Thanks Alex. I got that reference ( Exodus 3:15). You may have missed my reply further up the thread when you mentioned that reference rather than the one I took as an example ( Exodus 4:5). So in that comment I gave to you, I mentioned that you changed what God said (I AM the God of Abraham, etc.) to My Name is Abraham, etc. I realize you gave your explanation as to why you believe God's Name is Abraham, etc., but you haven't explained why you've changed the wording & meaning. Just to support a belief doesn't warrant changing a verse to suit that belief. A belief must arise from the Word given & understood in its normal sense.
You asked some interesting questions and made some interesting suppositions.
I haven't researched this thoroughly but my current understanding of God saying "I AM" is a proclamation of who He is, including His greatness, glory, power, divinity. The English language is probably insufficient to properly convey just how awesome He is. Jesus also said "I am" in the New Testament, and people ironically accused Him of blasphemy.
I'm not quite following your next statements about you thinking you're a god? Do you believe this is related to the "I am" statements? Do you believe 1 Corinthians 8:6 where it says there is only one God and Lord? If there's only one, then I would think that would automatically invalidate anyone claiming there are more gods and make that an untrue statement, would it not?
Do you consider yourself a follower of Christ? There's a great link on becoming a Christian at the bottom of the page with many helpful verses.
Nothing in the Bible contradicts itself. People find "apparent" inconsistencies and are often quick to make these claims, but when someone actually researches deeper one usually realizes the truth and that it's all consistent. If you have a specific example of how you drew your conclusion that could help with a dialog.
Sadly, some who post here occasionally have unpure motives when posting sometimes and may only be trolling or have other objectives, but I trust that you are genuinely asking with an open mind, so this is my genuine response in attempt to help you. God bless.
What's the real meaning when GOD said to Moses I Am That I Am, And I am have sent to you?
Does this mean that trough the I Am we are all Gods and creators, or that GOD is a being and so HE/SHE impregnate everything and so everything is HIM/HER?
Are we so co creator of the universe? Do Christians really need the Old Testament, even though in many parts it contradicts the words O Jesus Christ?
Amen, good stuff! After reading what you wrote, Romans 16:17 comes to mind, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Now I appeal to you, brethren, and listen to this, the command.
Mark them which cause divisions and offences.
The word mark is the work Skopos. We get our word scope from this word. And it in a present participle form in the Greek, which means continue to observe.
Be continually looking at those who cause divisions and offenses, Scandalons, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned.
Paul said in Galatians Chapter 1 that if anybody preaches any other gospel than that which he has preached, let them be accursed.
That's pretty bold and authoritative. If they don't preach. Or if they preach contrary to the doctrine which Paul has taught and has given them, mark them. That's command number one. Command number two is avoid them.
The word avoid means to go out of your way to avoid them. It's the word bend. If you are walking right at somebody, just bend yourself right around them. You give them the message that they are teaching false doctrine.
I am trying to get beyond a mere academic exercise in this study. That is why I mentioned the questioning of people; Christ's response then his more mysterious and hidden commentary on those who would or would not hear His voice. His parables; along with wanting to hide His notoriety all fit into His own predestined course of which He would not deviate. It seems He only "seals the deal" with any particular individuals when He mentions blasphemy against the Spirit. Clearly; there were Pharisees who believed mixed in with those who didn't although many were afraid because of their reputations.
On a deeper level; it is important witnessing to others to realize why the same message may be accepted or rejected; and also to understand why some seem to fall away at times unexpectantly. We; of course are not to be using any of this as an excuse not to witness. It just puts the focus on God ultimately. First and foremost; we go out declaring His truth because of His name's sake and the fact that we are not ashamed of the Gospel. Even Christ mentioned that one sows; another reaps; as apparently others had sometimes spoken about Christ besides Him and the Disciples. When we see Christ even speaking to His own family about who truly were His "mothers; brothers; sisters; etc. ( Matt. 12:49). we see that His priority was on the Kingdom of God; and His prayers were for His children as we are all adopted as Sons.
This is something that I didn't understand 40 years ago when I made a confession of faith; nor did many in my Baptist fellowship. The focus of course should always be on God's attributes; His holiness and such. This is one aspect of His character. It sort of helps to put the prophetic puzzle pieces together for Satan and his minions and fallen man as we come to the inevitable final conflagration. There is interaction between us and God as well resulting in true repentance and change on our part in all those who hear His voice and "know" Him.
Luke 16:19-26. The only passage that Jesus Himself talks about where a person goes after he dies. There is Heaven and Hell. I pray all will be saved. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10.
Luke 23:43
Acts 1:25; John 17:12 Judas Iscariot is the son of perdition. He went to his own place. Revelation 17:8
Isaiah 5:14
Romans 16:25-27
John 3:16 I pray many will be saved. Keep the Faith, trust only and believe in the blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody can save themselves. We give glory to God for He gave us a free gift, a gift of Grace, the grace of God that is available to all.
1. Regarding John 10:36 "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" if you look at the context Jesus is talking only about his sheep. The sheep are His followers, or, Christians. Not everyone is a sheep. They are choosing to follow Jesus and choosing to believe and choosing be sheep by their own freewill and decisions. We know this because of what it says just prior to that. John 10:25-27. In v26 he says they are NOT His sheep because they don't believe. So, if we combine this verse with Matthew 7:13-14 one can presume that most are NOT sheep. Many most are wolves and some are wolves in sheep's clothing. Matthew 7:15.
2. Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the thoughts" or "plans" and hope for a "future" some translations say. Just because an all-knowing God can know this doesn't automatically mean its robbing you of freewill. You are not an automatic robot following a specific script. God is big and powerful enough to know everything and also let us have freewill at the same time, even if little human brains have a hard time comprehending it. God is much bigger than our assumed limitations. God is also big enough to change His mind, as happened relating to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Maybe God's plan is just a broad overview of what would be best for you, maybe like a map, but its up to you whether you follow it or not. Maybe you take a few detours along the way, maybe you get confused and even go the wrong way at times. This doesn't automatically mean you are following God's plan. Maybe you're not following Him at all. I think if you ask most people who believe in predestination, they generally admit that when they ordered a chicken sandwich for lunch and held the pickles that it was mostly their choice and not necessarily God's plan. Or when a Christian sins 1 John 1:8, I don't think most people actually believe that God causes people to sin. God forbids us to tempt or lead others to stumble in sin: Luke 17:1-4.
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. I pray that wherever you are God's Light and Glory Shines upon you and your family until the 2nd coming of Christ Jesus. I understand that scripture very well thank you for sharing it. Please read 2 posts up in my other answer. I Must hold myself to a higher standard in God and not to create turmoil in my spirit. Does this make since? I look at what God did for us bringing us out of the Law of the OT. Because we could never attain salvation under the Law. So, I look at what God did for us bringing us unto himself. By the Cross and sending Jesus into this world to die for our sins that whosoever believes in him should not perish but gain eternal life! Ok now that being said it's that Grace, I choose not to take advantage of. When I look back on my life and see all my failures and everything I have repented of and been forgiven of, how can I not give my complete self as sacrifice as I push forward into his righteousness. I have truly laid down my life as a sacrifice to further my relationship towards sanctification in Christ Jesus. I give freely of all I have, to all that have needs because of the calling on my life. After all I have seen from my time spent in the Persian Gulf and the Balkans. To come home to suffer, not getting help because of Pride and trying to do it all on my own. God is the only one that could fix the monster I had become. So, for all my Gratitude I choose Peace, Love and Understanding and to move into a deeper relationship with God so he can maintain control of my soul because it is his to begin with. I have chosen to become a bondservant for Christ Jesus. My prayer when I pray is that if anything unclean and unrighteous be found in my mind or body it be removed; if any thought is impure, it be blotted out. If my tongue defile me or sews discord that God shut my mouth. I do my best to forsake all sin so that nothing be found in me at Jesus 2nd coming especially now! Peace be with you!
Interesting stuff. There is also found in Romans 8 regarding predestination and who we are in Christ, one of my favorite chapters in the bible. God bless.
Dear Grae, I think God doesn't hold you accountable for what you don't know but for what you know and choose to do the opposite hence disobey Him. When we are young in faith we often do not realize that some things we do, God does not actually like them. As we grow spiritually we understand more and more of God's expectations from us and so we correct things that previously may seemed to us to be OK
Paul in his letter to Corinthians writes: 1 Cor 3:1-3
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
So when we first come to Jesus we are still babies in faith. Paul calls this situation "carnal". Why? Because as babies do not know much and may do something wrong without realizing it, similarly we do the same. God loves us and knows all that and has patience and wants us to become mature in faith. How do we become mature? We need "milk" in the begining, that is the initial easy understood Word of God. So we are getting mature and start using solid food(meat), that is a deeper understanding of God's Will. And so we are progressing (or should do) towards what Paul calls "perfection" See Phillpians 3:12-14. Do we actually reach a stage that we become so? My belief in no we don't, we still have a sinful nature to fight against it, still learning things about God, about our heart...but we walk along this good path.
Paul in 1 Cor 4:4 writes "For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord."
That means that even Paul was not sure of what his heart really had inside, so God who knows our heart can actually judge right.
Conclusion? Do what you know, repent for what you know you did wrong and let God lead you and your life.
I do not think having an alcoholic drink is sinful. It is when we become inebriated we sin or when we crave alcohol that may be a sign of addiction when it is sinful. Pau said that we are not to be mastered by anything in 1Cor. 6:12. In some cultures, wine or beer is consumed daily. I think this is o.k. as long as one is not internally compelled to drink to satisfy a craving.
First of all, let me say thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I pray the love of our Lord and savior Christ Jesus continuously pour into your hearts and lives. I just got done reading Rom 7 and couldn't stop. Went through to chapter 9 and will go back into it more later. I understand everything said and know it as truth. The relationship I share with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is on a very much deeper level than most as I have chosen to sacrifice my life in its entirety. My life is not my own it is Gods. I am 54 years old grew up in a home with a family that had no love and was extremely violent and shed with blood and misery. Admittedly my choices in life were my own. I was a vile individual from the time I joined the army until Feb this year. I had fought my whole life to not become that man my dad was. I failed in Feb 2022 when I raised my hand against my wife and went to Jail. I paid my penalties and did my time and have since repented. That was the turning point of my life that I chose to fight the good fight and stand for Jesus! When I saw that verse 1 John 5:17 from where I'm at now in my life it wasn't me in the flesh but The Holy Spirit that quickened me. I have been in seclusion isolated with God and my dog since that day and have dedicated my life to seeking God. I have chosen to remove everything that is worldly from my life. I really do not partake of sin. It utterly repulses my spirit and flesh, yes, my flesh as I have given control of my entire being to God for use through the Holy Spirit. I do fail daily but the Holy spirit convicts me instantly. I am not perfect but have come to the realization that 54 years has been too long and fraught with peril. I cannot control the flesh but God sure can when you ask him to. To me, I must live with the realization that Sin = Death because of how I choose to live now. For sure as I turn my back on God, I become a monster you do not want. Peace and Love in Jesus! Amen!!
Whereas God did not do the actual physical writing of the O.T. and N.T, He did supernaturally inspire each Scripture writer to write what He determined should be included in the Scriptures. This inspiration is not like someone being "inspired by something and then to write a poem or song. This type of inspiration is of the natural man, not directly from God. The inspiration of Scriptures is "God-breathed" as it says in 2 Tim. 3:16. God impressed His thoughts, truths, and accounts of historical events into the minds of the writers as they wrote what the Holy Spirit guided them to write.
The original writings of the books of the Bible are truly inspired without error. The copying and translating that occurred over the centuries has contained errors but most errors have been corrected upon re-translation to leave the translated Bibles 98% or so accurate. We can trust the Scriptures that are translated for us as highly accurate Words from God to us in our time.
Ann, it was probably best for you to leave this fellowship. It is not always easy to do that (I have done that before and it was sorrowful) but we should wish to be under the instruction and pastorship of one who preaches with integrity and espoused the integrity and accuracy of the Scriptures He preaches from. I pray that God will lead you to a better fellowship situation and that He will also lead your daughter and son to a better one also.
I've heard lots of false teachings in the church and pastors are fallible just like anyone else.
I watch out for people making up their own absolutist statements not backed by anything Biblical. Either this or that, no exceptions! A common pop culture generic phrase is "either you love it or hate it" which I believe is false.
So, is KJV God's word? Yes. Can other translations also be God's word? In my opinion, yes. The reality is that English as a language does change over time. If you read English a few hundred years ago you'd think it is a foreign language. Also some phrases can have different ways of conveying the same meaning. So, for example, if a translation converts Thou shalt to you should, the meaning is the same. I believe God can use that and someone who genuinely seeks Him I believe will not be hindered by this and that God will honor those who pursue Him. I believe people have found Christ by not even having or owning a Bible. I believe some in prisons have only had small sections torn out to read.
But is it possible to have a bad or worldly translation? Yes, I know of one "Bible" that is actually changed to conform to be pro-LGBT and "progressive" and they flat out admitted that they changed the Bible. This is wrong and is a lie and God will judge them appropriately. God bless you.
I have a different opinion than the others who responded here.
Jesus's first miracle was turning water to wine and that was an alcoholic drink. We know this because of John 2:10 mentioning possibility to get drunk from it.
With that being said this poses a great danger to us and can be abused like many other things, like food (gluttony), additions (strongholds, idolatry, putting false gods before God), prescription drugs, sexuality, etc. Those who have self-control challenges and tend to become easily addicted should avoid this at all costs. Remember Matthew 5:30, this should be balanced with 1 Timothy 4:4.
Maybe its like enjoying a fire but if you get lured in too close you can be badly burned.
1 John 2:3-29 (KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have
1 John 1:1-10 (KJV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Matthew 5:1-17 (KJV) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill
Gianni's I enjoyed your post . However , do u agree that we may sin without realising it ? We may sin and not know that we have and maybe even never know because we can't remember everything that we have ever said or done in our lives . What about those sins ? The ones we r never even aware of committing ? R those sins forgiven ?
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (KJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1.Therefore, my Brethern dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2. I beseech Euodia and beseech Synych, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3. And I intreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which laboured with men the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.
5. Let your moderation be known into all men.
6. Be careful for nothing; but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
9. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10. I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
11. He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from beginning even to the end.
12. I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
13. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
14. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that man should fear before him. That which is hath been long ago; and that which is be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
Michael let me give ya my take on this verse....Go to Romans 7 Read the whole chapter....Paul is telling us that we sin many times b/c its not us that does it but sin that dwells in our members....O wretched man that i am...With my mind i serve the law of GOD but with my FLESH THE LAW OF SIN....I find a law that when i wd do good evil is present with me....Paul says if we do something we do not CONSENT UNTO its not us that does it but sin that dwells in our members...But he goes on to say there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus....WHY IS THERE NO CONDEMNATION....Simply b/c when we are bornagain satan sows a tare in us with the wheat ....making us 2 persons....The wheat and the tares make us 2 persons....Then we are involved in a warfare....We answer to the 2 men in 1 bed...But we are just 1 person...But 1 will be taken and 1 will be left...Gather the tares in bundles and burn them Jesus says....But gather the wheat into my barn...kingdom
......And also the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death... Romans 8 : 2 kjv
......There is a sin not unto death b/c of the tares that satan puts in us makes us SIN trying to destroy us....Thats y he is saying there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus....The lord knows we do things we do not consent unto, we are involved in a war with satan...We walk in the flesh but we do not war in the flesh....We war in the spirit...
Even as Christians we have to repent for our sins because we are not perfect. Jesus says that the spirit is strong but the flesh is weak. I have to repent for my sins. When I make a mistake. The Bible say there is no sins that is stronger than God's forgiveness. We Christians try live the straight and narrow way. But we still make mistakes God understands it. That why he sent His Son to die for our sins that through the blood of Christ we can be saved. Christ died for our sins and was risen on the third day. Christ was sent to us to show us the way to repentance. If you make mistake you still a Christian. Paul says in the Bible no one is perfect here earth not even one. But Christ was the only perfect one to ever walk the earth. But God loves us even though we are not perfect. All we can do is live by God and the Son of God teaching and try to do the best we can as Christians.
You asked some interesting questions and made some interesting suppositions.
I haven't researched this thoroughly but my current understanding of God saying "I AM" is a proclamation of who He is, including His greatness, glory, power, divinity. The English language is probably insufficient to properly convey just how awesome He is. Jesus also said "I am" in the New Testament, and people ironically accused Him of blasphemy.
I'm not quite following your next statements about you thinking you're a god? Do you believe this is related to the "I am" statements? Do you believe 1 Corinthians 8:6 where it says there is only one God and Lord? If there's only one, then I would think that would automatically invalidate anyone claiming there are more gods and make that an untrue statement, would it not?
Do you consider yourself a follower of Christ? There's a great link on becoming a Christian at the bottom of the page with many helpful verses.
Nothing in the Bible contradicts itself. People find "apparent" inconsistencies and are often quick to make these claims, but when someone actually researches deeper one usually realizes the truth and that it's all consistent. If you have a specific example of how you drew your conclusion that could help with a dialog.
Sadly, some who post here occasionally have unpure motives when posting sometimes and may only be trolling or have other objectives, but I trust that you are genuinely asking with an open mind, so this is my genuine response in attempt to help you. God bless.
What's the real meaning when GOD said to Moses I Am That I Am, And I am have sent to you?
Does this mean that trough the I Am we are all Gods and creators, or that GOD is a being and so HE/SHE impregnate everything and so everything is HIM/HER?
Are we so co creator of the universe? Do Christians really need the Old Testament, even though in many parts it contradicts the words O Jesus Christ?
Thank you.
Francesco Rossi
Amen, good stuff! After reading what you wrote, Romans 16:17 comes to mind, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Now I appeal to you, brethren, and listen to this, the command.
Mark them which cause divisions and offences.
The word mark is the work Skopos. We get our word scope from this word. And it in a present participle form in the Greek, which means continue to observe.
Be continually looking at those who cause divisions and offenses, Scandalons, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned.
Paul said in Galatians Chapter 1 that if anybody preaches any other gospel than that which he has preached, let them be accursed.
That's pretty bold and authoritative. If they don't preach. Or if they preach contrary to the doctrine which Paul has taught and has given them, mark them. That's command number one. Command number two is avoid them.
The word avoid means to go out of your way to avoid them. It's the word bend. If you are walking right at somebody, just bend yourself right around them. You give them the message that they are teaching false doctrine.
On a deeper level; it is important witnessing to others to realize why the same message may be accepted or rejected; and also to understand why some seem to fall away at times unexpectantly. We; of course are not to be using any of this as an excuse not to witness. It just puts the focus on God ultimately. First and foremost; we go out declaring His truth because of His name's sake and the fact that we are not ashamed of the Gospel. Even Christ mentioned that one sows; another reaps; as apparently others had sometimes spoken about Christ besides Him and the Disciples. When we see Christ even speaking to His own family about who truly were His "mothers; brothers; sisters; etc. ( Matt. 12:49). we see that His priority was on the Kingdom of God; and His prayers were for His children as we are all adopted as Sons.
This is something that I didn't understand 40 years ago when I made a confession of faith; nor did many in my Baptist fellowship. The focus of course should always be on God's attributes; His holiness and such. This is one aspect of His character. It sort of helps to put the prophetic puzzle pieces together for Satan and his minions and fallen man as we come to the inevitable final conflagration. There is interaction between us and God as well resulting in true repentance and change on our part in all those who hear His voice and "know" Him.
Luke 23:43
Acts 1:25; John 17:12 Judas Iscariot is the son of perdition. He went to his own place. Revelation 17:8
Isaiah 5:14
Romans 16:25-27
John 3:16 I pray many will be saved. Keep the Faith, trust only and believe in the blood of Jesus Christ. Nobody can save themselves. We give glory to God for He gave us a free gift, a gift of Grace, the grace of God that is available to all.
Hope this helps.
Have a blessed night.
1. Regarding John 10:36 "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" if you look at the context Jesus is talking only about his sheep. The sheep are His followers, or, Christians. Not everyone is a sheep. They are choosing to follow Jesus and choosing to believe and choosing be sheep by their own freewill and decisions. We know this because of what it says just prior to that. John 10:25-27. In v26 he says they are NOT His sheep because they don't believe. So, if we combine this verse with Matthew 7:13-14 one can presume that most are NOT sheep. Many most are wolves and some are wolves in sheep's clothing. Matthew 7:15.
2. Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the thoughts" or "plans" and hope for a "future" some translations say. Just because an all-knowing God can know this doesn't automatically mean its robbing you of freewill. You are not an automatic robot following a specific script. God is big and powerful enough to know everything and also let us have freewill at the same time, even if little human brains have a hard time comprehending it. God is much bigger than our assumed limitations. God is also big enough to change His mind, as happened relating to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Maybe God's plan is just a broad overview of what would be best for you, maybe like a map, but its up to you whether you follow it or not. Maybe you take a few detours along the way, maybe you get confused and even go the wrong way at times. This doesn't automatically mean you are following God's plan. Maybe you're not following Him at all. I think if you ask most people who believe in predestination, they generally admit that when they ordered a chicken sandwich for lunch and held the pickles that it was mostly their choice and not necessarily God's plan. Or when a Christian sins 1 John 1:8, I don't think most people actually believe that God causes people to sin. God forbids us to tempt or lead others to stumble in sin: Luke 17:1-4.
God bless.
Paul in his letter to Corinthians writes: 1 Cor 3:1-3
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"
So when we first come to Jesus we are still babies in faith. Paul calls this situation "carnal". Why? Because as babies do not know much and may do something wrong without realizing it, similarly we do the same. God loves us and knows all that and has patience and wants us to become mature in faith. How do we become mature? We need "milk" in the begining, that is the initial easy understood Word of God. So we are getting mature and start using solid food(meat), that is a deeper understanding of God's Will. And so we are progressing (or should do) towards what Paul calls "perfection" See Phillpians 3:12-14. Do we actually reach a stage that we become so? My belief in no we don't, we still have a sinful nature to fight against it, still learning things about God, about our heart...but we walk along this good path.
Paul in 1 Cor 4:4 writes "For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord."
That means that even Paul was not sure of what his heart really had inside, so God who knows our heart can actually judge right.
Conclusion? Do what you know, repent for what you know you did wrong and let God lead you and your life.
GBU
I do not think having an alcoholic drink is sinful. It is when we become inebriated we sin or when we crave alcohol that may be a sign of addiction when it is sinful. Pau said that we are not to be mastered by anything in 1Cor. 6:12. In some cultures, wine or beer is consumed daily. I think this is o.k. as long as one is not internally compelled to drink to satisfy a craving.
Whereas God did not do the actual physical writing of the O.T. and N.T, He did supernaturally inspire each Scripture writer to write what He determined should be included in the Scriptures. This inspiration is not like someone being "inspired by something and then to write a poem or song. This type of inspiration is of the natural man, not directly from God. The inspiration of Scriptures is "God-breathed" as it says in 2 Tim. 3:16. God impressed His thoughts, truths, and accounts of historical events into the minds of the writers as they wrote what the Holy Spirit guided them to write.
The original writings of the books of the Bible are truly inspired without error. The copying and translating that occurred over the centuries has contained errors but most errors have been corrected upon re-translation to leave the translated Bibles 98% or so accurate. We can trust the Scriptures that are translated for us as highly accurate Words from God to us in our time.
Ann, it was probably best for you to leave this fellowship. It is not always easy to do that (I have done that before and it was sorrowful) but we should wish to be under the instruction and pastorship of one who preaches with integrity and espoused the integrity and accuracy of the Scriptures He preaches from. I pray that God will lead you to a better fellowship situation and that He will also lead your daughter and son to a better one also.
I watch out for people making up their own absolutist statements not backed by anything Biblical. Either this or that, no exceptions! A common pop culture generic phrase is "either you love it or hate it" which I believe is false.
So, is KJV God's word? Yes. Can other translations also be God's word? In my opinion, yes. The reality is that English as a language does change over time. If you read English a few hundred years ago you'd think it is a foreign language. Also some phrases can have different ways of conveying the same meaning. So, for example, if a translation converts Thou shalt to you should, the meaning is the same. I believe God can use that and someone who genuinely seeks Him I believe will not be hindered by this and that God will honor those who pursue Him. I believe people have found Christ by not even having or owning a Bible. I believe some in prisons have only had small sections torn out to read.
But is it possible to have a bad or worldly translation? Yes, I know of one "Bible" that is actually changed to conform to be pro-LGBT and "progressive" and they flat out admitted that they changed the Bible. This is wrong and is a lie and God will judge them appropriately. God bless you.
I have a different opinion than the others who responded here.
Jesus's first miracle was turning water to wine and that was an alcoholic drink. We know this because of John 2:10 mentioning possibility to get drunk from it.
With that being said this poses a great danger to us and can be abused like many other things, like food (gluttony), additions (strongholds, idolatry, putting false gods before God), prescription drugs, sexuality, etc. Those who have self-control challenges and tend to become easily addicted should avoid this at all costs. Remember Matthew 5:30, this should be balanced with 1 Timothy 4:4.
Maybe its like enjoying a fire but if you get lured in too close you can be badly burned.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Philipppians 4:1-7
1.Therefore, my Brethern dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
2. I beseech Euodia and beseech Synych, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3. And I intreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which laboured with men the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say Rejoice.
5. Let your moderation be known into all men.
6. Be careful for nothing; but everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.
7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15
9. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10. I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
11. He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from beginning even to the end.
12. I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
13. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
14. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that man should fear before him. That which is hath been long ago; and that which is be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.
......And also the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death... Romans 8 : 2 kjv
......There is a sin not unto death b/c of the tares that satan puts in us makes us SIN trying to destroy us....Thats y he is saying there is no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus....The lord knows we do things we do not consent unto, we are involved in a war with satan...We walk in the flesh but we do not war in the flesh....We war in the spirit...