Hi Ms White: Its not there, God is not sending plagues like he did in the old testament, don't be fooled by what you hear, we are under Grace, God is not punishing the belivers or sinners. God is a sovereign God and he has everything under control & for us belivers All things work together for good to those who Love God and are called according to his purpose. What good can come out of all this depends on you, if we die from it Praise God, to absent from the body and to present with the Lord. For God does not give us the Spirtit of Fear but of Power Love and of a sound mind. Rest your Faith on his Grace, his Word and His Love for You.
Hi Thomas: No insulting is not a sin, Jesus himself several times insultaed the Pharasees for there Hypocrisy, the world would have you feel bad when especially the religous folks when you speak against those who maybe speaking contrary to the bible, you just tell the truth and if its hurts someone oh well. They that Love the Lord shall not be offended.
Hi Emily: the best way to get closer to God is too read the Bible, I recommed reading Pauls letters Ephesians, Collosians, Phillipians, ect... Just a brief history Act 9 is where Jesus himself chose Paul to preach the gospel of Grace, Jesus himself has set aside the jewish kingdom gospel, do to there rejection Rom 11:11, God is reaching out to us Gentiles by his grace, and the gospel message for us today is found in 1Cor 15:1-4 Paul make it very clear. The Gospels are all about Jesus Kingdom Message that he had promised King David, however they rejected there King & after his resurrection Jesus did have the Apsotles continue to preach the kingdom message but after Acts 7 it Changed Acts 9.
Hey Travis;peace be unto you.Again about tithing;Preachers should never read anything into the Bible,but read from the Bible.What the Bible says not what they want it to say.Tithing was for the Jews not for us believers in Christ.You see GOD divides the whole human race into three distinct groups--the Jews,the Gentiles and the Church of GOD.WE are the church,both Jew and Gentile,who by faith have received the LORD JESUS CHRIST and been born from above.The Jews;not us are the only ones who were ever commanded to pay tithes.As far as Mal.3:10 goes I suggest you read John Gill,s commentary on that passage,you will get clarification.Now quickly;When GOD said if I will not open you the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing,that there shall not be room enough to receive it.He was talking about opening up the Heavens and send rain for the crops.The preacher using the curse threat;GOD don,t curse what He has already blessed.Ephesians !:3 says that we are blessed with all spiritual bles
The body of Christ is the church, many who confess Christ think that the church is the place where they go a worship. The church is in the person heart, for the believer are the bodies of Christ. That is why it is important that we study the word of God each day and ask the Lord for understanding of His word.
Acts Chapter 7: 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of EGYPT, and in the RED SEA, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the CHURCH church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount (SINAI) Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust [him] from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
(this shows the church crossed the red sea with Moses in the wilderness)
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Hi Debra: You had asked, What is the Church Jesus built called according to the Bible? The Answer- The Body of Christ. Read Chapt 3 again and vs 6. Most Christians have not been taught how too rightly divide the word of truth, Tim 2:15 I know i was one of them for 20 years i read the bible over and over again and found to many contrdictions and beliefs in my so called church, so decide to leave and search it out for myself and found a great discovery of the scripture of 2nd Tim 2:15. The question is where did God place his division? It all starts with Acts Chapter 9 Sauls Salvation and his Gospel of Grace. Who we know today as the Apsotle Paul. His letters are written for us today and his letters expalin what God is doing today, we are not in the old testament or in the gospels that is all for the Jews and his promise of the kingdom and we Gentiles were never part of the Jewish Covenant that God made to them, it was through there fall salvation is come unto us. Romans 11:11
Hi Travis: Thanks for responding, yes Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, which was before the Law, and he did it out of his free will being there was no law to say otherwise, but when the law came it was a command for the Jews to bring in there tithes unto the Lord, never was it required for the Gentiles to bring tithes unto the Lord, so why do you say it is for us today? Also where was money instituted as a tithe? it was of there crops, fruit and herds, as I read plainly in scripture, never did I read money under the old Testament Law. Question who changed it to money? 2nd Question - (you say tithing is for us today) my question is, which Gospel are you following? I look foward to your response.
James: No.1. I didn't comment on Ephesians 3 either. You might have mistakenly assumed that from the strange, usually incorrect, subject that follows our names around. Maybe, the post had its roots in Ephesians at the beginning.
And No.2. I couldn't grasp your point & relevance to Tithing. I did say that Tithing was an OT requirement not found in the NT. However, since it was given & sanctioned by the LORD, it must be a worthy model/rule of thumb for us to follow, IF WE DESIRE TO. The Lord be with your spirit, too.
This is for chris:I didn,t comment on tithing being anywhere in Ephesians.That,s number one.number two what I said is scripture.You don,t have to add anything else to it.GOD Bless you and keep the faith.Faith is from GOD.And like I said;by faith of Abraham,Law given through Moses and by grace we have been saved through faith.The promise was given to Abraham before the Law was given through Moses .GOD would never go back on His promise to the Father of many nations through His SEED, JESUS CHRIST.SEED not seeds.By the Law no one will be saved:Scripture alone;Christ alone;Grace alone;Faith alone;Glory of GOD alone.GOD Bess.
Tithing was more strict under Jewish ceremonial law but it started before the law with Abram and Melchizedek. Tithing is very much for today, Chris is right. However, its dependent on our trust in God. Besides the promise of Malachi 3:10, we read in gospels how even though Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for leaving out judgment and mercy, he commended them for the tithe. But that is a secondary issue and not to take precedent above the former. Besides in Hebrews 7:8 the Bible says "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth"
In other words Jesus still receives our tithes in Heaven as a pattern of how it worked under the law. Giving of our tithe or our firstfruits of our increase shows God our faith in Him that he will provide for us, plus giving of our tithes also shows that we are faithful in the "least of things", bible says money is the least of things and that if we can trust Him in that arena he can entrust us more
Hi Chris: tithing is under the Jewish Law, we Gentiles were never part of the Jewish law or the convenant God made to the Jews, so to teach new belivers to tithe as part of giving is confusion, and confusion is not of God ( Ist Cor 14:33 ) your intentions might mean well, however 2nd Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth. Pauls revelation was given to him by Christ himself, we are told Today we are under grace not the law. Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
You're quite correct James; tithing was an OT practice & of course, offerings are generally regarded as gifts aside from tithes. "That every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" ( 2 Cor 9:7). So we are advised to give out of the willingness & cheerfulness of our hearts, so whether our gifts are big or small, it is God that will multiply & use it for His Purposes. However, tithing is a good way to guide believers, particularly new ones, as to responsible giving. After all, 10% is not much, & for those struggling to even give this, then they can give what they can cheerfully, or even see the Lord "pour them out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" ( Mal 3:10). I knew a young man, who gave 30% of his salary & then put aside some for the provision to missionaries. May have been a big sacrifice, but he never had a shortfall. He is Faithful.
There is nothing in the New Testament commanding a follower of Christ to tithe;period. Stop lying on GOD and telling people that tithing and giving an offering is the same thing.If you feed people things that the Bible does not say.that,s antichrist speaking.'God says H e loves a cheerful giver,not a cheerful tither. Revelation 22:18&19,2 Tim.4:1-3.All scripture is given by inspiration of GOD;not man.when I think about tithing i think about Exodus 35and36 when the people were told to stop bringing.GOD,s people will give without being told.GOD Bless.
Debra, there are references to Church of Christ ( Rom 16:16, Eph 3:21), but as a matter of fact, there are far more references to the 'Church of God' in the NT. I have seen in my travels: Grace Church, Church of Hope, Abba Church, Eternity Church, Heart of the City Church, plus many more; then there is Church of Jesus Christ (of the Latter Day Saints). Which is the true Church? Certainly not the 'latter'. Any church that claims to be the true Church of Christ or of God, will most likely have some cultish element within & we need to be aware. I've been to a Church of Christ & found them to be well founded on God's Word, so your meeting with a couple of them, appears to show a Church out of the mainstream C of C. Jesus Christ's Church is His Body; He is the Head (the Cornerstone) Eph 2:19-22, 1 Pet 2:4-10, etc. We are His Body ( Eph 4:15,16; Rom 12:4,5) & the Body's existence depends on the Living Christ & His Living Word. So please don't be troubled or deceived by their beliefs.
Debra Miller - your concerns are well founded. Per those pastors of the C of C then I suppose all the people who died before they were created in the 1800's were never saved. You will also find the Seventh Day Adventists and the Jehovah's Witnesses had roots in the Millerite movement. Individuals inside these groups may be very faithful to Christ, but my experience with any large organization is not positive. Personally I believe small home churches are the future of the true church of the Lord.
Jesus said: Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Hi Debra, I have decades of experience with the Church of Christ and while I have found many loving and well meaning people, I generally disagree with the positions taken and how they conduct their church. Specifically I feel it is wrong to cast judgment on others Matthew 7:5 even within other Christians in the C of C denomination, and I feel 'works' is overemphasized as if some believe they can earn their way to heaven, and I felt that having relationship with God and Jesus was underemphasized, as well as the holy spirit underemphasized, and saying playing an instrument is a sin even though the Bible said David played a harp, etc. As if it's fine to play for secular music but not to worship God? For anyone who says 'unless you are baptized and attend regularly our specific church you will go to hell' I feel is unbiblical and God will judge them just like everyone else. Some call them a cult, and while some may be, I would not go that far for most. Not everyone who attends that denomination will necessarily believe all those things but many do in my experience. 1 Cor 10.
Reason for my question is I have had conversations with the Church of Christ members who two of them are pastors and they say it's in the Bible Jesus's Church is calledThe Church of Christ. They are the true Church all others are blasphemious and unless you go to their Church you will not make it into Heaven. I have read that this Church was actually built in the 1800's by Thomas and Alexander Campbell. I was just needing clarification I'm under the correct impression that this statement they claim is simply not true. I believe that Jesus is the church not a building nor any demonation. They also say they are not a demonation. The way they talk and respond to anyone who disagrees with them is not very Christian like at all. Any other information you can share with me on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
My other comments: This is a Gk. word which commonly means, 'any gathering or assembly of people', but biblically, 'a company of believers gathered for worship/who have put their trust in Jesus, including those assemblies that gather throughout the world'. Jesus first spoke to disciple Peter ( Mt 16:18) when He said: "That thou are Peter (Stone, Petros) & upon this Rock (Petra) I will build My Church (Ekklesia) & the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it". Here, Jesus had earlier asked Peter, "Whom do you say I am". He replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God". So Jesus makes a play on words: Stone: Petros & Rock: Petra; saying then, "Your name means a Stone but upon this other Stone (Rock), i.e. the declaration you have just made to Jesus' Divinity, is on what My Church will be built. RCs fuse the two together believing that Christ's Church was built upon Peter & so the papal line.
The Church which is built on Jesus' life, death & resurrection is generally referred to as Ekklesia. Debra, I had tried to send more information but it never gets through (as with some other responses), so I'll see if I can send some more again.
If anyone chooses not to eat pork, I will never argue with them about it. And if I'm out someplace for dinner with a brother or sister in Christ, and they feel it's wrong to eat something, guess what? I'm not going to eat it either. I have that freedom in Christ. True freedom is when we are free not only to do things, but to not do things. That's true freedom!
Part 3) Peter is saying that it's an unlawful thing, according to the "Rabbi's Rules," for a man that is a Jew, to keep company, or to come into one of another nation; anybody that's not a Jew, but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. It's the same thing God showed him about the animals. Now Peter is putting two and two together, because he didn't understand the vision that was given to him.
The section I mentioned, Acts 10:9-16, is referring to animals. It's clear to me that Matthew 15:11 is saying it's not what a person eats that defiles that person. And yes, it's what comes out of the mouth, the evil words that come from a man's heart. That's what defiles the man, not what he eats.
Part 2) Well, here's what the Rabbi's Rules came to. For instance, it was against God's law for a Jew to eat a pig. And so the Rabbi's said "Since it is against God's law for you to eat Gentile food, especially a pig, then we will make up a rule that it is not lawful for you to interact with a Gentile, because if you don't interact with the Gentile, you will not eat Gentile food, especially pig.
So they made the rule up. You see, that was their reasoning. It wasn't because of what God said, but because of man in his rules and regulations, the "Rabbi's Rule's" as they're called.
They said a Gentile is unclean and off limits. God never said that, the Jews did. I find no place in scripture where God ever said that a Gentile is unclean. All of this between the Jews and the Gentiles is all because the Jews decided themselves that the Gentiles were unclean. God never said that!
Jesse Greetings, Yes Rabbi's rules Jesus called them the commandments of men aka tradition of the elders and condemned them for it. Good point. Christ blasted them for this. Like the Noahide laws today.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Hi Bob, thanks for sharing that. I will need to break this up in order to respond.
I understand where you are coming from. I did not mention Acts 10:28, but I did take a closer look at it and this is my conclusion. Peter said, you know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come in unto one of another nation;
I see Peter is referring to Gentiles, and he says it is unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile because the Jews considered them to be "unclean." Gentiles were even referred to as dogs.
Here is something that is important for me in understanding this section of scripture. The word "unlawful" used in Verse 28 has nothing to do with the Torah, the Law given by God to the Jews. It has to do with going against Jewish customs.
It's what is called "The Rabbi's Rules." I love The Rabbi's Rules! They came up with their own laws in light of God's laws. You might say isn't that kind of adding?
Acts Chapter 7: 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of EGYPT, and in the RED SEA, and in the wilderness forty years.
37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38 This is he, that was in the CHURCH church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount (SINAI) Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust [him] from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
(this shows the church crossed the red sea with Moses in the wilderness)
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
And No.2. I couldn't grasp your point & relevance to Tithing. I did say that Tithing was an OT requirement not found in the NT. However, since it was given & sanctioned by the LORD, it must be a worthy model/rule of thumb for us to follow, IF WE DESIRE TO. The Lord be with your spirit, too.
Tithing was more strict under Jewish ceremonial law but it started before the law with Abram and Melchizedek. Tithing is very much for today, Chris is right. However, its dependent on our trust in God. Besides the promise of Malachi 3:10, we read in gospels how even though Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for leaving out judgment and mercy, he commended them for the tithe. But that is a secondary issue and not to take precedent above the former. Besides in Hebrews 7:8 the Bible says "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth"
In other words Jesus still receives our tithes in Heaven as a pattern of how it worked under the law. Giving of our tithe or our firstfruits of our increase shows God our faith in Him that he will provide for us, plus giving of our tithes also shows that we are faithful in the "least of things", bible says money is the least of things and that if we can trust Him in that arena he can entrust us more
Jesus said: Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
If anyone chooses not to eat pork, I will never argue with them about it. And if I'm out someplace for dinner with a brother or sister in Christ, and they feel it's wrong to eat something, guess what? I'm not going to eat it either. I have that freedom in Christ. True freedom is when we are free not only to do things, but to not do things. That's true freedom!
The section I mentioned, Acts 10:9-16, is referring to animals. It's clear to me that Matthew 15:11 is saying it's not what a person eats that defiles that person. And yes, it's what comes out of the mouth, the evil words that come from a man's heart. That's what defiles the man, not what he eats.
So they made the rule up. You see, that was their reasoning. It wasn't because of what God said, but because of man in his rules and regulations, the "Rabbi's Rule's" as they're called.
They said a Gentile is unclean and off limits. God never said that, the Jews did. I find no place in scripture where God ever said that a Gentile is unclean. All of this between the Jews and the Gentiles is all because the Jews decided themselves that the Gentiles were unclean. God never said that!
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
I understand where you are coming from. I did not mention Acts 10:28, but I did take a closer look at it and this is my conclusion. Peter said, you know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come in unto one of another nation;
I see Peter is referring to Gentiles, and he says it is unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile because the Jews considered them to be "unclean." Gentiles were even referred to as dogs.
Here is something that is important for me in understanding this section of scripture. The word "unlawful" used in Verse 28 has nothing to do with the Torah, the Law given by God to the Jews. It has to do with going against Jewish customs.
It's what is called "The Rabbi's Rules." I love The Rabbi's Rules! They came up with their own laws in light of God's laws. You might say isn't that kind of adding?