"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?
Before we go into the parables Jesus employed them in order to illustrate realities of heaven from that of the earth. In Matt21:.45-46 we read that "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet". It was not for want of intelligence that they rejected Jesus but out of envy. The multitude took Jesus as a prophet so when he spoke truth it resonated within and accepted as truth. Besides God had given such power for the Son of man healed the sick and cast out the demons from among them. Faith is the only that can reconcile both the worlds.
12:1 " A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country." God is who planted the vineyard, the world. He made man his steward. By far country the heaven is implied. The world is hedged about refers the blessings God had promised in the everlasting covenant. The tower and the wine fat signifies the spirit of God and soul of man of which he has to give account. "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me," (Le.25:23)explains the significance of letting out to husbandmen.
v.2 "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant," In next three verses we are considering Moses and the Law which as Israel set to work became for breaking the tradition of their fathers. The stoning of Stephen (Ac.7:59-60)
vv6-8 Jesus foretells of what the Jews intended to do. "And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard."
in v.9 "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?" The Gentile nations come in. The chief priests and Pharisees understood but without faith it was lost on them.
Matthew also gives us this colloquy where he dilates upon their controversy with parables. At the end he says,"And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.(Matt.21:28-46). There was the fear of men that governed the chief priests and Pharisees while Jesus as the Word become flesh would only serve what he represented in his humanity. "Thy word is truth." Unless he had let the word sanctify him how could he sanctify any man?"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee," was a Messianic prophecy which fulfilled in him.(Ps.22:22)
On the other hand the chief priests scribes and Pharisees made doctrine of God to none effect. "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."(7:13) .
St Paul explains it thus, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Jesus came from God while his detractors angled for the praise of men.
Mark gives us several instances of the word of God being fulfilled in Jesus so it was not past or future of now that weighed uppermost but the eternal word. In cursing the fig tree he did not have to prove his claim that he was the rightful heir but his faith established the truth. Both power and glory operating in heaven and earth is encapsulated in faith.(vv.23-24). "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and castitinto the sea"(Re.18:21) is a fulfillment of the word: of the rock cut out without hands"(Dan.2:34-35)
"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." Jesus explained simply, "Have faith in God."
In the study of Creation there appear to be at least 2 different accounts in Genesis but they are emphasizing different things and hence complement one another ( Genesis 1 and 2). There are many Psalms related to Creation as well. We also see in Jesus quoting almost every book including reference to the Creation ( Matthew 19:8 on divorce); as well as the literal story of Jonah as to how it relates to the Son of Man ( Matthew 12:40). These accounts show the truth of the Old Testament and aren't able to hold water to arguments that things were merely symbolic.
One could argue as an atheist that since the same things seem to happen over and over again in scripture they can't be true; and/or they are borrowed from pagan traditions. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says that there is "nothing new under the sun." If we study things like prophecy there are more often than not multiple fulfillments; we can look at the earlier example of the Temple and abomination therein and see not just Antiochus but also the siege of Rome in 70 AD and to a lesser extent around 130 AD and the final application for Antichrist himself yet to come. The same pattern exists with Psalm 22 and descriptions foreshadowing Christ and demonstrating David's situation; some seem mutually exclusive others overlapping. Jesus was frequently hounded and persecuted much as David was; the difference being He was sinless; David was not. The whole story of the death; burial and Resurrection is seen with the pagan legends and religions as well but if we believe Satan is real he always is coming as a substitute for or against the God of the Bible; as we see in the persona of the Antichrist Beast and world economic and religious system. Satan knows scripture well enough to quote it; and we wouldn't expect anything less from the enemy of God's people.
We can see in the miracles of Christ similar things to the ministry of Elijah. Healing of the blind is unique ( John 9:32-33
Thanks..I guess there are some silent viewers out there. My main prerogative is to stick to scripture as much as possible; yet find relevant topics and discuss hard truths especially found in the Bible.
Contending for the faith involves strict adherence to what is clear in the Bible and I try to constantly emphasize cross references.
Knowing the Lord through His Spirit is different than knowing a lot about the Lord. There is always a certain amount of truth involved in deception. This is what allows a false doctrine to sneak in when cherry picking verses that seem to prove a point and disregarding context. When someone is proved false then often the "baby goes out with the bathwater"; and people want to disbelieve God is capable; for instance of still doing the miraculous today.
A good case in point is those who claim to cast out demons. As far as "signs and wonders" go; I would call this a necessary gift as I can't see how there aren't as many demons around today as ever (thus disproving "casting them back into the pit" which is clearly unscriptural.) From my own limited experience in that arena; I have seen demons removed and heard of evidence of it occuring quietly in more traditional churches (in one case through a specific name a Pastor's wife had of an entity that had affected a church member attacking his wife in his sleep who had it cast out through prayer). This was kept "in wraps"-this Godly woman is a very shy person and some are of a cessationist mentality in that denomination. The other case was a Baptist church long ago where such an event was described to me as happening in the late 70's and it was a sort of matter of fact statement.
Today's sideshows on camera unless followed by a legitimate testimony are immediately suspect. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be seen by multitudes going through something like that knowing of the ridicule it would inevitably produce with unknown social media links.
In vv.3-4 Mark explains for the non Jewish converts about the tradition of the elders. Similarly he quotes the words and supplies its meaning. "Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."(5:41)
In vv. 5:40 "And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying." The world would not know the distinction between sleeping and dying. In the land of the living Jesus knew his Father better than they all. He is the God of the living. So he did not want the disbelieving world in the house where he was present.
Another interesting feature of the gospel is in the manner the Evangelist uses the tag of the house to designate two worlds. In the raising of the dead Jesus goes into the house and in healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman he rewarded her implicit faith by sending her off,"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:30).In both cases the house has to have belief for its own sake. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"( Luke 18:8). The earth abides forever because it belongs to the Son.
vv.14-16 Jesus preaches gospel to the world and the Spirit gives us a clue as to how it is to be interpreted." If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." St Mark thereafter inserts this verse, "And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable."(v.17) The house is where the Master expounds truth to those who hunger after righteousness."But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear./ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them./Hear ye therefore." (Matt.13:16-18)
" 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
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.
John 6:54 states: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
"And the two fishes divided he among them all./And they did all eat, and were filled." Here we have an example of kangaroo words. The two primarily refers to the number of fishes while there were five loaves of bread. What you eat has it way of passage, and as Jesus took pains to explain it is eaten "Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?(7:19). What the heart can do leads to everlasting life while traditions of man, with his table manners in the Roman times often lasted into late hours in suppers where the guests would end under the table in their own vomit. What the Spirit is demonstrating are heaven and earth as two worlds so Jesus " And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them."(v.41)
Before appointing the twelve he goes up to a mountain, and called them who would. His Sermon on the Mount set the Rock of Ages for a testimony and Mark similarly narrates that Jesus bound the twelve to service so their authority came from heaven as his came. As the master so were the disciples.
As indicative of their singleness of purpose Jesus took the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them." In short the disciples were partakers of the heavenly calling.(He.3:1). The number of fishes is two and signifies a number of objects each is set in terms of God. God fashions all hearts alike and tries their works. In the Parable of the Talents each servant was bound to give account over them. Number of men in this chapter "And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men".(v.44) In the other,"And they that had eaten were about four thousand: "(8:9). These are set for a purpose.
"But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
St John sums it up this way, "He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not."(v.11). He refers his Jewishness. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,/To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."(Gal.4:4-5) The nation of Israel understood what the law meant but not what it referred to. Herein lay their dilemma. Law for them became traditions of their fathers so when the Law (its fulness) walked among them full of grace all they could say "they( the Pharisees) said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (Matt.12:24). Jesus was a sign as Moses was one. He served as his double before his Advent. They could not keep the Law of Moses but would want to go back to Egypt under another captain it showed they were incapable of holding truth.(Nu.14:4)
Symptomatic of their perverseness was their curiosity. How often they demanded of Jesus to show them a sign. It merely satisfied their shallow religiosity. Jesus rightly condemned their place among the wicked adulterous generation than as the sons. "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39). Without entering into spiritual significance of the sign, and without dying in him they were not worthy to be called sons. In their rebellious spirit all chastisement was wasted so Jesus dismissed them by saying,"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt.23:36-38). For this reason Jesus instructed his disciples to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony.(6:11)
Traditions are practices, customs, or rituals that are passed down from generation to generation.
Truth refers to unbiassed reality, the correct representation of facts, it surpasses personal opinions or feelings.
Easter Sunday is a holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world who honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is also the day that many children excitedly wait for the Easter Bunny to arrive and deliver their treats of baskets filled with chocolate, eggs, and stuffed rabbits.
Easter is a holiday that is now chosen to correspond with the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox unless the full moon falls on a Sunday then it would be the next Sunday. Passover is now not considered in selecting the day. The Jewish feast that was the same day Jesus resurrected that most overlook is the Feast of First Fruits even though Jesus is the First Fruits of them that slept.
There are many myths about Easter, but all come from pagan sun worship and their festivals correspond with the sun's equinoxes. The ascension of Christ and Pentecost has been changed to 40 days from Easter and 50 days from Easter not from the first day after the Sabbath after Passover day.
Easter was originally called Resurrection Morning which was the Feast of First Fruits, the first day after the sabbath day after Passover during the Feast of unleavened bread, this is the first day in counting the days of the seven sabbaths of the Feasts of Weeks, that has been replaced with traditions of Good Friday, two days in the grave, sunrise services, Ezekiel 8:15-16, bunnies, colored eggs, baskets, pretty hats and dresses.
Does the Bible tell us what day Jesus was crucified? Yes, Jesus is our Passover and for Him to fulfill the Feasts it would have to be exactly as the first Passover. The lambs were taken up on the 10th and killed on the evening before the sunset on the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:1-6.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
If I may say when we open our Bible to read and study, if we are not willing to leave the baggage of traditions at the door and what we think we know, and in prayer with the mindset that we do not know anything our eyes and ears will be closed to the Spirit of truth. Until we are willing to humble ourselves the truth will be hidden.
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
The question is all the more striking since Jesus does not include his father. Jesus never had doubt as to where he came from or was going to. St Luke informs us, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"( Luke 2:49). His Father was in heaven and he knew his deity was still entwined in his Father's bosom. So the words that he spoke as he heard while in heaven and what he put in his mouth. So the conclusion? Man can only be part of their relationship by acknowledging that he has to fulfill the will of the Father which art in heaven while in flesh and blood. No other shortcuts.
"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
God breathed in the nostrils of man so everyone of us is represented in Adam. The spirit of God breathed into us must be for entering into the rest of God. The kingdom of God rules over all so His sovereignty is what makes His creation bask in his power and glory.(Ps.103:19). We shall understand the power of the Spirit in controlling movements. Murmuring of starling is fascinating to watch. As they sway en masse and form clouds no one can be identified in the multitude. One may be any where and yet nowhere. They flit and float without any mishap. How do they do it? There is a skill the spirit of God has given them, the wherewithal so they prosper.
The same power of God and glory and the fall of man shows where he differs from the birds of the air. Instead of being sustained by the grace from the throne of God he speaks of culture as Jews would wave 'the traditions of their fathers' that brought condemnation from Jesus. Without acknowledging God as the Father and doing his will perfectly no nations shall survive.
"No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse./ And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."
The saying of Jesus is mentioned in both versions of Matthew and Luke.
We shall examine it from the specific, in the resistance of the Jews to him. They judged him from their holier-than-thou attitude as the people of the Law. What had the Law of Moses become? It was a treatise collated from the everlasting covenant, which before the advent of the Son in the fulness of time was given to the nation of Israel as the path to righteousness. Garment as in the Parable of the Wedding Guest refers to righteousness. So when Jesus spoke the parable it was in condemnation of what had come up as tradition. It was as unexpected as tares from the Parable. "An enmy hath done this'. From the manner the scribes and the Pharisees held on to the traditions of their fathers which only allowed them to fill up to the measure of their fathers. In his woe to ye tirade he faulted them,"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."(Matt.23:23). Their hypocritical observation of paying tithes and worship rather to be seen of men than any real change in their old selves was new. This mix and match of old with new did not sit well.
In Luke we have " But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved./No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better."(5:38-39)
New wine in new bottles refer to the new creation.
I was in a very odd situation with a former OPC church I attended where I was granted a sort of "partial" membership without ascribing to their stance on infant baptism. There are a couple other issues which would keep me out of a similar place in the future (that church shut down 6 or 7 years ago due to lack of attendance). I will say that it wasn't required that I believed in their stance on Postmillenialism; although I may have mentioned here in the past when it was brought up how foolish it was to believe in the Antichrist and Mark of the Beast in one of their sermons and I took them up on that they sort of backed down. It wasn't a requirement to adhere to their eschatology, although it was a rather cliquish sort of mentality at that place. I agreed to disagree with them without such banter so I thought it only fair; however of course it was their belief.
In any case; infant baptism has cast a rather nebulous picture in my mind as to explanations; somehow holding what children or infants were commemorated with when they become adults and rebel as if they had some sort of inherent partaking of a covenant; I suppose equivalent to the Israelites who were "baptized" by crossing the Red Sea. ( 1 Cor. 10:2). No one I know actually thinks someone is saved through infant baptism but nonetheless they seem in my mind to have carried on a Catholic tradition through the Reformers in the past. I also had a "rebaptism"; having argued beforehand the sprinkling of water should also be legitimate ( Ezekiel 36:25). In my case I had it done that way along with my wife at the time because she had a balance issue going totally underwater; but I rededicated myself to a commitment as a church member when I had an immersion at the founding of a church I used to attend at its inception almost 10 years ago. Seeing how quickly Philip baptized the eunuch in Acts 8; and the jailor with his family ( Acts 16:33) it should follow salvation quickly.
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)
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)
I am one who believes in the hard sayings in particular that those who are living in adultery we should warn of their fate and also that taking communion should not involve those who are living in fornication and adultery or any other unrepentant sin involving a lifestyle of sin in particular. In my mind that involves second or later marriages of those whose first spouse is still living which is an issue I am currently dealing with in my church. I am not here going to debate on this particular posting the meaning of the "exception clause" due to "fornication" in Matthew 5 and 19 which is NOT present in parallel passages in Luke and Mark; and further bolstered by passages in Romans and Corinthians.
My concluding concept here is that ALL doctrines according to 2 Timothy 3:16 are important for teaching; edification; etc.
There are always some things debated; and no church has a perfect understanding or is sinless. Nonetheless the things that are clearly taught should be obeyed whether we like it or not to maintain a place where the Spirit is welcome and we aren't in danger of the "candlestick" going out as we see with the Ephesian church in Revelation who abandoned their "first love." This doesn't leave any room for partiality or pride whether it be for our leadership or church members; traditions; etc. It is God's church; not our own. The Lord disciplines His own; and we are being tested to see if we will be faithful until the end. If the enemy comes into the camp; through our own wickedness or the invasion of others then we are negligent in our duties if we don't try to stop it. We do what we can; God may indeed have determined to let a local church fail to fulfill greater purposes; but we need to be jealous for the truth as long as some truth prevails; at least until God opens a door for us to move on; or we are thrown out. The ten thousand dollar question is whether the Spirit is welcomed or locked out.
The subject of prophecy never seems to be an issue in one regard among those who generally hold to proper scriptural interpretation in one sense; that is of PAST fulfillment. A Reformed church and many other traditional denominational assemblies hold onto belief that the Prophets accurately predicted specific events; in particular relating to the first coming of Christ. When it comes to future prophecies related to the nation of Israel and the Millennium there is often confusion as to what is taken literally and what is meant figuratively. Thus; again sometimes it is claimed that we can't understand certain things; or perhaps more insidious that because of an isolated doctrinal stance we can't pigeonhole something being literally fulfilled because it threatens that doctrine. Needless to say if our doctrines are truly Biblical and we take scripture literally unless clearly indicated as figurative we can make a lot more sense of things.
We need to remind ourselves that when Christ came the first time He was; by and large not received by His own ( John 1:11). We also need to realize that no matter how much prophecy we read if we are not written in the Book of life we are ultimately going to be deceived to the point that ALL who aren't there will worship the Antichrist (Beast) mentioned in Revelation 13:8.
As I have commented numerous times in the past few years at this site; by the sixth seal it is clear there are no more Atheists; nonetheless many will continue to live in open rebellion and follow Satan to their doom at Armageddon after damning themselves and taking the Mark of the Beast. Despite these factors; there are some who have reservations as to the Eschatology of a Millennium period; for example who I still fellowship with despite disagreeing with their interpretations.
A bigger issue is those who think God is done with Israel; a common verse used is Romans 9:6 as well as Galatians 3:7.
v.13 "For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Scribes and Pharisees cause others to stumble to which Jesus had commented on another occasion, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(18:6)
v.14 " hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." Hypocrisy of Pharisees is to sound holier -than- thou while they hear only the sound of money coming in.
v.15 "for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Church planting is well and good. After big fanfare and cheers who shall water them daily and attend to their growth do get lost. St Paul faulted churches in Corinth and ensewhere on their partisan spirit. Heresies find a fertile ground in this spirit of contention.
vv.16-18 :Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" Wherever the vitality of the doctrine of God is glossed over from Christ to the tradition of man it becomes idolatry. In the age of televangelists it is what celebrities thrive upon. The disciple pointed at the temple in admiration "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(24:2). Glory of what is seen is temporal and shall fade off. Without taking two worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one and our everlasting life is assured on jour Redeemer Lord what we witness about us is hypocrisy. The Pharisees and scribes were content with praise of men and God swept them off as filth from the face of the earth.
In general we see two types of witnessing to the Gospel; one is what I refer to as a general calling type of approach or a declaration of the Kingdom to come. The other is specific to individuals. It is noteworthy that when Jesus dealt with those who were not amenable to the Good News there seems to be little or no evidence of any extensive discussions related to individuals; instead we see the addressing of the Pharisees as a whole (usually triggered by one or several people he was around at the time).
The exceptions are those who he challenged that claimed to be ready to be His disciples who usually turned away; and with his trials before crucifixion.
We are; in general better going out two by two as is the method of Christ's sending out of the disciples initially. With Paul the Apostle we may have a somewhat different situation since he had such a dominance in evangelism; although he was imprisoned with Silas and worked along with Timothy and others. His imprisonment no doubt contributed to some isolation as well.
Reaching people usually is best when we can reach them apart from those enabling their sinful lifestyles; as we see with the example of someone who has a gay lifestyle; although street witnessing may have to deal with multiple individuals. This is also best when approaching those of other religions; and it is usually best to address the man of the family in cultures where they are traditionally in charge of a family; especially for men who are witnessing. Going back once again to those in same sex relationships; we need to hold to the same concept we would with anyone engaged in a sinful lifestyle; we should show the love of Christ but not support things (such as gay weddings). We don't need to be overly creative in such a response; as believers we can demonstrate as in the rest of our lives the fear of the Lord that we have.
Thank you Ronald, indeed a brother in Christ. Certainly, no offence taken at all. You have shared what you clearly believe from the Word, as I have also done (and btw not from tradition). Actually, I oppose 'tradition' as a basis for belief or action in matters spiritual; so it takes much study & prayer on my part in either accepting or rejecting what is generally accepted by the Church to what is actually given in the Bible. Maybe, that is why I never 'perfectly fit' into any congregation - but again, does anyone if they're honest?
So, in one sense, it becomes a personal matter until the Spirit sheds His Light to bring us understanding. And as I mentioned earlier, we may, even with our differences on this subject, might still be closer in agreement than we realize. After all, you do believe, I trust, that it was God Who placed His Holy Seed in Mary, so immediately we know that this was no ordinary human birth. The matter then surrounds whether this Seed was first in another Form within God's Person Who was also involved in creation & very likely in other Works of God, or not. As you wrote, we will know all these things "at the end of the road". Blessings to you & yours, in Christ Jesus and thanks again for a good lively discussion.
I thank you for even discussing this and whether you consider me a brother I consider you one. All I have replied to you is the truth from my understanding of Scripture. In your reply, I feel I have offended you and that was not my goal. Like I said from the beginning is to convey my understanding of the Scripture. Your understanding is for your conscience. If you choose one road and I choose another we will find the answer at the end of the road. But if we are not willing to empty our minds as we know nothing, in prayer study, we choose tradition over truth.
The Passover and the Festival of the Unleavened Bread Le.23:5
Ex.12:1-6
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,/ This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
God spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt. Before the children of Israel could claim the Promised Land 'this month' signified altogether a new walk with God. When He says, 'Now is the day of salvation' it is God's Time. It is thus we look at the spiritual significance of a new year. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Co.5:17)".
Their observance of Tisri was after the traditions of their fathers. Not so with God.
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house'(12:3)
'A lamb for an house' is highly significant.' On the tenth day, which entails a time lapse. The house or the nation the symbolism of the lamb remains consistent with the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world. It is the emblem for Salvation Plan in the divine Will through ages. What does the numberTen signify? Ten is a full hand or measure. It has another significance, under the Law: judgment
The Passover day also coincided with Joshua (Hellenized form of the name is Jesus) leading the people, "And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho (Josh.4:19)". Here is another: And Christ, our Paschal Lamb, on this day entered Jerusalem, riding on an ass; the people bearing palm branches, and crying, Hosanna, ( John 12:12-13).
Armageddon; and the ultimate end of Satan at the end of the Millennial reign of Christ is the ultimate conclusion of God's plan in using the enemy of our soul to purge the world of rebels and to end the power of death completely with a new heaven and earth (see 1 Cor. 15:26; Revelation 21 and 22).
Eternal punishment fits the crime so we can understand as wicked as things have been throughout human history it has stored up wrath for Satan as well as the unregenerate ( Romans 2:5 and subsequent verses in that chapter). The philosophy of "do as thou wilt" that is prominent among self proclaimed Satanists is contrasted with a sacrificial love that only Christ can offer. Everything seems backwards but the Lord has the master plan no matter how clever men and their devices are to destroy Christ (see Psalm 5:10; and read Psalm 2). Unregenerate man simply cannot understand how being a servant or slave of Christ brings men to freedom and how the opposite appeals to the flesh leave one in bondage in the end. They think we can somehow go back to Eden (as seen in the humanistic music of the 60's); but we see the result of this "free love" in the 70's and beyond with the rapid decay of traditional families in regard to sustainability of marriages and the removal of God's design for a family and harmonious home life. Whether Satan himself ever realized how wicked he would become is debateable; it would appear that Antichrist himself and or other rulers may not have realized this in verses such as Isaiah 10:7. The enemy always wants to sugarcoat the extreme jeopardy of man remaining in a sinful state by distracting him with grand delusions that lead nowhere but to destruction.
We see in Psalm 23:5 a verse on eating in the presence of enemies which indeed we will do during the Millennium when some inevitably will rebel at the end and insanely under Satan attempt one final time to destroy God and His people leading to failure.
"Song of Ascents" under the entry D- degrees (1 of 2)
A title given to fifteen psalms from 120 to 134 inclusive of which four are attributed to King David and one to his son Solomon. There were three appointed feasts namely Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. By tradition pilgrims expressing their joy in going up to Jerusalem would have sung. There are 15 songs in this series and each psalm may correspond to the step leading a pilgrim.
Historically the children of Israel showed that they moved on their bellies in the wilderness. How often did they grumble against Moses and Aaron? (Ex.16:3) They would have stoned them and they despised manna, which God gave. He fed them with angel's food. Yet what was their cry? "And said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?"(Nu.11:4-5) God sent them quails, which gives us a revealing glimpse as to why they stopped short from doing the commandments with their heart and soul. Their rebellious spirit brought cancer to their souls since they would not worship God, a Spirit in spirit and truth. "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.(106:15). A wasting disease nevertheless.
These are examples and left for 'our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come'. In short the Spirit warns us to search our hearts well as we are pilgrims and sojourners even as they. The Spirit of Christ revealed to Prophet Elisha what motivated his servant, "And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man (Naaman) turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? (2 Ki.5:26)
" For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation./ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it."/
There are egregious errors which false prophets and others can do with incorrect or deliberately nefarious manipulations of the Word of God to suit their own purposes. That is not the focus here.
After the first two postings; it is certainty important to assess before we study anything why we are doing it. As new believers; of course it is often the leadership of a Pastor that initiates our study of scriptures when we are largely ignorant of it's contents (unless atheists that have already studied the Bible as literature respecting it's dominance in history and importance through the centuries). This parenthesis I feel shouldn't be overlooked. As a dumbed down society we are often discouraged from appreciating anything enough to determine even if it may be interesting. It is much like how we don't learn Chinese but the Chinese are mandated to learn English for economic gain; and also to beat the enemy at their own game. In the same logic it helps to study the basic tenents and literature of another religion before attempting to witness to them; not to search for something meaningful for us but to show the person we witness to that we are willing to take the time so that arguments brought up may be refuted by the Bible as well as the logic of the sacred writings they themselves hold up to where often contradictory statments exist. For some; of course the doctrines of demons may have a great pull to drive us away from truth to false gods. Therefore; we must be ready for the "meat" of scripture and be growing in the faith "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" ( Matt. 10:16). The application there shows how Jesus confronted the Pharisees. He not only knew the scriptures well; but their traditions and how they would twist the truth.
In all of this we must be convinced ourselves that the Bible is inerrant and be driven by the Holy Spirit to enter into a commitment and plan for daily reading.
"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?
Before we go into the parables Jesus employed them in order to illustrate realities of heaven from that of the earth. In Matt21:.45-46 we read that "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet". It was not for want of intelligence that they rejected Jesus but out of envy. The multitude took Jesus as a prophet so when he spoke truth it resonated within and accepted as truth. Besides God had given such power for the Son of man healed the sick and cast out the demons from among them. Faith is the only that can reconcile both the worlds.
12:1 " A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country." God is who planted the vineyard, the world. He made man his steward. By far country the heaven is implied. The world is hedged about refers the blessings God had promised in the everlasting covenant. The tower and the wine fat signifies the spirit of God and soul of man of which he has to give account. "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me," (Le.25:23)explains the significance of letting out to husbandmen.
v.2 "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant," In next three verses we are considering Moses and the Law which as Israel set to work became for breaking the tradition of their fathers. The stoning of Stephen (Ac.7:59-60)
vv6-8 Jesus foretells of what the Jews intended to do. "And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard."
in v.9 "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?" The Gentile nations come in. The chief priests and Pharisees understood but without faith it was lost on them.
Matthew also gives us this colloquy where he dilates upon their controversy with parables. At the end he says,"And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.(Matt.21:28-46). There was the fear of men that governed the chief priests and Pharisees while Jesus as the Word become flesh would only serve what he represented in his humanity. "Thy word is truth." Unless he had let the word sanctify him how could he sanctify any man?"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee," was a Messianic prophecy which fulfilled in him.(Ps.22:22)
On the other hand the chief priests scribes and Pharisees made doctrine of God to none effect. "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."(7:13) .
St Paul explains it thus, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Jesus came from God while his detractors angled for the praise of men.
Mark gives us several instances of the word of God being fulfilled in Jesus so it was not past or future of now that weighed uppermost but the eternal word. In cursing the fig tree he did not have to prove his claim that he was the rightful heir but his faith established the truth. Both power and glory operating in heaven and earth is encapsulated in faith.(vv.23-24). "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and castitinto the sea"(Re.18:21) is a fulfillment of the word: of the rock cut out without hands"(Dan.2:34-35)
"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." Jesus explained simply, "Have faith in God."
In the study of Creation there appear to be at least 2 different accounts in Genesis but they are emphasizing different things and hence complement one another ( Genesis 1 and 2). There are many Psalms related to Creation as well. We also see in Jesus quoting almost every book including reference to the Creation ( Matthew 19:8 on divorce); as well as the literal story of Jonah as to how it relates to the Son of Man ( Matthew 12:40). These accounts show the truth of the Old Testament and aren't able to hold water to arguments that things were merely symbolic.
One could argue as an atheist that since the same things seem to happen over and over again in scripture they can't be true; and/or they are borrowed from pagan traditions. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says that there is "nothing new under the sun." If we study things like prophecy there are more often than not multiple fulfillments; we can look at the earlier example of the Temple and abomination therein and see not just Antiochus but also the siege of Rome in 70 AD and to a lesser extent around 130 AD and the final application for Antichrist himself yet to come. The same pattern exists with Psalm 22 and descriptions foreshadowing Christ and demonstrating David's situation; some seem mutually exclusive others overlapping. Jesus was frequently hounded and persecuted much as David was; the difference being He was sinless; David was not. The whole story of the death; burial and Resurrection is seen with the pagan legends and religions as well but if we believe Satan is real he always is coming as a substitute for or against the God of the Bible; as we see in the persona of the Antichrist Beast and world economic and religious system. Satan knows scripture well enough to quote it; and we wouldn't expect anything less from the enemy of God's people.
We can see in the miracles of Christ similar things to the ministry of Elijah. Healing of the blind is unique ( John 9:32-33
Contending for the faith involves strict adherence to what is clear in the Bible and I try to constantly emphasize cross references.
Knowing the Lord through His Spirit is different than knowing a lot about the Lord. There is always a certain amount of truth involved in deception. This is what allows a false doctrine to sneak in when cherry picking verses that seem to prove a point and disregarding context. When someone is proved false then often the "baby goes out with the bathwater"; and people want to disbelieve God is capable; for instance of still doing the miraculous today.
A good case in point is those who claim to cast out demons. As far as "signs and wonders" go; I would call this a necessary gift as I can't see how there aren't as many demons around today as ever (thus disproving "casting them back into the pit" which is clearly unscriptural.) From my own limited experience in that arena; I have seen demons removed and heard of evidence of it occuring quietly in more traditional churches (in one case through a specific name a Pastor's wife had of an entity that had affected a church member attacking his wife in his sleep who had it cast out through prayer). This was kept "in wraps"-this Godly woman is a very shy person and some are of a cessationist mentality in that denomination. The other case was a Baptist church long ago where such an event was described to me as happening in the late 70's and it was a sort of matter of fact statement.
Today's sideshows on camera unless followed by a legitimate testimony are immediately suspect. I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be seen by multitudes going through something like that knowing of the ridicule it would inevitably produce with unknown social media links.
Agape; Rich p
In vv.3-4 Mark explains for the non Jewish converts about the tradition of the elders. Similarly he quotes the words and supplies its meaning. "Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."(5:41)
In vv. 5:40 "And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying." The world would not know the distinction between sleeping and dying. In the land of the living Jesus knew his Father better than they all. He is the God of the living. So he did not want the disbelieving world in the house where he was present.
Another interesting feature of the gospel is in the manner the Evangelist uses the tag of the house to designate two worlds. In the raising of the dead Jesus goes into the house and in healing the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman he rewarded her implicit faith by sending her off,"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed."(7:30).In both cases the house has to have belief for its own sake. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"( Luke 18:8). The earth abides forever because it belongs to the Son.
vv.14-16 Jesus preaches gospel to the world and the Spirit gives us a clue as to how it is to be interpreted." If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." St Mark thereafter inserts this verse, "And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable."(v.17) The house is where the Master expounds truth to those who hunger after righteousness."But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear./ For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them./Hear ye therefore." (Matt.13:16-18)
" 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
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.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
"And the two fishes divided he among them all./And they did all eat, and were filled." Here we have an example of kangaroo words. The two primarily refers to the number of fishes while there were five loaves of bread. What you eat has it way of passage, and as Jesus took pains to explain it is eaten "Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?(7:19). What the heart can do leads to everlasting life while traditions of man, with his table manners in the Roman times often lasted into late hours in suppers where the guests would end under the table in their own vomit. What the Spirit is demonstrating are heaven and earth as two worlds so Jesus " And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them."(v.41)
Before appointing the twelve he goes up to a mountain, and called them who would. His Sermon on the Mount set the Rock of Ages for a testimony and Mark similarly narrates that Jesus bound the twelve to service so their authority came from heaven as his came. As the master so were the disciples.
As indicative of their singleness of purpose Jesus took the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them." In short the disciples were partakers of the heavenly calling.(He.3:1). The number of fishes is two and signifies a number of objects each is set in terms of God. God fashions all hearts alike and tries their works. In the Parable of the Talents each servant was bound to give account over them. Number of men in this chapter "And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men".(v.44) In the other,"And they that had eaten were about four thousand: "(8:9). These are set for a purpose.
"But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
St John sums it up this way, "He (Jesus) came unto his own, and his own received him not."(v.11). He refers his Jewishness. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,/To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."(Gal.4:4-5) The nation of Israel understood what the law meant but not what it referred to. Herein lay their dilemma. Law for them became traditions of their fathers so when the Law (its fulness) walked among them full of grace all they could say "they( the Pharisees) said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." (Matt.12:24). Jesus was a sign as Moses was one. He served as his double before his Advent. They could not keep the Law of Moses but would want to go back to Egypt under another captain it showed they were incapable of holding truth.(Nu.14:4)
Symptomatic of their perverseness was their curiosity. How often they demanded of Jesus to show them a sign. It merely satisfied their shallow religiosity. Jesus rightly condemned their place among the wicked adulterous generation than as the sons. "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39). Without entering into spiritual significance of the sign, and without dying in him they were not worthy to be called sons. In their rebellious spirit all chastisement was wasted so Jesus dismissed them by saying,"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matt.23:36-38). For this reason Jesus instructed his disciples to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony.(6:11)
Part 1
Traditions are practices, customs, or rituals that are passed down from generation to generation.
Truth refers to unbiassed reality, the correct representation of facts, it surpasses personal opinions or feelings.
Easter Sunday is a holiday celebrated by millions of people around the world who honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is also the day that many children excitedly wait for the Easter Bunny to arrive and deliver their treats of baskets filled with chocolate, eggs, and stuffed rabbits.
Easter is a holiday that is now chosen to correspond with the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox unless the full moon falls on a Sunday then it would be the next Sunday. Passover is now not considered in selecting the day. The Jewish feast that was the same day Jesus resurrected that most overlook is the Feast of First Fruits even though Jesus is the First Fruits of them that slept.
There are many myths about Easter, but all come from pagan sun worship and their festivals correspond with the sun's equinoxes. The ascension of Christ and Pentecost has been changed to 40 days from Easter and 50 days from Easter not from the first day after the Sabbath after Passover day.
Easter was originally called Resurrection Morning which was the Feast of First Fruits, the first day after the sabbath day after Passover during the Feast of unleavened bread, this is the first day in counting the days of the seven sabbaths of the Feasts of Weeks, that has been replaced with traditions of Good Friday, two days in the grave, sunrise services, Ezekiel 8:15-16, bunnies, colored eggs, baskets, pretty hats and dresses.
Does the Bible tell us what day Jesus was crucified? Yes, Jesus is our Passover and for Him to fulfill the Feasts it would have to be exactly as the first Passover. The lambs were taken up on the 10th and killed on the evening before the sunset on the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:1-6.
See part 2.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56 Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41 Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49 John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2 Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12 Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
God bless,
RLW
If I may say when we open our Bible to read and study, if we are not willing to leave the baggage of traditions at the door and what we think we know, and in prayer with the mindset that we do not know anything our eyes and ears will be closed to the Spirit of truth. Until we are willing to humble ourselves the truth will be hidden.
Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
God bless,
RLW
"Who is my mother, or my brethren?"
The question is all the more striking since Jesus does not include his father. Jesus never had doubt as to where he came from or was going to. St Luke informs us, "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"( Luke 2:49). His Father was in heaven and he knew his deity was still entwined in his Father's bosom. So the words that he spoke as he heard while in heaven and what he put in his mouth. So the conclusion? Man can only be part of their relationship by acknowledging that he has to fulfill the will of the Father which art in heaven while in flesh and blood. No other shortcuts.
"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
God breathed in the nostrils of man so everyone of us is represented in Adam. The spirit of God breathed into us must be for entering into the rest of God. The kingdom of God rules over all so His sovereignty is what makes His creation bask in his power and glory.(Ps.103:19). We shall understand the power of the Spirit in controlling movements. Murmuring of starling is fascinating to watch. As they sway en masse and form clouds no one can be identified in the multitude. One may be any where and yet nowhere. They flit and float without any mishap. How do they do it? There is a skill the spirit of God has given them, the wherewithal so they prosper.
The same power of God and glory and the fall of man shows where he differs from the birds of the air. Instead of being sustained by the grace from the throne of God he speaks of culture as Jews would wave 'the traditions of their fathers' that brought condemnation from Jesus. Without acknowledging God as the Father and doing his will perfectly no nations shall survive.
"No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse./ And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."
The saying of Jesus is mentioned in both versions of Matthew and Luke.
We shall examine it from the specific, in the resistance of the Jews to him. They judged him from their holier-than-thou attitude as the people of the Law. What had the Law of Moses become? It was a treatise collated from the everlasting covenant, which before the advent of the Son in the fulness of time was given to the nation of Israel as the path to righteousness. Garment as in the Parable of the Wedding Guest refers to righteousness. So when Jesus spoke the parable it was in condemnation of what had come up as tradition. It was as unexpected as tares from the Parable. "An enmy hath done this'. From the manner the scribes and the Pharisees held on to the traditions of their fathers which only allowed them to fill up to the measure of their fathers. In his woe to ye tirade he faulted them,"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."(Matt.23:23). Their hypocritical observation of paying tithes and worship rather to be seen of men than any real change in their old selves was new. This mix and match of old with new did not sit well.
In Luke we have " But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved./No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better."(5:38-39)
New wine in new bottles refer to the new creation.
I was in a very odd situation with a former OPC church I attended where I was granted a sort of "partial" membership without ascribing to their stance on infant baptism. There are a couple other issues which would keep me out of a similar place in the future (that church shut down 6 or 7 years ago due to lack of attendance). I will say that it wasn't required that I believed in their stance on Postmillenialism; although I may have mentioned here in the past when it was brought up how foolish it was to believe in the Antichrist and Mark of the Beast in one of their sermons and I took them up on that they sort of backed down. It wasn't a requirement to adhere to their eschatology, although it was a rather cliquish sort of mentality at that place. I agreed to disagree with them without such banter so I thought it only fair; however of course it was their belief.
In any case; infant baptism has cast a rather nebulous picture in my mind as to explanations; somehow holding what children or infants were commemorated with when they become adults and rebel as if they had some sort of inherent partaking of a covenant; I suppose equivalent to the Israelites who were "baptized" by crossing the Red Sea. ( 1 Cor. 10:2). No one I know actually thinks someone is saved through infant baptism but nonetheless they seem in my mind to have carried on a Catholic tradition through the Reformers in the past. I also had a "rebaptism"; having argued beforehand the sprinkling of water should also be legitimate ( Ezekiel 36:25). In my case I had it done that way along with my wife at the time because she had a balance issue going totally underwater; but I rededicated myself to a commitment as a church member when I had an immersion at the founding of a church I used to attend at its inception almost 10 years ago. Seeing how quickly Philip baptized the eunuch in Acts 8; and the jailor with his family ( Acts 16:33) it should follow salvation quickly.
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)
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)
I am one who believes in the hard sayings in particular that those who are living in adultery we should warn of their fate and also that taking communion should not involve those who are living in fornication and adultery or any other unrepentant sin involving a lifestyle of sin in particular. In my mind that involves second or later marriages of those whose first spouse is still living which is an issue I am currently dealing with in my church. I am not here going to debate on this particular posting the meaning of the "exception clause" due to "fornication" in Matthew 5 and 19 which is NOT present in parallel passages in Luke and Mark; and further bolstered by passages in Romans and Corinthians.
My concluding concept here is that ALL doctrines according to 2 Timothy 3:16 are important for teaching; edification; etc.
There are always some things debated; and no church has a perfect understanding or is sinless. Nonetheless the things that are clearly taught should be obeyed whether we like it or not to maintain a place where the Spirit is welcome and we aren't in danger of the "candlestick" going out as we see with the Ephesian church in Revelation who abandoned their "first love." This doesn't leave any room for partiality or pride whether it be for our leadership or church members; traditions; etc. It is God's church; not our own. The Lord disciplines His own; and we are being tested to see if we will be faithful until the end. If the enemy comes into the camp; through our own wickedness or the invasion of others then we are negligent in our duties if we don't try to stop it. We do what we can; God may indeed have determined to let a local church fail to fulfill greater purposes; but we need to be jealous for the truth as long as some truth prevails; at least until God opens a door for us to move on; or we are thrown out. The ten thousand dollar question is whether the Spirit is welcomed or locked out.
The subject of prophecy never seems to be an issue in one regard among those who generally hold to proper scriptural interpretation in one sense; that is of PAST fulfillment. A Reformed church and many other traditional denominational assemblies hold onto belief that the Prophets accurately predicted specific events; in particular relating to the first coming of Christ. When it comes to future prophecies related to the nation of Israel and the Millennium there is often confusion as to what is taken literally and what is meant figuratively. Thus; again sometimes it is claimed that we can't understand certain things; or perhaps more insidious that because of an isolated doctrinal stance we can't pigeonhole something being literally fulfilled because it threatens that doctrine. Needless to say if our doctrines are truly Biblical and we take scripture literally unless clearly indicated as figurative we can make a lot more sense of things.
We need to remind ourselves that when Christ came the first time He was; by and large not received by His own ( John 1:11). We also need to realize that no matter how much prophecy we read if we are not written in the Book of life we are ultimately going to be deceived to the point that ALL who aren't there will worship the Antichrist (Beast) mentioned in Revelation 13:8.
As I have commented numerous times in the past few years at this site; by the sixth seal it is clear there are no more Atheists; nonetheless many will continue to live in open rebellion and follow Satan to their doom at Armageddon after damning themselves and taking the Mark of the Beast. Despite these factors; there are some who have reservations as to the Eschatology of a Millennium period; for example who I still fellowship with despite disagreeing with their interpretations.
A bigger issue is those who think God is done with Israel; a common verse used is Romans 9:6 as well as Galatians 3:7.
I will discuss this further.
v.13 "For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Scribes and Pharisees cause others to stumble to which Jesus had commented on another occasion, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(18:6)
v.14 " hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." Hypocrisy of Pharisees is to sound holier -than- thou while they hear only the sound of money coming in.
v.15 "for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Church planting is well and good. After big fanfare and cheers who shall water them daily and attend to their growth do get lost. St Paul faulted churches in Corinth and ensewhere on their partisan spirit. Heresies find a fertile ground in this spirit of contention.
vv.16-18 :Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" Wherever the vitality of the doctrine of God is glossed over from Christ to the tradition of man it becomes idolatry. In the age of televangelists it is what celebrities thrive upon. The disciple pointed at the temple in admiration "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(24:2). Glory of what is seen is temporal and shall fade off. Without taking two worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one and our everlasting life is assured on jour Redeemer Lord what we witness about us is hypocrisy. The Pharisees and scribes were content with praise of men and God swept them off as filth from the face of the earth.
In general we see two types of witnessing to the Gospel; one is what I refer to as a general calling type of approach or a declaration of the Kingdom to come. The other is specific to individuals. It is noteworthy that when Jesus dealt with those who were not amenable to the Good News there seems to be little or no evidence of any extensive discussions related to individuals; instead we see the addressing of the Pharisees as a whole (usually triggered by one or several people he was around at the time).
The exceptions are those who he challenged that claimed to be ready to be His disciples who usually turned away; and with his trials before crucifixion.
We are; in general better going out two by two as is the method of Christ's sending out of the disciples initially. With Paul the Apostle we may have a somewhat different situation since he had such a dominance in evangelism; although he was imprisoned with Silas and worked along with Timothy and others. His imprisonment no doubt contributed to some isolation as well.
Reaching people usually is best when we can reach them apart from those enabling their sinful lifestyles; as we see with the example of someone who has a gay lifestyle; although street witnessing may have to deal with multiple individuals. This is also best when approaching those of other religions; and it is usually best to address the man of the family in cultures where they are traditionally in charge of a family; especially for men who are witnessing. Going back once again to those in same sex relationships; we need to hold to the same concept we would with anyone engaged in a sinful lifestyle; we should show the love of Christ but not support things (such as gay weddings). We don't need to be overly creative in such a response; as believers we can demonstrate as in the rest of our lives the fear of the Lord that we have.
More to come in next posting.
So, in one sense, it becomes a personal matter until the Spirit sheds His Light to bring us understanding. And as I mentioned earlier, we may, even with our differences on this subject, might still be closer in agreement than we realize. After all, you do believe, I trust, that it was God Who placed His Holy Seed in Mary, so immediately we know that this was no ordinary human birth. The matter then surrounds whether this Seed was first in another Form within God's Person Who was also involved in creation & very likely in other Works of God, or not. As you wrote, we will know all these things "at the end of the road". Blessings to you & yours, in Christ Jesus and thanks again for a good lively discussion.
I thank you for even discussing this and whether you consider me a brother I consider you one. All I have replied to you is the truth from my understanding of Scripture. In your reply, I feel I have offended you and that was not my goal. Like I said from the beginning is to convey my understanding of the Scripture. Your understanding is for your conscience. If you choose one road and I choose another we will find the answer at the end of the road. But if we are not willing to empty our minds as we know nothing, in prayer study, we choose tradition over truth.
Love you brother.
God bless,
RLW
Ex.12:1-6
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,/ This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
God spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt. Before the children of Israel could claim the Promised Land 'this month' signified altogether a new walk with God. When He says, 'Now is the day of salvation' it is God's Time. It is thus we look at the spiritual significance of a new year. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Co.5:17)".
Their observance of Tisri was after the traditions of their fathers. Not so with God.
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house'(12:3)
'A lamb for an house' is highly significant.' On the tenth day, which entails a time lapse. The house or the nation the symbolism of the lamb remains consistent with the slain Lamb before the foundation of the world. It is the emblem for Salvation Plan in the divine Will through ages. What does the numberTen signify? Ten is a full hand or measure. It has another significance, under the Law: judgment
The Passover day also coincided with Joshua (Hellenized form of the name is Jesus) leading the people, "And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho (Josh.4:19)". Here is another: And Christ, our Paschal Lamb, on this day entered Jerusalem, riding on an ass; the people bearing palm branches, and crying, Hosanna, ( John 12:12-13).
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Answer:
I will be delivered and who it concerns through our Lord Jesus Christ in oral tradition
Psalm 91:3 KJV
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.
Armageddon; and the ultimate end of Satan at the end of the Millennial reign of Christ is the ultimate conclusion of God's plan in using the enemy of our soul to purge the world of rebels and to end the power of death completely with a new heaven and earth (see 1 Cor. 15:26; Revelation 21 and 22).
Eternal punishment fits the crime so we can understand as wicked as things have been throughout human history it has stored up wrath for Satan as well as the unregenerate ( Romans 2:5 and subsequent verses in that chapter). The philosophy of "do as thou wilt" that is prominent among self proclaimed Satanists is contrasted with a sacrificial love that only Christ can offer. Everything seems backwards but the Lord has the master plan no matter how clever men and their devices are to destroy Christ (see Psalm 5:10; and read Psalm 2). Unregenerate man simply cannot understand how being a servant or slave of Christ brings men to freedom and how the opposite appeals to the flesh leave one in bondage in the end. They think we can somehow go back to Eden (as seen in the humanistic music of the 60's); but we see the result of this "free love" in the 70's and beyond with the rapid decay of traditional families in regard to sustainability of marriages and the removal of God's design for a family and harmonious home life. Whether Satan himself ever realized how wicked he would become is debateable; it would appear that Antichrist himself and or other rulers may not have realized this in verses such as Isaiah 10:7. The enemy always wants to sugarcoat the extreme jeopardy of man remaining in a sinful state by distracting him with grand delusions that lead nowhere but to destruction.
We see in Psalm 23:5 a verse on eating in the presence of enemies which indeed we will do during the Millennium when some inevitably will rebel at the end and insanely under Satan attempt one final time to destroy God and His people leading to failure.
A title given to fifteen psalms from 120 to 134 inclusive of which four are attributed to King David and one to his son Solomon. There were three appointed feasts namely Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. By tradition pilgrims expressing their joy in going up to Jerusalem would have sung. There are 15 songs in this series and each psalm may correspond to the step leading a pilgrim.
Historically the children of Israel showed that they moved on their bellies in the wilderness. How often did they grumble against Moses and Aaron? (Ex.16:3) They would have stoned them and they despised manna, which God gave. He fed them with angel's food. Yet what was their cry? "And said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?"(Nu.11:4-5) God sent them quails, which gives us a revealing glimpse as to why they stopped short from doing the commandments with their heart and soul. Their rebellious spirit brought cancer to their souls since they would not worship God, a Spirit in spirit and truth. "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.(106:15). A wasting disease nevertheless.
These are examples and left for 'our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come'. In short the Spirit warns us to search our hearts well as we are pilgrims and sojourners even as they. The Spirit of Christ revealed to Prophet Elisha what motivated his servant, "And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man (Naaman) turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? (2 Ki.5:26)
" For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation./ This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it."/
There are egregious errors which false prophets and others can do with incorrect or deliberately nefarious manipulations of the Word of God to suit their own purposes. That is not the focus here.
After the first two postings; it is certainty important to assess before we study anything why we are doing it. As new believers; of course it is often the leadership of a Pastor that initiates our study of scriptures when we are largely ignorant of it's contents (unless atheists that have already studied the Bible as literature respecting it's dominance in history and importance through the centuries). This parenthesis I feel shouldn't be overlooked. As a dumbed down society we are often discouraged from appreciating anything enough to determine even if it may be interesting. It is much like how we don't learn Chinese but the Chinese are mandated to learn English for economic gain; and also to beat the enemy at their own game. In the same logic it helps to study the basic tenents and literature of another religion before attempting to witness to them; not to search for something meaningful for us but to show the person we witness to that we are willing to take the time so that arguments brought up may be refuted by the Bible as well as the logic of the sacred writings they themselves hold up to where often contradictory statments exist. For some; of course the doctrines of demons may have a great pull to drive us away from truth to false gods. Therefore; we must be ready for the "meat" of scripture and be growing in the faith "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" ( Matt. 10:16). The application there shows how Jesus confronted the Pharisees. He not only knew the scriptures well; but their traditions and how they would twist the truth.
In all of this we must be convinced ourselves that the Bible is inerrant and be driven by the Holy Spirit to enter into a commitment and plan for daily reading.
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