Hello Marie. Certainly, those thoughts you shared are found in 1 Peter chapter 1, but if I might share more specifically on this chapter.
The Apostle Peter is writing to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, sharing with them various things about the conduct of their faith (chapter 1), their conduct before their superiors (chapter 2), their conduct through times of suffering & testing (chapters 3 & 4), & a word to the elders & those submitted to them (chapter 5).
So, in chapter 1 specifically, Peter encourages the believers with the promise, that God Who has chosen them to be His, will also reserve in Heaven for them an inheritance that cannot be changed or removed. And God will also keep them (i.e. secure their faith) right to the end. With such a promise of future blessing, these believers were encouraged to persevere through their trials & afflictions, conduct their lives in holy living, having deep reverence toward God Who judges righteously, and to live in the Spirit (where a deep, genuine love will be shown to each other). Bro. S. Spencer has given a recent detailed thread on the outflow of that special love (Agape) that comes when the Spirit indwells us & has His gracious control over us - you may like to search for it & refresh your spirit by it. I trust the above helps in understanding this chapter: that God Who chooses us also promises us an eternity with Him (and of course, His Son Jesus Christ).
Psalms 24:1, ._.The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell there in"
the Lord meaning.. Yhvh = translated, The proper name of GOD of Israel = Eternal 2. Jehovah 'Jewish name'
Earth = earth, land, nations, wilderness, world,
Exodus 9:29,
1Corinthians 10:26 "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.'' the Lord's meaning 1. Supreme in authority, 2. Controller 3. supremacy, master,
Chris gave you great scripture but I want to point to the bigger more complete picture.
Ephesians 6:12, world = aion translated = an age, 1Corinthians 2:6, 1Corinthians 1:20,
John 15:19, meaning translated = kosmos= orderly arrangement, 2. The world including it's inhabitants, John 3:15-17, 1Corinthians 7:31,
John 1:10, 1John 2:16, Proverbs 29:2,
1John 5:4, John 16:33, 1Corinthians 15:24-28, John 17, 1John 3:10-16, John 9:5, 1Corinthians 6:2, Genesis 1:28, Luke 22:25-30, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:15-19
Hi Dennis , I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about but I think I agree . Anyone who tries to use notes from someone else or cheat sheets as you call them is only cheating themselves out of reading the most awesome book written by our Lord God Himself ! How foolish would that be ! Very !
I'm a born again Christian King James Bible Baptist I would like to know about the second coming they said that the will be a falling away is it like this that there's 350 million people in this country and there's only 50 million Christians let's just say hypothetic and that means there's 300 million non-believers or people don't know about Jesus Christ it's just maybe it's too hard or frustrated and people are just giving up and they're just they're tired I hope I said this correctly I've been studying this I just like to have some more input on it thank you very much my brothers and sisters in Christ I hope all your prayers will be answered in Jesus name I pray amen
Hiya Giannis Gbu my Bro....Giannis all the water in the world cd not make us clean or change our Adamic Nature...The only reason Jesus was water baptised was to fulfill the Mosic law...HE and all the disciples had to be washed/baptised by running water,..The Jordan was running water and John was of the tribe of Levi..According to the law of Moses, 2 turtles had to be washed by running water and 1 of the doves had to killed and his blood sprinkled on the living bird...The Church...Whom the son sets free is free in deed...Thats y the dove descened on Jesus in the Spirt of the H.G...The H.G. was trying to show the ppl that this man is their sacrificial Dove that had to be washed and killed and his blood sprinkled on the living bird the Church....Jesus cd not skip not one lil step in the Mosic law till all was fulfilled
....Jesus knew that all of his disciples had been water baptised but he WARNS them if i wash thee NOT you will have NO PART with ME...impling a greater baptism/washing was on the way which was hearing his Words that good seed that will initiate a Birth of Christ in them...That baptism of Promise...the H.G...An internal baptism of the hearts...True Salvation/FAITH can only come by HEARING HIS VOICE that good seed that will initiate birth of Christ in us...Real faith is a spritual pregnancy that can only come by hearing his Words that good seed as faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen impling a Spritual Child is formed in us which is the H.G. that Child of PROMISE...
....Thats y he says you are made CLEAN by the Words i have spoken unto you that good seed ...He neva said you are made SPRITUALLY clean by water baptism...It was always his blood that he wanted us to drink...As Jesus was the WORD made flesh and Blood...THUS WE DRINK HIS BLOOD WHEN WE HEAR HIS WORDS....Being bornagain of an incorruptible seed th WORD... his Words are those seeds...John said behold the lamb of God...not water baptism...Hearing his WORDS
There are many chapters & verses about these events. I recommend reading Revelation in it's entirety. You can do phrase & individual word searches on this site.
Hopefully these are helpful in your study & searching
Hi Dan. Referring to my Lexicon, I can offer the names & their pronunciations. However, I should add, that the congregation who might be more familiar with the names pronounced in a western-style manner, may think you odd speaking forth with the Hebrew 'sounds'. Hopefully, your reading of Psalm 83 is for the minister's address as it's certainly unsuitable to lead one to worship. The preacher might be impressed with your efforts. All the best.
Asaph = aw-sawf
Ishmaelites = yish-maw-ay-lee (or, to stick closer to the English: yish-maw-ay-lites)
Hagarenes = hag-ree (or, hag-reens, being closer to English)
Gebal = gheb-awl
Amalek = am-aw-lake
Philistines & Tyre (stay with these words as the Hebrew for them is vastly different)
Hello LaDawna. There are a couple of references where Jesus speaks of Satan as the "prince of the world" ( John 12:31, John 14:30 and John 16:11). And the Apostle Paul speaks of him as "the god of this world" ( 2 Corinthians 4:4).
I would actually refer to Adoption as a blessing, or even a consequence, of Salvation. To be a synonym, the word would need to have the same, or nearly the same, meaning, which Adoption/Salvation do not share. So, even if one speaks about being adopted by God into His family, then it is understood that can only be the case if salvation was first granted.
From the many blessings resulting from Salvation, the Christian's new position in Christ affords us: a heavenly citizenship ( Philippians 3:20); a member of a holy & royal priesthood ( 1 Peter 2:5); a member of God's family ( Ephesians 2:19); an adoption ( Galatians 4:5); and a member of God's 'peculiar people' (i.e. God's special possession) ( 1 Peter 2:9).
Brother, just including my reply to both your pages, under this one page.
I find no disagreement with your understanding of Acts 19:1-7. That too is my understanding, that these Ephesian believers were baptized by John, then they (at some point) believed on Christ Jesus, but were never baptized under the Trinitarian Name, nor received the Holy Ghost (an extraordinary, maybe a rare event). I hadn't known how John's baptism was probably conducted - so your description was new & useful to me.
With Jesus' baptism by John: I agree again with you for the most part, of Christ's sinlessness, John's perplexity why Jesus should come to him for baptism, & Christ having to "fulfil all righteousness" by performing it. But you say that Jesus had to be baptized "because it was a commandment from God". I think that should a personal opinion from how one appraises that event & Jesus' Words. My understanding is that 'by fulfilling all righteousness', it was not only a Directive from the Father that the Son be sacrificed for sins, but also of the Son's acceptance & willingness to (fully) fulfil the Father's Plan to go to the Cross & never being side-tracked from His goal. Yes, Jesus had no reason to be baptized, let alone through John's baptism - His baptism was totally distinct from any other; sorrow for sin was not His end, but payment for our sin was - of which this baptism signified before God that He was committed to. Both John & the people would not have known or seen this. As well, I don't see that Jesus' Baptism was in any way a prelude or prompt for believers' baptism, as its meaning & application bore faint resemblance. Jesus': pointed to His Commitment to the Cross; Ours: our identification & commitment to Jesus' Sacrifice & Resurrection.
As far as air baptism, self-baptism, baptism in a bath tub, etc. goes, I believe defeats the purpose of water baptism & its importance - just a ritual to somehow pacify the conscience. Blessings.
Not just the earth, the ENTIRE current creation. No wicked and evil being will survive it. Fore-shadow by events like Sodom & Gomorrah, Pompeii 79AD, and Many more in recent history. See 2 Peter 5:7. It is written as plainly as it can be.
Let's keep these two verses in mind while we go through this section.
Matthew 22:36-37. and 1 John 4:21.
and remember the context in the previous sections.
Notice the highlights!
Jesus answered and said unto him, "IF" a man love/Agape me
( HE WILL ) keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
( He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not mine but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:23--26.
We've established that Agape is a fruit and can't be achieved by the flesh, "Mans efforts"
Man can not produce the fruit, the vine does. Man is the branch, he bares the fruit. John 15:4-5.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, NEITHER CAN A CORRUPT TREE BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20. When you look at Matthew 7:13-14 the corrupt tree is any other way to God presented in the wide gate. for instance "WORKS"
That's why these often misused verses follows, Matthew 7:22-23.
This is a fruitless deceived group that thought they worked their way into Heaven.
So tell me why isn't the significance of Loving one another sought after and debated above anything else when it's paramount?
Because some know they don't have that love on display and don't bare it.
Dear Ron In peace, You need to read a little more. The tree of knowledge and The tree of life: God had to hide Eden after this fatal transgression. For if man had eaten from the tree of life, we would be immortal in this world as it is. Thank Jesus night and day for that it was only of the knowledge three they ate from. Just like that wasn't enough! There is much more to learn in this. Everything is adapted for you. Good luck and be strong in God's word. God bless
in the Bible adoption is when someone becomes one of God's children. So is adoption synonym to salvation or is it an inheritance of salvation? I hope what I said makes sense. God bless you!
Well said, and I agree with your conclusion. The Spirit-baptized Christians today are ruling and reigning with Jesus and have the power to disarm the devil and his minions. The unfortunate part is church leaders aren't telling their members this. They need to get these baptized in fire Christians aware of their spiritual gifts and provide the avenues for them so they can exercise their gift(s) against the devil. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11.
Water baptism or not has nothing to do with sin or salvation. Baptism was a ritual first performed in the Old Testament to cleanse the temple priests before entering the temple. There were baths outside the temple for people to cleanse themselves before entering. John the Baptist performed baptisms for people to express their repentance for their sins before Jesus came. Jesus got baptized simply because of the Jewish rite, since He was Jewish.
We are now in Christ who baptizes us in His Spirit, and water baptism does nothing but get you wet, and show attendees you have repented of your sins, and Jesus is now your savior.
The unpardonable sin was when the temple leaders accused Jesus of doing miracles through the power of the devil, and not through His Father. As long as you don't accuse Jesus of performing His miracles through the devil, you are safe!
There are two realms of existence, the eternal spiritual realm, and the temporary physical realm. God and His beings, cherubs, seraphs, angels, and watchers exist in His spiritual realm. In our current physical realm in our physical body, we have a spirit and soul. We need a physical body to exist in our physical realm. When we die, we go to God's realm or the spirit realm, and we need our spirit body to exist in the spirit realm. Our soul is our unique identity of consciousness or awareness. Without it, we would be like an inanimate object, but we have it so we can be aware of God and our existence.
When we are saved, and God baptizes us with His Spirit, it intercourses with our spirit and He becomes alive in us, and we alive in Him, and we can understand it because of our soul.
When we die, our physical body goes back into the dust it came from, but our soul and spirit go on forever with God in the light of heaven or without him in eternal darkness.
In the case of smd in a death bed some churches do what they call air baptism. They baptize the person in air in absence of water or baptize him by sprinkling water on him. My opinion is that if bapt. is impossible to do God doesn't hold you accountable for that.
I have to stop now its 2:30 in the morning here. I will come back tomorrow with my thoughts on faith/works/salvation.
I will start with Paul meeting those disciples in Ephesus. He asked them if they were baptized in the Spirit after they were baptized in water (should they?). They answered that they never heard of the HS. He asks them in what name were they baptized (how come they never heard of the HS since in baptism we are baptised in the name of F and S and the HS, this being another evidence that believers were not baptised just in the name of Jesus). They said they were bapt. John's baptism. And he says Acts 19:4 "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance ..." So John's bapt. was a bapt. of repentance. If you make a search about that you will find out that John's bapt. was done as follows. The person to be bapt. went into the river until his waist was submerged, then he stayed like that and started confessing his sins and when he finished confessing he dived in the water and rised. That was the ritual.
There is a detail in Jesus' bapt. that if one is not aware will not notice.
Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:..." Jesus went up straight away. He had nothing to confess, no sin at all. He went into the river and immediately dived and came up.
That is why John tried to prevent Him from being baptized. John knew that Jesus had no sins, there wasn't a reason for Him to be baptized. It was useless for Him. But what did Jesus said " they had to fulfill all righteousness. But why, He had no sin. No reason to be baptized. Because it was a commandment from God and He had to obey although that didn't have any usefulness for Him. Now if Jesus obeyed, shouldn't we? Notice please that Jesus started His ministry with baptism. All other things followed that. But we have gone through these before. You ask many questions like if smd is in death bed and has no time to be baptized. I don't have the right answer to that but my ignorance doesn't cancel the word of God.
Dear Bible Answer Man: I disagree with the PostMil camp; but one saying a book with that doctrine states is that the church today often doesn't hold God to His promises in faith in the fact that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven; and although he rules in this world as ALLOWED by God he still has no authority over the church unless we cede it to Him.
Sadly; we also are living in a society that permits all sorts of evils and doesn't dole out the punishment that God allows those who are in authority to render for crimes. Evil is tolerated; hence continues to spread as a tentacle or spider's web. It is particularly grievous when those in the church (yes Protestant churches) allow abuse to go on because of some pride mentality for those in authority. Our whole society has decayed in a large part because we haven't stood up for marriages and family; and are no better apparently when it comes to divorce stats.
Those who truly are walking in the Spirit; and are producing 30 and 100 fold fruit; shining as stars and on fire for the Lord are few and far between today. When you see them; you know them if you are looking for evidence of spiritual life out there. Satan is said to be a roaring lion; but it seems he doesn't have to work so hard with today's many distractions on social media; etc.
We also need to recognize with international events in particular that there are judgments meted out and kings allowed to rule to fulfill God's purposes. As individuals; we can only bravely assist others who are struggling. Oftentimes that just involves a bit more giving for missions; and of course prayer seems to be greatly underdone these days.
So in conclusion; I agree that in some things we can only wait for Christ to come; but let us be sure that we are busy doing the work He has called us to do as ministers of reconciliation and fulfilling the Great Commission.
I went through mental abuse and a couple other situations growing up myself. I guess the best appeal is looking at the life of Christ Himself and the fate of the Apostles. All who are godly in Christ Jesus will to one degree or another suffer persecution. ( 2 Tim. 3:12). Christ does turn all things for the good for THOSE WHO LOVE HIM ( Romans 8:28). This verse also shows predestination as to our faith and favor towards those who are ultimately called out from the world to be His children.
The best explanation I can give from my own experience is forgiveness; the love for those who are unloving is Agape love; and only found after we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Paul Himself from scripture was at least compicit in murder and imprisonment of believers until he was knocked down in the Book of Acts. We have modern day examples of those who survived the Rwanda massacre; and Corrie Ten Boom's tale of the Holocaust and forgiving his tormentor; as two examples of this. I was able to make some reconciliation on my end; and I know those who have also been through sexual and physical abuse that have seen restoration. It is important to seek prayer in these matters; and be an example of longsuffering.
The result will go one direction or another; but we at least will be free from the bondage of unforgiveness in our hearts.
We ourselves; of course need to be cautious that the besetting sins that pass through families don't affect us and especially that we don't treat our own children or others in that way. Only by the grace of God can we be kept from evil overtaking us; in one form or another. Our own suffering can bring empathy toward others unlike those who haven't experienced suffering like that; as well as have more than ample spiritual power to overcome. We must NOT look to the world or flesh for a quick emotional fix; or toxic relationships. We don't want the cure to be worse than the disease!
Addendum. The end of the 1000 years appears also to be a works judgment. Since death and hell are thrown into the lake of fire; again they have no hope. Revelation 20:15 mentions if someone is NOT written in the Book of Life. That would be a foregone conclusion for the first group; or for those physically surviving into the Millenium who may "die at 100 years old being accursed" ( Isaiah 65:20). Those who live the whole span of time until the end of the 1000 years may be judged having never died physically; with some going into eternity and hence being in the Book of Life. That helps that verse to make sense and fits in with the concepts I already discussed as to explain the fates and times of judgments from those of all dispensations.
God never said to join a religion. Organized religions will actually create obstacles between you and your relationship with God. Your Christianity is between you and God, and after you are saved and baptized in His Spirit of fire, He will personally guide you into all truth
1Peter 1:3-9
The Apostle Peter is writing to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, sharing with them various things about the conduct of their faith (chapter 1), their conduct before their superiors (chapter 2), their conduct through times of suffering & testing (chapters 3 & 4), & a word to the elders & those submitted to them (chapter 5).
So, in chapter 1 specifically, Peter encourages the believers with the promise, that God Who has chosen them to be His, will also reserve in Heaven for them an inheritance that cannot be changed or removed. And God will also keep them (i.e. secure their faith) right to the end. With such a promise of future blessing, these believers were encouraged to persevere through their trials & afflictions, conduct their lives in holy living, having deep reverence toward God Who judges righteously, and to live in the Spirit (where a deep, genuine love will be shown to each other). Bro. S. Spencer has given a recent detailed thread on the outflow of that special love (Agape) that comes when the Spirit indwells us & has His gracious control over us - you may like to search for it & refresh your spirit by it. I trust the above helps in understanding this chapter: that God Who chooses us also promises us an eternity with Him (and of course, His Son Jesus Christ).
the Lord meaning.. Yhvh = translated, The proper name of GOD of Israel = Eternal 2. Jehovah 'Jewish name'
Earth = earth, land, nations, wilderness, world,
Exodus 9:29,
1Corinthians 10:26 "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.'' the Lord's meaning 1. Supreme in authority, 2. Controller 3. supremacy, master,
Chris gave you great scripture but I want to point to the bigger more complete picture.
Ephesians 6:12, world = aion translated = an age, 1Corinthians 2:6, 1Corinthians 1:20,
John 15:19, meaning translated = kosmos= orderly arrangement, 2. The world including it's inhabitants, John 3:15-17, 1Corinthians 7:31,
John 1:10, 1John 2:16, Proverbs 29:2,
1John 5:4, John 16:33, 1Corinthians 15:24-28, John 17, 1John 3:10-16, John 9:5, 1Corinthians 6:2, Genesis 1:28, Luke 22:25-30, Matthew 10:8, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:15-19
2Peter 3:13, Isaiah 65:17, Revelation 21, Ephesians 6:10-18
Hopefully these are helpful in deeper understanding, you can also pray for wisdom, James 1:5,
....Jesus knew that all of his disciples had been water baptised but he WARNS them if i wash thee NOT you will have NO PART with ME...impling a greater baptism/washing was on the way which was hearing his Words that good seed that will initiate a Birth of Christ in them...That baptism of Promise...the H.G...An internal baptism of the hearts...True Salvation/FAITH can only come by HEARING HIS VOICE that good seed that will initiate birth of Christ in us...Real faith is a spritual pregnancy that can only come by hearing his Words that good seed as faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen impling a Spritual Child is formed in us which is the H.G. that Child of PROMISE...
....Thats y he says you are made CLEAN by the Words i have spoken unto you that good seed ...He neva said you are made SPRITUALLY clean by water baptism...It was always his blood that he wanted us to drink...As Jesus was the WORD made flesh and Blood...THUS WE DRINK HIS BLOOD WHEN WE HEAR HIS WORDS....Being bornagain of an incorruptible seed th WORD... his Words are those seeds...John said behold the lamb of God...not water baptism...Hearing his WORDS
I hope you're not worried about the issues of the Earth being destroyed.
Job 5:10, Job 7:1, Job 9:2-15, Job 12:10, Job 34:12-15, Job 38,
Psalms 46, whole chapters 2Peter 3, Revelation 20,
Revelation 21,
There are many chapters & verses about these events. I recommend reading Revelation in it's entirety. You can do phrase & individual word searches on this site.
Hopefully these are helpful in your study & searching
Asaph = aw-sawf
Ishmaelites = yish-maw-ay-lee (or, to stick closer to the English: yish-maw-ay-lites)
Hagarenes = hag-ree (or, hag-reens, being closer to English)
Gebal = gheb-awl
Amalek = am-aw-lake
Philistines & Tyre (stay with these words as the Hebrew for them is vastly different)
Assur = ash-shoor
Lot = lote
Sisera = see-ser-aw
Jabin = yaw-been
Oreb = o-rabe
Zeeb = zeh-abe
Zebah = zeh'-bakh
Zalmunna = tsal-moon-naw
Jehovah = yeh-ho-vaw
From the many blessings resulting from Salvation, the Christian's new position in Christ affords us: a heavenly citizenship ( Philippians 3:20); a member of a holy & royal priesthood ( 1 Peter 2:5); a member of God's family ( Ephesians 2:19); an adoption ( Galatians 4:5); and a member of God's 'peculiar people' (i.e. God's special possession) ( 1 Peter 2:9).
I find no disagreement with your understanding of Acts 19:1-7. That too is my understanding, that these Ephesian believers were baptized by John, then they (at some point) believed on Christ Jesus, but were never baptized under the Trinitarian Name, nor received the Holy Ghost (an extraordinary, maybe a rare event). I hadn't known how John's baptism was probably conducted - so your description was new & useful to me.
With Jesus' baptism by John: I agree again with you for the most part, of Christ's sinlessness, John's perplexity why Jesus should come to him for baptism, & Christ having to "fulfil all righteousness" by performing it. But you say that Jesus had to be baptized "because it was a commandment from God". I think that should a personal opinion from how one appraises that event & Jesus' Words. My understanding is that 'by fulfilling all righteousness', it was not only a Directive from the Father that the Son be sacrificed for sins, but also of the Son's acceptance & willingness to (fully) fulfil the Father's Plan to go to the Cross & never being side-tracked from His goal. Yes, Jesus had no reason to be baptized, let alone through John's baptism - His baptism was totally distinct from any other; sorrow for sin was not His end, but payment for our sin was - of which this baptism signified before God that He was committed to. Both John & the people would not have known or seen this. As well, I don't see that Jesus' Baptism was in any way a prelude or prompt for believers' baptism, as its meaning & application bore faint resemblance. Jesus': pointed to His Commitment to the Cross; Ours: our identification & commitment to Jesus' Sacrifice & Resurrection.
As far as air baptism, self-baptism, baptism in a bath tub, etc. goes, I believe defeats the purpose of water baptism & its importance - just a ritual to somehow pacify the conscience. Blessings.
Fruit barring.
Let's keep these two verses in mind while we go through this section.
Matthew 22:36-37. and 1 John 4:21.
and remember the context in the previous sections.
Notice the highlights!
Jesus answered and said unto him, "IF" a man love/Agape me
( HE WILL ) keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
( He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the word which ye hear is not mine but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:23--26.
We've established that Agape is a fruit and can't be achieved by the flesh, "Mans efforts"
Man can not produce the fruit, the vine does. Man is the branch, he bares the fruit. John 15:4-5.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, NEITHER CAN A CORRUPT TREE BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20. When you look at Matthew 7:13-14 the corrupt tree is any other way to God presented in the wide gate. for instance "WORKS"
That's why these often misused verses follows, Matthew 7:22-23.
This is a fruitless deceived group that thought they worked their way into Heaven.
So tell me why isn't the significance of Loving one another sought after and debated above anything else when it's paramount?
Because some know they don't have that love on display and don't bare it.
God bless.
I also think how timeless the Bible is.
Totally
God bless u and yours in Jesus name, love u in Christ.
We are now in Christ who baptizes us in His Spirit, and water baptism does nothing but get you wet, and show attendees you have repented of your sins, and Jesus is now your savior.
The unpardonable sin was when the temple leaders accused Jesus of doing miracles through the power of the devil, and not through His Father. As long as you don't accuse Jesus of performing His miracles through the devil, you are safe!
When we are saved, and God baptizes us with His Spirit, it intercourses with our spirit and He becomes alive in us, and we alive in Him, and we can understand it because of our soul.
When we die, our physical body goes back into the dust it came from, but our soul and spirit go on forever with God in the light of heaven or without him in eternal darkness.
In the case of smd in a death bed some churches do what they call air baptism. They baptize the person in air in absence of water or baptize him by sprinkling water on him. My opinion is that if bapt. is impossible to do God doesn't hold you accountable for that.
I have to stop now its 2:30 in the morning here. I will come back tomorrow with my thoughts on faith/works/salvation.
GBU
Hi Chris, lets talk about John's baptism.
I will start with Paul meeting those disciples in Ephesus. He asked them if they were baptized in the Spirit after they were baptized in water (should they?). They answered that they never heard of the HS. He asks them in what name were they baptized (how come they never heard of the HS since in baptism we are baptised in the name of F and S and the HS, this being another evidence that believers were not baptised just in the name of Jesus). They said they were bapt. John's baptism. And he says Acts 19:4 "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance ..." So John's bapt. was a bapt. of repentance. If you make a search about that you will find out that John's bapt. was done as follows. The person to be bapt. went into the river until his waist was submerged, then he stayed like that and started confessing his sins and when he finished confessing he dived in the water and rised. That was the ritual.
There is a detail in Jesus' bapt. that if one is not aware will not notice.
Matthew 3:16 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:..." Jesus went up straight away. He had nothing to confess, no sin at all. He went into the river and immediately dived and came up.
That is why John tried to prevent Him from being baptized. John knew that Jesus had no sins, there wasn't a reason for Him to be baptized. It was useless for Him. But what did Jesus said " they had to fulfill all righteousness. But why, He had no sin. No reason to be baptized. Because it was a commandment from God and He had to obey although that didn't have any usefulness for Him. Now if Jesus obeyed, shouldn't we? Notice please that Jesus started His ministry with baptism. All other things followed that. But we have gone through these before. You ask many questions like if smd is in death bed and has no time to be baptized. I don't have the right answer to that but my ignorance doesn't cancel the word of God.
Sadly; we also are living in a society that permits all sorts of evils and doesn't dole out the punishment that God allows those who are in authority to render for crimes. Evil is tolerated; hence continues to spread as a tentacle or spider's web. It is particularly grievous when those in the church (yes Protestant churches) allow abuse to go on because of some pride mentality for those in authority. Our whole society has decayed in a large part because we haven't stood up for marriages and family; and are no better apparently when it comes to divorce stats.
Those who truly are walking in the Spirit; and are producing 30 and 100 fold fruit; shining as stars and on fire for the Lord are few and far between today. When you see them; you know them if you are looking for evidence of spiritual life out there. Satan is said to be a roaring lion; but it seems he doesn't have to work so hard with today's many distractions on social media; etc.
We also need to recognize with international events in particular that there are judgments meted out and kings allowed to rule to fulfill God's purposes. As individuals; we can only bravely assist others who are struggling. Oftentimes that just involves a bit more giving for missions; and of course prayer seems to be greatly underdone these days.
So in conclusion; I agree that in some things we can only wait for Christ to come; but let us be sure that we are busy doing the work He has called us to do as ministers of reconciliation and fulfilling the Great Commission.
The best explanation I can give from my own experience is forgiveness; the love for those who are unloving is Agape love; and only found after we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Paul Himself from scripture was at least compicit in murder and imprisonment of believers until he was knocked down in the Book of Acts. We have modern day examples of those who survived the Rwanda massacre; and Corrie Ten Boom's tale of the Holocaust and forgiving his tormentor; as two examples of this. I was able to make some reconciliation on my end; and I know those who have also been through sexual and physical abuse that have seen restoration. It is important to seek prayer in these matters; and be an example of longsuffering.
The result will go one direction or another; but we at least will be free from the bondage of unforgiveness in our hearts.
We ourselves; of course need to be cautious that the besetting sins that pass through families don't affect us and especially that we don't treat our own children or others in that way. Only by the grace of God can we be kept from evil overtaking us; in one form or another. Our own suffering can bring empathy toward others unlike those who haven't experienced suffering like that; as well as have more than ample spiritual power to overcome. We must NOT look to the world or flesh for a quick emotional fix; or toxic relationships. We don't want the cure to be worse than the disease!
May He richly bless you and yours. Rich P
talking about first peter chapter one