Bible Questions Page 8

  • Bennymkje - 2 months ago
    Bible Dictionary/ excerpt-3

    Achan

    Achan

    At the fall of Jericho Achan secretly appropriated some of the spoils of war to himself, disregarding that these were dedicated to the Lord. Joshua had before the battle declared " And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing,.., and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it."(Josh.6:18). Because of his sin Israel lost the following battle of Ai, and the reason was revealed to Joshua from the Lord. Achan and his family were stoned to death and their bodies along with possessions were burned in the valley of Achor. (See entry below-Achor)

    (Is.65:10). What does the Spirit aim at with the example of Achan? A disciple' forsaking all for the kingdom of heaven' is to treat appropriating other man's riches as foolhardy as that of Achan. Foolish ministers of our times who espouse prosperity belong to who St Paul would classify as 'reprobate concerning the faith'. (2 Ti.3:7-8)

    Achor, the valley of

    "A place for the herds to lie down in." (Is.65:10,9) The valley of despair becomes a place for the shepherds to take ease. For Israel it also points a door of hope. (Hos.2:15) Jesus Christ is that door. " I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."( John 10:9)
  • Richard H Priday - 2 months ago
    Gossip: A pernicious enemy

    It would be interesting to do a survey among professing believers. How important would it be in heaven if there was a comment lacking about a favorite sports team; vacations or possessions in discussions among believers? Would we lament that we didn't have time to boast of a particular accomplishment of ourselves or another family member? Or; to really find out if the rubber meets the road would we be sad in the light of His presence above if we missed out on a juicy tidbit about another brother or someone in the world who annoys us?

    This commentary is not debating if worldly matters are ever right to discuss. We should focus; always in directing conversation towards the Lord whether it is among others in the faith or to reach nonbelievers. Idle chatter doesn't MATTER otherwise. And IDOLS that we flap our jaws in adoration and praise means that we are no better than the world.

    A good remedy for all this; of course is to keep our mouths shut unless we can say something edifying (which I have been admonished about in the past). The fear of the Lord should cause us to consider what we say if nothing else since every word we speak will be accounted for ( Matthew 12:36). It is often curse words and other vulgar statements which we consider here; certainly not to be excluded. But all the vanity of life; the things of this world such as pride are our responsibility to steer away from as 1 John 2:16 states (along with the lust of the eyes). No one needs to blurt out how fat and ugly someone is just as much as someone's physical beauty shouldn't be idolized.

    If we enter church with a proactive mindset that we will look for people with needs to offer prayer; we will encourage others with scriptures to edify and other like practices that is a start. Those who are wise will avoid having to involve themselves in any conversation just to fit in. The time to "play church" is over. It is sink or swim. (see Luke 21:36).
  • Tunney on 1 Timothy 4 - 2 months ago
    Much of the problems confronting us is because of our own problems with the doctrine we are faced with. For example, some believe that church officers are not to marry. However, Scripture doesn't teach that.

    v3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

    Paul wrote that meats offered to idols are nothing in 1 Corinthians 8 ...

    1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

    2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

    3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

    4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

    ...9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

    10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

    11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

    12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

    13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

    We must be careful in our liberties as saints. Be joyful Brethren, for the joy of the LORD is our strength.

    Merry Christmas and have a prosperous New Year; enjoy the food provided and blessed by our SAVIOR KING.

    May our LORD GOD, continue to shine HIS glorious face on all on this forum.

    December 22, 2023
  • Tunney on Acts 11:26 - 2 months ago
    There is absolutely no works to be done for Salvation in CHRIST. Ephesians 2:

    8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

    9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

    Water baptism is not a requirement of salvation. Romans 6:

    3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

    4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

    5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

    When we are Scripturally born again we have been made justified in CHRIST, no longer bound for hell or the lake of fire. We are then called to do the work of the LORD which is called sanctification. v10 of Ephesians 2.

    Salvation is only by faith alone, in the shed blood alone, of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

    May GOD open the hearts of all unto the sufficiency of the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

    Merry Christmas to all on this forum, and a happy and prosperous New Year.

    December 21, 2023
  • Bennymkje - 2 months ago
    Introduction

    (In the coming months I shall be busy with editing the Bible Dictionary in three volumes.-b)

    Is another Bible dictionary really necessary? It would seem judging the dictionaries that are available these provide husks than meat. The name of the author sells and his celebrity status and numbers do count. The word of God is to be treated as Holy Writ and not as a piece of merchandise.

    The Holy Spirit makes it plain: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:/That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Ti.3: 16-17)". How many books available now are prepared in strict adherence to the above? The present work is taken up to fill a void, and prepare a child of God to quit him like a man in this age of lawlessness. He sorely needs solid food from the word of God.

    The adage 'child is the father of man' is very much true also in the making of a man of God. It is reasonable that a pedagogue relies as much on truth he knows by experience, and the trusting nature of the child does the rest. This is evident in the preceding verse of St Paul's epistle: 'And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (v.15)'. Hearing the word of God is not simply a matter for the ear. The sound one hears is processed elsewhere so it makes sense to him. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This time St Paul writing to the believers in Rome says this sound has been heard. Instead of being led astray from present topic we may believe that the ability of man to process what he hears is as natural as the night follows day.

    Gospel of God when broken down to sounds makes sense and as St Paul puts it, "Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world (Ro.10: 18,17)".
  • Oseas - 3 months ago
    Dec 19, 1936 - Dec 19, 2023

    What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116:12-14

    Psalm 1:1-6

    1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

    2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

    3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

    4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

    5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

    6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

    Praise the Lord
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Is.4:4 "Daughters of Zion"

    "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."

    Key to unlock the meaning is to compare the spiritual with spiritual. Passage concerning the daughters of Zion in the previous chapter "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,"(Is.3:16) refers to the arrogance of Israel which is evident even now. The prophet refers to 'in that day' which is when the Son shall execute by the spirit of judgment upon the daughter for all the filth and blood they have caused to run on the streets. "The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses./What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? (3:14-15)

    That day is the day of the Lord. "And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink."(v.24)

    Daughters of Zion mentioned here are the virgins Re.14:3 " the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." These are mentioned in Is.4:3 "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem." This is called New Jerusalem.

    Isaiah uses Number 7 and it denotes fulfillment which is what the Son as the Judge shall exact. Seven is a tag as 144,000 (It is made up of 12x12x1000. Thousands refers to the last days when the Marriage of the Lamb is ready.

    "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach." One Man is Jesus Christ. Their righteousness is their apparel Their bread is the spiritual body and their soul is the Son in Trinity. Man child (Is.66:6-7)
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.16:26 "Soul"

    "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" In the parable of Jesus the merchant man seeking goodly pearls found one pearl. "When he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."(13:45-46). The one pearl is Jesus Christ who gave himself as the man who found it in the Son who gave himself for him. A merchant trades thus giving up certain advantages and it applies both parties. The transaction is also fair since the soul of man is the 'inner man' or man child'. Since God breathed into Adam and made him a living soul his fallen state allowed the law of sin into the bloodstream of the world. Conversely when we received Jesus Christ as our Savior we came under the Law of the Spirit. There is no more condemnation applies to our soul. When Jesus the Good Shepherd speaks"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."( John 10:28).

    Faith in Jesus Christ connects every believer so our soul is in his safekeeping. This is what faith with works mean. The Abiding life brings the Father also into the equation. I and my Father are one.( John 10:27-30)When we put on spiritual bodies our individual souls are represented by Trinity.While we groaned 'earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, ' our souls were being strengthened in our inner man by the indwelling Spirit. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life./Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." (2 Co.5:1-5)

    Serving God and mammon is what the heathens do. They will have to account for what they did to the soul. "the heart of the wicked is little worth."(Pr.10:20) Choose life as did the merchant in the parable, "And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.17 "On the road"

    vv.1-9

    Concerning his ministry Jesus was on his last lap moving towards Jerusalem. "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples"(16:21). He confided to his disciples what must occur there."How that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." The transfiguration is to be understood as a preview of the glory that awaited him. It was also an invitation to his disciples including Judas Iscariot, whom he knew would betray him. In his prayer he makes it clear. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept,"( John 17:12) Once again we read that they were to keep it a secret till his resurrection.

    "Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,/And was transfigured before them."

    Why three instead of 12 disciples? The Spirit has shown us the representative nature of Salvation Plan of God. Ro.5: the Spirit makes Jesus and Adam as representatives of the Law of the Spirit and law of sin respectively.The Number Three refers Trinity as well as a tag for the Son. The New Jerusalem is foursquare "On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates." and "On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates."(Re.21:16-21) We see four cardinal directions measurement of each as that of man and angel. Pearl symbolizes the soul of our spiritual bodies where man component refers to the Son. The Spirit helped us understand the mystery of one pearl of great price (13:45-46) New Jerusalem on the east has three gates and identical with the other three. The three pearls are as one. (Every several gate was one pearl-v.21)

    If God willing I shall take up with this topic in the coming Year. May God bless you and keep you all in Jesus name, Amen.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.17:1-9 "Transfiguration"- Intro.

    "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,/And was transfigured before them"

    "After six days" refers to v.28 in the preceding chapter, "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." This was a visual clue to the tabernacle, "an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."(2 Co.5:1) The Number Seven signifies fulfillment, entering into the rest of God. This was entirely a preview for the three representing the twelve, indicating the nature of the Son of man coming in his kingdom. This anticipates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. It is one event to which time and place of generations of man is immaterial. So you and I have been included when the prophesy of Joel was fulfilled upon those who were assembled on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Within the generation of Jesus Christ (1:1) generations after generations, includes indwelling Spirit of St Paul identical with that of us, and it is what faith does.

    By the same token what does transfiguration of Jesus signifies for us but what St Paul refers? "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life./Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit."(2 Co.5:1-5)

    There is no division here,- and death that Jesus referred in 16:28 is with regards to dissolution of our mortality, ie., earthly tabernacle.

    Notice here the mention of the holy mountain referred in the epistle of St. Peter, "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." (1 Pe.1:18) Visually it connects with the mount in 5:1
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.16:19 "Keys of the Kingdom,

    "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

    Firstly we shall examine the manner Jesus used it. "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"( Luke 13:18). Jesus used the passkey and it is called the finger of God. In the case of Moses it was the rod with which he stumped the magicians of Egypt who said,"Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God."(Ex.8:19). Jesus explained,"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." (12:28) Finger of God in the case of the Son is faith that establishes his paternity,- DNA is faith, and when Moses did as was commanded of God, his rod was a substitute as good as any. The key is merely a label for faith. Jesus set an example for his disciples. Whatever he loosed whether on the Sabbath day or any other on earth was loosed in heaven. Jesus also promised,"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). The context is about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit shall entrust everyone, an associate to the Son who from the right hand of the Most High, and their faith is the keys of the kingdom. Literal interpretation of the passage gave false shepherds to wrest control over His flock, "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."(John10:1) Paul and Barnabas also could bind over Elymas, "And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. "(Ac.13:11)
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.16: 13-15 "Who am I?"

    "But whom say ye that I am?"An opinionated man has his opinion as a man of faith has faith which is Person specific. This faith has its origin which is hearing the word of God.("So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."-Ro.10:17) When Jesus asked,"Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?""And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophet." All these were right since God the Father had revealed it to them. All these association across passage of time and place like strands was woven to connect the Son of man. Faith is one and the Gospel is one. The Spirit lays down the Fulness of God in the Son since the word built up faith which conquers the world. ("For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."- 1 John 5:4)

    We shall try to understand this from the very words of Jesus. Concerning the rejection he received from the nation of Israel he quoted from the Psalm to say, "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner" and of himself,"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (21:44-46)He was warning the 'the chief priests and Pharisees' who when they had heard, "they perceived that he spake of them." He asserted that the rock was his Person. His victory was that overcame their world and opinions that meant little.

    It is in this context we need understand this verse,"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."(v.18). St Peter's claim to the keys is as that of his associate.These symbolic key is with the Son, "he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"(Re.3:7) The Apostle never made a claim over it in his epistles.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.16:13-17 My Father worketh hitherto'

    "For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

    In order to understand this passage we need recall the doctrine of Christ is not a lists of dos and don'ts but Person specific. Thus when Jesus chose his disciples every 'little one' like sheep has to pass under the hand of the Good Shepherd. They were to learn of him so when they returned back to the fold he exulted in spirit and said," I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."(11:25) Gospel of Luke adds to it, Jesus took delight in the success of his disciples and it validated that they were given under his care which as the Great Shepherd of souls had made a list as it were, So St Luke adds,"but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven./In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit."( Luke 10:20-21) They were associates and in their success he could take delight equally.

    Gospel of God involved the Word which worked continually since sent forth; so did God the Father to which Jesus Christ affirmed,"My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."( John 5:17) Gospel of Christ required him to oversee the development of the souls his Father had entrusted under his care (11:27) Jesus tested their level of understanding "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"(v.13)

    God revealing it to Simon Peter was no different than what the prophets of old had spoken. The Spirit of Christ was at work continually which St Peter admits, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,"(1 Pe.1:10-11). Such revelations are for whosoever He has called and historically Simon Peter spoke what his ear of faith heardno different than Jonah had heard. He heard the call to go to Nineveh " But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." It requires faith to hear it right.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.16:1-12 "Doctrine of Man"

    "Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."(vv.11-12)

    Man has always responded to grief which in its basic form which is as natural as bursting into tears. It may go further by tearing the garments that one wears as a woman twists her kerchief in vexation. Old Jacob did what was most natural for him to do when he was told of his son's death. " And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days."(Ge.37:24). Hebraic tradition of Kriah stems from it. The Pharisees since the exile made a doctrine of his grief devising so many ways without being subjected to an iota of grief while they set about it. Is it different when some Academic reduce Christian theology into Evangelical quadrilateral? Jesus talk is not abiding in Christ so my ego the 'I' is buried in Christ. St Paul could in good conscience say,"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."(Gal.2:20). Living day in and day out through grief of loss in worldly goods, ageing and bereavement is a matter of grace which is only given a lucky few and I hope to may bear it all since my faith testifies the Lord is good. So I may say with St Paul," I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound."(Ph.4:12) Amen.

    Jesus sensed hypocrisy miles away so when "The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven, " he would not be drawn into matters they have resisted every time. Similarly he would not be drawn in when the tempter came and challenged him (Ch.4) Matthew makes clear the Pharisees and the Sadducees tempted him since Jesus understood that they were moved by another spirit. The leaven of malice tempered their talk.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.15:37 "Everlasting covenant"

    "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full."

    Compare this with the Spirit's commentary at the earliest instance. There Five thousand were fed and "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."(14:20) Identical sentences, are they not except for the numbers. Jesus in his human likeness came into his own and under the law and his service the nation of Israel was in accordance with the words spoken by Isaiah, "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness./Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."(Is.53:2-3)

    The Number 12 signifies the Gospel of God and in the determined will of God, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law."(Gal.4:4) Similarly Number 7 denotes 'the sure mercies of David' from The Word which was with God. Thus when God blessed Abraham (Ge.12:3) it was validated in this passage,."And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God./And he blessed him." (Ge.14:18-19). He was the high priest of the Most High. ("The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."-Ps.110:4). Sure mercies of David hang upon the Son. The everlasting covenant is between the Father and the Son so the number Seven establishes the sovereignty of the Word.

    Feeding by 1000s is a covenant signifying this everlasting aspects of the sure mercies of the Father; by the same token those who have partaken the body of the Son by faith are kept by the grace of God. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.15:21-39 Feeding of the Four Thousand"

    "And departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon," which must explain the doctrine of his Father outflowing from the nation of Israel to the Gentile Nations for which the Number 12 is a clue where it really came from. "The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;"The people which sat in darkness included the Gentiles as well and when God commanded 'Fiat Lux' it included the light of the Word. The light radiated from God as did the true Light, and it covered that came into the world.

    The Mount against which he spelled out the blessings testified"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."(Is.2:2). The Evangelist introduces Jesus visiting Tyre and Sidon and Jesus discovers the faith of the Canaanite woman was indeed vindicated the Word of God. The high mountain against which Jesus fed the four thousand was the same sign as in 5:1 to instruct it is the Gospel of God and the Son who served the four thousand.

    "And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?"(v.33)

    The Spirit sets the mountain, a sign, and sustains it to the third pivotal moment in the Gospel where the transfiguration of his body(17:1) is a clue both the Jews and the Gentiles were invited to same change as he was about to undergo. As a prelude to putting on this spiritual body the context of feeding of multitudes must be understood as symbolic partaking of the Word which was with God in the beginning. There is no middle wall of partition between the Jews or the Gentiles. This also has a bearing on separating Saul and Barnabas, "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost." (Ac.13:2-4)They were also associates of Jesus Christ as the twelve.
  • Oseas - 3 months ago
    Has ETERNAL punishment begun? In fact it is LITERALLY already running.

    It's very hard to understand and to say, but the Truth is that we have entered in the period of sorrows, a time of great sufferings until the END OF THIS CURRENT WORLD, and OF THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS. There shall be upon the earth distress of nations, and men's hearts failing them for fear looking those things which are coming on the earth. - Luke 21:25-28. -GET READY-

    Be sure that the ETERNAL PUNISHMENT had a specific period of timetable to start, and it was pre-determined since ancient time, and I MUST tell to all that it has already started, the question is that IT WILL NEVER END FROM NOW ON, it will NEVER STOP, understand? it will be for ever ande ever. Get ready.
  • Oseas - 3 months ago
    PROPHECIES's VOICES-GET READY

    Matthew 24

    4Take heed that no man deceive you.

    6And ye will hear of wars and rumours of wars(Ukraine,Israel, Venezuela):see that ye be not troubled:for all these things must come to pass,but the END is not yet.

    10And then shall MANY be offended, and shall BETRAY one another, and shall HATE one another.

    12And because INIQUITY shall abound, the love of MANY shall wax cold.

    22And except those days should be SHORTENED, there should no flesh be saved:but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

    AMEN

    23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

    ATENTION

    GOD shall send them strong DELUSION, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2The.2:11-12.

    WARNING

    1Ti. 4:1-2

    1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils(doctrines of DEMONS- 2Corinthians 11:13-15);

    2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

    THE RED DRAGON - BE CAREFUL AND GET READY

    Re.12:3-4- Behold a great red Dragon, having 7 heads and 10 horns, and 7 crowns upon his heads. And his TAIL DRAGGED after him (TAIL? Isaiah 9:15-16&14 combined with 2Corinthians 11:13-15.Take a look) the third part of the stars of heaven...(stars?Look Jude 1:13 and you will know who the stars are).

    A SATANIC TRINITY

    Abraham's descendants had to pass through the Red Sea,the Lord's Church has to pass through the Red Dragon.Get ready.

    Re.16:13-15

    13And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

    14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles,which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world,to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

    15 Behold,I come as a thief.

    Get ready
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.15:10-21 What defiles a man?

    "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."(v.6)

    Traditions are what man makes of God's commandment. It is to which Jesus alluded in vv.3-6. Pharisees as separated ones were creating their narrative, which drew Jesus to call them hypocritical. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess./Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."(23:25-26)

    In these chapters while the Evangelist delineate the doctrine of God as doable he is also creating a subtext on the detractors of Jesus whose opposition stemmed from their avowed position as the moral custodians of the nation of Israel.

    "For they wash not their hands when they eat bread" ThePharisees were offended at the table manners of his disciples and that was leveled as a veiled criticism to their master. "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin."( John 15:22) As in the case of Herod his presence filled his uneasy conscience to connect him with John whom he had murdered the very presence as sent from his Father pricked their conscience. St Matthew develops it and brings to its climax where we have his 'Woe unto you' discourse. in Ch.23, It is as pivotal as his Sermon on the Mount to the development of his gospel.

    vv.18-21

    "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man./ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:/These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man." At the most man by flouting the norms of hygeine may suffer bouts of indigestion but culture wars from a defiled heart splits a nation beyond remedy.
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.15:1-9 "In vain"

    "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

    One of the darkest chapters in the Church history was demonstrated in Germany when it was mandatory for the service in churches to be conducted while Hitler's Mein Kampf and The Bible side by side. This came about firstly by hijacking the name of Luther as he godfather for the regime on the basis of this Augustinian monk sided with powers-that- be during the Peasant Revolt 1520-30. He sided on the basis of ("Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation-"Ro.13:1-3) This is not the doctrine of Jesus who said, "My kingdom is not of this world"( John 18:36). It came in turn from doctrine of his Father. Luther having won the support of temporal powers against the Church of Rome merely returned the favor. But during the 1000-year Reich his position became the tradition, ("Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition."-v.6). This is the problem which we have in the selected passage. There are not middle ground between God and mammon in which you hide. "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (12:30) How Luther scattered the gift of God abroad so the Satanic cult in 1940 would drag the church through mud serves as a stark warning in our own culture wars. What shall Christians face some centuries hence?
  • Oseas - 3 months ago
    Hosea 6:1-3 -The Word is GOD,self-executable,

    1Come,and let us return unto the Lord:for He hath torn,and He will heal us;He hath smitten,and He will bind us up.

    2After two Days will He revive us:in the 3rd Day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.(Combined with Philippians 3:20-21)

    3Then shall we know,if we follow on to know the Lord:His going forth is prepared as the morning;and he shall come unto us as the rain,as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

    John:2:13-16&18-19 -The Word is GOD, self-executing

    13 And the Jews' passover was at hand,and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

    14And found in the Temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,and the changers of money sitting:

    15And when he had made a scourge of small cords,He drove them all out of the Temple,and the sheep,and the oxen;and poured out the changers' money,and overthrew the tables;

    16And said unto them that sold doves,Take these things

    18Then answered the Jews and said unto Him,What sign shew thou unto us,seeing that thou does these things?

    19Jesus answered and said unto them,Destroy this Temple,and in three Days I will raise it up.

    2Pe.3:8 -But,beloved,be not ignorant of this one thing,that one Day is with the Lord as a thousand years,and a thousand years as one Day.

    Acts 1:9-11

    9And when He had spoken these things,while they beheld,He was taken up;and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

    10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold,two MEN stood by them in white apparel;

    11Which also said,Ye men of Galilee,why stand ye gazing up into heaven?this same JESUS,which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

    1The.4:16

    16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the Trump of GOD:

    Dan.12:1 -And at that time shall Michael stand up...and there shall be a time of trouble,such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:
  • Adam - 3 months ago
    1 Corinthians 11:4-5

    Based on this verse do you think people who wear ballcaps at church and forget to take them off during a prayer (or prophesy) is condemning himself?

    What about when its cold and men wear a beanie, such as for an outdoor Christmas service?

    In my years of attending church I don't remember one time ever seeing a woman covering her head.

    This verse is very clear what it means, yet I don't see any Christians following it. Are people displeasing God by ignoring this verse?
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.14:22-36 "Faith "

    v.23 Jesus in his human likeness required moments to commune with God. "He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." As Son of man how he fed multitude must have felt a burden if he did not learn to please his Father in all things. Power of the Spirit of God was his support. "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." This is the Word component. He was the Word become flesh so it was all the more necessary to fall back upon the bosom of his Father as in the beginning. ( John 8:29)"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."(He.4:15)

    vv.25-31 Jesus stilled the storm (8:23-27) Walking on the Sea was an invitation for Simon Peter to show what Jesus meant as his Associate. "And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water./And he said, Come"(vv.28-29)

    Instead of looking at Jesus his gaze wandered to look at circumstances and floundered. As his associates our eye of faith cannot be elsewhere. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me./ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

    v.36 Earlier a woman with an issue of blood was healed because of her faith. (9:20-23). It was a novel method to be healed and now it has become the norm in the land of Gennesaret where Jesus landed. 'And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole."
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.14 "Herod"

    vv.1-12

    Herod beheaded John the Baptist on a whim. His personal honor was at stake lest he did not commit the crime and give his head to the damsel who has had not an iota of understanding. One who lives for pleasure is dead since truth with which one may stake claim, rightly so, for life everlasting is let go. What else is he good for if he had lost his saltines, truth?

    It was for this reason Jesus said,'Let the dead bury their dead'. ("But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.1 Ti.5:6)They are drunk with power as Herod was and mindless pleasure as we get to see nowadays in news media are like wise dead. "They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."(Pr.23:35). Such are the dead men walking of which Herod is a good example. What was his honor worth when 'he feared the multitude'? In such a pusillanimous spirit what made him equate John whom he had beheaded with Jesus? For that matter what has resurrection to do with one who was given to pleasure. It is what we call truth in his inward parts, the inner man nudging his callous conscience to itself. The Preacher says, "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."(Ec.3:11).We have the key in this verse, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:28-29) 'The work that God maketh' is believing in the Son whom he sent. So Jesus is the only Way for 'the dead', "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."(Ep.5:14)
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.13 "Like begets like"

    "Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord."(v.51)

    Jesus having explained the parables to the disciples treats each of them as a scribe 'a man that is an householder.' They had understood what the power of the Spirit could do in their missionary circuit so the understanding came from their association with Jesus as the Word become flesh. These disciples were called before the foundation of the world. ( John 17:8)

    Principle of Similitude sets Jesus Christ as the bread from heaven. The body of man is nourished by food. How it is set in terms of his body spirit and soul we can apply in terms of the Word sent forth. (Is.55:11) The preacher gives us an instance."Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." The twelve disciples are a proof to it. Their association gives them an understanding of the kingdom of heaven as never before. Jesus as the Word become flesh.

    When God created man it was 'in our image after our likeness' Consequently Trinity must be compared the like compared with the like. God breathed into the nostrils and made him a living soul. So truth is knowable. Heart can be most deceitful in man of which the despair of the prophet we read here. Despair of the conflict between law of sin against the Law of Spirit he speaks as an ongoing war, "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war."(Je.4:19) Soul, sovereignty of which rests upon God and it is the reality of man. The nacre around which the word of God builds up compares to a pearl."Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:/Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."(vv.45-46) Man sells all as the disciples who left all behind in order to win Christ.
  • DeonFourie - 3 months ago
    I have been presented with a question which gave rise to another question:

    In Matthew 12:49 Jesus refers to His brothers and sisters and even His mother as His followers whom He is surrounded by. This He replies when asked by His biological family. Should it then be considered possible that the commandment of "Honor you father and your mother" refers to your elderly persons within the Body of Christ as your "mothers and fathers", and not your biological parents?

    If we are to be willing to hate our father and mother and ... ( Luke 14:26) to be a disciple, does these again refer to our biological parents?

    Could someone with Hebrew understandings assist me by explaining if there is differences in the term mother and father in the different verses, and what is actual intended?

    Thank you
  • Bennymkje - 3 months ago
    Matt.13:45-46 "One Pearl"

    "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:/Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it".

    Parables of Jesus are mysteries, the centre of gravity of which falls in his example. His divinity and humanity in the manner he solved the two-in-one problem made the Word doable. It is of significance that in eternity we read the holy city of God is adorned with pearls, "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl(Re.21:21) We are considering formation of soul as one pearl of great price. Having escaped condemnation we are many members of the body of Christ, collectively soul has become merged into one. So prayer of Jesus 'that they may be one, as we are,' is our reality. ( John 17:11)

    It was not simply a question of ethics or moral that directed our lives but the Spirit. Our in-house tutor held a candle so our inner man may grow from glory to glory. It learned to trust, man child of our redemption.

    So when Jesus says, 'Learn of me' we are exercising faith. If Jesus could forgive his enemies so can I. He shed his blood for us and he would having fulfilled the will of his Father say'It is finished'. This is the doctrine of Jesus where his life is on the line. In perfecting the will of his Father he testified faith. There is only one faith. It is the soul representing a child of God where faith is the DNA of our Father.

    "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?/Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?(Mk.36-37)"

    To recap: Body of Christian is to live as Christ did in his body; with the indwelling Spirit we give faith its best possible demonstration so we glorify our Savior Lord . This is Christian Living.
  • Adam - 3 months ago
    In reading I am reminded of the contrast between Paul's words and words some Christians say.

    Word of God through Paul: "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." 1 Corinthians 9:24 KJV

    Man's doctrine: "Don't run, because you already have the prize. It's bad to put effort into following God, because my pastor says that's legalism and obeying God's law is bad and pleasing God is bad."

    James 2:14-26 "...faith, if it hath not works, is dead..."

    Man's doctrine: "nah, ignore that verse, cause I'm told all good works are 'bad'. Bad works are ok though since you're already forgiven."

    Hebrews 10:26 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"

    Man's doctrine: "just ignore this verse, but lets cherry pick something else and focus on that instead."

    Matthew 24:13 "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

    Man's doctrine: "Nope, you're already saved right now, not later. So you don't have to endure anything or do anything whatsoever. Just do whatever feels good then rationalize it by saying that's the spirit doing it, not your sinful flesh."

    Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

    Man's doctrine: "Nah, ignore that verse too. You already have the promise and prize. You don't need to do anything."

    "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:" Romans 2:10 KJV

    Man's doctrine: "No, just ignore. Good is bad, but bad is fine, because salvation."

    Jude 1:4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

    Man's doctrine: "Nope"

    Are both genuinely following Jesus?
  • Cheryl1655 on Genesis 6 - 3 months ago
    verse 6, mentioned God grieve him to his heart, so God is flesh ?
  • Jema - 3 months ago
    Hi , I asked a question about Ezekiel Ch 37 V 16 about 12 hours ago , can't find it on the site . Don't think it was controversial :) . Does anyone have an opinion on this verse please ?


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