"it's not often possible to discern some ones motive for posting and I think it's folly to try to do so . I don't believe that we know anyone's heart or mind fully . Secondly , the truth often makes uncomfortable reading , but if it is the truth it must not be ignored or covered up".
Here's the issue.
When Stlouistv stated; "the early church fathers who were slave owners btw had no business removing these books out of the bible and lied and said they were not inspired.
( That was contentious) There wasn't a need to discern anything being there was no proof provided with that racially tone msg that had no other purpose but to be contentious.
"THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS WHO WERE SLAVE OWNERS." ???
Did that have to be added?
Is that not purposely contentious?
Where is the reasoning behind the comment or explanation. Proof and purpose?
Who and how is that statement declared truth?
Because he said so?
Just because you have freedom of speech means you have to speak, He should have pleaded the fifth.
Sammi I believe a person don't have to agree with peoples "opinions" but we all should earnestly covet what is truth and clarity.
I'm not a partial person and I am not influenced by any worldly culture or mans traditions whether male, female, or race. We're all held accountable to true worship in the church, without the world's influence.
Some love to use these sites to function in a way their local Church won't allow them. However this site has Guidelines.
We come here and take advantage of its liberty but let's not ignore
Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
Concerning the topic of the books of the Apocrypha there are groups out there that use those books to divide racially.
I've debated them and is very familiar with their catch phrases.
Man is the head of the woman or wife as God is the head of the man .
Only God is incorruptible . Therefore anything that God created being not God is or can be corrupted .
Man was not created corrupted nor was it Gods will that man be corrupted ( and die) For it is written " Man shall not LIVE by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God "
The Word of God to Adam was " of all the trees in the garden you may freely eat "
This then included the tree of life .
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt surely die for in the day you eat of you shall surely die "
Thus God revealed HIS will for man that he should live and not die .
Moreover God also revealed that man was free to eat of the tree of life .
Thus God by that word that came forth from His mouth gave Adam His knowledge of what was good to eat and what was evil to eat .
It was the rejection of Gods word as to what is good and what is evil and believing the lie' thou shalt not surely d" that they died .
Man is still doing that which is right or good in his own eyes and in doing so is faced with its consequences .
God is not a tyrant . Nor indeed is He democratic .
But while He is not a tyrant nor democratic He does have His own imperatives .
You MUST be born again ,"not of corruptible seed but of the incorruptible seed which is the Word of God "
Thanks for your thoughts. I'm trying to limit myself to the words in Genesis, not as those clarified and/or modified in later texts.
From my reading of Genesis, there was nothing stated that prevented Adam or Eve from eating of the tree of life. That to me is an important point in my personal interpretation of Genesis.
Projecting, as I read Genesis, that Adam chose mortality to eternity without Eve is supported as an interpretation. It's an interpretation that has much meaning to me.
Hi Mary, I agree with your last few sentences that we are absolutely to love each other. Love a person, but not love sin; hate sin. Sins are not people, and people are not sins. One common deception is to bundle these together as if people have "no choice" but to choose to sin 24/7 and if you don't accept it then you're "wrong." We shouldn't attempt to judge people's salvation, but the Bible supports discernment on who you let influence or corrupt you, and it doesn't mean for you to put you or your family in danger, for example. Someone would not hire an atheist for a pastor of a Christian church, for example, for fear of not wanting to "judge" them for their beliefs.
I don't believe God created anyone LGBT but he gives the gift of freewill which means people can choose good or evil. God is clear on what is good or evil and that is not in agreement with the world that has its own different list. Many things God deemed evil, the world calls "good". People use all kinds of clever rationalizations. One of those is that "I can't help it, I'm born this way" rationalization. Currently its being used to rationalize committing sodomy and other acts God said is sin. But the same doesn't even apply to those who consider themselves heterosexuals. Just because someone may choose to find someone average or above in attractiveness doesn't mean they will act on their passion, fantasy, or lust. Most don't. This means its a choice, yet when it comes to a LGBT the claim is that they somehow have no choice in the matter but to act out their desires. I don't think God buys it.
Ironically, what is claimed as a lack of choice for this sin is then suddenly a choice for committing the sin of murder. So the rationalizations are hypocritical and contradict themselves as the world's invented morals usually do. So, a mother rationalizes that murdering her son or daughter in the womb is ok, because its her choice. And they call that "health care." Satan is the father of lies.
Is there any proof that you can share that would show without a doubt that these books were indeed inspired by God?
I find it interesting what Paul said in Acts 20:27, " For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
What a great verse!
He hasn't withheld anything from them. He wanted them to know the (whole council) of God. That's why he sat house to house and publicly, any way he could, day and night as a slave of Christ, in order that every believer that he came in contact with would have the whole council of God.
That is one of the reasons why we have these times together, to go through the whole bible, chapter by chapter to see what it says. To know the whole council of God!
Now, Paul's statement would not make much sense if he left any part of those apocryphal books out. And Paul says he gave them the entire council of God, meaning nothing left out.
However, in all of Paul's writings, he never once quoted from any of those books. None of the apostles did either.
Plus, not once did Jesus ever quote from any of those books. It would seem that if they were inspired, Paul would have taught from them.
Perhaps there might be some valuable historical information in these books, but are the truly inspired by God?
Can you explain Matthew 1:12? I've always wondered if it was possible God created LGBT to test his two greatest commandments. 1. Love God 2.. Love each other. They are no if, ands or buts. It God's job to Judge people on the end. His commands to us was love them.
The fourth also of a measure of judgement against the devils .
There is much talked about the grace of God but has often been a disgrace.
The Law has NOT been done away with . It's purpose is to convict of sin .Romans .
Not to justify or make perfect .Romans .
It is fulfilled IN Christ and those true born children of God " uphold the law" .
But are not justified by it .
The woman WAS guilty under the law as all men and women who commit it are then as now .
But the law states that both the man and the woman should be stoned to death .
So where then was the man?
For the record states she was " found in the act" therefore the man was there also .
I would suggest he was not there because her accusers were all men and it is far easier for a man to accuse a woman than it is fir a man to judge and accuse a man .
So let us be in no doubt she was guilty under the law . Are we not all guilty under the law ? If not this particular one .
So what was the Lord doing?
He was giving both parties TIME . To consider why they were there and what had brought them there .
He gave also everybody else time who was there timecalso to consider the matter .
He gives us time also .
You could argue for the completeness of the argument and for an example that He gave Himself time to consider why He was there and What had brought him there .
But in truth He was always conscious of why He was there and what has brought Him there .
In a UK court of law if found guilty these words are spoken to the convicted ." Before I pass sentence have you anything to say "
You are given a measure of time . We all are given a measure of time . Be it long or short to ' say something'.
Wether people believe in God or not . People are always speaking to God . He hears it all .
God is speaking to all men ,but how many are listening?
Presently we exist somewhere between the two. As the light is unto darkness, such is the existence, of good and evil!
The condition or lets say the decorations of these places is significant as to our present time and place!
How we influence this matter, must be understood. Without the proper influence one of two conditions will develop.
Good will overcome evil! If not, evil shall overcome good! There is no in between.
Laying out these parameters requires a format conditional on truth. Any science cannot be proven without it , anyone or anything outside of these things is only deception and false =a truth outside of reality.
Artificial intelligence, knows nothing of these things, because it has no heart to receive ,nor has the ability to see things we see and understand.
It is when we are influenced to think differently outside the Holy Spirit, things become unclear, and we are deceived.
It is the Holy Spirit that leads guides and directs. It is the Spirit that reveals all things. It is the reason that Jesus Christ came and died! Christ's spirit fills all things without our cooperation, it moves us, it can create the conditions necessary to sustain life! It knows all things.
Heaven and hell are real. If you are in the Spirit, than you will know all things even as Christ said, the enemies who are outside the Spirit, may be those of your own household. Even as Paul has written "we see through a glass darkly. but yet face to face".
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. ( Notice the word cleave).
The Lord was in now way obligated to answer their question in their time frame or indeed fall into the trap.
For He as everyone else knew full well that under the Law of Moses and by that God anyone caught in adultery should be stoned to death if found guilty .
But He had publicly stated that " He came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved .
He had no need to condemn the world for the world is condemned already and by the Law of God all are guilty under the law and condemned .Romans.
As if He had not heard them he bent down and wrote with His finger in the ground.
There are as far as I know only 5 times in s rupture when we read about " the finger of God"
1) In the book of exodus .when the magicians of Egypt having duplicated the first two or three works of God , could not duplicate the next work of God . For God " went a little further" and they were forced to confess " this is the finger of God ,we can't do this..
2) Belthazaars feast . Who in Babylon held a great feast and well into the party ordered the vessels of God taken from the tempo in Jerusalem and with them praised his gods of gold and silver . And a hand appeared over against the wall write in the plaster his doom .
3) It was the finger of Gods hand that wrote the 10 commandments in the two tablets of stone on mount Sinai .
4) " If I by the finger of God do cast out devils ,know ye that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you " said Jesus .
While it might seem this quite remarkable account starts in John 1:1 we should not be bound by the chapter and verse of scriptures which while useful for reference and ease cannot always give a true picture .
For the context of the last verse of John 7." Every man went to his own house" Quite legitimately it has to be said but "Jesus went up to the mount of olives " Sacrificial praying .
There are times and perhaps these days are some of them when needs must ,the people of God need to forsake their beds or legitimate times of rest and seek Gods face and spend time in communion with " Our Father ,who art in heaven "
We then find the Lord early in the morning in the temple teaching .
It is the more likely that the devout and those who " hunger after righteousness" avoiding the clamour of the day that are to be found in the Temple early .and "all the people came unto Him and He sat down and taught them "
Any school teacher or professor knows that to get anything done you need a relaxed but concentrated atmosphere if you want to teach anything with students with receptive minds .
The bare bones of what came next as recorded are of the Pharisees and Sadducee's bringing with them a woman ,saying this woman was caught in the very act of adultery . Moses said she should be stoned to death ,what say you?
If you wish to enter a place where someone is preaching or in public prayer ,you should not just walk into the room much less noisily , but should wait patiently till there is a break or moment when if done quietly you can discretely join the meeting .
It would not be twisting the scriptures nor bending the truth to say that these did no such thing but rather would have ' barged' into that situation without a by or leave and interrupted whatever at that point had been going on .
Set the woman in the midst and demanded ' politely ' an answer to their question.
i was jus curious.. and im not a "diehard atheist" i wouldn't be on a kjv bible website if i was. but if u may what month was jesus born or even the date, since you know everything.
in 9:2, Jesus sends them out to "preach the kingdom of God"
in 9:21, Jesus "commanded them to tell no man that thing"
My question is, what are they preaching in 9:2? It doesn't seem like he sent them out to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah or Christ, because that's apparently a secret at that time - so what was their message?
Please forgive me if I appear to be argumentative , I can assure you that's not my intention . I must say how I feel though . Firstly , with all respect , it's not often possible to discern some ones motive for posting and I think it's folly to try to do so . I don't believe that we know anyone's heart or mind fully . Secondly , the truth often makes uncomfortable reading , but if it is the truth it must not be ignored or covered up . We , as humans , should be aware as much as possible , of the great mistakes wrought by governments , countries , cultures and individuals . It's only by being aware of our mistakes that we can hope to learn from them and not repeat them . History must not be erased or rewritten because it's uncomfortable , our children and children's children must be aware of our mistakes , no matter how hideous and shameful they are , so they can learn from them and not repeat them . This is the whole point of free speech . It's one of the cornerstones of democracy and must be upheld .
For a Christian, when we are born again our flesh dies. " Our natural independency or self reliance." for lack of a better description.
We have nothing credible to offer God of ourselves to present anything righteous.
Romans 8:2-10.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
Right away we see a contrast of the two in the term alone.
Romans 8:11-13.
Fruit is attached to a branch and that branch is attached to a vine! The vine gives it life. That life saved and sanctified us. ( Not just Positionally but transitionally.) It changed us! John 15:1-5.
Romans 8:11-13.
Work/efforts of the flesh is dead works unattached and no ability to produce anything that pleases God.
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee, gives us some practical help in our choices that transform our character.
So what is the fruit of walking with God? Let's go straight to the orchard and examine the fruit that is in the life of the believer.
Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." - John 15:4, 5
If you were not raised in the country, you may not know that in every fruit orchard, there is always something else that tries to overcome the fruit. In nature, slugs and bugs and stinkweeds all attempt to crowd out the fruit. And in the life of the believer, there are always things that will attempt to crowd out the fruit of the Spirit. In other words, it's quite possible that the weeds grow and the fruit will not be produced. Paul spoke of that very thing in Galatians 5:17.
The flesh wants to have its way and is actually in competition against the Holy Spirit. So there is a danger of producing something besides fruit. And that which the flesh produces is not something that God can use; it's not fruit at all.
Paul himself experienced that struggle and described it in Romans 7:15:
For what I am doing [the new man wanted to produce fruit], I do not understand [the old nature would not do it].
You can be a child of God and be producing works of the flesh in your life, and if you are, you are not living by the Spirit of God. And I can tell you, if the works of the flesh are appearing in your life, you are a discontented and troublemaking child of God.
Paul was speaking to believers when he said:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9.
I personally believe that's a law of God, just like the law of gravity. If a farmer sows corn, you can be sure that he'll reap corn. If he sows wheat, he'll reap wheat. My friend, as a believer, if you are sowing to the flesh, you "will of the flesh reap corruption." There is no way around it.
Now, the child of God does not have to produce these things. We can produce the fruit of the Spirit. God has another principle:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. - Galatians 5:22, 23
You can't produce these fruit by following the Law; in fact, there is not one of these lovely fruits that you can produce on your own. We are totally incapable; it can only be produced by the Holy Spirit. "For the fruit of the Spirit," Paul says in Ephesians 5:9, "is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." You can know whether you are living by the flesh or living in the power, in the fullness, of the Holy Spirit by seeing if He is producing these fruits in your life.
"When I lived on the east coast in my younger years, there was a beautiful big maple tree in our backyard that would keep its leaves through the winter. The leaves were dead, but they still hung on to the branches. In the spring when the sap flowed, the new buds would finally push off the dead leaves. That's what happens when the Spirit of God grows His life in us-He pushes the old habits out of our lives as our new life in Christ grows stronger. Rather than try to pick off all the dead leaves and try to grow new leaves ourselves, we need to focus instead on cultivating our relationship with God and let the Holy Spirit deal with all the dead leaves." -J. Vernon McGee
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
As you said Brother Jesse "Under the influence of God's Spirit, it is fascinating how people can function in various situations.
Apart from God's spirit we would be on the other side of the stoning.
Acts 6:8 and throughout ch 7 you see a God's spirit filled vessel emphasized in the power of Stephen.
And in Daniel 4:1-37 you see the humbling record of King Nebuchadnezzar by the Lord.
NOTICE THE DECREE;
"Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. Daniel 4:16.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S RESPONSE;
"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Daniel 4:30.
THE HUMBLING BY THE LORD!
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Daniel 4:31-32.
THE RESULTS OF THE HUMBLING;
"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Daniel 4:37.
The Holyspirit is powerful, mysterious, and always active in diverse ways.
There are parallel verses that seem to correspond with several verses here. We are reminded of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in verse 4 when they tried to ask Christ questions to trap him
( Matthew 22:15). They called Him "good teacher" and said that He was a man of integrity as their pretext for showing respect before they asked Him about paying taxes. This could also be seen on other occasions as well.
The mention of vanity is repeated in Ecclesiastes that Solomon wrote some time later. (verse 9).
Finally; we see the warning about not setting one's heart on riches in verse 10; which is something that Solomon ignored; again as one of the themes in Ecclesiastes.
Verses 2; 6 and 7 all mention salvation and God being a rock. Surely; Christ is the Rock of our salvation as well. In this case; we could say that salvation could mean spiritually and physically being saved from David's many calamities. The theme of a refuge is seen more than once in the Psalm as well. This can perhaps be our mental solace despite outside circumstances that would otherwise overwhelm us.
Finally verse 3 reminds us of Jericho; and how the wall collapsed on the city (apparently archaelogical evidenced suggests that it fell inward).
Solar Calendar versus Lunar and the Sabbath Day , Historiically and Modern, Jewish compared to Christian and the 3 major Feast days, please elaborate , is it on Saturday or Sunday, understanding that Jesus is our Sabbath and each day in Him!
alex1939...Interesting Dante...Lemme give ya my slant on these 2 trees...One is the written word the bible the mana that is good for bread that we may eat all we want...As there a zillion Churches on every corner...But Jesus said your fathers ate of that bread from heaven and are all dead..This Tree of knowledge answers to the tree of Knowledge that New Covenant that cannot be eaten till the book is opened that Jesus wrote with his own blood...I will KNOW them ALL from the least to the greatest and their sins and iniquities will i remember no more..Thats the New Covenant that answers to Jeremiah 31 :34...That Book that he wrote with his own blood...As Isaiah said this KNOWLEGE IS GONNA COVER THE EARTH AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEAS...An intimacy with God that is gona result in the Children of the Kingdom...An thus a flood of his spirit which is the H.G. Our fruit unto God via that tree of Knowlege..Our new heart and new spirit...Thus no body cd eat of this tree of knowledge till Jesus shed his blood on calvary...Thats y he has to Know us a Spiritual knowledge...But we cd not partake of this knowledge that tree of Knowledge ETC
.....These 2 trees were in the midst of the Garden of God...But now under this New Covenant these 2 trees are planted in our hearts....As Jesus said the good ground is your hearts where that good seed will be sown...Thus under this NEW covenant the kingdom will be with in us...Which answers to that Tree of knowledge in the midst of our hearts that Garden of God...Thus we answer to Eve that is symbolic of the Church the bride...Bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh...And her Children are spirits the H.G. that is gona be as the stars of heaven in multitudes...as Jesus said...Unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in..This tree of Knowledge is gona result in the Children of the Kingdom...As Jesus said the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom...Thus an Israel of God..From the Tree of Knowledge.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." that is rooted and grows out of obedience. The first Adam was not obedient to God, but the last Adam was Phil. 2:8 and Rom. 5:19
When the first Adam disobeyed, sin entered with desire and imagination, and with that, man can create in his mind anything, and the imagination of man is evil as we see Gen 6:5Gen 8:21Jer. 11:8 we must Rom. 6:162 Cor. 10:3-5.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any [of God's elect] should perish, but that all [of God's elect] should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Romans 2:1-6
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
And it is true that our flesh cannot produce anything pleasing to the Lord.
You stated;
"it's not often possible to discern some ones motive for posting and I think it's folly to try to do so . I don't believe that we know anyone's heart or mind fully . Secondly , the truth often makes uncomfortable reading , but if it is the truth it must not be ignored or covered up".
Here's the issue.
When Stlouistv stated; "the early church fathers who were slave owners btw had no business removing these books out of the bible and lied and said they were not inspired.
( That was contentious) There wasn't a need to discern anything being there was no proof provided with that racially tone msg that had no other purpose but to be contentious.
"THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS WHO WERE SLAVE OWNERS." ???
Did that have to be added?
Is that not purposely contentious?
Where is the reasoning behind the comment or explanation. Proof and purpose?
Who and how is that statement declared truth?
Because he said so?
Just because you have freedom of speech means you have to speak, He should have pleaded the fifth.
Sammi I believe a person don't have to agree with peoples "opinions" but we all should earnestly covet what is truth and clarity.
I'm not a partial person and I am not influenced by any worldly culture or mans traditions whether male, female, or race. We're all held accountable to true worship in the church, without the world's influence.
Some love to use these sites to function in a way their local Church won't allow them. However this site has Guidelines.
We come here and take advantage of its liberty but let's not ignore
Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
Concerning the topic of the books of the Apocrypha there are groups out there that use those books to divide racially.
I've debated them and is very familiar with their catch phrases.
Let's see what follows.
God bless.
It is by man's obedience to the gospel do they live .
In truth when a person is truly BORN again he enters into that eternal will of God preordained from before the foundations of the world .
Only God is incorruptible . Therefore anything that God created being not God is or can be corrupted .
Man was not created corrupted nor was it Gods will that man be corrupted ( and die) For it is written " Man shall not LIVE by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God "
The Word of God to Adam was " of all the trees in the garden you may freely eat "
This then included the tree of life .
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt surely die for in the day you eat of you shall surely die "
Thus God revealed HIS will for man that he should live and not die .
Moreover God also revealed that man was free to eat of the tree of life .
Thus God by that word that came forth from His mouth gave Adam His knowledge of what was good to eat and what was evil to eat .
It was the rejection of Gods word as to what is good and what is evil and believing the lie' thou shalt not surely d" that they died .
Man is still doing that which is right or good in his own eyes and in doing so is faced with its consequences .
God is not a tyrant . Nor indeed is He democratic .
But while He is not a tyrant nor democratic He does have His own imperatives .
You MUST be born again ,"not of corruptible seed but of the incorruptible seed which is the Word of God "
For by one man's disobedience all die .
Likewise by one man's obedience do all men live .
From my reading of Genesis, there was nothing stated that prevented Adam or Eve from eating of the tree of life. That to me is an important point in my personal interpretation of Genesis.
Projecting, as I read Genesis, that Adam chose mortality to eternity without Eve is supported as an interpretation. It's an interpretation that has much meaning to me.
I don't believe God created anyone LGBT but he gives the gift of freewill which means people can choose good or evil. God is clear on what is good or evil and that is not in agreement with the world that has its own different list. Many things God deemed evil, the world calls "good". People use all kinds of clever rationalizations. One of those is that "I can't help it, I'm born this way" rationalization. Currently its being used to rationalize committing sodomy and other acts God said is sin. But the same doesn't even apply to those who consider themselves heterosexuals. Just because someone may choose to find someone average or above in attractiveness doesn't mean they will act on their passion, fantasy, or lust. Most don't. This means its a choice, yet when it comes to a LGBT the claim is that they somehow have no choice in the matter but to act out their desires. I don't think God buys it.
Ironically, what is claimed as a lack of choice for this sin is then suddenly a choice for committing the sin of murder. So the rationalizations are hypocritical and contradict themselves as the world's invented morals usually do. So, a mother rationalizes that murdering her son or daughter in the womb is ok, because its her choice. And they call that "health care." Satan is the father of lies.
Is there any proof that you can share that would show without a doubt that these books were indeed inspired by God?
I find it interesting what Paul said in Acts 20:27, " For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."
What a great verse!
He hasn't withheld anything from them. He wanted them to know the (whole council) of God. That's why he sat house to house and publicly, any way he could, day and night as a slave of Christ, in order that every believer that he came in contact with would have the whole council of God.
That is one of the reasons why we have these times together, to go through the whole bible, chapter by chapter to see what it says. To know the whole council of God!
Now, Paul's statement would not make much sense if he left any part of those apocryphal books out. And Paul says he gave them the entire council of God, meaning nothing left out.
However, in all of Paul's writings, he never once quoted from any of those books. None of the apostles did either.
Plus, not once did Jesus ever quote from any of those books. It would seem that if they were inspired, Paul would have taught from them.
Perhaps there might be some valuable historical information in these books, but are the truly inspired by God?
The first 2 times it is a time of judgement .
The third time is is the writing of the Law .
The fourth also of a measure of judgement against the devils .
There is much talked about the grace of God but has often been a disgrace.
The Law has NOT been done away with . It's purpose is to convict of sin .Romans .
Not to justify or make perfect .Romans .
It is fulfilled IN Christ and those true born children of God " uphold the law" .
But are not justified by it .
The woman WAS guilty under the law as all men and women who commit it are then as now .
But the law states that both the man and the woman should be stoned to death .
So where then was the man?
For the record states she was " found in the act" therefore the man was there also .
I would suggest he was not there because her accusers were all men and it is far easier for a man to accuse a woman than it is fir a man to judge and accuse a man .
So let us be in no doubt she was guilty under the law . Are we not all guilty under the law ? If not this particular one .
So what was the Lord doing?
He was giving both parties TIME . To consider why they were there and what had brought them there .
He gave also everybody else time who was there timecalso to consider the matter .
He gives us time also .
You could argue for the completeness of the argument and for an example that He gave Himself time to consider why He was there and What had brought him there .
But in truth He was always conscious of why He was there and what has brought Him there .
In a UK court of law if found guilty these words are spoken to the convicted ." Before I pass sentence have you anything to say "
You are given a measure of time . We all are given a measure of time . Be it long or short to ' say something'.
Wether people believe in God or not . People are always speaking to God . He hears it all .
God is speaking to all men ,but how many are listening?
Places we can see, and places we can't.
Presently we exist somewhere between the two. As the light is unto darkness, such is the existence, of good and evil!
The condition or lets say the decorations of these places is significant as to our present time and place!
How we influence this matter, must be understood. Without the proper influence one of two conditions will develop.
Good will overcome evil! If not, evil shall overcome good! There is no in between.
Laying out these parameters requires a format conditional on truth. Any science cannot be proven without it , anyone or anything outside of these things is only deception and false =a truth outside of reality.
Artificial intelligence, knows nothing of these things, because it has no heart to receive ,nor has the ability to see things we see and understand.
It is when we are influenced to think differently outside the Holy Spirit, things become unclear, and we are deceived.
It is the Holy Spirit that leads guides and directs. It is the Spirit that reveals all things. It is the reason that Jesus Christ came and died! Christ's spirit fills all things without our cooperation, it moves us, it can create the conditions necessary to sustain life! It knows all things.
Heaven and hell are real. If you are in the Spirit, than you will know all things even as Christ said, the enemies who are outside the Spirit, may be those of your own household. Even as Paul has written "we see through a glass darkly. but yet face to face".
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good. ( Notice the word cleave).
Repent and be Baptized
We are not debtors to the flesh.
The Lord was in now way obligated to answer their question in their time frame or indeed fall into the trap.
For He as everyone else knew full well that under the Law of Moses and by that God anyone caught in adultery should be stoned to death if found guilty .
But He had publicly stated that " He came not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved .
He had no need to condemn the world for the world is condemned already and by the Law of God all are guilty under the law and condemned .Romans.
As if He had not heard them he bent down and wrote with His finger in the ground.
There are as far as I know only 5 times in s rupture when we read about " the finger of God"
1) In the book of exodus .when the magicians of Egypt having duplicated the first two or three works of God , could not duplicate the next work of God . For God " went a little further" and they were forced to confess " this is the finger of God ,we can't do this..
2) Belthazaars feast . Who in Babylon held a great feast and well into the party ordered the vessels of God taken from the tempo in Jerusalem and with them praised his gods of gold and silver . And a hand appeared over against the wall write in the plaster his doom .
3) It was the finger of Gods hand that wrote the 10 commandments in the two tablets of stone on mount Sinai .
4) " If I by the finger of God do cast out devils ,know ye that the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you " said Jesus .
5) John 8 when Jesus wrote with His finger .
"If God should mark iniquity who would stand?
" He knows ur frame that it is dust"
While it might seem this quite remarkable account starts in John 1:1 we should not be bound by the chapter and verse of scriptures which while useful for reference and ease cannot always give a true picture .
For the context of the last verse of John 7." Every man went to his own house" Quite legitimately it has to be said but "Jesus went up to the mount of olives " Sacrificial praying .
There are times and perhaps these days are some of them when needs must ,the people of God need to forsake their beds or legitimate times of rest and seek Gods face and spend time in communion with " Our Father ,who art in heaven "
We then find the Lord early in the morning in the temple teaching .
It is the more likely that the devout and those who " hunger after righteousness" avoiding the clamour of the day that are to be found in the Temple early .and "all the people came unto Him and He sat down and taught them "
Any school teacher or professor knows that to get anything done you need a relaxed but concentrated atmosphere if you want to teach anything with students with receptive minds .
The bare bones of what came next as recorded are of the Pharisees and Sadducee's bringing with them a woman ,saying this woman was caught in the very act of adultery . Moses said she should be stoned to death ,what say you?
If you wish to enter a place where someone is preaching or in public prayer ,you should not just walk into the room much less noisily , but should wait patiently till there is a break or moment when if done quietly you can discretely join the meeting .
It would not be twisting the scriptures nor bending the truth to say that these did no such thing but rather would have ' barged' into that situation without a by or leave and interrupted whatever at that point had been going on .
Set the woman in the midst and demanded ' politely ' an answer to their question.
It is written " we are no debtor to the flesh "
in 9:2, Jesus sends them out to "preach the kingdom of God"
in 9:21, Jesus "commanded them to tell no man that thing"
My question is, what are they preaching in 9:2? It doesn't seem like he sent them out to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah or Christ, because that's apparently a secret at that time - so what was their message?
I understand why it's a secret in 9:21...
WORKS OF THE FLESH vs FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
WORKS OF THE FLESH;
For a Christian, when we are born again our flesh dies. " Our natural independency or self reliance." for lack of a better description.
We have nothing credible to offer God of ourselves to present anything righteous.
Romans 8:2-10.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
Right away we see a contrast of the two in the term alone.
Romans 8:11-13.
Fruit is attached to a branch and that branch is attached to a vine! The vine gives it life. That life saved and sanctified us. ( Not just Positionally but transitionally.) It changed us! John 15:1-5.
Romans 8:11-13.
Work/efforts of the flesh is dead works unattached and no ability to produce anything that pleases God.
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.
God bless.
Part 1 of 4.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee, gives us some practical help in our choices that transform our character.
So what is the fruit of walking with God? Let's go straight to the orchard and examine the fruit that is in the life of the believer.
Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." - John 15:4, 5
If you were not raised in the country, you may not know that in every fruit orchard, there is always something else that tries to overcome the fruit. In nature, slugs and bugs and stinkweeds all attempt to crowd out the fruit. And in the life of the believer, there are always things that will attempt to crowd out the fruit of the Spirit. In other words, it's quite possible that the weeds grow and the fruit will not be produced. Paul spoke of that very thing in Galatians 5:17.
See part 2.
Part 2.
The flesh wants to have its way and is actually in competition against the Holy Spirit. So there is a danger of producing something besides fruit. And that which the flesh produces is not something that God can use; it's not fruit at all.
Paul himself experienced that struggle and described it in Romans 7:15:
For what I am doing [the new man wanted to produce fruit], I do not understand [the old nature would not do it].
You can be a child of God and be producing works of the flesh in your life, and if you are, you are not living by the Spirit of God. And I can tell you, if the works of the flesh are appearing in your life, you are a discontented and troublemaking child of God.
Paul was speaking to believers when he said:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9.
See Part 3.
Part 3.
I personally believe that's a law of God, just like the law of gravity. If a farmer sows corn, you can be sure that he'll reap corn. If he sows wheat, he'll reap wheat. My friend, as a believer, if you are sowing to the flesh, you "will of the flesh reap corruption." There is no way around it.
Now, the child of God does not have to produce these things. We can produce the fruit of the Spirit. God has another principle:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. - Galatians 5:22, 23
You can't produce these fruit by following the Law; in fact, there is not one of these lovely fruits that you can produce on your own. We are totally incapable; it can only be produced by the Holy Spirit. "For the fruit of the Spirit," Paul says in Ephesians 5:9, "is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." You can know whether you are living by the flesh or living in the power, in the fullness, of the Holy Spirit by seeing if He is producing these fruits in your life.
See Part 4.
Part 4.
"When I lived on the east coast in my younger years, there was a beautiful big maple tree in our backyard that would keep its leaves through the winter. The leaves were dead, but they still hung on to the branches. In the spring when the sap flowed, the new buds would finally push off the dead leaves. That's what happens when the Spirit of God grows His life in us-He pushes the old habits out of our lives as our new life in Christ grows stronger. Rather than try to pick off all the dead leaves and try to grow new leaves ourselves, we need to focus instead on cultivating our relationship with God and let the Holy Spirit deal with all the dead leaves." -J. Vernon McGee
God bless.
This seems to be a post meant for contentious purposes.
How did this get past the moderators?
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
As you said Brother Jesse "Under the influence of God's Spirit, it is fascinating how people can function in various situations.
Apart from God's spirit we would be on the other side of the stoning.
Acts 6:8 and throughout ch 7 you see a God's spirit filled vessel emphasized in the power of Stephen.
And in Daniel 4:1-37 you see the humbling record of King Nebuchadnezzar by the Lord.
NOTICE THE DECREE;
"Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. Daniel 4:16.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S RESPONSE;
"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Daniel 4:30.
THE HUMBLING BY THE LORD!
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Daniel 4:31-32.
THE RESULTS OF THE HUMBLING;
"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Daniel 4:37.
The Holyspirit is powerful, mysterious, and always active in diverse ways.
God bless.
There are parallel verses that seem to correspond with several verses here. We are reminded of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in verse 4 when they tried to ask Christ questions to trap him
( Matthew 22:15). They called Him "good teacher" and said that He was a man of integrity as their pretext for showing respect before they asked Him about paying taxes. This could also be seen on other occasions as well.
The mention of vanity is repeated in Ecclesiastes that Solomon wrote some time later. (verse 9).
Finally; we see the warning about not setting one's heart on riches in verse 10; which is something that Solomon ignored; again as one of the themes in Ecclesiastes.
Verses 2; 6 and 7 all mention salvation and God being a rock. Surely; Christ is the Rock of our salvation as well. In this case; we could say that salvation could mean spiritually and physically being saved from David's many calamities. The theme of a refuge is seen more than once in the Psalm as well. This can perhaps be our mental solace despite outside circumstances that would otherwise overwhelm us.
Finally verse 3 reminds us of Jericho; and how the wall collapsed on the city (apparently archaelogical evidenced suggests that it fell inward).
May we trust in God for these promises today.
the early church fathers who were slave owners btw had no business removing these books out of the bible and lied and said they were not inspired.
God revealed to me these are his words.
.....These 2 trees were in the midst of the Garden of God...But now under this New Covenant these 2 trees are planted in our hearts....As Jesus said the good ground is your hearts where that good seed will be sown...Thus under this NEW covenant the kingdom will be with in us...Which answers to that Tree of knowledge in the midst of our hearts that Garden of God...Thus we answer to Eve that is symbolic of the Church the bride...Bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh...And her Children are spirits the H.G. that is gona be as the stars of heaven in multitudes...as Jesus said...Unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in..This tree of Knowledge is gona result in the Children of the Kingdom...As Jesus said the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom...Thus an Israel of God..From the Tree of Knowledge.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." that is rooted and grows out of obedience. The first Adam was not obedient to God, but the last Adam was Phil. 2:8 and Rom. 5:19
When the first Adam disobeyed, sin entered with desire and imagination, and with that, man can create in his mind anything, and the imagination of man is evil as we see Gen 6:5 Gen 8:21 Jer. 11:8 we must Rom. 6:16 2 Cor. 10:3-5.
God bless,
RLW
2 Peter 3:9-15
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any [of God's elect] should perish, but that all [of God's elect] should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Romans 2:1-6
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: