"SOUL" in Bible Discussions

 
  • Bennymkje - 1 day ago
    Mark 7:1-9 Doctrinal war"

    God framed the worlds by the word of God. So the Word lays down the constitution of His kingdom where both unseen and what was made to appear are complete in his Son Jesus Christ. (He.11:3; Col.1:19). Of him we received grace for grace which empowers us to not only believe in him and enjoy the liberty of producing the fruits of the Spirit. Besides the blessings of his Father in him also has given us the peace which is not as the world can give so death signifies only dissolution of our vile bodies. Everlasting life that comes with faith shall continue.

    Mark narrates how the Pharisees and the scribes coming from Jerusalem were offended at the disciples of Jesus. "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?"(v.5). How did the tradition of the elder become the Law without God permitting doctrine of men supersede his word? Recent news illustrates the same dilemma. Is Constitution of a nation and their Bill of Rights are to be given same sanctity and worshiped? Jesus did drive out those who made it a business, "And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."(Matt.21:13). There is a place where state's business are transacted and when we pray it has to be done with all our heart our soul and might. This is how tradition of the elders where money is to be made becomes a doctrine. Where does it come from? Not from unwashed hands but from the heart of man. " For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,/Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:/All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."(vv.21-23)

    What goes into the mouth shall find their own passage while what comes out of heart can be very deceptive. So love of God is either whole hearted for his glory or none at all.
  • Richard H Priday - 2 days ago
    Why do men hate God?

    When attempting to bring attention to man's deplorable state of heart Wh( Jeremiah 17:9) I have found in my own self examination that it is best to evaluate all that we consider what Phillipians 4:8 states and then look at our own heart and soul carefully.

    When we seek all that men may say is kind; benevolent; compassionate; etc. and try to find pleasure in life apart from God of course we look to other religions and usually end up in a humanistic mentality. We ascribe to others as well who seem to portray such attributes as somehow "enlightened". I can only speak for myself as a man here; but how much of the flesh is appealed to in today's "Christian" music industry? If someone is young; thin and attractive does it move us as much as someone who is a bit overweight and unattractive who performs on stage? Do we favor those in our own social circles or families above others? What are our motives when we serve others?

    Such logic of course often results in men not appreciating what God does provide such as a wife mentioned in Proverbs 18:22.

    To find the "grass greener on the other side of the field" people think it worthwhile to get a new model and get rid of the spouse that they have been granted by covenant; something Malachi 2:15 says we should not do (also see Proverbs 15:18-20). Interestingly Proverbs 15:8 just before that talks about the sacrifice of the wicked being detestable as contrasted to prayers of the righteous.

    Of course many hate God outright; at least being honest about their intentions; accusing God often of being a "killjoy" and sometimes being an admitted Satanist "do as thou wilt" mentality. Of course we have to look at men's obvious evil acts; so we have laws God has set forth to keep order. With all the self professed benefits of "freedom" we see the end result in the fruits of violence and discord in society that many possess or develop as the cultish mentality comes out. Mark 7:21 is the end result.
  • Bennymkje - 5 days ago
    Mark 5:12-20 "Go home"

    "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (v.19)

    Jesus cast out the unclean spirits from the man, who now in his sober mind wanted to follow Jesus. He was not the only one who wanted do it. "Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?"( John 13:37). Jesus showed him the way to follow him and immediately what Jesus wanted of him was a life of witnessing.. After a life of harrowing what he needed most was rest to his soul. "Take my yoke and learn of me', the hardest part is for the Son to take care.(Matt.11:28-29) Jesus, ever true image of his Father, shows mercy.

    In contrast we have the owners of the swineherds cowering before Jesus. They heard the testimony of the finger of God' and the man ever normal and they could not be but be afraid."And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid."(v.15) The loss of other man's riches did not heal them. The unclean spirit still worked with them and they would rather see the back of Jesus than risk loss of other means of revenue.

    In v.13 we have the number of swines ("they were about two thousand") and were choked in the sea, which is a tag placed by the Spirit. Compare with this verse," And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them." It is cue that God had prepared the four angels for the end times. multiples of 2000 refer to the Alpha and Omega expressed in terms of day of salvation and regeneration- signifying endtimes- white throne judgment.

    John saw them as well as heard the number. To be sure those who rejected Jesus for loss of their wealth shall have them as witnesses. If in the court of law hush money could be cited as proof shall these citizens of Gederanes escape rejecting the prince of life for some swine?
  • Bennymkje - 5 days ago
    Mark 5:1-20 "My country" (2 of 2)

    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.'
  • Momsage - 6 days ago
    Psalms 66: 16-20:

    16) Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 17) I Cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 18) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 19) But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20) Blessed be God, with hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

    I always kind of wondered exactly how, I as a human, could "bless" God so I looked up the meaning of the original word at Bible Hub, the word is "barak" (baw-rak) which means kneel.



    Psalms 68: 3-5:

    3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4) Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. 5) A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

    JAH: abbreviation of Yhovah which is the sacred name of God.
  • Richard H Priday - 1 week ago
    More on the Tribulation

    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ( John 8:35).

    When we consider the state of the human soul as well as the angelic realm we realize that access to the heavenly abode is only for those who kept their first estate; as opposed to those mentioned in Jude 6 who fell away after Lucifer's deception. Such is the case as well for men; unregenerate men are truly slaves to sin ( Romans 6:20). We find that our freedom indeed puts us into bondage while being a servant of Christ brings victory.

    It is tempting to include some verses from secular songs which at least admit to the dazzling display that Satan appearing as an angel of light uses to delude the masses. ( 2 Cor. 11:14). Since he can no longer magnify God's name; Satan and his minions can only appeal to the nature of man; as he did when influencing Peter to speak as he did about Christ ( Matthew 16:23). Men's thoughts are on self preservation; not sacrificial love. We want to keep close those who are closest to us; which isn't necessarily wrong in itself but is if God is subservient; thus we hate our lives and keep it ( John 12:25). Hence is the paradox of living in Christ and it will come to it's fullest realization during the fires of the Tribulation. It is hard to comprehend just how powerful the delusion will be mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:11. GOD sends the strong delusion! As stated previously; the trumpet judgments still won't deter the world of it's sins; and in Revelation 9:14-21 after the 200,000,000 demon horde kill one third of all of the earth people STILL won't stop their abominable acts. Keep in mind this is well after the sixth SEAL where people at that time are still hiding in caves and fully aware of God and Christ on their thrones beginning judgment ( Rev. 6:16-17).

    This of course will lead to the delusion mentioned in Psalm 2 and Revelation 19 where men come together at Armageddon and eventually try to fight God.
  • GiGi - 1 week ago
    GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

    Part 3.

    When I consider that the righteousness of Jesus is the righteousness of God lived out in the incarnation of His Son, then I am awed by how great must be the pure and holy way Jesus lived on this earth in His lifetime here. He must have stood out among all other people because NO ONE could lay any charge against Him of wrongdoing or ill-will or disobedience to God or offense against any man. he was completely and divinely pure and holy, without any taint of sin, no corruption of soul, no part of his human nature in rebellion against His Father or divine nature. In Him was perfect harmony of God and man without any conflict or dissonance. He as altogether righteous and because He was God in the flesh, His righteousness was infinitely immense enough to cover the sins of every person who every lived or will live.

    We can know that all of our own sin can be covered by His righteousness and that His perfect sacrifice was infinitely sufficient to save my from my sins, death, hell, and the devil. His righteousness provides me with justification before God and awards me salvation and eternal life with him and the Father and the Holy Spirit forever. What a priceless treasure and gift God has given us. he gave us Himself. Hallelujah!
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Hi Bennymkje,

    Just me, seems there are fewer discussions lately on this site and Momsage's post suggested discussion. My understanding of discussions is brothers and sisters sharing their understanding of a subject not to belittle or to prove one as being wrong, but by sharing our understanding of a subject that will encourage each other to study in prayer for the truth.

    What is faith? We see in Hebrews 11:1,6 We also have Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    We are to have faith but our faith cannot be based on the word of man where we can be deceived and taken out of the way. Our faith must come from the word of God guided by His Spirit and His word is the Holy Scripture, He has given us.

    This one subject is based on the word of man, nowhere in Scripture does it tell us we must believe or have faith in a triune God, but the opposite, Deuteronomy 6:4 Mark 12:29 1 Timothy 2:5, and many more. "God made us a living soul" Soul is the Hebrew word nephesh, a living being, any living being, every air-breathing creature is a nephesh, a living being/soul.

    Genesis 1:26 many apply the Trinity to this verse but then we must ignore verse 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. This could also easily be first-person plural, like mom says, let us make tacos and then she is the one who makes the tacos. If we lived before 489 AD, before the Trinity doctrine was made the foundational belief of Christianity, and the punishment of heresy, how would we take this verse?

    If we walk in the world we will perish, if we walk in the Spirit our faith is in Jesus and our hope is as Jesus was resurrected in His glorified body so we shall also be resurrected in our glorified body into eternal life with Him.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • MotherMac - 1 week ago
    Reply to KJV on Isaiah 53:5

    Thank you for taking time to help me understand Isaiah 53:5.

    Healing puts back in place something that is out of order. Healing fixes things. Jesus' purpose in the land of the living was to make us whole.

    It seems that Jesus reassured people that came to him for healing that their sins would not hinder their healing if they believed. Isaiah 53:5 is referring to both body and soul. In one scripture , the devils knew the prophesy of Isaiah concerning him. Jesus not only heals the "sin-sick soul, (transgression, iniquities) but the mind, BODY and soul. (COVID, Cancer, AIDS, Heart

    Trouble, High blood pressure, diabetes) I noticed that in many conversation with the sick, Jesus mentions "sin." He was connecting sickness and sin.

    St. James also mentioned Elders of the Church in relations to prayers for healing "sickness. and "sin."

    The words " the chastisement of our peace, (our anxieties)

    was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Jesus stripes" are talking about healing every part of us that need fixing.
  • Bennymkje - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Hi Ronald

    Neither the Spirit has told us how to breathe but we do it naturally through our nostrils. When God breathed through the nostrils of man we understand God a Spirit made us a living soul. The soul establishes His authority.There is more to life than existing.

    We have body spirit and soul which corresponds with the 'us' in God's commandment "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."(Ge.1:26) Likeness gives a body, spirit and soul which is after the similitude existing in heaven.

    "A body hast thou prepared me"(He.10:5) a glorious body for the Son consequently must hold true for us, is it not? It is to this spiritual body St Paul refers,"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."(2 Co.5:1) Glory of body is as what God gives. Adam was earthy, since from the ground he was formed. For those have born again as a new creation, the body is glorious as that of Christ who is the Lord of heaven. Thus glory of body differs as those of earth and of heaven differs.

    We breathe merely as natural man. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. So as new creation we breathe as indwelling Spirit equipped us, seeking the perfect will of God. It is a matter of faith. Either you breathe so your soul shall escape condemnation when called to account Or you breathe till you body hit the dust, awaiting judgment.
  • Richard H Priday - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Agape still comes from the Spirit; if I understand correctly it is equivalent to the fellowship or communion of the saints hence a commandment to love one another. It is part of His body; with Christ the head being the source of all things and the head of that body. I appreciate your expertise in Greek.

    My point is as you can tell that all other loves in themselves have no inherent good in them without the Lord in control of us. It is like anything else in the sense that there is nothing bad in itself provided that God's laws are followed with a covenant marriage for instance in expressing the deepest human love. Even in that context; however when we allow any human passions to be in charge of our souls our sin nature utilizes these innate desires to steer us in the wrong way. The issue; of course is that there is no eternally lasting love that is in the human soul that can live outside of the life of Christ in us; and in 1 John 2:17 we see evidence of that truth. Doing the will of God is of course impossible ultimately in our human understanding. The world system for instance steers people toward a mindset that any punishment is too harsh and is judging someone and taking away their inherent value. Thus the innocent aren't vindicated and the guilty forced to deal up front with their issues and allow God's chastisement to take effect; which according to scripture can even lead believers to an early demise in taking communion unworthily; for instance. We can also look to the thief on the cross; his salvation came when dying for what he justly deserved which he himself stated to the other thief mocking Christ. Overprotectiveness for kids also is related at least in this country where kids who are spoiled and underworked find all kinds of trouble (drugs; sex; theft) rather than being in a household where there is a value of respect for parents; a work ethic; etc. Agape love presents the truth so one can be saved not make people content in sin.
  • Bennymkje - 1 week ago
    Matt.27 Ungodly world

    We have in this chapter a few dilemmas created by wicked men.

    1.Dilemma of 'other man's riches'

    v.5 " And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." Judas realized all too late his actions were irrevocable. Thirty pieces of silver did not help him to clear his name or conscience. Money was other man's riches so the chief priests hired him to do a job would not want to touch it; the enormity of guilt over betrayal of an innocent man's blood, no money could handle. Satan is the designated 'other man' since value of thirty pieces of silver has also changed. Who shall price an abstract thing as conscience? Chief priests whose piety was in observing traditions of their fathers set a price accordingly as 'unclean'. "And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood." Instead bought the land thereby fulfilling the scriptures. "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet."

    2 Dilemma of duty imposed by ungodly man.

    Pontius Pilate despite of honor and authority was a pawn or a loser. " For he knew that for envy they had delivered him." He was a clever and worldly wise to have risen the ranks of a brutal regime, where dog eats dog principle prevailed. Envy killed you as well as slip of the tongue cast you down at any moment. He saw through the hypocrisy of the religion. He believed that Jesus was innocent. All he could do was wash his hands. "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it."(v.24). If life was as simple as that but Judas realized it was not. He as well as Pilate were accountable to a Just God who could cast their soul to death and hell. Man in honor abides not.(Ps.49:20)
  • Bennymkje - 2 weeks ago
    Matt.26:38-39 "A little further" (1 of 2)

    Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me..And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed."

    The Spirit gives us an insight into the manner he has arranged the prosaic aspects of the Son of man with the Son who is the Word become flesh. As with *'the upper room' this space separating his inner circle with the rest of disciples is marked by this phrase 'a little further'.

    The Last supper was arranged beforehand. How the Spirit works is similar to how he works with those born of the Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."( John 3:8) In keeping with this principle the tribute money shall be found for Jesus and Peter when required as the ass with her colt. In the case of this room similarly it only needed to be claimed. St Luke informs us thus "And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready." ( Luke 22:12)

    Now Jesus takes the three apart from the rest. He puts to practice the doctrine of his Father. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."(18:20). Peter and the two sons of Zebedee owing to their weakness in flesh may have slept through but the Spirit records his payer just the same. Thrice he prayed the same words. "vv.39-44) Jesus intercedes for them.

    *The upper room serves as the world of the Spirit apart from the everyday world. Elijah raised the widows son and it makes the point clear. "And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed." He stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried. In the end "And the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.(1 Ki.17:19-23)
  • Bennymkje - 2 weeks ago
    Matt.26:36-45 "flesh v.spirit" (2 of 2)

    Heart of a man who neglects his heart can be a treacherous place. He is a sluggard and void of understanding who quenches the Holy Spirit freely given from above. Instead of a well watered garden,"And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down."(Pr.24:31)

    Jesus in his passion told his disciples to watch with him. "And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy./ Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."(26:36-39). We see the same conflict of the flesh with the spirit. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." The pain principle makes the flesh cry out,"Spare me from this pain" but the Spirit of Christ ever watchful to the Word and its fulfillment would want to submit. It was a crisis to which the disciples were not not well tuned to. In lab tests if an electrode is introduced an amoeba want to avoid pain. Flesh and spirit of man similarly seeks pleasure and takes the line of least resistance. It is thus the way to hell is paved.

    "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:/Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."(7:13-14)
  • Bennymkje - 2 weeks ago
    Matt.26:36-45 "Flesh v. spirit" (1 of 2)

    "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The spirit that Jesus speaks here is of the spirit of man which St Paul finds as an essential tool, and he asks,"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."(1 Co.2:11) St Peter's flash of brilliance by fits and starts brought Jesus to commend him on one occasion, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God./And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."(16:16-17). When God breathed into the nostrils of man he made him a living soul and thereby he opened a way for the Spirit to work with Him. The Spirit of Christ for instance moved holy men of old to seek the path of righteousness. Jesus refers to it as 'dry places' so when an unclean spirit prompted Peter to speak a little later on it raised his master's ire. "Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee./But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."(16:22-23). Peter was capable of savouring things that be of man' equally as that of God. Jesus spoke a Parable, let me quote, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places,"(12:43-45) is where the prince of the power of the air can move about. But the heart of a child of God is qualified as Isaiah says,"And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."(Is.58:11)
  • Bennymkje - 2 weeks ago
    Matt.26:8-13 "In the house of Bethany"

    Jesus in the house Bethany is a private world of the larger world to which God sent his Son. He loved the world so he sent him as only begotten meaning the word was literally in the house. It is in this sense Jesus accosted Zachaeus," This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham."( Luke 19:9). Simon the leper is of the same weight as Zachaeus in that God made man a living soul equally. Truth makes every man born of woman in need of salvation.

    Jesus commended the woman "for she hath wrought a good work upon me.". Those who had no business to criticize did for no good reason. She brought the alabaster box and broke it in order to wrought a good work upon him. Jesus understood her service was spot on. This explain the Parable in the preceding chapter.

    Jesus was there in his humanity, which St Luke emphasizes in his version. His host is Simon and a Pharisee. So the short colloquy in vv.40-47 establishes this human interaction between the host and him. John's Gospel gives us a clue to his deity instead. "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany" The event and Passover is thus established. The Gospel of Mark sets his version closely similar to that of Matthew. " She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying./Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."( Mark 14:8-9). The importance of service a believer does to another is tantamount to serving the Lord directly. All four gospels include this event. How do we erect memorials in heaven?

    "Let brotherly love continue./Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares./Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." (He.13:1-3)
  • Bennymkje - 2 weeks ago
    Matt.25 Conclusion

    "What does the throne of glory signify? The white throne judgment is not about color but holiness of God so when he judges it is good, with no fear or favor. God is the Father of lights and all judgment is under the authority of his Son who is the true Light. So the glory of his throne is the Law and truth. "Thy word is truth" gives sovereignty of the Word binds every soul to him."Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."(He.4:13).

    Before the white throne all things are naked and open to him. "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it."(Re.20:13-15) names not found in the book of life are those earmarked for the lake of fire. Men may cheat death in the court of law but they shall not escape the second death where their souls are on the dock. Outer darkness spells where the presence of God shut them out so no memory of them shall taint the Land of the living.

    What does 'one of the least of these my brethren' say Emmet Till or MLK represent? They shall be avenged for certain. The lame shall take the prey, the word of God has set down in the book of life which applies to all from the beginning of the world.

    "for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well./My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth./Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them."(Ps.139:14-16)

    Those who judge by appearances are certainly deceived. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."(Jas.4:4) Knowing the right people to go high despising the poor is to despise his Maker
  • Richard H Priday - 2 weeks ago
    Necessary doctrines: Heaven and hell.

    There is only one time that I am aware of where a literal heaven was spoken against; in this case a book on Postmillenialism. I don't have the book with me at present (it may be buried in a box somewhere). I should note that one good point was in that book; namely that many of the PreMil camp tend to state or act as though the gates of hell are too powerful; rather than holding out to the promises that they will not prevail until the end ( Matthew 16:18). In the proper context (as opposed to a Dominioninsm mentality) this is a valid criticism of many who are hiding out waiting for the Rapture and not occupying until He comes ( Luke 19:13).

    In regard to hell; however of course there are many more professing believers who have convinced themselves that it is merely a symbolic statement. Such often tend to hold on to a cessation mentality; that is of a human soul before the final Resurrection presumably at the end of the Millennium or at least the Rapture. They think that someone will simply wake up thinking it was just a moment before that they died at the Resurrection; thus making the suffering of the lost delayed into the future to assuage their conscience (often if not for their own fate for that of their loved ones at present who have died). Of course; in light of verses such as 2 Corinthians 5:8; and Hebrews 9:27 among others this seems like a ridiculous concept. I would argue this point of a belief in literal hell is important enough that we cannot consider fellowship with other believers who don't agree at least in our own place of corporate worship. Again; we can try to witness to them the truth. This is needed doctrine because we need to explain the grave state of the lost; and that there is NO peace for the wicked. ( Isaiah 48:22 and many other passages). Hell not being literal is due to a misunderstanding of the meaning for the grave and sheol (the land of the dead).
  • Richard H Priday - 2 weeks ago
    Necessary doctrines: Fulfilling the Great Commission

    In Matthew 25; starting in verse 14 we see the Parable of the talents. The first two individuals are rewarded with eternal rewards far greater than invested in this life but in accordance to their faithfulness now. The last servant of course lost it all including apparently his soul. There is a slightly different viewpoint in the parallel Parable in Luke 19 where reward is lost; but it would appear hell would be for those who wouldn't have Christ rule over them which is mentioned after the example of this servant at the end of the Parable. Either way; Jesus made it clear that we are commanded to go out and spread the Good News of the Gospel. A true believer therefore is in danger of losing rewards in heaven; making it in through the "skin of their teeth" ( 1 Cor. 3:15); while a professing Christian may not even be saved if they are not recognized by Christ as a true believer as we see in the Parable of the 5 unwise virgins. We see a similar pattern in the admonition that anyone who teaches others to break one of the "least commandments" ( Matthew 5:19) will be the least in heaven (i.e. loss of rewards). This makes one consider what happens for a greater commandment and how that is defined. This would be of course a "damnable heresy" ( 2 Peter 2:1) and clearly indicates damnation for such individuals in hell.

    The great difficulty we have here is if we try to define what is necessary doctrine or unnecessary is that all of scripture is connected so that we are in danger of "cherry picking" what we want to follow rather than what is needed. We also have to look at the attitude of the heart. In the tale of Ananias and Sapphira; it is often overlooked that the problem was not that only a portion of what was sold was brought to the church offering; but that they had lied about their commitment or vow that was made to give all. The other issue is what people say is hard to understand. More to come..
  • Bennymkje - 3 weeks ago
    Matt.25:13 "Watch therefore"

    " Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

    The driver is "faith" which activates his body, spirit and soul and when God breathed into the nostrils of man so no one may say he is an exception. The parable of the foolish virgins inform their failure was in quenching the spirit, the oil in their lamps. Without trimming the wick and all other motions are waste of time. Either they replenished their store or let it go waste. They were like the unprofitable servant who simply did not put the one talent he was entrusted with, to work for the glory of his Lord. The wise virgins gathered with the Lord were blessed to be found ready. "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."(13:12)

    The bride hath made herself ready. The bride is distinct from the five foolish virgins who shall be shut out from the joy in heaven. "Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us./But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. "(vv.11-12) "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."(Re.19:7)

    Either Or is rooted in the very first separation. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." (Ge.1:4) Based on this your labor in your field or at home shall not deliver you. Jesus refers to the antediluvian world

    " But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."

    But selection shall follow the divine Will (Ge.1:4)

    "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left./ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."(24:37-42)
  • Bennymkje - 3 weeks ago
    Matt.24:30-31 "The Sign" (2 of 2)

    "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory./ And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

    The elect includes both the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations. Daniel the Seer belongs to the former. He also was curious as the disciple to know the end times. But the Angel of the Lord did not dilate much on the topic. Instead he said, "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."(Dan.12:13) When Jesus went in Spirit to the souls in prison he surely was one among many saints in the OT period. They are witnesses to the gospel below the earth. There is a cloud of witnesses which Daniel had seen in the night vision, " and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (7:10). The Spirit refers to the judgment with regards to the beast, to which he is also a witness. The beast referred in terms of the times of the Gentiles is shown as emerging from the bottomless pit. " the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them."(Re.11:7). In Re. Ch.13:1 "and saw a beast rise up out of the sea." This beast emerges in the vision of Daniel rises from the sea. ("And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." Dan.7:3). In this context what Jesus refers here is a sign. " When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)/Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains."(vv.15-16)

    This background helps us to place the great tribulation mentioned in v.21
  • Bennymkje - 3 weeks ago
    Matt.24:21-22 "Since the beginning" (1 0f 2)

    " For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be./And except those days should be shortened,"

    Ch.24 is a treatise of human sorrows on account of sin. Given that Jesus gave this discourse after sharing his coming passion and death to his disciples (20:17-20) we are to treat the main elements ,-the elect, the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations owing their origin from the beginning. The events shall be played out from the worlds,- heaven. the earth and below which are held together by Jesus Christ. (Col.1:16-18)

    Jesus refers to the great tribulation that shall come upon all by the same rationale that sin entered the world through one man.(Ro.5:12) sorrows consequently shall visit upon all. However "but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."(24:22). The Vision of the Woman clothed with the Son gives us additional clues as to how. The Man child is caught up to the throne of God. He is collectively called the elect shall be delivered from the great tribulation since he is to rule all nations 'with a rod of iron'. The left-out church has a place prepared for her. "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." 1260 is a number a tag the Spirit uses to delineate 'the shortening of days'. Thus the duration of earthly ministry of Jesus is used to distinguish it from the position of the Son in heaven and below the earth.

    This constituted time shall also shall explain Jesus Christ in Spirit visiting souls in prison."By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;"(1 Pe.3:19) This has a great bearing on the manner the earth helping her with the persecution.(Re.12:13-16).It will suffice to say God sits enthroned upon the floods (Ps.29:10).
  • Bennymkje - 3 weeks ago
    Matt.23:1-6 "Woe to ye"

    Sermon on the Mount was an occasion for Jesus for presenting the doctrine of God. The emblem mentioned in 5:1 served as the witness. "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples."

    Blessedness was the portion for the multitudes and his disciples which was stipulated in the everlasting covenant. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."(2 Pe.1:4) Blessedness allowed access to be partakers of the holiness of God to which he was the way. Now what Jesus presented was condemnation for those who refused to receive him.

    It explains also the significance of the number of the beast. 666 applied to the tripartite nature of man whose body, spirit and soul resisting the day sanctified by God. This day was by a decree, the everlasting covenant, to his Son. The Pharisees and chief priest engaged in talk with him in order to trip him up than receive the good news gladly.

    It was to a multitude Simon Peter preached the good news and their response was,"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"(Ac.2:6,37-40) They heard the word of salvation,"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."(v.41)

    The Spirit gives us an additional clue, where Command Number Three refers to the Son.(Three Thousand refers to number of souls saved in that day as the basis for the founding of the church age.)

    Doctrine of Jesus stated, " But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."(23:11) The Pharisees and the scribes instead sit in Moses' seat, "And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues." Are we in our times any better?
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Matt.19:6 "God and man"

    Glory of Jesus came from both Wisdom and Power so whosoever received him was under the covenant that shall be fulfilled in the Son. So the flesh of body ought to tell us there is more to it. (Jesus Christ) "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Ph.3:21) In the previous post we considered trinity, of body spirit and soul serving as a witness as Jesus was the Faithful and true witness. It was not merely in terms of the body. Our soul is the inner man and he also bears witnesses in terms of the Word. Three agree in heaven: the Father the Word and the Spirit. We shall see this distinction in "the seventy times seven"(Matt.18:22) This applies to the world of the flesh and blood." The Holy city of God is however measured, which is a single measurement of an angel, and man. It is Gospel based and not according to man's life span. "an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." (Re.21:17)

    The memorial in heaven (Ch.4) does not show the cloud of witnesses nevertheless we hear them. "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth./ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;"(Re.5:10-11). Compare the number with this verse, "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

    "Ten thousand times ten thousand" is about the final salvation, and it explains why Jesus denounced the workers of iniquity. They did not do the will of God the Father. They were called to one body but they did not fit with 'the one flesh" which is about the Christ and the Bride
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Matt.18:22-23 "Judgment" (2 of 2)

    As long as one does after his own desires and priorities he is serving the body of death. With his mind he serves the law of God "but with the flesh the law of sin." Whosoever is freed from condemnation must be led by the Spirit and no other short cuts. The three witnesses in the Spirit form the inner man "after the likeness" of God. ("Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"-Ge.1:26). The Spirit given us is as a pledge, "God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit" also has given similar tokens so body spirit and soul serve as a witness for us in heaven. The glorious spiritual body, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" and the cloud of witnesses bear witness of the many promises of God. Apostle John writes, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." This cloud is set as witness for the soul of man. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."(2 Co.5:4). The spirit of man is fortified by the in-house tutor, so mortality being swallowed up by life renders Christ as the head for the spiritual body held in reserve for us.

    For this reason Jesus assured,"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven./For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This is the context for Re.3:20. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Supping one to one is much more than confessing Jesus Christ as the Lord.
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Matt.18:13 "Lost and Found" (1 of 2)

    "And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

    Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. God sent his Son so the lost sheep may be found. Bringing them back into one fold means reconciling both worlds of the Spirit and of the body into one sheepfold. ( John 10:1)

    We shall begin with v.11" For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."(v.11).

    If the sheep lost its way and have not found what it sought is it worth the effort? A sheep is not endowed with foreknowledge as man is. He is a living soul. Satan beguiled Eve through a serpent. How did man get lost even after God gave him the wherewithal? The content of His breath into his nostril sums up the Law that He upholds. It is the word of his power. It explains the Law of the Spirit. The principle of Similitude sets reality of Law of heaven with that of the earth. Thus it is two contrary laws of the Spirit warring the law of sin in our vile bodies nevertheless a matter of life and death. In this existential battle everlasting life is what God promised those who are found.

    The Spirit uses symbols for both laws, the tree of life for those who found their way back as we say from the case of Adam life of sin originating from his disobedience. This search for the lost sheep began with the commandment of God who sent forth his word that shall never go back in void.(Is.55:11)

    In the parable we have the sheep that is ever by the shepherd. "And the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out./And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice./And a stranger will they not follow" ( John 10:3-5). They are the 99 and are content under the Law of the Spirit to stay close "for they know not the voice of strangers." Their glory they know are in safekeeping and the bright cloud is their testimony.
  • Momsage - In Reply - 1 month ago
    You didn't explain with other scriptures why you disagree with me.

    You didn't answer any of my questions.

    Our thoughts on sinlessness or sinning every day are total opposites so one of us must be wrong and I don't care what you think except you are spilling it out all over this forum and I'm concerned about others. The title of sinning/christian seems to be a badge of honor these days, (anyone like me must be full of pride and haughtiness because, how dare I think I can live without grieving my Savior every day by sinning.)

    I'm writing this at the end of the day. You say I must have sinned. Give me some ideas of what I must have done because I can't think of anything not even a fault. Maybe I should make something up like I use to do when I was a little Catholic girl so I would have something to confess to the priest so I could take communion.

    How glad I am you've help me to not be deceived anymore, to think that God had created a beautiful way for His children to live WITHOUT sin in this wretched world. Really, I have to be realistic now, this can't possibly be true. I need to understand that what I believed was wrong because surly God isn't capable of removing the Adamic nature from our souls. I understand now that that is a bit too much for Him. Imagine being able to live with our sin-nature eradicated. I guess I'll just ignore all the scriptures that say we can like you did. I'm being sarcastic, of course. I guess this can be my one sin for the day so I'll ask God to forgive me for it. Thanks Chris you helped me be a sinning/christian. You helped me grieve my wonderful Savior today so I can claim the title of Sinning/Christian. NOT!

    My heart really grieves for you and the danger you are in, especially, since you won't even address what I am saying with scriptures and/or answers to my legitimate questions. You don't because you can't. God bless :)
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Matt.18:14 "Power of One"

    "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

    Speaking of the Will we have in this prayer of Jesus, the utter sorrow of our Savior Lord over Judas, "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 17:12). 'That the scripture might be fulfilled' refers to the blessings written in the covenant. (Ge.1:28) God blessed them at one lever was about Christ and the church. "Male and female created he them" applied to each believer who stood equally in direct frame of reference to the Wisdom principle (female) and also the Power principle.(Male). In the Lord's prayer we have the power and glory, in which this glory is a constant reminder of the body of Christ. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Forever is a tag for the Son. While we say 'Amen' we are declaring the creed of being one with the Faithful and true witness. When a believer treats like a nostrum and mumbles on auto-pilot mode it is a pointer to the imposter religion salvaged from a pagan cult of Rome has spread inroads into one's worship. Similar to the joy in heaven over one soul finding way back to the sheepfold we are witnessing Jesus with his fan ready to cast the chaff where the wind shall take where it will.

    In the king's dream the ten toes tell the miry clay mixt with iron is under judgment. Like the stone cut not with hands judgment should come in series of shocks. there is an earth quake, and the tenth part of the city fell, it is what we read in Re.18:21. Seven thousand of men (7x1000) speaks it is predetermined. The hour of his judgment,- And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen," Babylon is interchangeable with Jerusalem. (Re.11:8). Loss of even one is diminishment to the glory of God.
  • Richard H Priday - In Reply - 1 month ago
    Ugh. I just cut off my comment again with some stupid button on my computer. In short I am impressed by your superior wit and content with any subject; clearly it is superior to mine. I hope I'm not just enjoying the sound of my own voice; so to speak with all my commentary. I intend to make better use of my time with devoting more to evangelism and service in the future; this time I have had in my current situation is limited to have this much available for this site.

    I was also starting to comment on my confusion about heaven and hell experiences. There was a supposed resurrection of an African pastor I heard about yesterday from Nov. 2001 which seemed iron clad with a picture of the mortuary statement with time of death; relateive testifying; etc. In any case this guy seems to have disappeared off the radar since 2002 when someone was supposed to have interviewed him. There are a few people like Bill Weise who at least has much scripture that is discussed corroborating with his story. When people are clinically dead the question is how long does it take for the soul to actually enter eternity? As for me; people sometimes express annoyance when anyone says the Lord has shown them something; but such things as the mark of the Beast were clearly shown to the point that the terror is so great that it used to leave me with a feeling of vertigo; beyond what I can handle. I have felt a clear calling to preach on that matter since my conversion in 1982. Spiritual discernment is my gifting as you probably are aware; but I am still mystified by the way He works. I know that obedience and disciplines help us in strength; but the times when there seems to be a particular anointing still seem unpredictable. I can think of 3 individuals in my life who have a gift of discernment out of probably hundreds I have known.

    It seems God has until now closed the door for me to move out. I strongly feel that I need to continue communicating with my old roommate
  • Bennymkje - 1 month ago
    Luke 12: 14 "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" (1 of 2)

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

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

    One may ask Does God condone capital punishment?

    All Authority come from God. "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God./ Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Those who are in power are themselves subject to God.

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


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