A question of asked but like Pontius Pilate most never wait for an answer .
For he is recorded as asking that question to Jesus ,but is also recorded as " walking away" after saying it .
In truth as to the Lords innocence he already knew the truth and publicly stated it at least twice .
If anyone has encountered some injustice take a look at Jesus who was tried three times in one night , publicly declared innocent in one ,condemned to death when under oath confessed the truth He was the Son of God in another .
And still condemned to death and was crucified .
Pilate thought Jesus was standing before him . In truth he was standing before the Lord .
So what is truth ?
If you don't understand the truth about anything . You are to all intents and purposes in the dark . Unable to make a right or good decision. Or know which way to go .
When you know the truth you see which way to go and what is the right decision.
The truth then is the light that shines in the darkness .
This then is the truth :
"In the beginning God created the heaveN and the earth "
And it was not heaveN that was in darkness but the earth . Genesis 1:2
For that heaven needed no sun or moon for zGod is the light thereof .
And it is not God who is in darkness but man . For God is light and in Him there is no darkness .
Thus it is that earth that needed heavens light and it is man that " sat in darkness .."
man was created for the light .
His eyes respond to light ,wether he is conscious or not . Put a man in a room with no light for long enough and he will suffer .
Man was created for the light .indeed his default position is that you and I should always be told the truth .
But while all men expect it they do not always tell it .
I completely agree. I would even go as far to say that they not only lacked faith (Spiritual faith), but the had none at all. You see, the Holy Spirit had not come yet. They did have human faith but without the indwelling of Gods Spirit, they had no way of coming up with Spiritual faith. That faith is a fruit of Gods Spirit, not man produced.
Acts 3:16 is one of the great verses in the bible that says this man was given the faith by Jesus. And Jesus is glorified by it because Jesus is the one that did this.
Faith is not produced by man. There is a certain kind of faith that man produces, but it's not spiritual faith, and it's not saving faith.
James, in James Chapter 2 discussed that. There is a faith that won't save you. Religious faith, human faith! But there is a faith that is produced by the Holy Spirit. The bible says that God gives us the faith.
Sorry for not replying sooner. I am staying at a Navy facility in Virginia for the next few months and the internet here is hit and miss, some days non-existent!
Hi thanks for that .Very helpful ,I've never thought of it in the context of the whole sentence . But just known there was something amiss as to how so often it's applied .
In Luke 3: 21-22 it speaks of John baptizing Jesus and the Holy Ghost coming down from heaven in the form of a dove. Didn't Jesus already have the Holy Ghost because he is consubstantial with the Father? and why did he seek out John and need to be baptized and cleansed of sin when he was without sin? Or is this baptism symbolic of something else?
My understanding is that Paul wrote this letter to the Laodiceans and it was delivered to them. But it either was not preserved by this church or it somehow went out of print. The church does not have any original nor copied documents of this letter preserved.
I was unable to finish the last sentence so if you don't mind I'll finish it here fir clarity .
We are therefore not only " translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Gods dear Son .
But we are also translated from one predestination to another !
I am also judt reminded and it is confirmed that ' rapture' is not really accurate and can actually mislead if your not careful .
The better word would be " translated " for not only are we ,as it is written " translated " spiritually from one kingdom to the other other . We ,if found ready and alive will be translated physically from the earth to meet the Lord in the air and in a twinkling of an eye be changed physically as well .from mortal to immortal from a corrupt body to an incorruptible body .
Thanks for your reply . I must confess to no knowledge of Greek but do have some knowledge of English though even that is limited . But I am wary of this habit of always referring to ' to the original text' be it Greek or Hebrew as proof of the correct meaning . For I am aware that in this day and age people do not accept the plain text of a good translation into English . I hold that there are many bad ones some boasting in their " better understanding " but proving they have little or no understanding .Most in the very first chapter of the very first sentence .
Moreover I also know that every langauge has a great deal of surrounding understanding that is quite simply taken for granted when it is your mother tongue. But unknown to the learner of the language. Who may take years to grasp it albeit they may have the mechanics .
Yet even with this fact and Hebrew was the Pharisees mother tongue did they understand the message? No.
Saul of Tarsus who's mother tongue was Hebrew probably knew Greek well ( I don't know) and Latin ( ditto) did not understand the scriptures either . And once converted and filled with the Spirit spent over three years in the " Arabian desert " getting his vast biblical knowledge in its right order and able to " rightly divide " the Word of God .
Having said all this , I do not doubt your sincerity or that you think this the correct greek .
I cant argue with you in greek . But I perhaps ' argue' ( in the correct sense) in English .
You say the greek word means " destined" my reply would be when was it destined? Was it not Before the foundations of the world ? Then it was predestined before the event . Even if as you say it means destined it was destined before the foundation of the earth , which in my mind is not exact enough in English and contained in the context .
To say we were destined implies an inherent property in ourselves for something. This is not true .I was predestined by the foreknowledge and working of God .
You have written "If we are trusting that obedience to any commandment of God, including the sign of water baptism, is a requirement for our salvation or affects our salvation in any way, we have a works / grace gospel that cannot save and we are under the Law and not under Grace". So obedience to God has no effect on our salvation. Likewise disobedience to Go has no effect on our salvation too,. So I can spent my whole life in disobedience, which is sinning and still be saved, because sometime in my life I was born again by God, right? Logical sequence, isn't it?
Matthew 7:21-2e "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"
Those who say Lord, Lord are saved people or not? They are saved because in the next verse Jesus talks about them saying that they prophesied and made miracles. But there were left out of Heaven. Why? Because they were sinning (workers of iniquity), although been gifted. Why does Jesus tells them that He doesn't know them? Because Jesus only knows His true children, people who obey Him and keep themselves pure and clean of sin. A father knows his own children. Children must look like their father, not have the appearance of a stranger, say of devil's
Now I have a few questions for you (another topic):
1. When were the apostles saved(born again)? Before or after Pentecost (when they received the Holly Spirit)? When were they water baptized, before or after Pentecost? When were the Samaritans that Phillip preached to, baptized in The Spirit? Before or after water baptism? When were they saved, before or after Spirit baptism?
2. Water baptism preceds or follows salvation(new birth)?
Psalm 57. James 3:6 is one of the first things I notice a parallel to with verse 4. There are other verses describing animals prophetic of those surrounding Christ during the crucifixion in Psalm 22:12-13. Here in this Psalm we once again are given in the intro. the information that this was written during David's cave retreat as happened multiple times with Saul's insanity.
We see crying in verse 2 and singing in verses 7-8; finally praise in verse 9 with the resulting appreciation of mercy and truth (v.10) with His name exalted in the last verse. These are solid Biblical approaches to persecution; as we see when Paul was incarcerated in Acts 16:25-28 along with Silas; it in fact led to deliverance.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 and a host of other verses describe men being caught in nets due to their own sin. (see Job 18:5-9; Isaiah 24:18). "Vengeance is mine; I shall repay" is in Deuteronomy 32:35 and quoted in Romans 12:19. It is important to remember David's attitude toward "God's anointed" (see 1 Samuel 24). Even when Saul died David still mourned over him. This attitude of loving our enemies should characterize our lives while we still proclaim the truth that indeed the Day of His wrath is coming; and only through the cross will we escape.
Do you mean Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"? Well, this is one of those cases that knowledge of Greek is useful. The word that is translated as "predestined" in English is the grk word "proorisas" which means "destined", not "predestined"
Other English translations translate it as "chose", "decide", "made selection",...even some as "predestined", but the right translation is "destined"
when you open your mind for understanding and searching wisdom while you're reading your bible, God will show you which bible verse to read and which one to pay attention to.
So, pray for understand and read your bible search for him then you will find him.
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to You today to ask that You bless Stephanie in her employment along with her employer and the company she works for so that she can earn what is needed for her needs and for her to be able to bless others with gifts.
We ask that You continue to bless her with strength for the day, vigor in her health, and energy to accomplish what is demanded of her in her job and home life. Thank You for bringing Stephanie to this site and for her diligence in requesting for us to pray for her. Lord, grant Stephanie the peace of mind to know that You are always with her and that her prayer requests are brought up to You. Amen.
Dear Van, I will pray for you, your husband and your son.
Heavenly Father, we come to You in need today and in the name of Jesus. We lift up Van and the requests she has given to us. We ask that You relieve both her husband and son of the pain and oppression of mental illness that presses upon them daily We pray that they will be delivered from these illnesses by You, for You can do all things. We ask that You place Van's son in a job most appropriate for his skills and mental health. Father, we pray for Your protection around this family from physical hardships and adverse circumstances. We ask that You graciously bless them and bring them wisdom, solace, understanding, peace, and strength to face what is happening in their lives right now. And we ask that You will draw each one to You and guide them by Your Word of truth. Amen.
Hello Madhatter57 and welcome to this site if you are new.
The word "alms" means money, goods, etc. that are given to care for the needs of the poor and needy. These are different than tithe which is given to God and distributed to the priests. So, alms were an offering above and beyond the tithe in the O.T. systems and was voluntary but honorable to do. In the N.T. there is a good example. Paul was planning to return to Jerusalem and had asked the churches of Asia Minor and Macedonia to put together money for the church at Jerusalem because Jerusalem and the people around this city were having a famine and many believers were in need of food. Paul then collected these gifts of money and brought it with him to Jerusalem t give to James to distribute to those in need.
That phrase is often used and I think misused. In this case consider what God said was a day in the recreation of the earth .
Then consider what God said " in the day you eat of it"
Then consider what the devil said " ye shall not surely die "
If it was as you said then that would make God not straight speaking and the devil a speaker of the truth !
It was in fact a very subtle lie . For while on the same day they did eat if it and by Gods Word died .
They did not physically die till over 800 odd years .
A part truth is as good as a lie .
We must take Gods Word for it .
In truth everything up to the creation of Man was good and in the end very good .
Wrapped upon that great truth that a man was created in the Image of God is another great truth .
" Man shall not LIVE by bread alone (or by every tree that was good to eat ) but by that knowledge of God as to what wascgoid to eat and what was in effect evil to eat and by that word that proceeded from Gods mouth they lived .
It was the rejection of Gods Word and believing the lie of the devil that they became not only blind to the truth but perceived and reasoned wrongly .
For she " saw that the tree was good to eat " and she reasoned thus ," it wouid make her wise"
Adams sin was greater for he not only loved Eve more than God but in effect obeyed eve rather than God .
Sin "separates us from God" so they died on the very day and the very moment they disobeyed God and did that which was right or good in their own eyes .
It was a permanent effect for in choosing to cover their nakedness with fig leaves in their eyes it did indeed do so.
But when God called them from their hiding place ( darkness) into His presence ( light) with eyes from which nothing is hid saw that it did not . And gave them a covering of Hos own choosing ".For love covers a multitude of sin " and which foreshadowed the animal,sacrifices that were ordained to come .
But God also gave a promise by which God provided a redemption.
" If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him "
Clearly then if we don't we won't .
" and the government shall be upon His shoulders"
The church which is His body not only has limbs ,hands and feet but shoulders .
The government of the Kingdom of zGod shall be on His shoulders .
This is not a ' government' like those of the "Nicolaitans which I hate " who seperate themselves and Lord it over the Laity they have made .
Hirelings who not only " make merchandise of Gods people" but when they see the wolves coming flee and the sheep are scattered " John 12 . But take note the hirelings are caught not the sheep .
In Ezekiel there are dire warnings for pastors who love not the sheep as THE shepherd of man's souls loves them .
But all the offices of the church as listed from Apostles to evangelists have but one purpose . The perfection of the church ." Till we all come to a unity of the faith unto the fullness and stature of Christ unto the perfect man Ephesians .
If we are faithful in little we we will be given much to rule over .
Note it is not if we are ' successful' as the world counts success . Calvary on the face of it was disaster and victory by the enemy .
But faithful . The Philadelphian church in its own eyes was poor ,but in Gods "was rich "
The Laodocian church in its own eyes was rich but in Gods eyes was poor wretched and blind .
Churchill prior to WW2 was vilified and rejected by all parties in particular but come 1940 was the only one qualified to become Prime Minister .
The Lord Jesus Christ proved Himself worthy to be King of Kings , All the kingdoms of this world past and present are on a foundation of treachery, murder and war . Including Great Britain and if the UK turned out different it's only because of the grace of zGod and the zBible that was once honoured by this nation .
In as much asit does not it will if it does not repent become as any other Godless nation . Perhaps worse for we have known far better .
II Kings 16 vs 4 King Ahaz burnt incense on the high places in the hills and under every green tree, Does not mention caves on the bible trivia question 1. please explain
But what says the scriptures?" The letter killeth but the Spirit gives life "
We have by the grace of God the body of truth ; the scriptures .
We have also by the grace of God the " Spirit of truth ".
This self same Spirit ,is not an influence , or some other abstract ' thing' emanating from God . "He" is a person who can be resisted ,grieved, quenched and blasphemed against .
Was the same Spirit that inspired men to so write the scriptures . If He was so needed to inspire men to write them . He is in equal measure so needed to understand what is written. "For what knoweth the things of man save thecspirit thatbis in man? So like wise what knoweth the things of zGod save the Spurit of God" who knows the mind of God and the deep things of zGod ".
Therefore we need both the scriptures or body of truth as well as the Spirit of truth to lead us into all truth .
There is a lot of confusion today in many places because many hold to scriptures alone doctrine but see no need for the Spirit . Leaning more upon their understanding of Greek or Hebrew than upon the Lord .
While others " by their traditions have made the Word of God of none effect "
The last day church of Laodocia in its own eyes is "rich increased with goods ( prosperous) and in need of nothing ,when in spiritual reality is poor wretched and blind and in need of eye salve "
Yet what says the Spirit to the churches?" Behold I stand at the door and knock " a call to the whole church to repent then .
If any man has ears to hear and opens the door " to them is the promise given .
Consider that after the resurrection No door was an obstical to the Lord ,
We should not take this great statement of fact first spoken of at the Reformation out of context .
For that statement was in response to the vain assertion by some religionists that their traditions were to be held in higher authority than the scriptures .
This is where man falls into error . " For all scripture is given by God and is good for correction ,reproof and instruction in righteousness " 1Timothy".
Man any man is not infallible only God is . Even if you spoke the truth that does not make you infallible you simply bare bare witness to the truth that God is .
For a man may hear the truth , he may see the truth , he can speak the truth . He can meditate on the truth he can know the truth . The truth can be in him . He can walk in the truth and even do the truth . But even with all that no man save the Lord Jesus Christ say ," I am the truth ".
Man has no light of his own , he is though like the moon a witness for the truth . For the moon when it still shines even in the darkest night ,bares witness to the truth that the sun still shines and there is coming a perfect day .
Even the Lord said "the words that I speak are not my words ." The difference with Him though is that He was born sinless and the only begotten Son ,we are not .
He proved to be " The truth " by being born in the time frame the scriptures foretold he would be born . In the place he would be born ,where he would grow up . How he would live ,by what power and authority , the miracles , how he would've rejected ,betrayed ,suffer and be crucified . How he would be buried and would rise again on the third day .all foreseen and recorded for our sakes so that we might know the truth and recognise Him.
The scriptures alone then are the only sure and certain foundation for any real faith in God . For faith in God comes by hearing and by that understanding the word of God " and as it is written good for correction ,reproof and instruction in righteousness .
A question of asked but like Pontius Pilate most never wait for an answer .
For he is recorded as asking that question to Jesus ,but is also recorded as " walking away" after saying it .
In truth as to the Lords innocence he already knew the truth and publicly stated it at least twice .
If anyone has encountered some injustice take a look at Jesus who was tried three times in one night , publicly declared innocent in one ,condemned to death when under oath confessed the truth He was the Son of God in another .
And still condemned to death and was crucified .
Pilate thought Jesus was standing before him . In truth he was standing before the Lord .
So what is truth ?
If you don't understand the truth about anything . You are to all intents and purposes in the dark . Unable to make a right or good decision. Or know which way to go .
When you know the truth you see which way to go and what is the right decision.
The truth then is the light that shines in the darkness .
This then is the truth :
"In the beginning God created the heaveN and the earth "
And it was not heaveN that was in darkness but the earth . Genesis 1:2
For that heaven needed no sun or moon for zGod is the light thereof .
And it is not God who is in darkness but man . For God is light and in Him there is no darkness .
Thus it is that earth that needed heavens light and it is man that " sat in darkness .."
man was created for the light .
His eyes respond to light ,wether he is conscious or not . Put a man in a room with no light for long enough and he will suffer .
Man was created for the light .indeed his default position is that you and I should always be told the truth .
But while all men expect it they do not always tell it .
Indeed demand the truth but do not speak it .
I completely agree. I would even go as far to say that they not only lacked faith (Spiritual faith), but the had none at all. You see, the Holy Spirit had not come yet. They did have human faith but without the indwelling of Gods Spirit, they had no way of coming up with Spiritual faith. That faith is a fruit of Gods Spirit, not man produced.
Acts 3:16 is one of the great verses in the bible that says this man was given the faith by Jesus. And Jesus is glorified by it because Jesus is the one that did this.
Faith is not produced by man. There is a certain kind of faith that man produces, but it's not spiritual faith, and it's not saving faith.
James, in James Chapter 2 discussed that. There is a faith that won't save you. Religious faith, human faith! But there is a faith that is produced by the Holy Spirit. The bible says that God gives us the faith.
Sorry for not replying sooner. I am staying at a Navy facility in Virginia for the next few months and the internet here is hit and miss, some days non-existent!
God bless you for everything you do here.
Thank you.
My understanding is that Paul wrote this letter to the Laodiceans and it was delivered to them. But it either was not preserved by this church or it somehow went out of print. The church does not have any original nor copied documents of this letter preserved.
I was unable to finish the last sentence so if you don't mind I'll finish it here fir clarity .
We are therefore not only " translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Gods dear Son .
But we are also translated from one predestination to another !
I am also judt reminded and it is confirmed that ' rapture' is not really accurate and can actually mislead if your not careful .
The better word would be " translated " for not only are we ,as it is written " translated " spiritually from one kingdom to the other other . We ,if found ready and alive will be translated physically from the earth to meet the Lord in the air and in a twinkling of an eye be changed physically as well .from mortal to immortal from a corrupt body to an incorruptible body .
Glory to God forever .
Moreover I also know that every langauge has a great deal of surrounding understanding that is quite simply taken for granted when it is your mother tongue. But unknown to the learner of the language. Who may take years to grasp it albeit they may have the mechanics .
Yet even with this fact and Hebrew was the Pharisees mother tongue did they understand the message? No.
Saul of Tarsus who's mother tongue was Hebrew probably knew Greek well ( I don't know) and Latin ( ditto) did not understand the scriptures either . And once converted and filled with the Spirit spent over three years in the " Arabian desert " getting his vast biblical knowledge in its right order and able to " rightly divide " the Word of God .
Having said all this , I do not doubt your sincerity or that you think this the correct greek .
I cant argue with you in greek . But I perhaps ' argue' ( in the correct sense) in English .
You say the greek word means " destined" my reply would be when was it destined? Was it not Before the foundations of the world ? Then it was predestined before the event . Even if as you say it means destined it was destined before the foundation of the earth , which in my mind is not exact enough in English and contained in the context .
To say we were destined implies an inherent property in ourselves for something. This is not true .I was predestined by the foreknowledge and working of God .
You have written "If we are trusting that obedience to any commandment of God, including the sign of water baptism, is a requirement for our salvation or affects our salvation in any way, we have a works / grace gospel that cannot save and we are under the Law and not under Grace". So obedience to God has no effect on our salvation. Likewise disobedience to Go has no effect on our salvation too,. So I can spent my whole life in disobedience, which is sinning and still be saved, because sometime in my life I was born again by God, right? Logical sequence, isn't it?
Matthew 7:21-2e "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity"
Those who say Lord, Lord are saved people or not? They are saved because in the next verse Jesus talks about them saying that they prophesied and made miracles. But there were left out of Heaven. Why? Because they were sinning (workers of iniquity), although been gifted. Why does Jesus tells them that He doesn't know them? Because Jesus only knows His true children, people who obey Him and keep themselves pure and clean of sin. A father knows his own children. Children must look like their father, not have the appearance of a stranger, say of devil's
Now I have a few questions for you (another topic):
1. When were the apostles saved(born again)? Before or after Pentecost (when they received the Holly Spirit)? When were they water baptized, before or after Pentecost? When were the Samaritans that Phillip preached to, baptized in The Spirit? Before or after water baptism? When were they saved, before or after Spirit baptism?
2. Water baptism preceds or follows salvation(new birth)?
GBU
Very Impressive writtngs Gerald.
God bless you.
God bless.
That's very interesting Giannis.
God bless you and thank you for causing us to dig deeper.
We see crying in verse 2 and singing in verses 7-8; finally praise in verse 9 with the resulting appreciation of mercy and truth (v.10) with His name exalted in the last verse. These are solid Biblical approaches to persecution; as we see when Paul was incarcerated in Acts 16:25-28 along with Silas; it in fact led to deliverance.
Ecclesiastes 9:12 and a host of other verses describe men being caught in nets due to their own sin. (see Job 18:5-9; Isaiah 24:18). "Vengeance is mine; I shall repay" is in Deuteronomy 32:35 and quoted in Romans 12:19. It is important to remember David's attitude toward "God's anointed" (see 1 Samuel 24). Even when Saul died David still mourned over him. This attitude of loving our enemies should characterize our lives while we still proclaim the truth that indeed the Day of His wrath is coming; and only through the cross will we escape.
Do you mean Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will"? Well, this is one of those cases that knowledge of Greek is useful. The word that is translated as "predestined" in English is the grk word "proorisas" which means "destined", not "predestined"
Other English translations translate it as "chose", "decide", "made selection",...even some as "predestined", but the right translation is "destined"
GBU
1 Thessalonians 5:17
17 pray without ceasing.
all the time seek God, in the morning in the night during work.
repent and believe in the lord Jesus Christ and read your bible.
Psalms 1;1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in ethe seat of scoffers.
2 but his delight is in the law2 of the LORD,
and on his law, he meditates day and night.
So, pray for understand and read your bible search for him then you will find him.
Amen
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to You today to ask that You bless Stephanie in her employment along with her employer and the company she works for so that she can earn what is needed for her needs and for her to be able to bless others with gifts.
We ask that You continue to bless her with strength for the day, vigor in her health, and energy to accomplish what is demanded of her in her job and home life. Thank You for bringing Stephanie to this site and for her diligence in requesting for us to pray for her. Lord, grant Stephanie the peace of mind to know that You are always with her and that her prayer requests are brought up to You. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we come to You in need today and in the name of Jesus. We lift up Van and the requests she has given to us. We ask that You relieve both her husband and son of the pain and oppression of mental illness that presses upon them daily We pray that they will be delivered from these illnesses by You, for You can do all things. We ask that You place Van's son in a job most appropriate for his skills and mental health. Father, we pray for Your protection around this family from physical hardships and adverse circumstances. We ask that You graciously bless them and bring them wisdom, solace, understanding, peace, and strength to face what is happening in their lives right now. And we ask that You will draw each one to You and guide them by Your Word of truth. Amen.
The word "alms" means money, goods, etc. that are given to care for the needs of the poor and needy. These are different than tithe which is given to God and distributed to the priests. So, alms were an offering above and beyond the tithe in the O.T. systems and was voluntary but honorable to do. In the N.T. there is a good example. Paul was planning to return to Jerusalem and had asked the churches of Asia Minor and Macedonia to put together money for the church at Jerusalem because Jerusalem and the people around this city were having a famine and many believers were in need of food. Paul then collected these gifts of money and brought it with him to Jerusalem t give to James to distribute to those in need.
Then consider what God said " in the day you eat of it"
Then consider what the devil said " ye shall not surely die "
If it was as you said then that would make God not straight speaking and the devil a speaker of the truth !
It was in fact a very subtle lie . For while on the same day they did eat if it and by Gods Word died .
They did not physically die till over 800 odd years .
A part truth is as good as a lie .
We must take Gods Word for it .
In truth everything up to the creation of Man was good and in the end very good .
Wrapped upon that great truth that a man was created in the Image of God is another great truth .
" Man shall not LIVE by bread alone (or by every tree that was good to eat ) but by that knowledge of God as to what wascgoid to eat and what was in effect evil to eat and by that word that proceeded from Gods mouth they lived .
It was the rejection of Gods Word and believing the lie of the devil that they became not only blind to the truth but perceived and reasoned wrongly .
For she " saw that the tree was good to eat " and she reasoned thus ," it wouid make her wise"
Adams sin was greater for he not only loved Eve more than God but in effect obeyed eve rather than God .
Sin "separates us from God" so they died on the very day and the very moment they disobeyed God and did that which was right or good in their own eyes .
It was a permanent effect for in choosing to cover their nakedness with fig leaves in their eyes it did indeed do so.
But when God called them from their hiding place ( darkness) into His presence ( light) with eyes from which nothing is hid saw that it did not . And gave them a covering of Hos own choosing ".For love covers a multitude of sin " and which foreshadowed the animal,sacrifices that were ordained to come .
But God also gave a promise by which God provided a redemption.
GB
Clearly then if we don't we won't .
" and the government shall be upon His shoulders"
The church which is His body not only has limbs ,hands and feet but shoulders .
The government of the Kingdom of zGod shall be on His shoulders .
This is not a ' government' like those of the "Nicolaitans which I hate " who seperate themselves and Lord it over the Laity they have made .
Hirelings who not only " make merchandise of Gods people" but when they see the wolves coming flee and the sheep are scattered " John 12 . But take note the hirelings are caught not the sheep .
In Ezekiel there are dire warnings for pastors who love not the sheep as THE shepherd of man's souls loves them .
But all the offices of the church as listed from Apostles to evangelists have but one purpose . The perfection of the church ." Till we all come to a unity of the faith unto the fullness and stature of Christ unto the perfect man Ephesians .
If we are faithful in little we we will be given much to rule over .
Note it is not if we are ' successful' as the world counts success . Calvary on the face of it was disaster and victory by the enemy .
But faithful . The Philadelphian church in its own eyes was poor ,but in Gods "was rich "
The Laodocian church in its own eyes was rich but in Gods eyes was poor wretched and blind .
Churchill prior to WW2 was vilified and rejected by all parties in particular but come 1940 was the only one qualified to become Prime Minister .
The Lord Jesus Christ proved Himself worthy to be King of Kings , All the kingdoms of this world past and present are on a foundation of treachery, murder and war . Including Great Britain and if the UK turned out different it's only because of the grace of zGod and the zBible that was once honoured by this nation .
In as much asit does not it will if it does not repent become as any other Godless nation . Perhaps worse for we have known far better .
But what says the scriptures?" The letter killeth but the Spirit gives life "
We have by the grace of God the body of truth ; the scriptures .
We have also by the grace of God the " Spirit of truth ".
This self same Spirit ,is not an influence , or some other abstract ' thing' emanating from God . "He" is a person who can be resisted ,grieved, quenched and blasphemed against .
Was the same Spirit that inspired men to so write the scriptures . If He was so needed to inspire men to write them . He is in equal measure so needed to understand what is written. "For what knoweth the things of man save thecspirit thatbis in man? So like wise what knoweth the things of zGod save the Spurit of God" who knows the mind of God and the deep things of zGod ".
Therefore we need both the scriptures or body of truth as well as the Spirit of truth to lead us into all truth .
There is a lot of confusion today in many places because many hold to scriptures alone doctrine but see no need for the Spirit . Leaning more upon their understanding of Greek or Hebrew than upon the Lord .
While others " by their traditions have made the Word of God of none effect "
The last day church of Laodocia in its own eyes is "rich increased with goods ( prosperous) and in need of nothing ,when in spiritual reality is poor wretched and blind and in need of eye salve "
Yet what says the Spirit to the churches?" Behold I stand at the door and knock " a call to the whole church to repent then .
If any man has ears to hear and opens the door " to them is the promise given .
Consider that after the resurrection No door was an obstical to the Lord ,
Why then is the door of His church one?
Who thinks He is inside ?
But clearly is outside knocking for entrance .
A contradiction not to be seriously considered .
We should not take this great statement of fact first spoken of at the Reformation out of context .
For that statement was in response to the vain assertion by some religionists that their traditions were to be held in higher authority than the scriptures .
This is where man falls into error . " For all scripture is given by God and is good for correction ,reproof and instruction in righteousness " 1Timothy".
Man any man is not infallible only God is . Even if you spoke the truth that does not make you infallible you simply bare bare witness to the truth that God is .
For a man may hear the truth , he may see the truth , he can speak the truth . He can meditate on the truth he can know the truth . The truth can be in him . He can walk in the truth and even do the truth . But even with all that no man save the Lord Jesus Christ say ," I am the truth ".
Man has no light of his own , he is though like the moon a witness for the truth . For the moon when it still shines even in the darkest night ,bares witness to the truth that the sun still shines and there is coming a perfect day .
Even the Lord said "the words that I speak are not my words ." The difference with Him though is that He was born sinless and the only begotten Son ,we are not .
He proved to be " The truth " by being born in the time frame the scriptures foretold he would be born . In the place he would be born ,where he would grow up . How he would live ,by what power and authority , the miracles , how he would've rejected ,betrayed ,suffer and be crucified . How he would be buried and would rise again on the third day .all foreseen and recorded for our sakes so that we might know the truth and recognise Him.
The scriptures alone then are the only sure and certain foundation for any real faith in God . For faith in God comes by hearing and by that understanding the word of God " and as it is written good for correction ,reproof and instruction in righteousness .