Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Warren kerlin on 2 Corinthians 4:4 - 3 years ago
    When Jesus said I have come to cast fire upon the earth and would that it was already kindled. What did He mean?
  • Chris - In Reply on 2 Corinthians 4:4 - 3 years ago
    Warren, I think if we look at Luke 12:49 in context to the chapter & also Matthew chapter 10 (as an addendum to Luke's account), we'll see that this is not a literal fire that Jesus speaks of, but a fire of divisions & contentions. In fact, in verse 51, He says, "Do you think I've come to bring peace on Earth? No, but to bring divisions". We might find this teaching troubling as we often think of the Gospel of Christ as that which brings peace to our once troubled & sinful souls & a new peace & relationship with the Godhead.

    Yet, the other side of the faith in Christ's Gospel, is that of contentions & divisions. The Gospel is divisive: it separates the sheep from the goats, friends & family members are set apart because of its call for separation & holiness, it separates those who attend Church for conscience sake from those attending to worship the Lord Whom they love, it makes distinction between those who take up their cross daily from those who are careless in their fleshly walk, etc.

    And Jesus says: "and what will I, if it be already kindled?", or "what can I say, that the spark of fire has already commenced?" The very fact of Jesus' Presence, amongst the people & his disciples, had already started the fires of anger & separation from one another. First, it commenced in the people's hearts as they heard teachings that were foreign to them & the Spirit-filled messages brought serious questioning & conviction within. Even arriving at the foot of the Cross, the division of those who followed the Lord from those who rejected Him became clearer & more distinct, resulting in more hatred from the Jews & Romans. Post Cross, we see the effects of that 'fire' as the apostles & those who obeyed the Lord suffered greatly, not because of anything they had done, but from those who had rejected Christ & godly living, were marked for destruction. You can keep these thoughts in mind as you read through the NT, looking for evidences of this fire that 'to follow Christ' brings.
  • Bob Hilt - In Reply on 2 Corinthians 4:4 - 3 years ago
    Warren my guess is:

    2 Peter Chapter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

    11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,

    12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

    13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

    2 Thessalonians Chapter 1:6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

    7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

    8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

    Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.



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