GENESIS 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
This verse is supposed to be a reference to prayers first being said. I never quite understood it that way but in any case nothing specific is said. It is noteworthy what is MISSING in the Antidiluvian era which is ANY reference to prayer at all; we don't even see anything stated for Noah a man of faith; perhaps this is why he silpped so easily into drunkenness after the event when he was tilling a vineyard.
IN the Believer's Portal (dot com) cite we find a list of 650 prayers in scripture. I would recommend that site to get a comprehensive overview of prayer in scripture. According to this cite Genesis 15 is the first prayer stated in scripture and involved Abraham's prayer for his offspring; with the next being Isaac's prayer for Ishmael; the third was Abraham's well known one involving God sparing 10 righteous if they existed in Sodom. This cite also gives the response; in the second prayer it wasn't according to God's will and hence wasn't answered.
Genesis 21 contains the first prayer of a woman (Hagar). This prayer expresses her concern for the immediate fate of her son; Ishmael born from Abraham's seed. She is given miraculous provision in the desert; then told of the future of her son in verse 12 to be a "wild donkey of a man". This sort of "sentiment" wasn't limited to her as others had less than favorable destinies in other familial "blessings".
These passages show that front and center was family posterity and generational blessings and cursings that were the result of prayers as well as frequent scripture themes of God's working with the early patriarchs. Since only a few families existed for God's righteous line it isn't unexpected these are prevalent subject matters of prayers at that time.
In the next post I will consider Abraham's prayer about Sodom and how he acted as intercessor.
Even though there is a distinction between the children of God and the children of the world the scripture says to be kind to all men. Galatians 6:10.
However, we're not all Brothern.
John 1:11-12 says "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the "sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"
Jesus also said in Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Ephesians 2:19 states Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
So, there is a clear distinction in scripture between God's children and those who haven't received him.
1 John 3:9-10 covers this well, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
"Sons of God" emphasizes a natural, internal relationship with God rather than an external adoption. Becoming God's children involves a real change and transformation, not just a change in title or position. We partake in the divine nature.
All people are not naturally God's children. We must be born again through faith in Christ to become God's children.
This separates us from Adam.
We are now joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
First I must say that questions as such"why God kills or asks others to kill, despite "do not kill",are made by many atheists that were members of the SDA,but now turned demonic atheists.
They well know the letter of the Bible and now use it in their demonic posts to deny GOD and to contradict His Word.In fact they are killers,killers of souls.
They know that when GOD said to the people of Israel through Moses," do not kill", it had already passed around 2500 years(two days and half of GOD's work),and the commandment was exclusively for the people of GOD,Israel. It was given in the OT, not in the NT,very different of the OT. See, GOD was creating a new environment for His seed, descendants of Abraham, when He brought His people out of Egypt. GOD separated His people Israel from the midst of the Gentilic peoples, from the midst of the idolaters and murderers peoples, actually He divided waters from the waters- Genesis 1:6-10-and then appeared the dry land-Israel.
Now see,around 2500 years before GOD's commandment Cain had killed Abel.Who commanded Cain do it?It was not GOD,so who? It was the father of Cain,the Devil,a former Cherub,former ruler of Eden,also father of the current atheists and false Christianity and others adherents of devilish religions.
In the other hand,after GOD brought Israel from Egypt and placed the people in the Promised Land,there GOD established the Law and rules to discipline the people and free them from all the SATANIC influence they carried with them from the Gentile, specially from the Egyptians and their satanic idolatries.Desobedience, i.e. witchcraft,it would be punished in the Promised Land,even to the death penalty(Compare: Luke 12:4 and Deuteronomy 32:39.By the way,GOD IS GOD).
This battle started when the Cherub which GOD have placed as a ruler of Eden(now called SON OF PERDITION and MAN OF SIN,the Devil and Satan)planned to USURP GOD's creation and to create a specific world for he himself- Matthew 4:8-9.
As it was in days of Noah,so it will be in the days of the Son of man.They ate,drank,married,gave in marriage,until the day Noah entered the ark,the flood came and destroyed them all.So"This was the"modus vivendi" in Noahs'days.
We would say it was the same 'modus vivendi' of society in recent times,say around 1950-1985,it was similar to society in the days of Noah.It was common to eat and drink with development of large malls around the world at that time,it was common the celebration of weddings,existence of strong family ties,but as time went by,it began to deteriorate morally as in the time of Noah,when the sons of GOD mixed their seed with seed of the evil ones,giving rise to a corrupt and evil society- Genesis 6:2-3, due to the proliferation of adulterers and adulteresses.And the punishment came,yes,the flood came and only 8 people were saved by the Ark.
Comparing the society of Noah's days with a posterior society of Sodom and Gomorrah,at the time of Lot,let's see the differences,according Scriptures:
Luke 17:28-30 reveal:
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day (in the current time) when the Son of man is revealed.
society of Noah's day..........................society of Sodom/Gomorrah
they ate and drank ..............................they ate and drank
they married and gave in marriage ....they bought and sold,they planted and built
Men of Sodom were wicked,immoral exceedingly,and sinners before the Lord- Genesis 13:13.There was no marriage,society was polluted of prostitutes,sodomites/ effeminate(gays),society was infested of prostitution and great sinners. The same occurs today. Lot was vexed with filthy conversations seeing and hearing their unlawful deeds- 2Peter 2:7-8 & Jude 1:6-7.
Absolutely, All glory definitely should go to God.! Your right, I should have asked Gigi & normally I would yet I had just finished reading your responses to another & felt led to ask you. I greatly appreciate your response. If speaking to others about His word I believe we are to pray & God will guide our words, otherwise we, as mere humans, could say the wrong thing at wrong time. Been there done that. Not a good idea.
What we do, especially before being saved, is all forgiven & He won't hold against us. All we go through strengthens us as we grow wiser in His word & for His purpose to lead others to Christ. Believers are guided by His spirit to speak His truth. That's His will for all.!
So if He's calling you to do so please, don't be ashamed/worried what others will think or do. He is the one we are to fear. I regret one time He led me to talk to a lady & I shrugged it off. She passed away 3-4 days later. Now, when He leads me (especially w/my dreams) I follow through. Then I'm amazed by His work when 'said person' starts to change. Praise God.!
Yet at work, I always speak in a way they know I'm a believer. i.e., saying Lord willing, God forbid, Jesus help me or even tell them "I will pray for you" or even wearing my TCU hat while driving the company truck (I live in midst of Mormons).! They are all seeds, God sows in His time.! Plus, I don't get involved in idol gossip & won't lie. I think you definitely have a God given talent & are blessed. Thnx again
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him."
The two worlds of the Spirit and of the body have only language which is faith. (He.11:3) When the Son said,A body hast prepared me it made the DNA between the world made to appear and the world unseen as the only proof of paternity. Thus the body of the Son is the visible image of the invisible God. ( Col 1:15) In the Parable of the Tares we have the good seed and the tares which can be known by their fruits. "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"(Matt.7:16)
So God is a Spirit sent his Son as the word become flesh.He did not ask the impossible when he went to the fig tree. The glory of the tree with seed in itself was determined according to the everlasting covenant, and the blessing of man in 'our likeness' connected as with the body God gave both. It was on the basis of faith and not by the will of the tares, source of which is by courtesy of the enemy who slipped in while the world slept. Caesars have come and gone, none of them has shown their glory endured. Had these men faith in God as the rewarder of the just?
In the hypothetical question the Sadducees put to Jesus vv.19-23 they were in error since the concept of marriage instituted by the tradition of their fathers was not founded on truth. "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?/For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(vv.24-25) In our times by false shepherds who dismiss works from their faith and espouse politicians as the Herodians, blame the victims for refusing to live with child molesters and perverts? Excommunicating Eileen and condoning the abuser if how the elders read the word of God. The tares shall continue but how long?
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this piece of information,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Cf. Matt.21:19. This has raised many eyebrows from the believers for the simple reason that there is an everlasting covenant which has nothing to do with natural laws; neither has it any relevance to the fall of man and the consequential fall out. When God commanded "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat," (Ge.1:29) was vis-a vis his Son. The blessing would have passed on to Adam if he had continued obeying his Will. The fig tree failed to know that the rightful heir. Secondly God gave each man and tree a body so the glory of both are answerable to Him. Here also the fig tree failed.
The Gospel of St Mark is especial for the reason that the life of Jesus is set as the validation of the Messianic prophecies, for instance the divine Will,"Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies,"(Ps.110:1-3). Accordingly God has prepared everything to augur success in his ministry which is to be accomplished both in his humanity but also in heaven. Consequently his entry into Jerusalem is designated as a triumphal entry. At the heart of his ministry is the eternal word. So the evangelist piles up several instances underpinning the assertion of Jesus," Before Abraham was, I am." . We shall study this chapter from this angle.
"And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Jesus sent two disciples to Bethphage and the colt was to be found 'in a place where two ways met,' This resonates in his affirmation "I am the way". The colt has never been tried on and it has been reserved for the master's service. The mention of the door evokes the saying of the Good Shepherd. "I am the door."( John 10:7,9)
St Mark informs us in.v.11 that he went to the temple first time and saw for himself and second visit was to cleanse the temple itself. (vv.15-17) This runs parallel with his own advent and he shall slay the wicked when he appears second time. ("and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."-Is.11:3-4;Re.19:15) Only Mark gives two visits to the temple foreshadowing two Advents where the second is as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Is it out of sync with rest of the narrative?
God made his Son in charge "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Ge.1:28)
Scripture Interpretation: Part 2 on introduction to the law and differences in Old and New Testaments
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
Israel, as 'Dry Bones'- Ezekiel 37-Now,Dry land, but before was the clay( Isaiah 64:8), exactly when the Most High make a separation between water and water- Genesis 1:9-, that is, when the Most High separated the Hebrews from the Egypcians through Moses, and He created a celestial environment and called it of expanse, called heaven (that is the Dispensation of the Old Testament used in the Promised Land), then the Most High, the Lord, the I AM, separated the water (the Egypcians) that was BELOW of the expanse He created(an heavenly environment), and the water that that was ABOVE the expanse (the people of Israel- GOD's people), and it was evening, and it was morning, the second GOD's Day.
Genesis 1:10-19
10And God called the dry land Earth(israel);and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas(Gentile peoples/nations): and God saw that it was good.
11And God said,Let the earth(Israel)bring forth grass,the herb yielding seed,and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind,whose seed is in itself,upon the earth:and it was so.
12And the earth brought forth grass,and herb yielding seed after his kind,and the tree yielding fruit,whose seed was in itself, after his kind:and God saw that it was good.
13And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14And God said,Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day(light)from the night(darkness);and let them be for signs,and for seasons,and for days,and years:
15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven(expanse)to give light upon the earth:and it was so.
16And God MADE two great lights;the Greater Light-JESUS-to rule the day,and the Lesser light to rule the night:he made the stars also.
17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18And to rule over the day and over the night,and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
" Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
Parable of the Sower illustrates how the word sown in the heart of man fails to produce what is intended. God formed all hearts alike but the enemy slipping in tares speak of a heart that is let untended. It is a no man's land or the wayside where birds of the air can make away with the good seed. The heart is like a sluggard's field for many and with such what is truth? It is all things to all occasions. God commanded the man not to eat of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil. But Eve let the serpent an occasion to hear his take on the matter. is truth to be treated for anyone to counsel how? Eve let the context determine her course of action. Her senses took over bypassing what was inscribed in her hearts. Ever since what has knowledge of good and evil given her? God cursed the ground, "for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;/ Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee;"(Ge.3:17-18)
Spiritual meaning of thorns and thistles we may glean from the Parable of the Sower. For instance the oncologists warns us of a troubling trend that Early onset cancer, which is defined as happening in adults under 50 years of age, is no anomaly. In fact, it is part of a rising global trend in which newly diagnosed cancer patients are getting younger. Further, it deflates the myth that cancer is the preserve of older people. Cumulative effect of sin treated so lightly for instance glossing over the works embedded in faith so fruits of the Spirit is produced by abiding life in Christ. How can those actively engaged in culture wars, and churches that ride the coattails of politicians come to the light lest their works of darkness be reproved by Christ? Instead the imposter religion has traditions of their elders. Sin never remains single but every evil work are carried on without let up
Mark in his gospel presents the Son in control so the earth obeyed the Will of his Father, By presenting the doctrine in the form of parables where the earth admits no other shortcuts but must follow just as faith of man would require steps in obedience."As if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how./For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."(4:26-29). Between sowing and harvest nothing else would hinder the reapers. So the earth admits no other sovereign authority than of his Father. So when he stilled the storm and calmed the sea so "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Faith held both world's together. (4:39-41)
5:8 When Jesus cast out he did on the authority of the Spirit of his Father, " Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit." In healing the man it was manifest that the unclean spirit did not belong to the kingdom but was an usurper.
Why? For the simple reason that the spirit took over the man so his soul of man did not reveal the truth.. It lay under the shadow of the devil. Recently a pig's kidney replaced the damaged kidney of a man. The soul of man is still under the grace of his Father so his faith shall serve his Will. His creation still declares His glory because the man is created in 'our image and in our likeness.'
"It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth."(v.31). Mark is referring to the same as intended in the Gospel of Matthew.However emphases differ. 'The little one' in Matthew is compared to a grain. It is less than all the seeds in the earth. However it is not the same when Matthew says it was "which a man took, and sowed in his field.". He refers to their position as it is set in heaven. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."(Matt.18:10). Matthew is serving the parable in terms of Jesus Christ on Alpha and Omega mode. The field is the world.(Matt.13:38)
Mark sets the parable in terms of heaven and the earth so the grain of mustard despite of its physical 'littleness" is empowered by the Spirit of God.
"t groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."(v.32) Compare the tree in the king's dream, "the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof" (Dan.4:12). The shadow as the Spirit has indicated in several places signify the authority of God. For instance people brought their sick," Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15) Mark is consistent in setting the Power of God casting its shadow so that the fowls of the air may under the shadow of it. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." (4:26-27)
Luke is closer to the parable in which it is cast into his garden.( Luke 13:19)
For significance of the fowls of the heaven, Re.19:17-18)
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
Jesus formally chose the twelve "And they went into an house." Here we a curious passage,"And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread./And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."(vv.20-21).
Fame of the new prophet we read earlier in the Gospel of Mark was no different than of John the Baptist. "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."(1:28) Jesus having seen the masses who were as sheep without a shepherd.(Matt.9:36) began to preach of the gospel while his cousin before him aroused much speculation and curiosity. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan." to hear his message.(Matt.3:5) " And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"( John 1:19). His testimony was received and they saw him as well. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Here we have an unvarnished look at fame or celebrity status. The ear hears so much as eye sees so often yet Jesus was an unknown quantity to his friends. "He is possessed!" summed up their report. The Spirit gives us the instance of his mother, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."( Luke 2:19).
Hearing without faith is a dumb thing to do and it is how Jesus became so many things to so many. She heard with her ear of faith and digested over it. What many have witnessed or heard are good seed sown into the heard but it poves to be no man's land."When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."(Matt.13:19). Is it strange to hear that some believers do not believe in trinity?
"And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Sabbath day was designated as entering into the rest of God who testified, "This is my beloved Son". As a father takes delight in watching his infant takes control of his movements he doted on the Son. Jesus testified, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."( John 8:29). This rest is two -way street as God testified with a voice from heaven, the Son of man glorified his Father. The rest comes from the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh, as two beams of light on a single standard of obedience: of the body to God, a Spirit. This true worship kept both worlds in focus, and sharp. It is thus Satan, he may quote as many words from the Scripture but was to no avail. Jesus well knew his Father having heard from his bosom and he was not fooled..
As the Word become flesh he did everything that is pleasing in his sight.
Sabbath signified faith and as logical conclusion of one who was blessed by the Father in his Son (that was stipulated in day Six) would want to enter directly therein. Pharisees stalking every step of Jesus to accuse him breaking the Sabbath reveal that they were of bad seed. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it./ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."( John 8:44-45)
Sabbath is for those who has the seed in itself, "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."(Ge.1:12) Day Three is also a command number for the Son. He is the tree of life, fruit of which for man to eat freely. Fall of man began in preferring the tree commended by the serpent.
Did Jesus exist before creation? Did the Holy Spirit exist before creation?
Jesus existed in God's plan, Jesus is the beginning of creation Rev. 3:14 and by Him were all things created Col. 1:16 my understanding is Jesus, was the first in God's plan of creation and everything was created by God, in and through the plan and purpose of Jesus. My understanding Jesus did not physically exist until the fullness of time. Ephesians 1:10 He was born of Mary the Son of God. the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15Matthew 1:20
My understanding is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, not a person, Genesis 1:2. We see all the greetings are from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:71 Corinthians 1:32 Corinthians 1:2Galatians 1:3Ephesians 1:2Ephesians 6:23Philippians 1:2Colossians 1:2 and 6 more. The Holy Spirit not being included is a good clue the Holy Spirit was not considered a person by Paul and others at that time.
If so, who were they in relation to the Father?
I believe the above answers this.
How did the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all create all that is, seen or unseen?
My understanding is God the Father created all, Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:31Proverbs 16:4Isaiah 45:18Nehemiah 9:6.
Does Scripture teach that God is only one person who manifests in three forms, but all these manifestations are only one person?
Scripture does not support Modalism I have never considered this and do not know anything about it.
1:1 The first line encapsulates the generation of Jesus Christ which delineates the Alpha and Omega mode of the holiness of God. As provided for man his blessings surely are let in his Son. So he is the son of Abraham whom God blessed. (Ge.12:3). He is also the son of David whom God blessed by equal measure,"and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever."(2 Sa.7:12). These blessings did not begin with Abraham but from the everlasting covenant. It is set down as the driver so both Gentiles and Israel are to be allowed in the Fellowship of God with Man.(Ge.1:28) This universality of the Word become flesh we see in the arrival of the Magi and his attitude towards the Gentile centurion. (8:10) He was looking for faith in the world before whom he appeared as the Apostle.
The Sermon on the Mount presents him state the holiness of His Father as perfect. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(5:48) He shall prove with his life that it was doable. Blessings presented in this discourse carry for those who refused it. In Ch.23 his discourse 'Woe to ye' was condemnation to the nation that shortchanged Mercies of his Father for the traditions of their fathers. "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers./Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"(23:30-31) The parables are a literary devise that the Spirit uses with telling effect to separate the chaff from the good seed. "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."(21:45)
Fulfillment of the Scriptures is a notable feature of the Gospel so Alpha and Omega aspects of the kingdom of heaven keep the Son of man in the crosshairs from beginning till the end. Jesus began his ministry where the quote from isaiah served as a cue. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(4:14-17)
"He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered." Joseph would have no need to seek permission to be buried in his own tomb. He walked an extra mile to revere the body of of his master. He was a believer with firm conviction. His action was similar to Mary who anointed the body of Jesus in preparation for burial.
The Spirit has in so many ways and in several instances what anyone did good because the word bore fruit in them. 'This seed in itself' (Ge.1:11) in the process brings the glory that Moses sought to the pit from which all saints in light owe, to use a mathematical term, their locus for their everlasting life.
"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek theLord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."(Is.51:1). Isaiah refers the natural man, who is earthy to have been dug up from a hole; on the hand whoever is created new in his Son is said to be hewn from the rock.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground:(Ge.1:7) Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. So their locus is entirely different. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes is their testament. For those who are buried with Jesus in faith and abides with him the pit carries yet another inscription on their headstone:"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."( Job 19:26).
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
The superscription is the Latin phrase for the Savior of the World and while we study the last supper let us keep this aspect of the Son in our mind. Each gospel has something to tell us about the significance of it.
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;/ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."(26:27-28) Luke also treats the same. He does it after he blesses the cup. which is by offering it to his Father. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves." Divide it among yourselves is similar to the act of the Sower in the Parable. "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" The field is the world where the heart is not alike. In vv.4-6 we read how the seed come to nought or produced very little. the fault lay entirely with the heart of man. "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."( 1 John 1:7-9). Blood of Jesus is not at fault but the heart of man is. Out of it comes heresies since it is not entirely good. Like the proverbial curates egg it is half half. So some of the time man runs with his brethren and claims."I have seen the light Hallelujiah" and at other time he is chasing with politicians to do their bidding. Limited salvation as some sects claim is a case in point. If they stumble at this what else is there for them? "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(Jas.2:10)
Notice it is "after supper" that he said " Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." As with the bread they have had partaken the bread during the Last supper "this do in remembrance of me."( Luke 22:19-20). If one makes 'this cup' to mean his blood, what are we to assume? Man's reason is at fault.
"For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."
Faith with works in the case of Jesus was perfect."And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Col.1 19-20) "Reconciling all things unto himself" is explained in the episode in the house of Bethany. In him is the fulness so the king in the Parable rewarded " Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(25:40)
"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker." Pr.17:5. In our times so much anger and ill-will that has spawned a whole lot of platforms where those who espouse their grievances converge. Domestic terrorism is bred on social platforms so who spreads as well as listens are equally to blame. "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue." It is thus nations have advanced with good seed and the tares intermingled. There shall be a day of judgment where the separation shall be strictly between the goats and the sheep. Many are called but few are chosen.
This being the case there are no sheep or goats preserved by geographical borders or by doctrine of men. Every man shall give account of himself.
Needless to say, Satan has deceived the man who believes in his country above others. He may call the migrants as 'vermin' because his color is not right, neither is his culture. He is wicked no less. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(Jas.2:10). When he invokes from a position of authority, as the pope of yore who invoked people of faith to crusade he is guilty. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:"(Matt.5:19)
" Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory," v.31 must be understood in its correct setting. Jesus in his humanity emptied himself of the glory so in all things he shall like men, -namely of the seed of Abraham. Matt.1:1 so begins as the son of Abraham; "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people"(He.2:17) Nevertheless the Holy Spirit enumerates generation of Jesus as following those of heavens. (Ge.2:4)
Here we shall examine the glory factor related to the Alpha Omega aspect of the Son. In his prayer to his Father he speaks of it. "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."( John 17:5). This glory is based on the word. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him./And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The cloud of witnesses were thus part of his glory. and sanctified by truth. So Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by truth: thy word is truth" (John17:10)
In his transfiguration on the mount the three disciples were present. Jesus wanted them to hold it a secret till he had completely perfected the will of his Father. From the above we see how man trivializes this glory by playing to the gallery and for the praise of men? In our Savior we are assured of life eternal. "that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Instead of truth how false teachers make Jesus with limited salvation. Such doctrine of man shall do much worse. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
God sending his only begotten Son to the world was not done in a casual manner. The writer to the Hebrew gives us with regards to the word. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"(He.1:1-2). When Jesus sent his two disciples to fetch his carriage he knew precisely where and when he should , and he said to them "And straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me". The anonymous owner of the beast was in the know of his itinerary. God framed the worlds by his word and faith is what opens all doors so unseen hinderances or alternate mode of travel do not arise. Jesus told his messengers what to expect. "And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." (v.3). Accordingly the two disciples set off to do his bidding. In short faith opens the doors whether at Bethphage or at Cana, "So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. In the Lord's Prayer we ask for daily bread 'for this day' and we connect our 'now' with what God made manifest in his Son before the worlds began.
This explains this passage,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." Prophet Isaiah is still relevant because faith is one bridging time elements into the present. So we need treat his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a stopover and we shall meet him in Jerusalem which is heavenly. Jesus would refuse to be king over a nation that made their temple a den of robbers and from the greatest to the least "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers,"(Is.1:4)
Thanks GiGi for that detailed & timely reminder of what our Christian attitudes ought to be & how they are then expressed to others; and this examination by each one of us has to be first addressed when the seeds within our hearts & minds begin to germinate. Unless the feelings that arise within are not arrested early enough, we may well have to regret our words or behavior.
But then the matter of 'what then is sin'? I think most would agree that it is much more than violating the Ten Commandments, even as our Lord pointed His hearers to their own hearts to correctly understand this subject. But when it comes down to those regrettable things that arise within us which are not specifically addressed in the Word, we may find license to overlook them & treat them as not sinful, merely aberrations arising from the flesh. So, it may boil down to, 'what is sinful to some, may not be to others' (at least, until all are truly led of the Spirit to recognize sin for what sin is, or to those particularly sensitive to any deviation from the holy, to re-examine their beliefs by the Spirit's Guidance). And I too, have had to re-read my comments here, not only for clearly conveying my thoughts, but also to see whether my words could be hurtful or misunderstood, words arising from a mind overly passionate about the subject. I guess that I have failed in this as well at times. Blessings.
"Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?/ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief."
Before we examine the second event we need see the role of faith in integrating the two worlds of the Spirit and of the body. The body is prepared for the Son to do his will. Psalmist David refers to it. When we abide in Christ who is the Word become flesh the spirit of Christ has given us insight into the truth. Jesus chose the twelve and gave them power to cast out demons. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was yet to come. So the spirit of Christ worked in their ministry. "My Father worketh hitherto and I work" explains at one level the Spirit of the Father works at tandem with the Son of man so the twelve disciples were his associates as well. The cloud of witnesses is associated with the Father, "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." (10:20). We are thus constituted with access to both worlds at the same time while we are in our vile bodies. Apostle John refers to it, "but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."(1 John2:23). Faith without works is dead. Without abiding in these two worlds faith does not produce fruits an example of which we see in the failure to cast out demons from the child. Jesus reduces them to the level of their generation since their faith did not work. How apt is our generation where the churches soft pedal on issues like faith and culture wars? "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?(17:17)
American Right and Christian nationalism are the tares choking the good seed. The former do not take the Spirit of the Father or the word of the Spirit. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
Vision is precisely what St Paul says, "We walk by faith and not by sight."(2 Co.5:7) It is borne out of knowledge,-St Paul calls it the glory of the same quality as of the spiritual body because it is from God,- who gives it a glory as with the see. So the seed ('whose sed is in itself-Ge.1:11) is part of the Abstract that shall never change. This glory is Person specific. "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. In short the vision that we speak here is to hold on to both worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one. St Paul gives us the context in v.1. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Israel took pride in the Law of Moses but they perished just the same, save Joshua and Caleb because they had no vision. It began much earlier when the turned to the golden calf soon after Moses went up the mount. Their lack of vision would trouble them when during the time of the kings there were two places for golden calf worship one at Dan and at Bethel. "An eye for an eye" as set in the law characterize them now so the nation stands guilty of genocide. So as fulfillment of the Law that Jesus taught us 'to turn the other cheek also. He also showed with his life. God gave as a commandment: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:"(Ge.1:28) His vision was clear and knew the reason God blessed 'then' on the sixth day from this prayer, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:11)
So the last enemy to be conquered is death and it comes under the curse and law of sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." When Jesus died on the cross this curse'Thou shalt bruise his heel' cast it shadow upon the Son who did no sin and knew no sin." (Ge.3:15,14) St Paul writes referring to it, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."(Gal.3:13)
Everlasting gospel is consequential in setting the cloud of witnesses similar as the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world into one fold. Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God ( John 1:29) delivered whoever was under the curse of death. By the same token he shall deliver the witnesses in the world of the Spirit "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." His work shall conclude only "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." That God may all in all is life everlasting to which we did no labor. So this saying holds true in the context of the world of the Spirit. "One soweth, and another reapeth./ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."( John 4:37-38)
Christ in us is our relationship that does not change in both worlds.
This verse is supposed to be a reference to prayers first being said. I never quite understood it that way but in any case nothing specific is said. It is noteworthy what is MISSING in the Antidiluvian era which is ANY reference to prayer at all; we don't even see anything stated for Noah a man of faith; perhaps this is why he silpped so easily into drunkenness after the event when he was tilling a vineyard.
IN the Believer's Portal (dot com) cite we find a list of 650 prayers in scripture. I would recommend that site to get a comprehensive overview of prayer in scripture. According to this cite Genesis 15 is the first prayer stated in scripture and involved Abraham's prayer for his offspring; with the next being Isaac's prayer for Ishmael; the third was Abraham's well known one involving God sparing 10 righteous if they existed in Sodom. This cite also gives the response; in the second prayer it wasn't according to God's will and hence wasn't answered.
Genesis 21 contains the first prayer of a woman (Hagar). This prayer expresses her concern for the immediate fate of her son; Ishmael born from Abraham's seed. She is given miraculous provision in the desert; then told of the future of her son in verse 12 to be a "wild donkey of a man". This sort of "sentiment" wasn't limited to her as others had less than favorable destinies in other familial "blessings".
These passages show that front and center was family posterity and generational blessings and cursings that were the result of prayers as well as frequent scripture themes of God's working with the early patriarchs. Since only a few families existed for God's righteous line it isn't unexpected these are prevalent subject matters of prayers at that time.
In the next post I will consider Abraham's prayer about Sodom and how he acted as intercessor.
Part 1
Even though there is a distinction between the children of God and the children of the world the scripture says to be kind to all men. Galatians 6:10.
However, we're not all Brothern.
John 1:11-12 says "He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the "sons of God, even to them that believe on his name"
Jesus also said in Matthew 12:50 "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Ephesians 2:19 states Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
So, there is a clear distinction in scripture between God's children and those who haven't received him.
1 John 3:9-10 covers this well, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
"Sons of God" emphasizes a natural, internal relationship with God rather than an external adoption. Becoming God's children involves a real change and transformation, not just a change in title or position. We partake in the divine nature.
All people are not naturally God's children. We must be born again through faith in Christ to become God's children.
This separates us from Adam.
We are now joint heirs with Christ. Romans 8:14-17 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
See part 2
First I must say that questions as such"why God kills or asks others to kill, despite "do not kill",are made by many atheists that were members of the SDA,but now turned demonic atheists.
They well know the letter of the Bible and now use it in their demonic posts to deny GOD and to contradict His Word.In fact they are killers,killers of souls.
They know that when GOD said to the people of Israel through Moses," do not kill", it had already passed around 2500 years(two days and half of GOD's work),and the commandment was exclusively for the people of GOD,Israel. It was given in the OT, not in the NT,very different of the OT. See, GOD was creating a new environment for His seed, descendants of Abraham, when He brought His people out of Egypt. GOD separated His people Israel from the midst of the Gentilic peoples, from the midst of the idolaters and murderers peoples, actually He divided waters from the waters- Genesis 1:6-10-and then appeared the dry land-Israel.
Now see,around 2500 years before GOD's commandment Cain had killed Abel.Who commanded Cain do it?It was not GOD,so who? It was the father of Cain,the Devil,a former Cherub,former ruler of Eden,also father of the current atheists and false Christianity and others adherents of devilish religions.
In the other hand,after GOD brought Israel from Egypt and placed the people in the Promised Land,there GOD established the Law and rules to discipline the people and free them from all the SATANIC influence they carried with them from the Gentile, specially from the Egyptians and their satanic idolatries.Desobedience, i.e. witchcraft,it would be punished in the Promised Land,even to the death penalty(Compare: Luke 12:4 and Deuteronomy 32:39.By the way,GOD IS GOD).
This battle started when the Cherub which GOD have placed as a ruler of Eden(now called SON OF PERDITION and MAN OF SIN,the Devil and Satan)planned to USURP GOD's creation and to create a specific world for he himself- Matthew 4:8-9.
GOD BLESs
Luke 17:26-27
As it was in days of Noah,so it will be in the days of the Son of man.They ate,drank,married,gave in marriage,until the day Noah entered the ark,the flood came and destroyed them all.So"This was the"modus vivendi" in Noahs'days.
We would say it was the same 'modus vivendi' of society in recent times,say around 1950-1985,it was similar to society in the days of Noah.It was common to eat and drink with development of large malls around the world at that time,it was common the celebration of weddings,existence of strong family ties,but as time went by,it began to deteriorate morally as in the time of Noah,when the sons of GOD mixed their seed with seed of the evil ones,giving rise to a corrupt and evil society- Genesis 6:2-3, due to the proliferation of adulterers and adulteresses.And the punishment came,yes,the flood came and only 8 people were saved by the Ark.
Comparing the society of Noah's days with a posterior society of Sodom and Gomorrah,at the time of Lot,let's see the differences,according Scriptures:
Luke 17:28-30 reveal:
28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day (in the current time) when the Son of man is revealed.
society of Noah's day..........................society of Sodom/Gomorrah
they ate and drank ..............................they ate and drank
they married and gave in marriage ....they bought and sold,they planted and built
Men of Sodom were wicked,immoral exceedingly,and sinners before the Lord- Genesis 13:13.There was no marriage,society was polluted of prostitutes,sodomites/ effeminate(gays),society was infested of prostitution and great sinners. The same occurs today. Lot was vexed with filthy conversations seeing and hearing their unlawful deeds- 2Peter 2:7-8 & Jude 1:6-7.
What we do, especially before being saved, is all forgiven & He won't hold against us. All we go through strengthens us as we grow wiser in His word & for His purpose to lead others to Christ. Believers are guided by His spirit to speak His truth. That's His will for all.!
So if He's calling you to do so please, don't be ashamed/worried what others will think or do. He is the one we are to fear. I regret one time He led me to talk to a lady & I shrugged it off. She passed away 3-4 days later. Now, when He leads me (especially w/my dreams) I follow through. Then I'm amazed by His work when 'said person' starts to change. Praise God.!
Yet at work, I always speak in a way they know I'm a believer. i.e., saying Lord willing, God forbid, Jesus help me or even tell them "I will pray for you" or even wearing my TCU hat while driving the company truck (I live in midst of Mormons).! They are all seeds, God sows in His time.! Plus, I don't get involved in idol gossip & won't lie. I think you definitely have a God given talent & are blessed. Thnx again
"And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."
I shall not detail what I have mentioned of this quote from Prophet Zechariah (13:7) while I coverd Matthew. The point is simple. Jesus as the Word become flesh obeyed his God completely so much so he knew the evil hour closing in on him, down to the exact minute. Jesus says further down in this chapter, "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."(14:49). Luke present us one curious aspect of time. "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."( Luke 22:53). The power of darkness also has been at work equally as the word that God commanded, "Let there be light." Why did Jesus Christ manifest? "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8). So both good seed and tares growing in the field is nothing to marvel at. While Moses was with God down below the golden calf being set up was no coincidence. The evil work had succeeded throwing off some from the fellowship of God with Man. Moses as a double for the Son went up even as Jesus' Ascension gives it as a kangaroo event. So what we find of the Church of Rome setting up their golden calf is no brainer. The ten spies who brought evil report and brought God to intervene (Nu..14) we have even now as Evangelical Right, lining up behind a captain as bizarre as the Pied Piper of Hamelin. "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."(14:4). New Canaan is impossible for the reprobate minds. The point we need see here is the word of God is given to us to profit withal. (1 Co.12:7)
I have often kidded around about having someone memorize the first 6 or 7 chapters of 1 Chronicles. Genealogies aren't to be obsessed over ( 1 Tim. 1:4); however they are vital in seeing the lineage of God's people. The beginning of Matthew; for instance gives us the lineage from Abraham to Joseph; and Luke from Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam. This of course goes back to Genesis 3:15 and the "seed of the woman" prophecy. These two lineages probably are enough to know in themselves from the whole Bible in regard to that subject. If we go deeper into meanings of names particularly in the first generations it appears there is a prophetic indication of Christ to come if we list the names and their meanings in order in Hebrew. There are no doubt patterns of equidistant letters that are unique in scripture pointing to certain events. Again; like genealogies; they are best not obsessed over; for we already know Christ is the living Word so we don't need hidden clues as to who He is. We can look to past events; and I have stated that Michael Drosnin's prediction of Rabin's assassination in 1996 may have been something the Lord allowed so others wouldn't meet the same fate. Since we are now still in the Church Age; we are not in the time of Revelation when prophets once again are on the earth in that role and there is a known 7 year template for all the judgments to occur. God has ultimate truths that must come to pass; but some things are conditional which only He knows that prayer and action now can possibly delay judgment; as we see with the example of Nineveh.
We can look to history and scientific facts as authenticated from the Bible; with more coming all the time. For the skeptic who God chooses to enlighten it may be a good witnessing tool; but we shouldn't make such methods are only talking points for apologetics. First we must see if someone is serious about wanting to hear the truths of the Word
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him."
The two worlds of the Spirit and of the body have only language which is faith. (He.11:3) When the Son said,A body hast prepared me it made the DNA between the world made to appear and the world unseen as the only proof of paternity. Thus the body of the Son is the visible image of the invisible God. ( Col 1:15) In the Parable of the Tares we have the good seed and the tares which can be known by their fruits. "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"(Matt.7:16)
So God is a Spirit sent his Son as the word become flesh.He did not ask the impossible when he went to the fig tree. The glory of the tree with seed in itself was determined according to the everlasting covenant, and the blessing of man in 'our likeness' connected as with the body God gave both. It was on the basis of faith and not by the will of the tares, source of which is by courtesy of the enemy who slipped in while the world slept. Caesars have come and gone, none of them has shown their glory endured. Had these men faith in God as the rewarder of the just?
In the hypothetical question the Sadducees put to Jesus vv.19-23 they were in error since the concept of marriage instituted by the tradition of their fathers was not founded on truth. "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?/For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven."(vv.24-25) In our times by false shepherds who dismiss works from their faith and espouse politicians as the Herodians, blame the victims for refusing to live with child molesters and perverts? Excommunicating Eileen and condoning the abuser if how the elders read the word of God. The tares shall continue but how long?
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this piece of information,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Cf. Matt.21:19. This has raised many eyebrows from the believers for the simple reason that there is an everlasting covenant which has nothing to do with natural laws; neither has it any relevance to the fall of man and the consequential fall out. When God commanded "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat," (Ge.1:29) was vis-a vis his Son. The blessing would have passed on to Adam if he had continued obeying his Will. The fig tree failed to know that the rightful heir. Secondly God gave each man and tree a body so the glory of both are answerable to Him. Here also the fig tree failed.
The Gospel of St Mark is especial for the reason that the life of Jesus is set as the validation of the Messianic prophecies, for instance the divine Will,"Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies,"(Ps.110:1-3). Accordingly God has prepared everything to augur success in his ministry which is to be accomplished both in his humanity but also in heaven. Consequently his entry into Jerusalem is designated as a triumphal entry. At the heart of his ministry is the eternal word. So the evangelist piles up several instances underpinning the assertion of Jesus," Before Abraham was, I am." . We shall study this chapter from this angle.
"And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him." Jesus sent two disciples to Bethphage and the colt was to be found 'in a place where two ways met,' This resonates in his affirmation "I am the way". The colt has never been tried on and it has been reserved for the master's service. The mention of the door evokes the saying of the Good Shepherd. "I am the door."( John 10:7,9)
St Mark informs us in.v.11 that he went to the temple first time and saw for himself and second visit was to cleanse the temple itself. (vv.15-17) This runs parallel with his own advent and he shall slay the wicked when he appears second time. ("and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked."-Is.11:3-4;Re.19:15) Only Mark gives two visits to the temple foreshadowing two Advents where the second is as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In vv.13-14 we have Jesus cursing the fig tree. Only Mark gives this,"and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet." Is it out of sync with rest of the narrative?
God made his Son in charge "And every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Ge.1:28)
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
Israel, as 'Dry Bones'- Ezekiel 37-Now,Dry land, but before was the clay( Isaiah 64:8), exactly when the Most High make a separation between water and water- Genesis 1:9-, that is, when the Most High separated the Hebrews from the Egypcians through Moses, and He created a celestial environment and called it of expanse, called heaven (that is the Dispensation of the Old Testament used in the Promised Land), then the Most High, the Lord, the I AM, separated the water (the Egypcians) that was BELOW of the expanse He created(an heavenly environment), and the water that that was ABOVE the expanse (the people of Israel- GOD's people), and it was evening, and it was morning, the second GOD's Day.
Genesis 1:10-19
10And God called the dry land Earth(israel);and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas(Gentile peoples/nations): and God saw that it was good.
11And God said,Let the earth(Israel)bring forth grass,the herb yielding seed,and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind,whose seed is in itself,upon the earth:and it was so.
12And the earth brought forth grass,and herb yielding seed after his kind,and the tree yielding fruit,whose seed was in itself, after his kind:and God saw that it was good.
13And the evening and the morning were the third day.
14And God said,Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day(light)from the night(darkness);and let them be for signs,and for seasons,and for days,and years:
15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven(expanse)to give light upon the earth:and it was so.
16And God MADE two great lights;the Greater Light-JESUS-to rule the day,and the Lesser light to rule the night:he made the stars also.
17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18And to rule over the day and over the night,and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.
" Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
Parable of the Sower illustrates how the word sown in the heart of man fails to produce what is intended. God formed all hearts alike but the enemy slipping in tares speak of a heart that is let untended. It is a no man's land or the wayside where birds of the air can make away with the good seed. The heart is like a sluggard's field for many and with such what is truth? It is all things to all occasions. God commanded the man not to eat of the fruit of tree of knowledge of good and evil. But Eve let the serpent an occasion to hear his take on the matter. is truth to be treated for anyone to counsel how? Eve let the context determine her course of action. Her senses took over bypassing what was inscribed in her hearts. Ever since what has knowledge of good and evil given her? God cursed the ground, "for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;/ Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee;"(Ge.3:17-18)
Spiritual meaning of thorns and thistles we may glean from the Parable of the Sower. For instance the oncologists warns us of a troubling trend that Early onset cancer, which is defined as happening in adults under 50 years of age, is no anomaly. In fact, it is part of a rising global trend in which newly diagnosed cancer patients are getting younger. Further, it deflates the myth that cancer is the preserve of older people. Cumulative effect of sin treated so lightly for instance glossing over the works embedded in faith so fruits of the Spirit is produced by abiding life in Christ. How can those actively engaged in culture wars, and churches that ride the coattails of politicians come to the light lest their works of darkness be reproved by Christ? Instead the imposter religion has traditions of their elders. Sin never remains single but every evil work are carried on without let up
Mark in his gospel presents the Son in control so the earth obeyed the Will of his Father, By presenting the doctrine in the form of parables where the earth admits no other shortcuts but must follow just as faith of man would require steps in obedience."As if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how./For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."(4:26-29). Between sowing and harvest nothing else would hinder the reapers. So the earth admits no other sovereign authority than of his Father. So when he stilled the storm and calmed the sea so "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Faith held both world's together. (4:39-41)
5:8 When Jesus cast out he did on the authority of the Spirit of his Father, " Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit." In healing the man it was manifest that the unclean spirit did not belong to the kingdom but was an usurper.
Why? For the simple reason that the spirit took over the man so his soul of man did not reveal the truth.. It lay under the shadow of the devil. Recently a pig's kidney replaced the damaged kidney of a man. The soul of man is still under the grace of his Father so his faith shall serve his Will. His creation still declares His glory because the man is created in 'our image and in our likeness.'
"It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth."(v.31). Mark is referring to the same as intended in the Gospel of Matthew.However emphases differ. 'The little one' in Matthew is compared to a grain. It is less than all the seeds in the earth. However it is not the same when Matthew says it was "which a man took, and sowed in his field.". He refers to their position as it is set in heaven. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."(Matt.18:10). Matthew is serving the parable in terms of Jesus Christ on Alpha and Omega mode. The field is the world.(Matt.13:38)
Mark sets the parable in terms of heaven and the earth so the grain of mustard despite of its physical 'littleness" is empowered by the Spirit of God.
"t groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."(v.32) Compare the tree in the king's dream, "the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof" (Dan.4:12). The shadow as the Spirit has indicated in several places signify the authority of God. For instance people brought their sick," Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15) Mark is consistent in setting the Power of God casting its shadow so that the fowls of the air may under the shadow of it. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." (4:26-27)
Luke is closer to the parable in which it is cast into his garden.( Luke 13:19)
For significance of the fowls of the heaven, Re.19:17-18)
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
Jesus formally chose the twelve "And they went into an house." Here we a curious passage,"And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread./And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself."(vv.20-21).
Fame of the new prophet we read earlier in the Gospel of Mark was no different than of John the Baptist. "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."(1:28) Jesus having seen the masses who were as sheep without a shepherd.(Matt.9:36) began to preach of the gospel while his cousin before him aroused much speculation and curiosity. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan." to hear his message.(Matt.3:5) " And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?"( John 1:19). His testimony was received and they saw him as well. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Here we have an unvarnished look at fame or celebrity status. The ear hears so much as eye sees so often yet Jesus was an unknown quantity to his friends. "He is possessed!" summed up their report. The Spirit gives us the instance of his mother, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."( Luke 2:19).
Hearing without faith is a dumb thing to do and it is how Jesus became so many things to so many. She heard with her ear of faith and digested over it. What many have witnessed or heard are good seed sown into the heard but it poves to be no man's land."When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side."(Matt.13:19). Is it strange to hear that some believers do not believe in trinity?
"And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Sabbath day was designated as entering into the rest of God who testified, "This is my beloved Son". As a father takes delight in watching his infant takes control of his movements he doted on the Son. Jesus testified, "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."( John 8:29). This rest is two -way street as God testified with a voice from heaven, the Son of man glorified his Father. The rest comes from the two worlds of the Spirit and of the flesh, as two beams of light on a single standard of obedience: of the body to God, a Spirit. This true worship kept both worlds in focus, and sharp. It is thus Satan, he may quote as many words from the Scripture but was to no avail. Jesus well knew his Father having heard from his bosom and he was not fooled..
As the Word become flesh he did everything that is pleasing in his sight.
Sabbath signified faith and as logical conclusion of one who was blessed by the Father in his Son (that was stipulated in day Six) would want to enter directly therein. Pharisees stalking every step of Jesus to accuse him breaking the Sabbath reveal that they were of bad seed. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it./ And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not."( John 8:44-45)
Sabbath is for those who has the seed in itself, "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."(Ge.1:12) Day Three is also a command number for the Son. He is the tree of life, fruit of which for man to eat freely. Fall of man began in preferring the tree commended by the serpent.
Part 2 Trinity discussion
Did Jesus exist before creation? Did the Holy Spirit exist before creation?
Jesus existed in God's plan, Jesus is the beginning of creation Rev. 3:14 and by Him were all things created Col. 1:16 my understanding is Jesus, was the first in God's plan of creation and everything was created by God, in and through the plan and purpose of Jesus. My understanding Jesus did not physically exist until the fullness of time. Ephesians 1:10 He was born of Mary the Son of God. the seed of woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20
My understanding is the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, not a person, Genesis 1:2. We see all the greetings are from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7 1 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 1:2 Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 1:2 Ephesians 6:23 Philippians 1:2 Colossians 1:2 and 6 more. The Holy Spirit not being included is a good clue the Holy Spirit was not considered a person by Paul and others at that time.
If so, who were they in relation to the Father?
I believe the above answers this.
How did the Father, the Son, and the Spirit all create all that is, seen or unseen?
My understanding is God the Father created all, Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:31 Proverbs 16:4 Isaiah 45:18 Nehemiah 9:6.
Does Scripture teach that God is only one person who manifests in three forms, but all these manifestations are only one person?
Scripture does not support Modalism I have never considered this and do not know anything about it.
See part 3.
1:1 The first line encapsulates the generation of Jesus Christ which delineates the Alpha and Omega mode of the holiness of God. As provided for man his blessings surely are let in his Son. So he is the son of Abraham whom God blessed. (Ge.12:3). He is also the son of David whom God blessed by equal measure,"and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever."(2 Sa.7:12). These blessings did not begin with Abraham but from the everlasting covenant. It is set down as the driver so both Gentiles and Israel are to be allowed in the Fellowship of God with Man.(Ge.1:28) This universality of the Word become flesh we see in the arrival of the Magi and his attitude towards the Gentile centurion. (8:10) He was looking for faith in the world before whom he appeared as the Apostle.
The Sermon on the Mount presents him state the holiness of His Father as perfect. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(5:48) He shall prove with his life that it was doable. Blessings presented in this discourse carry for those who refused it. In Ch.23 his discourse 'Woe to ye' was condemnation to the nation that shortchanged Mercies of his Father for the traditions of their fathers. "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers./Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"(23:30-31) The parables are a literary devise that the Spirit uses with telling effect to separate the chaff from the good seed. "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."(21:45)
Fulfillment of the Scriptures is a notable feature of the Gospel so Alpha and Omega aspects of the kingdom of heaven keep the Son of man in the crosshairs from beginning till the end. Jesus began his ministry where the quote from isaiah served as a cue. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(4:14-17)
"He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered." Joseph would have no need to seek permission to be buried in his own tomb. He walked an extra mile to revere the body of of his master. He was a believer with firm conviction. His action was similar to Mary who anointed the body of Jesus in preparation for burial.
The Spirit has in so many ways and in several instances what anyone did good because the word bore fruit in them. 'This seed in itself' (Ge.1:11) in the process brings the glory that Moses sought to the pit from which all saints in light owe, to use a mathematical term, their locus for their everlasting life.
"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek theLord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged."(Is.51:1). Isaiah refers the natural man, who is earthy to have been dug up from a hole; on the hand whoever is created new in his Son is said to be hewn from the rock.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground:(Ge.1:7) Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. So their locus is entirely different. Dust to dust and ashes to ashes is their testament. For those who are buried with Jesus in faith and abides with him the pit carries yet another inscription on their headstone:"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."( Job 19:26).
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
The superscription is the Latin phrase for the Savior of the World and while we study the last supper let us keep this aspect of the Son in our mind. Each gospel has something to tell us about the significance of it.
"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;/ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."(26:27-28) Luke also treats the same. He does it after he blesses the cup. which is by offering it to his Father. "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves." Divide it among yourselves is similar to the act of the Sower in the Parable. "Behold, a sower went forth to sow;" The field is the world where the heart is not alike. In vv.4-6 we read how the seed come to nought or produced very little. the fault lay entirely with the heart of man. "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."( 1 John 1:7-9). Blood of Jesus is not at fault but the heart of man is. Out of it comes heresies since it is not entirely good. Like the proverbial curates egg it is half half. So some of the time man runs with his brethren and claims."I have seen the light Hallelujiah" and at other time he is chasing with politicians to do their bidding. Limited salvation as some sects claim is a case in point. If they stumble at this what else is there for them? "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(Jas.2:10)
Notice it is "after supper" that he said " Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." As with the bread they have had partaken the bread during the Last supper "this do in remembrance of me."( Luke 22:19-20). If one makes 'this cup' to mean his blood, what are we to assume? Man's reason is at fault.
"For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."
Faith with works in the case of Jesus was perfect."And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." Col.1 19-20) "Reconciling all things unto himself" is explained in the episode in the house of Bethany. In him is the fulness so the king in the Parable rewarded " Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."(25:40)
"Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker." Pr.17:5. In our times so much anger and ill-will that has spawned a whole lot of platforms where those who espouse their grievances converge. Domestic terrorism is bred on social platforms so who spreads as well as listens are equally to blame. "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue." It is thus nations have advanced with good seed and the tares intermingled. There shall be a day of judgment where the separation shall be strictly between the goats and the sheep. Many are called but few are chosen.
This being the case there are no sheep or goats preserved by geographical borders or by doctrine of men. Every man shall give account of himself.
Needless to say, Satan has deceived the man who believes in his country above others. He may call the migrants as 'vermin' because his color is not right, neither is his culture. He is wicked no less. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."(Jas.2:10). When he invokes from a position of authority, as the pope of yore who invoked people of faith to crusade he is guilty. "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven:"(Matt.5:19)
" Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory," v.31 must be understood in its correct setting. Jesus in his humanity emptied himself of the glory so in all things he shall like men, -namely of the seed of Abraham. Matt.1:1 so begins as the son of Abraham; "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people"(He.2:17) Nevertheless the Holy Spirit enumerates generation of Jesus as following those of heavens. (Ge.2:4)
Here we shall examine the glory factor related to the Alpha Omega aspect of the Son. In his prayer to his Father he speaks of it. "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."( John 17:5). This glory is based on the word. "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him./And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The cloud of witnesses were thus part of his glory. and sanctified by truth. So Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by truth: thy word is truth" (John17:10)
In his transfiguration on the mount the three disciples were present. Jesus wanted them to hold it a secret till he had completely perfected the will of his Father. From the above we see how man trivializes this glory by playing to the gallery and for the praise of men? In our Savior we are assured of life eternal. "that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Instead of truth how false teachers make Jesus with limited salvation. Such doctrine of man shall do much worse. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
God sending his only begotten Son to the world was not done in a casual manner. The writer to the Hebrew gives us with regards to the word. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"(He.1:1-2). When Jesus sent his two disciples to fetch his carriage he knew precisely where and when he should , and he said to them "And straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me". The anonymous owner of the beast was in the know of his itinerary. God framed the worlds by his word and faith is what opens all doors so unseen hinderances or alternate mode of travel do not arise. Jesus told his messengers what to expect. "And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them." (v.3). Accordingly the two disciples set off to do his bidding. In short faith opens the doors whether at Bethphage or at Cana, "So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. In the Lord's Prayer we ask for daily bread 'for this day' and we connect our 'now' with what God made manifest in his Son before the worlds began.
This explains this passage,"All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." Prophet Isaiah is still relevant because faith is one bridging time elements into the present. So we need treat his triumphal entry into Jerusalem as a stopover and we shall meet him in Jerusalem which is heavenly. Jesus would refuse to be king over a nation that made their temple a den of robbers and from the greatest to the least "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers,"(Is.1:4)
But then the matter of 'what then is sin'? I think most would agree that it is much more than violating the Ten Commandments, even as our Lord pointed His hearers to their own hearts to correctly understand this subject. But when it comes down to those regrettable things that arise within us which are not specifically addressed in the Word, we may find license to overlook them & treat them as not sinful, merely aberrations arising from the flesh. So, it may boil down to, 'what is sinful to some, may not be to others' (at least, until all are truly led of the Spirit to recognize sin for what sin is, or to those particularly sensitive to any deviation from the holy, to re-examine their beliefs by the Spirit's Guidance). And I too, have had to re-read my comments here, not only for clearly conveying my thoughts, but also to see whether my words could be hurtful or misunderstood, words arising from a mind overly passionate about the subject. I guess that I have failed in this as well at times. Blessings.
"Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?/ And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief."
Before we examine the second event we need see the role of faith in integrating the two worlds of the Spirit and of the body. The body is prepared for the Son to do his will. Psalmist David refers to it. When we abide in Christ who is the Word become flesh the spirit of Christ has given us insight into the truth. Jesus chose the twelve and gave them power to cast out demons. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was yet to come. So the spirit of Christ worked in their ministry. "My Father worketh hitherto and I work" explains at one level the Spirit of the Father works at tandem with the Son of man so the twelve disciples were his associates as well. The cloud of witnesses is associated with the Father, "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." (10:20). We are thus constituted with access to both worlds at the same time while we are in our vile bodies. Apostle John refers to it, "but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."(1 John2:23). Faith without works is dead. Without abiding in these two worlds faith does not produce fruits an example of which we see in the failure to cast out demons from the child. Jesus reduces them to the level of their generation since their faith did not work. How apt is our generation where the churches soft pedal on issues like faith and culture wars? "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?(17:17)
American Right and Christian nationalism are the tares choking the good seed. The former do not take the Spirit of the Father or the word of the Spirit. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
Vision is precisely what St Paul says, "We walk by faith and not by sight."(2 Co.5:7) It is borne out of knowledge,-St Paul calls it the glory of the same quality as of the spiritual body because it is from God,- who gives it a glory as with the see. So the seed ('whose sed is in itself-Ge.1:11) is part of the Abstract that shall never change. This glory is Person specific. "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. In short the vision that we speak here is to hold on to both worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one. St Paul gives us the context in v.1. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Israel took pride in the Law of Moses but they perished just the same, save Joshua and Caleb because they had no vision. It began much earlier when the turned to the golden calf soon after Moses went up the mount. Their lack of vision would trouble them when during the time of the kings there were two places for golden calf worship one at Dan and at Bethel. "An eye for an eye" as set in the law characterize them now so the nation stands guilty of genocide. So as fulfillment of the Law that Jesus taught us 'to turn the other cheek also. He also showed with his life. God gave as a commandment: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:"(Ge.1:28) His vision was clear and knew the reason God blessed 'then' on the sixth day from this prayer, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." ( John 17:11)
So the last enemy to be conquered is death and it comes under the curse and law of sin. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." When Jesus died on the cross this curse'Thou shalt bruise his heel' cast it shadow upon the Son who did no sin and knew no sin." (Ge.3:15,14) St Paul writes referring to it, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."(Gal.3:13)
Everlasting gospel is consequential in setting the cloud of witnesses similar as the emblem of the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world into one fold. Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God ( John 1:29) delivered whoever was under the curse of death. By the same token he shall deliver the witnesses in the world of the Spirit "and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." His work shall conclude only "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." That God may all in all is life everlasting to which we did no labor. So this saying holds true in the context of the world of the Spirit. "One soweth, and another reapeth./ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors."( John 4:37-38)
Christ in us is our relationship that does not change in both worlds.
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