Results 581 - 600 of 645
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Results from: Notes Author: JCrichton Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
581 | Why can we not just be Christians? | 1 Pet 1:2 | JCrichton | 151666 | ||
Hi, Ray! You've hit on another excellent (more outstanding) passage: Colossians 1:28! There is a goal for the Believer (as in the Old Testament) to be perfect/ed in Christ Jesus... as the Holy Spirit works everything for the edification of the Body... Believe in Christ, yes!... is is through Faith that we are brought into the fold... but as our temporal existence, our spiritual existence deepens and growth in the knowledge and existence of God... we are commanded by Paul to go past the initiation (preaching, believing, baptism) and to embrace all that is God (including abedience to His Will)! (1 Corinthians 13:11-12; Ephesians 4:30 thru 5:21; Hebrews 6:1-6). God Bless! Angel |
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582 | How can I answer Jehovah Witnesses? | 1 Pet 3:15 | JCrichton | 107292 | ||
Thanks for your comments, TommyS! May you and your loved ones also experience our Lord's grace throughout a long blessed life! God Bless! |
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583 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106416 | ||
Searcher56, Your reference is perhaps on the immidiate moments prior to Christ's death and at His death. If that is the case I rescind my posting. But I caution you that Luke 23:46 does not give a specific time frame of when Jesus went to the Father. Further, if you look at John 20:17, Jesus tells Mary of Magdala not to touch Him because He has not yet ascended to the Father. And Peter (1 P 3:18-22) makes note that Jesus preached in the Spirit to those that had been dead hundreds of years before His birth! It is difficult, nay, impossible for our mind to comprehend God's ways. We must keep in mind that time is irrelevant to God. Even the events which have happened hundreds of years ago are seen as just a few seconds ago (in God's terms). Jesus gave us a little clue to that fact on His Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8), Moses and Elijah were dead, yet in Christ they were Alive! God Bless! |
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584 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106456 | ||
John 20:19-25 Jesus came to the disciples, demonstrated that it was really Him, breathed on them giving them the Holy Spirit, and instituted the Church. Then, just as when He was twelve, there is silence about his exact whereabouts and doings--till the next episode, 8 days later (20:26) when Jesus was candid with Thomas about his (and ours)doubt--faith is trusting in God, not verifying things for our own ego trip. Faced with this humbling experience Thomas had the sense to worship and recognize that Jesus is "Lord and God." Any doctrine (new wave or old school) that denies God's Word can only be, at best, entertainment. |
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585 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106469 | ||
Hello, kalos! I am new to this Forum--when I receive notification of a reply I upload from the format. The original reply was in reference to Christmas. I had made the comment about writers and film makers using much of the supernatural depictions in the Bible as a source of creation. The UFO theory in Ezekiel was mentioned and I tried to clarify that any doctrine that attempts to distort the Bible's teachings should be taken as entertainment (i.e.: the Force--Star Wars). Perhaps when I was trying to respond to the UFO note, I erred in the selection. If you are familiar with the Forum's procedures, please feel free to post a how to on your next response to me. God Bless! |
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586 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106471 | ||
Hi, kalos! I just read my first reply (John 10:19-25), I found that I used a reference from another reply (I write down the Bible verses and make notations next to them). Do not think that I am questioning your faith! Thank you for understanding! Maran atha! |
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587 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106472 | ||
Jesusman, Hi! I know that I may not be the most learned person in the world, but I have some problems understanding the Scriptures: is Satan in hell now? (Revelation 20:7-10) Where did Jesus go at His death? (Matthew 27:45-46) Why would God abandon Jesus? (Mt 27:46) Where are the imprisoned spirits of those who died before Jesus? (1 Peter 3:18-22) What is the world below that Paul speaks so knowingly about and what is his purpose in this play of ascention and descension? (Romans 10:6-7) Jesus is God! His Way is not our ways! His Purpose is not our purpose! But we must reason from His teachings: "You believe in God (Father) believe also in me." I cannot understand how we are to be resurrected (either on our time of death or at a mass resurrection), but I know that Jesus is the Resurrection and Life. So when He told the thief, on the cross, that "In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." I believe that that man is in paradise as of the moment that Jesus promised. God Bless! |
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588 | did jesus go to hell | 1 Pet 3:18 | JCrichton | 106559 | ||
So Jesus parable about Lazarus (not Mary's and Martha's brother) should be taken in a literal sense that there is a visual connection between heaven and hell and that Abraham (the father of faith) is there receiving those who die in the faith? And when Jesus talks about the lakes of fire (hell) he is only reflecting on the Jewish folklore and appealing to their fear? And when Martha mentioned that she knew that her brother, Lazarus, would be raised on the last day, Jesus did not bother to correct her misinterpretation of "when" we'll be resurrected? And when Paul talks about those who died in the Lord will be raised first, he just means the ones who just died during that day of our Lord's Second Coming? I can't cite a refernce point--except from my own personal Bible studies. God Bless! |
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589 | Why did Jesus Go to Hell | 1 Pet 3:19 | JCrichton | 109486 | ||
You can pick and choose what type of interpretation you want to place on the Word of God, after all you are given that right by the Creator! But when you say that you know better then those to whom the Holy Spirit revealed the Truth... you should rethink your possition: the Sadducees, Pharisees and the Masters of the Law (to name a few) refused to listen to the Word! Jesus only warned them: those who have eyes... those who have ears... The Bible is not a historical book full of prose and limericks; it is a recipe for Eternal Life requiring faith above all else! God Bless! |
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590 | Why did Jesus Go to Hell | 1 Pet 3:19 | JCrichton | 109567 | ||
If one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is but a day to God, and if He has no beginning and no end, and if He created all and He is in all... can anyone pin point the amount of time that would take God, a Spiritual being, to travel--say from one reality to another--? Can we limit God according to our limitations? Again, I say to you: Peter speaking by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, who is God, declares that Jesus did something... I believe! Must you believe also, NO! My conviction cannot be yours because you are created in God's image, not in mine; I am created in God's image, not in yours. So God will exact from me that I give the message, not that I convict others! He would exact the same of you! The only thing I can tell you is that as the preincarnate Christ, Jesus could not have preached salvation because the hour had not yet come! God Bless! |
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591 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138582 | ||
Hi, Searcher!... | ||||||
592 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138748 | ||
Hi, Searcher! I really lost you on this one... you are either confirming my statement that Salvation is for all regardless of sex (male/female) and regardless of age (infant-child/adult): "God has the Power, Authority, and Mercy to rescue us from death is clearly written in the Holy Scripture. Also, if you try to add to Scripture, there is great danger (Rev 22:18)." ...or you are contradicting yourself (see above) by suggesting that Biblical strictness forbids the Salvation of some because they are intellectually limited by their age (infants-children)! I do not add to Scripture! But rather than go with the flavor-of-the-day religion, I allow God to be the determining factor of my Faith! (Just as an example: we find Scripture that speaks on the Believers pooling their resources and distributing the resources equally amongs all (Acts 2:44-45)... Yet, I've not heard of a single Biblical passage that commands Believers to amass wealth and to trickle down economy to their brothers in the Faith!... to strictly obsever Scripture, all affluent Christians must bring to their congregation their wealth and distribute it equally among its members!... but we know from Scripture that not everyone who claims to be Christian is in fellowship with Christ... so it could be very understandable that some would bleed their "brothers" without regards for the edification of the Chruch (which should be the farmost factor--aside from our relationship with God--for all Christians, affluent and impoverished). To believe that God does not Save infants-children because it is not found in the Bible, would be to deny God the Authority to do anything that is not written down in Biblical Text! I wonder how Peter, Paul and the rest managed since the Bible was not a source readily aviable to them (Old Testament text belonged, almost exclusively, to religious elite who had access to the Holy Scrolls... and the New Testament had not been compiled, and placed along with the Old Testament writings, during the lifetime of the Apostles.) You cannot abound in God while limiting others with your brand of salvation--Jesus gave us all the right to be sons of God, John 1:12; through strict observance of Scripture this verse impedes all females from claiming that they are dauthers of God--either they are interpreting according to your esegesis theory or they must become male in order to adhere to the exactness of Scripture!... yet, if they allow God to instruct them, they will know that no partial knowledge or partial prophecy can replace God's Authority and Wisdom! It is He who calls us all in Jesus... where we are no longer Jews or Greeks, no longer male and female! (Galatians 3:28) Of course, we can continue to read individual passages of Scripture and build our theology based on man's understanding of a (a few) Scritural verses! We cannot dictate to God how He should apply His Authority and Mercy! ...since you are sticking to your strictness of Scripture, can you please clarify the mystery found in 1 Corinthians 13:9--since you are implying that we know God completely and that Paul is referring to something other than God... who or what is it that we know in part but that it is not God? And please also explain what is the partial prophecy, also found in 1 Corinthians 13:9? And please, please explain what perfection is Paul speaking on in 1 Corinthians 13:10? And please, please, please explain this mystery of knowing in part and later knowing as we are known (1 Corinthians 13:12)... I am not being rude... I simply link Scripture together with Scripture and do not find vacuousness in these verses... we know partially because we are not the spiritual beings which we will become in Jesus Christ... we are known fully by God and He will grant us that familiarity with Him when we become the new creatures as we are changed in Christ! You are concerned with exegesis and eisegesis... when you make claims as to infants-children not experiencing Salvation... from which Scriptural passage are you reading, which Gospel, which Epistle, which Commandment? God Bless! Angel |
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593 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138818 | ||
"Yet, there is no such command in Scripture." Hi, Tim Moran! There is no comand in Scripture that tells us that we must be known as Christians (there is a reference by Christ speaking of those that will be called by His name--however, He has several names, Jesus, Immanuel, Joshua, the Word, the Lamb of God, the Son of God, the Son of man, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace... there is no command by Jesus or the Father or the Holy Spirit to call ourselves Christians... in due time the Holy Spirit did reveal Christ's Name as the Name that His followers would adopt! To claim that a practice of the early Church was a simplistic action not based on God's direction would be to remove Christ's revelation about the Holy Spirit and His interaction with the Church to: "teach you all truth." The fact that Christians have separated and have evolved into a pluralistic culture and anti-culture testifies to man's deliverate and systematic selective adherence to Scripture--only when we allow the Holy Spirit to instruct us would Christ's Church be one with one Gospel and one Faith! "This is vastly different than saying that infants are given a second chance after they die" Not once have I made such statement! I have used Scripture to demonstrate that it is God who determines who, how and when we are Saved! Moses and Elijah could not have been corpses while present at Jesus' Transfiguration... Enoc was taken up to Heaven bodily, the repentant thief (criminal) was promised by Jesus that on the day that they would physically die He would take him to Paradise... clearly, Scripture is meant to inform and teach us not to limit God's Authority and Power... for us to claim to know who and how humanity is to be Saved or damned, is it not playing "god?" It is funny how religious zealots get so caught-up in their "knowledge" that they miss God altogether! It happened to the Jews, then... it is happening to Christians, now! I was attempting to win some of them over to Christ by pointing out that it is God who determines our Salvation... I appreciated your post because it gave me an opportunity to clarify my statements... however, if you still find some point/s murky, please feel free to query me! God Bless! Angel |
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594 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138861 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! "playing "god?" You are correct in stating that "Scripture tells us exactly how someone is saved, by faith in Christ." This is an excellent point... yet the manner in which we are saved is totally under God's control--The Holy Scripture does not offer a total revelation on all issues of Salvation and of the world to come... there are insinuations, there are visionary depictions, there are prophecies... none complete! This is why some people have a problem with Jesus stating to the thief that on that very day in which they were to die He would take him to Paradise... we are creatures of habit and of corporial existence... too many times we seek to reason with human intellect in order to understand God's Design--it just can't be done! It is a matter of Faith! If Jesus tells me that He will be put to death, burried, and resurrected... I believe! If Jesus tells me that on that day that He is put to death He will rescue someone and give him passage to Paradise... I do not reason with my intellect about the permeability or imposibility faced by Jesus; Jesus is God and, to God. all things are possible... so I believe tha He can accomplish that which He promised without invalidating His previous commitment to Scripture! Here's where part of the problem lies... when you state that Scripture and only Scripture has the Truth, don't you reject Jesus' own words that the Paraclete would come and bring the fulness of Truth? (John 16:12-13); it is He, the Holy Spirit, who revealed to holy men of God what they were to write for Israel and the generations to come (2 Peter 1:20-21; Romans 15:4); but Scripture never intended to limit God nor did anything written claim to have offered the full revelation of God in all matters of Faith and Worship... we find testimony, Scripture's, that tells us that in the in the last days God's Holy Spirit will descend upon us and both young and old will experience visions and dreams and will prophesy! (Acts 2:17-18) Further, if we limit God to your statement that "Scripture tells us exactly how someone is saved, by faith in Christ. God Himself has revealed that explicitly to us in His Word," aren't we condemning all those who, at their death, due to insufficient chronological development (infants-children) or through some mental impairment which impedes their intellectual development, cannot receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the news about God's Mercy and Gift of Eternal Life? This is where Faith comes into play! It is not enough to believe that we know how to interprete Scripture if our interpretation of Scripture limits God's Mercy, Power, and Salvific Plan! There are no boundaries that God cannot overcome! Again, the Holy Scripture does not contain the fullness of God! It is God who chooses who and how we are saved... the Holy Scripture guide us to God's fullness but it does not replace God! (1 Corinthians 13:9-12; 1 John 3:2; John 16:12-13) "It is preciously because we add to, ignore, or go beyond Scripture that we have so many differences between Christians." My argument keeps: "deliverate and systematic selective adherence to Scripture," is what causes the schisms in the Body of Christ! When we zealously hold fast to one/some Scriptural passages while denying or rejecting the rest of the Bible (see Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, the Jews, the fantastic twisting of Matthew 16:18-19; the distortion of Jesus' statement: "Father is greater than I"...) we construct walls and barriers that are detrimental to our Spiritual wellbeing; yet instead of seeking to unite we continue, in strict adherance to our personal belief, to feed the ambers which promote further schisms in the Body of Christ! True, there are those who seek to add/substract from Scripture--to them the rest of the Bible is applied... not in vain did Jesus say that it is the Word that will judge those who do not believe! (John 12:48) "We cannot take narrative passages and turn them into imperatives." So are you saying that because Scripture speaks of Melchizedek in the form of a narrative--Melchizedek is not relevant to God's Plan? Or is Paul just being ostentatious when he reveals that the rock that gave Israel water was Jesus? (I mean, there's no command nor any prior revelation, in Scripture, that Jesus is that Rock!) Clearly, this particular revelation (1 Corinthians 10:4) demonstrates that the fullness of God had not been totally revealed... that the Holy Spirit sent by the Father and the Son, assist's Christ's Body by teaching, instructing and guiding Body of Christ. God Bless! Angel |
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595 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138957 | ||
Hi, Steve! "The further writings of the apostles is the fulfillment of this passage." So the Holy Spirit left the Church after the Apocalyptic Writings of John? "While we do not have the full revelation of God himself, we definitely have everything concerning faith and worship." If we did, why would Paul and John be looking forward to a change that will occur... a change that will bring us to the fullness of being (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2); and there is a continuous flow between heaven and earth that is revealed only in a very scant passage: Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. (Revelation 8:3-4) Which prayers? Even from the very first martyr, Abel, who was murdered by his brother because he worshipped God with all of his heart? Or is it the prayer of those who are murdered because they believe in Christ, or because they are found guilty of owning/possessing a Bible or a single page of a Bible, or are they the dying requests of all those who die as the young girl who was killed--as it was purported to have happened--after replying to the murderous though that she believed in God? It is Scripture itself that tells us that in our infirmities the Holy Spirit comes to our aide because we do not know how to pray to God!: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26-27) So clearly, we are babes when it comes to Faith and Worship... this is why Christ emphasized that we are to remain (abide) in Him, without Him we are but a blank canvas! (John 15:3-6) "Again, not at all. There is sound Scriptural support that the blood of Christ covers these people." I must agree with the above quoted statement, it is sound doctrine! Yet, there are those who would impose knowing Jesus through intellectual means as the source of cleansing and Salvation... this is why I have offered my argument! It is God who Saves not our interpretation of Scripture! Just because something is not found in an explicit text in Scripture, who among men has the power to deny God the Authority to function outside of the textual (word per word) expression of Scripture? Notice how the Apostles began to use the term saint when referring to each other? Is there a written revelation that they should use that term? Again, we cannot limit God and how He has structured His Design! When we finally accept our limitations as the finite beings that we are and we accept God's infinite Wisdom and Design... then we begin to be born again!: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:1-7) "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) God Bless! Angel |
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596 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138958 | ||
Hi, Searcher! I begin to understand your expression! By such definition ("However, the passage doesn't include God. I consider that adding to Scripture.") you are absolutely correct! However, I cannot see Paul or any of the Apostles concerning themselves with gaining full knowledge of the world and its workings, or of some secret codes (special Scripture keys) that would reveal to them how to achieve greater wealth, power, control... I believe that their main concern was being in Christ; hence, they would strive to be in perfection: in the full knowledge of God... As Paul said: "to live is Christ!" (Philippians 1:21) So I cannot see him (Paul) aspiring for any other fulfillment than to know God in completeness--not in the partial and clouded manner which he had known God! Still, I respect your belief--though I pray that we all aspire to know God as Paul did, instead of just limiting His Design! "when Revelation was written, then prophecy and knowledge complete." Yet, we know that though the book of Revelation is complete as far as the offering of written revelations, we still need the Holy Spirit to do the actual interpretation and further refinement of the revealed matter... so the Bible in itself is not complete! It is not lacking further revelations (new information/prophecies)... so in that sence it is perfected; yet, the written revelations cannot be resolved by man except through the Divine assistance of the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21) "It is dangerous to link Scripture" You are right, there is a danger to linking Scripture... but I suggest to you that it is not so much the linking of Scripture to Scripture as it is the linking of Scripture to personal/congregational interpretation... Whe can link Jesus' title of the Good Shepherd to the Old Testament... there is even a precise text where God promises that He will become Israel's Shepherd, that He will do away with the shepherds that have taken advantage of and mistreated the flock! (Ezekiel 34:8-16--pay close attention to verses 11 and 12) Clearly, there is no danger with this link since God is revealing Himself as the Good Shepher (please don't jump out of your seat, I know that there is no textual expression of "Good Shepherd!" But follow the language and the promise--evil/bad shepherds removed; excellent/just shepherd as the new keeper of the flock... do you see it?) that will come to gather and care for the whole flock--Jesus fulfills this promise! Now, when Jesus speaks of sheep of another fold that will become one with the fold He is shepherding (John 10:16)... there is no other link but Paul's revelation that Jesus made of the two people one (Ephesians 2:11-22); there are some who have built a whole religious culture on the distorted interpretation of John 10:16--to me this is a clear example of extra-Biblical application of Scripture! Yet, even this particular distortion of Scripture may have part in God's Design... so I will not readily condemn these people... as Jude testefied to the Archangel's words (Jude 1:9), I too can only say: "May the Lord rebuke them!" I appreciate your concern and your input. God Bless! Angel |
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597 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 138959 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! Thank you for your recap! I believe that we are on the same trek... it is just our immediate perspectives that offer us variant views... The point I was making with the example of the early Church is that we do not always find Biblical text that will provide a blanket exclusion/inclusion of doctrinal practices (Salvation only to those who have been preached and intellectually accepted/believed in Christ)... being narratives or imperatives the text in Scripture will always have deeper meanings than what man's intellect can comprehend... it is the Holy Spirit that reveals the fullness of the Word... and as you said, He will always reveal to us only what is complementary to Scripture for there is only One Gospel and One Spirit! God Bless! Angel |
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598 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139057 | ||
Hi, Steve! We could go around in circles... Just one point: Remember how the Apostles began preaching about the Second Coming? It was seen as an immediate occurrence; one that would happen within their lifetime... there are no revelations as to a time frame nor as to when precisely they began to understand that it would not necessarily happen within their lifetime... we do find one passage where Peter admonishes the errancy that had been creeping up among the Believers (2 Peter 3:8-18); he reminds them that God's Way is not our ways and that His Patience abounds to allow Salvation to all (all who would receive Christ, that is); Peter returns to the promise of Christ coming as a thief in the night, yet he clarifies that Jesus' Coming is not void... it is simply delayed so many may be Saved! This revelation did not exist prior to Peter and the others receiving it from the Holy Spirit; this revelation clarifies that the Lord's Coming is imminent but not in our finite understanding of time but in God's infinite Design! In Genesis 3:15 we find the completeness of the struggle: the battle for humanity and the battle against God... yet other Scriptural passages expand on this giving us just enough information for us to understand what God wishes us to know: Jesus is the Victor! In the same way Salvation is offered to us with completeness of information (what God wants us to know), but not with complete knowledge (the completeness of God's Design)... It would be simplistic to think that Jesus would not Save children and the mentally deficient because they are not eligible for Salvation due to their lack of intellectual cognizance of Jesus! Salvation is a matter of the Spirit, and the Spirit of God has the Power to search even the most simplest of minds! God Bless! Angel |
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599 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139059 | ||
Hi, Tim Moran! Are Jehovah Witnesses Christians? They read and understand Scripture to a seeming perfection... Sadly, they remove the Holy Spirit from their study and rely upon themselves to determine what God "really" means in Scripture... The Holy Spirit is not God, to them--though Peter clearly tells us that He is (Romans 5:3-4)... Jesus is not God, to them--though Thomas confesses that Jesus is his Lord and his God (John 20:28)... They are quick to understand that Jesus stated that the Father is greater than He (John 14:28); yet, they are complete impervious to Christ's statements that He and the Father are One (John 10:30) or that the Father is in Him and He in the Father (John 10:38; 14;10, 11, 20; 17:21)... Further, Jesus Himself tells us that only those who believe in Jesus will receive the Paraclete and that the world will not be able to even see Him... not only that but He assures us that the Paraclete will live with us and in us! (John 14:16-17)... People who remove the Holy Spirit from the Holy Scripture cannot trully understand God's revelations; since they only search Scripture with human intellect they can only conceive distorted conclusions of God's true intent! Remove the Holy Spirit from Scripture and you have hundreds if not thousands of conflicting doctrines that pull each person according to his/her predisposed prejudice! I.E.: the condemnation of infants and children because they died before getting to "know" Jesus--as if God's Power and Mercy are bound by our finite limitations! God Bless! Angel |
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600 | Those who died before Jesus' death | 1 Pet 4:6 | JCrichton | 139329 | ||
Hi, Hank! I understand your position... and I would even offer that perhaps my previous explanation was not terribly clear... Lets look at Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Is this passage telling us that the Bible can cut through to our inner most being? If it does? Has it failed to do so? Christians have the lousiest track record when it comes to corforming to Scripture (over 28,000 denominations fighting over language, definitions, diction, word-roots, terminologies, translations, err... translitarations, history, revionists' history, archeology, visions, prophecies, and personal/congregational theologies, etc.)... I would complement Hebrews 4:14 with Jesus' Words in John 12:47-50; reading through Scripture does not mean that I can know all about God! The Masters of the Law were "professionals" at keeping the written and oral Law; yet they failed to heed God when He came to them (John 1:1-14). Devoid of the Holy Spirit the Bible becomes just another compilation of text... this is why some adhere to Old Testament Scripture that have been put away in Christ... why some reject Christ as God... while still others want Him to be a minor prophet who searched the world for enlightenment! When we look into Scripture as the fullness of knowledge and yet view Scripture in our finite undestanding... we will never truly meet with God! Jesus spoke on this matter when He questioned His disciples (general discipleship and general assambly of people) about faith: "Why do you call me Lord, yet you do not do what I say?"--paraphrased (Luke 6:46 and Matthew 7:21-27)... To say that we no longer need the Holy Spirit to guide us and to enlighten us because everything has been written down in Scripture, is to contradict Jesus and dissolve the Paraclete's function in the Church! (John 14;15-17, 25-26; 15:26; 16:6-15) Now some may say that the Holy Spirit completed the Holy Scripture by speaking through the Apostles and inspiring them to write the Gosples and the other New Testament books... this sounds right, on the surface... When we look into the Old Testament's writtings we find that they are the Word of God and yet the Holy Spirit did not have to descend upon the world to inspire the these Holy Writtings! Conversely, had there been no further need than to inspire the composition of the New Testament's Scripture, the Old Testament's formula would have been more than sufficient! However, Jesus established His Church and promised the Eleven that the Paraclete would come in His stead to bring the fullness of truth, to reveal new things (about the Church) and to teach and guide the Church! Most importantly, He, the Paraclete, would abide with and in the believers forever... the Holy Spirit would not cease to exist nor function at the death of John (who is said to be the youngest and long-lived of the Twelve), Jesus primised Peter that nothing would be able to destroy the Church (Matthew 16:18)... the Church would not be abandoned by the Holy Spirit! Is the Bible complete? Yes, all that God desired to reveal to man has been written down in the Holy Scripture! Is the Bible incomplete? Yes, devoid of the Holy Spirit no man can accept and obey God's Word! God Bless! Angel |
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