Mal 4:5 (KJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 (KJV) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet - This is meant alone of John the Baptist, as we learn from Lu 1:17, in whose spirit and power he came.
Lu 1:17 (KJV) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
He shall go before him - Jesus Christ, in the spirit and power of Elijah; he shall resemble Elijah in his retired and austere manner of life, and in his zeal for the truth, reproving even princes for their crimes; compare 1Ki 21:17-24, with Mt 14:4. It was on these accounts that the Prophet Malachi, Mal 4:6, had likened John to this prophet. See also Isa 40:3; and Mal 4:5, Mal 4:6.
To turn the hearts of the fathers - Gross ignorance had taken place in the hearts of the Jewish people; they needed a Divine instructer: John is announced as such; by this preaching and manner of life, all classes among the people should be taught the nature of their several places, and the duties respectively incumbent upon them, See Lu 3:10, etc. In these things the greatness of John, mentioned Lu 1:15, is pointed out, Nothing is truly great but what is so in the sight of God.
1. From the plenitude of God's Spirit which dwelt in him.
2. From his continual self-denial, and taking up his cross.
3. From his ardent zeal to make Christ known.
4. From his fidelity and courage in rebuking vice.
5. From the reformation which he was the instrument of effecting among the people; reviving among them the spirit of the patriarchs, and preparing their hearts to receive the Lord Jesus
You that fear my name - The persons mentioned in the sixteenth verse of the preceding chapter, ye that look for redemption through the Messiah.
The Sun of righteousness - The Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah; the Hope of Israel.
With healing in his wings - As the sun, by the rays of light and heat, revives, cheers, and fructifies the whole creation, giving, through God, light and life everywhere; so Jesus Christ, by the influences of his grace and Spirit, shall quicken, awaken, enlighten, warm, invigorate heal, purify, and refine every soul that believes in him, and, by his wings or rays, diffuse these blessings from one end of heaven to another; everywhere invigorating the seeds of righteousness, and withering and drying up the seeds of sin. The rays of this Sun are the truths of his Gospel, and the influences of his Spirit. And at present these are universally diffused.
And ye shall go forth - Ye who believe on his name shall go forth out of Jerusalem when the Romans shall come up against it. After Cestius Gallus had blockaded the city for some days, he suddenly raised the siege. The Christians who were then in it, knowing, by seeing Jerusalem encompassed with armies, that the day of its destruction was come, when their Lord commanded them to flee into the mountains, took this opportunity to escape from Jerusalem, and go to Pella, in Coelesyria; so that no Christian life fell in the siege and destruction of this city.
But these words are of more general application and meaning; "ye shall go forth" in all the occupations of life, but particularly in the means of grace; and: -
Grow up as calves of the stall - Full of health, of life, and spirits; satisfied and happy.
Hi Jeremiah , before Jesus , the Jews were aware that God was going to send them a Messiah , read what Jesus says in John Ch 8 V 52-58 and also Genesis Ch 22 V 7+8 . Obviously we wouldn't strictly speaking call Abraham a Christian , but for sure he knew about and understood God's plan of salvation and if we read the old testament carefully we will see that Abraham was not the only one who did .
Here is why I believe Colossians 2:12 and Romans 6:3-7 are referring to spirit baptism. First of all we are told earlier on in Colossians Chapter 2 that we are circumcised by Christ by the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh.
But now it tells us that we are also buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation, (or energizing of God), who has raised him from the dead.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that we are all baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ. When a person is born of the Spirit of God, it is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the time when you are cleansed from your sin, and that is our identification with Christ. It is not water baptism that saves. Peter argued that in his first letter in Chapter 4 that it's not the pouring of water over the flesh, but it's the answer of a good conscience towards God. So for me, it's spiritual, not physical.
But what is baptism supposed to be for? Water baptism is a testimony of the inward work of God's Spirit. Can a person get baptized and still not be saved? Yes! I think we both agree that water baptism is an outward expression, a testimony of the inward work of God's Spirit. In other words, I am baptized by God's Spirit. That's the coming of Christ into my life, the cleansing.
And I get water baptized in order to be a testimony that I have experienced the Spiritual baptism by Christ. Like I said, I can be unsaved and still get baptized in a religious ceremony. But it doesn't mean a thing. It's just water. It's not spiritual. 1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us that we're all baptized by one Spirit into the body.
I'm running out of space. I'll send my thoughts on Romans 6:3-7 in a separate post.
We have a sheep doing what sheep do, wonders away from home into the wilderness and ends up in the pig pen.
If he was anything else but a son he would like the pig pen or the wilderness but he's a son who remembers his life in the fathers house and look what happens.
AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:17-18.
When he came to himself!
I would draw your attention to
2 Peter 2:22. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire".
A dog and a pig likes what they do. The fathers house is what they don't like, That's why they returned back to their old ways,
But a son "One born from above" doesn't turn back to his old ways and stay there, his Spirit won't let him enjoy it neither will his loving father.
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, UNTIL HE FIND IT?"
It's the Holyspirit what convicts us and keeps us. and when we return the Lord gladly accepts us back in the fold.
Richard A proper assessment in regards to Pauls thorn in the flesh it was not his physical problems where ever he
went there were always judean rulers zealous for the law that wanted to track him down and kill him. Also he had
to deal with the unbelievers and the believers who needed to be reproved and corrected who were not walking by
the spirit which in many cases they didn't copped out on what he taught and got to the point of not believing'anymore and wanted to have no contact with him. Its was so bad that in 2 Timothy 1;15 all asia turned away from him. thats bad.
Hello everyone , I'm sorry if this comes across as contentious , I don't mean to be though I do believe that I must draw your attention to the following verses , if you believe that Jesus is equal to God then please consider these verses Acts Ch 15 V 22-28 , paying particular attention to what it actually says especially in V 27+28 , God is Sovereign . Much love in Christ .
Hey Jason, good deal, it would be nice if our brain had a delete button, when things pop up in our mind, we could just click and put it in the trash bin. Our subconscious mind paints a picture in our mind, it does not analyze or judge it just records and it is millions of times faster than our conscious mind. It is the big part of our flesh; it is a big driver of our choices.
In other words, we've already come up with a decision or an answer, before we realize we have. When we read and study, what we have programed in our mind by what we have been taught, answers we have come up with on our own will block what we are reading with what we have in our subconscious mind.
There is a phrase in the bible I think speaks to it; "he who has ears to hear let him hear".
When we read or study, if we can start as we do not know anything about what we are about to read and prayer.
If you have questions, there are many on this site would love to help.
Hi Gianni's , I hope you don't mind me responding to you , here are some references that you may find helpful , or not smiley face , Acts Ch 2 V 38 and Acts Ch 10 V 44-48 . Also Acts Ch 8 V 12- 39 .
Thank you for sharing this. As you say, this is a great lesson. We find it in Mark 12:41-44 which speaks about the casting of the widow's mite
Verse 41 says that Jesus sat over against the treasury. Now I like this one! This would be equivalent to Jesus sitting across the tithing envelopes in the foyer in our church fellowship. That would make someone nervous wouldn't it? And He was watching how the people cast their money into the treasury: how they were doing it, not how much. And many that were rich cast in much.
Verse 42 says that she threw in two mites (and these are not bugs). Those are the names of coins. It is actually the word LEPTA. A LEPTA is only 1/64th of a day's wage. Somebody figured that out to be about 10 or 12 minutes, 1/64th of a day's wage.
And so two of them, two mites, it adds up to a KORENTAS, 1/32nd of a day's wage. Not much! She threw in these two coins worth 1/32nd of a day's wage. Today, someone might have sent a visitation committee to her house. Now the word farthing is the word KORENTAS in this text.
And as you mentioned, it is very interesting on how God views money. In Verse 43, Jesus saw that the people were casting in money and many that were rich threw in a lot of money. And He says that this widow threw in more than all of them put together. So they are kind of baffled at this.
But the message of scripture is not how much you put in, it's how much you have left over. That is the way God looks at giving. She put in 1/32nd of a day's wage but it was all she had. Everything! She had nothing left over.
Thanks for your reply, brother Jesse, I will answer you tomorrow since it's getting late at night here. I will also like to explain me your thoughts about those verses in Colossians and Romans. GBU
What is sin? The first thoughts that come to mind are the obvious outer symptoms through one's behaviors when something is manifest such as anger. The next level is the thoughts and intentions of the heart; which caused an outer veneer of obedience to the law with the Pharisees; but much deeper transgressions with religious exercised in such a way that they could still get what they want (for instance; when they would be covetous disregarding the needs of their families) shown in Mark 7:6-9 and other verses speaking of their greed. The same principle exists for evil thoughts that lead to actions such as lust; adultery; fornication etc. ( Matt. 15:19).
The significant factor often missing from these analogies is breaching of a covenant. This is why those; for instance, who have remarried without scriptural permission are very hypocritical focusing on others who are living together who weren't under such a covenant. But marriage today is viewed at the human level as a contract; rather than a covenant with the eternal God between one man and woman that is to be permanent for life; and which encompasses vows from each party (at least traditionally) implying the penalties should such a pact be broken. This is similar to God's covenant people in the nation of Israel; where God had called them out from bondage. Their knowledge being present while the miracles occurred and seeing God's providence after the Exodus in the desert made them more responsible when they fell into practices of the pagan nations.
But; as scripture states not all Israel was true Israel ( Romans 9:6-7). There are many verses where emphasis is placed on keeping vows in the O.T.
Finally; anything we know is right and fail to do is sin ( James 4:17-loosly translated). We should at all times keep our commitments unless it becomes impossible not to go against scriptural conduct in our lives. We need also to be careful to do things of obedience out of love of God not self promotion.
I just wanted to touch on Luke 3:3, and also respond to your comment telling me to "Please pay attention to that "for the remission of sins". If John's baptism was for the remission of sins, how do some of us believe that the christian baptism is not necassary for salvation?"
So, as you asked, I am focusing on the part that says "for the remission of sins," and I know that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the Jews, and that John was water baptizing these Jews. However, water baptism was not for the remission of sin because no amount of water can wash away or remit sin.
It tells us in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. When John baptized, there was no blood shed, therefore, there could not have been any remission of sin. The Jews would go down to the Sea of Galilee or the Jordan River every year and get water baptized, but that was not for the remission of sin. If John's baptism (Water) was for the remission of sin, why would they get water baptized every year?
You ask: "how do some of us believe that the christian baptism is not necassary for salvation?" I cannot answer for others, but my answer would be that Christian baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation. But John's baptism (Water baptism) was not Christian baptism. It was a baptism of repentance for the Jews. In order for their sins to be remitted, they needed to repent, turn away from Judaism, and surrender their lives to Christ as their Messiah. Submitting to water baptism would not remit their sin.
You mentioned that "John's baptism was for repenting and spiritual cleansing," but where in scripture does it tell us that John's baptism was for spiritual cleansing? All I see is that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. It says nothing about spiritual cleansing? So my understanding is that water baptism does not cleanse us spiritually. Being baptized by God's Spirit is what cleanses us. I hope we can agree on that?
You have anti-God people trying to gaslight by pretending these acronyms mean something else other than Jesus, for instance new history books likely won't show the above.
Jesus was on earth 33 years.
Some believe Jesus was born 4BC-6BC and left 27AD-29AD.
The nature of the calendar itself indicates some believed Jesus was born 1 AD.
521 AD in your example would be nearly 500 years after Jesus.
1 John 3 : 8 ..Whosoever sins is of the devil for the devil sinneth from the beginning...For this purpose was the son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil...How will sin be destroyed and the works of the devil etc...Simply b/c of his death when a seed dies it multiplies, Thats y he told the Greeks unless a seed dies it abides alone but if it dies it will bring forth much fruit....B/C of his death he will be multiplied as the Stars of Heaven....Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered...Then I will turn my hand to the lil Ones....The babes and Sucklings....unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in....That Child is the H.G. the Children of Promise....That are gonna result from his seed that has been multiplied as the Stars of Heaven....And that y Elijah has to come and turn the hearts of the fathers to the Children...Which are his offspring ....Remember Isaiah 11 speaks of the woman with Child and she that travails with Child....A great company....They are gonna be as the stars of Heaven in multitudes ....Which answers to REV. 12 :10 ....And thats how the Kingdom will come via a lil Child which is the H.G. Emanuel....That Child of PROMISE...ok..lemme Go....He is gona know everybody...From the least to the greatest....Jeremiah...31 : 34 KJV
I don't believe we are very far off on our belief about water baptism and Spirit baptism. I do agree that water baptism is symbolic, and baptism of the Holy Spirit not symbolic. Water baptism just symbolizes an action (Salvation) that has already taken place. I'm not sure if you were trying to explain that to me, but I am in agreement with that part.
My reasoning for believing Colossians 2:12 and Romans 6:3-7 are referring to Spirit baptism, not water, would take much more space to explain that what we have here. If you need me to explain, and you are willing to read a much longer post, I can do so. Again, not to debate or change your mind, but to give my understanding.
You posted John 3:3, but I'm sure you meant Luke 3:3. This is where we might differ. First of all, John's baptism is not believer's baptism. It has nothing to do with Christian baptism. This was for the Jews. It was a requirement for them. Luke Chapter 7 tells us that it was a requirement that they go through the baptism of John in order to express repentance and they are ready to surrender to the Messiah.
Luke Chapter 7 tells us that it was God's council that all the Pharisees be baptized by John in order to receive Messiah. And he says they rejected the baptism of John. So it was a requirement that they do both. They had to go through John's baptism and be born of the Spirit. That's for the Jews only.
But John's baptism is not Christian baptism. It was a baptism of repentance for the Jewish people only, and there's a reason for that. Every year, the Jewish people would go down to the Sea of Galilee or to the Jordan River and be baptized. It is called the MIKVAH or MIKVEH. For the believer, when we get baptized in what we call believer's baptism, (water involved), it is supposed to represent and testify to the inward work of Christ of salvation. It is after we are saved.
Well, it looks like I'll need a little more space anyway. I'll respond to your last part in a separate post.
One of the greatest lessons taught about giving is found here in the meager giving of the widow. It's obvious that great riches were poured into the treasury yet Jesus took note of the greater giving done by the window. Though her giving was miniscule compared to the others Jesus noted that she gave of her want. Jesus noted that her giving was greater because of what she had left after she gave. The scribes and Pharisees were not hurt nor left in want after they gave. The widow gave of her want. She's left with more want after her giving. That kind of giving is what catches Jesus'attention.
Mal 4:5 (KJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 (KJV) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet - This is meant alone of John the Baptist, as we learn from Lu 1:17, in whose spirit and power he came.
Lu 1:17 (KJV) And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
He shall go before him - Jesus Christ, in the spirit and power of Elijah; he shall resemble Elijah in his retired and austere manner of life, and in his zeal for the truth, reproving even princes for their crimes; compare 1Ki 21:17-24, with Mt 14:4. It was on these accounts that the Prophet Malachi, Mal 4:6, had likened John to this prophet. See also Isa 40:3; and Mal 4:5, Mal 4:6.
To turn the hearts of the fathers - Gross ignorance had taken place in the hearts of the Jewish people; they needed a Divine instructer: John is announced as such; by this preaching and manner of life, all classes among the people should be taught the nature of their several places, and the duties respectively incumbent upon them, See Lu 3:10, etc. In these things the greatness of John, mentioned Lu 1:15, is pointed out, Nothing is truly great but what is so in the sight of God.
1. From the plenitude of God's Spirit which dwelt in him.
2. From his continual self-denial, and taking up his cross.
3. From his ardent zeal to make Christ known.
4. From his fidelity and courage in rebuking vice.
5. From the reformation which he was the instrument of effecting among the people; reviving among them the spirit of the patriarchs, and preparing their hearts to receive the Lord Jesus
You that fear my name - The persons mentioned in the sixteenth verse of the preceding chapter, ye that look for redemption through the Messiah.
The Sun of righteousness - The Lord Jesus, the promised Messiah; the Hope of Israel.
With healing in his wings - As the sun, by the rays of light and heat, revives, cheers, and fructifies the whole creation, giving, through God, light and life everywhere; so Jesus Christ, by the influences of his grace and Spirit, shall quicken, awaken, enlighten, warm, invigorate heal, purify, and refine every soul that believes in him, and, by his wings or rays, diffuse these blessings from one end of heaven to another; everywhere invigorating the seeds of righteousness, and withering and drying up the seeds of sin. The rays of this Sun are the truths of his Gospel, and the influences of his Spirit. And at present these are universally diffused.
And ye shall go forth - Ye who believe on his name shall go forth out of Jerusalem when the Romans shall come up against it. After Cestius Gallus had blockaded the city for some days, he suddenly raised the siege. The Christians who were then in it, knowing, by seeing Jerusalem encompassed with armies, that the day of its destruction was come, when their Lord commanded them to flee into the mountains, took this opportunity to escape from Jerusalem, and go to Pella, in Coelesyria; so that no Christian life fell in the siege and destruction of this city.
But these words are of more general application and meaning; "ye shall go forth" in all the occupations of life, but particularly in the means of grace; and: -
Grow up as calves of the stall - Full of health, of life, and spirits; satisfied and happy.
Adam Clark
Here is why I believe Colossians 2:12 and Romans 6:3-7 are referring to spirit baptism. First of all we are told earlier on in Colossians Chapter 2 that we are circumcised by Christ by the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh.
But now it tells us that we are also buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation, (or energizing of God), who has raised him from the dead.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that we are all baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ. When a person is born of the Spirit of God, it is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the time when you are cleansed from your sin, and that is our identification with Christ. It is not water baptism that saves. Peter argued that in his first letter in Chapter 4 that it's not the pouring of water over the flesh, but it's the answer of a good conscience towards God. So for me, it's spiritual, not physical.
But what is baptism supposed to be for? Water baptism is a testimony of the inward work of God's Spirit. Can a person get baptized and still not be saved? Yes! I think we both agree that water baptism is an outward expression, a testimony of the inward work of God's Spirit. In other words, I am baptized by God's Spirit. That's the coming of Christ into my life, the cleansing.
And I get water baptized in order to be a testimony that I have experienced the Spiritual baptism by Christ. Like I said, I can be unsaved and still get baptized in a religious ceremony. But it doesn't mean a thing. It's just water. It's not spiritual. 1 Corinthians 12:13 tells us that we're all baptized by one Spirit into the body.
I'm running out of space. I'll send my thoughts on Romans 6:3-7 in a separate post.
were spiritually rotten, also Jesus Christ walked in total fellowship with God job did not. So like I said I don't agree with
has been stated because it is out of context to subject matter. God Bless also not going any further.
The Chief shepherd lost sheep.
We have a sheep doing what sheep do, wonders away from home into the wilderness and ends up in the pig pen.
If he was anything else but a son he would like the pig pen or the wilderness but he's a son who remembers his life in the fathers house and look what happens.
AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:17-18.
When he came to himself!
I would draw your attention to
2 Peter 2:22. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire".
A dog and a pig likes what they do. The fathers house is what they don't like, That's why they returned back to their old ways,
But a son "One born from above" doesn't turn back to his old ways and stay there, his Spirit won't let him enjoy it neither will his loving father.
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, UNTIL HE FIND IT?"
It's the Holyspirit what convicts us and keeps us. and when we return the Lord gladly accepts us back in the fold.
God bless.
went there were always judean rulers zealous for the law that wanted to track him down and kill him. Also he had
to deal with the unbelievers and the believers who needed to be reproved and corrected who were not walking by
the spirit which in many cases they didn't copped out on what he taught and got to the point of not believing'anymore and wanted to have no contact with him. Its was so bad that in 2 Timothy 1;15 all asia turned away from him. thats bad.
In other words, we've already come up with a decision or an answer, before we realize we have. When we read and study, what we have programed in our mind by what we have been taught, answers we have come up with on our own will block what we are reading with what we have in our subconscious mind.
There is a phrase in the bible I think speaks to it; "he who has ears to hear let him hear".
When we read or study, if we can start as we do not know anything about what we are about to read and prayer.
If you have questions, there are many on this site would love to help.
God bless,
RLW
Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as one of the 12 apostles after Judas dropped out (Pun intended!) Acts Chapter 1.
have spiritual faith because they received it on PENTECOST REMEMBER Acts 1:4-8 so in the old testament they could believe
GOD but not have the spiritual faith of Jesus Christ after pentecost the word pistis in the greek was translated either believing
or faith by the translators. Now abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him and many others believed God but that
is not being born again of spiritual FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST.
GALATIANS 3:23 the scripture says before faith came, Jesus Christ made spiritual faith available. So you could not be
a christian until pentecost when it became available.
Thank you for sharing this. As you say, this is a great lesson. We find it in Mark 12:41-44 which speaks about the casting of the widow's mite
Verse 41 says that Jesus sat over against the treasury. Now I like this one! This would be equivalent to Jesus sitting across the tithing envelopes in the foyer in our church fellowship. That would make someone nervous wouldn't it? And He was watching how the people cast their money into the treasury: how they were doing it, not how much. And many that were rich cast in much.
Verse 42 says that she threw in two mites (and these are not bugs). Those are the names of coins. It is actually the word LEPTA. A LEPTA is only 1/64th of a day's wage. Somebody figured that out to be about 10 or 12 minutes, 1/64th of a day's wage.
And so two of them, two mites, it adds up to a KORENTAS, 1/32nd of a day's wage. Not much! She threw in these two coins worth 1/32nd of a day's wage. Today, someone might have sent a visitation committee to her house. Now the word farthing is the word KORENTAS in this text.
And as you mentioned, it is very interesting on how God views money. In Verse 43, Jesus saw that the people were casting in money and many that were rich threw in a lot of money. And He says that this widow threw in more than all of them put together. So they are kind of baffled at this.
But the message of scripture is not how much you put in, it's how much you have left over. That is the way God looks at giving. She put in 1/32nd of a day's wage but it was all she had. Everything! She had nothing left over.
Again, great message. Thanks for sharing this!
by shear logic something was here before mankind as we know it today.
mathew 23:36-40.
he became extremely angry because of jealousy to the point of murder. Then look at his response when God ask wheres your
brother am I my brothers keeper like who cares no heart. Cain was the first absolutely what the bible calls in other places
a son of belial he became absolutely worthless for the true God and all his lineage over the ages same thing. Jude verse 11
and in context discribes these men who always defy and endeavor to interrupt the ways of the true God. Most of the
pharisees and other leaders at the time of christ were these men. In 1 KINGS 18:18-22 when elijah ordered the prophets
of baal another name for satan worship these men were all wicked men same deal worshipping the devil. They exist in our
day and time only they operate behind the scenes controlling world conditions backed up by satan. This is a brief overview
in answer to gen4:5 and 15, in John 8:38-44 Jesus Christ confronted some of these men directly and called them sons of the
devil spiritually.
The significant factor often missing from these analogies is breaching of a covenant. This is why those; for instance, who have remarried without scriptural permission are very hypocritical focusing on others who are living together who weren't under such a covenant. But marriage today is viewed at the human level as a contract; rather than a covenant with the eternal God between one man and woman that is to be permanent for life; and which encompasses vows from each party (at least traditionally) implying the penalties should such a pact be broken. This is similar to God's covenant people in the nation of Israel; where God had called them out from bondage. Their knowledge being present while the miracles occurred and seeing God's providence after the Exodus in the desert made them more responsible when they fell into practices of the pagan nations.
But; as scripture states not all Israel was true Israel ( Romans 9:6-7). There are many verses where emphasis is placed on keeping vows in the O.T.
Finally; anything we know is right and fail to do is sin ( James 4:17-loosly translated). We should at all times keep our commitments unless it becomes impossible not to go against scriptural conduct in our lives. We need also to be careful to do things of obedience out of love of God not self promotion.
(Part 2)
I just wanted to touch on Luke 3:3, and also respond to your comment telling me to "Please pay attention to that "for the remission of sins". If John's baptism was for the remission of sins, how do some of us believe that the christian baptism is not necassary for salvation?"
So, as you asked, I am focusing on the part that says "for the remission of sins," and I know that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the Jews, and that John was water baptizing these Jews. However, water baptism was not for the remission of sin because no amount of water can wash away or remit sin.
It tells us in Hebrews 9:22 that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. When John baptized, there was no blood shed, therefore, there could not have been any remission of sin. The Jews would go down to the Sea of Galilee or the Jordan River every year and get water baptized, but that was not for the remission of sin. If John's baptism (Water) was for the remission of sin, why would they get water baptized every year?
You ask: "how do some of us believe that the christian baptism is not necassary for salvation?" I cannot answer for others, but my answer would be that Christian baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation. But John's baptism (Water baptism) was not Christian baptism. It was a baptism of repentance for the Jews. In order for their sins to be remitted, they needed to repent, turn away from Judaism, and surrender their lives to Christ as their Messiah. Submitting to water baptism would not remit their sin.
You mentioned that "John's baptism was for repenting and spiritual cleansing," but where in scripture does it tell us that John's baptism was for spiritual cleansing? All I see is that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. It says nothing about spiritual cleansing? So my understanding is that water baptism does not cleanse us spiritually. Being baptized by God's Spirit is what cleanses us. I hope we can agree on that?
BC = Before Christ
AD = Year of the Lord
You have anti-God people trying to gaslight by pretending these acronyms mean something else other than Jesus, for instance new history books likely won't show the above.
Jesus was on earth 33 years.
Some believe Jesus was born 4BC-6BC and left 27AD-29AD.
The nature of the calendar itself indicates some believed Jesus was born 1 AD.
521 AD in your example would be nearly 500 years after Jesus.
I don't believe we are very far off on our belief about water baptism and Spirit baptism. I do agree that water baptism is symbolic, and baptism of the Holy Spirit not symbolic. Water baptism just symbolizes an action (Salvation) that has already taken place. I'm not sure if you were trying to explain that to me, but I am in agreement with that part.
My reasoning for believing Colossians 2:12 and Romans 6:3-7 are referring to Spirit baptism, not water, would take much more space to explain that what we have here. If you need me to explain, and you are willing to read a much longer post, I can do so. Again, not to debate or change your mind, but to give my understanding.
You posted John 3:3, but I'm sure you meant Luke 3:3. This is where we might differ. First of all, John's baptism is not believer's baptism. It has nothing to do with Christian baptism. This was for the Jews. It was a requirement for them. Luke Chapter 7 tells us that it was a requirement that they go through the baptism of John in order to express repentance and they are ready to surrender to the Messiah.
Luke Chapter 7 tells us that it was God's council that all the Pharisees be baptized by John in order to receive Messiah. And he says they rejected the baptism of John. So it was a requirement that they do both. They had to go through John's baptism and be born of the Spirit. That's for the Jews only.
But John's baptism is not Christian baptism. It was a baptism of repentance for the Jewish people only, and there's a reason for that. Every year, the Jewish people would go down to the Sea of Galilee or to the Jordan River and be baptized. It is called the MIKVAH or MIKVEH. For the believer, when we get baptized in what we call believer's baptism, (water involved), it is supposed to represent and testify to the inward work of Christ of salvation. It is after we are saved.
Well, it looks like I'll need a little more space anyway. I'll respond to your last part in a separate post.