Yes,Esclarese,that is the will of our Lord Jesus. He said:I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger.
John 6:24-35
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for JESUS.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore unto him,What sign shewest thou then,that we may see,and believe thee?what dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said unto them,Verily,verily,I say unto you,Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,and giveth life unto the world.
34Then said they unto him,Lord,evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them,I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Luke 15:17-20
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have BREAD enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Hi Karma, I've been in a very similar situation. I was struggling so bad with doubts about my own salvation, and it scared me so so much. One thing that was a huge help to me, was realizing that salvation doesn't depend on ME, I didn't earn it, so I definitely can't lose it on my own. Salvation is a FREE gift, given by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it's very simple.
The Bible says we're all sinners, (Roman's 3:23) and since God is a holy and just God our sin needs to be punished. God loves us so much, that while we were His enemy, He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to come and pay for our sins. He died for all of our sins, past, present and future. But He didn't stay dead. 3 days later Jesus Christ rose from the dead, proving His sacrifice for our sins was accepted by God. Now He offers salvation to us FREELY, all we have to do is believe and trust in what He has done.
Roman's 10:13 says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
God made salvation so simple, that anyone can receive it. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation, praise God it depends on Him.
If you're not saved, you can be saved. You're living now, and the Bible says in John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." If you sincerely call upon the Lord, believing and trusting in only what He's done for you, He will save you. Simple as that. He won't cast you out.
Now is the day of salvation ( 2nd Corinthians 6:2). Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ
If salvation is based on something that I have to do tomorrow or have to not do tomorrow, or based upon MY performance/works as a Christian, then there's no way to know ur saved because there's no way to know what u will or won't do tomorrow. If we could lose our salvation, we would.
But if I'm trusting solely in what Jesus Christ has done, that is fixed, settled, and final, and that is eternal security.
St Mark gives us the v.40 almost identical with that of Matthew ch.23 but the former uses it a point of departure in order to illustrate in real time of a widow parting with her only livelihood. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."(23:14). How truth reaches a congregation when the scribes and Pharisee teach is different than the widow whose penury offered no stumbling block from exercising faith. Jesus "And beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much."
The widow "but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" places her life squarely upon whom it belongs. It catches the eye of our Savior.
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he had all the worldly goods but lacked the good sense. He was not rich towards God. So God tells him, " Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"( Luke 12:20) Jesus commends the poor widow who exercised faith most wisely. The scribes and Pharisee as we are familiar with the term applied 'active' faith so the poor and needy part with their living, in expectations of a windfall. Jesus calls their shepherding as 'devouring' instead.
God sent his only begotten Son in order to give whosoever believed in him, everlasting life. Jesus also tells how anyone may do the work of God. It can only be with Jesus, "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)
This is faith where the poor widow worked with God and for her livelihood she did not have to put on the mind of the scribes and Pharisees, devouring the gullible among their audience. For the faith of the widow was set in heavenly places with the Son.
John 6:54 states: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
I know you are an author and your vocabulary is greater than mine I will try to respond but to be truthful you are hard to follow. First MOU my understanding is a nonbinding agreement between parties stating their intentions. How can that be a covenant a covenant is a relationship between partners either conditional or unconditional and this covenant is between God the Father and God the Son. Would not the Holy Spirit be a part of this covenant and the will of God that the Son completes? John 6:38 It is God's will not Jesus's like He said in Luke 22:42.
If God is a triune God, would it not be the will of all three with no difference in authority or knowledge? Why the need for a covenant between them since all three are God and all three are equal?
At the beginning of each day, God said what was to be, the spoken word of God, and it was so. Other than speculation how can we say the Son was in agreement? Isaiah 45:18 In Genesis 1:28 would be an unconditional covenant, more of a blessing, God placed man above all that was created on earth and man was given dominion over it. God delegated the rule of man over His creation and no consequences were stated, we see how that turned out.
I agree Jesus did not need to be water baptized for remittance of sin, but He did need the anointing of the Holy Ghost/Spirit to become the Messiah/Christ. The word of God was in Jesus and by the Holy Ghost/Spirit Jesus did the works of His Father therefore Jesus was the tabernacle of God, the image of God for every word Jesus said was not His but the word of God the Father. John 4:34John 5:30John 12:44-45
Philip was the first to bring the gospel to the Samaritans.
"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives./ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."
The chief priests covenanted with Judas to pay thirty pieces of silver. Their conspiracy to kill Jesus was born out of their human failings which however connected with the Word that underpins the everlasting covenant. Who shall betray him was a question that cropped up when Jesus foretold it. "And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me./ The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."(vv.23-24). Jesus knew all along what role his disciple would play and as the Word become flesh he did not refuse him but his deity demanded grace must be shown and it is what he did. John gives us that account. Peter professed his faith, saying, "And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God./ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?/ He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. "( John 6:69-71).
vv.14-16 It was purely Judas' free will to judge the event in the house of Bethany that tilted his decision to betray his master. He did not have to wait too long because the word sent forth before the worlds began was in control of every events ever since he sent it, and Judas chose to do the bidding of Satan,- and Jesus equates the son of perdition as the devil himself. "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Ze.13:7 was about to be fulfilled. In the following passages we shall see how the little ones fared after smiting the shepherd.
Peter had chosen life so when great many disciples left Jesus because of his hard sayings ( John 6:67-68( he stuck by the Prince of life. Entering into the kingdom of God appealed to him. So he wanted to know,"what shall we have therefore?" Disciples were curious and on another occasion wanted to know the hour of his coming which the risen Jesus stopped short with a curt answer, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Before his passion also Jesus did not allow any speculation as to what God held in his authority, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."(Ac.1:7; Matt.24:36). "My Father worketh hitherto and I work" meant heaven and earth were held by the word of God where fulfillment of the divine Will was his part so when the disciples asked,"Who then can be saved?" Jesus shares what was within his authority to answer. Salvation was as entering with Prince of life through a veil so life abundant was the Holy Grail of their ministry with Jesus Christ. Jesus understood he was earnest and despite of his volatility his heart beat ever so true.
"When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" was in his authority to give. For this reason even after denying him Jesus entrusts his disciples to his care."Feed my sheep" meant Jesus had completely forgiven his former lapse. Hundredfold is in the sense it did not happen as he was concerned. This explains with the being born again experience. "Therefore if any manbein Christ,he isa new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Co.5:17) Jesus practiced what he preached. "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."(Matt.18:35)
God is a Spirit and His holiness is the name, which He expressed when He declared, 'Thou art my Son'. (Ps.7-8). We can understand the significance of this from this, "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word." ( John 17:6-NKJV; John 6:37). Holiness in the matter of the name creates a Holy Family not of flesh and blood but on the basis of faith. The key to the Father Son relationship is faith with works. "If then I be a father, where is my honour?" (Mal.1:6). There are well meaning Christians who is proof against spiritualizing the word. They take literally and go by sense than the Spirit. So what is the wisdom which they go by? Wisdom of heaven is free and they would rather be called Pharisees than take it. Faith is what required. If we see still arguments over humanity and deity of Jesus in our forum it just proves why. Their intellect is their security blanket and cannot let go.
Salvation plan of God is on the basis of the Father Son relationship. The earth as a mirror of heaven. This shall be completed when the tabernacle of God is among men. (Re.21:3)
Separation of sons of God from the unbelieving world is the work to which Jesus referred, My Father works hitherto and I work, and he opened a new and living way. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Co.6:17)
"Six days work shall be done" Le.23:3. For the Israelites it was the work of human hands, toil of the beasts and fruits of the field that counted as work. Their literalism was such they would not see it as anything else. The fact is borne out in the question they asked Jesus. "What shall we do that we might be doing the works of God?"( John 6:27-28). God sent his only begotten Son on whom was his seal of approval and they rejected him. If the horse has bolted the stable why the nation belabor themselves with the act of scrubbing the stable floor? By the same token when God has cast them out why cause the odium of genocide from the world as we see it in our times, over the name Jerusalem that is instead being built in the heaven places? New Jerusalem is where a believer may enter in the rest of God and in his Son.
Sabbath serves as a sign. "That ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you"(Ex.31:17a.) the shadow of good things to come. It was a sign of sanctification, which, however did not good to the nation of Israel for want of faith. Moses pleading 'blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written' was ineffectual. He was the servant (He.3:1-3) and not Son whose offering was perfect. His Son who he shall send according to His will in the fullness of time, refreshed him. So He sanctifies the seventh day. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (He.10:14)".
It is God who sanctifies and at His terms. God cannot deny his holiness, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book".
"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(He.2:11).What Moses gave the nation of Israel was a shadow of good things to come.
Colossians 1:15-18 as in John 1:1 what beginning is John writing about, this gives a different understanding, In Colossians what creation is Paul writing about if we look at it as the start of all creation, the angels the counsels of heaven as we see in Job 38, they were before this earth or is Paul writing about the new creation. Is Paul referring to Jesus before He was crucified? Or is Paul referring to the risen Christ? In Christ is the resurrected Christ not the Christ when He first came.
One other thing and Giannis can let us know if I am correct or not in verse 16, by Him, the Greek is en auto meaning in Him as we see in 2 Corinthian 5:17 Ephesians 1:4,9Colossians 2:6 to be in the risen Christ. Paul is talking about the new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 to be in Christ is to be a new creature/creation and reconciliation, this is this world and in heaven as we see things in heaven is as bad as on this earth and Jesus Christ is to make all new.
Hebrews 1:3-4 Jesus was made much better than the angels, this after He was totally obedient died on the cross and raised from the dead and ascended to heaven above all that is in heaven and earth. and in Him all will be made new. He was made means He was not before He completed what His Father sent Him to do. Matt. 28:18John 3:35John 5:26-27John 6:39 what Jesus did and had was given to Him from the Father.
I know this is short, I may be away for a while but hope to reply more soon.
True, we may not conclusively know the Form He took in Heaven, whether as the Word within God's Person (just as the Spirit in God was sent out), or as another Form outside of God yet closely connected to Him. The issue here is, whether Jesus existed (in some Form) prior to His appearing on Earth. If not, what do we do with such verses as given here? Can we really reinterpret them in any other way? Is that even possible? And we could add Micah 5:2 (a coming Ruler not going forth from Bethlehem, but from eternity), John 3:13 (Who was in Heaven, coming down from Heaven), John 6:38 (come from Heaven), John 8:56-58 (Jesus existed even before Abraham), Philippians 2:5-11 (His equality with God, but laid it aside to come & serve man), & Hebrews 1:1-3 (through Jesus God made the worlds).
I've understood your comments on Jesus' Life & Death as per His earthly sojourn. But unless we can understand Who this Jesus really is (i.e. whether a Creation of God to fulfil His Plans on Earth, or God Himself, He Who was from the beginning), then the substance of this Mystery can never be resolved. That is why textual examination is so important, especially when we can see other Scriptures that confirm our understanding. I apologize for not referring to your other comments (e.g. the soul/spirit, firstborn, etc), but wanted to keep this short & focus on Jesus before His appearance on Earth. GBU.
Jesus chose 12 disciples to indicate his ministry was of the Servant-King, as Son to his heavenly father.(See under N-numbers, command)
Principle of Association established a new order where it was enough that a servant was an associate as his master "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord".(Matt.10:25;40)
(See under S- servant)
Discipleship is a loaded word. It is not simply delivering doctrine of God to the world as heard of him. As associates of Jesus Christ it was the Life, which as Jesus declared was his logos aspect. Not only the Word but of the Son. One sign of their adequacy came when they could enter into the heart of the parables." His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God."( John 16:29-33) Their growth was begun when they stayed on trusting. "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.( John 6:67-68)
Jesus declared that his doctrine was not of his own but that of his Father. He established the cardinal principle of discipleship: Man is the massage. Jesus set an example and he promised a double portion because he was going to his father.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."( John 14:12)
The fifth book in the Pentateuch in Hebrew, like the preceding books, it takes its name from its commencement, 'These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness,' The rabbinical text would have it as Sepher Debarim, the book of debarim, or the book of the words. The book is considered as the second law or Deuteronomion.
"According unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them,"(De.1:3) we have in three discourses delivered by Moses shortly before his death, the second Law to which we shall come anon. Three discourses and three appendices, namely the Song of Moses (De.37:1-47) Blessings (De.33) His death and aftermath, are alike stapled together by the command number Three and it refers to the Son.
As Moses serving as the double for the Son we have the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Interestingly enough in the Lucan gospel the setting for the sermon is on the plains.( Luke 6:17)
(See entry under B-Beatitudes)
"When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me." (De.17:14-15) The Spirit refers to the possibility of people of Israel opting for a king over them 'like as all the nations' that are about them. In such a case a second law is to be given to the future king. We see this fulfilled but in the manner Jesus avoided those who by force would make him a king ( John 6:15). It just goes on to show that the Law given by Moses was inadequate. In Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law. God had set a Day by decree for his Son (Ps.2:7) and he was content to abide by his Will.
What Moses intended with the second law, for their king as the history of Israel would show was like a kingdom built upon sand.
"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)
No man can find out the mind of God to control time. Only from the work of God one can make sense. This work of God is to believe Jesus Christ. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:28-29). When Jesus said "I am the resurrection, and the life." ( John 11:25,26) Martha had no understanding to connect this directly to the Son of man but Jesus corrects her and admit it was so."Believest thou this?" In this context what does the budding of Aaron's rod signify? Who shall serve God is it Levi, Israel as a nation or Jesus Christ the Word become flesh? "and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds."(Nu.17:8,2) The Word of God decreed the day of salvation in his Son.(Ps.2:6-8) This is the Will of God so in the Abstract we have the MOU between God and Man. "and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so." Moses wrote the name of Levi as commanded by God. 'The seed in itself' is indicative it is the word of God is going to work in this test. The work of God according the quote from JohnCh.6 flowering of the rod in a proof of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. (He.13:8)The rod flowered according to the divine Will. Time is of no consequence.
Which came first: chicken or egg? The divine Will is omnipotence. Accordingly the word of God supplied all the information so we are to accept both as one, as the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind. The world of blackholes prove information cannot be lost. neither can the word of God. We deceived ourselves to think atom bombs would stop the WWII We did not even imagine the name North Korea then. It just proves.
v.13 Jesus was there not to right the wrongs of temporal powers; nor was he there as a social reformer to create changes from the existing environment but to bring the huddled masses to the light. He began preaching only when they same the light shine on them. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet," and what in his time was received in indifference,- so he was a prophet without honor' was now beginning to make sense to the generation of Jesus, and feeding the five thousand stands as culmination of the Word, cast forth upon the waters, connecting with Jesus as the bread from heaven. It is thus every word of God shall be fulfilled in the time appointed.
In the Law of Moses towards restitution it is laid down,"If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep." (Ex.22:1) The ox is man's livelihood so man and ox is considered as one. Feeding Five thousand (5x1000) is an indication of symbolic partaking. "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."( John 6:53). (In this context number Four signifies The word become Flesh. Jesus Christ as the Savior in terms of four cardinal direction. Salvator mundi, the Savior of the World).
The Spirit gives us a number 5x1000. Thousand always refers to the end times. So Feeding Five Thousand is a tag for the humanity of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the above mentioned quote from St John. We shall similarly discuss feeding of the the Four Thousand in terms of the Word.
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)
"And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore./And he spake many things unto them in parables"
Compare the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount where "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."Here we have his disciples mentioned, and his call to them was," Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."(3:19). The Mount represented where came from. Heavenly Zion on which the kingdom of heaven was founded. (Is.28:16). The number 12 accordingly was a reminder of Jesus Christ the Man the message.
He was the Mediator between heaven and the earth. The Spirit serves as a narrative mode of the eternal Word so Jesus speaking from a ship reinforces the context of the river of time. Parables were the means to reconcile the ways of God with those of man and it helped only those who were as single minded as the merchant man who 'had found one pearl of great price.' (vv.44-45). Is.55:9.
By principle of Association he was the bread from heaven and in the multiplying of loaves and fishes we are given heavenly realities set in comparison with the natural world. As many as who received him were the promise of God given. In line with the principle of Similitude Evangelist Matthew gives us the Last Supper where he broke the bread "And said, Take, eat; this is my body."(26:26; John 6:51). It is no coincidence that we have a Parable of the Wedding Banquet.(22:1-14)
Parables dealt with the Word as mentioned above and the Gospel of God signified the word become flesh. He was sent as foretold by the Preacher,"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days./Give a portion to seven, and also to eight."(Ec.11:1-2)
The earth as a field serves where the heart of man is understood as fashioned by God alike. Stony places point to the state of man who must deal with it to be fruitful.
"As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work"(v.2)
Glory of God is revealed in the manner His Power and Wisdom have created the heaven and the earth; so much so even a speck of dust refracts sunlight to create a roseate dawn or starry skies that never fails to thrill us. God is beyond human conception and Truth is the only measure by which He makes sense to us. "He hath made everythingbeautiful 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)". Only through his Son it is known. The works of God ( John 6:28-29).
Soul is a token of God establishing his sovereignty over His creation and it holds the everlasting covenant as its frame of reference. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.( John 14:6)." Truth in inward parts makes each of us accountable to God in the final reckoning. So what are we but chosen by God before the worlds began. Are we sons or servants merely going through the motions of living for our reward?
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope./O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good."
"Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" A hireling and a son have different standing which the Parable of the Prodigal Son brings out. The spendthrift son have wasted away his means and fell in want. In an alien country where Satan is a hard taskmaster he would even grudge over the husks doled out to his servants, what does the son say,'And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!( Luke 15:17).The expression 'when he came to himself' is highly significant. Soul is a reminder of our fellowship with God.
"No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse." God is a consuming fire and against it the traditions of the fathers and superficial observances of the old did not stand a chance. So it required for the lost sheep of Israel to trust the Word become flesh. He was 'the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' God well knew that they were stiff necked and evil. As in the case of Ezekiel God sent his Son to them with the same condition. "And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious."(Ez.2:7). It is significant that God addresses the prophet as Son of man, and Ezekiel serves as a stand in for his Son.
The 12 disciples did not choose the Son but He did. " But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him./ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:64-65) and he well knew who would betray him. "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve."(6:70-71).
Jesus chose him as man not judging him before hand. As the Word become flesh he would give him a chance to redeem himself. But Judas was an old bottle, whose disobedience, sin was like the proverbial little fox burrowing deep and yet spoiling the vineyard while in bud. Time tests of what man is.
"Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.(9:16-17)
Blessedness of seeking righteousness we have in 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
In v.31 Jesus addresses the crowd,'O ye of little faith" Provident God shows His glory in lifeforms lowly as they are but most efficient in their working how much more He would have invested in Man? He who did not spare him for our blessedness shall He not gives such prosaic things needful for each day? The birds of the air know it was as wild beasts do. "if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you."
The Gentiles spend their time with questions with regards to their creature comforts. "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" (v.31). Daily they would like in the myth of Sisyphus, rolling all their energy to the single peak of their desires, their belly. Once satisfied come next day they are at it again? Tyranny of the trifle robbing man of the most blessed Fellowship and it is what Satan does:all these toil and moil is for the flesh which the Bible says profits nothing. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."( John 6:63).
"That whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?"(15:17)
God made all provision for our eternal salvation. Righteousness of God has sent his word, (Is.55:11) set up the House with seven pillars (Pr.9:1-5) and allso prepared the table. "She(Wisdom) hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ". She has set out a call, "Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."
Faith is the key for any given day. "Give us this day our daily bread" we pray and if we are of little faith what does the Lord's Prayer amount to?
The true gospel is transparent to nationality or economic status or political standing. It has nothing to do with economic prosperity or with socio-political issues. When the churches become involved in political activism or social or economic issues, they forget that the task of the believers is to be an ambassador of the kingdom of God. When Jesus was placed on trial for his life at the behest of the chief priests, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate ( John 18:36)
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Concerning political rulers, the Bible commands in Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The true gospel has been emasculated in our day as the churches have become more involved with the social and physical and political issues of the day, which in themselves have nothing to do with the true gospel. Sure, Jesus fed the 5,000 who had come to hear him, but that was not his primary mission, and later we read in John 6:15
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
What is the commandment of God now in the new testament? Not the ten commandments the law of Moses. It is now in Christ Jesus as God turned the show over to his Son Jesus Christ. The law of spirit of life.
Matthew 17:5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matthew 28:18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
2nd Cor 1:19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
[20] For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Jesus now owns the show. What Paul is talking about in 1st Cor 7:19 circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing any more in the new testament, we are now circumcised in heart and no longer an outward appearence. You are still trying to preach a Jesus that is born of Mary as if he is still here. My Jrsus we know more after the flesh as it is not an outward appearance but an inward one. Your glorifying in appearance and not in the heart
2nd Cor 5:12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Circumcision or uncircumcision don't matter in the new testament we are one in Christ.
Col 3:[9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The Commandments of Jesus = his words of spirit and life John 6:63. Get out of the old and into the new as old things has passed away and all things have become new.
The ten commandments were a school master to lead to to Jesus Christ. Now that faith has come and Jesus gave is new commandments, it is the righteousness obtained by the ten commandments that is of no avail. As they are now in us and no more an outward appearence.
Galations 3:24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
2nd Cor 3:3] Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Amen, the law of sin and death Moses' law, Jesus gave us new laws, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which sets us free from the law of sin and death Romans 8:1-2. Jesus' words are spirit and life John 6:63. What are Jesus' laws Matthew the beatitudes and simultudes. Sin no more, be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, be holy, love one another. 100% conditional commandments.
Romans 8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Hebrews 7:19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
1st John 2:3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Jeremiah 5:30-31 declares: "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."
I know that I am a sinner, so what can I do to be saved? The answer is, there is nothing that I, being DEAD in trespasses and sins, can do to affect my salvation!
Ephesians 2:1 "And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were DEAD in trespasses and sins;"
John 6:29 "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST..."
Romans 9:15-16 "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
So what about the churches that say, we will show you how to become saved, or, you must be baptized in water and partake of the Lord's supper? Virtually every church promotes a do-it-yourself salvation, which is not that of the Bible! The baptism that is required is the washing away of our sins, which only God can perform. When we meditate on the word of God with a view to being obedient to it, we are feeding on the flesh and drinking the blood of the Lord Jesus.
John 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Salvation is 100% the work of God. If we are trusting in any work that we do for Salvation, we are trusting in a FALSE GOSPEL that cannot save.
Visit ZionInTravail on youtube and the web to lean more about the True Gospel of Salvation and the Day in which we are living.
If the church as a whole took Jesus' words more seriously, our voice would be more respected in the world. When we neglect to address grievous sins in the church, we appear to take sin lightly. Skeptics can't respect our claim to honor the Bible as God's Word while we ignore those of our number who are overtly disobeying it.
GOD GIVES US HIS SPIRIT TO PERFORM WHAT WE CAN'T DO IN THE FLESH. AND THIS IS HOW WE KNOW HE IS IN US.
1 John 6:13.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
If I may add a few points to this subject, I know we have different understandings on this and I hope you will not be offended, these are questions I have asked myself. What does Scripture support, our soul is an immortal entity that consciously lives on after the death of the body or does it sleep in the grave until the resurrection? Is the definition of death a separation of the soul from the body or is it the end of life, a permanent cessation, and the grave is our home until we are resurrected?
John 3:15-16 Without the belief in Jesus we will perish the Greek word apollumi means destroy utterly, to put out of the way entirely, abolish as in Psalms 37:10Psalms 92:7Proverbs 10:28-29Job 20:4-7Malachi 4:1-32 Peter 2:12.
Matthew 10:28 we are to fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell, the Greek word for destroy is apollumi same as perish, a permanent/absolute destruction. Hell, the Greek word is geenna the fire and smoke that goes up and burns forever that never goes out is a reference to the lake of fire. Job 17:13 the Hebrew word sheol is the same word translated as hell. Job 17:16 the word pit is the same Hebrew word.
Our first death is sleep, Psalms 13:3Daniel 12:2Acts 13:361 Cor. 15:51. If all souls are immortal which means they have eternal life, the question must be asked, what is the gift of eternal life we see in John 3:15John 6:54Romans 6:23Titus 1:21 John 2:25Jude 1:21? If our soul is immortal, why do we have to put immortality on as said in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58?
"Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;/ And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim."
Light is knowledge that darkness cannot understand. So we learn from this verse,"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:65) God is a Spirit and the truth in the inwards of man is to be known by his spirit. It is like a candle so no man may say it is beyond him. No he fools himself to deny God's grace. He sent his word and it is heard which darkness dismisses it as nothing. For man to benefit from it needs the Son whom he sent. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2 Co.4:6). At the birth of Jesus circumstanced forced his father to settle down in Nazareth and now events forced the Son of man to leave for Galilee. It is thus as long as we are in the flesh, darkness shall conspire to change our circumstances but truth helps us learn of the holiness of God and what does it tell us? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(He.13:5) God let his Son be tempted of the devil but we read that, "And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." It is thus with every child of God, "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."(Ac.14:22) On our part we are called to continue in faith for his word of grace is sufficient to build up our lives in the sure foundation. "God knows who are his."
Life of Jesus was disrupted but helps the light of the knowledge of the glory of God spread 'Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.'(v.15)
Elijah was never sent to the cross and died for my sin. It was Jesus Christ the Son of God who paid it all for me and not Elijah. What you have is a very bad teaching. Elijah served as an example of a man of God, however, he did not send the Holy Ghost down nor did he give gifts unto mankind. What Elijiah did in the Old Testament was before the cross, we are after the cross in Christ and not in Elijiah. The bible does not teach, that Elijah was a double for people. Bring me the scripture? It does not exist. An antiChrist Gospel for sure and not out of the mouth of God, as there are no scriptures to back up what you are saying.
Jesus came and spoke words of spirit and life from what he heard from God his Father John 6:63. Jesus never spoke his own words, he received words from his Father in heaven. After the cross, Christ is in me by faith as it is Christ in me the hope of glory. I don't hope you make heaven, I posess that hope in Christ Jesus.
St. Paul was talking about the gifts of the spirit not about the spirit of Elijiah as Jesus sent the Holy Ghost and not the spirit of Elijiah to mankind.
John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The gifts of the spirit is the result/ evidence of the Holy Ghost and not Elijiah's spirit.
Ephesians 4:[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Jesus showed who he was to the multitudes on hoping they will believe but they did not. He fed them, healed them and when he preached to them they ran away.
John 6:5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Jesus did not want to attract attention that is the last thing he needed to be an earthly king when he is already our heavenly king. This was all prophesied in Isaiah 8:16-17. If Jesus was made an earthly king, God would have lost his only Son.
Isaiah 8:16] Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
[17] And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Let us significance of the house of bread from which he came on a divine Mandate. He came to fulfill the will of his Father. In multiplying loaves of bread as given in the gospel let us examine the leftovers. "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."(14:20) In John's Gospel, "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost./ Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." ( John 6:12-13) Number 12 signifies the Gospel of God. In fulfilling his Father's will the same Gospel is Gospel of Christ.
All four gospel records this 'miracle' and more significance in in the gathering of fragments that remained.
In the Gospel of Mark we read,"And they did all eat, and were filled./ And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."( Mark 6:42-43) In Luke "And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets." ( Luke 9:17)
There are other instances in which 4x1000 has significance as the number Seven to mark the baskets. (Mark.8:8) (15:37-38)
According to principle of Similitude the symbol of bread in the House of God must match. The number 12 refers to the Gospel and 7 denotes fulfillment of the Will. In all these instances all those who partook were full.
Contrary to this we have an indictment against Israel. "Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword./.. that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people."( Micah 6:13-16) Bethlehem as a result has fallen into insignificance.
John 6:24-35
24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for JESUS.
25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30They said therefore unto him,What sign shewest thou then,that we may see,and believe thee?what dost thou work?
31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32Then Jesus said unto them,Verily,verily,I say unto you,Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,and giveth life unto the world.
34Then said they unto him,Lord,evermore give us this bread.
35And Jesus said unto them,I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Luke 15:17-20
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have BREAD enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father.
Marvelous
The Bible says we're all sinners, (Roman's 3:23) and since God is a holy and just God our sin needs to be punished. God loves us so much, that while we were His enemy, He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to come and pay for our sins. He died for all of our sins, past, present and future. But He didn't stay dead. 3 days later Jesus Christ rose from the dead, proving His sacrifice for our sins was accepted by God. Now He offers salvation to us FREELY, all we have to do is believe and trust in what He has done.
Roman's 10:13 says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
God made salvation so simple, that anyone can receive it. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation, praise God it depends on Him.
If you're not saved, you can be saved. You're living now, and the Bible says in John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." If you sincerely call upon the Lord, believing and trusting in only what He's done for you, He will save you. Simple as that. He won't cast you out.
Now is the day of salvation ( 2nd Corinthians 6:2). Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ
If salvation is based on something that I have to do tomorrow or have to not do tomorrow, or based upon MY performance/works as a Christian, then there's no way to know ur saved because there's no way to know what u will or won't do tomorrow. If we could lose our salvation, we would.
But if I'm trusting solely in what Jesus Christ has done, that is fixed, settled, and final, and that is eternal security.
I will pray for you
St Mark gives us the v.40 almost identical with that of Matthew ch.23 but the former uses it a point of departure in order to illustrate in real time of a widow parting with her only livelihood. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."(23:14). How truth reaches a congregation when the scribes and Pharisee teach is different than the widow whose penury offered no stumbling block from exercising faith. Jesus "And beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much."
The widow "but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" places her life squarely upon whom it belongs. It catches the eye of our Savior.
In the Parable of the Rich Fool he had all the worldly goods but lacked the good sense. He was not rich towards God. So God tells him, " Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"( Luke 12:20) Jesus commends the poor widow who exercised faith most wisely. The scribes and Pharisee as we are familiar with the term applied 'active' faith so the poor and needy part with their living, in expectations of a windfall. Jesus calls their shepherding as 'devouring' instead.
God sent his only begotten Son in order to give whosoever believed in him, everlasting life. Jesus also tells how anyone may do the work of God. It can only be with Jesus, "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)
This is faith where the poor widow worked with God and for her livelihood she did not have to put on the mind of the scribes and Pharisees, devouring the gullible among their audience. For the faith of the widow was set in heavenly places with the Son.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
I know you are an author and your vocabulary is greater than mine I will try to respond but to be truthful you are hard to follow. First MOU my understanding is a nonbinding agreement between parties stating their intentions. How can that be a covenant a covenant is a relationship between partners either conditional or unconditional and this covenant is between God the Father and God the Son. Would not the Holy Spirit be a part of this covenant and the will of God that the Son completes? John 6:38 It is God's will not Jesus's like He said in Luke 22:42.
If God is a triune God, would it not be the will of all three with no difference in authority or knowledge? Why the need for a covenant between them since all three are God and all three are equal?
At the beginning of each day, God said what was to be, the spoken word of God, and it was so. Other than speculation how can we say the Son was in agreement? Isaiah 45:18 In Genesis 1:28 would be an unconditional covenant, more of a blessing, God placed man above all that was created on earth and man was given dominion over it. God delegated the rule of man over His creation and no consequences were stated, we see how that turned out.
I agree Jesus did not need to be water baptized for remittance of sin, but He did need the anointing of the Holy Ghost/Spirit to become the Messiah/Christ. The word of God was in Jesus and by the Holy Ghost/Spirit Jesus did the works of His Father therefore Jesus was the tabernacle of God, the image of God for every word Jesus said was not His but the word of God the Father. John 4:34 John 5:30 John 12:44-45
Philip was the first to bring the gospel to the Samaritans.
I hope you can make sense of this.
God bless,
RLW
"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives./ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."
The chief priests covenanted with Judas to pay thirty pieces of silver. Their conspiracy to kill Jesus was born out of their human failings which however connected with the Word that underpins the everlasting covenant. Who shall betray him was a question that cropped up when Jesus foretold it. "And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me./ The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born."(vv.23-24). Jesus knew all along what role his disciple would play and as the Word become flesh he did not refuse him but his deity demanded grace must be shown and it is what he did. John gives us that account. Peter professed his faith, saying, "And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God./ Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?/ He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. "( John 6:69-71).
vv.14-16 It was purely Judas' free will to judge the event in the house of Bethany that tilted his decision to betray his master. He did not have to wait too long because the word sent forth before the worlds began was in control of every events ever since he sent it, and Judas chose to do the bidding of Satan,- and Jesus equates the son of perdition as the devil himself. "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Ze.13:7 was about to be fulfilled. In the following passages we shall see how the little ones fared after smiting the shepherd.
Peter had chosen life so when great many disciples left Jesus because of his hard sayings ( John 6:67-68( he stuck by the Prince of life. Entering into the kingdom of God appealed to him. So he wanted to know,"what shall we have therefore?" Disciples were curious and on another occasion wanted to know the hour of his coming which the risen Jesus stopped short with a curt answer, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Before his passion also Jesus did not allow any speculation as to what God held in his authority, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."(Ac.1:7; Matt.24:36). "My Father worketh hitherto and I work" meant heaven and earth were held by the word of God where fulfillment of the divine Will was his part so when the disciples asked,"Who then can be saved?" Jesus shares what was within his authority to answer. Salvation was as entering with Prince of life through a veil so life abundant was the Holy Grail of their ministry with Jesus Christ. Jesus understood he was earnest and despite of his volatility his heart beat ever so true.
"When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" was in his authority to give. For this reason even after denying him Jesus entrusts his disciples to his care."Feed my sheep" meant Jesus had completely forgiven his former lapse. Hundredfold is in the sense it did not happen as he was concerned. This explains with the being born again experience. "Therefore if any manbein Christ,he isa new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Co.5:17) Jesus practiced what he preached. "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."(Matt.18:35)
God is a Spirit and His holiness is the name, which He expressed when He declared, 'Thou art my Son'. (Ps.7-8). We can understand the significance of this from this, "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word." ( John 17:6-NKJV; John 6:37). Holiness in the matter of the name creates a Holy Family not of flesh and blood but on the basis of faith. The key to the Father Son relationship is faith with works. "If then I be a father, where is my honour?" (Mal.1:6). There are well meaning Christians who is proof against spiritualizing the word. They take literally and go by sense than the Spirit. So what is the wisdom which they go by? Wisdom of heaven is free and they would rather be called Pharisees than take it. Faith is what required. If we see still arguments over humanity and deity of Jesus in our forum it just proves why. Their intellect is their security blanket and cannot let go.
Salvation plan of God is on the basis of the Father Son relationship. The earth as a mirror of heaven. This shall be completed when the tabernacle of God is among men. (Re.21:3)
Separation of sons of God from the unbelieving world is the work to which Jesus referred, My Father works hitherto and I work, and he opened a new and living way. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." (2 Co.6:17)
"Six days work shall be done" Le.23:3. For the Israelites it was the work of human hands, toil of the beasts and fruits of the field that counted as work. Their literalism was such they would not see it as anything else. The fact is borne out in the question they asked Jesus. "What shall we do that we might be doing the works of God?"( John 6:27-28). God sent his only begotten Son on whom was his seal of approval and they rejected him. If the horse has bolted the stable why the nation belabor themselves with the act of scrubbing the stable floor? By the same token when God has cast them out why cause the odium of genocide from the world as we see it in our times, over the name Jerusalem that is instead being built in the heaven places? New Jerusalem is where a believer may enter in the rest of God and in his Son.
Sabbath serves as a sign. "That ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you"(Ex.31:17a.) the shadow of good things to come. It was a sign of sanctification, which, however did not good to the nation of Israel for want of faith. Moses pleading 'blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written' was ineffectual. He was the servant (He.3:1-3) and not Son whose offering was perfect. His Son who he shall send according to His will in the fullness of time, refreshed him. So He sanctifies the seventh day. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (He.10:14)".
It is God who sanctifies and at His terms. God cannot deny his holiness, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book".
"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(He.2:11).What Moses gave the nation of Israel was a shadow of good things to come.
Colossians 1:15-18 as in John 1:1 what beginning is John writing about, this gives a different understanding, In Colossians what creation is Paul writing about if we look at it as the start of all creation, the angels the counsels of heaven as we see in Job 38, they were before this earth or is Paul writing about the new creation. Is Paul referring to Jesus before He was crucified? Or is Paul referring to the risen Christ? In Christ is the resurrected Christ not the Christ when He first came.
One other thing and Giannis can let us know if I am correct or not in verse 16, by Him, the Greek is en auto meaning in Him as we see in 2 Corinthian 5:17 Ephesians 1:4,9 Colossians 2:6 to be in the risen Christ. Paul is talking about the new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 to be in Christ is to be a new creature/creation and reconciliation, this is this world and in heaven as we see things in heaven is as bad as on this earth and Jesus Christ is to make all new.
Hebrews 1:3-4 Jesus was made much better than the angels, this after He was totally obedient died on the cross and raised from the dead and ascended to heaven above all that is in heaven and earth. and in Him all will be made new. He was made means He was not before He completed what His Father sent Him to do. Matt. 28:18 John 3:35 John 5:26-27 John 6:39 what Jesus did and had was given to Him from the Father.
I know this is short, I may be away for a while but hope to reply more soon.
God bless,
RLW
True, we may not conclusively know the Form He took in Heaven, whether as the Word within God's Person (just as the Spirit in God was sent out), or as another Form outside of God yet closely connected to Him. The issue here is, whether Jesus existed (in some Form) prior to His appearing on Earth. If not, what do we do with such verses as given here? Can we really reinterpret them in any other way? Is that even possible? And we could add Micah 5:2 (a coming Ruler not going forth from Bethlehem, but from eternity), John 3:13 (Who was in Heaven, coming down from Heaven), John 6:38 (come from Heaven), John 8:56-58 (Jesus existed even before Abraham), Philippians 2:5-11 (His equality with God, but laid it aside to come & serve man), & Hebrews 1:1-3 (through Jesus God made the worlds).
I've understood your comments on Jesus' Life & Death as per His earthly sojourn. But unless we can understand Who this Jesus really is (i.e. whether a Creation of God to fulfil His Plans on Earth, or God Himself, He Who was from the beginning), then the substance of this Mystery can never be resolved. That is why textual examination is so important, especially when we can see other Scriptures that confirm our understanding. I apologize for not referring to your other comments (e.g. the soul/spirit, firstborn, etc), but wanted to keep this short & focus on Jesus before His appearance on Earth. GBU.
Jesus chose 12 disciples to indicate his ministry was of the Servant-King, as Son to his heavenly father.(See under N-numbers, command)
Principle of Association established a new order where it was enough that a servant was an associate as his master "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord".(Matt.10:25;40)
(See under S- servant)
Discipleship is a loaded word. It is not simply delivering doctrine of God to the world as heard of him. As associates of Jesus Christ it was the Life, which as Jesus declared was his logos aspect. Not only the Word but of the Son. One sign of their adequacy came when they could enter into the heart of the parables." His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God."( John 16:29-33) Their growth was begun when they stayed on trusting. "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.( John 6:67-68)
Jesus declared that his doctrine was not of his own but that of his Father. He established the cardinal principle of discipleship: Man is the massage. Jesus set an example and he promised a double portion because he was going to his father.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."( John 14:12)
(See under D-double )
The fifth book in the Pentateuch in Hebrew, like the preceding books, it takes its name from its commencement, 'These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness,' The rabbinical text would have it as Sepher Debarim, the book of debarim, or the book of the words. The book is considered as the second law or Deuteronomion.
"According unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them,"(De.1:3) we have in three discourses delivered by Moses shortly before his death, the second Law to which we shall come anon. Three discourses and three appendices, namely the Song of Moses (De.37:1-47) Blessings (De.33) His death and aftermath, are alike stapled together by the command number Three and it refers to the Son.
As Moses serving as the double for the Son we have the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Interestingly enough in the Lucan gospel the setting for the sermon is on the plains.( Luke 6:17)
(See entry under B-Beatitudes)
"When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me." (De.17:14-15) The Spirit refers to the possibility of people of Israel opting for a king over them 'like as all the nations' that are about them. In such a case a second law is to be given to the future king. We see this fulfilled but in the manner Jesus avoided those who by force would make him a king ( John 6:15). It just goes on to show that the Law given by Moses was inadequate. In Jesus was the fulfilment of the Law. God had set a Day by decree for his Son (Ps.2:7) and he was content to abide by his Will.
What Moses intended with the second law, for their king as the history of Israel would show was like a kingdom built upon sand.
"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)
No man can find out the mind of God to control time. Only from the work of God one can make sense. This work of God is to believe Jesus Christ. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:28-29). When Jesus said "I am the resurrection, and the life." ( John 11:25,26) Martha had no understanding to connect this directly to the Son of man but Jesus corrects her and admit it was so."Believest thou this?" In this context what does the budding of Aaron's rod signify? Who shall serve God is it Levi, Israel as a nation or Jesus Christ the Word become flesh? "and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds."(Nu.17:8,2) The Word of God decreed the day of salvation in his Son.(Ps.2:6-8) This is the Will of God so in the Abstract we have the MOU between God and Man. "and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so." Moses wrote the name of Levi as commanded by God. 'The seed in itself' is indicative it is the word of God is going to work in this test. The work of God according the quote from JohnCh.6 flowering of the rod in a proof of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. (He.13:8)The rod flowered according to the divine Will. Time is of no consequence.
Which came first: chicken or egg? The divine Will is omnipotence. Accordingly the word of God supplied all the information so we are to accept both as one, as the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind. The world of blackholes prove information cannot be lost. neither can the word of God. We deceived ourselves to think atom bombs would stop the WWII We did not even imagine the name North Korea then. It just proves.
v.13 Jesus was there not to right the wrongs of temporal powers; nor was he there as a social reformer to create changes from the existing environment but to bring the huddled masses to the light. He began preaching only when they same the light shine on them. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet," and what in his time was received in indifference,- so he was a prophet without honor' was now beginning to make sense to the generation of Jesus, and feeding the five thousand stands as culmination of the Word, cast forth upon the waters, connecting with Jesus as the bread from heaven. It is thus every word of God shall be fulfilled in the time appointed.
In the Law of Moses towards restitution it is laid down,"If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep." (Ex.22:1) The ox is man's livelihood so man and ox is considered as one. Feeding Five thousand (5x1000) is an indication of symbolic partaking. "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."( John 6:53). (In this context number Four signifies The word become Flesh. Jesus Christ as the Savior in terms of four cardinal direction. Salvator mundi, the Savior of the World).
The Spirit gives us a number 5x1000. Thousand always refers to the end times. So Feeding Five Thousand is a tag for the humanity of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the above mentioned quote from St John. We shall similarly discuss feeding of the the Four Thousand in terms of the Word.
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)
"And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore./And he spake many things unto them in parables"
Compare the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount where "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."Here we have his disciples mentioned, and his call to them was," Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."(3:19). The Mount represented where came from. Heavenly Zion on which the kingdom of heaven was founded. (Is.28:16). The number 12 accordingly was a reminder of Jesus Christ the Man the message.
He was the Mediator between heaven and the earth. The Spirit serves as a narrative mode of the eternal Word so Jesus speaking from a ship reinforces the context of the river of time. Parables were the means to reconcile the ways of God with those of man and it helped only those who were as single minded as the merchant man who 'had found one pearl of great price.' (vv.44-45). Is.55:9.
By principle of Association he was the bread from heaven and in the multiplying of loaves and fishes we are given heavenly realities set in comparison with the natural world. As many as who received him were the promise of God given. In line with the principle of Similitude Evangelist Matthew gives us the Last Supper where he broke the bread "And said, Take, eat; this is my body."(26:26; John 6:51). It is no coincidence that we have a Parable of the Wedding Banquet.(22:1-14)
Parables dealt with the Word as mentioned above and the Gospel of God signified the word become flesh. He was sent as foretold by the Preacher,"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days./Give a portion to seven, and also to eight."(Ec.11:1-2)
The earth as a field serves where the heart of man is understood as fashioned by God alike. Stony places point to the state of man who must deal with it to be fruitful.
"As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work"(v.2)
Glory of God is revealed in the manner His Power and Wisdom have created the heaven and the earth; so much so even a speck of dust refracts sunlight to create a roseate dawn or starry skies that never fails to thrill us. God is beyond human conception and Truth is the only measure by which He makes sense to us. "He hath made everythingbeautiful 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)". Only through his Son it is known. The works of God ( John 6:28-29).
Soul is a token of God establishing his sovereignty over His creation and it holds the everlasting covenant as its frame of reference. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.( John 14:6)." Truth in inward parts makes each of us accountable to God in the final reckoning. So what are we but chosen by God before the worlds began. Are we sons or servants merely going through the motions of living for our reward?
"My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope./O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good."
"Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?" A hireling and a son have different standing which the Parable of the Prodigal Son brings out. The spendthrift son have wasted away his means and fell in want. In an alien country where Satan is a hard taskmaster he would even grudge over the husks doled out to his servants, what does the son say,'And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!( Luke 15:17).The expression 'when he came to himself' is highly significant. Soul is a reminder of our fellowship with God.
"No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse." God is a consuming fire and against it the traditions of the fathers and superficial observances of the old did not stand a chance. So it required for the lost sheep of Israel to trust the Word become flesh. He was 'the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' God well knew that they were stiff necked and evil. As in the case of Ezekiel God sent his Son to them with the same condition. "And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious."(Ez.2:7). It is significant that God addresses the prophet as Son of man, and Ezekiel serves as a stand in for his Son.
The 12 disciples did not choose the Son but He did. " But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him./ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:64-65) and he well knew who would betray him. "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve."(6:70-71).
Jesus chose him as man not judging him before hand. As the Word become flesh he would give him a chance to redeem himself. But Judas was an old bottle, whose disobedience, sin was like the proverbial little fox burrowing deep and yet spoiling the vineyard while in bud. Time tests of what man is.
"Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.(9:16-17)
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Blessedness of seeking righteousness we have in 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
In v.31 Jesus addresses the crowd,'O ye of little faith" Provident God shows His glory in lifeforms lowly as they are but most efficient in their working how much more He would have invested in Man? He who did not spare him for our blessedness shall He not gives such prosaic things needful for each day? The birds of the air know it was as wild beasts do. "if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you."
The Gentiles spend their time with questions with regards to their creature comforts. "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" (v.31). Daily they would like in the myth of Sisyphus, rolling all their energy to the single peak of their desires, their belly. Once satisfied come next day they are at it again? Tyranny of the trifle robbing man of the most blessed Fellowship and it is what Satan does:all these toil and moil is for the flesh which the Bible says profits nothing. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."( John 6:63).
"That whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?"(15:17)
God made all provision for our eternal salvation. Righteousness of God has sent his word, (Is.55:11) set up the House with seven pillars (Pr.9:1-5) and allso prepared the table. "She(Wisdom) hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ". She has set out a call, "Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."
Faith is the key for any given day. "Give us this day our daily bread" we pray and if we are of little faith what does the Lord's Prayer amount to?
The true gospel is transparent to nationality or economic status or political standing. It has nothing to do with economic prosperity or with socio-political issues. When the churches become involved in political activism or social or economic issues, they forget that the task of the believers is to be an ambassador of the kingdom of God. When Jesus was placed on trial for his life at the behest of the chief priests, Jesus said to Pontius Pilate ( John 18:36)
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Concerning political rulers, the Bible commands in Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The true gospel has been emasculated in our day as the churches have become more involved with the social and physical and political issues of the day, which in themselves have nothing to do with the true gospel. Sure, Jesus fed the 5,000 who had come to hear him, but that was not his primary mission, and later we read in John 6:15
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Continued in part 5
Matthew 17:5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matthew 28:18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
2nd Cor 1:19] For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
[20] For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Jesus now owns the show. What Paul is talking about in 1st Cor 7:19 circumcision or uncircumcision means nothing any more in the new testament, we are now circumcised in heart and no longer an outward appearence. You are still trying to preach a Jesus that is born of Mary as if he is still here. My Jrsus we know more after the flesh as it is not an outward appearance but an inward one. Your glorifying in appearance and not in the heart
2nd Cor 5:12] For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Circumcision or uncircumcision don't matter in the new testament we are one in Christ.
Col 3:[9] Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
[10] And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
[11] Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
The Commandments of Jesus = his words of spirit and life John 6:63. Get out of the old and into the new as old things has passed away and all things have become new.
Galations 3:24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
2nd Cor 3:3] Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Amen, the law of sin and death Moses' law, Jesus gave us new laws, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which sets us free from the law of sin and death Romans 8:1-2. Jesus' words are spirit and life John 6:63. What are Jesus' laws Matthew the beatitudes and simultudes. Sin no more, be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, be holy, love one another. 100% conditional commandments.
Romans 8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
[3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
[4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Hebrews 7:19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
1st John 2:3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Jeremiah 5:30-31 declares: "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
1 Thessalonians 5:3 "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."
I know that I am a sinner, so what can I do to be saved? The answer is, there is nothing that I, being DEAD in trespasses and sins, can do to affect my salvation!
Ephesians 2:1 "And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were DEAD in trespasses and sins;"
John 6:29 "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST..."
Romans 9:15-16 "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
So what about the churches that say, we will show you how to become saved, or, you must be baptized in water and partake of the Lord's supper? Virtually every church promotes a do-it-yourself salvation, which is not that of the Bible! The baptism that is required is the washing away of our sins, which only God can perform. When we meditate on the word of God with a view to being obedient to it, we are feeding on the flesh and drinking the blood of the Lord Jesus.
John 6:63 "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Salvation is 100% the work of God. If we are trusting in any work that we do for Salvation, we are trusting in a FALSE GOSPEL that cannot save.
Visit ZionInTravail on youtube and the web to lean more about the True Gospel of Salvation and the Day in which we are living.
If the church as a whole took Jesus' words more seriously, our voice would be more respected in the world. When we neglect to address grievous sins in the church, we appear to take sin lightly. Skeptics can't respect our claim to honor the Bible as God's Word while we ignore those of our number who are overtly disobeying it.
GOD GIVES US HIS SPIRIT TO PERFORM WHAT WE CAN'T DO IN THE FLESH. AND THIS IS HOW WE KNOW HE IS IN US.
1 John 6:13.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
God bless you Brother Carleton.
Part 1
If I may add a few points to this subject, I know we have different understandings on this and I hope you will not be offended, these are questions I have asked myself. What does Scripture support, our soul is an immortal entity that consciously lives on after the death of the body or does it sleep in the grave until the resurrection? Is the definition of death a separation of the soul from the body or is it the end of life, a permanent cessation, and the grave is our home until we are resurrected?
John 3:15-16 Without the belief in Jesus we will perish the Greek word apollumi means destroy utterly, to put out of the way entirely, abolish as in Psalms 37:10 Psalms 92:7 Proverbs 10:28-29 Job 20:4-7 Malachi 4:1-3 2 Peter 2:12.
Matthew 10:28 we are to fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell, the Greek word for destroy is apollumi same as perish, a permanent/absolute destruction. Hell, the Greek word is geenna the fire and smoke that goes up and burns forever that never goes out is a reference to the lake of fire. Job 17:13 the Hebrew word sheol is the same word translated as hell. Job 17:16 the word pit is the same Hebrew word.
Our first death is sleep, Psalms 13:3 Daniel 12:2 Acts 13:36 1 Cor. 15:51. If all souls are immortal which means they have eternal life, the question must be asked, what is the gift of eternal life we see in John 3:15 John 6:54 Romans 6:23 Titus 1:2 1 John 2:25 Jude 1:21? If our soul is immortal, why do we have to put immortality on as said in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58?
See part 2
"Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;/ And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim."
Light is knowledge that darkness cannot understand. So we learn from this verse,"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:65) God is a Spirit and the truth in the inwards of man is to be known by his spirit. It is like a candle so no man may say it is beyond him. No he fools himself to deny God's grace. He sent his word and it is heard which darkness dismisses it as nothing. For man to benefit from it needs the Son whom he sent. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2 Co.4:6). At the birth of Jesus circumstanced forced his father to settle down in Nazareth and now events forced the Son of man to leave for Galilee. It is thus as long as we are in the flesh, darkness shall conspire to change our circumstances but truth helps us learn of the holiness of God and what does it tell us? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(He.13:5) God let his Son be tempted of the devil but we read that, "And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." It is thus with every child of God, "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."(Ac.14:22) On our part we are called to continue in faith for his word of grace is sufficient to build up our lives in the sure foundation. "God knows who are his."
Life of Jesus was disrupted but helps the light of the knowledge of the glory of God spread 'Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.'(v.15)
Jesus came and spoke words of spirit and life from what he heard from God his Father John 6:63. Jesus never spoke his own words, he received words from his Father in heaven. After the cross, Christ is in me by faith as it is Christ in me the hope of glory. I don't hope you make heaven, I posess that hope in Christ Jesus.
St. Paul was talking about the gifts of the spirit not about the spirit of Elijiah as Jesus sent the Holy Ghost and not the spirit of Elijiah to mankind.
John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The gifts of the spirit is the result/ evidence of the Holy Ghost and not Elijiah's spirit.
Ephesians 4:[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
John 6:5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Jesus did not want to attract attention that is the last thing he needed to be an earthly king when he is already our heavenly king. This was all prophesied in Isaiah 8:16-17. If Jesus was made an earthly king, God would have lost his only Son.
Isaiah 8:16] Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
[17] And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Let us significance of the house of bread from which he came on a divine Mandate. He came to fulfill the will of his Father. In multiplying loaves of bread as given in the gospel let us examine the leftovers. "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full."(14:20) In John's Gospel, "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost./ Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." ( John 6:12-13) Number 12 signifies the Gospel of God. In fulfilling his Father's will the same Gospel is Gospel of Christ.
All four gospel records this 'miracle' and more significance in in the gathering of fragments that remained.
In the Gospel of Mark we read,"And they did all eat, and were filled./ And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."( Mark 6:42-43) In Luke "And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets." ( Luke 9:17)
There are other instances in which 4x1000 has significance as the number Seven to mark the baskets. (Mark.8:8) (15:37-38)
According to principle of Similitude the symbol of bread in the House of God must match. The number 12 refers to the Gospel and 7 denotes fulfillment of the Will. In all these instances all those who partook were full.
Contrary to this we have an indictment against Israel. "Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword./.. that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people."( Micah 6:13-16) Bethlehem as a result has fallen into insignificance.