I am very sorry that you are feeling as you are. I will be praying for you. God can reach you through this depression and feeling of hopeless existence. I pray that You will seek God with all that you are able to do at this time. You can seek Him. He will draw near to you if you ask Him for help and rescue. And He is able to overcome what is happening in your mind and heart. I pray that God will bring to You salvation, hope, and a fullness of knowing Him as Your God.
Seek medical help for the depression you are experiencing. Don't try to go it alone or to tough it out. There are some newer treatments available now that may help. Go see a doctor and follow up with what the doctor recommends.
A prime example of the nature of the true gospel is the parable in Luke 16 of the rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, who laid at the rich man's gate, full of sores, and desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. On the face of it, from a physical point of view, this poor beggar Lazarus had absolutely nothing going for him. But when God rolls back the curtain and enables us to see what happens when both of these men die, we learn that Lazarus in actual fact had everything going for him, as we find him resting in Abraham's bosom whilst the rich man lies in the grave in torment, sorrowing for the fact that he can do nothing to change his circumstance.
Please visit ZionInTravail on YouTube and the web to learn more about the True Gospel and the Day in which we are living.
The true gospel is transparent to nationality or economic status or political standing. It has nothing to do with economic prosperity or with socio-political issues. When the churches become involved in political activism or social or economic issues, they forget that the task of the believers is to be an ambassador of the kingdom of God. When Jesus was placed on trial for his life at the behest of the chief priests, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate ( John 18:36)
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Concerning political rulers, the Bible commands in Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The true gospel has been emasculated in our day as the churches have become more involved with the social and physical and political issues of the day, which in themselves have nothing to do with the true gospel. Sure, Jesus fed the 5,000 who had come to hear him, but that was not his primary mission, and later we read in John 6:15
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the last day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the last day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9 (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
The true gospel has to do with the primary problem facing mankind, namely the wages of sin, which is death, and the penalty demanded by the law of God, which is the second death, eternal damnation. God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners. Christ, who is eternal God in every sense of the word, and who was without sin, was laden with the sins of all the elect who were given to him by the Father before the foundation of the world, which had nothing to do with their works. Christ paid the eternal penalty demanded by the law of God on behalf of the elect, and only the elect, who are just a remnant, a tiny part of the whole. Christ said, I and the Father are one.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Corinthians 15
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The true gospel is circumscribed by the Bible, alone and in its entirety, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, in its original languages. The King James Version is translated from the oldest and most reliable manuscripts available, and the translators have sought to stick as closely as possible to the original text, which is in stark contrast to the modern translations that use inferior manuscripts and seek to reinterpret the original text and put it in more understandable language. That said, the KJV is far from perfect, it does contain errors, and the KJV translators were heavily influenced by the doctrines of the church, which when viewed from the superior vantage point of our day when we are very near the end of time and God is opening our understanding to many truths that were previously kept sealed ( Daniel 12:4,9), were very often faulty. Therefore, the serious Bible student should always carefully check the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek using the modern tools that are readily available, such as interlinears and concordances, which are keyed to the KJV.
By definition, any gospel that cites an authority that is outside the 66 books of the Bible, or narrower than the Bible, is false. That includes gospels that look upon other books as divinely inspired or that feature the teachings of those who claim to have received direct revelation from God, whether in a dream or a vision or tongue, as in the tongues described in 1 Corinthians 14.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I do agree with you concerning the modern versions of the "bible". The KJV is the only one to be trusted but I do want to challenge you in your belief that it contains errors. I know from other comments you have made that you are a
Calvinist so are you saying the KJV has errors because it doesn't that doctrine.
Do you accept the premise that the KJB was inspired by the Holy Spirit? (the word inspired first came into use in the 14th century and "it had a meaning it still carries in English today: to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural influence.") Merriam Webster Online. If the Holy Spirit of God was not able to influence the men who wrote the KJB, if He made mistakes, how do we know the men who wrote the word in their original languages didn't make mistakes? Since words of the ancient languages have different meanings, how do we know those men used the correct one, and why didn't the Holy Spirit correct them when it inspired them to produce the KJB? I hope you don't thing these are frivolous questions? You have probably been asked them before but I sincerely would like you to communicate with me on this. Bye
The geographical land of Israel has been left desolate, by God, on purpose. Punishment for rejecting Christ. If only they had known the hour of their visitation.
Hi Amasuca, It sure does look like the millennial reign! It definitely speaks of a future that is different from what we have now. The prophets are interesting and complicated. It has helped me to know where they lived and what was happening to them at that time. But so many prophesies can be repeated, in a manner of speaking. The exodus will happen for us too. Jesus will take us out of the land of slavery to live in houses we did not build.
It's so nice to be chatting with people who obviously love Jesus and yearn to see him. The land is barren where I live.
Well, actually, at Jesus second coming to collect us, his feet do not touch the earth. We rise up to meet him in the air along with the dead in Christ.
At that time, we ascend into heaven. For 1000 years, the sabbath millennium, we will have the opportunity to review the books. We will wonder why our wonderful Aunt Betty is not in heaven. We will read the books and say, "Ah. I understand." Righteous and true are your judgements , oh LORD."
And, we will wonder why that awful person made it to heaven. We will read the books, and say, "Ah. I understand. Righteous and true are your judgements, oh LORD."
At the end of the sabbath millennium, new Jerusalem will descend to the earth. The wicked dead will be awakened. They will receive their judgment at that time. And, we will understand, because we had 1000 years to read the books, that those condemned to die have chosen that path. God's reputation will be exonerated. For all those people who thought God was arbitrary and mean, they will see that God is LOVE.
Now is the time to come out of Babylon, my people.
I don't think so. Read Micah 1-5 again. Looks like wars are still taking place!
"nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."
These are people walking "every one in the name of his god". Not at all as you say. Better give it a second, third, and even a
I agree with you in prayer for the salvation of all in your family. tonight I pray for your grandson who is using drugs.
Dear LORD God, we ask that You deliver this young man from drug use and heal his mind and body from the effects and bondage of drugs. We ask that You draw him near to You and soften his heart to turn to You in a cry for help and salvation. We lift up this niece who needs Your love more than anything. Deliver her from trying to get this love from people who cannot satisfy as You can. turn her heart around to You and open it up to receive Your love and grace. We lift up all of Dixiechicks family before You and ask that You bring all to saving faith soon. Restore this whole family to faith and godliness in Jesus name. Amen.
As a Minister I often refer to Bible Hub. I Preach out of the King James Version. But People need to understand this . It is not a perfect translation. The only perfect translation You are going to find is to have the Original Manuscripts. And be able to read Greek, Latin and Hebrew of the Ancient World. I find that the other Interpretations shed more light on the Verse without getting crazy out far from the meaning. I would recommend Anyone to Read and learn from the KJV. But as I've said the Bible Hub shows the same verse worded differently in several Interpretations. I use the descriptions of these in my explanation of breaking down the KJV. For those struggling to understand or a New Convert . There is no shame in using all the material available today to learn. If You are sincere God is going to show You how and what to follow when confusion arises. My Father in Law who passed away in 2000 . I was Saved under His Ministry. He had books and Materials by Men that were not particularly in His Christian wheelhouse so to speak. But He always said, You take Their Knowledge and You use it because They are smart Men. You are still going to believe what You believe. I think there is such a Stigma or Shame put on People if They don't go to anything but the KJV. I believe God gave it to Us . I believe it to be the Preferred Choice of Text. But I also believe People should be open to learning. It wasn't until the KJV was published that Man even really knew about Scripture. And this goes back to Moses and the Law . By keeping Man in the dark it allowed Others to hold Power over Them. Ezra built a Homemade Pulpit and taught the People and They asked Questions for the first time EVER and actually cried at hearing The Word of God. Jesus tore down The Elitist System some 2000 years ago of Pharisees and Manmade Sway . We don't need to Rebuild it again. But as soon as Christ got out of sight at Bethany. Man was already busy becoming Man again.
Yes. Also, a supplemental informational resource is Josephus, History of the Jews.
I want to add that many modern Bible translations have omitted things or altered things. So that's another unfortunate aspect to be concerned about.
If you lay the KJV alongside the NIV or ESV, there are many many differences. If the Catholic Church is behind it, then perhaps they are altering stuff to make their doctrine fit.
KJV is good since we feel the Spirit throwing light on the passages as equally I have been illumined many times while reading the Bible ages ago in the vernacular. I believe we confuse the Scripture being God breathed, somewhat like Mary confused the risen Christ for a gardener or somebody else. But when she heard his voice, she knew instantly her Master's voice. The word of God works with a believer not because of original MS or it is in KJV but it connects with heart a spiritual space. St Paul speaks how the Spirit helps with our infirmities in Ro.8. It is equally true with reading. Thy word is truth and it is how it speaks to man. Jesus Chrisst the same yesterday, today and forever. In John 2o Mary, "she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus." But the voice of the Word is eternal. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary." Instantly she recognized the Word become flesh. There is a difference between the man and the word become flesh. Similarly there is a difference between literal approach and letting the Spirit illumine our reading.
What is 'perfect' and should there be a controversy over it. God is perfect and it is holiness of God. Human intellect make nonsense in explaining it. God commands us, 'Be ye holy, for I am holy'. Without 'grace' it would not be possible. Truth and grace came by Jesus Christ. Perfection is rounded off in our abiding life by our Redeemer Lord as St Paul confesses to the 'power of Christ in me' (2 Co.12:9).
Thank you for sharing that Brother Michael Dorsey. I do agree with what you have written, & especially noted, "The only perfect translation You are going to find is to have the Original Manuscripts". I too have used Bible Hub for years, mainly for its Hebrew & Greek Lexicons & found it to be very good & useful in better understanding words (especially those debatable ones) giving me a fuller understanding of the passage. However, one Greek brother who comes on here sometimes, did check me on what I had once written to someone (when giving a meaning of a word). He said that in Greek, my advice given was incorrect & he went further to do research on why that word was used. Apparently, it wasn't taken from the Greek text as given in the Textus Receptus, but from another source. So I say this, as one may need to take care, seeing that Bible Hub doesn't necessarily use the TR/KJB as the source material for publishing its Greek words.
And even here on this Site, a little while ago there has been debate on the word 'perfect', as found in e.g. Matthew 5:48, Matthew 19:21, 1 Corinthians 2:6. This word 'perfect' has been used by some here to denote, 'sinlessness', that we have to be, or even now, are sinless. Not sure of your position on this, but reading the Greek, 'teleios', seems to indicate more towards 'completeness, full-grown, mature'. Now in Matthew 5:48 we have a problem, we see that Jesus gives the command, to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So, clearly the absolute perfection that our Father fully has within Himself, cannot be the same that we need to have/strive for on Earth: that is, not towards sinlessness, but towards maturity & completeness. So, I share this just to show how important the original languages are to assist us in understanding God's Word, and especially the KJB (17th Century) which uses language & expressions that sometimes are quite foreign to us here in the 21st Century.
"And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us."
Well, we know how that went. The Israelites found out that they could not, would not, and failed miserably to gain righteousness on their own because they were unable to keep from breaking God's commands. The Law shows us our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. The Israelites as a whole, must have thought that they could fall back on the sacrificial system to remove their sins when they failed God. But they could not truly say they gained their own righteousness because they could not keep the Law.
Only Jesus is righteous, completely sinless, and worthy of God's acceptance as a truly human person. His divine nature always remained divine, but His human nature needed to choose obedience to God always, and He did. His righteousness is imputed to us because He was the perfectly acceptable sacrifice for our sins. He did what we could never do, never sin, and be of such worth that His sacrifice took away all of our sins.
The Israelites grew accustomed to sinning against God, going after idols, and forgetting Him who delivered them from bondage. May we not fall into such a state. Thank God for giving us the Holy Spirit, without Whom we would not be able to continue in faith and obedience to God every day. God provides us with all we need for life and godliness through the work of Jesus for us and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us to sanctify us and empower us to desire to obey our God and Savior. He is the only One who can save us. Let always be turned toward Him, seeking Him wholeheartedly, hiding His word in our hearts, and sharing the hope we possess in Jesus, our Lord.
God tells them to write them on their doorposts where they come in and go out. They are to be able to be read from the inside or outside of the entry to their home. Even to write them on the gates of one's property. To me this sounds like such a good thing to do, to have God's Words visible around one's house.
God then promises to be true to His promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to bring these descendants into the land promised. They will be blessed with the work of the people whom they drive out of the lands they will possess. God plans to give them good cities and homes to dwell in, fields, and vineyards, olive groves, and wells, none of which they planted, dug, or tended so as to be made full of the what the land will already have waiting for them. They will not have to begin from scratch as Noah and his family had to do after the flood. The land will already be ready for them.
But then, God warns them not to forget Him, nor to forget Egypt and the bondage they were brought out of. Rather, they are to fear Him, serve him, and swear by His name and not that of any other idol god. They are to stay clear of idols and the idolaters around them. They should not inquire about them or the way the pagans serve their idols. God says He is jealous for their worship and service and they are to not divide their religious faith and allegiance with idols that cannot help them nor save them.
The Israelites were to be careful about how they lived, worshipped, and taught their children. They are to be ready to explain to their children what God had done for them and why they are to worship Him alone by adhering to His commands, statues, and the good testimony of Him to Israel. We are to be knowledgeable of what we are to explain to our kids about the Lord and His truths. We are not to neglect this important aspect of parenting. I wish I had been even more diligent in doing this with my sons.
After instructing the people to fear Him, listen to Him, and obey His commands, God speaks the great words of the Shema:
Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD.
There is not a multiplicity of God that are true and worthy of worship. There is only One: YHWH
This statement will be of utmost importance when He sends His Son and the Holy Spirit, each of Whom is God, but not three Gods, but One unified Divine Being that is three distinct Persons in a relationship of love and unity. There is but One true God, no other, and ever will there be but one God to worship. In the fullness of time, God's elect will learn of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each who is to be worshipped and glorified, but we are to remember that God is One in substance, love, will, and workings.
The Shema goes on to say: Love the LORD your God with all of one's heart, soul, and strength. We are to love Him with all that we are: our minds, bodies, soul, powers, will, actions, words, thoughts, relationships, and emotions. There is nothing about us that we are to withhold from Him. All of us belongs to Him, We have been bought with a price, our life is not our own to live our own way, but to live to God.
God then tells them to put His words in one's heart. To know His commands thoroughly and to teach them to our children often. We are to be a holy example to our children, our spouse, our neighbor, those who are in authority over us, and those who we have authority over. We are to submit to God in all affairs, living according to God's ways, not our own sense of right and wrong. to do what is right in God's eyes, not what seems right in our own eyes.
We are to recall God's Word when we lay down to sleep and when we rise up, when we work and when we rest. The Israelites are to bind God's Law upon their wrists, put them as frontlets between one's eyes. God's ways were to be ever before them, keeping them from being double-minded or forgetful of what God requires of His people.d
In this chapter Moses is setting the stage for the delivering of the Law to the people of Israel who were too young when the nation was gathered at Sinai to fully understand what God was asking of them in regards to worshipping and serving Him individually and as a nation.
First, God calls the Israelites to fear Him. This means to revere Him and understand that He is able to make alive or destroy, raise up or bring down, bless or curse. Recognizing His worthiness for obedience, worship, and service is emphasized in the term: fear. Remembering his mighty, miraculous, and awesome deeds done in the flight out of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the water coming forth in the wilderness, the descent of God upon Sinai, the pillar of cloud and fire, quail and manna each morning, the deliverance from enemies, reminds that He is not a God who is weak and unable to do as He pleases or so congenial that one can take sin lightly and He will not require judgment, and that He is a God who cannot be stood up to and prevail. He puts down the proud and haughty, disciplines those He has chosen, and brings calamity upon the persistently disobedient. He takes offense at idolatry and His anger and wrath is fearsome. The Israelites needed to know all of these things in order to take Him seriously and, knowing that there is no other God to serve, they are obligated to obey, love and worship Him alone.
Then God says that His commands and statutes are ongoing. They pass on to the lives of one's children and grandchildren and future descendants. They are sure and consistent. God will not change nor amend them as time passes. They are for the good of the individual and the nation. (vs. 3)
God tells the people to hear Him, listen attentively and soberly with the intent to obey God's commands. In doing so, life will go well for the obedient. There will be increase of blessing in the life of the obedient, and prosperity in the land they will be entering, as promised to the forefathers.
Jesus Christ was running the show in the Old Testament.
He spoke to Abraham before burning Sodom and Gomorrah. He was the angel on the threshing floor that David saw. Jacob struggled with him before meeting essau. He is the angel that Joshua saw and said "are you for us or against us?".
The Angel of the Lord is Jesus! The entire Bible is him! Doesn't that lift your heart up? To know that Jesus is involved in every single aspect of humanity? Jesus is mighty to save! He will bring us home! Praise the LORD!
What is the commandment of God now in the new testament? Not the ten commandments the law of Moses. It is now in Christ Jesus as God turned the show over to his Son Jesus Christ. The law of spirit of life.
Matthew 17:5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matthew 28:18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
2nd Cor 1:19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
[20] For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Jesus now owns the show. What Paul is talking about in 1st Cor 7:19 circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing any more in the new testament, we are now circumcised in heart and no longer an outward appearence. You are still trying to preach a Jesus that is born of Mary as if he is still here. My Jrsus we know more after the flesh as it is not an outward appearance but an inward one. Your glorifying in appearance and not in the heart
2nd Cor 5:12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Circumcision or uncircumcision don't matter in the new testament we are one in Christ.
Col 3:[9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The Commandments of Jesus = his words of spirit and life John 6:63. Get out of the old and into the new as old things has passed away and all things have become new.
Notice, Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day. On the seventh day of creation , they RESTED with God. The seventh day sabbath was instituted at creation.
God instituted it as a gift to us. Pleasant, and a joy. Man has ruined it with burdensome laws. Enjoy the sabbath! Make it happy. Don't think about ways to make money. And don't have people work for you on that day. Enjoy God. Clear your calendar and think of him. Learn of him. Enjoy your family. Enjoy special food treats. That is sabbath. Happy and lovely. A gift.
From the 7 day week, we understand the 7 millenniums. Each millennium is like a day of the week. Adam and Eve and the antediluvian people lived during the Sunday millennium. Abraham (2100 Bc) lived around the end of the Monday millennium and the beginning of the Tuesday millennium. We are living at the end of the Friday millennium. The sabbath millennium is nearly here!
This is a reason why the 7th day sabbath is important. It's both a memorial to creation as well as a symbol of the plan.
I am very sorry that you are feeling as you are. I will be praying for you. God can reach you through this depression and feeling of hopeless existence. I pray that You will seek God with all that you are able to do at this time. You can seek Him. He will draw near to you if you ask Him for help and rescue. And He is able to overcome what is happening in your mind and heart. I pray that God will bring to You salvation, hope, and a fullness of knowing Him as Your God.
Seek medical help for the depression you are experiencing. Don't try to go it alone or to tough it out. There are some newer treatments available now that may help. Go see a doctor and follow up with what the doctor recommends.
A prime example of the nature of the true gospel is the parable in Luke 16 of the rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, who laid at the rich man's gate, full of sores, and desired to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. On the face of it, from a physical point of view, this poor beggar Lazarus had absolutely nothing going for him. But when God rolls back the curtain and enables us to see what happens when both of these men die, we learn that Lazarus in actual fact had everything going for him, as we find him resting in Abraham's bosom whilst the rich man lies in the grave in torment, sorrowing for the fact that he can do nothing to change his circumstance.
Please visit ZionInTravail on YouTube and the web to learn more about the True Gospel and the Day in which we are living.
The true gospel is transparent to nationality or economic status or political standing. It has nothing to do with economic prosperity or with socio-political issues. When the churches become involved in political activism or social or economic issues, they forget that the task of the believers is to be an ambassador of the kingdom of God. When Jesus was placed on trial for his life at the behest of the chief priests, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate ( John 18:36)
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Concerning political rulers, the Bible commands in Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The true gospel has been emasculated in our day as the churches have become more involved with the social and physical and political issues of the day, which in themselves have nothing to do with the true gospel. Sure, Jesus fed the 5,000 who had come to hear him, but that was not his primary mission, and later we read in John 6:15
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Continued in part 5
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the last day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the last day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9 (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Continued in part 4
The true gospel has to do with the primary problem facing mankind, namely the wages of sin, which is death, and the penalty demanded by the law of God, which is the second death, eternal damnation. God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners. Christ, who is eternal God in every sense of the word, and who was without sin, was laden with the sins of all the elect who were given to him by the Father before the foundation of the world, which had nothing to do with their works. Christ paid the eternal penalty demanded by the law of God on behalf of the elect, and only the elect, who are just a remnant, a tiny part of the whole. Christ said, I and the Father are one.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
1 Corinthians 15
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Continued in part 3
The true gospel is circumscribed by the Bible, alone and in its entirety, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, in its original languages. The King James Version is translated from the oldest and most reliable manuscripts available, and the translators have sought to stick as closely as possible to the original text, which is in stark contrast to the modern translations that use inferior manuscripts and seek to reinterpret the original text and put it in more understandable language. That said, the KJV is far from perfect, it does contain errors, and the KJV translators were heavily influenced by the doctrines of the church, which when viewed from the superior vantage point of our day when we are very near the end of time and God is opening our understanding to many truths that were previously kept sealed ( Daniel 12:4,9), were very often faulty. Therefore, the serious Bible student should always carefully check the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek using the modern tools that are readily available, such as interlinears and concordances, which are keyed to the KJV.
By definition, any gospel that cites an authority that is outside the 66 books of the Bible, or narrower than the Bible, is false. That includes gospels that look upon other books as divinely inspired or that feature the teachings of those who claim to have received direct revelation from God, whether in a dream or a vision or tongue, as in the tongues described in 1 Corinthians 14.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Continued in part 2
I do agree with you concerning the modern versions of the "bible". The KJV is the only one to be trusted but I do want to challenge you in your belief that it contains errors. I know from other comments you have made that you are a
Calvinist so are you saying the KJV has errors because it doesn't that doctrine.
Do you accept the premise that the KJB was inspired by the Holy Spirit? (the word inspired first came into use in the 14th century and "it had a meaning it still carries in English today: to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural influence.") Merriam Webster Online. If the Holy Spirit of God was not able to influence the men who wrote the KJB, if He made mistakes, how do we know the men who wrote the word in their original languages didn't make mistakes? Since words of the ancient languages have different meanings, how do we know those men used the correct one, and why didn't the Holy Spirit correct them when it inspired them to produce the KJB? I hope you don't thing these are frivolous questions? You have probably been asked them before but I sincerely would like you to communicate with me on this. Bye
It's so nice to be chatting with people who obviously love Jesus and yearn to see him. The land is barren where I live.
Blessings to you!
Well, actually, at Jesus second coming to collect us, his feet do not touch the earth. We rise up to meet him in the air along with the dead in Christ.
At that time, we ascend into heaven. For 1000 years, the sabbath millennium, we will have the opportunity to review the books. We will wonder why our wonderful Aunt Betty is not in heaven. We will read the books and say, "Ah. I understand." Righteous and true are your judgements , oh LORD."
And, we will wonder why that awful person made it to heaven. We will read the books, and say, "Ah. I understand. Righteous and true are your judgements, oh LORD."
At the end of the sabbath millennium, new Jerusalem will descend to the earth. The wicked dead will be awakened. They will receive their judgment at that time. And, we will understand, because we had 1000 years to read the books, that those condemned to die have chosen that path. God's reputation will be exonerated. For all those people who thought God was arbitrary and mean, they will see that God is LOVE.
Now is the time to come out of Babylon, my people.
You know, I just read Micah 4 recently, and that looks a lot like the millennial reign.
Maybe take a look at that, and tell me what you think.
Micah 4 is a prophecy of Jesus Christ (the Kingdom of God).
It has been happening to the called out now for 2000 years, ever since John came PREACHING: prepare ye the way; for the kingdom of God, is AT HAND.
Colossians 2:27 .... this MYSTERY .... Christ IN YOU ........
God Bless You
"nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever."
These are people walking "every one in the name of his god". Not at all as you say. Better give it a second, third, and even a
fourth look before making that claim.
I agree with you in prayer for the salvation of all in your family. tonight I pray for your grandson who is using drugs.
Dear LORD God, we ask that You deliver this young man from drug use and heal his mind and body from the effects and bondage of drugs. We ask that You draw him near to You and soften his heart to turn to You in a cry for help and salvation. We lift up this niece who needs Your love more than anything. Deliver her from trying to get this love from people who cannot satisfy as You can. turn her heart around to You and open it up to receive Your love and grace. We lift up all of Dixiechicks family before You and ask that You bring all to saving faith soon. Restore this whole family to faith and godliness in Jesus name. Amen.
Reverend Michael Ray Dorsey
Yes. Also, a supplemental informational resource is Josephus, History of the Jews.
I want to add that many modern Bible translations have omitted things or altered things. So that's another unfortunate aspect to be concerned about.
If you lay the KJV alongside the NIV or ESV, there are many many differences. If the Catholic Church is behind it, then perhaps they are altering stuff to make their doctrine fit.
KJV is good since we feel the Spirit throwing light on the passages as equally I have been illumined many times while reading the Bible ages ago in the vernacular. I believe we confuse the Scripture being God breathed, somewhat like Mary confused the risen Christ for a gardener or somebody else. But when she heard his voice, she knew instantly her Master's voice. The word of God works with a believer not because of original MS or it is in KJV but it connects with heart a spiritual space. St Paul speaks how the Spirit helps with our infirmities in Ro.8. It is equally true with reading. Thy word is truth and it is how it speaks to man. Jesus Chrisst the same yesterday, today and forever. In John 2o Mary, "she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus." But the voice of the Word is eternal. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary." Instantly she recognized the Word become flesh. There is a difference between the man and the word become flesh. Similarly there is a difference between literal approach and letting the Spirit illumine our reading.
What is 'perfect' and should there be a controversy over it. God is perfect and it is holiness of God. Human intellect make nonsense in explaining it. God commands us, 'Be ye holy, for I am holy'. Without 'grace' it would not be possible. Truth and grace came by Jesus Christ. Perfection is rounded off in our abiding life by our Redeemer Lord as St Paul confesses to the 'power of Christ in me' (2 Co.12:9).
And even here on this Site, a little while ago there has been debate on the word 'perfect', as found in e.g. Matthew 5:48, Matthew 19:21, 1 Corinthians 2:6. This word 'perfect' has been used by some here to denote, 'sinlessness', that we have to be, or even now, are sinless. Not sure of your position on this, but reading the Greek, 'teleios', seems to indicate more towards 'completeness, full-grown, mature'. Now in Matthew 5:48 we have a problem, we see that Jesus gives the command, to "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So, clearly the absolute perfection that our Father fully has within Himself, cannot be the same that we need to have/strive for on Earth: that is, not towards sinlessness, but towards maturity & completeness. So, I share this just to show how important the original languages are to assist us in understanding God's Word, and especially the KJB (17th Century) which uses language & expressions that sometimes are quite foreign to us here in the 21st Century.
"And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as He hath commanded us."
Well, we know how that went. The Israelites found out that they could not, would not, and failed miserably to gain righteousness on their own because they were unable to keep from breaking God's commands. The Law shows us our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. The Israelites as a whole, must have thought that they could fall back on the sacrificial system to remove their sins when they failed God. But they could not truly say they gained their own righteousness because they could not keep the Law.
Only Jesus is righteous, completely sinless, and worthy of God's acceptance as a truly human person. His divine nature always remained divine, but His human nature needed to choose obedience to God always, and He did. His righteousness is imputed to us because He was the perfectly acceptable sacrifice for our sins. He did what we could never do, never sin, and be of such worth that His sacrifice took away all of our sins.
The Israelites grew accustomed to sinning against God, going after idols, and forgetting Him who delivered them from bondage. May we not fall into such a state. Thank God for giving us the Holy Spirit, without Whom we would not be able to continue in faith and obedience to God every day. God provides us with all we need for life and godliness through the work of Jesus for us and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us to sanctify us and empower us to desire to obey our God and Savior. He is the only One who can save us. Let always be turned toward Him, seeking Him wholeheartedly, hiding His word in our hearts, and sharing the hope we possess in Jesus, our Lord.
God then promises to be true to His promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to bring these descendants into the land promised. They will be blessed with the work of the people whom they drive out of the lands they will possess. God plans to give them good cities and homes to dwell in, fields, and vineyards, olive groves, and wells, none of which they planted, dug, or tended so as to be made full of the what the land will already have waiting for them. They will not have to begin from scratch as Noah and his family had to do after the flood. The land will already be ready for them.
But then, God warns them not to forget Him, nor to forget Egypt and the bondage they were brought out of. Rather, they are to fear Him, serve him, and swear by His name and not that of any other idol god. They are to stay clear of idols and the idolaters around them. They should not inquire about them or the way the pagans serve their idols. God says He is jealous for their worship and service and they are to not divide their religious faith and allegiance with idols that cannot help them nor save them.
The Israelites were to be careful about how they lived, worshipped, and taught their children. They are to be ready to explain to their children what God had done for them and why they are to worship Him alone by adhering to His commands, statues, and the good testimony of Him to Israel. We are to be knowledgeable of what we are to explain to our kids about the Lord and His truths. We are not to neglect this important aspect of parenting. I wish I had been even more diligent in doing this with my sons.
The chapter ends with these words:
Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD.
There is not a multiplicity of God that are true and worthy of worship. There is only One: YHWH
This statement will be of utmost importance when He sends His Son and the Holy Spirit, each of Whom is God, but not three Gods, but One unified Divine Being that is three distinct Persons in a relationship of love and unity. There is but One true God, no other, and ever will there be but one God to worship. In the fullness of time, God's elect will learn of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each who is to be worshipped and glorified, but we are to remember that God is One in substance, love, will, and workings.
The Shema goes on to say: Love the LORD your God with all of one's heart, soul, and strength. We are to love Him with all that we are: our minds, bodies, soul, powers, will, actions, words, thoughts, relationships, and emotions. There is nothing about us that we are to withhold from Him. All of us belongs to Him, We have been bought with a price, our life is not our own to live our own way, but to live to God.
God then tells them to put His words in one's heart. To know His commands thoroughly and to teach them to our children often. We are to be a holy example to our children, our spouse, our neighbor, those who are in authority over us, and those who we have authority over. We are to submit to God in all affairs, living according to God's ways, not our own sense of right and wrong. to do what is right in God's eyes, not what seems right in our own eyes.
We are to recall God's Word when we lay down to sleep and when we rise up, when we work and when we rest. The Israelites are to bind God's Law upon their wrists, put them as frontlets between one's eyes. God's ways were to be ever before them, keeping them from being double-minded or forgetful of what God requires of His people.d
First, God calls the Israelites to fear Him. This means to revere Him and understand that He is able to make alive or destroy, raise up or bring down, bless or curse. Recognizing His worthiness for obedience, worship, and service is emphasized in the term: fear. Remembering his mighty, miraculous, and awesome deeds done in the flight out of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the water coming forth in the wilderness, the descent of God upon Sinai, the pillar of cloud and fire, quail and manna each morning, the deliverance from enemies, reminds that He is not a God who is weak and unable to do as He pleases or so congenial that one can take sin lightly and He will not require judgment, and that He is a God who cannot be stood up to and prevail. He puts down the proud and haughty, disciplines those He has chosen, and brings calamity upon the persistently disobedient. He takes offense at idolatry and His anger and wrath is fearsome. The Israelites needed to know all of these things in order to take Him seriously and, knowing that there is no other God to serve, they are obligated to obey, love and worship Him alone.
Then God says that His commands and statutes are ongoing. They pass on to the lives of one's children and grandchildren and future descendants. They are sure and consistent. God will not change nor amend them as time passes. They are for the good of the individual and the nation. (vs. 3)
God tells the people to hear Him, listen attentively and soberly with the intent to obey God's commands. In doing so, life will go well for the obedient. There will be increase of blessing in the life of the obedient, and prosperity in the land they will be entering, as promised to the forefathers.
Jesus Christ was running the show in the Old Testament.
He spoke to Abraham before burning Sodom and Gomorrah. He was the angel on the threshing floor that David saw. Jacob struggled with him before meeting essau. He is the angel that Joshua saw and said "are you for us or against us?".
The Angel of the Lord is Jesus! The entire Bible is him! Doesn't that lift your heart up? To know that Jesus is involved in every single aspect of humanity? Jesus is mighty to save! He will bring us home! Praise the LORD!
Circumcision is not a moral law.
Matthew 17:5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matthew 28:18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
2nd Cor 1:19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
[20] For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Jesus now owns the show. What Paul is talking about in 1st Cor 7:19 circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing any more in the new testament, we are now circumcised in heart and no longer an outward appearence. You are still trying to preach a Jesus that is born of Mary as if he is still here. My Jrsus we know more after the flesh as it is not an outward appearance but an inward one. Your glorifying in appearance and not in the heart
2nd Cor 5:12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Circumcision or uncircumcision don't matter in the new testament we are one in Christ.
Col 3:[9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The Commandments of Jesus = his words of spirit and life John 6:63. Get out of the old and into the new as old things has passed away and all things have become new.
God instituted it as a gift to us. Pleasant, and a joy. Man has ruined it with burdensome laws. Enjoy the sabbath! Make it happy. Don't think about ways to make money. And don't have people work for you on that day. Enjoy God. Clear your calendar and think of him. Learn of him. Enjoy your family. Enjoy special food treats. That is sabbath. Happy and lovely. A gift.
This is a reason why the 7th day sabbath is important. It's both a memorial to creation as well as a symbol of the plan.