Regarding John 7:38: "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
The question is answered in the next verse. John 7:39: "(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
The illustration is of the Holy Ghost like a fountain of water gushing up from within the believer, giving all that pertains to the life more abundant, to testify to the glory of Jesus Christ.
In Genesis 16, the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness which she then called Beerlahairoi (well of the Living One seeing me).
Later in Genesis 26:19 Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water (also called living water as opposed to a well that needed to be drawn from by hand).
In Exodus 17, the LORD told Moses to smite the rock so that water would flow out to quench the thirst of the complaining Israelites. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.
The LORD had a controversy with his people in Jeremiah 2:13, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
Romans 9:15 says God will show mercy on whom he chooses and compassion on whom he chooses. To me this means the same as He has predestined who will accept Him. How do we know if we're ones who He will allow to be saved, shown mercy & compassion?
Question arises. Being Jesus came as the second Adam, then it seems the Church would be the new Eve and the Church would possess the Godly qualities of the woman by born again members, why then do these same members seem to have their own agendas instead of the submission to the will of the second Adam, Jesus Christ?
Comments about Israel them born of the Flesh or them born of the spirit. Romans 9 v 8 Flesh and blood are not the children of God Its the Children of Promise that are counted for that good seed which is the HG. OUR NEW INNERMAN that is gonna be born in Jew and Gentile a like. We all have to be bornagain of an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED Jew or gentile alike simply b/c we all carry that stain and spot of ADAM. Thats y he told Nic. a Jew he had to be bornagain. We must birth that new creature which is the H.G. The Child of Promise our new innerman which is Spirit. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision but a new creature which is the H.G.By 1 spirit are we all baptised into the body of Christ Jew or Gentile we all have been made to drink of that 1 spirit bond or free Thus there is no more Jew or Gentile in Christ ya are all one.Under the covenant Its the H.G. that is the Child of PROMISE that is gonna be born in us via his seed the word, being bornagain of an incoruptible seed even by the word of God that new covenant that he wrote with his own blood. Under this new covenant its the H.G that is the superstar the Children of Promise That is gonna be as the stars of heaven not carnal man which is in rank with satan. Outta of the hearts of man proceeds all manner of evil he even called Peter satan simply b/c he had not been bornagain of an incorruptible seed just yet he had been water baptised but not bornagain of an incorruptible seed th words of the book th words of life that will initiate a birth of Christ in US SINNERS the Child of Promise which is the H.G. Christ in US.It was his blood that made us all clean, Even in the O.T. without the shedding of blood there was no remission of sin. The reason Jesus was water baptised is he is our sacrificial Dove that had to be washed by running water (th Jordan) but he wd have to be killed and his blood sprinkled on the living bird the Church th disciples answers to the living bird, husbands love your wives as Christ loved th Church.
Hi there, your interpretation of this is very different. You consider this chapter discouraging to your faith, but I find it encouraging. You interpret this as a 2 faced God, but I see a consistent God of love. Whose interpretation is right? Have you ever considered why you interpret this the way you do? Does everyone interpret it your way? Why or why not? What if there are other perspectives?
The loving God I know hates sin. Sin is evil and involves hate, and the opposite of evil is good done through love. To follow God is a blessing and honor. I've been hearing some Christians complain that they feel entitled to sin and do evil, that it's wrong to not allow them to do it as Christians. This is just a lie from satan who likes deceiving people.
I don't know what part of this chapter you have a stumbling block on, but I can say, that most people likely don't interpret it the way you do.
Remember jesus said it was gonna be like the days of Noah impling a coming not with observation, something that is gonna come from our insides, something sown in our hearts that is gonna initiate this 2 nd coming a rapture, a catching away,like a bride is caught away on her wedding day. Behold th kingdom of GOD IS WITH IN YOU VIA THAT GOOD SEED TH WORD. 27 times th prophets saw the world in travail and birth pains. We don't need to go anywhere we are complete in him,besides there is no oxigen high up in the clouds. Soon the rain was coming down and the ppl were drowned but this 2 nd time its not natural water but spritual water Isaiah said that knowledge shall cover the earth as the waters cover th seas a spritual flood living waters then isaiah mentions the weaned child and the sucking child then isaiah mentions a 2 nd coming, I will set my hand again a 2 nd time to recover THE REME NANT OF my ppl this IS the rapture via seed ( THE CHILDREN ) SHE BROUGHT FORTH A MAN CHILD . Thats y jesus said these things are hid from the wise and prudent ( religious folks ) but revealed unto babes his babes that are spirits, That new born babe Paul is speaking of is the H.G. that desires the sincere milk of the Word . This 2 nd time is the rapture, thats y Isaiah is saying a lil child is gonna lead them i.e a Rapture remember what jesus said unless ya receive the kingdom as a lil child you will in no wise enter there in. Ya gotta realize that this new birth ( THE H.G. ) is the Plumbline that is gonna bring the kingdom to US EVEN WITH IN US.Thats y our new birth via his Seed is so important, that Promise that christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven requires a seed and an intimacy, thus he has to know us.gbu
Comments by alex about the rapture. to understand it ya must be bornagain, impling a child is gonna understand it. ya remember jesus said unless ya receive the kingdom as a lil child impling a birth. th real new birth via that heavenly seed the living the word the contents of that book in the right hand of the father that is gonna initiate a birth of christ in us. donot despise the day of small things ( the seeds of the sower that is gonna rapture us out ) in the spritual realm ) ya remember he said b/c i have spoken these words ( seeds ) sorrows have filled your hearts impling a spritual pregnancy thats when he told them of a child in their near future then he said i will see you again,the child being the h.g. as that which is born of the spirit is spirit which is th kingdom of god,unless ya receive the kingdom as a lil child impling a birth . isaiah said when he saw the kingdom coming unto us a child is born unto us a son is given he was seeing th rapture as wonderful, conselor, prince of peace ,everlasting father, and of his kingdom there shall be no end the reason this is the kingdom is simply b/c he is decribing a heavenly birth unless ya receive the kingdom as a lil child..when they argued amongest themselves who was the greatest jesus put a child in their mists prophetic of the h.g. th granson only the h.g cd be the granson simply b/c there is no other child that comes out of christ loins and its he that is the greatest the child of promise th 2 nd coming, the 1st coming was by a child christ jesus and the 2 nd coming is by another child another comforter the h.g.without a granson no israel of god,without a jacob there wd have been no natural israel.its god that wants a posterity thats y he told jesus i will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven thus there has to be a grand children so there might be a israel of god,thats y jesus is saying that which is born of the spirit is spirit thus the multiplcation of god in us sinners via his seed. forgive typing
Alex on Romans 9 v 8 implies th real children of God are spirits , WE ARE JUST JOINT HEIRS WITH THE H.G. OUR NEW INNERMAN, We are the mother simply b/c we birth the child, th H.G. as Jesus said that which is born of the spirit is spirit, Who is my mother he asked ? them that hear th word that good seed and keeps it INITIATING A BIRTH OF CHRIST IN US. THATS Y HE CALLS HIMSELF THE SON OF MAN.When Jeremiah spoke of the new covenant, he saw all men in travail and birth pains,But Jeremiah saw a Child coming that was gonna rule all nations, he saw all men giving birth to this Child and God said this was gonna be his battle ax the child which is the H.G. Jesus said that when he the spirit of truth is come he will reprove the world of sin and judgement & RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Alex'Comments on Romans 9 v 8 . The children of the Flesh are not the real children of God,its the children of Promise that counted for the good seed WHICH IS The H.G. Notice not jew or gentile but a new spirit ( our NEW HEART ) NO MATTER WHAT RACE,God so loved the world etc.All of the lords disciples were Jews but they all had to be bornagain of an incorruptible seed even by the word of God and they went into all the world preaching that H.G. Gospel.there was none exempt from being bornagain of that incoruptible seed even the word of God was that good seed .Now under this new covenant its only a new creature which is the H.G. pleases God.
Predestined and chosen are not the same thing. The Israelites were chosen. But if you read scripture, they weren't chosen in a predestination sort of way. GOD told them why they were chosen. He did it in remembrance of his promise to their ancestors.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 King James Version (KJV)
6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Keep in mind that GOD is not restricted by time as we are. GOD knows and sees our beginning from our end. Remember that he told Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew thee". GOD said "I knew thee"..He knew the type of character ESAU would be throughout and at the end of his life.
We have free will. GOD knows how we're going to use it.
Yes, concerning friend who has an homosexual lifestyle. God is willing to forgive all sin if one is willing turn and go Gods way. Done except the commits, like there is no use. First see if she desire to change. If so lead her to the new birth. This will be a faith walk so don't look on her natural but look at her spiritually.
Because it could be a stronghold, so we need to take on the long suffering with God. I pray for a good report
The Bible says, that ALL who call on the name of the LORD shall be saved, Jews, Greek, and the rest of us Gentiles alike, were grafted in to the Vine, which is Jesus ( John 15). As for predestination, gives the omniscient God the final say in the lives of mankind, (the all knowing, all seeing God knows who is His), in other words, it's a heart issue.
I don't think Romans 9:13 has anything to do with predestination or salvation. God doesn't determine ahead of time who will or will not be saved. He knows who will receive Him and who will reject Him. Predestination is never associated with salvation in the bible. You will always see the word associated with those who are already saved. It's what has been predestined or chosen for us as part of our inheritance. Predestination in the bible never has anything to do with predestinating people for Heaven or Hell. It's never used that way.
Every time the word predestinated is used in the scriptures; it always makes reference to part of our inheritance in Christ. If He did not choose me and predestine me to be holy and without blame before Him in His love, I'd never be able to stand before Him. But I've received Christ as part of my inheritance.
Christ died for everybody. He knows ahead of time who will receive Him. He never forces anybody to receive Him or reject Him. Because I am in Christ, I have been predestined by God to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren, that is, the head of the body of Christ, as He is.
As far as free will goes, you're going to upset a lot of "free-willies" here if you are telling them that they don't have a free will. Everyone has free will, and as long as they live in a body of flesh, they will always have that free will. But what is free will attached to, your flesh or your spirit?
It is the flesh that has free will. But God could care less about our flesh. He didn't save our flesh. He saved our spirit, our soul. Our flesh will NEVER submit to the things of the Lord because it will always be in opposition to Him. But our spirit, our soul, as Paul says, we are slaves to Jesus Christ. No free will when it comes to our soul. Our soul is saved forever if Christ is in us. He does not give us eternal life. He gives us Himself, and He is eternal life. That's why we have eternal life!
First, this verse isn't talking about physical birth but spiritual adoption, when looking at verse 3 through verse 5.
[3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.]
We must be careful in taking a single verse out of Scripture out of context, and yes, God IS infinite, and all knowing, this Scripture isn't talking about His supremacy, nor even predestination, but the grace and mercy of God.
Hi Art, I'm not seeing anything about predestination in that verse or the chapter. What did you read that led you to draw that conclusion? Does God not give people freewill?
You should communicate your sexual needs to your husband - And get a clear answer from him on your need for ( the "D" ) at times. His sex drive may not be at a level that he seeks what you seek. It is in communication. If you don't communicate your marriage will disintegrate.
God's word says that we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Except for Jesus, who initiates our faith to believe so that we will repent, no church, nor the gospel, at this time, can save a person. Go has His "elect" who he alone will call, just as he called Abram. Moses, Paul, Peter, and others did not hear the gospel before they were saved. Jesus alone saves a person. Therefore, no man can naturally call on the Lord on his/her own. unless God bids them come unto Him. For scripture also says. no man seeks after God no not one. After that. they turn and hear the gospel.
Diane, you have rec'd pertinent Scriptures & comment here. I would add: if indeed your contact who is 'struggling with homosexuality' believes that the condition is from birth, not acquired due to other factors, e.g. result from abuse, being led astray, looking for any love, etc., then your contact needs to know that homosexuality is regarded as sin (references given by Bob), & ALL sin can be repented of & a life can turn away from it. Yet, that is easy to say & hard to do. Sin comes to ALL of us: firstly, lust starts off in the mind & when allowed to develop (mature) & produce action (conceive), it brings forth sin; when it is finished, it brings forth death (eternal damnation) (Js 1:15). When we 'nip it in the bud' = in the mind/our desire, then there's no sin. If we allow it to mature & give in to action, sin is the result. Your contact may not easily clear his/her mind of this desire, but restraint to action is paramount. The Holy Spirit truly gives much strength & healing.
Diane: I would first seek counseling at your Church.
God gives us free will. How we live our lives depends (I think) on how much Bible you've got inside you. I do know the Bible says that the last days will be as in the day of Noah.
Diane - you really can not help someone struggling with sodomy. You can warn them about their ultimate destination and tell them to repent. When they want the Lord more than their sin, the Lord will clean them up. Seems many people want their sin and a get out of Hell card. That is not how it works.
Read Romans chapter 1: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,....
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death,....
He has violated your marriage vows according to the Bible. If he refuses to be reconciled & attend couples counseling, I would see an attorney.
We are called to peace. If this involves shouting and door slamming, it's not good for the kids peace either. Kids need a calm mother and a calm Dad. If it takes 2 houses, it does. I've been thru this and you'll be ok. Keep your focus on the Lord.
The question is answered in the next verse. John 7:39: "(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
The illustration is of the Holy Ghost like a fountain of water gushing up from within the believer, giving all that pertains to the life more abundant, to testify to the glory of Jesus Christ.
In Genesis 16, the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a fountain of water in the wilderness which she then called Beerlahairoi (well of the Living One seeing me).
Later in Genesis 26:19 Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water (also called living water as opposed to a well that needed to be drawn from by hand).
In Exodus 17, the LORD told Moses to smite the rock so that water would flow out to quench the thirst of the complaining Israelites. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.
The LORD had a controversy with his people in Jeremiah 2:13, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
The loving God I know hates sin. Sin is evil and involves hate, and the opposite of evil is good done through love. To follow God is a blessing and honor. I've been hearing some Christians complain that they feel entitled to sin and do evil, that it's wrong to not allow them to do it as Christians. This is just a lie from satan who likes deceiving people.
I don't know what part of this chapter you have a stumbling block on, but I can say, that most people likely don't interpret it the way you do.
Predestined and chosen are not the same thing. The Israelites were chosen. But if you read scripture, they weren't chosen in a predestination sort of way. GOD told them why they were chosen. He did it in remembrance of his promise to their ancestors.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 King James Version (KJV)
6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Keep in mind that GOD is not restricted by time as we are. GOD knows and sees our beginning from our end. Remember that he told Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew thee". GOD said "I knew thee"..He knew the type of character ESAU would be throughout and at the end of his life.
We have free will. GOD knows how we're going to use it.
Because it could be a stronghold, so we need to take on the long suffering with God. I pray for a good report
The Bible says, that ALL who call on the name of the LORD shall be saved, Jews, Greek, and the rest of us Gentiles alike, were grafted in to the Vine, which is Jesus ( John 15). As for predestination, gives the omniscient God the final say in the lives of mankind, (the all knowing, all seeing God knows who is His), in other words, it's a heart issue.
I don't think Romans 9:13 has anything to do with predestination or salvation. God doesn't determine ahead of time who will or will not be saved. He knows who will receive Him and who will reject Him. Predestination is never associated with salvation in the bible. You will always see the word associated with those who are already saved. It's what has been predestined or chosen for us as part of our inheritance. Predestination in the bible never has anything to do with predestinating people for Heaven or Hell. It's never used that way.
Every time the word predestinated is used in the scriptures; it always makes reference to part of our inheritance in Christ. If He did not choose me and predestine me to be holy and without blame before Him in His love, I'd never be able to stand before Him. But I've received Christ as part of my inheritance.
Christ died for everybody. He knows ahead of time who will receive Him. He never forces anybody to receive Him or reject Him. Because I am in Christ, I have been predestined by God to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren, that is, the head of the body of Christ, as He is.
As far as free will goes, you're going to upset a lot of "free-willies" here if you are telling them that they don't have a free will. Everyone has free will, and as long as they live in a body of flesh, they will always have that free will. But what is free will attached to, your flesh or your spirit?
It is the flesh that has free will. But God could care less about our flesh. He didn't save our flesh. He saved our spirit, our soul. Our flesh will NEVER submit to the things of the Lord because it will always be in opposition to Him. But our spirit, our soul, as Paul says, we are slaves to Jesus Christ. No free will when it comes to our soul. Our soul is saved forever if Christ is in us. He does not give us eternal life. He gives us Himself, and He is eternal life. That's why we have eternal life!
[3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.]
We must be careful in taking a single verse out of Scripture out of context, and yes, God IS infinite, and all knowing, this Scripture isn't talking about His supremacy, nor even predestination, but the grace and mercy of God.
God gives us free will. How we live our lives depends (I think) on how much Bible you've got inside you. I do know the Bible says that the last days will be as in the day of Noah.
Read Romans chapter 1: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,....
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death,....
To me that scripture speaks of Israel's ruin. God's judgement. See v8 and 16.
We are called to peace. If this involves shouting and door slamming, it's not good for the kids peace either. Kids need a calm mother and a calm Dad. If it takes 2 houses, it does. I've been thru this and you'll be ok. Keep your focus on the Lord.