His Spirit. The other part of my responsibility is to point to those who want to compromise their walk with God of the dangers that they are subjecting themselves to. I encourage you to reread 1 Cor. 5 and 6, Gal. 6:1-10, and 2 Tim. 3 (especially v. 5).

Brother Mark:

I have a question?

Is the best you can do, good enough?

Maybe it's not our doing, but Christ's doing.

Colossians 1:27 ....this mystery .... Christ in you .....

Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD (Christ in you) working in you (his body) both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.

Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into HIS (Christ's) REST, he has ceased from his WORKS .....

We are the BODY, Christ is the LIFE.

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keeps MY WORKS unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations ....

God Bless You!

ELB, thanks for your message. I stand by the phrase "doing our (my) best to follow Him every day". Following Jesus is not easy and won't be in this realm. Adam took care of that and you and I and all of mankind have been paying the price of sin ever since. That's why He asked in Luke 6, why call ye me Lord, Lord and do not the things I say? He then goes on to say those who hear my sayings and does them are like the man who built his house on the rock. Then there's Ananias in Acts 9 who was told to go pray for Saul/Paul that He might show him those things Paul must suffer for His name.

Finally, in Romans 7:14-25, Paul relates the 'battle' that happens every day in all of us. The spirit versus the flesh. Thank God I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But I have to persevere and not wander off or go back to the former self prior to conversion as Demas did to Paul in 2 Tim. 4:10. You're right when you say it's not my strength or ability, but Jesus. I have to choose Him daily. Not to be born again, mind you, but determined to follow Him, no matter what. I don't want to be like those who left following Him as recorded in John 6:66. Thanks for your time...

Suze GBU that was a good remark you made about Jesus not wanting anybody to know him....Thats y he always spoke in parables...It was not time for his children to be born which are SPIRITS...The H.G...The H.G. was not yet given simply b/c Christ was not yet Glorified....Thats y he told the woman if thou knewest the gift of God etc...which is the H.G. that CHILD OF PROMISE...His offspring, ..The Children of Promise...Had he not spoke in parables they wd have all conceived by hearing his voice the good seed..But is was not time for the kingdom to come....When the sower will go forth to sow his precious seed...The contents of the book that new Covenant..God says he will KNOW US ALL when the New Covenant is meditated..When the book is opened... Jeremiah 31 : 34...and revelation 5

.....That Woman in Revelation 12 : 5 is the world that is giving birth b/c of his seeds the words of that book in the fathers right hand... Revelation 12 :10 ...Plz note the Kingdom does not come till the woman has given birth to the manchild which is the H.G. that Children of Promise and the Woman is the world b/c Jesus said the field is the world where that good seed will be sown, in our hearts.

.....Jesus was telling this Samaritian woman of a another baptism of the H.G. That well of water that springs up unto everlasting life...Which is the gift of God ...An internal washing of our hearts....When Jesus said whosoever drinks of this water thats water baptism which will not quench our thirst for Salvation...But when he told her of the gift of God thats the baptism of PROMISE THE H.G...When we will neva thrist again for salvation....which is the H.G that Child of Promise...A baby Christ in us via his seed..That Womans Child that is gonna rule all nations...The world.

......This new covenant is very different then the old covenant...God says he will KNOW US ALL which is an intimacy that is gonna result in a birth of Christ in ALL of us....Thats y Isaiah said that KNOWLEDGE shall cover th earth

To Dav47. Perhaps you should revisit the story of the woman at the well in John 4. Read it carefully, especially the part where Jesus asks her to go and get her husband. Take it from there and let me know if Jesus was referring to her one-night stands or living with this man in verse 18. Really? That was His whole point to her. She was mocking the sacred union of man and woman by having 5 'husbands' to that point in her life. Where was her commitment to them, as you referred to in your response to me? When we refuse to rightly divide the Word of Truth ( 2 Timothy 2) within our lives, we can be overcome by false perspectives presented by Satan himself and fall into erroneous thinking in our Christian walk. Have a good day.

Dear Mark , and yet , after telling so very many people to keep quite about the miracles and healings and who he actually is , Jesus chooses to tell this Samaritan woman , exactly who he is , John Ch 4 V 26 . Why might be do that ?

BTW, I forgot to mention the fact that her telling others in the town resulted in many more believing ( John 4:28-42). I also like to remember that in this instance, He and His disciples were in Samaria, and Jews for the most part never entered there or passed thru that area to travel to other destinations. But Jesus was just as concerned for the Gentile, as the Jew. He ministers to all who will come....

To Suze. I've always been confused, also, as to the reasons Jesus told certain individuals to keep quiet about what God/He had done for them. In Matthew 8, it starts out with Jesus healing a leper whom he subsequently tells to stay silent on the event, then He publicly or 'verbally' heals the Centurion's servant in front of a group of followers and does the same with Peter's mother-in-law and finally those who are brought to Peter's house that evening. Just an opinion, but maybe He was 'downplaying' that part of His ministry so people wouldn't think that was all He was about. I believe His main purpose in coming to dwell among us was to free (heal) us from the penalty of sin, not physical/emotional/mental sickness, but spiritual sickness. The worst of all because it resulted in separation from God himself, both in this realm and eternity too. Again, that's just my perspective on it. Have a good day.

Indeed Mark. The Lord was "downplaying that part of His ministry so people wouldn't think that was all He was about". And probably I could add that both it & the fact that in His Knowledge of future events, the appointed time for His death had not arrived ( John 2:4; John 7:6,30; John 8:20). Jesus knew what He was doing and where & to whom He should minister - almost see Him regulating His Time on the Earth on a timetable, acting according to His Father's Will & Plan.

Suze GBU that was a good remark you made about Jesus not wanting anybody to know him....Thats y he always spoke in parables...It was not time for his children to be born which are SPIRITS...The H.G...The H.G. was not yet given simply b/c Christ was not yet Glorified....Thats y he told the woman if thou knewest the gift of God etc...which is the H.G. that CHILD OF PROMISE...His offspring, ..The Children of Promise...Had he not spoke in parables they wd have all conceived by hearing his voice the good seed..But is was not time for the kingdom to come....When the sower will go forth to sow his precious seed...The contents of the book that new Covenant..God says he will KNOW US ALL when the New Covenant is meditated..When the book is opened... Jeremiah 31 : 34...and revelation 5

.....That Woman in Revelation 12 : 5 is the world that is giving birth b/c of his seeds the words of that book in the fathers right hand... Revelation 12 :10 ...Plz note the Kingdom does not come till the woman has given birth to the manchild which is the H.G. that Children of Promise and the Woman is the world b/c Jesus said the field is the world where that good seed will be sown, in our hearts.

.....Jesus was telling this Samaritian woman of a another baptism of the H.G. That well of water that springs up unto everlasting life...Which is the gift of God ...An internal washing of our hearts....When Jesus said whosoever drinks of this water thats water baptism which will not quench our thirst for Salvation...But when he told her of the gift of God thats the baptism of PROMISE THE H.G...When we will neva thrist again for salvation....which is the H.G that Child of Promise...A baby Christ in us via his seed..That Womans Child that is gonna rule all nations...The world.

......This new covenant is very different then the old covenant...God says he will KNOW US ALL which is an intimacy that is gonna result in a birth of Christ in ALL of us....Thats y Isaiah said that KNOWLEDGE shall cover th earth

Thank you Alex , I do understand exactly what you are saying and I won't refute it , I do believe that Christ will physically return to earth as it states in Acts Ch 1 , to establish God's Kingdom on earth and that Christ himself will rule over the earth in person from Jerusalem , Moses was a foreshadow of Christ and he had helpers to judge and teach the Israelites and I believe that is what we , the ressurescted will do , we will do the same kind of things that Angels do now . I totally get and appreciate all your posts very much , I do also believe that the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord and that the meek shall inherit the earth , the promises made to Abraham were not just about his seed but also about the actual land of Israel , at the end of the day....all things work together for good to them that love God smiley face , much love to you in Christ and a big hug .

In your gossiping of this woman I never heard you say that she is sleeping around with other men, especially 5 husbands? But made a commitment to 1. By your own admittance you said" Those others in the class know of her situation and are concerned also" is gossip. John 4:18 says she had 5 husbands-past tense and with another 1 presence. In John 4: I did not read where JESUS condemned the woman but said she spoke the truth. You feel you must bring whaling accusations and attention to this one seeking to study our LORD in your group ( Luke 6:42). This poor woman come to study the WORD of GOD and all you in the group are talking behind her back about something that is none of your business; between her, the man and GOD!

Part 2; Bible speaks often of gossipers, sounds like your Study group needs to spend more time on studying the WORD of GOD instead of judging and gossiping about this woman. This is what is meant in 1 Corinthians 14:34, people chattering in church, no gender here. Repent and let her study the WORD in peace for I ask you who committed the bigger sin?

You are indeed judging in my opinion. In the eyes of GOD they are married. Just because they don't have a piece of paper stating they are married, doesn't mean that they are not. When 2 come together making a commitment to each other they become 1. Fornication is different, this is when people don't make a commitment to each other but go out every Friday night looking for a different partner. Whenever a man spreads his skirt over a woman they became man and wife in the eyes of GOD ( Exodus 22:16). Quit judging her and study, rightly dividing the WORD.

Thanks Mark, for sharing with us this sad account. This is always a difficult area to deal with; the fact that she still wants to attend your Bible study & Church fellowship, may indicate she is trying to mitigate her sin, seeking God's Approval, by her being faithful to the 'Church'. She might even be giving that little extra in the offering plate. Unfortunately, each one of us has different perceptions as to how to live this Christian life. And as much as you're using the Bible to teach it, when it comes to applying it to the situation we're actually in, the distinction of right & wrong can sometimes become blurred, especially if we're out of step with the Spirit. Since she has co-habited previously, this will have 'softened' her once strong stand to never be repeated again, in her present relationship.

You have corrected her, the Word of God is being given her, & even the warning of Divine Discipline if the situation is not rectified. It's up to the Elders as to how to deal with her, but that too might be hard, if they are not inclined to do so or other matters of 'sin' are allowed to exist within the congregation. And I don't believe that you're judging her; God's Word needs to be shared in love & applied with all urgency, but as sinners ourselves, the Word is ever before us all, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." And how many 'great' men have fallen because of their supposed infallibility. But we must remain prayerful & confident, that our work has been done - it is only the Spirit of God Who can speak intimately to her heart & grant her help & fortitude in this matter, restoring to full fellowship with the Lord.