Bible Questions Page 4

  • Richard H Priday - 1 month ago
    On Christian music and idolotry:

    The second and third lines in Chris Tomlin's song "Good Good Father" state:

    But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night

    And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone

    David Crowder's song "He really loves us" has this in the third line

    "There is no judgment"

    And Danny Gokey's song "Love God Love People" says at the end of the fourth stanza

    "Love God and love People" (no brainer).

    Finally there is the song "What would Jesus do" states in the 11th Stanza

    "What would Jesus do

    He would love first..etc."

    The first question here is what is God's love? There is nothing in any of these songs that show any differentiation of God's love from that of man. Assuming that God never has anything negative to say goes against the verses that state God chastises anone He loves and we are illegitimate sons otherwise (see Hebrews 12:6; 12:8). To say there is no judgment is only true as to a believer's standing at the Bema Seat Judgment and missing the Great White Throne condemnation. We are judged according to 2 Corinthians 5:10 and be judged as to works done for Him; good or bad. If we aren't one of His own we are judged and condemned already ( John 3:18).

    No one should argue as to a Christian demonstrating love and patience; but that doesn't mean that we should stand for hypocrisy within the House of God; or societal evils such as abortion without sounding the trumpet as a watchman to avoid the condemnation warned of in Ezekiel 3:18. But such exhortations seem to be missing entirely in today's Christian songs; whether it is warning of the deceptiveness of Satan or sin itself; or the Tribulation to come or hell itself without repentance. Anyone on this forum who wishes to rebut that statement let me know; perhaps there are some independent artists I should be made aware of that I haven't heard lately.

    Thus; artists are idolized saying what people want to hear and are "Christian" by name only.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Luke 12:14-15 " A man's life" (2 of 2)

    "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth".

    Jesus as the Son is called the prince of life. In his resurrection he also established the way to life abundant, which is not same as abundance of things. Mammon another name for the devil holds riches as his ace in his sleeve to destroy the unwary and fools. The Parable of the Rich Fool gives us a look of one who was not rich towards God. He was a fool to believe only in a world the other man's riches have blinded his eye of faith. For them there is no remedy. The man who had great possession could not get over it in order to follow Jesus. He heard how to be perfect but abundance of the other man's wealth closed his ear of faith. "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."(Matt.19:21-22). Without faith one cannot be perfect where the grace of God makes both worlds of the body and of the Spirit in harmony.

    Grace of God works through his Son so He makes a way open before His children. The fish that supplied the tribute money is a case in point. We have false shepherds cheating IRS to conceal their ill-gotten coins but Jesus showed how to navigate both worlds at the same time. "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." (Matt.17:22)

    All promises of God are yea in his Son. So what was the point of God blessing 'them' on the sixth day? (Ge.1:28-30)Blessings mentioned on each day in the Abstract work together so God's commandment to "subdue' is to create over-comers and not fools whose art of deal come unstuck in spectacular fashion at the end of their lives.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Luke 12: 14 "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" (1 of 2)

    Here we have question and it is asked by Jesus who is the fulfillment of the Law. The quarrel over inheritance on the basis of the Law of Moses did not interest him. Moses himself could have supplied his bitter experience. He had tried to intervene in the quarrel of his fellowmen and what was the result? "And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known."(Ex.2:14). His own hands were not clean, enough. Jesus knew no sin and did no sin so he could have cast the first stone on man who transgressed according to the law. " He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."( John 8:7)

    Jesus was among as the Word made flesh to prove that the Law was doable and not dabble in the justice system that only dealt with one world. As the Law that he represented covered both worlds, the present and the worlds to come. So he stood outside their petty squabbles over wealth which was 'other man's riches' meaning it was devil's business.

    One may ask Does God condone capital punishment?

    All Authority come from God. "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./ Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Those who are in power are themselves subject to God.

    Law of sin is not from God. Man chose knowledge of good and evil over the commandment of God so he is servant to sin from the greatest to the lowest. So whatever name one calls, President or Caesar are servants to sin and their laws are accordingly sinful. Rather than ask if capital punishment is good or bad, ask yourself under what law you come: under the Law of the Spirit or under law of sin? (Ro.8:1)"
  • Jagggard912 - 1 month ago
    Does god condone capital punishment
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Is.2:1 "Conclusion"

    (Continued from the previous post)

    I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."(Is.42:8)

    Coming back to Isaiah we have the glory of God expressed in terms of the Law, which is the truth. I am the truth". So we need look at the truth expressing 'that God may be all in all" fulfills the ministry of Reconciliation by Jesus Christ. "Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.:(Is.8:18). So the clause in v.2 "and all nations shall flow unto it" is to be understood as referring to the Throne of God and of the Lamb.

    "Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made/And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not." Here we have judgment about to visit Israel as we have in our times culture wars and super rich treating themselves as cream floating in the cauldron. "this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh." (Ez.11:3). Those who makes idols of men take glory in the worthless " and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth./Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?"(Is.2:21-22)

    Those who do not abide in Christ as many branches to the true vine may say they are justified and saved by faith. But their glory is in their idols. God is not fooled by their professions when they glory in their worthless gods and not in the true God. "And theLordalone shall be exalted in that day./And the idols he shall utterly abolish." (vv.17-18)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Is.2:19 "Arise O Lord"

    "And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of theLord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth." (Is.2:19)

    We saw an earlier instance where the verse 11, from Isaiah Ch.2 being repeated in v.16. These are not left in the narrative by any accident but the Spirit warns us to heed the Law from Zion is indeed from God the Father as the word going forth from Jerusalem is from the Son. So Jerusalem and Zion as alienated to the nation of Israel for pride and violence is a lie perpetuated by the Synagogue of Satan. How often Bible scholar by approaching the passage literally weaken the force of the Spirit's thrust? God's Will is clear and his Holiness shall not be treated glibly with doctrine's of man. Ministry of reconciliation of the Son having completed on earth must leave the sinner of Zion to their own devices till the terror of the Lord strike them and they turn to Him. In that day a fountain shall be opened for their cleansing. Let the sinner beware is the focus here.

    God gave them a glory of 'his back parts' so setting Moses in the cleft (Ex.33:21-23)was one such hint. In Re.6 :12-17 we have the wrath of the Lamb is mentioned here specifically.

    "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him./As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God./But let the righteous be g"lad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. ( Ps. 68:1-3)

    "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"(Is.33:14) Jesus warns the church, "and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."(Re.2:9)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Is.2:11 "Glory of the Lord" (1 of 2)

    "The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."

    In continuation with the passage of Is.2:1-4 which is when the last enemy death has been finally put down, there shall be no more death. The emblem of the slain Lamb reveals the Lamb having a throne, a body which is called New Jerusalem. The word forever settled in the heaven is the Law, superseding all other laws.

    In the last days we have the Law going forth from Zion 'and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." What does it mean where god is all in all? The answer is given in this clause, "and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." It is the glory of the body which is New Jerusalem.John annotates the passage of Isaiah, "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof./And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:"(Re.21:22-24)

    One peculiar feature is that the key verse is repeated again word for word in v.17. The Spirit is referring to the Lamb who was prevailed to open the book bound with sven seals. "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."(Re.5:5-8) Here the 24 elders worship him. " the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints." They were memorial of the body prepared before for the Son and they carried the prayers. Do the prayers of saints go unanswered? Oh no!
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Ep.2:14-18 "Middle Wall of Partition" (2 of 2)

    Here we shall look at Ze.3:1-3

    "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him./And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"

    The High Priest Joshua represents the High Priest of our Profession. Joshua, God our deliverance is a Hebrew variant of the name Jesus. (He.3:1). Satan is resisting the man as he did with Michael over the body of Moses.(Jude.v.9). Jesus did no sin and knew no evil so Ministry of reconciliation here as a substitutional symbol.

    "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" refers to the great tribulation and the 144,000 representing the 12 tribes so martyrdom does not distinguish between the Jews and the Gentiles.

    "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel./And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment./And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments." (vv. 3-5) Here are two verse for meditation:

    I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."(Is.61:10)

    "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."(Is.61:3)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Ep.2:14-18 "Middle Wall of Partition"(1 of 2)

    "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)

    Up Down

    This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2

    Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)

    Across

    St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.

    Time of the Gentiles

    This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.

    The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
  • S Spencer - 1 month ago
    We can do the right thing at the wrong time and it falls short of perfection.

    We can do the right thing with the wrong heart and we fall short of perfection.

    TO BE PERFECT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE BLAMELESS.

    1 Corinthians 8:9-12 is another scenario to consider.

    We often think of the things we do wrong as sin.

    What about the things we don't do right or good? Consider James 4:17.

    Here's our goal.

    Galatians 5:25-26

    If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

    Let's see if we are perfect in this using Galatians 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

    Here's a list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21.

    ( Most of these we can claim on the surface but God judges the heart.)

    Are we PERFECTLY blameless in not doing any of these in our hearts?

    THOSE ARE A LIST OF THINGS A CHRISTIAN SHOULDN'T BE DOING. ( If we are doing these we are sinning.)

    Christians are known "BY" there Love for one another and should be barring fruit.

    John 13:34-35.

    1 John 4:20-21.

    Matthew 7:15-16.

    Let's use Galatians 5:22-23 to see what we should be doing. "PERFECTLY since our focus is on the ability to be perfect in these natural bodies.

    love,

    joy,

    peace,

    longsuffering,

    gentleness,

    goodness,

    faith,

    Meekness,

    temperance.

    IF YOU ARE NOT DOING THESE PERFECTLY "FOREVER ON! YOU ARE NOT PERFECT OR BLAMELESS.

    Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17.

    God bless.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    2 Ti.2:4-5 "Word of reconciliation" (2 of 2)

    As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16

    "All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)

    Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.

    Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    2 Ti. 2:4 "Word of reconciliation" (1 of 2)

    "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

    This quote from St Paul shall explain what he means by the word of reconciliation. St Paul explains his ministry is from God,"all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" so no passage stands alone but it casts its spiritual analogue so it is the fulness of Christ that we look into it. The revelation that the Spirit had set him apart as he confesses,"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."(Gal.1:16; Ac.13:2). He was called to be a good soldier for Christ. So his ministry of reconciliation is in lock step with Jesus Christ's ministry of reconciling the other sheep, "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" into one fold fits with one another.( John 10:16)

    Elisha's life presents us with the world of the Spirit which requires eye of faith than the normal faculty of vision. "Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?/And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ( 2Ki. 6:15-17). Ministry of reconciliation is about fighting by the rules.(2 Ti.2:5) These rules are meant to make every believer fighting fit. So when Jesus told his disciples," and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."( Luke 22:36) we can put his word in proper perspective. The sword was meant as his badge of office. This is the word of reconciliation, comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
  • Oseas - 1 month ago
    What does the Word of GOD reveal? Luke 4:5-8:

    5 And the Devil, taking JESUS up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

    6 And the Devil said unto JESUS, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

    7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

    8 And Jesus answered and said unto he Devil, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy GOD, and Him only shalt thou serve.

    ************THE LAST DECADE - 2020-2030 - COUNTDOWN************

    february 12-2024 is the 1137th day of the LAST DECADE of the Devil's world.
  • Richard H Priday - 1 month ago
    What would Jesus do?

    Romans 8:7 states:

    "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."

    The next verse describes how we were yet sinners; or what Colossians 1:21 states in even harsher terms as "enemies of God."

    Next time you hear someone talking about how loving we all should be ask them if they would be willing to die for their enemies who hate them. We hear a lot of talk these days about the love of God; usually reduced to some mushy sentimentality and hardly differentiated from human passions. First off; it is only a half truth to go around talking about God's love only when it happens to coincide with pleasant or pleasurable circumstances for people on earth. Yes God loved us when we were yet sinners but provided provision through the Son as His ONLY method to reconcile the enmity between us and Him due to indwelling sin. God cannot look upon sinful man and love Him in the state he is in but DESPITE the fact that he is in a lost state with a heart that is; according to Jeremiah 17:9 "desperately wicked". God's METHOD is by having the Son; for we either have the Son and therefore know God or we know neither (see 1 John 23:24). This involves the Father and Son coming to "dwell within us" ( John 14:23 which also implies the Holy Spirit sealing us until the day of redemption ( Eph. 4:30).

    Those who would view Jesus as someone that is primarily promoting some sort of sentimental affection either is Biblically illiterate or willfully deceived. He talked about being a sword to divide families ( Matthew 10:34-36); rebuked the Pharisees harshly a number of times; destroyed the Temple moneychanger market at least twice; and challenged those who would feign to be His disciples but whose heart wasn't in it. He even rebuked His own disciples. This is demonstrating that true love in His own life was obeying God; and we are called to do the same for Christ ( John 14:23).
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    John 10:1-4 "Not by the door" (2 of 2)

    Pride of Satan will not allow him to be one among many." I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." He would usurp the place of the Son himself. God made angels spirit so technically a son of God. The angelic revolt in heaven to create an alternate narrative to the Salvation Plan as we may surmise from this verse, "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."(Ge.6:2) Without the simplicity of obedience how ludicrous was their plan to create a 'holy' family?. This also throws some light on the separation of light from the darkness. (Ge.1:4)

    "Shall go in and out" When Jesus Christ is the door sheep may go in and out. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Going in and out can be understood at two levels. God gave the revelation of his Son "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.". The angel belongs to the sheepfold in the world of the Spirit. Similarly "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."(1 Chr.21:1) Hence this warning from St Paul,(Gal.1:8)

    Our struggle is with spiritual wickedness in high places, refers to the world of the Spirit, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Full armor of God refers the one sheepfold in which we have rested from our own labors and are hid in Christ. So our battles are fought in the world of the Spirit. This also explains why Jesus instructed his disciples, "and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one".( Luke 22:36). "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" speaks for one world. The sword is badge of an overcomer in the world of the Spirit.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    John 10:1-4 "Not by the door" (1 of 2)

    "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

    Jesus emphasizes here and he refers to the devil explicitly. How did he beguile Eve but through subtility and through the serpent? 2 Co.11:3. In the passage Jesus refers to the sheepfold which has only one door. This discourse is with reference to the world of the Spirit so a natural pastoral setting is also giving its spiritual underpinning. So God has called whosoever shall be adopted into the fellowship of God with Man, and collectively they make up one sheepfold which can be called witnesses. Cloud of witnesses and sheepfold in short refers to the divine Will of God. So Jesus as the Word become flesh refers to them as the sheep entrusted them with him. "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.:(10:29)

    From Re.12:4 the red dragon, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." . So when Jesus says "Many are called, but few are chosen we may get an idea as to how subtle the devil is in upsetting the Salvation Plan of God. (Matt.22:14) St Paul's fear was for the saints who were called and given an example in the Son,"so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ," is in particular about the doctrinal purity the church is able to uphold. In their failure it has serious effect upon the world of the Spirit. This is how we ought to view Christian Living.

    Conversely we have an event, building of the tower of Babel, which for instance is the replay of the angelic revolt in heaven. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:"(Is.14:13-15) Purity or simplicity that is in Christ said,"Lo I come to do thy will," On the other hand Satan challenges,"I will."
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Ps.23:4 "Shadow of Death" (2 of 2)

    Force of the everlasting covenant is the Law of the Spirit so everlasting gospel to destroy the works of the devil who sins from the beginning. Everlasting gospel is to be understood as part of the works Jesus is entrusted to finish. In John 4:34-38 we have two groups one who soweth and the other reapeth. "I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours." (4:38) Who is the Sower? In the Parable of the Tares we have the answer.

    "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;/The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;/The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."(Matt.13:37-39) We cannot handle the word of God arbitrarily but give equal weight to them as essential for Christian Living. We are in the presence of enemies, from both worlds.

    We can equally speak of our witnesses in the World of the Spirit to which Jesus referred, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"(Matt.26:53) They mirror in tandem with events on earth. Jacob at Mahanaim is a clear example. Angels met him before God would bless him."And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." (Ge.32:24) As the heir of promise came to a fateful encounter with his estranged brother it was God's way of bucking him. "And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host."Similarly God reveals his power and glory to the heirs of promise. It is same what we read in Re.3:20. " Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

    "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Ps.23:3 "Shadow of death" (1 of 2)

    "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"

    'Yea' or Amen we speak while the Good Shepherd leads us in the paths of righteousness and it requires some explanation. These paths cover both heaven and the earth."Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."(Ps.73:25-26) 'My portion for ever' speaks of our inheritance in Jesus Christ, who promises,"I go to prepare a place for you"( John 14:2). The valley speaks of the only way which is set before us. So when Jesus tell the seven churches we are shown a door connecting another. Re.3:20 In the following chapter, we read,"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven."(Re.4:1). Our heart is a spiritual space and we under the shadow of the Almighty whether we knew it or not. But the Word of God stands sure,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."(Ps.91:1)

    On this basis what death are we referring to? "The slain Lamb before the foundation of the world" is the emblem to declare the everlasting covenant so what we see in the Abstract set down in' seven days' gives us how we have been blessed in the Son. In the divine Will we have been called and blessed and from His standpoint the cloud of witnesses belong to the world of the Spirit. For God is a Spirit. Thus God wills a separation in Ge.1:3-4 and it was so. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." This separation must be explained in the light of the covenant, is it not?

    'There was war in heaven' and consequences spill over to the earth as well.(Re.12:7-8)

    Before we take up v.5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" we need a little room to discuss the two contrary laws which have given rise to the presence of 'mine enemies'.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Psalm 23:4 "Christian Living" (2 of 2)

    Mount Zion founded in Zion is a fortress. The sorrows of death compassed the Psalmist yet he could say "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress" and what is our certainty? Is it not that he conquered death and he is the author and finisher of our faith. He refers to the valley of the shadow of death. Before us we have a cloud of witnesses, many martyrs ahead of us,"being destitute, afflicted, tormented;/(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth/ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,"(He.11:37-40) The earth is a vale of tears for those who have no hope beyond this world of shadows. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." It is thus we look at the two worlds of the Spirit and of this body.

    " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:/ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand./My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."( John 10:27-29)

    Christian Living is walking by faith having no confidence in flesh but in our Savior who opened the way for us to follow. "Thy follow me" is his trust. So Living is in capital to distinguish from those Christians who walk after the earthly things.
  • Richard H Priday - 1 month ago
    Heaven or hell?

    A wise deacon in our church has stated that we are in enemy territory currently on earth. Our state prior to salvation was an enemy of God as we were blinded by the god of this world to do his bidding ( 2 Cor. 4:4). Despite what may be assumed by some; there are numerous descriptions of hell in the Old Testament. There are also references to heaven and the Millennial reign of saints ( Psalm 61 seems to be a veiled reference to David in that capacity; for instance). We see also in the famous passage in Job 19:27 which alludes to a bodily resurrection where he will see God. Psalm 63:9 is another reference to hell; in sending enemies to the "lowest parts of the earth." As much as we may not comprehend these eternal truths; Proverbs 8:36 states that "all who hate me love death." (see also John 3:19-21 and 1 John 2:11).

    Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to salvation in John 10:9 and many other passages state the same thing; often in parables. Those who are not enlightened to this truth often have some scripture knowledge, but they can only see general statements about living a righteous life or see descriptions of God and only see God from afar; much as the Israelites did when wandering through the wilderness. Somehow man's myopic perspective focuses on characters in the Bible and considers those who were a prophet; or a "good teacher" and not understanding who is truly good; that is God alone ( Mark 10:18). This is why the man called Christ good in that passage; he was only seeing Him through human lenses rather than His true position as God in the flesh which only God Himself can reveal to someone ( Matt. 16:17).

    These truths explain why man underplays his spiritual condition; he sees outer works and judges himself on them; and that based on his own set of scales weighing in his heart the "good vs. the bad"; ignoring God's perfect Holy standard. Worse still; he is blind to his sin NATURE which can only be changed God's way
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Ps.23:3-4 "Abiding in Christ" (2 of 2)

    Fulness of Christ does not restrict his glory to one aspect of human existence. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."(Ro.6:9)Both worlds of the Spirit and of the body consist of this completeness."And by him all things consist."(Col.1:16-17) So writer to the Hebrews refer to where the Good Shepherd is leading us to. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:/Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."(He.1:3-4)

    Those who deny the works that Jesus Christ from the right hand of the Majesty on high are leaving for the false shepherds license to muddle the still waters of Shiloah, which is very much how the enemy would want it to be understood.

    "he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Holding truth in unrighteousness, those who have begun well have shown to be liars. "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"(Gal.3:3) Another place we read, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."(Ph.3:18-19). Look at all the culture wars who stoke them but Satan?

    "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

    Psalm 23 as with Ps.2 are to be studied from both worlds holding together in his Son. Here we see him as the Good Shepher while Psalm 2 Jesus Christ as the king of kings.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Psalm 23 "I shall not want"

    "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want".

    Gospel of John explains why. "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." (1:16) St Paul has this to say,"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"(1 Co.4:7)God having foreknown us in his Son has also blessed so it is from both worlds of the Spirit and body. Faith is one so we speak trusting fully that all that is needful for our life and godliness has been met in our abiding life. He is the Good Shepherd and we are his flock.

    "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters".

    St John writes,"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."(10:9)

    Still waters of Shiloah that goeth softly is how God of all Mercies has blessed the land to which the Spirit sets a heavenly pattern,-"There isa river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holyplaceof the tabernacles of the most High."(Ps.46:4). Jesus as the Good Shepherd knows his sheep since it is his Father has put them under his care. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"(10:27). In following his path bearing our cross daily this pasture is in the now. Our physical bodies may be aching and we may be experiencing bereavement, ill health and calumny from the world but his grace does wonders as St Paul experienced when caught up to the third heavens and this unspeakable glory of Jesus as the restorer of our souls. St Paul's malady is ours too. The enemy is at the gates while our weak bodies are most vulnerable but what is our 'pick-me-up? "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."(2 Co.12:2,9)

    "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Re..3:20-22 "Knock" (2 of 2)

    "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." If Jesus says he has to finish his work we can be certain how he does it shall be to perfection to which we are in full agreement. This is what faith with works would mean.

    "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." ( John 14:12) We know that Jesus ascended to his Father for a reason and His promise of a helper was to enable us to do much more by abiding in him. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)

    Jesus sets an open door before the church of Philadelphia. Similarly he is seated on the right hand of God so what he says is as,"he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"(3:7). It evokes his promise as the Son of man, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). This is how we ought to view of our authority as abiding in our Savior Lord. Our Faith with works is to say Amen to His sovereignty over our bodies, both spiritual bodies as well as mortal bodies So what Jesus meant by finishing his works is it not feeding our spiritual bodies as well? Only when Christ seated on the throne says, "It is done" his works shall be finished.(Re.21:6a)

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(v.22). All his promises are for saints called to be overcomers. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( John 10:16) This is also part of his work.

    Lastly in v.21 we have two thrones mentioned referring to the throne of God and of the Lamb.(Re.22:1)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Re.3:20-21 "Knock" (1 of 2)

    The knock mentioned here is different from this verse."Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"(Matt.7-8) Jesus here mentions the door to salvation. " and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." The next verse sets this in context. "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" Jesus is referring to his Father who is in heaven while what Jesus refers in the key verse is the door to the heart of a believer who is saved but is yet to be counted as an overcomer.

    The Lord is my shepherd (Ps.23:1) In the Gospel of John we see the same idea put in context of the Father Son relationship. Jesus as the Word become flesh is the Good Shepherd so when he claimed, "I am the way" it explains why his Father sent him to the world. "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."( John 10:2). So his authority is as that of the legitimate, the only one whose actions are taken in truth."I am the truth" explains this aspect As the faithful witness and true he promises to all seven churches, where he stands. He demands his rightful place in their heart, a spiritual space, representing the face upon which the Spirit moved before the commencement of the creation. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.(Ge.1:2b)

    "if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (3:20)

    In the Matthew quote, salvation dealt with ask, seek and knock. The door accordingly opened a straight and narrow path for the seeker to find his pasture. Here Jesus Christ in his majesty offers a supper set in an intimate one to one basis."I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This pasture is doing the will of God so meat and drink refers a life in heavenly places. "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
  • Oseas - 1 month ago
    Chris and Bennymkje

    Let's speak of the Word of GOD, the Word is GOD, the Word is GOD Himself, understand? I quoted to you and to ALL what my Lord JESUS said in His PRAYER to the Father. JESUS said to GOD the Father: John 17:6 - " I have MANIFESTED thy NAME unto the MEN which thou GAVEST me out of the WORLD: thine they were, and thou gavest them me;and they -the MEN- have kept thy Word.

    In fact JESUS MANIFESTED the NAME of GOD to the MEN. Your answer is an announcement, a declaration, or even clearly leaves a CONFESSION that you DO NOT KNOW the NAME of GOD the Father, NAME MANIFESTED unto the MEN by my Lord JESUS.

    So, in a defensive position because you don't have an answer within the Scriptures, you come in unpolished manner to tell me that I "cannot be more in the know of Name than the Son". What you said is fake. What matters and prevails is what my Lord JESUS said: Matthew 11:27 - "No MAN knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any MAN the Father, save the Son,and he to whomsoever the Son will REVEAL Him. As you and ALL can see, it is by REVELATION,not by speculations, presumptions, and so on.

    Your answer is an announcement, a declaration, or even clearly leaves a CONFESSION that you DO NOT KNOW the NAME of GOD the Father, NAME MANIFESTED by my Lord JESUS unto the MEN.

    Furthermore, you cited the esoteric, and kabbalistic, and spiritist NAMES of GOD (this is a blaspheme), such as JEHOVAH, YAHWEH, YHWH, ADONAI, EL SHADAI, HaSHEM as if were the NAMES OF"GOD",but there are more esoteric and kabbalistic names of"GOD" besides these, according the devilish esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist Judaism,and you believe in this satanic doctrine and testify and spread their idolatries and sorceries here.

    My Lord JESUS said: "No MAN knoweth the Son,but the Father; neither knoweth any MAN the Father,save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will REVEAL Him. As you and ALL can see, it is by REVELATION only, exclusively.

    Wake up, it's midnight
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    "Esau"

    The will of God is complete so His calling is for every one who is set in context of his Son who is the firstborn of all creation. Who has heard the call and lives in lockstep with him is a double for the Son. Joseph was one. He was the last but one among his brethren but it is he who serves as a stand-in for his Son. He became the savior of a nation despite of his being vilely treated by his older siblings. Even so when he presented his sons who were born in Egypt Jacob bypassed the firstborn."And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head."(Ge.48:17-18)

    Esau was the first born,- and yet he despised his birthright. He let go blessings of God which are as special as God's gifts and called are beyond recall, yields the clearest evidence behind the theological term of predestination. As Jesus Christ is established as the firstborn of every creature when God promised His blessings to Abraham, he was seeking co-heirs of promise with his Son. (Ge.12:3; Ro.8:17.) Jacob struggled with Esau who had no sympathy for spiritual gifts and the Holy Ghost provides a concrete imagery in the mess of pottage to explain his least regard for things of God.

    " Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob. And I hated Esau,(Mal.1:2-3)

    "For ye know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." (He.12:17-KJ21). Here we have a commentary by divine revelation that contrition without works is useless.

    Now from two examples of Esau and Manasseh they being firstborn did not pass muster with the divine Will. Predestination explains why anyone is blessed in his Son. He is the Father of mercies. But becoming firstborn is to be led by the same Spirit of Christ. Joseph showed the same spirit to counted as the double.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    "Envy"

    Grace and truth came with Jesus Christ. He became poor in order to make us rich. St Paul speaks of being complete in him. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Col.2:10). This being the case what this world can counteroffer and Satan tempted Jesus with "all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;/And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me./ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matt.4:8-9). When we are complete in him it is not merely of a state of being with senses giving certain cues of a world that changes ever subtle shifts so whosoever builds his hopes shall be like the foolisher builder who built his house upon the sand. He offered instead everlasting life in which God is one, "that God may be all in all." This is what the Spirit of God establishes as holiness to which man shall only enter through his Son. This is the spirit of Christ or grace operates upon all without exception so the same DNA of faith has its perfect working.

    "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"(He.10:29)

    Envy is the sum total of false estimation of one's worth. Revolt of Korah was against God's administration. Earlier Miriam murmured, "Has he not spoken through us also?" Miriam envied Moses as Korah would later show. He and sons of Levi led a faction, Miriam and Korah were punished for it. They were moved by the spirit of Satan who is the father of lies. In short envy in to divide and bring damage to the working of divine Will.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    "Our calling"

    "Even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Ep.4:4)We were called before the foundation of the world. St Paul anchors our calling 'in one hope' which is compared to an anchor. "But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"(Ro.8:24) St Paul is referring to salvation so hope is well grounded on two worlds of the Spirit and body,- the body prepared for the Son to be precise. Thus we shall read the key verse more precisely as 'In one hope of your profession'. Upon what our hope revolves about? Is it not faith which is one. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." (He.3:1)

    He.11:3 lays down the relative positions of the two worlds where faith is one signifying how anyone may be considered as his brethren. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." How can an imposter religion cobbled by a Council be elevated to the body of Christ? The body is perfect because both physical body and spiritual body of the Son set off one other to perfection on account of the obedience. It is what faith with works means, pure and simple. It falls under the divine Will of the Father. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (He.2:10) What glory can anyone show in the manner the Council of Nicaea settled upon their creed by way of compromise in 325? Instead of falling in line with the Word and the Word become flesh, the will to prevail over each other became the order. Instead of the Son whose mind was to reveal the glory of his Father by obedience we have this slogan "Athanasius contra mundum" as monument to heresies ever since. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord," (2 Co.6:17-18)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    "Unity of the Spirit" (2 of 2)

    Adam is a representational figure. When God put enmity between law of the Spirit against law of sin we see the seed of woman coming under the Law of sin and a world of the flesh, seed of it is under the same curse, " and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."(Ge,3:15) This word of the flesh creates a body of evidence marked by death. Our wretchedness comes from this realization, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" (Ro.7:24)

    Jesus became the word become flesh in order to destroy the works of the devil.

    Unity of the Spirit brings one Spirit one body under the divine Will of the Father. Thus glory of God is in not only spiritual shadow but is with reference to the body, the spiritual body it is called. It gives each seed divine impetus so to every seed its own body, holiness of which is determined in its association with the Son. Thus in the creation account, where 'seed in itself' speaks of this holy family, (Ge.1:11) God commanded and the effect we read thus: "And it was so." Heaven signifies the will of God and the earth represented by the Son, (the visible image of the invisible God-Col.1:15) sets forth a chain of sequences that we call the church, or in whom is the seed of truth. The new heaven and the new earth, in short refer to the end times when the reconstituted time is no longer required. "That God may be all in all" explains that the Son had fulfilled His will to perfection.(1 Co.15:24-28)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    1 Co.15:29 "Baptism for the dead"

    "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

    Baptism for the dead, there is nothing to be afraid of and dying daily is not a sacrament but comes under the department of works. What is baptism but an act of faith? Faith without works is dead. So what shall we make of the doctrine of man which Evangelical refers to their activism? On one hand they repudiate 'works' the labor of love done in Christ but with both hand embrace Christian nationalism, Pro-life movement and 'prosperity'? "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name," (He.6:10-15) so works done toward his name must be done with "the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." This inheritance of promises is unlocked by his name than 'active' faith preached by imposter religion to loosen the tight fist of God. It is thus Satan has deceived them and their prosperity theology is a classic example.

    If you died to the world of sin and the world you are as St Paul says,"I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily." (1 Co.15:30-31). The Nicene creed says, "I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins." For those children of disobedience who fight for faith but in works do the devil's business, stoke cultural wars and help as one famous preacher in the late 60s helped the US President's Southern agenda by publicly stating that all rapists should be castrated merely shows the malaise of the mainstream Christianity feeding upon the Pagan Rome for its growth. Where death worked for saints in the time of St Paul we have now a pastor, here is the quote, "We know that Scripture does not teach that baptism regenerates a person. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone ( Eph. 2:8-9). Nor does Scripture indicate that water baptism is required for a person to be saved." Faith+works


Viewing page: 4 of 630

< Previous Discussion Page    Next Discussion Page >

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13  

 

Do you have a Bible comment or question?


Please Sign In or Register to post comments...