Results 5741 - 5760 of 6029
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Results from: Notes On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: DocTrinsograce Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
5741 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 131223 | ||
You expressed yourself very well, brother Aaron. Even as I wrote that paragraph, I realized that I should have been writing about 20 paragraphs. That would put you to sleep for sure! Regarding interpretation of scripture, I'd like to make a few points in the context of our posts. (The technical term for scriptural interpretation is hermeneutics. Anything I could say in 5,000 characters or less, is hardly going to scratch the surface, so I'll just slap down what comes to mind. Perhaps as we dialog we can continue to zero in on this important discipline.) 1. We know there is no private interpretation of scripture (1 Peter 1:20). This doesn't mean that we do not have the right to read, evaluate, study, and even interpret the scriptures. After all, there are commands all over the Word of God to do just those things. What Peter is telling us is that no one, by the sheer force of will or the application of intelligence can generate an interpretation. Scripture must be understood through the empowering of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). Scripture did not originate with man, but God (1 Pet 1:21). That which is revealed to men is always of Christ (Joh 16:14) and to His glory. Such truth supercedes the individual believer, it is for all believers. (Now, that said, I must again emphasize that the Word of God is powerfully and assuredly personal. God chose YOU, dear brother, from the foundation of the world, and He had YOU in mind when the lamb was slain from that same foundation (Rev 13:8).) 2. When I stated that scripture interprets scripture, that was a position rooted deeply in Reformation Theology. They used to use the Latin phrase "scriptura scripturae interpres," which means just that. What they meant was that the only authoritative standard for the interpretation of scripture is scripture itself. If you think about it, this is pretty obvious: How do we properly understand the OT? Through the explanation of the NT. In a sense we start in the NT, and work backward to the OT. You mentioned Abraham and Isaac. In the light of what took place at calvary, how can we NOT make the connection? But there are better examples of scripture interpreting scripture: Romans 4, Galatians 3, Hebrews 7, etc. Christ even said, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." 3. Maybe this should be point 2.5: We can be certain that God will not base an important doctrine on a single passage. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established," (2 Cor 13:1). Think, for example, how often God says that He judges/examines the heart of a man, rather than his appearance? All essential doctrines are fully and clearly explained; either in the immediate context, or somewhere else in the Bible. (This principle is most clearly demonstrated in what is known as "topical Bible study." However, there are two absolutely essential "rules" for applying this principle: (1) The context of the two passages must be the same, and (2) the plain passage must be used to guide our interpretation of a less clear passage -- not the other way around!) 4. One other point, we need to distinguish between interpretation and application (1 Cor 10:11). There is but one interpretation of any passage of scripture, but there are many possible applications. This is what you meant when you talked about the Holy Spirit suddenly bringing to life a scripture in a very personal way. The Holy Spirit powerfully "quickens" the Word (Joh 16:12-15). But, this is what should be called an application, rather than an interpretation. The single, correct interpretation of a passage always mirrors the intent of the inspired author. Now, after going on about all that, if you are still awake, let me see if I can answer your question. :-) Here are a couple of examples where scripture allows us to spiritualize a narrative. I'm sure that you might think of others. Narrative: Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Spiritualization: 1 Cor 5:7a Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. Narrative: Lev 4:32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. Spiritualization: 1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Narrative: Mar 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Spiritualization: Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. There are a lot more - but after this week's work, my brain is like a leavened lump! |
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5742 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 131177 | ||
Over-spiritualization is a very specific kind of problem. It means giving something a spiritual meaning for which none was intended. Let me give you an example: A preacher that I used to listen to quite frequently believed that every portion of scripture had a spiritual significance. In one sermon he was considering John 19:26-27 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." He stated that the spiritual meaning behind this record was the transition of the gospel from Israel to the Church. The Roman Catholic Church tradition over-spiritualizes this same passage by interpreting this to mean that the Church is one big family with a Father and a Mother. The authority to handle scripture appropriately is provided for us by scripture itself. No where in scripture are we given the authority to interpret this event as anything more than the plain sense of the words: Jesus, caring for Mary, assures for her care through the disciple John. John understood what Christ said and acted accordingly. If it had had more significance than this, we would have additional sources of scriptural discussion on the matter. The preacher places authority in hidden meanings (violating the principle of the perspicuity of scripture). The Romanists places authority in traditional interpretations. Neither are sola scriptura. You have a number of other statements that I hope to address later today, Deo volente. |
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5743 | The Great Difference | Zech 10:2 | DocTrinsograce | 131130 | ||
Augustus Toplady died 14 August 1778 in London, England, after an illness that first manifested itself in three years earlier. The divine's cause of death was recorded as Consumption. He was buried in Tottenham Court Chapel. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee! Let the Water and the Blood, From thy riven Side which flow'd, Be of Sin the double Cure, Cleanse me from its Guilt and Pow'r. Not the Labours of my Hands Can fulfil thy Law's demands: Could my Zeal no respite know, Could my Tears for ever flow, All for Sin could not atone: Thou must save, and Thou alone! Nothing in my Hand I bring; Simply to thy Cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for Dress; Helpless, look to Thee for Grace; Foul, I to the Fountain fly: Wash me, Saviour, or I die! Whilst I draw this fleeting Breath-- When my Eye-strings break in Death-- When I soar through tracts unknown-- See Thee on thy Judgment-Throne-- Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee! |
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5744 | Jesus called Good teacher | Mark 10:18 | DocTrinsograce | 131096 | ||
This entire passage is dealing with a young man who is seeking admission into heaven based on his own merits. He mistakenly sees himself as having fulfilled all righteousness. He is hoping to be affirmed in his belief. Before Jesus even gives an answer, he brings up the question of goodness. Christ didn't say this to deny His own goodness. Nor was He saying this in anger. But He said it to lead the young man to a truer knowledge of Himself, His own goodness, His diety, and further the young man's own "goodness." Before the Gospel remedy can be applied, the lesson of the Law must be learned. The Law instructs us in our failure to measure up. It is an excellent measure of the condition of our heart. It is a divine detector of goodness. That's why people try to "dumb-it-down." This young man even thinks that he has completely fulfilled the requirements of the Law. That is why Christ first leads him to the Law. Then, He cleverly brings to the surface the most obvious single factor that denies the young man's claim of goodness: sell all that you have. The young man came to Christ humbly and respectfully. Nevertheless he could not see that the reigning sin in his life was idolatry. In reality, he was so far from keeping all of the commandments, he had failed to keep the first commandment "thou shalt have no other gods before Me." In the end, the young man could not let go of his sin, repent, and allow the ministration of the Gospel to save him. I believe it was Jim Elliot who said, "He is a fool who will not give up what he cannot keep for that which cannot be taken away." Lord, may we never put faith in our own righteousness. Help us to see your holiness, that we may recognize our own need. Grant us grace to fall at your feet in humiliation, and seek the Balm of Gilead. And as you raise us to our feet, and we learn to walk, help us never to forget. In Jesus' wonderful name, Amen. |
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5745 | Are women to be dependent on men? | Ruth 3:7 | DocTrinsograce | 131052 | ||
Doubtless David commissioned the writing of this book. No doubt he knew this story of Jesse's grandparent's quite well. The story of the kinsman redeemer is also a prophetic type of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See the prophetic statement in Ruth 4:12.) Matthew Henry observes regarding this verse through verse 9: Thus must we by faith apply ourselves to Jesus Christ as our next kinsman, that is able to redeem us, come under his wings, as we are invited (Mat_23:37), and beg of him to spread his skirt over us. "Lord Jesus, take me into thy covenant and under thy care. I am oppressed, undertake for me." |
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5746 | Why does God impart familial bitterness? | Ruth 1:20 | DocTrinsograce | 131050 | ||
You may never find this in this present world. I don't mean to be unsympathetic. It is hard to know the real circumstances of people who post on the forum. Their history, mind-set, and specific choices would need to be understood before any real semblence of Godly advice could be offered. This, however, is not the purpose of this forum. The word of God tells us to focus on accumulating treasure in heaven, rather than on the earth. Heaven is your destination. (My grandfather used to say, "A hundred years from now we'll all be bald.") All that you see, hear, feel, and experience will pass away. Jesus assured us that God knows everything that we need, so He told us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) As you pursue holiness, God will either see to it that you have the family care that you need, or He will give you the grace to go without it. |
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5747 | What is the Church's responsibility? | Ruth 2:10 | DocTrinsograce | 131048 | ||
That sounds like a political question. (I was legally disabled too, but now I am partially sighted due to some wonderful technology.) I would posit that if believers actually cared for one another, it would be a testimony to our love (John 13:35). Let the reprobate do what they will. Let us follow the calling of the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:17). John Calvin wrote that the ability to fail was an important right of every human being. The threat of failure, pain, or hunger is a great deterrent to foolishness, incontenance, or slothfulness. This was one of the notions that contributed to the extraordinary philosophies coming out of Edinburough, Scotland that helped build our nation. Boy I can sure sound smug and high-handed, huh? That's not my intent. I guess I get a little pugnacious when I post while listening to the liberal news media! |
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5748 | wrong to see nudity if has no affect? | Col 3:2 | DocTrinsograce | 131041 | ||
Sorry... I can be kind of obscure some times. The verse I was quoting from the following passage: 2 Peter 2:6-10 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. I was zeroing in on that portion of the passage that talks about Lot living in Sodom (Genesis 14:12). It states that he was vexed (worn down, tormented, pained, oppressed) by the behavior of the other occupants of that city. The scripture tells us they were living lawless, lustful, and lascivious lives. I cannot quite imagine what Lot must have seen. I've worked in San Francisco and I've been there during their Gay Pride celebrations. God continues to show long-suffering to this city, but God's patience was exhausted with Sodom and Gomorrah. What I saw was awful in California, how much worse must have been those two cities? Lot saw it all getting worse and worse around him. The odious things he saw were oppressive to him. But I can imagine that he would retreat into his own home at times. There he could close himself off from what was going on around him. For a time, he could convince himself that perhaps things were not so bad. In our modern day, however, we have television. The TV is a window into a world of lawlessness, violence, and deception. However, in one evening we can see on the television screen many more sinful acts than what we might witness out in the world. We actually pipe it into our living rooms. Unlike Lot, our homes are no longer a refuge, instead this is the place of modern vexation. In the world you can see the results of drug abuse, alcoholism, violence, and immorality. The TV, however, can actually hide the consequences of sin. Now, if scripture says that this was a bad thing for Lot, how much worse for us are the things that are set before us? Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look intently on a virgin? If your boyfriend does not want to be vexed, Natie, and he has made a covenant with his eyes, he should be supported and encouraged. |
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5749 | The Great Difference | Zech 10:2 | DocTrinsograce | 131030 | ||
Autustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778) was a brilliant theologian who is now most famous for his composition of the hymn "Rock of Ages." He was ardently and stridently opposed to heretical teachings that were commonly taught, and becoming more widespread. His debates with John Wesley are particularly interesting. The name Toplady is pronounced just like it is written. Although Toplady did not live long upon the earth, God graciously granted this man a great insight into His word. Below I've included one of a number of poems that have survived. This poem was written when Toplady was only 16 years of age. John 14:17 He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. SAVIOUR, I thy word believe, My unbelief remove; Now thy quick'ning Spirit give, The unction from above; Shew me, Lord, how good thou art, My soul with all thy fulness fill: Send the witness in my heart The Holy Ghost reveal. Dead in sin 'till then I lie, Bereft of power to rise; Till thy Spirit inwardly Thy saving blood applies: Now the mighty gift impart, My sin erase, my pardon seal: Send the witness, in my heart The Holy Ghost reveal. Blessed Comforter, come down, And live and move in me; Make my every deed thy own, In all things led by thee: Bid my every lust depart, And with me O vouchsafe to dwell; Faithful witness, in my heart Thy perfect light reveal. Let me in thy love rejoice, Thy shrine, thy pure abode; Tell me, by thine inward voice, That I'm a child of God: Lord, I choose the better part, Jesus, I wait thy peace to feel; Send the witness in my heart The Holy Ghost reveal. Whom the world cannot receive, O manifest in me: Son of God, I cease to live, Unless I live in thee Now impute thy whole desert, Restore the joy from which I fell: Breathe the witness, in my heart The Holy Ghost reveal. |
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5750 | Correction | 1 Cor 8:5 | DocTrinsograce | 130952 | ||
Ah, GB, you have a great read ahead of you! I highly recommend the book "A Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. It is not very long, but very stiring and inspiring! An awesome testimony to the power of our Lord! Corrie ten Boom was involved in the hiding of Jews from the Nazi's in occupied Holland. She, and her family, were eventually arrested, but she, alone, survived the horrors of the concentration camps. After the War she started a ministry to concentration camp survivors. In my humble opinion, every beiever should read her story. |
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5751 | Jesus Son of God ; God ; Spirit | Luke 8:28 | DocTrinsograce | 130951 | ||
I had a friend from Indonesia. He used to comment on the modern world's myth of the "peaceful savage living in idylic harmony with nature." He said that when missionaries would go back into the dark jungles to bring the Gospel to some very primitive peoples, they were often delighted. The spirit world terrorizes them in many ways, thus, to be introduced to our Lord -- the Greatest Spirit of all -- is a great relief. Praise God for delivering His own! | ||||||
5752 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130935 | ||
Oops. Never mind. Wow! And you got me to cry "Uncle!" when you weren't even talking to me! :-) |
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5753 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130934 | ||
I understand what you are saying, Reighnskye. I think you have to be a little careful of the language you use these days. The terms you are using are very well understood in a philosophical context. However, many of those same terms have been hijacked by the New Age movement. Consequently, their use can get you unfairly button-holed! :-) I believe I related a story already in this forum about a young man asking a professor something to the effect, "If there are no other intelligences in the universe except man, why would God go to all the trouble of making the billions of galaxies, stars, and planets?" The prompt answer was, "What trouble?" The Bible is a message from God. Many things have happened to human beings since our first parents came into being. Yet, of all those things, God specifically chose only a small set of events to record. I am certain that each of these events actually took place, and yet they reflect the truth on many different levels. A God like ours can arrange these things without any trouble at all. Thus, a statement of Isaiah, for example, can be a message to the people of his own time, to the people of a few generations later, to the people of the time of the Advent, as well as to us today. On the other hand, one has to be careful of not over spiritualizing things. If we don't have the explicit authority from scripture to spiritualize a narrative, we must not presume on the scriptures themselves. We can speculate, as long as we firmly understand that that is what we are doing. Speculation should never be the basis for determining doctrine. Meanwhile, we have the perspicuous message of the Word. If we could only perfectly apply the things we actually do understand, I'd trade that for a million speculations! Just more random neurons firing. ;-) |
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5754 | Was NT Written in Greek or Hebrew? 1 | NT general Archive 1 | DocTrinsograce | 130922 | ||
Here are some further examples of random neurons firing in my brain... Has anyone noticed that the Caiaphas oussary and the more recently discovered James oussary both had the names of their occupants inscribed in Greek letters? The inscriptions were Aramaic ("Yehosef bar Kayafa'" and "Yacaqob bar Yosef ahwi Yeshuac" respectively) but were written with Greek letters. I can't claim certainty that these were the oussaries of the Biblical Caiaphas and James, but whoever they really were we know conclusively they were contemporaries of Christ. Greek writing must have been pretty well accepted to put the names of people on their grave stones. (By the way, the Caiaphas oussary is known to have contained the remains of a Sadducee family, and the James oussary is known to have contained the remains of a Pharisee family. That fact would tend to cancel out any foibles they might have had about using Greek.) I also did some digging around and found that the dedication inscriptions on synagogues in Judea from the period of the time of Christ were often in Greek. The most famous example of this is the Theodotus Inscription discovered in Mount Ophel in Jerusalem. These things tend to confirm my opinion of the usage of Greek in the time of Christ. I'd say that they might also weaken any argument about the New Testament having originally been written in something other than Greek. |
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5755 | The Great Difference | Zech 10:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130838 | ||
"Every religion except one puts upon you doing something in order to recommend yourself to God. It is only the religion of Christ (which runs counter to all the rest by affirming that we are saved and called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to the Father's own purpose and grace) which was not sold out to us on certain conditions to be fulfilled by ourselves, but was given us in Christ before the world began. It was long ago remarked by a good man that "It is the business of all false religion to patch up a righteousness in which the sinner is to stand before God. But it is the business of the glorious gospel to bring near to us, by the hand of the Holy Spirit, a righteousness ready wrought, a robe of perfection ready made, wherein God's people, to all the purposes of justification and happiness, stand perfect and without fault before the throne." –Augustus Toplady | ||||||
5756 | Should nations own land territories? | Obad 1:20 | DocTrinsograce | 130835 | ||
Well, off the top of my head: Every command has its converse. Some commands are stated in the negative. You shall not murder is stated in the negative. You shall preserve life is stated in the positive. Thus, the eighth commandment has a positive converse. The implication being that God intends man to own things, therefore we must protect that right to own things. | ||||||
5757 | How does pride influence self-deception? | Obad 1:3 | DocTrinsograce | 130834 | ||
I believe so: Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? | ||||||
5758 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130804 | ||
Sorry abuot my quick reply of last night. I was having trouble sleeping. Under those circumstances, I tend to write pretty much whatever pops into my mind the first time. Thank you for these specific items that you cited. I do find your arguments to be persuasive. One thing to keep in mind by each of us is that there are some things that are both symbolic and literal. I'm refering to those things that are types in the scripture. Things like the mercy seat of the ark, the passover sacrifice, etc. As you pointed out, there are many things we can't even imagine. When I taught in the prison ministry I used to suggest to the fellows to imagine taking a cave man to modern Los Angeles. He would marvel at everything you showed him, even at things in which we might not even think he would be interested. Until the revelation of the modern world, that cave man would have told you that his cave, club, bear skin, sticks and rocks were pretty neat stuff. Perhaps this is why so little of heaven and the future is actually revealed to us: we simply can't understand. Meanwhile, we think our technology, science, and culture are pretty neat stuff. We just have no idea, do we? Thank you, Reignskye, for your well thought out posts. |
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5759 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130803 | ||
Sorry abuot my quick reply of last night. I was having trouble sleeping. Under those circumstances, I tend to write pretty much whatever pops into my mind the first time. Thank you for these specific items that you cited. I do find your arguments to be persuasive. One thing to keep in mind by each of us is that there are some things that are both symbolic and literal. I'm refering to those things that are types in the scripture. Things like the mercy seat of the ark, the passover sacrifice, etc. As you pointed out, there are many things we can't even imagine. When I taught in the prison ministry I used to suggest to the fellows to imagine taking a cave man to modern Los Angeles. He would marvel at everything you showed him, even at things in which we might not even think he would be interested. Until the revelation of the modern world, that cave man would have told you that his cave, club, bear skin, sticks and rocks were pretty neat stuff. Perhaps this is why so little of heaven and the future is actually revealed to us: we simply can't understand. Meanwhile, we think our technology, science, and culture are pretty neat stuff. We just have no idea, do we? Thank you, Reignskye, for your well thought out posts. |
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5760 | Does God judge nations directly? | Obad 1:2 | DocTrinsograce | 130801 | ||
I'm still trying to figure out if your post is symbolic or literal. :-) Consider me thoroughly chastened, Brother Hank! How do you slap the mat three times around here? |
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