I thank you for discussing this and I consider you as a brother in Christ. I do not feel I have represented Scripture in any kind of mystical or spiritual way. I am not trying to convince you, but to explain my understanding. I believe Jesus was a man same as the first Adam without sin, 1 Cor. 15:471 Timothy 2:5 Jesus is the only begotten Son of God miraculously conceived, born of the virgin Mary, Matthew 1:20Acts 17:31Rev. 12:5
Take Hebrews 1: 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father? How could God say I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son if Jesus eternally existed with the Father.
Hebrews 2:7 from Psalms 8:5-6 God the Father made and set Jesus His only begotten Son over all His works of His hands this tells me the Father is the creator. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28Philippians 2:9. To me that is simply saying God the Father is superior and they are not coequal, God the Father highly exalted Jesus His Son.
Christ means He is the Anointed One nothing is above God so God cannot be anointed or anoint Himself, God is the one who anoints, as Jesus was anointed with the full measure of the Holy Spirit/Ghost when He was baptized by John the Baptist. We also see in 1 Corinthians 11:3 This to me shows they are not equal, and God the Father is the head over all.
1 Peter 1:19-21 If Jesus preexisted how could he be foreordained? Eph. 1:10
Chris, I may could say more, maybe we can pick this back up again, but I hope you have some idea of my understanding, this is not to end this but just to pause I hope that is ok.
Jesus to me is Devine He is the Devine only begotten Son of God. He has been placed over all that is in heaven and earth and every knee will bow to Him. You do not think He had a beginning; I believe His beginning was in God's plan before any creation and was brought forth in the fulness of time.
Plz note the woman in Rev.12:5 had to birth a Child which is the H.G. to lead her into the Kingdom....When he the Spirit of truth is come he will lead you into all truth (the kingdom).....But he cannot speak of himself simply b/c he is just an infant that new born babe desiring the sincere milk of the word...Unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil CHILD impling that heavenly birth a spiritual birth.....As that which is born of the spirit is spirit thats the H.G. the Child of PROMISE....Whosoever receiveth one such child in my name receiveth me...ME....Thats how he will come again by the new birth....We are gona have a baby Christ....Thats y he always refers to himself as the Son of Man....Mankind is gona be married to Christ and bring forth fruit unto God... Romans 7:4....But Satan the dragon wants to destroy the woman and her children....Which are the Children of PROMISE....The multiplication of Christ in humanity via his precious seed the living word which is the contents of the book of life.... Jeremiah 30:6 saw all men in travail and birth pains....Which is that New Covenant that he wrote with his own blood at Calvary.... Jeremiah 31:34 I will KNOW them all from the least to the greatest and their sins and iniquities will i remember no more.
Behold me and the Children the lord has given me are they not for signs and wonders to the Children of Israel....They are an Israel of GOD.....Children that cannot lie so Jesus is their father....Simply b/c they are gona be born in us via his Precious seed....That was the great Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven....Thus the sower/bridegroom and his seed....The wheat is a baby Christ....Simply b/c Christ is the bridegroom....Jesus said that the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom..... Psalms 8:2 For out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has perfected Praise that thou mightest still the enemy....Our carnal minds satans seat....Thus the babes and sucklings he mentions...Our New BORN.
Alex1939...Greg leme just add this...Jesus said outta of the mouths of Babes and sucklings thou has Perfected Praise and thats y we must be bornagain....Humanity needs to birth a baby Christ a babe and suckling which is Spirit the H.G. that Child of Promise.
Our praise is too tainted with our carnal minds that goes a whoring after all kinds of materistic things and money...God is spirit and them that worship him must worship him in in spirit and truth...The Father seeketh such to worship him..Which is the H.G our new hearts and new spirits from the seed of the sower...That New Covenant in his blood...
Jesus will not sire flesh and blood children...As his seed is the living word the very seed of God...Thats y he is saying to whom the word came His seed ( the living word ) it made them Gods...God wants Perfect PRAISE which can only come via his incorruptible seed planted in our hearts and minds...Making us a new creature that will still the avenger the devil in us...The tares and thorns that are in a warfare with satan...Our old... Psalms 8:2 Outta of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has perfected Praise that he might still the avenger the devil the Tares that satan has put in our hearts to destroy the babe and suckling the H.G. THE WHEAT...This war rages with in us....
As Jesus said there is gona be war in heaven...And the Kingdom of God suffers violence....Thats y we must endure till the end till the tares are gathered up and burned but the wheat to his barn his kingdom...K Gbu
Once again; we need to understand that with knowledge comes responsibility. There are some who are immature in the faith that simply don't know scripture well enough to clearly see parameters that they should follow and hence that slip into sin. But those that willingly sin and know the truth are going to be in a worse state than those who never knew the truth. (See Hebrews 10:26).
We need to avoid slipping into violence to solve our problems as God states "vengeance is mine; I will repay ( Romans 12:19). Extremism is pushing us in that direction of violent opposition. We need to wisely choose our battles; remaining wise as serpents; innocent as doves. ( Matt. 10:16).
God will even use babes and children to praise Him ( Psalms 8:2). He has his armies of angels to stand before and behind us to defend us when He chooses to do so. It is His sovereign will to either deliver us FROM judgment or through it (although His people are delivered from wrath according to Romans at least related to the end of the Tribulation. Those who are martyred in the end will be lifted up to rule and reign with Christ if they indeed stood in the true faith.
May we be watchmen as Ezekiel warns or the blood of those who are destroyed will be required of us. Only God can laugh at the calamity of the wicked; our job is to lovingly rescue those who are taken captive by the devil to do his will. God knows who will and won't respond; even if no one we talk to does; we are to declare His victory as faithful servants. In this we honor God.
That is the main concern of revivals that appeal to a "numbers game" as many churches do today to gain prominence; financial benefits etc. We should warn to flee the wrath to come but also exhort those that the road is narrow and few will come to faith.
The days of the "easy peasy" belief system may be passing since COVID took out some churches and probably irreversably reduced the percentage of those who go to church.
There is a cross reference with Matthew 21:16 in verse 2 of this Psalm. This surely outwitted the wisdom of man with the Pharisees. This verse would seem to indicate that all children are in the Book of Life until the age of accountability; perhaps by default being in the book of all the living. Ezekiel 18:20 states that the soul who sins will die; and children will not bear blame for parents sins. We are all born into a sin nature; but not all living long enough to understand the meaning of it. Jesus also stated that "unless you are converted and come to me as a little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." This involves the following of those who are drawn (such as the immediate response of the first disciples when Christ said "follow me.") This involves TRUST for Christ to provide all needs; so we can realize that He who takes care of the birds of the air will take care of us ( Matthew 6:26).
The animals with the rest of God's creation are mentioned in verses 6-8 here; and man's dominion a little lower than angels (v. 5) yet ruling over the animals and the earth (v.6) gives him a special place.
There are many cares in this world; some of which we are responsible for such as elderly parents; wives/husbands and children. We are to provide for our needs by working. Ultimately; all things are for the Kingdom of God. It is interesting in light of the ministry Christ and the Apostles had through the 1st Century; and how they would preach the Gospel first; and whether lodging in a private house; through the dangers of the sea; or in a jail cell from time to time God preserved them. We see those such as in Phillipians 2:27 who almost worked themselves to death. Clearly; death was the normal end of their lives (except for John who they say survived being boiled in oil according to tradition). Such a focus on looking on Christ and not on this world; and dying to self surely is something to ponder in this nation today.
It may be for multiple reasons, knowing 2Timothy 3:16,
Interestingly if it were written 1st person as "I" it could have caused much confusion especially when quoted. GOD's wisdom always amazing!
Also to clarify who, to point to His human side fulfilling prophecy, son of man, son of David: Psalms 8:4, Matthew 16:28, = 2Samuel 7:16,17, Jeremiah 33:17,18,
Ezekiel 2:1,3, Ezekiel 37:12,13, = Matthew 27:50-53,
Just like when he cried out: Matthew 27:46 = Psalms 22, was he pointing those who knew scripture, to the very prophecy? I believe He was.
Also, To show He was like us, flesh & tempted, suffered yet without sin: Hebrews 4:14,15,16, 1John 4:2,
1st Paul the one given credit for writing book of Acts was not around Jesus CHRIST during the days before HIS Resurrection, Acts 8, Paul was actually opposed. That might be the past tense reference, if there was any reference to that being past tense at all.
2nd I read Acts 18:28, as a fact that Jesus was Who HE said he was, the same as: is who HE said HE is. In USA I've lived around many dialects of English = in the "deep south" Eastern coast the 1st would make perfect sense to most. English in the deeper South still has many phrases & words used in KJV like 'Breeches' However Michigan area the second way, may be understood better.
3rd Please read the entire Books of Matthew 1, Mark 1, Luke 1, John 1, starting with 1st chapters to see who Jesus CHRIST was & is.
4th maybe most important is the Old Testament points to Jesus being CHRIST all throughout. The same Jesus in the Books of the New Testament. For instance all throughout Psalms points to things Jesus did, & suffered, ' Prophetic fulfillment ' : Psalms 2:6-8, Psalms 8:2, Psalms 27:6, Psalms 16:10, Psalms 18:44, * Psalms 22:1,7,8,14,15,16,17,18,24,27,28,30,31,
I think you're referring the tribe of Levi. If so, Levi was a son of Jacob, who was also called Israel ( Genesis 32:28). You can see the names of Israel's other sons in Exodus 1:1-5. And then we read of Levi's sons in Exodus 6:16-19 and all these were appointed by God to serve Him in the Tabernacle ( Numbers 3:5-10), while the other sons of Israel had other appointments throughout their journeyings towards the Promised Land.
If you look carefully you will see there is a subtle play of words in what Alex is saying. The lie in the garden is proven in the admissions of Alex and Earl assuming deity. Be warned everyone, their teaching is heresy on display and spiritual blindness on their part. A little truth will never cover a great lie.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Do men validate the lie of Satan in the garden and call it truth? Yes.
Mild Bill, the Spirit grace us with understanding, when you take a kernel of corn and plant it in fertile moist ground it dies and is reborn a green growing stalk that looks nothing like the SEED that was planted. As time passes it puts out an ear that continues to grow and little kernels of immature seed are attached to the ear. When the SEED is mature the green growing stalk naturally dies, no matter how moist and fertile the ground is. The harvester comes and harvest the crop. The SEED that is harvested is EXACTLY like the SEED that was planted and when you plant one of the new SEED it's SEED will be exactly like the SEED planted. This is the multiplication process that the Spirit has put upon all things; whether they be natural plants or animals or Spirit beings, the process does not change.
Bill in Hebrew there are no upper case or lower case when the scriptures says ye are Gods it simply Gods plural. Ya gotta realize that the good seed is the living WORD WHICH IS THE SEED OF GOD. Thats y he is saying to whom the WORD came it made them GODS Jesus said whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap and Jesus is sowing the Living WORD the very seed of GOD THUS HIS CROP ARE Gods plural, he will not have crop failure, As my word ( his seed ) cannot return unto him void but shall surely prosper in what it was sent to do which is salvation, eternal life. When Jesus said the Kingdom of God is gonna be with in you he was not kidding, we are gona birth a baby Christ the Son of Man,Mankinds fruit unto God via his seed th WORD. The good ground is our hearts where that good seed will be sown thus we will birth God via his good seed,thats y he is saying that which is born of the SPIRIT IS SPIRIT AS GOD IS SPIRIT. I will dwell in them and walk in them and talk in them and be their GOD AND THEY SHALL BE MY PPL, THE VERY kINGDOM OF God is gona be with in us sinners ALL B/C OF HIS BLOOD, HIS WORD.If any man hears my WORDS and keeps them my father and i will come and take our AbODE WITH THEM,So when he said ye are Gods he was telling the truth.Whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap, ya gota realize that Jesus is sowing the very seed of God in humanity. The field is the world. Thats y David saw the whole world at rest and full of his GLORY, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh Joel, thus the spirit of God is gonna be born in ALL of US which is the H.G. God ALMIGHTY. THE PROMISE,But 1 thing for certain is he will not have a crop failure, My word ( seed ) shall not return unto me void. If i belifted up I will draw ALL MEN UNTO ME. THANK YOU JESUS GBU BILL
If you search the phrase "ye are gods", you will find it only three times. In each instance the g is small, that is, not diety. And in Psalm 82, "I have said ye are gods", those gods will die like men. Those men died as men and not as Jesus, who laid down his life that he might take it up again, as no other can do. In Isaiah 41 they do either good or evil, in John 10 Jesus points to the challenge Almighty God put to men who called themselves gods and wanted others to decide if a god does good or evil.
If you study carefully, you will see the title god does not refer to deity. Children of God are his children, not gods, but saints.
Earl, Alex is fabricating Jesus as a multiplication of God(something that came later in time), rather than him always being God, as is the Holy Spirit. Multiply is not the word to describe Gods plan of salvation to believers. God sanctifies, believers are sanctified and called saints, subservient to Almighty God. Presuming diety is fatal. The numbers of people decending to hell far outnumber believers, and a multiplication plan favors their situation, rather that the few that find the door to heaven. I believe Alex has erred and misspoken about the nature of salvation, because he see's saints destroying Satan, and not God himself. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have no beginning nor end.
My comments about was Jesus truly God the son,There are many scriptures that MENTION that Jesus was truly God the son as Hebrews 1 Unto the SON he says thy THRONE O GOD IS FOREVER and Ever. It was God Almighty that made this law that everything has to multiply after its Kind . But we see that Jesus ii able to reproduce after the God kind ( Spirits ). Thats y he is saying that which is born of the spirit is spirit which is the H.G. that is gonna be born in humanity the very multiplication of God, To whom the word came his Seed the living word it made them Gods thus he is able to reproduce God in humanity, He is able to propagate very GOD IN HUMANITY THE WORLD 27 TIMES the prophets saw the world in travail and birth pains all b/c of his seed the word the contents of the book in the fathers right hand. Jesus does not reproduce after flesh & blood , his seed is the living word thus he reproduces after the GOD KIND, THE H.G THE GRANSON THE BEGINNING OF AN ISREAL OF GOD, Christ was just his 1st born of many brethren, Thats y the sower will go forth to sow his precious seed in humanity that a baby Christ wd be born in US sinners The H.G. thats y the new birth is so important, its the beginning of an Israel of God. John baptised you with water but i will baptise you with the H.G and fire a heavenly birth by his seed the WORD. His seed results in a birth, a Child which is the H.G.THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT THATS THE H.G. B/C I HAVE SPOKEN THESE WORDS/SEEDS SORROWS HAVE FILLED YOUR HEARTS A SPRITUAL PREGNANCY, THEN HE TELLS THEM OF A WOMAN IN TRAVAIL N BIRTH PAINS,Which answers to the woman in Rev. 12, her CHILD IS A KINGDOM CHILD,Her Child fulfills the prophecy that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven, Thats y Isaiah is saying when he saw the Kingdom coming unto US a child is born unto US a son is given, AS Jesus said unless you receive the Kingdom as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in,Her Child is the Granson th H.G. TH PROMISE CHILD.
By suggesting God can be multiplied you violate the holiness of God.Scripture always affirms he is unique, whereas, the pride of Satan to declare himself as god, has defiled the creation, and not supplanted God. I know where you learned your erroneous lie.
Alex, another witness, Zachariah 12:5-8 (vs) 8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
Alex, the Spirit of truth, understanding and wisdom bestowed upon you will also be multiplied unto others, every man in Gods own order, the Spirit of grace and mercy be upon all, keep proclaiming the truth of the kingdom.
Hiya Bill nice to hear from you. let me explain that HEBREWS 1 tells us that Christ is indeed God the son,But unto the Son he says thy throne O GOD IS FOREVER and ever so we see that GOD WAS MULTIPLIED when MARY Gave birth,Jesus was the living WORD made flesh and blood and the living word is God as John 1 says, so Christ was the multiplication of God in MARY But he wants to be multiplied in all Men via his seed the Word.That was the great Promise i will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven thus the multilication of very God in humanity via the seed of CHRIST THE LIVING WORD,tHATS Y JESUS REFERS TO THE H.G. as the PROMISE, WHICH IS SPIRIT, And that which is born of the spirit is spirit as God is spirit. Thats y Jesus said to whom the WORD came it made them Gods, Thats y the sower of that good seed will go forth and sow his precious seed in humanity that we might be Gods,If any man hears my words and keeps them My Father and I will come and take our abode with him meaning the gift of the H.G. WHICH IS the multiplcation of GOD, The Promise, The scriptures say I HAVE SAID YE ARE GODS PLURAL. Bill ya need to study a bit,without the multiplication of God there can be no Israel of God. Just like the multiplcation of abraham issac and jacob wihout the multiplication of Abraham there cd not have been a natural Israel, Thus the heavenly trinity of father son and H.G. has to be multiplied in order for there to be an Israel of God,Thus the sower and his seed,to whom the word came ( his seed ) it made them GODS. Thats y Isaiah calls Jesus everlasting father he is the father of the H.G.. simply b/c the H.G. is born IN HUMANITY by his Words which are his seeds ( his BREATH etc ). HIS SEED WAS HIS WORD HIS BREATH, HE BREATHE ON THEM AND THEY RECEIVED THE H.G. Thats y God Almighty refers to himself as Abraham Issac and jacob impling there has to be an Israel of God meaning the multiplication of very God via that good seed the new covenant the Words of God that are YET sealed.GB
Alex you err, the creation never can become the Creator."For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.1Tim2:5&6 "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah45:22. But you Alex say there is another, and another, and another, and another, etc.. Almighty God has no beginning and no end, the Alpha and Omega, and has no equal outside of himself, otherwise, that is not God.
I thank you for discussing this and I consider you as a brother in Christ. I do not feel I have represented Scripture in any kind of mystical or spiritual way. I am not trying to convince you, but to explain my understanding. I believe Jesus was a man same as the first Adam without sin, 1 Cor. 15:47 1 Timothy 2:5 Jesus is the only begotten Son of God miraculously conceived, born of the virgin Mary, Matthew 1:20 Acts 17:31 Rev. 12:5
Take Hebrews 1: 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father? How could God say I will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son if Jesus eternally existed with the Father.
Hebrews 2:7 from Psalms 8:5-6 God the Father made and set Jesus His only begotten Son over all His works of His hands this tells me the Father is the creator. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Philippians 2:9. To me that is simply saying God the Father is superior and they are not coequal, God the Father highly exalted Jesus His Son.
Christ means He is the Anointed One nothing is above God so God cannot be anointed or anoint Himself, God is the one who anoints, as Jesus was anointed with the full measure of the Holy Spirit/Ghost when He was baptized by John the Baptist. We also see in 1 Corinthians 11:3 This to me shows they are not equal, and God the Father is the head over all.
1 Peter 1:19-21 If Jesus preexisted how could he be foreordained? Eph. 1:10
Chris, I may could say more, maybe we can pick this back up again, but I hope you have some idea of my understanding, this is not to end this but just to pause I hope that is ok.
Jesus to me is Devine He is the Devine only begotten Son of God. He has been placed over all that is in heaven and earth and every knee will bow to Him. You do not think He had a beginning; I believe His beginning was in God's plan before any creation and was brought forth in the fulness of time.
God bless,
RLW
Behold me and the Children the lord has given me are they not for signs and wonders to the Children of Israel....They are an Israel of GOD.....Children that cannot lie so Jesus is their father....Simply b/c they are gona be born in us via his Precious seed....That was the great Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven....Thus the sower/bridegroom and his seed....The wheat is a baby Christ....Simply b/c Christ is the bridegroom....Jesus said that the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom..... Psalms 8:2 For out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has perfected Praise that thou mightest still the enemy....Our carnal minds satans seat....Thus the babes and sucklings he mentions...Our New BORN.
Our praise is too tainted with our carnal minds that goes a whoring after all kinds of materistic things and money...God is spirit and them that worship him must worship him in in spirit and truth...The Father seeketh such to worship him..Which is the H.G our new hearts and new spirits from the seed of the sower...That New Covenant in his blood...
Jesus will not sire flesh and blood children...As his seed is the living word the very seed of God...Thats y he is saying to whom the word came His seed ( the living word ) it made them Gods...God wants Perfect PRAISE which can only come via his incorruptible seed planted in our hearts and minds...Making us a new creature that will still the avenger the devil in us...The tares and thorns that are in a warfare with satan...Our old... Psalms 8:2 Outta of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has perfected Praise that he might still the avenger the devil the Tares that satan has put in our hearts to destroy the babe and suckling the H.G. THE WHEAT...This war rages with in us....
As Jesus said there is gona be war in heaven...And the Kingdom of God suffers violence....Thats y we must endure till the end till the tares are gathered up and burned but the wheat to his barn his kingdom...K Gbu
Once again; we need to understand that with knowledge comes responsibility. There are some who are immature in the faith that simply don't know scripture well enough to clearly see parameters that they should follow and hence that slip into sin. But those that willingly sin and know the truth are going to be in a worse state than those who never knew the truth. (See Hebrews 10:26).
We need to avoid slipping into violence to solve our problems as God states "vengeance is mine; I will repay ( Romans 12:19). Extremism is pushing us in that direction of violent opposition. We need to wisely choose our battles; remaining wise as serpents; innocent as doves. ( Matt. 10:16).
God will even use babes and children to praise Him ( Psalms 8:2). He has his armies of angels to stand before and behind us to defend us when He chooses to do so. It is His sovereign will to either deliver us FROM judgment or through it (although His people are delivered from wrath according to Romans at least related to the end of the Tribulation. Those who are martyred in the end will be lifted up to rule and reign with Christ if they indeed stood in the true faith.
May we be watchmen as Ezekiel warns or the blood of those who are destroyed will be required of us. Only God can laugh at the calamity of the wicked; our job is to lovingly rescue those who are taken captive by the devil to do his will. God knows who will and won't respond; even if no one we talk to does; we are to declare His victory as faithful servants. In this we honor God.
That is the main concern of revivals that appeal to a "numbers game" as many churches do today to gain prominence; financial benefits etc. We should warn to flee the wrath to come but also exhort those that the road is narrow and few will come to faith.
The days of the "easy peasy" belief system may be passing since COVID took out some churches and probably irreversably reduced the percentage of those who go to church.
There is a cross reference with Matthew 21:16 in verse 2 of this Psalm. This surely outwitted the wisdom of man with the Pharisees. This verse would seem to indicate that all children are in the Book of Life until the age of accountability; perhaps by default being in the book of all the living. Ezekiel 18:20 states that the soul who sins will die; and children will not bear blame for parents sins. We are all born into a sin nature; but not all living long enough to understand the meaning of it. Jesus also stated that "unless you are converted and come to me as a little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." This involves the following of those who are drawn (such as the immediate response of the first disciples when Christ said "follow me.") This involves TRUST for Christ to provide all needs; so we can realize that He who takes care of the birds of the air will take care of us ( Matthew 6:26).
The animals with the rest of God's creation are mentioned in verses 6-8 here; and man's dominion a little lower than angels (v. 5) yet ruling over the animals and the earth (v.6) gives him a special place.
There are many cares in this world; some of which we are responsible for such as elderly parents; wives/husbands and children. We are to provide for our needs by working. Ultimately; all things are for the Kingdom of God. It is interesting in light of the ministry Christ and the Apostles had through the 1st Century; and how they would preach the Gospel first; and whether lodging in a private house; through the dangers of the sea; or in a jail cell from time to time God preserved them. We see those such as in Phillipians 2:27 who almost worked themselves to death. Clearly; death was the normal end of their lives (except for John who they say survived being boiled in oil according to tradition). Such a focus on looking on Christ and not on this world; and dying to self surely is something to ponder in this nation today.
Interestingly if it were written 1st person as "I" it could have caused much confusion especially when quoted. GOD's wisdom always amazing!
Also to clarify who, to point to His human side fulfilling prophecy, son of man, son of David: Psalms 8:4, Matthew 16:28, = 2Samuel 7:16,17, Jeremiah 33:17,18,
Ezekiel 2:1,3, Ezekiel 37:12,13, = Matthew 27:50-53,
Just like when he cried out: Matthew 27:46 = Psalms 22, was he pointing those who knew scripture, to the very prophecy? I believe He was.
Also, To show He was like us, flesh & tempted, suffered yet without sin: Hebrews 4:14,15,16, 1John 4:2,
Hopefully these are helpful
1st Paul the one given credit for writing book of Acts was not around Jesus CHRIST during the days before HIS Resurrection, Acts 8, Paul was actually opposed. That might be the past tense reference, if there was any reference to that being past tense at all.
2nd I read Acts 18:28, as a fact that Jesus was Who HE said he was, the same as: is who HE said HE is. In USA I've lived around many dialects of English = in the "deep south" Eastern coast the 1st would make perfect sense to most. English in the deeper South still has many phrases & words used in KJV like 'Breeches' However Michigan area the second way, may be understood better.
3rd Please read the entire Books of Matthew 1, Mark 1, Luke 1, John 1, starting with 1st chapters to see who Jesus CHRIST was & is.
4th maybe most important is the Old Testament points to Jesus being CHRIST all throughout. The same Jesus in the Books of the New Testament. For instance all throughout Psalms points to things Jesus did, & suffered, ' Prophetic fulfillment ' : Psalms 2:6-8, Psalms 8:2, Psalms 27:6, Psalms 16:10, Psalms 18:44, * Psalms 22:1,7,8,14,15,16,17,18,24,27,28,30,31,
Zechariah 13:6, Isaiah 53,
Hopefully that helps
Amos 5:8
1 Corinthians 15:14
Genius 2:4
Psalms 115:16 (space) the lack of breathable atmosphere, radiation, medical complications?
Psalms 147:4
Psalms 136:9
Revelation 6:13
Job 25:5
Job 9:7
Job 22:12
Psalms 8:3
Joel 2:10 Eclipse? Ezekiel 32:7 , Isaiah 50:3
Isaiah 13:10
Isaiah 40::22
Hopefully these scripture verses help you better research the Bible & what more it says about Earth, and space. There are more.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Do men validate the lie of Satan in the garden and call it truth? Yes.
If you study carefully, you will see the title god does not refer to deity. Children of God are his children, not gods, but saints.